Ryloth's third moon
Ryloth's Third Moon, alternatively called its third moon, held the position of the third moon in orbit around the planet Ryloth. This desolate, rocky satellite, possessing a breathable atmosphere, was the closest of the three moons encircling Ryloth. Not long after the establishment of the Galactic Empire, members of the Free Ryloth Movement orchestrated a meeting at this location to acquire illicit weaponry they had procured.
Description
The third moon of Ryloth presented as a barren, rock-strewn celestial body, featuring an atmosphere suitable for respiration by both humans and Twi'leks. From afar, the moon manifested as a hazy, greyish sphere. As one of the trio of moons in orbit around Ryloth, it resided within the Ryloth system found in the Outer Rim Territories' Gaulus sector, specifically at grid coordinates R-17. Similar to its [planet](/article/planet], the moon's location placed it along the Corellian Run and the hyperspace routes known as Mumble's Turnaround. The Twi'lek celebration of Longest Night coincided with the time when this moon and the two other moons of Ryloth reached their minimal phase.
History
In the year 19 BBY, the Clone Wars, a conflict that had engulfed the entire galaxy, drew to a close with the transformation of the long-standing Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire. Despite the claim that this shift would bring renewed peace, prosperity, and security to the galaxy, it was, in reality, a carefully calculated power grab by the newly appointed Emperor Palpatine. Some individuals immediately recognized the deception and began plotting resistance against the Empire. General Cham Syndulla, a former Twi'lek freedom fighter who had previously opposed the Separatist invasion of Ryloth during the war, was initially not among these dissenters, as he desired peace for his homeworld and wished to spare his daughter, Hera, from a life of constant conflict. However, Gobi Glie, Cham's lieutenant, harbored suspicions, believing that his general was only seeing what he wanted to see, and he commenced organizing with other former combatants. Glie also recruited Hera into his group, convinced that she needed to be prepared for battle.
The Empire had demanded that the Twi'leks disarm themselves and surrender their weapons, promising that their military would ensure Ryloth's protection. Perceiving this as a vulnerability, Glie arranged to purchase additional weapons from the information broker Ciddarin Scaleback, setting up a meeting on the third moon. As Glie and Serin were preparing to depart in Glie's Rainhawk-class transport, Hera initially declined an invitation to join them, as she had recently been apprehended for trespassing near the new Imperial doonium refinery. However, she changed her mind when Glie mentioned that he had intended to let her pilot the ship. Upon the starship's departure, Commander CT-9904 of the Elite Squad Trooper unit, who had been observing the landing pad, attached a homing beacon to it.
Hera piloted the transport for the majority of the journey to the moon, but Glie instructed Serin to take over for the landing, as he considered Hera to be insufficiently experienced for takeoffs and landings. Serin examined the ship's sensors and reported that their contact was already approaching, before they touched down on a small plain on the moon's surface. Scaleback had dispatched the Bad Batch, a squad of former clone commandos now employed as mercenaries, to deliver the weapons. Their shuttle, the Marauder, flew over the nearby hills before circling around to land. The clones disembarked, unloading the crates containing blasters and thermal detonators sent by Scaleback.
While Hunter engaged in conversation with Glie, who wished to inspect the weapons before making payment, Hera wandered over to the Marauder, her curiosity piqued. She inquired about the ship to Omega, a young clone who had joined the Batch after they defected from the Empire, and the girl obtained permission from Hunter to give Hera a tour. After Glie and Serin had examined the weapons to their satisfaction, he handed over the case containing the payment to Hunter, instructing him to inform Scaleback to notify him when she had more items for sale. Hunter remarked that accumulating an arsenal would attract unwanted attention and that Glie should be aware of the potential consequences, to which Glie responded that he had no other choice. Hera and Omega exited the Marauder as Glie announced their impending departure, and Hera bid farewell to Omega before hurrying back to the Rainhawk. When Hunter asked Omega if she had made a new friend, Omega replied that she liked Hera but found her to be somewhat peculiar. The Twi'leks left the moon and returned to Ryloth, only to be ambushed by Imperial forces due to the homing beacon affixed to their ship.
The Free Ryloth Movement maintained a clandestine underground base on the moon for many years afterward.
Behind the scenes
Ryloth's third moon made its initial appearance in the 2015 novel titled Lords of the Sith. It was subsequently identified in the Star Wars: The Bad Batch episode called "Devil's Deal." The official Databank entry for Gobi Glie's starship refers to it as "Ryloth's moon" as if it were the only one, even though there are other moons visible in the episode itself and other media had established Ryloth having three moons.