A small planet in an insignificant
system, Manaan's most remarkable feature is the calm
azure ocean that completely covers its surface. To
accommodate off-world visitors, the amphibious Selkath
have constructed Ahto City, a bustling spaceport
floating on the endless ocean's waves.
Manaan is
known throughout the galaxy for one thing: being the
sole producer of kolto, a powerful healing agent
harvested from the ocean surface. This one export is so
valuable it has made the tiny world into one of the most
influential independent planets in the galaxy. Highly
prized even in times of peace, the value of kolto
increases exponentially during times of war. Many a
battle has been won or lost due to the size of an army's
kolto reserves.
The Selkath understand the
importance of kolto to their world, and they maintain
strict control over its production and export. This has
allowed them to retain their independence even during
the current Republic-Sith War, and has given rise to an
attitude of arrogant superiority among the Selkath
themselves.
Officially, the government of Manaan
has adopted a policy of neutrality in the ongoing
conflict. As part of their neutral stance, the Selkath
have allowed both the Sith and the Republic to establish
embassies on Ahto City. The two rivals keep a close eye
on each other, and the Selkath are careful to keep an
even balance in the amount of kolto exported to each
side. The uneasy truce is maintained only by Selkath
law, which calls for harsh penalties against anyone who
breaks the peace including sanctions on kolto exports.
But there are those that feel Manaan's
precarious position between the two super-powers is
doomed to end in bloodshed. For as the conflict between
the Sith and the Republic intensifies, it is only a
matter of time until their mutual hatred erupts and Ahto
City is drowned beneath a tidal wave of violence.
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