Mina-Rau

Mina-Rau, or Xuretria, was an agricultural planet that existed in the Outer Rim Territories of the galaxy. The planet was divided into zones each controlled by a council. The planet was inhabited by humans, an unidentified species and local wildlife such as the bier beast. The principal settlement was Rau, which was close to the Mina-Rau General Store, where farmers and mechanics, referred to colloquially as "toolies," were supplied with non-grain needs as well as being a central hub for local gossip and news. Many residents lived in silos, whereas migratory toolies had mobil-hauses that could be packed up and quickly moved to a new farming site.

Description

Mina-Rau,^[10] also known as Xuretria,^[12] was a terrestrial planet^[5] located in the Mina-Rau system^[3] within the New Territories portion^[2] of the Outer Rim Territories. Situated in the D'Astan sector at the coordinates O-6 on the Standard Galactic Grid,^[3] the world lay along the Celanon Spur hyperspace route^[4] between the Celanon and Ord Cestus systems.^[13] Appearing sandy-colored from above,^[14] Mina-Rau had a Type I Atmosphere^[6] breathable to humans and other species.^[5] The planet's surface consisted of large fields, hills, grasslands,^[1] and lakes.^[8] Many different forms of plants and insects were present on the world,^[5] as well as the gentle and dependable Mina-Rau bier beasts.^[15]

History

Reign of the Republic

Rath's bait

Farmers worked on Mina-Rau by the time of the Galactic Republic. As an agriworld, the planet produced harvests of grain with the help of combine machines.^[5] Between 40 BBY and 34 BBY,^[16] the planet was governed at least in part by Magistrate Khediva, but the world saw incursions from the Quillian bandits, who used speeders and stole from the planet's harvest. In response, the people of Mina-Rau were provided protection by Jedi Master Fondar Etzis, who was greatly effective in fighting off the bandits and quickly became a beloved part of their community. However, Etzis was targeted by the assassin Corlis Rath, who sought to draw out another Jedi Master named Qui-Gon Jinn.^[5] Rath was on a personal crusade to kill Jinn over a grudge that had began when the two were young^[17] and had attacked the Jedi on the planet Vekura.^[18]

Despite the mysterious circumstances around Etzis' death, Khediva was certain the bandits were not responsible due to his successes against them and, instead, believed the Jedi Master had simply died of old age. In response to his death, an honor guard of Jedi—consisting of Jinn, Jedi Master Mace Windu, and Jedi Knight Aayla Secura—travelled to Mina-Rau in a T-6 shuttle to recover Etzis' remains and deliver them to^[5] the planet^[19] Coruscant,^[5] the home of the Jedi Order's primary Temple,^[19] for cremation.^[5] Khediva led the group into a urban area in the midst of a harvest, which the magistrate briefly spoke about with Secura.^[5]

Khediva brought the Jedi to Etzis's body, discussing the possible causes of the late Jedi Master's death. When the Jedi trio inspected the body, Jinn sensed darkness around his remains, concluding that Etzis must have been murdered. Jinn's associates did not sense anything, but Jinn himself took a blood-sample from the body to further pursue his prediction. The three went to Etzis's starship, finding no disturbance. Jinn, though, examined the blood sample on a terminal and found traces of the toxin Rath used. The group agreed that it could not have been the bandits that had done it. Later, as the Jedi drew more conclusions from the ship's logs, Khediva found it hard to believe who on Mina-Rau would want to kill Etzis.^[5]

Rath's wrath

The Jedi made their way into the fields, where Secura theorized an element natural to Mina-Rau—something the indigenous population was immune to but could be fatal to an offworlder—had been responsible for Etzis's death. However, Rath,^[5] armed with emubara-coated,^[14] energy-edged blades,^[20] stalked the group at that moment, Jinn sensing his presence. Despite Jinn's warning, Windu and Secura, who again did not sense anything, were shot with tranquilizer darts. Rath then attacked Jinn, the pair fighting in Mina-Rau's fields. When a combine approached them, they leapt onto the massive vehicle and continued to fight on it. As they fought, Jinn deduced Rath's plan to draw him out, questioning why the assassin was trying to kill him. When the Jedi successfully disarmed the Rath, the latter finally mentioned Sinsara,^[5] the planet where Rath's grudge on Jinn originated.^[17]

This shocked Jinn, so much that the assassin could stab him with the emubara-laced blades and flee.^[5] Bleeding out, Jinn fell unconscious. After regaining their own consciousness, Windu and Secura found their fallen comrade, finding that he had been poisoned. As the pair considered options, the unconscious Jinn muttered Sinsara. The Jedi Master was thus taken back to the group's shuttle and stabilised with dothrasim. Secura determined what Sinsara was, and thus she and Windu took the shuttle there, where they eventually acquired the antidote to save Jinn.^[14] Kept under twilight sedation while he healed on Coruscant, Jinn eventually awoke and, after coming to terms with his new surroundings after having been last conscious on Mina-Rau and reflecting on the details of his first encounter with Rath,^[12] journeyed to Sinsara himself to finally end his struggle with the assassin.^[17]

Reign of the Empire

Uneasy industry

In 19 BBY, the Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire.^[21] During the Empire's reign, farmers worked on the planet to produce grain for the government. The entire planet, by that time, had been terraformed to grow that specific type of grain for the Empire, which made use of the food on Coruscant,^[11] which had become the capital of the Empire and prospered greatly from the extracted labor and resources of outlying planets.^[22] People who worked on Mina-Rau were required by law to have either shares or visas. Despite this, the Councils hired undocumented immigrants as well to ensure harvests were possible. The Empire, while aware that many residents lacked visas or shares, was also know to overlook such violations to maintain agricultural output.^[8] The planet was subjected to the Imperial Supply Census, where the Empire inspected grain exports and the visas of those residing on the planet, one taking place around 14 BBY.^[23] Imperial Lieutenant Krole visited the world at some point and visited the city of Rau.^[7]

Sometime after the Imperial occupation of their homeworld, Ferrix, in 5 BBY,^[24] the humans Cassian Andor,^[8] Bix Caleen, Wilmon Paak, and Brasso, and their droid B2EMO, relocated to Mina-Rau, finding work as mechanics. They lived in a mobil-haus^[1] in Council 207 and were friends with the store owner Kellen.^[7] Andor at the least secretly worked for a rebel network operated by the spy Luthen Rael. Over time, Caleen had reoccurring nightmares of^[1] an Imperial interrogator who tortured her on Ferrix.^[25] While Brasso began a relationship with the documented worker Talia, Paak also got close to Kellen's daughter, Beela. This was much to the disapproval of Beela's mother, Aneth, as Paak was undocumented.^[1]

Imperial audit

In 4 BBY,^[1] an Imperial-class Star Destroyer arrived above Mina-Rau^[8] and another Imperial Supply Census began on the planet, leading to a comms blackout to ensure the audit could be conducted properly. Imperial presence arrived as Beela carried water to Caleen and Paak, who were repairing a sprinkler. Kellen and Brasso observed auditing take place at Council Five Hundred, the latter heading back to the mobil-haus to discuss the situation with the other mechanics and Talia. Paak attempted to contact Andor,^[1] to no avail. As the audit went on and the Imperials caught an individual trying to flee from Five Hundred, Kellen's friend there updated him on the Empire's progress there and the store owner went to update the mechanics when his stock delivery arrived at the general store. As the group discussed if the Empire would bother to arrest undocumented workers like them, Kellen warned against trying to run.^[7]

Imperial troops soon arrived at the general store for a visit, interrupting a private conversation between Paak and Beela in the fields. While soldiers looked around the general store, Lieutenant Krole went to the silos and greeted Caleen while she worked. Trying to make conversation with the nervous mechanic, the Imperial officer spoke about the Rau, inviting her to join him there. Caleen pretended to have a husband, leading Krole to ask questions about the alleged individual until Brasso arrived. The lieutenant questioned where they were based, leaving afterwards. As the inspections elsewhere continued, Kellen learned from a soldier that they would be moving on soon. The store owner discussed this with the mechanics that night, warning them that most the arrests were people trying to run. Kellen advised his friends to wait and see and be prepared.^[7]

Imperials did an sweep of Council Six Hundred, finding a group hiding. Hearing that his area would be next on the audit, Kellen forged a work order for Eight Hundred Block and went to Brasso, updating him on the situation. Kellen advised his friend that he and the other mechanics should leave that night and circle round when the inspection moved on. The store owner further stressed to Brasso to make sure Luthen Rael, whom neither of them knew the name of, knew what was happening on Mina-Rau. Meanwhile, Andor, who had been held up elsewhere, learned about the communications blackout at Mina-Rau and began making his way there in a stolen TIE Avenger prototype.^[8]

The escape

The three mechanics got to packing their items in preparation to move to Eight Hundred at sundown. Brasso went to say goodbye to their droid B2EMO at the communal eating area, wishing to leave him with Talia for the time being, when a TIE/rp Reaper attack lander flew over them on a sweep of the fields. Brasso returned to Caleen suggesting that they may have to move sooner. Paak had gone to say goodbye to Beela, so Brasso went to find him. While Paak was speaking with Beela, Krole and his troops arrived at the general store again. Ordering Aneth to feed his soldiers, Krole promised to be back in an hour and left Sergeant Stang in charge. The lieutenant went in an one of their transports, driven by Corporal Pyke towards the mechanics' mobil-haus to see Caleen again.^[8]

While Paak ran back towards the mobil-haus, Brasso took a speeder towards the general store and began sneaking around to find Paak, only to be arrested by two stormtroopers. Brasso was taken back to the general store before Stang, pretending to be mad at Kellen in order to keep his friend's cover. Meanwhile, Krole arrived to greet Caleen, looking around the mobil-haus. Revealing that he knew she was illegal, he attempted to use this as leverage and tried to rape her. Resisting, Caleen scuffled with Krole until she gave him two blows with a tool. At the transport, Pyke heard Krole's subsequent screams and contacted Stang's transport for help before approaching the mobil-haus with a blaster pistol drawn. After a fatally injured Krole stumbled out and died, Pyke tried to confront Caleen. Paak fired at the corporal, who was ultimately shot dead by Caleen.^[8]

Andor arrived at Mina-Rau and began descending towards the area where his friends were. Having received Pyke's call, Stang put together a unit to go to the corporal's aid. However, Andor swooped down in his TIE Avenger and destroyed the transport. As Brasso tried to get away on his speeder under fire from the remaining Imperial troops, Andor proceeded to eliminate those soldiers. It was too late, though, as Brasso was fatally shot, Andor finding him dead when he landed the fighter. Having seen the TIE Avenger's actions from afar, Caleen and Paak made their way to it and reunited with Andor. The three then fled Mina-Rau in the fighter.^[8]

Caleen's sunrise

Andor continued work under Rael afterwards with Caleen and Paak. By 3 BBY, Andor and Caleen were in a romantic relationship^[27] and in 2 BBY^[28] the former considered leaving the rising rebellion against the Empire with Caleen. However, Caleen left first in order to force Andor to stay with the rebellion,^[29] which was in the process of formalising at the Rebel Alliance.^[21] Caleen would go on to return to Mina-Rau^[26] by 1 BBY^[30] and began raising her and Andor's newborn child. On one day that year, Caleen walked her child out into the fields as Talia and other workers cleared away at the communal dining area and B2EMO played with^[26] his droid friend ARG19.^[31]

Inhabitants

Mina-Rau was populated by many humans and at least one other species. Many workers hired by the Councils there did not have shares or visas, but were needed nonetheless to make sure the harvests could be carried out.^[8] Khediva described the population as simple farming folk,^[5] some of which, as Krole learned, went their whole lives without visiting the city of Rau.^[8]

Locations

Mina-Rau's settlements were divided into councils and blocks, some being built on hills that rose above the grain fields. These included Council 207, Council Three Hundred,^[7] Council 436, Council Five Hundred,^[1] Council Six Hundred,^[7] and Eight Hundred Block.^[8] The city of Rau^[7] and a settlement where Etzis's body was briefly kept were also located on the world.^[5] Krole noted after having dinner in the Rau that the city had changed since he visited a few years before. Other notable locations included the general store ran by Kellen and his family, as well as the mobil-haus where the undocumented mechanics resided for some time.^[7]

Behind the scenes

Media debuts

Mina-Rau first appeared in "One Year Later,"^[1] "Sagrona Teema," and "Harvest,"^[7] the first three-episode arc of the second season of Tony Gilroy's live-action Disney+ series Star Wars: Andor, which aired on April 22, 2025.^[33] The world was first revealed prior to the release of the episodes in a sizzle reel for the series exclusively shown at D23 Expo on August 12, 2024.^[34] Its name was then first mentioned in a production brief linked to the show and was released by Walt Disney Studios via Getty Images on April 10, 2025.^[35]

Utopian visions

Mina-Rau was conceived to be the new home for the characters that had left Ferrix, and indeed it mirrored the other planet in its tightly knit community built upon a local economy that was driven by hard labor. Gilroy,^[11] who wrote the three episode arc,^[33] intended to bring some "bright sunlight" to the series^[11] by conveying Mina-Rau as a peaceful and friendly place that he would like to live in, but also where Bix Caleen could still be suffering. He wanted its community to be successful as to follow along with the show's themes of community, as well as the destruction of community. For the latter part, Gilroy wanted the characters' new life on Mina-Rau to be taken away again, including the death of Brasso, to drive their motivations forward.^[36]

Concept art for Mina-Rau was conceived by at least the artists Alex Dudar and Chester Carr,^[37] with executive producer^[11] Luke Hull also contributing some sketches.^[32] For the planet's return in "Jedha, Kyber, Erso,"^[32] the final episode of the series released on May 13 of 2025,^[33] episode writer Tom Bissell had only executive producer Luke Hull's wheat sketches to work around as the setting for revisiting Bix Caleen and B2EMO. According to Bissell, Gilroy named the planet after the writer's own daughter, Mina.^[32]

Production set-backs

For the set of Mina-Rau, production intended to grow its own field of a single crop to use for filming. Location manager Rich Hill, found^[11] a roughly 200 acre field^[38] near the village of Watlington, Oxfordshire, not far from the studios, which had great horizon lines to make the planet's fields look vaster. Hull chose the crop grown to be an ancient rye that could be grown in England and convinced the farmer in charge to grow that across the field for the year instead of wheat.^[11] The mobil-haus was built as a full interior and exterior set, having to be disassembled and reassembled in Pinewood Studios due to torrential rain.^[39]

Before the main unit shoot could take place for Mina-Rau^[11] upon the blossoming of the rye,^[38] the SAG-AFTRA strikes began in summer 2023. The rye field was left to continue growing, but the set was gradually relocated to Pinewood Studios,^[11] including led to a second relocation of the mobil-haus set to Pinewood Studios. When the time came, the rye was harvested and preserved^[39] in sheets of polystyrene at within a soundstage at the studios.^[11] The outdoor sets were then reconstructed on Pinewood's 007 stage in early 2024, and the Mina-Rau scenes, as well as the season's filming as a whole, were completed in that same portion of the year.^[39] In post-production, Industrial Light & Magic had their scanline VFX team working on Mina-Rau.^[40] During this phase, the fields were made to look more expansive.^[11]

The Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser appearing above Mina-Rau in "One Year Later" was adapted from the model used in^[39] "Chapter 11: The Heiress,"^[41] the third episode in the second season of the live-action Disney+ show Star Wars: The Mandalorian which aired on December 11, 2020.^[42] The Mina-Rau bier beasts were based on unused designs from Andor Season 1, originally intended for cattle on the^[11] planet^[43] Aldhani. These creatures were brought to life by two puppeteers operating a pair of legs each, adding a tangible realism to the scenes.^[11] In other scenes, Brasso's speeder was mounted to a vehicle to more practically convey it accelerating and flying.^[39]

Concept art gallery

Appearances

• Jedi Knights 6
• Jedi Knights 7
• Jedi Knights 9 (In flashback(s)) (First identified as Xuretria)
• Star Wars: Andor — "One Year Later" (First appearance, simultaneous with "Sagrona Teema" and "Harvest")
• Star Wars: Andor — "Sagrona Teema"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Harvest"
• Star Wars: Andor — "Welcome to the Rebellion" (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Andor — "Jedha, Kyber, Erso"

Sources

Notes and references

External links

• ANDOR S2 Production Brief FINAL 2 4-10-25 by The Walt Disney Studios on Getty Images (April 10, 2025) (backup link) (First mentioned)