A highly advanced surveillance apparatus, known as a spy ray, was engineered by Doctor Nasan Godera for the Galactic Republic. This occurred during the Great Galactic War against the Sith Empire. The spy ray functioned by emitting particle beams. These beams interacted with matter, either passing through or reflecting off objects based on their density. This allowed for the creation of detailed images of targets spanning an entire star system. The Strategic Information Service, the Republic's primary intelligence organization, found it exceptionally useful.
The construction of the spy ray involved a square base. This base supported a long, rectangular component capable of pivoting and rotating for target focus. A control panel situated on the base's side facilitated user adjustments and target viewing via a device resembling electrobinoculars. Upon activation, the spy ray emitted a particle beam. The beam's interaction with the target—reflection or penetration—depended on its intensity. Reflected particles were processed by the base to generate high-resolution target images. This allowed the user to observe objects as minute as a shyrack's mouth across a star system. Though not designed as a weapon, the beam's frequency could be modified to achieve weaponization. Furthermore, a minimum safe operational distance of 500 kilometers was necessary. Closer proximity risked disintegration of the targeted objects. The materials needed for construction could be carried by three humanoids and an astromech droid in large backpacks, but assembly required at least two days and three individuals.
Doctor Nasan Godera, a scientist serving as the chief designer for the Galactic Republic's Advanced Development Laboratories during the Great Galactic War against the Sith Empire, was the original creator of the spy ray. Godera completed the device prior to the war's conclusion in 3653 BBY, resigning thereafter in protest of the Republic's acceptance of the Treaty of Coruscant. During the ensuing Cold War, the spy ray was esteemed as the premier reconnaissance technology of its time and was employed by the Republic Strategic Information Service, the Republic's intelligence division. SIS agent Theron Shan received training in spy ray construction and maintained the necessary components aboard his ship, the Sojourner, for potential deployment.
During a mission to the Imperial-controlled Vesla system to investigate the activities of Dark Councilor Darth Mekhis, Shan, aided by Twi'lek smuggler Teff'ith, Jedi Master Ngani Zho, and his astromech M-6, constructed a spy ray on a remote planet. Following two days of assembly, Shan utilized it to examine the planets Vesla Two and Vesla Three, discovering Mekhis's testing of superweapons and the Imperial use of the Sun Razer space station to harness solar energy for superweapon construction. However, the spy ray was abandoned when Shan discerned the Empire's ability to bypass the Sun Razer's scanner interference. Subsequently, the trio was apprehended aboard the Sojourner by the Harrower-class dreadnought Valor Prevails as they attempted to depart the planet's atmosphere.
The Star Wars: The Old Republic comic series story arc, The Lost Suns, introduced the spy ray in Part 3, published in August 2011. Consistent with the arc's pattern of introducing characters and locations later featured in the Star Wars: The Old Republic video game, the issue employed the spy ray to present Doctor Nasan Godera, the device's designer, who would assume a significant role in the game's Jedi Knight and Imperial Agent class narratives. Star Wars: The Old Republic Encyclopedia, a reference guide for the game released in 2012, incorporated the spy ray into a catalog of Doctor Godera's projects within his entry.