Rafa V

The Rafa system, comprised of eleven planets and a multitude of moons, was characterized by the vast, plastic remnants left by the ancient Sharu civilization. These structures ranked among the largest ever created in the galaxy, proving to be remarkably resistant to penetration. Numerous Human colonies, established in the early years of the Galactic Republic, arose in and around these monumental constructions.

A primitive humanoid race, known as the Toka, also inhabited the Rafa system, enduring treatment as slaves under the Rafa colonists' control.

The system gained notoriety for its unique life-orchards, which were groves of crystalline trees. These trees bore crystal "fruit" that, when harvested and worn, could prolong an individual's lifespan. However, direct work among these crystalline trees sapped a person's vitality and intellect, leading to the Toka and criminals from Rafa's numerous penal colonies performing the majority of the harvesting. Uniquely, Rafa V was the only known source of Firkrann lightsaber crystals.

Millennia before the rise of the Infinite Empire under the Rakata, and even prior to the later Galactic Republic, the Rafa system was the cradle of an advanced humanoid civilization called the Sharu. This civilization was responsible for the construction of the colossal plastic pyramids found on the worlds of the Rafa system, as well as the Mindharp of Sharu, a peculiar artifact that constantly morphed its form as it traversed dimensions.

The Human colonists exploited them as enslaved laborers. In 4 BBY, Lando Calrissian made the discovery of the Mindharp. The governor of Rafa IV inadvertently triggered the Mindharp, unleashing subharmonic emanations that initiated a reversal of the social structure within the Rafa system. The Toka were elevated to the status of the legendary Sharu, while the pyramids crumbled, giving rise to strange, novel cities. This event also generated an interdiction field, effectively preventing hyperspace travel both into and out of the system for several weeks. Many Human settlements suffered destruction, forcing the surviving settlers to flee. Trade with the Rafa system experienced a sudden and complete collapse.

However, this incident drew a multitude of scientists and researchers to the Rafa system. Calrissian was celebrated as a hero by many for his involvement in these events. While the Sharu did not impede the scientists' research, they also refrained from cooperating with what they deemed "lesser sentients." Consequently, limited information exists regarding Sharu history and technology. Even Emperor Palpatine himself felt sufficiently threatened by the species to establish a permanent military garrison within the Rafa system. Nevertheless, his forces refrained from any military action against the Sharu. Subsequently, the New Republic deployed a five-hundred member research team from the Obroan Institute for Archaeology to investigate the species.