So, here’s the deal: after the Empire crumbled, the First Order started sniffing around for a new home base. They didn’t just want any random planet—they set their sights on Ilum. You know, that icy place loaded with Jedi history and kyber crystals. And yeah, I get it, Ilum wasn’t just some random snowy wasteland. It had big potential for their plans.
Let me break it down.
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Why Ilum Was a Big Deal for the Empire
First off, back when Palpatine was still calling the shots, he figured out the route to Ilum and basically looted the place. Why? Kyber crystals. These things aren’t just pretty rocks—they’re attuned to the Force and can focus insane amounts of energy. Jedi used them in their lightsabers, but ol’ Sheev had bigger plans.
He mined those crystals to power the Death Star’s superlaser. You know, the thing that could blow up entire planets with a single shot? Yeah, that. Ilum’s kyber stash played a huge part in making that weapon possible.
Fast forward to the First Order, and they took that idea and cranked it up to 11. Instead of just mining Ilum, they built Starkiller Base into the planet itself. The trenches left behind by the Empire’s mining? The First Order turned those into storage for “dark energy” harvested from stars. Add a sprinkle of kyber crystal magic, and boom—a weapon that could nuke entire star systems and hit targets through hyperspace.
How Ilum Became Starkiller Base
Okay, so after the Empire tanked (thanks, Rebels), the First Order started piecing together old Imperial research. Buried in those logs, they found info about Ilum. Decades of searching through the Unknown Regions finally led them back to this legendary planet.
Once they found it, they wasted no time. Snowtroopers went in first to “clear out” any local lifeforms—yikes—and then they started digging in, literally. Ilum wasn’t just renamed Starkiller Base; it became their headquarters and their ultimate flex.
The Empire’s old trenches made it easier for them to set up shop and install a massive superlaser array. This thing didn’t just destroy planets—it could drain energy from stars to power its attacks. Like, think about it. They weaponized an entire planet. That’s some next-level evil genius stuff right there.
Why Starkiller Base Was a Game-Changer
Look, I know the Death Star gets all the attention, but Starkiller Base made those things look like amateur hour. For starters, it was way bigger—over twice the size of either Death Star. Plus, it could wipe out multiple planets in one go, which is just wild.
And yeah, I think the name “Starkiller” is a nod to the fact that it, well, kills stars to charge up. Pretty on the nose, but hey, it works. The First Order wasn’t just trying to copy the Empire—they wanted to prove they were stronger, smarter, and way more dangerous.
Anyway, that’s why Ilum was the perfect choice. The First Order took a planet with deep ties to the Jedi and turned it into a symbol of their dominance. It’s terrifying, but you gotta admit—it’s kind of brilliant, in an evil overlord kind of way.