The Merel sector, a sector situated in the Outer Rim Territories, shared borders with the Lol, Skine, and Tolonda sectors. During the era of the High Republic Era, this sector was located within the Galactic Frontier exploration zone of the Galactic Republic. After its formation in 230 BBY, the Merel sector became integrated into the Occlusion Zone, standing as one of the ten sectors isolated behind a barrier that impeded [hyperspace](/article/hyperspace] travel.
Located within the Outer Rim Territories was the space sector known as the Merel sector. It was adjacent to the Lol, Skine, and Samix sectors.
In the High Republic Era, the Galactic Republic designated the Merel sector, along with other areas of the Outer Rim, as the Galactic Frontier. This Frontier was far enough from the galaxy's center to warrant sending explorers. The Occlusion Zone was formed in 230 BBY by the Nihil marauder group. This zone, situated in the Outer Rim's Frontier, was protected by the Stormwall barrier, which prevented [hyperspace](/article/hyperspace] travel.
As one of the ten sectors that defined the Occlusion Zone's edge, the Merel sector was separated from the rest of Republic space, and its inhabitants were compelled to pay tributes to the Nihil. Subsequently, in 229 BBY, the Vurk Jedi Master Harli Cogra authored a book entitled Chronicles of the Jedi, which chronicled the Jedi of the High Republic Era. Cogra expressed her dismay in the book's afterword regarding the creation of the Nihil's region and its impact on the ten sectors.
Within current Star Wars canon, the ten sectors that constitute the Occlusion Zone were initially referenced, though not identified, in a flashback sequence within the second issue of the Star Wars: The High Republic: Eye of the Storm comic-book miniseries. Charles Soule penned this issue, which Marvel Comics released on March 2, 2022 as part of Phase I of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project. The first issue of the 2023 Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures comic series later identified the Merel sector by name, confirming it as one of the Occlusion Zone sectors through a map. Daniel José Older wrote this issue, with illustrations by Harvey Tolibao and Nick Brokenshire, and Dark Horse Comics published it on December 6, 2023, as part of Phase III.
The Merel sector was originally featured in the Star Wars Legends continuity. Its initial mention occurred in Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim, a 1993 sourcebook for West End Games' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, authored by Simon Smith and Eric S. Trautmann. In 2012, Modi's map in The Essential Atlas: Outer Rim Sectors visually depicted the sector for the first time. This feature was part of the StarWars.com Online Companion for the 2009 reference book The Essential Atlas.