Sluissi

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The Sluissi were the indigenous sentient species of the planet Sluis Van, located in the Outer Rim Territories. While their bodies above the waist were humanoid, their lower halves were serpentine, long and heavily muscled. Sluissi were noted for their calm temperament, aversion to rushing and impatience, compliance to protocol, no matter how trivial, and their technical aptitude. Like most reptiles, Sluissi could use their forked tongues to sense heat.

Renowned for their ability to repair and maintain starships, the Sluissi were active in galactic society almost since the beginning of the Republic. This was because the Sluissi's technology was almost on par with other space-faring races such as Duros and Humans.

Contents 1 Biology and appearance 2 Society and culture 3 History 4 Sluissi in the galaxy 5 Behind the scenes 6 Appearances 7 Sources 8 Notes and references 9 External links

[edit] Biology and appearance

Sluissi's upper torsos were similar to a human's, with two arms, each with four-fingered hands.^[1] Their fourth finger was an opposable digit. Their arms had almost winglike extentions of skin, which aided their movement while they were flat on the ground.^[2] The bottom half of their body was similar to a snake's, with a long, heavily muscled, singular tail.^[2] Their bodies were covered in fine scales which ranged in color from light brown to dark green. Other colored scales on Sluissi were not unheard of, however they were quite rare. Sluissi had round black eyes and a swooping, hoodlike fold of tough skin at the back of their heads. They had forked tongues that aided their sense of smell.^[1]

[edit] Society and culture

Sluissi were patient, sociable, relaxed, easy-going beings,^[1] famous for remaining calm under pressure. Their patient, calm nature—combined with their seeming inability to have become genuinely upset or angry—often baffled, and sometimes even infuriated other species.^[3] Extremely industrious, Sluissi loved to tinker with gadgets and mechanical objects,^[1] and Sluissi technicians were able to improve the engine efficiency, power output and system response in even archaic, worn out ships.^[2]

The Sluissi were extremely methodical, and worked extremely slowly at their work. To them, starship construction was an art form. Although jobs done by Sluissi always took longer than expected, most clients were willing to be patient, because Sluissi technicians could make improvements upon or salvage vessels when no other mechanics could. Even the Empire realized that rushing a Sluissi operation was a bad idea.^[1]

As well as Sluissese, their native language, Sluissi spoke basic, though they tended to slur and lisp many words, due to the snakelike structures of their tongues and mouths.^[1]

Common Sluissi names included Sirlahn Alsek, Vsil Ejahsa, Usahn L'sehl, Sekae N'sehnor and Mektiss Risohr.^[1]

[edit] History

The Sluissi joined the Old Republic when it was still relatively young.^[3] When Duros and Human scouts first discovered Sluis Van, the Sluissi had only just begun to explore nearby systems with their own lightspeed technology, and they eagerly embraced the concept of greater galactic union.^[1] An advanced people, they established a number of major space yards throughout the Sluis Sector, including the high tech Sluis Van space facility,^[3] as well as on other colonies they had established to spur further interaction with offworld space travelers.^[1] They ran efficient operations, where ship crews could find all the service, expertise and upgrades necessary after long journeys.^[3] The Sluissi quickly became known as one of the best starship maintenance species in the known galaxy.^[1]

However, shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars, they became disillusioned with the Republic, and were among the first to secede and join the Separatist cause.^[4]

After the end of the Clone Wars, the Sluissi lived under Imperial occupation.^[1] When this ended, they became valuable members of the New Republic. In 9 ABY, the Imperial Fleet launched an attack on three of the planets in the Sluis Van Sector, in an attempt to steal warships from the Sluissi shipyards. The resulting Battle of Sluis Van almost ended in victory for the Empire. However, the Millennium Falcon was in the area at the time, captained by Han Solo, and aided both the New Republic military and the Sluissi people.^[5][3]

[edit] Sluissi in the galaxy

Offworld Sluissi tended to work as tech-specialists, engineers or mechanics, although it was not uncommon to see a Sluissi working as something else.^[1]

Ten Dorne was a Sluissi who worked on Project Shantipole with Admiral Ackbar. The project revolved around the development of the B-wing starfighter. Shortly before the Battle of Endor, Dorne was captured by Imperials. The experience made her doubt her devotion to the Rebel cause, so she decided to defect and later sold information about the Alliance to the Empire. She was later believed to be working at the Imperial Remnant shipyards on Vosteltig.^[6]

Sere Lure was an attractive, green-skinned female Sluissi engineer, who worked for Hydrospeare Corporation. Dr. Lure was a rarity; she was one of very few aliens permitted and willing to work in the development of Imperial technology.^[7]

Candobar Inglet was the ruler of Sluis Van and the Sluis Sector during the Clone Wars and for several year beforehand. Just before the start of the war, he and his sector defected to the Confederacy of Independent Systems.^[8]

Bor Gracus was a male Sluissi senator who represented his home planet in the Galactic Senate. He attended the Eriadu Trade Summit in 33 BBY on behalf of both Sluis Van, and of the Republic.^[9]

Other prominent Sluissi included Hass Sonax, a female Sluissi slicer,^[10][11] Corlissi Ludar, the Sluissi senator who pledged Sluis Van's alliance with the CIS,^[4] Slith Skael, the chief communications technician of the Intergalactic Communications Center towards the end of the Clone Wars,^[12] and Secles Uslopos, a male Sluissi councilor to the Twi'lek crime lord Abdi-Badawzi on the planet Socorro.^[13]

[edit] Behind the scenes

"Statue" quo à Sluis Van, an issue of the French RPG magazine Casus Belli, contains additional material on the Sluissi. According to this article, the Sluissi were a calmly methodical species who compensated for physically frailty with technological skill and ingenuity. In contrast to mentions of a Khedive in Clone Wars material, this source says that Sluis Van was governed by an elected parliament of a hundred members, known as the Council, and throughout the New Order, their political consensus was that loyalty to the Empire had brought their world prosperity.

According to this material, the Sluissi joined the New Republic in around 6 ABY thanks to a diplomatic mission led by Jonas Stern and Borsk Fey'lya.

[edit] Appearances

•  Sluis Sector Secedes; Seswenna Restates Loyalty—HoloNet News Vol. 531 49
•  Sluis Van Offer Met with Doubt—HoloNet News Vol. 531 56
• CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 14:9:08 Edition
• Jedi Trial
• Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Rebellion (Mentioned only)
• "Out of the Cradle" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 2
• "The Great Herdship Heist" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 15
•  "Fair Prey" - Star Wars Gamer 1
• Heir to the Empire (First appearance)
• Dark Force Rising
• Balance Point (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Legacy 32: Fight Another Day, Part 1

[edit] Sources

• The Far Orbit Project
• The Black Sands of Socorro
• The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
• ""Statue" quo à Sluis Van" – Casus Belli 89
• Star Wars Encyclopedia
• The Essential Guide to Alien Species
• Alien Anthology
• Ultimate Alien Anthology
• "Recon & Report: The Journey to Coruscant" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 2

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

•  Sluissi in the Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia