Numerous star systems exist within the Xan sector, although not many are charted, and even fewer have a significant number of inhabitants. While a number of regularly traveled hyperspace lanes and diverging routes spiderweb through the sector, there are more than a handful of systems that haven’t been visited in years.
Countless mining operations and research stations have cropped up over the millennia, generally in systems that have no native sentient populations. While a few of them are lucrative enough to remain in operation, it is not unheard of for surveyors to find the remains of some mothballed and forgotten installation on some wayward planet or moon.
The sector is also home to criminals who have sought to flee the repercussions of their actions, evading the scrutiny of the Core Worlds to set themselves up on a new planet with a fresh identity. While some do so in order to live a life more straight and narrow, others simply revert to a life of crime or seek to build small criminal empires.
Explorers through the sector might also come across small colonies on far-flung planets and moons, inhabited by adherents to some unheard-of religious faction that sought to avoid persecution, real or imagined. Over the years of isolation, some of these cults and schisms have evolved into strange systems of belief that are found nowhere else in the galaxy.
All of this against the backdrop of the struggles of a fledgling New Republic dealing with the herculean task of administration and maintaining some semblance of peace between the various planetary governments, while also defending against external threats. Bloodthirsty pirate warlords take advantage of the New Republic's shortcomings to menace the hyperspace lanes and plunder poorly defended transport vessels, while mercenaries charge a premium for protection, with many willing to sell out to pirates willing to pay them more.
The death of Palpatine caused the Empire to shatter into dozens of small splinter factions and remnants. A measurable amount of pro-Imperial sentiment still sits at the heart of the Xan sector, as they see the path of joining the New Republic as a path of giving into the chaos and disorder that grips the rest of the sector. Many planetary governors still oversee the planets they had governed during the height of the Empire, although with substantially less access to military might.
Class K Orange Giant (III)
A system often overlooked in the galactic scene, with only a handful of sparsely populated planets, most people barely register the system’s existence if they’ve ever heard of it at all. The locals often regard the rest of the galaxy with disdain and view the conflicts that have engulfed the galaxy as having little to do with them, other than a new flag that collects their taxes and provides little support.
The sentiments of the inhabitants have made the system an appealing destination for criminals and other people looking to have a fresh start in life with no questions asked about their history.
Athepar
Class B Geomorteus
The surface of the planet is a rocky and cratered surface, which becomes partially molten when the planet’s orbit reaches the closest point to the star. The surface temperature varies wildly and is largely inhospitable to most forms of life found in the galaxy.
Sirassa
Class K Adaptable
The surface of the world is dotted with pressurized domes and small sealed outposts, as the planet lacks a substantial atmosphere. There have been a number of terraforming attempts in the far past, and the remnants of several massive machines that were instrumental to those attempts stand as silent corpses dotting the horizon. However, the amount of minerals harvested ensures that inhabitants of the planet are capable of eking out a moderate existence.
Most of the inhabitants of the planet are fed via hydroponic gardens. During the Republic Era, a dangerous and rapidly spreading fungal infection wiped out the majority of the farming capability of the planet. When delegates petitioning for aid from the Senate were turned away, the planet experienced severe starvation, which caused favorable sentiment for joining the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
While the local government was hesitant to openly declare their secession, they reached out, and a secret deal was made between the local government and the growing Separatist movement. In exchange for a substantial amount of food and assistance, the Separatists were allowed to operate on the planet almost with impunity, although covertly to avoid Republic scrutiny. In the months leading up to the Clone Wars, a new pressurized dome was constructed, funded by the Confederacy for their private use.
During the Clone Wars, the new facilities were entirely used for covert actions against the Republic, and it largely remained unnoticed until the final days of the Clone Wars. A brief assault by Republic forces secured the area, and government authorities who were complicit in the arrangement were arrested. The Separatist facilities were dismantled, and the pressure dome was left abandoned.
Little changed with the coming of the Empire; the newly elected authorities sold the idea that with new leaders, there would be a new age of growth and stability for the planet. At first, there was progress, and many of the planet’s citizens enjoyed a period of good fortune. However, within a few short years, the populace found that the benefits were short-lived, and little had actually changed. Imperial attention on the planet was absent, save for a small garrison of troopers who believed the assignment to be punishment for their transgressions. There was near-constant tension between the garrison and the populace, as the storm troopers were often overly aggressive and almost never held accountable for their actions.
With the rise of the New Republic, the people were once again hopeful that prosperity was on the horizon. Unfortunately, in the few years since, the only change has been in the local leadership, with Mertan Serando being voted back into office, despite having served a short prison sentence for his role with the Separatist fiasco.
Although Sirassa flies the flag of the New Republic, the loyalty of the populace does not run deep. Most pay lip service to the ideals of the New Republic, but most matters are handled locally. The local starports have started being used more and more by smugglers, as word has spread that a small bribe can get dockmasters to look the other way, and locals don’t ask questions.
Malsan
Class L Marginal
A small colony, established during the Clone Wars, inhabits the planet. Nearly a dozen cities with nearly ten million people scattered among them eke out their living among the rocky plateaus and arid scrublands.
Even more so than Sirassa, the inhabitants of Malsan feel that events off-planet have little bearing upon the locals. Regardless of the flag being waved by the rest of the galaxy, the people of Malsan are more focused on getting by day-to-day. Between moisture farming and underground farms, the people spend much of their time toiling away, keeping their eyes on their work instead of gazing at the stars.
The planet is home to an interesting species of snail that lives in shallow caves, and when stressed, the snails emit a liquid that can be used to make a vibrant violet dye. The only real export of the planet is the dye, which has seen an increase in popularity amongst various nobles of the New Republic.
Veledore
Class J Gas Giant
A dozen mining stations float in the planet’s upper atmosphere, processing gasses gathered by droid-piloted harvesters. These stations are old, having been put into orbit during the Old Republic over a century prior, and require constant upkeep.
Few personnel inhabit the stations, mostly aged spacers and a handful of people from the local planets who took a lucrative job in order to get offworld. Few stay long, collecting their pay and leaving for greener pastures the moment the next freighter rolls through to collect the compressed gas. Because of the sentiment of temporary assignment, many needed repairs go uncompleted, and are instead pushed off on the next crew, or until they become critical.
Sidebar: Drinking a Gas Giant
An interesting local concoction served at most higher-end establishments is Veledore Brandy, an intoxicating beverage made from wine turned into brandy in a container that holds a mixture of gas taken from the upper atmosphere of the nearby planet of Veledore. The delightful mix also carries with it a peculiar aroma, which seems to elicit a strange sense of familiarity and nostalgia upon smelling it.
Asteroid Belt
Within the belt is a large base made from the hollowed remnants of a massive asteroid, formed during the heyday of the Empire. The primary purpose of the base was a hangar for small patrol craft such as TIE fighters, and during the height of the Empire a single squadron was stationed here, along with a few auxiliary craft.
Since the Battle of Endor, the Imperials have abandoned the base, with the craft all being reallocated elsewhere. While the facilities remain in a state of disuse, it is rumored that pirates and scavengers occasionally visit the location, only to abandon it after learning nothing within is worth salvaging.
Parsa
Class C Geoinactive
A small rocky planet covered in small patches of various ices, including frozen nitrogen and methane, the planet is mostly ignored by locals as there doesn’t seem to be any useful resources hidden beneath the ice.
Rumors of an old Separatist cache have persisted since the early days of the Empire, a small hidden outpost on the far-flung planet that the Confederate forces hiding on Sirassa could access and resupply from. Despite a number of expeditions, no evidence of such an outpost has ever been uncovered.
Ceradine
Class G Yellow White Dwarf (VII)
One of the many systems in the Xan Sector along the Manda Merchant Route, the system sees a considerable amount of inner-system traffic that is often little more than ships adjusting their headings or refueling.
Panitha
Class B Geomorteus
Shurat
Class K Adaptable
Thousands of years ago, Republic colonists discovered a vast network of tunnels beneath the surface of the planet, created by unknown hands that left no trace of their civilization. Colonists moved in and occupied the tunnels, and as their numbers grew, new chambers and tunnels were carved from the rock. Now millions of people dwell within the world, and the only sign of civilization on the surface is a handful of communication towers and ship docking bays.
Hanging in orbit are the Shurati Shipyards, a small facility that predominantly handles ship repairs, although a substantial portion of the facility is dedicated to manufacturing new ship parts. While the facility once was dedicated to producing small merchant freighters, since the Clone Wars, they have focused more on after-market and replacement parts, as their own ship designs were often outclassed and sold poorly.
Hosharra
Class T Ultragiant
Several large gas refineries orbit the planet, almost entirely operated by droid workers. Most of these refineries were established a few short years before the outbreak of the Clone Wars by the Techno Union, and largely without any fanfare or announcement. During the Clone Wars, the refineries ramped up production and would ship large concentrations to be used in the Separatists’ war efforts. While a single attempt at sabotage was thwarted by onboard security personnel, no further incidents occurred, and when the Empire arose, the control of the refineries passed to the Mining Guild.
Asteroid Belt
Tens of thousands of people live among the asteroids, primarily miners who spend their lives cracking apart asteroids and mining the precious minerals within. While very few pirates operate within the belt, as the mining results are rarely lucrative enough to make piracy attractive, there are conflicts among various ship crews and small companies involving claim jumping. During the Republic, the belt was rather untamed and had zero oversight, but early in the days of the Empire, patrols of the area became a regular process. Unfortunately, the New Republic has deemed the belt to be low priority, and while patrols may occur, they are seldom and sporadic.
Gelathra
Class J Gas Giant
Hanging in the upper atmosphere are a number of research stations, once well funded by the Old Republic, but during the Imperial Era most of them have fallen into disuse, with most being mothballed and a few slowly falling into degrading orbits until they are crushed by the planet’s gravity.
However, two of the floating research stations, which were previously abandoned, have found new life as airspeeder docks. In recent years, a dangerous sport has emerged, wherein people race airspeeders through the upper atmosphere, dodging pockets of unstable gases and electrical storms which flare up almost without warning. Occasional deaths occur when a pilot misjudges and their speeder plummets into the crushing depths of the planet’s gravity well. While several petitions to the New Republic have been made, proposed legislation surrounding the sport has yet to be ratified into law. Thus, it has become an interesting spectator sport for those passing through the system.
Webrai
Class P Glaciated
Hythos
Class G Yellow White Dwarf (VII)
Due to the amount of foodstuffs being exported from the planet of Ocastus, the system has a sizable patrol to ward off pirates, after they had preyed upon cargo ships for a few short years. While the patrol craft is composed of an aged Acclamator-class cruiser and a handful of Corellian Corvettes, combined, they are more than a match for any pirate force. These vessels are both supplied and maintained on Ocastus, one of the few planets in the Sector wealthy enough to maintain such a fleet.
Ocastus
Class M Terrestrial
One of a pair of planets set in a binary orbit around one another, Ocastus is teeming with life and the skies are regularly filled with transports shuttling grain and vegetables to starports so that they can be shipped offworld. Nearly a billion people inhabit the world, distributed predominantly in small farming towns and the occasional city built around a starport.
A considerable amount of arable land exists within the temperate zones of the planet, much of which was converted to farmland thousands of years ago. Additionally, the vast ocean that wraps around the equator of the planet is teeming with rapid growing kelp and fish. The exports from the planet feed a considerable number of inhabitants of nearby star systems, and the planet has been referred to as “The Breadbasket of the Xan Sector”.
The waters of the equatorial ocean are so calm that a number of wealthy nobles have large floating houses that are seasonally relocated via tugs. It is from these massive mansions on the waves that they oversee the governance of the planet.
Mesarai
Class N Reducing
Unlike the planet’s partner, which dances around in the same orbit through the system, Mesarai is a dead world. The surface of the planet is a barren wasteland, beneath a thick atmosphere of poisonous gas, ensuring that nothing lives.
Nadulu
Class I Gas Supergiant
For a short period of time during the chaos of the fall of the Empire, a small pirate force established a base on the third moon, called Gestirro. From there, they began raiding cargo ships leaving Ocastus, demanding that they be paid tribute. However, after they kidnapped and ransomed one of the nobles of Ocastus, a system defense patrol was established.
Lokirra
Class J Gas Giant
Gas mining stations in the upper atmosphere have always had particular difficulty with the planet, as the mix of elements often creates pockets of corrosive vapors which quickly degrade nonmetallic parts. After several centuries of attempting to turn a profit have failed, with most companies barely breaking even, the planet is largely seen as a failed investment, with the Mining Guild having attempted for a few months to keep an operation going before admitting defeat and salvaging the station.
