Tase Somer's black market network

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"I saw some messages about the Path engine, and…this is how Beol found out about it. A good ol' clandestine network of people buying and selling rare, priceless artifacts."
―Chelli Aphra[2]

During the Imperial Era, Tase Somer's black market network was a clandestine network operated for the purchase and sale of rare artifacts. The artifacts listed on the network included items from the High Republic Era. After the smuggler Remy placed a Nihil Path engine on the network, it was purchased by Beol De'Rruyet, founder of De'Rruyet Industries, who subsequently attempted to replicate the device and its abilities.

Description

"But this is the biggest one I've ever seen…and some of these items even look like they're from the High Republic Era."
―Chelli Aphra[2]

The network was a clandestine operation, composed of individuals buying and selling rare and priceless artifacts. Accessible via terminal, the network displayed numerous artifact listings that consisted of an image of the item and a body of text, with an option to bid next to each listing. The network was extensive—the rogue archaeologist Doctor Chelli Aphra described it as the largest she had ever seen—with some of the items for sale on it having originated in the time of the High Republic Era.[2] Tase Somer used it to buy and sell artifacts on the black market to fill his museum's collection.[3]

History

"He kept trying to impress me, bragging about a network of buyers interested in his latest score."
―A Dol'har Hyde bartender, on Remy[4]

During the time of the Galactic Empire, the network was operated in secret.[2] After the smuggler Remy discovered a Nihil Path engine in a starship wreck on the planet Dol'har Hyde, he placed it up for sale on the network,[4] where it was found by Beol De'Rruyet, founder of De'Rruyet Industries, who accessed the network from his office within De'Rruyet Center on[2] the planet[4] Midarr.[2] De'Rruyet purchased the Path engine from Remy[4] on the planet Corellia,[5] returning to Midarr, where he attempted to reproduce the device and his abilities.[2]

Doctor Aphra accessed the network from Beol De'Rruyet's office.

Doctor Aphra accessed the network from Beol De'Rruyet's office.

Though his replica was incomplete, De'Rruyet intended to unveil the Path engine at an expo,[2] which led his rival, Domina Tagge of the Tagge Corporation, to recruit Doctor Chelli Aphra to look into his claims and prevent his company from releasing the technology.[6] Aphra infiltrated De'Rruyet Center with the smuggler Sana Starros, and the two investigated De'Rruyet's office. Having seen messages about the Path engine, Aphra discovered the network from which De'Rruyet had found it. Intrigued by the network, Aphra considered using it to get rich by finding out the identities of the buyers and stealing from them. The two were interrupted by De'Rruyet, who walked into his office to find them at his desk.[2]

Aphra and Starros broke into Tase Somer's residence on Coruscant to see if they could find any information on Ascendant artifacts for Domina Tagge on the network.[3] After a fight with Kho Phon Farrus, Aphra accessed Somer's terminal to look for clients who might have purchased Ascendant artifacts.[7] The network led them to Taris, Nar Shaddaa, Champala, Mon Cala, and Corsin. After finding nothing but dead bodies, Aphra consulted the list and realized De'Rruyet was still alive so they travelled to Midarr to see him.[1]

Behind the scenes

Though the network was not given a formal name, it was first mentioned in the comic Doctor Aphra (2020) 8, written by Alyssa Wong and published by Marvel Comics[4] on March 24, 2021.[8] It subsequently appeared in the following issue, also written by Wong, penciled by Minkyu Jung,[2] and published on April 21, 2021.[9]

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Doctor Aphra (2020) 18
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Doctor Aphra (2020) 9
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Doctor Aphra (2020) 16
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Doctor Aphra (2020) 8
  5. ↑ Doctor Aphra (2020) 7
  6. ↑ Doctor Aphra (2020) 6
  7. ↑ Doctor Aphra (2020) 17
  8. ↑ Marvel-TemplateLogo Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020) #8 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
  9. ↑ Marvel-TemplateLogo Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020) #9 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)