Mon Calamari – Scientific Island on SL

Bespin was a gas giant on the Ison Corridor. It was also a major source of tibanna gas, which was refined for production and transport in Cloud City. It was home to several million individuals, including humans, Ugnaughts, and Lutrillians.

The planet Bespin was a gas giant that was about 118,000 kilometers in diameter. Like most gas giants, it had a solid core made of metal (in this case, rethin) followed by layers of metallic gases. Most of the layers of gas were poisonous, and the pressure and temperature were far above what a human could tolerate. But from approximately 150 to 180 kilometers down from space, there was a habitable layer known as the Bespin Life Zone. This layer had an oxygen atmosphere with temperature and pressure suitable for human life. It was in this layer that Cloud City was located. Like most gas giants, Bespin had a number of moons. It had a 12 hour day, and completed a revolution around its sun about every 14 years.

The planet was first colonized in 1,989 BBY.

In 22 BBY, the planet served as a refuge for children orphaned by the Clone Wars, but it was soon conquered by the Confederacy itself.

The Millennium Falcon, by Han Solo’s admission, just barely made it there from the Anoat system with only a back-up hyperdrive.

Lando Calrissian, the previous owner of the Millennium Falcon, served as Baron Administrator of Cloud City and provided well-paying jobs for the Ugnaughts until the Galactic Empire took over. The Imperial garrison was commanded by Captain Hugo Treece.

When Han Solo along with Leia Organa, C-3PO, and Chewbacca came to Cloud City to escape from the Empire, they walked into a trap set up by Darth Vader, which Lando was forced into aiding. Han Solo was frozen into Carbonite and Leia Organa and Chewbacca were to remain in the city. As Boba Fett brought Han onto his ship, Slave I, Lando with Lobot’s help, got the two out of Imperial controller along with blasted Threepio and tried to rescue Han from fett but failed. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker dueled Vader, lost his right hand, and Vader revealed that he was Luke’s father. Pinned between the choice of going with his long-lost father or dying by his blade, Luke plunged into a air vent. When he fell, he managed to grasp onto a weather vane beneath the city. In pain from his wound and his new knowledge, Luke pleaded for Obi-Wan’s help, to no avail. He managed to telepathically communicate with Leia, and was recued by the Millennium Falcon. The Falcon in turn managed to escape from the Executor when R2-D2 fixed the disabled hyperdrive.
Lando would eventually return to being Baron Administrator. However, a garrision of troops was left on the planet. Lobot ousted the garrison from the planet by tricking them into thinking Cloud City’s repulsorlift pods were compromised.

Later, just before the Battle of Endor, the Alliance removed Imperial presence there by leading Rogue Squadron and the Rebel SpecForce against the Empire in the Battle of Bespin. The Rebel victory secured shipment of vital Tibanna to the Rebel cause.

Eventually, Lando lost the Cloud City to Zorba the Hutt in a game of sabacc. Lobot eventually became administrator of the City, although it was briefly taken over by the Empire Reborn.

In 35 ABY, the planet was plagued with Tibanna tappers. Jaina Solo and Zekk were assigned to investigate. It was eventually discovered the stolen tibanna was being used for the Killik nest ships constructed in the Tusken’s Eye.

In 40 ABY, it became allied with Corellia in the Second Corellian Insurrection.

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