Ord Antalaha, a planet situated along the Shwuy Exchange within the [Colonies](/article/colonies/legends] region of the galaxy, was initially colonized by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars and transformed into an Ordnance/Regional Depot. This military installation served primarily as a storage and recreation hub, leading to the construction of numerous storage facilities across its surface. Following the Clone Wars, military personnel departed, leaving only civilian colonists. However, the colonial population rapidly dwindled, and Ord Antalaha eventually became a frequent port of call and sanctuary for pirates, smugglers, and other criminals operating in space.
These fringe individuals soon took over the vacant warehouses of Ord Antalaha, fortifying them into heavily defended fortresses known as "Resorts." Despite the arrival of these new inhabitants, the colonists continued their peaceful lives as simple farmers. Indeed, most criminals on Ord Antalaha understood the importance of not harassing the colonists, fearing it would attract unwanted attention from the Imperial forces. Although no formal government governed the planet after the Clone Wars, the collective criminal presence operated under a three-rule code. Fort Divin, the planet's only starport, became a hub for black marketeering and smuggling activities.
Located along the Shwuy Exchange, a relatively minor trade route within the Colonies region that connected the Shwuy and Fakir sectors, Ord Antalaha was a planet within the Ord Antalaha system. Despite its remoteness, its access to this trade route allowed starships to utilize it as a stopover en route to the major routes at either end of the Exchange: the Hydian Way and the Namadii Corridor.
Ord Antalaha, a pleasant world characterized by a temperate climate and a breathable atmosphere, featured a landscape of forests and plains distributed across its three continents. Initially colonized by the Galactic Republic as an Ordnance/Regional Depot, it later evolved into a refuge for pirates, smugglers, and other fringe elements. Following its abandonment by the Republic, no single government controlled Ord Antalaha, although localized fiefdoms emerged across the planet. The primary industries were farming and illicit ship services, with trade centered around stolen goods and plunder. The sole starport on the planet was Fort Divin.
According to the Rebel Alliance SecuriDex directory, Ord Antalaha posed a moderate threat to Alliance personnel and was considered strategically advantageous. It was also recommended as a potential temporary sanctuary or supply exchange location for Alliance operatives.
Sometime before the Pius Dea Era, Ord Antalaha was colonized by the Galactic Republic to serve as an Ordnance/Regional Depot. Its initial purpose was to provide storage and recreation for injured soldiers, thanks to its convenient location along the Shwuy Exchange. Thousands of warehouses were constructed and grouped together across the planet. These warehouses were eventually redistributed evenly across the planet and given light armor to mitigate potential damage from enemy orbital bombardment. A small hospital and resort were also built for the benefit of recovering soldiers. Throughout the war, Ord Antalaha remained largely undisturbed, serving as a staging area for several operations but never as a battlefield itself. After the Clone Wars, the military installations and warehouses were de-escalated and ultimately abandoned, but the colony remained, surviving on limited trade and agriculture.
In the years following the Clone Wars, the colony's population experienced a rapid decline, eventually reaching a point where it was almost non-existent. The few remaining colonists dispersed to other areas of the planet. Ord Antalaha escaped the attention of the newly formed Galactic Empire, but soon became a regular stop for pirates and smugglers. The planet's small population allowed criminals to conduct their private affairs without interference from local authorities or the Empire. As word spread within the underworld, the abandoned warehouses and staging facilities were repaired and reoccupied, serving as bases for various pirate and smuggling organizations. The colonists continued their previous way of life, undisturbed by their new neighbors.
Following the Clone Wars, Ord Antalaha was home to a sparse and scattered population of colonists and criminals, both Human and otherwise. It was known for having one of the highest ratios of criminals to citizens in the galaxy. Between approximately 2 BBY and 4 ABY, the population of Ord Antalaha was estimated to be around 150,000, although the accuracy of this figure was questionable. By approximately 25 ABY, the typical inhabited world on the Shwuy Exchange had a population ranging from 100 million to 500 million.
The majority of Ord Antalaha's colonists resided five kilometers from the Fort Divin starport, within the planet's warm forests and hot plains. After the military forces withdrew from the planet after the Clone Wars, the colonists relocated from their original settlements but continued to live relatively peaceful lives, despite their diminishing numbers. Many colonists worked as simple farmers, sustaining themselves through agriculture in the absence of Republic support. The arrival of pirates and other criminals had virtually no impact on their lifestyle; aside from the occasional low-flying pirate ship, their territory remained peaceful and quiet. While they did not particularly enjoy living near such unsavory individuals, the colonists found their criminal neighbors tolerable. Approximately two thousand occupied warehouses, collectives, farms, homesteads, ranches, and villages were scattered across the planet, each housing colonist populations ranging from one to one thousand. Whenever possible, the colonists attempted to move into the abandoned Republic facilities, but many simply used prefabricated buildings when warehouses were unavailable.
Criminal elements, including pirates and smugglers, were initially attracted to Ord Antalaha due to its relative obscurity and convenient location along the Shwuy Exchange. The planet's small colonist population and lack of Imperial oversight allowed criminals to conduct their activities without interference.
Although no formal government existed after the Republic's abandonment, a local code was established among the criminals to govern the various fringe elements on the planet. This code consisted of three fundamental rules, the first being "Antalaha is a neutral zone." Feuds between criminal groups were prohibited on the planet; while pirate captains and mercenary units often clashed in space, any conflict between them had to be suspended upon reaching the surface of Ord Antalaha. Personal duels and cantina brawls were permitted, but any organized aggression was met with severe punishment by the rest of the planet's criminal inhabitants. The second rule was "Leave the colonists alone." Many believed that allowing the colonists to live in peace would prevent unwanted attention from being drawn to their safe haven. Most were concerned that outraged farmers could attract Imperial interest, which they believed would result in disaster for everyone. Some pirates and mercenaries took this idea to an extreme, believing it was their duty to protect the colonists from crime lords and gangsters. While the colonists often felt overprotected, most preferred having the criminals occupy the planet rather than the Imperials. The final rule enforced by the fringe elements of Ord Antalaha was "You only get one chance." Individuals who were overly disruptive were given one warning by the planet's older criminal inhabitants; no second failures were tolerated, and repeat offenders were sometimes known to disappear.
Many criminals established their homes in the warehouses abandoned by the Republic. Approximately one thousand warehouse clusters, each consisting of one to ten warehouses, were scattered across the planet, varying in size and design. Roughly five hundred of these were occupied by various raider, slaver, smuggler, and mercenary groups drawn to the planet. These inhabited clusters were often referred to as "Resorts" by the colonists. Each Resort had at least one large warehouse, typically subdivided into quarters and managed by a support staff, and a landing field large enough for a light freighter. Additionally, many Resorts had at least one hangar, and some criminal groups even installed light space defense blasters in case of attack. Some group leaders were paranoid enough to relocate periodically, while others designed their Resorts to allow for rapid evacuation. Not all groups transformed their Resorts into impenetrable fortresses; some converted their claimed structures into simple settlements or miniature courts.
Ord Antalaha's single starport, Fort Divin, was named in honor of Divin, the first lieutenant to oversee the planet's military depot after its initial colonization. Following the arrival of off-world criminals, the starport began to experience a significant increase in illegal traffic. Smuggling eventually became a secondary industry on the planet, and numerous black marketeers began trading with the local pirates for their stolen goods. Fort Divin was the site of considerable illicit dealings and betrayals, but it was not considered significantly more dangerous than most seedy starports. Transponder forgeries and ship modifications were among the starport's many illegal services, but the port's facilities were unable to service any ships larger than a CR90 corvette and primarily catered to converted freighters and patrol vessels. Fort Divin had a bustling market for used starships, although ships were sold stripped of weapons and other extras, which had to be added later at a profit for the starship fitters.
Ord Antalaha was initially detailed in Pirates & Privateers by Timothy S. O'Brien, a supplement for Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game published by West End Games in 1997. In 2008, it was included in the multi-author work The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, and in 2009, it was referenced in The Essential Atlas by Daniel Wallace and Jason Fry.
Pirates & Privateers states that fringe elements did not discover Ord Antalaha until "roughly ten years before Palpatine's ascension to the throne." However, given that the rest of the book indicates that criminals only occupied the planet after it was abandoned following the Clone Wars, this is likely an error. This is further supported by the planet's entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, which states that pirates discovered the planet after the Clone Wars.