Latero

Last Updated: 2/5/2024

Name: Latero (Lateron)

Humanoid: No

Classification: Beast (Simian)/Dwarf

Homeworld: Lateron

Coloration: White, Gray, or Blue

Biology: The Latero were a diminutive, bipedal species known for their simian-like traits. They stood approximately 1.5 meters tall, with plump, rounded bodies, as well as four arms and two legs. Each arm ended in four stubby fingers, while we currently do not know how many toes the species had. Latero had pale white, gray, or grayish-blue skin, in addition to brown hair that grew whiter with age. This hair usually grew from their upper lip, not quite meeting in the middle, where it then spread out across their sideburn area, before spreading up and over their head. They generally seemed to not grow any hair from their lower lip or chin, and balded quite severely as they aged, although much of their head and body remained covered in a short stubble not visible unless upon closer inspection. The rest of their face features flat, upturned noses, wide mouths with a downward pointed upper lip, eyes with white sclera, reddish iris, and black pupils, and longed, often pointy ears. Latero had the capability to speak Galactic Basic and could be Force Sensitive.

Lore: The Latero (also sometimes referred to as Lateron) were a fairly common sight among the galaxy, well established and spread out as early as the beginning of the High Republic era. Hailing from the Mid Rim territory, Lateron, they were fairly spread out, establishing communities on worlds like Tenoo and Koboh. Lateron itself was a fairly wealthy world, home to the profitable Latero-owned ship manufacturing company “Latero Spaceworks.” The planet was also known for it’s abundance of “spices,” although it’s unclear whether this referred more to the ingredients, addictive substances, or both. Many Latero left their homeworld would go on to become entrepreneurs, business owners, or ship captains, generally finding great success wherever they went due to their personable natures yet unassuming appearances. Their planet also boasted the galaxy famous “Lateron Space Academy,” which had formed not too long before the collapse of the Galactic Republic, and was responsible for the growing number of intergalactic Latero pilots.

Given Latero Spaceworks’ success, as well as what was believed to be a rich ore deposit on Lateron fueling the manufacturer, the planet was drawn into various conflicts as a vital target for resources. One of the most prominent of these events was when the Clone Wars arrived on their doorstep. Lateron had no prior involvement in the war, and although Galactic Republic citizens often purchased their vessels, there’s currently no evidence that the Latero were even members of the Republic or represented on the Senate. Their sudden involvement in the war, however, saw massive destruction to their world, leading to a number of casualties as Lateron briefly became a battlefield. After the war, the Galactic Empire would occupy the world, commandeering the Spaceworks to fuel their own growing fleet, while Lateron’s economy collapsed and the species were left to fend for themselves. Given no aide or protection, pirate factions and gangs would ravage the planet, turning into a lawless, broken shadow of it’s former self. Still, not much is known about the Latero as a people, aside from the fact that they valued greatly valued family and friendship, and it was common to see double vowels among their names.

Legends/Canon: The Latero are a concept exclusive to the current Star Wars Canon (although there was a short period of time where the true canonicity of the piece of media they were introduced through, “Jedi: Fallen Order,” was brought into question, although those doubts were shortly after dispelled).

Unexplored: We’ve gotten a fair few revelations when it comes to the Latero’s lore, but they’re so sparse and often inconsequential that it hasn’t helped all too much in understanding the species’ overall history of general characteristics. So below are a handful of questions that I feel should be answered in future endeavors that would really assist in getting to the core of the Latero! Thankfully we at least know where the Latero come from, but what is Lateron like? We know it’s rich in spices and seemingly ores, but what sort of environment(s) does it boast? What sort of flora and fauna can be found there, and what sort of presumably simian species could they have evolved from? How long ago were the Latero discovered, and by whom? If it was the Galactic Republic, was it possible they were once members of the Republic, even leading up to it’s imminent collapse? And why could so many Latero be found spread across the galaxy, especially given the fact that they were usually positions of leadership?

When was their Spaceworks first opened, and how profitable did it prove to be for the species? What all kinds of vehicles did they produce, and who were some of their primary clients? How many galactic conflicts might they have been pulled into prior to the Clone Wars, and were any of these intentional, or were they always simply due to circumstances? What was the extent of the devastation caused by the Clone Wars, what initially brought the fight to Lateron, how long might it have lasted, and who came out on top? How quickly did the Empire subjugate the world, and given the fact that, as far as we’re aware, they weren’t really oppressed but instead just sort of left to slowly fall apart, how much of an Imperial presence could actually be found on the world? What sort of crime organizations moved in during this time of vulnerability? When and how were they eventually freed? And did they ever join the New Republic, or were they left to their own devices as they attempted to begin to recover?

Additional Notes: I originally wrote this article shortly after Jedi: Fallen Order came out, meaning it was outdated pretty quickly as the species began getting referenced in various places among lore, featured pretty consistently throughout the High Republic, and made their triumphant return back to the gaming landscape with the anticipated arrival of Jedi: Survivor (which I simply called “Jedi: Fallen Order 2” in the earliest iteration of this segment). Back when this was first published, it was pretty common for the Latero to be confused or mistaken for the Ardennians, like Rio from Solo: A Star Wars Story, due to a fair number of similar traits. There was even at least one individual who I vividly remember going on an incredibly unhinged tirade on Twitter over the fact that Star Wars had created two different new species when they could have just made one, a sentiment that is both antithetical to my personal approach to the franchise, as well as just strange given the vast differences between these two species and the intents behind their designs as well.

I’m glad they’re continually giving us scraps of their lore, and seeing a Latero Jedi in THR was especially cool, but I do hope they really dedicate some time to concretely fleshing out this species instead of just giving us glimpses into their existence or tidbits of lore that amount to little more than hearsay. We really need a story, preferably in a visual medium, set on Lateron either during either the Clone Wars or while the were occupied by the Empire (and hopefully, presumably liberated by either the Rebel Alliance of New Republic). It would be extra neat if, in the third and final Jedi game (that I’m just gonna call Jedi: Fallen Order 3 until we learn more), they make Lateron one of the main locations you can travel to, and we get to see Cal and company free Greez’s people, stopping the Imperial’s usage of the Spaceworks and introducing us to a variety of other Latero characters. Just a thought, but one I think few people would be opposed to! So, if anyone at Respawn is listening, please make this an element of the series’ finale!

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