Nespis VIII
Nespis VIII, alternatively known as Nespis 8, and also called the Nespis VIII spaceport or Space City, was a space station situated within the Auril system. Its construction occurred sometime during the initial period of the Galactic Republic.
History
This orbiting metropolis came into existence in the early era of hyperspace travel, functioning as a remote interstellar signal. By 10,000 BBY, Vicendi had recognized the City as one of the Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy. It endured millennia of galactic conflicts, encompassing the Sith War and the obliteration of the Cron Drift. However, it experienced widespread abandonment by the time of the Clone Wars. Consequently, the station became a repository of antiquated artifacts originating from different eras of space exploration. A Jedi archive was present on the station, but Darth Vader eradicated this repository and eliminated its protector, Aidan Bok, during the Great Jedi Purge. Imperial scientist Borborygmus Gog then fabricated a counterfeit library, aiming to entice and seize Force-sensitive individuals for his research.
Not long after the Battle of Yavin, Mammon Hoole and the Arranda children sought sanctuary on the station alongside ForceFlow, a HoloNet acquaintance of Tash Arranda's. ForceFlow deceived Hoole and the Arrandas, leading them to join the numerous artifact hunters in pursuit of the fabled Jedi library. Tash Arranda discovered the library and the spirit of Aidan Bok, who cautioned her about Gog's deception. Subsequently, ForceFlow revealed his true identity as Borborygmus Gog, but Tash managed to evade the Imperial scientist with Aidan Bok's assistance.
In 10 ABY, Luke Skywalker encountered Kam Solusar at this location, and Luke successfully guided Kam back to the light side. Following the annihilation of Pinnacle Base on Da Soocha V, Mon Mothma and the New Republic leadership sought refuge at the space station, which then became the place of birth for Anakin Solo. During the events surrounding Operation Shadow Hand in the Galactic Civil War, the New Republic equipped it with V-200 ion cannons.
A turncoat within the New Republic forces divulged Mothma's whereabouts to the Galactic Empire. However, R2-D2 alerted his masters to this act of treachery, prompting the immediate evacuation by the New Republic. In an attempt to eliminate the Alliance leaders before their escape, the resurrected Emperor Palpatine commanded the launch of a Galaxy Gun projectile with the intent of obliterating the ancient space city. Despite the failure of New Republic starfighters to impede the massive projectile, a defective timing mechanism originating from Roonadan prevented the weapon's detonation. Enraged, the Emperor launched a second projectile, but the majority of the Alliance fleet entered hyperspace just as the space station was destroyed in an explosion.