Ch'hala tree
The ch'hala tree was a species of tree.
Description
The ch'hala tree was a beautiful plant found in many Republic gardens on Coruscant, and notably was one of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's favorite specimens. The tree's bark consisted of a pigmentation that was sensitive to pressure, including sound waves, so the tree would often change in color and pattern in response to noise.
History
During the reign of the Galactic Empire, Palpatine set up a number of these trees throughout the Imperial Palace, particularly in the Grand Corridor.
These trees, planted all over Coruscant, became an integral component of a sophisticated spy system—codenamed Delta Source—that Palpatine used to monitor his courtiers and officers.
Many years later Grand Admiral Thrawn used this same system of trees to gather vital information about the workings of the New Republic Senate, which included key information on upcoming military campaigns.
It was found that the taproots of the trees hid a tube with sampling leads branching out of them. Pressure on the trunk of the tree, such as pressure from sound waves or the touch of a stray hand, would set off chemical changes in the bark. The chemical data was interpreted into speech patterns in a module on the taproot, while another module transmitted the data. The system was organic, so it could not be picked up by most sensor sweeps. It was this that prevented Delta Source from being found for so long.
The trees were uprooted after the incident.
Appearances
- Star Wars Missions 18: Rogue Squadron to the Rescue
- X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble
- Dark Force Rising (First appearance)
- The Last Command
- The Last Command 3
- The Last Command 4
Sources
- The Last Command Sourcebook
- A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
- The Illustrated Star Wars Universe
- The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
- Star Wars: Behind the Magic
- The Essential Guide to Droids ("MN-2E General Maintenance Droid")