During the Great Sith War, the Arkanian Jedi Master Arca Jeth's personal starship was the SunGem, a customized Delaya-class courier. To function as a mobile Jedi academy, Jeth altered the quick, but poorly-armed vessel, adding spaces for lightsaber training, a meditation chamber, and a large computer library with Jedi texts. In 4000 BBY, Jeth sent his three Jedi apprentices—Tott Doneeta, a Twi'lek, and the Human brothers Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma—to peacefully settle a long and bloody conflict between the monarchy of Onderon, a planet, and the Beast Riders, banished criminals. The students soon realized the planet's leaders were dark side cultists and became part of a Beast Rider army during a siege on Iziz, the capital city. Even though the monarchy gained an advantage, Jeth arrived in the SunGem and employed battle meditation, an unusual Force ability, to assist the Beast Riders in achieving victory.
The SunGem, a Delaya-class courier ship, was owned by Arca Jeth, an Arkanian Jedi Master, and modified to serve as a training center for his Jedi students. The SunGem was uniquely aerodynamic because of its retractable airfoils and multiple layers of maneuvering vanes. A computer system controlled the airfoils, adjusting each one's angle to maximize maneuverability. The SunGem used twenty-one Hoersch-Kessel ion engines grouped in threes; each trio was attached to a servo-controlled maneuvering adjuster. The ship, though only seventy meters in length, possessed impressive sublight speed, reaching 950 kilometers per hour within an atmosphere. The SunGem was armed with a proton torpedo launcher directly in front of the cockpit that used extremely powerful high-yield torpedoes, despite its limited range.
Additionally, the SunGem featured two rotating laser cannons on the airfoils' exterior, capable of firing in opposite directions at the same time. The pilot and gunnery controls were located in the cockpit, and the main living area could accommodate up to eight individuals. The interior largely consisted of Jedi training facilities, such as lightsaber practice areas equipped with remotes, a room with adjustable gravity and atmosphere for simulating harsh environments, a meditation chamber, and a vast computer library of Jedi texts. The ship had minimal cargo space, just enough for a small scouting speeder. The SunGem, marked with Jeth's personal Jedi sigil, was one of the most recognizable ships in the Jedi's service. Advanced piloting computers allowed for solo operation when necessary.
Master Arca Jeth dispatched his three Jedi apprentices, including Ulic Qel-Droma, in 4000 BBY to establish peace on Onderon, a planet devastated by a conflict between the monarchy and exiled dissidents for many generations. Jeth's students allied with the Beast Riders, the aforementioned exiles, against Amanoa, the Queen of Onderon, after discovering that the Onderonian rulers were dark side cultists. Following a failed peace negotiation, a sizable Beast Rider army attacked Iziz, the planet's capital. The Royal Armed Forces gained an advantage in the battle due to Amanoa's use of the dark side. However, Jeth's arrival in the SunGem and his use of battle meditation, a Force power, shifted the battle's momentum back to the Beast Riders. Ulic Qel-Droma spotted the SunGem as it flew over Iziz, and Jeth landed the ship on Iziz's walls to meet with his apprentices.
Jedi Master Arca Jeth owned and operated the SunGem. He utilized the ship as a training center for his students and modified it to allow for solo piloting if necessary.
Kevin J. Anderson wrote, Chris Gossett illustrated, and November 15, 1993 saw the release of SunGem's debut in Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon, which was the first story arc of the Tales of the Jedi comic book series. Gossett initially designed the SunGem. The ship was not named in the Tales of the Jedi comics, but The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels later named it the SunGem, although the entry title simply called it "Master Arca's ship."