Scipio

Master Qui-Gon, more to say, have you?

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Scipio was an ice-covered planet located in the galaxy's Outer Rim Territories. It was positioned in the Albarrio system, and served as the headquarters of the InterGalactic Banking Clan.

Description[]

Scipio was a planet in the Albarrio system of the Outer Rim Territories Albarrio sector.^[2] The world's terrain included snow-covered mountains^[10] and hills.^[6] Scipio was the homeworld of the Muun species.^[7]

History[]

Republic Era[]

Even before the outbreak of the Clone Wars, Scipio was an important world for the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, being the center world of the InterGalactic Banking Clan. This commerce guild built its massive vaults on the planet, where the bank's profits were safely held.^[9]

UnidentifiedScipioCity — A settlement on Scipio, the headquarters of the InterGalactic Banking Clan

Senator Rush Clovis represented Scipio in the Galactic Senate but mainly followed the interests of the Banking Clan, with fellow Senator Padmé Amidala being unsure if the interests of Scipio were ever different from those of the banks.^[11] Clovis later became senator for the InterGalactic Banking Clan itself^[12] until he was arrested by fellow senator Lott Dod on Cato Neimoidia.^[8] Later, Rush Clovis became the head of the Banking Clan conglomerate, after the Council of Five was arrested for corruption and fraud.^[9]

To prevent the Banking Clan from becoming corrupt again, both the Galactic Republic and the Separatists agreed to send ambassadors to the planet, to secure both parties' agendas. Padmé Amidala was sent to represent the Galactic Republic, and Bec Lawise was sent on the behalf of the Confederacy. Clovis' appointment as the head of the InterGalactic Banking Clan did not last long, as he was killed during the Separatist attack on the planet, sacrificing himself to save Padmé Amidala.^[9]

Age of the Empire[]

"The battle station will be the most powerful weapon ever developed."
"Capable of taking on and defeating all comers."
"As such, it could become a target for every disenfranchised group between here and Scipio. Thus, great care must be taken to maintain this ruse of yours."

―Wilhuff Tarkin and Orson Krennic discuss the Death Star^[13]

During the early months of the Imperial Era, Lieutenant Commander Orson Callan Krennic and Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin discussed a plan that would allow the Galactic Empire to seize control of legacy worlds, planets which they currently had no legal right to exploit. Krennic created the plan to secure more resources for their battlestation project, which both men agreed to be the most powerful weapon ever designed. Nevertheless, Tarkin understood that meant anti-Imperial groups ranging from their current location at Kartoosh to Scipio would attack it if they knew of its existence, forcing them to ensure their plans for legacy worlds remained secret.^[13]

At some point, the Galactic Empire began a blockade over Scipio, which ensured that the Core Five of the InterGalactic Banking Clan were loyal to the Empire. Despite this, Scipio became a hotbed of espionage and insurgent activity, as the Muuns secretly opposed the Empire.^[7] A massive heist on Scipio occurred a short time before the escape from Cloud City. As rumors of the action spread, a Banking Clan spokesbeing denied it as having occurred. A Banking Clan employee named Corovene Manakor helped in the heist but only to secure funds needed to free the planet Najiba from Imperial rule.^[14]

Behind the scenes[]

Scipio was first referenced in "Senate Spy," an episode of the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.^[8] The Star Wars Legends reference book The Essential Atlas, published in 2008, originally placed the planet in the Core Worlds.^[15] According to Jason Fry, co-author of the book, the decision to place the planet in the Core was made when the only known information about Scipio was that it was the homeworld of Rush Clovis, so the authors felt that the Core was a fitting choice. However, once The Clone Wars went into more detail about Scipio, including how it was an important world to the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the planet was moved to the Outer Rim Territories near Muunilinst as it made more sense to have it within the geographic Banking Clan sphere. The 2015 reference book Ultimate Star Wars accidentally stated that Scipio is in the Core as a result of an editing mistake.^[16]

In the real world, Scipio was the name of a prominent family in the politics and militarism of the Roman Republic, flourishing in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE.^[17] The proper noun, Scīpio, is identical to the Latin common noun for "staff" in the sense of sceptre or formal baton, a badge of governmental authority.^[18]