Reef Fortress, a secluded bastion belonging to the Hapan Royal Family, stood on a diminutive island within an ocean found on the planet of Hapes. During the year 23 ABY, Jedi trainees – specifically Tenel Ka, Lowbacca, Jacen Solo, and Jaina Solo – took residence at this fortress. It was during their stay that Ambassador Yfra attempted to kill the young Jedi by directing their wavespeeder into a cluster of perilous carnivorous seaweed. After successfully evading the seaweed, these young Jedi saved the Hapan matriarch, Ta'a Chume, from Bartokk assassins dispatched by the ambassador, thus thwarting Yfra's scheme to overthrow the Hapan monarchy. Furthermore, Reef Fortress served as the setting for an honor duel between Prince Isolder and Archon Beed Thane in 25 ABY. The outcome of this duel determined the Hapes Consortium's involvement in the war against the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong.
Reef Fortress functioned as the exclusive seaside getaway for the Royal Family of Hapes. This fortress, characterized by its thick walls, was strategically positioned on a remote, small island within an ocean on the planet Hapes. Access was limited to boat, and it was encircled by reefs. This made the fortress a secure stronghold during times of crisis, engineered to be impenetrable. The fortress boasted elevated walls adorned with turrets at each corner and was further safeguarded by a deflector shield. A generator station, complete with backup generators and a deflector shield generator, was located nearby to supply the fortress with power. The site also featured a stone cave grotto that served as an anchorage for boats and was situated near a secluded swimming cove. By 23 ABY, the fortress included a tower room designated as the bedchamber for the matriarch, Ta'a Chume. Notably, this room lacked secret passages due to concerns that assassins might exploit them for entry.
During her youth, Tenel Ka, the Hapan princess, frequently spent time with her parents at Reef Fortress, regarding it as a cherished summer residence. Years later, in 23 ABY, Tenel Ka returned to the fortress accompanied by Lowbacca, Jacen Solo, and Jaina Solo, her fellow Jedi trainees from Jedi Master Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum. This return was prompted by a bomb explosion at Fountain Palace, the Hapan matriarch's royal residence where they had been lodging. Yfra, the personal ambassador of the matriarch Ta'a Chume, along with some Hapan Honor Guards, accompanied the youths to provide protection. During their stay, the youths often swam in a small cove. Ta'a Chume, Tenel Ka's grandmother, insisted that Tenel Ka fulfill her duties as the princess of Hapes, requiring her to negotiate with a Mairan ambassador. Subsequently, Yfra suggested that Jacen, Jaina, Lowbacca, and Tenel Ka take a wavespeeder out on the ocean. Unbeknownst to them, Yfra had pre-programmed the wavespeeder to steer them into an area infested with dangerous carnivorous seaweed, with the intention of killing them as part of her scheme to overthrow the Hapan Royal Family. The youths managed to escape the seaweed by utilizing their lightsabers and knives, and Jaina and Lowbacca skillfully piloted the wavespeeder back to the island.
Later, Ta'a Chume arrived at the fortress aboard her own royal wavespeeder. That night, Bartokk assassins, dispatched by Yfra, invaded Reef Fortress, disabling the shield generator and cutting off all power to the fortress. The assassins targeted Ta'a Chume, trapping her within her bedchamber. Working together, Jacen, Jaina, Lowbacca, and Tenel Ka rescued the matriarch and escaped through the window of her bedchamber. Realizing there was no safe haven nearby, they fled the island on a small wavespeeder, pursued by the assassins in their assault boat. After navigating the Dragon's Teeth, a treacherous cluster of sharp rocks jutting out of the ocean, Jaina and Lowbacca deliberately piloted the wavespeeder into a patch of carnivorous seaweed, eliminating the pursuing assassins. Ta'a Chume then piloted the wavespeeder to Fountain Palace, arriving just in time to prevent Yfra from declaring herself the monarch.
In 25 ABY, Prince Isolder and Archon Beed Thane engaged in an honor duel at Reef Fortress. This duel was initiated by Isolder slapping Thane in the face for insulting both New Republic Ambassador Leia Organa Solo and Tenel Ka, Isolder's daughter. Isolder emerged victorious in a sudden death round called by the referee. Consequently, the Hapes Consortium resolved to join the war against the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong invaders.
Reef Fortress made its debut in the 1996 publication Young Jedi Knights: Lightsabers, authored by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. A dedicated entry for Reef Fortress was included in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia in 2008. However, this entry contains an inaccuracy, stating that Leia Organa Solo was present at Reef Fortress in 23 ABY with her children, whereas, according to Lightsabers, she was on Coruscant at that time.