Bothan

The Bothawuians were a race of furry bipeds native to the planet Bothawui and several other colony worlds, and were distinguished by their political and influential nature. The Bothawuians were masters of brokering information, and had a spy network that rivalled the best the Empire or the Old Republic could create.

As a race, Bothawuian took great pride in their clans, and it was documented that there were 608 registered clans on the Bothawuian Council.

The Bothawuians joined the Alliance shortly after the Battle of Yavin. While the Bothans generally stayed out of the main fighting, there were two instances of Bothan exploits. The first came when they were leaked the information about the plans and data on the construction of the second Death Star near Endor. A number of Bothans assisted a shorthanded Rogue Squadron in recovering the plans from the Suprosa, but their lack of piloting skills got many of them killed. The plans were recovered and brought to Kothlis, where more Bothawuians were killed in an Imperial raid to recover the plans. Again, the Bothawuians retained possession of the plans, and eventually turned them over to Mon Mothma and the Alliance. The second came when they helped eliminate Imperial ships near New Cov.

It was later revealed that the Bothawuians were also involved in bringing down the planetary shields of the planet Caamas, during the early reign of Emperor Palpatine, allowing the Empire to burn the surface of the planet to charred embers. Although the Bothawuians searched for several years to discover the clans invovled, Imperial records were too well-guarded to provide any clues. Then, some fifteen years after the Battle of Endor, records were discovered at Mount Tantiss that told of the Bothawuian involvement.

As a people, the Bothawuians were feline in nature, with retractable claws on their hands. Their fur, which ranged in color from white to dark brown, was often seen to ripple or undulate, depending on the mood of an individual. The movements of the fur were not easily detected by non-Bothawuians, but those individuals who came to understand it were better able to communicate with their Bothawuian comrades.

The primary goal of most Bothawuian individuals is the elevation of their own personal status, and much of their lives were spent in the pursuit of influence and power. Bothans were masters at manipulating situations to their own needs, a trait that eventually led to a deep-seated paranoia among the entire Bothawuian race.