Sterilization of Geonosis

Around 9 BBY, the Outer Rim world of Geonosis was sterilized by the Galactic Empire, killing virtually all of the planet's population, by orders from Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, to ensure the secrecy of the Death Star project. The Geonosians of the Stalgasin hive were the original builders of the Death Star, an armored battle station capable of destroying entire planets. During the Clone Wars, they were persuaded to aid in the battle station's construction by Lieutenant Commander Orson Callan Krennic.

At the end of the war, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine declared himself Emperor and transformed the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire. The Death Star project fell under Imperial control and the battle station was moved away from Geonosis. The only survivor of the sterilization was Klik-Klak, who at some point after came into the possession of a Geonosian egg who when hatched became Queen Karina. She eventually moved to a lair beneath the planet's surface. Unable to produce new offspring and thus unable to repopulate the species, Karina continued the production of battle droids that the Geonosian droid factories once produced. The Sith Lord Darth Vader came to Geonosis during the Galactic Civil War and took the droids from her.

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