Lothal, a planet located in a very remote region of the Outer Rim of the galaxy.
This planet lay in the Northeastern sector of the galaxy, even more remote than Dak Planet, which was already on the fringe. Under normal circumstances, traveling from the Core Worlds to Lothal Planet would take at least a month through hyperspace routes and require dozens of jumps.
Yet despite its extreme remoteness, Lothal Planet had a highly pleasant climate. There was almost no excessively harsh terrain or weather here, only vast plains. Moreover, few people were willing to come to such an isolated place, so to its natives, Lothal Planet was like a Shangri-La.
Lothal Planet's population had always remained between 200 and 300 million. Fewer than a hundred cities and settlements had been built across the planet. Its residents mainly farmed and lived peaceful lives.
Even after the Clone Wars erupted, although Lothal Planet remained loyal to the Galactic Republic, it declared neutrality and refused to participate in the war. Since the planet was neither a transport hub nor of any strategic value, even after the Confederacy of Independent Systems took control of Dak Planet, no droid army ever descended upon it.
But neutrality was one thing. Because of its geographical location, Lothal Planet's ties with the Galactic Republic had actually been severed from the outbreak of the war until now, and this had created the planet's current predicament.
The predicament had begun three years ago.
At that time, the Galactic Empire had failed in its attack on the Duchy of Dawn, while the Duchy of Dawn lacked the strength to continue the war. Thus, both sides made a separate peace agreement, bypassing the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and the Duchy of Dawn withdrew from the war. Along with it withdrew the races