Messert, a planet situated within the Messert system, served as the homeworld for Seftin Vanik, a human pilot celebrated for his daring stunts. Initially a part of the New Republic, which was formally established in 5 ABY, Messert later made the surprising choice to withdraw from the Republic's governance. This act of secession deeply affected Vanik, given his strong allegiance to the galactic government. Subsequently, around 35 ABY, Vanik accepted Poe Dameron's invitation to become a member of the Resistance.
The initial, albeit indirect, mention of Messert within the current Star Wars canon occurred in Pablo Hidalgo's 2019 reference work, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary. Its formal identification as "Messert" came in the 2021 reference book titled Star Wars: Character Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded Edition. Within the Star Wars Legends continuity, the Messert name initially appeared in the 1991 West End Games sourcebook, Planets of the Galaxy, Volume One, for Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, specifically in relation to the Messert Mines Corporation. Later, in 2009, it was identified as a celestial body within The Essential Atlas, a reference book authored by Daniel Wallace and Jason Fry.