Siniteen

The Siniteen were a humanoid sentient species that were native to Mileva. They were distinguished by their brain-shaped heads and hyperintelligence. They were capable of calculating hyperspace coordinates without the aid of a computer navigator. Siniteens were present in a wide variety of roles across the galaxy, ranging from bounty hunters to politicians.

Biology and appearance

Siniteens were a bipedal humanoid sentient species distinguished by their large, bulging, veiny brain-shaped craniums and pale skin. As humanoids, Siniteens possessed two legs, as well as two arms ending in five-fingered hands.^[1] Their heads featured small, sometimes pupilless, yellow eyes, though they lacked visible ears.^[4] Siniteen had large and advanced brains able to perform complex calculations, including plotting hyperspace jumps without the aid of a navigation computer.^[1]

History

The Siniteen hailed from Mileva^[1], an astronomical object located in the Mileva system of the Maldrood sector.^[5] Their homeworld was part of the Mid Rim Territories^[6] and the Slice.^[7]

Sometime after 34 ABY^[8], a journal featuring an illustration of a Siniteen wearing a green robe was exhibited at the Graf Archive on Orchis 2^[1]. The illustration was presumably created by an unknown artist and was later restored and expanded as part of the Graf Archive restoration effort during Xoddam Lothipp’s tenure as Deputy Director of the archive.^[1]

Prior to the dissolution of the Galactic Empire, the Imperial Transit Authority of the Terrabe sector issued an official communiqué listing known members of the Gullet Gang, which included the Siniteen information broker and slicer Nersiton. The communiqué was later included in the pages of a Smuggler's Guide, where the listing was annotated by Cycyed Ock, noting that the Siniteen later broke a contract with the Droid Gotra. The note also described the Siniteen’s death at their hands as a consequence of said broken contract.^[9]

According to Loonoo’s notes in the guide documenting the heist at the Varcinius Repository, Nersiton was present as part of Gallandro’s team to provide technical support. The journal notes that he used readings from speck-trackers deployed via buzz droid to program "The Twins" Kilitz and Kling's bodysuits, allowing them to move through the station without triggering thermal alarms. It also recorded that Nersiton was to receive 12 percent of the heist’s profits.^[9]

Siniteens in the Galaxy

High republic era

During the High Republic Era, the female Siniteen scientist Sh'nar Qwasba served as the president of the Galactic Agricultural Alliance. Qwasba attended the Agricultural Alliance’s annual meeting on the Starlight Beacon space station. When a fight broke out between two of the Alliance's scientists on Starlight's main concourse, Qwasba was informed of the brawl by her assistant, arriving as the station's head of security, Ghal Tarpfen, stunned the scientists. Angered by the incident, Qwasba was restrained by Administrator Velko Jahen, but their conversation ended when Jedi Master Estala Maru summoned all personnel to the dining hall to respond to a riot.^[10]

The Siniteen Royce was an elderly inventor who worked with the Nihil. He allowed Avon Sunvale to assist him aboard the Poisoned Barb, overseeing her work on navigation and engines, and revealed the ship was all that remained of Kara Xoo’s Tempest fleet after Jedi and Republic attacks.^[11]

Around 160 BBY,^[12] an ill-mannered Siniteen named Hudor Plinkythuj served on the Council of Elders on Cerifisis, representing the southern region. He was described as possessing permanent sneer, and overall carried himself with contempt, believing himself too intelligent to accommodate others’ agendas. During a meeting with Mayor Lansa and her brother Kavil, Plinkythuj displayed annoyance in his posture and tone. Plinkythuj joined the other council members in deception, and complained about grain taxes and land allotments. When the Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh was brought in to meet the elders, he accused the council of treachery and questioned the presence of a Jedi. Despite the performance, he was far less agitated than he appeared, delivering a display that rivaled several holodramas the Jedi had seen.^[13]

Around 33 BBY,^[14] the bounty hunter Aurra Sing pursued a mission to Hallitron-7. She broke in through the ceiling to Chevin Renzoh Silliac's office, only to find herself held at blaster point by multiple thugs, including a Siniteen. Using her assassin skills, Sing quickly incapacitated the thugs. She kicked a chair into the Siniteen, knocking him over and simultaneously shoved a Bith, who accidentally shot the Siniteen, killing them.^[15]

The Siniteen^[16] pirate^[17] Hal'Sted was the person responsible for taking Asajj Ventress away from the Nightsisters^[18] as recompense for a debt they owed.^[19] Hal'Sted and Ventress lived together for some time on Rattatak following this exchange.^[19] Hal'Sted would later be killed by Nikto pirates and Assaj was taken in by Jedi Knight Ky Narec.^[20]

Clone wars

During the Clone Wars, the Galactic Republic hired the Siniteen mercenary Bric as a drill sergeant and Master Chief to train various clone cadet squads on Kamino. Within Tipoca City, he oversaw cadet instruction alongside the Arcona bounty hunter El-Les. Bric personally trained the disobedient unit Domino Squad, overseeing their drills and enforcing harsh discipline.^[21]

Toward the end of Domino Squad’s training, Bric and El-Les joined Jedi Master Shaak Ti in the Military Complex Training Facility of Tipoca City. From a secure observation deck overlooking the chamber, the trio watched Domino Squad practice for its final exam, the Citadel Challenge, in which the cadets faced battle droids and attempted to secure a flag atop a tower. Bric observed the squad’s lack of teamwork, which caused them to fail the exercise. Later, when cadets Hevy and Echo began fighting in the barracks, Bric intervened angrily, breaking up the brawl and scolding the clone for their behavior.^[21]

When the squad failed the Citadel Challenge after leaving an injured Droidbait behind, Bric considered reassigning them to maintenance duty. He later singled out Cutup, attempting to provoke him, but the cadet did not retaliate, inciting Bric’s anger. For the squad’s retake of the Citadel Challenge, Bric removed their ascension cables to make the test more difficult. Despite this, Domino Squad improvised and successfully completed the exercise. Shaak Ti credited Bric’s harsh methods with bringing out the squad’s potential, and Bric, alongside El-Les, congratulated the clones before their deployment to the front lines.^[21]

In 21 BBY^[22] the Pantoran chairman Papanoida arrived at Jabba's Palace with his son Ion in search of the Rodian Greedo, whom he suspected of abducting his daughters, Chi Eekway and Che Amanwe. After the chairman asked the Twi'lek Trella Bare'Ah about the whereabouts of the Rodian suspect, the Twi'lek said she would speak with him, with Greedo eventually being revealed to have been gambling with the Siniteen Brainee and a Weequay when Trella, his partner, warned him of Papanoida’s inquiries.^[2]

Greedo, Brainee, and the Weequay attempted to seize Papanoida and Ion, but the baron overpowered them and took Greedo captive at vibroblade-point. Papanoida then brought the group before Jabba the Hutt, where he presented evidence that forced Greedo to confess his involvement in the kidnappings, with Brainee standing guiltily beside him.^[2] Sometime later, a Siniteen was present walking down the street in the lower market districts on the planet Coruscant when the Duros bounty hunter Cad Bane was tracking the valuable droids C-3PO and R2-D2.^[23]

The Siniteen Bec Lawise served as the Separatist Congress Leader within the Confederacy of Independent Systems^[24] in 21 BBY.^[25] He supported the Confederate–Republic peace initiative in hopes of achieving a diplomatic end to the Clone Wars.^[24] Lawise attended a peace conference on the planet Mandalore. The meeting was interrupted by Lux Bonteri, the son of the late politician Mina Bonteri, who claimed that his mother had been murdered in cold blood. Lawise was outraged at Bonteri’s presence and stated he was lying before ordering commando droids to arrest him.^[26]

A Siniteen on Coruscant was present near the ecumenopolis' central power distribution grid when it was bombed in a droid suicide attack.^[24] Nim Mindbend was a Siniteen bounty hunter wanted dead for the act of kidnapping, theft, and murder with a prize of 120,000 credits ^[27] in 20 BBY.^[28] A hologram of Mindbend was discussed as a potential target by a group of bounty hunters at Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina on the planet Tatooine.^[27]

In 19 BBY, Lawise was sent by the Confederacy of Independent Systems to Scipio to oversee the transition of leadership within the InterGalactic Banking Clan following the arrest of the Muun council known as the Core Five. He arrived ahead of Republic Senator Padmé Amidala and welcomed Rush Clovis upon his return to the planet, expressing confidence in his appointment. Lawise accompanied Clovis and Amidala into the Banking Clan’s Main Vault, where the former leaders were sentenced and removed, and supported Clovis’s confirmation as head of the banks. Soon afterward, Clovis announced a sudden increase in Republic loan interest rates, a decision that caught Lawise by surprise. Before the delegations could depart, Count Dooku arrived with Separatist forces and occupied Scipio. Lawise was brought to Clovis' office, where he objected to Dooku’s actions and attempted to prevent the arrest of Amidala, warning that it would not be sanctioned by the Separatist Senate. Dooku ignored the protest and used the Force to compel Amidala to fire upon Lawise, killing him instantly.^[29]

That same year,^[30] a Siniteen patron was present within the clone cantina 79's on Coruscant when the clone Fives arrived after uncovering the Order 66 conspiracy, having met with his brother and friend Kix to ask him for help. During their exchange, the Siniteen was situated near the bar by 79's bartender.^[31]

Imperial era

Nersiton was a Siniteen male slicer who was part of the Gullet Gang in the Terrabe sector. He was later employed by the human Gallandro for the Varcinius Repository vault job heist. He used data gathered by sensors within the Varcinius Repository to program the bodysuits worn by crew members Kilitz and Kling, allowing them to bypass the facility’s temperature alarms. After departing from Gallandro, he accepted a contract with the Droid Gotra, though would later break said contract. As punishment, the organization forced him to duel a series of droid combatants, and making it to the eleventh opponent before he was killed.^[9] In 1 BBY,^[32] a Siniteen was present in Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina sitting at the bar with an Advozse/Legends patron when the Trandoshan bounty hunter Bossk walked over to the counter and talked with the bartender Wuher.^[33]

Pons Limbic was a Siniteen who was nicknamed "Brainiac" for his ability to mentally calculate hyperspace jumps.^[34] He frequented^[1] Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina at the Mos Eisley spaceport on the planet Tatooine,^[35] and in 1 BBY,^[36] sat at a table within the establishment alongside patrons Hem Dazon, Bom Vimdin, Arleil Schous, and Braconnor Bakiska.^[34] The group were refreshing themselves^[37] when Jedi-in-exile Obi-Wan Kenobi and a young Luke Skywalker entered the cantina seeking a pilot to take them to Alderaan.^[4]

Both Limbic and Vimdin were present in the cantina again after the Battle of Yavin^[38], in 0 ABY^[39] when the bounty hunter Boba Fett arrived seeking information on Luke Skywalke, remaining silent following his inquiry.^[38]

Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, a Siniteen sat in a bar on Nar Shaddaa next to an Abyssin when Luke Skywalker entered. The Zabrak bartender ordered the patrons to attack and rob Skywalker, and the Siniteen followed the command alongside the others, only to be punched in the face by Skywalker.^[40] Later, a Siniteen sat in a casino gambling with Han Solo. Solo was using the Rebellion’s money, claiming he was merely doubling it, when in actuality he was cheating. When the other patrons discovered his deceit, they ran him out of the cantina without recovering the stolen funds.^[41] In 3 ABY,^[42] when Boba Fett entered a gladiatorial championship on Nar Shaddaa, a Siniteen cheered on the fighters from the stands of the Garkata Fighting Arena.^[43]

New republic era

Golas Aram was a hover chair-bound Siniteen who designed prisons for the Galactic Empire, including the conversion of the ancient ship, Ashmead's Lock, on the planet Kashyyyk. He retired to a heavily fortified compound on Irudiru, isolating himself from others, though he was eventually captured by Han Solo and Norra Wexley while they searched for the imprisoned Wookiee Chewbacca. Sinjir Rath Velus interrogated him, forcing Aram to reveal information about the prison. Despite this, Aram withheld Ashmead’s Lock’s access codes, and the group had to fight through its defenses to reach Chewbacca.^[44]

Behind the scenes

The Siniteen species originated from the character Pons Limbic, who was known by the production nickname of "Brainee," "Cranium Head" and "Crater Head"^[45] during the production of the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the first installment of the Star Wars original trilogy, in which Limbic first appeared.^[46] The initial concept sketch for the mask prop, which was worn by Jibralta Merrill during the film, was conceptualized and drawn by Rick Baker. The mask’s development was a collaborative process, with Baker producing an early rough sculpt, which was later refined and finished by Rob Bottin.^[47]

According to the episode guide for the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" episode "Clone Cadets," "Siniteen" is an anagram of "Einstein."^[48] At one point during the development of "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order", the character Taron Malicos was briefly conceptualized as a Siniteen by concept artist Jose Daniel Cabrera Peña, though the idea went used.^[49] The Siniteen Pons Limbic made a non-canonical appearance in the "Star Wars: Visions" Volume 1 episode "Tatooine Rhapsody."^[50]

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

• Star Wars: Visions — "Tatooine Rhapsody"

Sources

• "Clone Cadets" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as Siniteen)
• "Nightsisters" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Revenge" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars Helmet Collection: General Grievous Databank A-Z: Master Chief Bric–C-3PO
• Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
• Star Wars Helmet Collection: Zuckuss Weapons & Uniforms: Mos Eisley Spaceport Cantina (Picture only)
• Star Wars Helmet Collection: Biggs Darklighter Databank A-Z: Venator–Asajj Ventress
• Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 92 Guide to the Galaxy: Scipio — Banking Clan World (Picture only)
• Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
• Star Wars: Alien Archive
• Star Wars: Smuggler's Guide
• Rise of the Separatists
• Star Wars By the Numbers: Every Language in Star Wars Movies on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (original link is obsolete) (Picture only)
• The Art of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
• Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – The Official Collector's Edition (Picture only)
• 79's in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)

Notes and references