Akiva

"It's like sticking your head in a happabore's mouth."

―Wedge Antilles, on the climate of Akiva^[8]

Akiva was a remote jungle planet in the Outer Rim Territories. The planet was once part of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, who created a large droid construction facility under the planet's surface. After the Clone Wars, the planet fell under the occupation of the Galactic Empire with the Satrapy of Myrra collaborating with its new rulers.

Some time after the Battle of Endor, the shattered Empire gathered for an emergency summit above Akiva, where they intended to regroup and launch an attack against the New Republic. The meeting failed, leading to the rebellion on the planet as the Imperial leaders on the planet fled to safety during which its citizens overthrew the Empire, Akiva then became the first Outer Rim planet to join the New Republic. Akiva later pledged allegiance to the growing First Order in 34 ABY.

Description

"Kay, is the climate affecting your speeder?"
"Seems good. I kinda like a little rain."
"Hm. People from desert worlds often find the amount of moisture on Akiva unsettling."
"Okay. Good to know. I don't mind it."
"You'll reconsider after it's rained for three cycles straight."

―ND-5 and Kay Vess^[4]

Akiva was a hot, humid planet in the Outer Rim Territories^[1] and New Territories^[2] located on the Hydian Way^[6] and relatively near Raydonia.^[5] The planet had a terrestrial atmosphere and was famous for its thunder and frequent rain storms, called the mausim during the wet season. In the city of Myrra "storm ladders" were common, made of chains bundled up at the top of the roofs, used during the bad storms so they can get people out of the ground quickly in case of a flash flood. Its surface was known to have jungles and canyons. Everyone in Myrra used the bala-bala speeder, a narrow vehicle meant to take the tight channels and sharp-angled turns of the streets of the city; they were used to go to work or move crates.^[1]

Akiva's capital was Myrra, a sprawling city which was built over a maze of old catacombs. These catacombs were inhabited by the primitive Uugteen, a race of humanoids native to Akiva. According to various rumors, this maze hosted a Jedi training temple, a Sith trap, or some Hutt breeding ground. Few people who visited the catacombs survived due to the presence of the Uugteen. The Myrra catacombs also hosted a Separatist droid factory dating back to the Clone Wars.^[1]

Akiva was once home to the Ahia-Ko, an ancient species who built great temples in the planet's jungle wilderness. The Ahia-Ko people believed that the water in the planet's canyons was so pure that it could cleanse one of their sins and leave them a better person. The canyons' water was considered a luxurious commodity by members of the Satrapy of Myrra such as Satrap Isstra Dirus.^[1]

History

Early history and Clone Wars

Akiva was home to at least two indigenous species: the Uugteen, who inhabited the underground catacombs beneath Myrra; and the old Ahia-Ko, who built great jungles in the planet's wilderness. By the time of the reign of the Galactic Empire, Akiva had been settled by various species including humans, Koorivar, Sullustans, Mon Calamari, Besalisks, and Abednedo.^[1]

During the Clone Wars, the planet sided with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and a battle droid factory was built in Myrra's catacombs. Director Aiyah Pellorean's Test Unit 08-B was hidden in a bunker on Akiva with the intention of being picked back up once the war was over. A battle was fought between Republic and Separatist forces^[4] towards the end of the war.^[1]

Age of the Empire

"Akivans, your planet has been occupied. Myrra is now under the control of the Galactic Empire."

―Norra Wexley^[1]

AkivaProfilePromo-Outlaws — Akiva's jungles hosted a black market and a burgeoning rebellion.

Around the time the Empire was formed, the Satrapy of Myrra overthrew an earlier government, which had been based in the Myrra capitol building. Due to the planet's remoteness, the Empire did not establish a large presence on Akiva. Instead, they ruled indirectly through the Satrapy of Myrra, who imposed the Empire's laws and taxes on the Akivan population. The planet became a hotbed of criminal activity with corrupt satrap governors and various syndicates competing for resources and opportunities. The black market grew strong with corruption holding fast to the Satrapy and its aristocracy. One of these aristocrat families was the Karyvin clan, owners of the Karyvin house Plantation in Myrra, some islands in the Southern Archipelago and crystal mines in the Northern Jungles.^[1]

During the Imperial Era, Brentin Lore Wexley was responsible for relaying the Rebel Alliance's messages across the Outer Rim. As a result, he was arrested by the Empire and imprisoned^[1] at Ashmead's Lock on the planet Kashyyyk.^[9] His wife, Norra Wexley, subsequently joined the Rebel Alliance and left their son Temmin Wexley in the care of her older sister Esmelle and her wife, Shirene. The crime lord Surat Nuat and gang also established a presence in Myrra.^[1]

Star-Wars-Outlaws-KayVessHijacksViperDroids — Kay Vess faces Imperial forces on Akiva.

Sometime after the assault on Sunspot Prison, the Rebel Alliance established a holding facility in the planet's catacombs.^[7]

In 3 ABY, thief Kay Vess traveled to Akiva to recruit her friend, the Rodian Gedeek Obaz, to use his knowledge of droids in a heist. Due to an illegal action gone wrong, Obaz had to choose between prison or working for the Empire. He chose the latter and created a new type of droid to prove his worth, the Alpha Droid. However, while the new droids were useful, they brought problems to the Empire, as the difficulty in controlling them led them to attack Akiva's crime syndicates without having received orders to do so. The Hutt Clan wanted Obaz dead because of this. When Vess found him, they worked together to take the Alpha Droids from the Empire and deliver them to the Alliance to Restore the Republic. While on the planet, Vess explored the Separatist factory that was abandoned due to an attack by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. Along with Obaz and ND-5, she ventured into the factory to repair ND-5. They were helped by the Rebel Alliance, who were using the factory as a base. When the base was discovered, the factory was nearly destroyed by the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Revelator, but the Star Destroyer was destroyed in the Akiva system. With the Empire's discovery of the base, the rebels abandoned the location, allowing pirates to establish themselves there. Vess was hired by the Pyke Syndicate to recover valuable equipment left behind by the rebels.^[4]

Era of the New Republic

"Akiva is, with all due respect, no feather in anyone's cap. It is a marginal planet at best. [...] They produce resources we do not require and the old droid factory beneath the city has been out of use for decades. As such, Akiva offers us very little strategic advantage or concern."

―New Republic Captain Saff Melor^[1]

Following the Battle of Endor, Norra returned to reunite with her estranged son Temmin. Her return coincided with a secret Imperial emergency summit at Dirus' palace on Myrra. After the New Republic starfighter pilot Wedge Antilles was captured by Imperial forces, Norra, Temmin, his B1-series battle droid Mister Bones, the bounty hunter Jas Emari, and the former Imperial loyalty officer Sinjir Rath Velus joined forces to inspire a successful uprising on Akiva and to capture members of the abortive Imperial Future Council. New Republic Defense Fleet ships under Commodore Kyrsta Agate subsequently destroyed the Imperial ships above Akiva. As a result, the Satrapy switched sides, and Akiva became the first Outer Rim planet to officially have joined the contingent of worlds pledging themselves to the New Republic. And so they started working on routing out corruption and crime, some gang members escaped, others ended up in prison and some chose to do a last stand.^[1]

By 5 ABY, the human woman Pima Drolley was appointed as Akiva's senator to the New Republic. She had a son named Dann and a daughter named Merra. Following the Battle of Jakku, Brentin was buried in a salt marsh per the Akivan custom. His funeral was attended by his son Temmin, his wife Norra, and their relatives Shirene and Esmelle. Mister Bones, who had been permanently disintegrated on Jakku, had his remaining arm buried with Brentin's corpse.^[10]

Joining the First Order

"An emergency election was called. They voted out the governor and voted in some wealthy merchant known to be friendly with the First Order."

―Wedge Antilles^[8]

As the First Order made its advance on the galaxy, an emergency election was called, which eventually saw the old governor voted out and a wealthy merchant, who was friendly to the First Order, voted in.^[8]

Behind the scenes

Akiva first appeared the novel Aftermath, written by Chuck Wendig.^[1]

Aftermath indicates that Akiva is one of the "five closest worlds" to Raydonia, the others being Tatooine, Mustafar, Dermos, and Geonosis.^[1] However, while Tatooine and Geonosis are both in the Arkanis sector (at R-16), Mustafar has been established to be a considerable distance away from both of them (at L-19).^[11] Furthermore, both of these planets are on the other side of the galaxy from Dathomir, an established neighbor of Raydonia (at O-6).^[12]^[11]

The Star Wars Galaxy Map indicates that both Akiva and Raydonia are nowhere near either Mustafar or Tatooine and Geonosis. Instead, it places the two worlds in the galactic north (also at O-6), relatively close to Dathomir.^[5] Given the internal contradiction in the Aftermath description, this article assumes that the location given by the Galaxy Map is correct.

The planet was pictured for the first time in the 2024 video game Star Wars Outlaws.^[4]