Rawmat shortage of 1 – 2 ABY The rawmat shortage of 1 – 2 ABY was a galaxy - wide scarcity of raw materials ( or " rawmats " ) vital in capital ship construction , which was particularly acute in the Core Worlds and Mid Rim . The material hit hardest was doonium , the white - gray metal used for hull plating that gave many capital ships their characteristic coloration , but other materials , such as hybrid plexisteel , also became scarce . The shortage was a result of increased demand from the Imperial government , Rebel attacks on production centers , and a pre - existing downward trend in Mid Rim production capability . The shortage lasted for nearly a year , and led to a recession in the Core Worlds . This recession resulted in political ramifications for worlds in the Core , such as on Esseles , where the Forad Party lost its grip on the Esselian Hall for the first time in a decade . The shortage also lead to smuggling , including a major operation discovered by Imperial Customs on Brentaal . Furthermore , the shortage resulted in creative use of alternate materials for warship construction , most notably the armoring of one hundred " Victory " - class Star Destroyers with red havod - alloy plates . History . Background . The raw materials shortage had its origins in several areas . The Mid Rim of the galaxy was a region that was more impoverished than locations further coreward , lacking much in the way of natural resources or dense populations . For decades prior to the Battle of Yavin , the Mid Rim had seen a gradual slide in its raw materials productivity . Meanwhile , as the Galactic Civil War heated up , the Galactic Empire greatly expanded its military . The Empire facilitated this by eliminating legal roadblocks to the build - up , employing slave labor , and strip - mining entire worlds for resources to use in its militarization . By 1 ABY , Imperial orders for raw materials had begun to significantly impinge on orders from the private sector . Finally , following the destruction of the first Death Star , the Alliance to Restore the Republic ' s propaganda network found purchase in locations it never had before ; even the most remote settlement had soon learned of the Empire ' s defeat . This greatly accelerated the Alliance ' s efforts to foment armed resistance , with entire worlds openly defying the Empire . The Rebellion now had the wherewithal to conduct numerous waves of quick , surgically - precise hit - and - fade attacks against Imperial forces . Among the Rebels ' targets were key raw materials production sites . The " rawmat " shortage . In 1 ABY , these factors came to a head in a critical shortage of raw materials , a shortage especially pronounced in the Core Worlds and Mid Rim . The metal doonium , a white - gray metal used to plate the hulls of capital ships , such as Star Destroyers , became particularly scarce . Other strategic materials , however , such as hybrid plexisteel were also in short supply . Cynabar ' s scoop . One of the first news outlets to pick up on the shortage of raw materials — colloquially known as rawmat — was Cynabar ' s InfoNet . On 36 : 6 : 26 GrS , their article " Mid - Rim Experiencing RawMat Shortage " reported that industry experts in their circle of informants believed that these raw materials were becoming scarce , and that , in particular , raw materials purchasers were acquiring every shipment of doonium possible . Cynabar ' s experts cited the increase in Imperial demand , the crippling of production facilities by Rebel partisans , and the long - term downward trend in Mid Rim production for the scarcity . Cynabar ' s InfoNet learned that , while a majority of Imperial rawmat transports were normal charters bound for well - known shipyards such as Kuat and Tallaan , a significant number were military vessels under the aegis of the Imperial Energy Systems subministry . These ships were traveling to undisclosed locations , which the article speculated might be located in the Core . The report concluded with an advisory to free - trader s with access to scarce raw materials to stockpile them , as the NewsNet anticipated them selling for double the price within the following fiscal quarter . Less than a month after the publication of " Mid - Rim Experiencing RawMat Shortage , " the Empire began a heated search for the creators of Cynabar ' s InfoNet on Nar Shaddaa . Core Worlds recession and political ramifications . The shortage of raw materials led to skyrocketing prices for manufactured goods within the Core Worlds and Mid Rim . Four months after news of the shortage first broke , it was having a significant effect on the economy of the Core Worlds , leading them into a recession . The stumbling economy led to political repercussions on planets such as Esseles . Esseles had long had a political sphere dominated by its President , former Clone Wars hero Cambira Ralle , and his Forad Party . However , as the planetary economy faltered with the rest of the Core , the Esselian New Order Party ' s leader , Jamson Freller , capitalized on the fact . He attacked Ralle ' s policy of allowing non - Humans to be employed in strategic manufacturing jobs on the world . This attack made substantial inroads against the Forad Party ' s coalition government with the Cardean Party , as well as against Forad itself . In the Esselian Hall election held during the New Year Fete Week of 2 ABY , Forad lost its holding of the majority of the Esselian Hall for the first time in two decades , with Freller ' s ENO party making substantial gains , allowing him to call for a new Presidential election . Within a month , terrorist attacks by the anti - Imperial group known as the Faceless at Grande Hyet and Tralee had further stirred up the political situation on Esseles , leading to a strike by the Guild of Offworld Skilled Laborers and an exodus of aliens from the world . Smuggling . By the second month of the year , the Outer Rim Territories itself was experiencing a shortage of raw materials great enough that , when a rawmat smuggling operation on Brentaal was uncovered by Imperial Customs , the lead investigating officer ' s first suspicion was that the materials were headed for secondary sources in that region . Customs raided an uninhabited warehouse in the Votrad sector of Brentaal ' s starport , locating thousands of tons of missing raw materials . Back - tracing the registry and lot numbers on the goods led investigators to misdirected shipments from mining and corporate transport vessels , which the traffickers rerouted into the warehouse by slicing into corporate and Customs computer systems . Red ships . Meanwhile , the shortage had impacted military production , as well . At Kuat Drive Yards in the Kuat system , one hundred venerable " Victory " - class Star Destroyers , which had entered the yards in 0 BBY and had been due to be completed at the end of 1 ABY , sat unfinished . The doonium hull plates which had been allocated for these ships were redirected to more modern Star Destroyers in other parts of the shipyard , and the " Victory " - class ships idled for nearly five months awaiting new plating , despite already having fully refurbished engines , weapons , shields , and hangars . Rather than allow these ships to remain unusable in dock , Imperial Admiral Kendel ordered havod metal alloy plates for these ships in the fourth month of 2 ABY . Havod , a reddish alloy that met all military specifications , was normally too difficult to process for such applications , but Kendel deemed it necessary in order to clear the docks for other projects . The decision to plate " Victory " - class Star Destroyers with havod alloy plating was poorly received by both crews and the public . Admiral Kendel ' s office was flooded by transfer requests from individuals who had otherwise been eager to serve aboard these refurbished ships , and the Historical Battleship Preservation Association indicated its distaste for the move through member Harod Crimmler , who stated " It would be a shame to see the classical appearance of the " Victory " - class destroyer marred by red hull plating . " Conclusion . Ultimately , the shortage of raw materials diminished , as the high prices for finished goods led investors and mining concerns to rush open new mines to meet the demand . Admiral Kendel ' s spokeswoman indicated that Kuat Drive Yards would be receiving regular doonium shipments from newly - opened sources in the Outer Rim in the third fiscal quarter of 2 ABY , forestalling the need for further havod refining , and " Rally ' s Daily Investor " estimated 9 , 000 new system - wide mining facilities would enter full production during that time . Aftermath . The recession in the Core Worlds caused by the shortage soon abated , and within a year , some economic indicators were reaching record highs . On 38 : 4 : 21 GrS , the Brentaal League of Guilds declared a Landmark Holiday , celebrating the fact that more stocks and credits were exchanged during the prior five - day period than at any time in history . Industry throughout the Core Worlds was boosted by the extensive trading , with such corporations as HavaKing , Santhe / Sienar Technologies , MerenData , the Imperial Mining Corporation , and the Tagge Company all posting record profits and dividend increases . Despite the poor reception red - hulled " Victory " - class vessels received when announced , their havod plating was military grade and up to the tasks the Imperial Navy had for them . A decade after Kendel issued his unorthodox order , seventy - three " Victory " - class Star Destroyers with red - alloy hulls were still in use in the Crimson Command of High Admiral Treuten Teradoc , a breakaway Imperial warlord . The flotilla was under the command of Rear Admiral Gilad Pellaeon , who would later go on to become the leader of the Imperial Remnant . The opening of thousands of new mines in isolated parts of the Outer Rim provided independent tramp freighter captains with opportunities to service the miners and support staffs located there . With the sudden explosion of new mines , most corporations had not established company stores , meaning independent traders could sell directly to their employees . Items in high demand in these new work facilities included entertainment holos ; small , unarmed battle droids ; pets not on the ImpDoc Export Unrestricted list ; and intoxicating substances of all varieties . Notable participants . Imperial organizations . Imperial Customs . Imperial Customs was an agency of the Empire that enforced Imperial laws and regulations regarding trade , smuggling , and the illegal use of starships . Its duties overlapped significantly with the civilian traffic monitoring duties of the Imperial Navy . Imperial Customs became involved in attempts to thwart raw materials smuggling . On 37 : 2 : 22 GrS , Customs agents on Brentaal raided a warehouse complex in the Votrad sector , finding thousands of tons of missing raw materials . They back - traced the registry and lot numbers on the goods , which proved they were shipments from mining and corporate transport vessels that the smugglers had rerouted to the warehouse by slicing into corporate and Customs computer systems . Imperial Energy Systems subministry . Imperial Energy Systems was a subministry of the Ministry of Energy . Founded in 1 ABY , it allegedly was tasked with creating large - scale portable power generators for disaster relief applications . It was headed by Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod , and was actually a cover for the second Death Star construction project . Shortly after the subministry ' s formation , Cynabar ' s InfoNet learned that many military ships assigned to it were involved in shipping raw materials to undisclosed locations . Imperial Military . The Imperial Military was the collective armed forces of the Galactic Empire , consisting of the Imperial Navy and Imperial Army and augmented by the Stormtrooper Corps . The size of the military was immense , and it was supported by a powerful industrial complex that used both nationalized assets and contractors from the private sector . The Empire facilitated the growth of the military by eliminating legal obstructions , using slaves , and strip - mining entire worlds . The military ' s rapid growth led to heavy government demand for raw materials , which significantly impacted the available supply of them in the private sector . Corporations and organizations . Alliance to Restore the Republic . The Alliance to Restore the Republic ( also known as the Rebel Alliance or Rebellion ) was an alliance of resistance forces formed in direct opposition to the Empire . It dealt a massive blow to the Empire by destroying the Death Star at the Battle of Yavin . The Rebels ' propaganda network used this victory to accelerate armed resistance movements throughout the galaxy , giving them the capability to conduct waves of quick , surgically - precise hit - and - fade attacks against Imperial forces . The Alliance ' s targets included key raw materials production sites , the destruction of which contributed to the shortage . Cynabar ' s InfoNet . Cynabar ' s Infonet was an illegal news broadcast produced by a mysterious smuggler or group known only as " Cynabar . " The aim of the service was to make smugglers and traders aware of business opportunities and the activities of the Galactic Empire . Access to it was very exclusive and costly , and was only made available by invitation . Cynabar ' s InfoNet was one of the first news outlets to report on the raw materials shortage , with an article entitled " Mid - Rim Experiencing RawMat Shortage . " Among other details , the article reported that a significant number of Imperial rawmat transports were military vessels assigned to the Imperial Energy Systems subministry , and were bound for undisclosed locations . The report concluded with an advisory to free - traders to stockpile any raw materials they might have access to , as they were likely to sell for twice the price in the following fiscal quarter . Less than a month after this article was released , the Empire began a heated search for the creators of Cynabar ' s InfoNet on Nar Shaddaa . Even though the creators of the InfoNet were not located there , the increased attention drove them underground for months . Kuat Drive Yards . Kuat Drive Yards was the largest military shipbuilding corporation in the galaxy at the time of the Galactic Civil War . It was based on Kuat . It mainly sold its products to the Empire , and it built the iconic " Imperial " - class Star Destroyers , " Executor " - class Star Dreadnoughts , and All Terrain Armored Transports . The yards also refurbished and refitted Imperial ships of non - Kuati manufacture . Kuat continued to receive raw materials transports from the Empire , even as private sector supplies dried up ; however , eventually even their military production began to suffer as a result of the shortage , forcing them to resort to nonstandard materials to complete lower - priority projects . Individuals . Jamson Freller . Jamson Freller was a Human male from Esseles , and leader of the Esselian New Order Party . He opposed Esselian Hall President Cambira Ralle . Freller capitalized on Esseles ' s flagging economy during the Core Worlds recession , targeting Ralle ' s policy of letting aliens be employed in certain strategic jobs ; his attacks made substantial inroads against the Forad Party ' s coalition , allowing it to make major inroads in the Esselian Hall Election of 2 ABY . With these gains , Freller called for a new Presidential election . When terrorist attacks by the anti - Imperial group known as the Faceless further stirred up the Esselian political scene , Freller made a statement outwardly supporting Ralle while casting doubt on Ralle ' s motivations . Admiral Kendel . Admiral Kendel was an officer stationed at Kuat Drive Yards . Faced with one hundred " Victory " - class Star Destroyers left unfinished due to the shortage of doonium for hull plating , Kendel issued the unusual order to process havod metal alloy into plating for these ships . Kendel ' s decision was widely criticized , both by outside commentators and by crewers scheduled to serve on the refurbished ships . President Cambira Ralle . Cambira Ralle was President of Esseles and leader of the Forad party . A former Clone Wars hero revered for leading Esseles through that trying time , he and his party had long dominated the world ' s political sphere . By the time of the raw materials shortage , however , his age and failing health had weakened his position . As Esseles ' s economy faltered with the rest of the Core , his political foe , Jamson Freller , attacked his policy of allowing non - Humans in strategic manufacturing jobs , an attack which made substantial inroads against the Forad Party ' s coalition government . In the Esselian Hall Election held soon thereafter , Forad lost its holding of the majority for the first time in twenty years , giving Freller the political capital to call for a new Presidential election . Less than a month later , terrorist attacks by the Faceless required Ralle to jockey with governor Griff Takel for the right to send troops into the affected areas , to urge calm and reassure businesses frightened by the attack , and to have talks with the striking Guild of Offworld Skilled Laborers . Captain Dalea Trovin . Dalea Trovin was an Imperial Customs officer stationed in the city of Votrad , on Brentaal . She coordinated an investigation into raw materials smuggling that uncovered a warehouse filled with thousands of tons of missing raw materials shipments . Trovin suspected that the materials were headed for secondary sources in the Outer Rim . By back - tracing the registry and lot numbers on the goods , her investigators were led to misdirected shipments from mining and corporate transport vessels , which the traffickers had rerouted into the warehouse by slicing into corporate and Customs computer systems . Behind the scenes . The raw materials shortage was a running thread through the " Galaxywide NewsNets " feature of several issues of the " Star Wars Adventure Journal " . It was first mentioned in issue number 7 ' s " Galaxywide NewsNets " , in an article entitled " Mid - Rim Experiencing RawMat Shortage " attributed to Cynabar ' s Infonet . Two subsequent NewsNet posts in the same issue , " Cynabar ' s Infonet Shutting Down " by Cynabar ' s Infonet and " Empire Shows Flag at Nar Shaddaa " by Galaxy News Service , discussed the NewsNet ' s hiatus ; their proximity to the prior post , which included hints of covert Imperial activity , suggest that the shutdown was a related event . The raw materials shortage was next discussed in the following issue , in an article attributed to Deena Mipps of Darpa SectorNet , " Rawmat Recession Threatens Ralle ' s Coalition . " It established the raw materials shortage as a cause for a recession in the Core Worlds and the political ramifications for the planet Esseles . The article " New Order Captures Parliament Majority " followed up on this political event , as did " DynaCorp Refinery Blasted by Rebel Terrorist , " " Ralle Urges Calm in Aftermath , " and " Alien Workers Reach Accord with the Hall " in " Star Wars Adventure Journal 9 " . That issue also contained a Brentaal Trade News article , " Customs Uncovers Rawmat Smuggling , " which showed that the shortage was resulting in smuggling operations . This article indicated the Outer Rim was experiencing the shortage , whereas previous and later sources refer to the Core Worlds and Mid Rim being hit hardest . The " Galaxywide NewsNets " in " Star Wars Adventure Journal 10 " contained two articles on the shortage . The first , an " Imperial Defense Daily " report entitled " Rawmat Shortages Lead to Red Ships - Commanders Outraged , " humorously looked at the effect the shortage was having on Imperial shipbuilders and the military . While not explicitly stated as such , the article also appears to be an attempt to establish the origins of the red - hulled " Victory " - class vessels seen in Kevin J . Anderson ' s 1995 novel " Darksaber " . The second article , " New Mines Opening Means Big Business for Spacers " by Independent Traders ' Infonet , served as a coda for the rawmat shortage , establishing that numerous new mines were being opened to meet the demand for raw materials . The reluctance of Imperial Navy personnel to serve on ' pink ' Victory Star Destroyers is possibly a reference to the 1959 comedy film " " , in which a submarine is painted pink because insufficient white primer paint is available and sailors are reluctant and embarrassed to serve on it .