The Poporov merchants, originating from Armstiss, were a collective of merchants who once staged an uprising against the Galactic Empire. This act of defiance was suppressed by Imperial forces, among them Captain [Strayit] and Lieutenant Zertik Strom, who arrived aboard the Imperial Navy vessel Marshall Awe to quell the revolt. During the confrontation, Strom intercepted a blaster shot intended for Strayit, which was fired by one of the insurgents. Subsequently, he shoved a thermal detonator into the trousers of the merchants' ringleader, then hurled him over a precipice, where he landed amidst his followers. The resulting blast killed most of the merchants and obliterated their market stands, leaving the survivors too terrified to continue their resistance.
The initial reference to the Poporov merchants appeared in the second installment of Viva Space Vegas! The History of the Marvelous Wheel. This piece was co-authored by Abel G. Peña and Rich Handley and published on the StarWars.com Star Wars Blog in 2013. The article lacks specificity regarding whether the events involving the merchants transpired during the Rebellion era or the Rise of the Empire era.