Pipada, situated within the Outer Rim Territories and also the Western Reaches, was a planet characterized by its humid environment. The amphibious Drabatan species called it home. Although Pipada managed to avoid involvement in the Clone Wars, the Drabatans voiced their opposition to the Galactic Empire when the Galactic Republic underwent a reformation. The Emperor's criticisms became excessive by 1 BBY, leading to an Imperial crackdown on Pipada as a response.
The planet suffered a blockade, and Sa'Kalla, the most outspoken Drabatan protester, was apprehended. A Drabatan movement emerged in her honor, gaining traction across the planet. To quell the unrest, the Imperial governor of Pipada arranged for the singer to appear at the Pipada Auditorium, instructing her to persuade her people into submission. However, she refused and met her death on stage, prompting the crowd to overwhelm the Imperial security forces and briefly regain control of the planet. Shortly thereafter, Imperial forces returned, retook the planet, and implemented martial law.
Pipada, a planet found in the Outer Rim Territories and Western Reaches, occupied grid square M-18 on the Standard Galactic Grid. Its landscape consisted of freshwater swamps, marshes, and bogs, alongside areas where trees grew. The humid conditions created a warm environment suitable for the native amphibious Drabatans as well as adapted species such as Hutts and Shawda Ubbs. The planet also supported various animals, including insects and fish, and plant life like algae and reeds which could be processed into armor. Pipada also possessed natural resources that could be refined into fuel.
During the Clone Wars, which engulfed the galaxy in conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Pipada remained untouched by the war. However, following the war's conclusion in 19 BBY, the Republic was replaced with the Galactic Empire. Numerous Drabatans protested against the Empire's oppressive rule, including Sa'Kalla, a young Drabatan singer and the most vocal dissenter. She composed popular protest songs in Drabatese, the Drabatans' native language, denouncing Imperial control. When the Galactic Emperor faced excessive criticism, the Empire responded by blockading the planet and taking Sa'Kalla into custody. While imprisoned, she endured torture intended to break her spirit. In response, a Drabatan movement formed in her name to resist the Empire on Pipada.
As the violence threatened to overwhelm the Imperial forces, the Imperial governor in charge brought Sa'Kalla before half a million Drabatans at the Pipada Auditorium, demanding that she convince her people to submit to Imperial authority. Instead, Sa'Kalla bravely addressed her people, urging them to continue opposing the tyranny that occupied their planet, which led to her immediate death on stage. The enraged crowd retaliated against the Imperial security, tearing them apart. The Drabatans then briefly regained control of their homeworld, while many sought refuge off-world after the incident.
The Empire retaliated with overwhelming force, reclaiming the planet and imposing martial law. During the Imperial occupation, the planet's resources were exploited to bolster the Imperial Military and meet its fuel demands, leading to the displacement of most of the population, forcing them to abandon their home.
At a certain point, Ank Parako, a safecracker from the Chadra-Fan species, triggered an explosion on Pipada.
In 3 ABY, Parako revealed to her fellow thief Kay Vess that she kept count of the explosions she initiated, noting that the one on Pipada was her 859th.
Pipada was mentioned in an artist's journal within an entry concerning the Drabatan species, where the planet was remembered for its exploitation by the Empire. The journal eventually became part of the Graf Archive, a vast collection owned by the Graf family containing historically significant documents, sometime after 34 ABY.
Pipada served as the home for a minimum of half a million native Drabatans, including individuals like Sa'Kalla and Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek, a rebel who opposed the Galactic Empire. Some Drabatans also participated in the Pipada Symphony Chamber Chorus. Besides the native amphibians, Pipada was inhabited by adapted sentient species, such as Hutts and Shawda Ubbs. During the Imperial occupation, human swamptroopers were also stationed on the planet. Following the Empire's resource extraction, most of the Drabatan population was displaced and forced to flee off-world.
Most of Pipada's inhabitants lived in single-family homes constructed in trees, elevated on stilts, or floating on ponds. The largest lakes hosted cities with enormous towers, some adorned with luxurious skyhooks and supported by foundations that extended deep into the lakebeds. Numerous buoy-buildings housing a variety of shops were interconnected and anchored to downtown structures. Significant activity also occurred beneath the lake's surface, with most structures featuring entrances both above and below the water. One notable building was the Pipada Auditorium, the stadium where the Drabatan singer Sa'Kalla was executed for her opposition to the Galactic Empire.
Pipada was initially mentioned in both Star Wars: Rogue One: A Junior Novel by Matt Forbeck and Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide by Pablo Hidalgo. Both publications were simultaneously released on December 16, 2016.