Nikto / Legends The Nikto were a reptilian humanoid species from the planet Kintan in the Si ' Klaata Cluster with many subspecies . Biology and appearance . They were all reptilian humanoids that were noted for their leathery skin with an average adult standing 1 . 8 meters tall . Sometimes these were covered in spikes and horns . The species held a limited range of facial expressions because they lacked the necessary anatomical infrastructure . Most Nikto had cold black obsidian eyes . These were sometimes covered by a protective membrane . This took the form of a thin transparent pellicle that protected their eyes underwater and during windstorms . As a result , they were noted for their " " staring " " eyes and a seemingly blank expression which led to many underestimating Nikto intelligence . The Nikto species featured six distinct mutated sub - species due to massive radiation bursts from a dying nearby star M ' dweshuu , which sped up the rate of mutation so that traits that normally took millions of years to occur instead took only thousands . The five sub - species inhabited different geographic areas of Kintan , developing unique adaptations to suit the different environments on the planet . Only five were known to the galaxy at large ; the sixth , the Numol ' elrul , were a water - breathing subspecies that lived in the caverns below Glussa Island but were considered nothing more than a legend to the others , as they cut off all contact with the rest of their species around 5000 BBY . The varying appearance of the Nikto sub - species caused confusion amongst those who were unfamiliar with the Nikto , but all Nikto had certain similarities ; leathery skin , sometimes covered with spikes or horns , as well as eyes that included a protective membrane to shield against Kintan ' s harsh environment . The mutation caused by the planet ' s radiation atmosphere were triggered in the race that resulted in five different subspecies that were each adapted to a specific environmental niche . These five reptilian species all displayed unique cosmetic features . While each subspecies of the Nikto was physically distinct and originated from different parts of Kintan , Nikto from different subspecies could easily interbreed . 93 % of the offspring from such unions ended up with the characteristics of only one parent ' s race , with the rest combining the traits of two subspecies . Nikto are known be particularly susceptible to the mind trick . Kajain ' sa ' Nikto . The most common subspecies , the Kajain ' sa ' Nikto or " Red Nikto " , adapted to survive in the Wannschok , or " Endless Wastes " , a desert region on Kintan . They had a series of forehead ridges and small facial horns surrounding their eyes and on the chin . Their noses were covered with a movable flap of skin and a semi - permeable membrane which allowed the Nikto to breathe without ingesting sand and grit . The Kajain ' sa ' Nikto also had a pair of breathing tubes on each side of the neck with openings covered by similar membranes . These membranes also trapped exhaled water vapor and sent it back into their system . Their equivalent of smiling was flattening their mouth flaps . Most Morgukai warriors were of this race . Kadas ' sa ' Nikto . Kadas ' sa ' Nikto , or " Green Nikto , " originated in the milder climatic regions of Kintan , such as the forests and the seacoasts . Their scaly faces had small facial horns surrounding the eyes and on the chin . Their main distinguishing feature was the long climbing claws on their hands , which could also be used in combat . Esral ' sa ' Nikto . Esral ' sa ' Nikto , or " Mountain Nikto " , adapted to the variable climate of the mountains of Kintan . They had large facial fins which were used for heat regulation . These fins also improved the Esral ' sa ' Nikto ' s hearing . Their skin was blue - gray , and they had neither horns nor breathing tubes , though they did have a covered nose similar to the Kajain ' sa ' Nikto . Gluss ' sa ' Nikto . Gluss ' sa ' Nikto , or " Pale Nikto " , came from the Gluss ' elta Islands of Kintan , causing them to be natural sailors . They had white - gray skin , eye - horns like the Kadas ' sa ' Nikto , and fins similar to those of the Esral ' sa ' Nikto , but smaller . Xenobiologists believed the first Gluss ' sa ' Nikto to have been born of a Kadas ' sa ' Nikto who mated with an Esral ' sa ' Nikto . M ' shento ' su ' Nikto . M ' shento ' su ' Nikto , or " Southern Nikto " , had no horns , a covered nose , and several pairs of breathing tubes . These tubes were larger than those of the Kajain ' sa ' Nikto , and also acted as primitive ultrasonic sensory organs . Their skin color varied from white to yellow or orange . History . Origin . Nikto evolved on the harsh world of Kintan that was located deep in the heart of the Si ' Klaata Cluster that contained a volatile star known as M ' dweshuu . Many millennia ago , a massive amount of radiation was hurled from the dying star that reached the blue - green world . This radiation impacted the biosphere and affected the indigenous inhabitants . Many native inhabitants died as a result whilst the survivors were horribly mutated into fearsome monsters that rivalled the Rancors of Dathomir or the warbeasts of Onderon . Over thousands of years , the mutation led to the rise of animals such as spine dragons , gigantic gray - eyed tuskbeasts , and the immense horned trogwhale . It was in this environment that a diminutive hairless reptile race evolved into intelligence that eventually became known as Nikto . Under constant threat from predators , the Nikto people were strengthened and unified in order to survive . Their civilization emerged from the watch camps that had been built to warn of tuskbeast attacks . In addition , the predators forced the Nikto to take up arms which in turn led to the evolution of tools as their civilization developed . Being a hearty people , they survived on Kintan despite the odds and conquered their environment where they placed themselves at the top of the food chain . Following standard cultural paradigms , Nikto society developed technology and eventually discovered atomic level technology . Their civilization at this point consisted of many isolated city - states that were all walled to keep the wildlife out . By this point , many of Kintan ' s forests and swamps had been burnt down to force the more dangerous creatures into extinction . Thus , the Nikto destroyed their own world ' s biosphere to preserve themselves that transformed it into a barren wasteland . In this time , numerous devastating planetary conflicts erupted on their home planet . During this time , the Nikto became more involved in astronomy as their technological base advanced . After the fourth planetary war , the Nikto discovered the M ' dweeshu Nova and determined that it was the source of the numerous monstrous beasts that emerged on their world . The discovery of the star ' s effects led to news of its effects quickly spreading around their war - torn planet . In circa 26 , 000 BBY , the ancient Nikto astronomers discovered the M ' dweshuu Nova star . After learning of it , a strange and bizarre faith was a formed known as the Cult of M ' dweshuu . None truly knew how the cult was formed or what its initial interests were at the time . However , they quickly spread throughout Kintan where it rose in power and number with terror spreading throughout the planet as a result of their actions . This religious movement worshipped the Mdweshuu star and offered blood sacrifices that they believed appeased the spirit of the celestial body . They also began to " " purify " " those that they believed were not worthy descendants of M ' dweshuu . This saw thousands of Nikto slain for not subscribing to the beliefs of the Cult during a bloody inquisition . As the Cult of M ' dweshuu dominated their culture , many joined their ranks whilst many more hid in fear and even more paid the price for not being deemed " " pure " " . The Cult of M ' dweshuu became the rulers of Kintan and controlled the planet for thirty years . Allegiance to the Hutts . After thirty years , Kintan remained under the rule of the Cult until a new interstellar development rocked Nikto civilization . During this time , the Hutts were expanding into the Si ' Klaata Cluster in the Pre - Republic era which became a point of contention in the conflict with Warlord Xim ' s empire . The expansion of Hutt Space would bring about the end of the short lived reign of the Cult of M ' dweeshu when the Nikto were discovered in 25 , 130 BBY . By this point , the Hutts had long recruited the Klatooinians and Vodrans . Unlike the other two species , the Nikto proved to be much more technologically advanced , and that made them a challenge for the Hutts . Hutt merchants visited Kintan and intended to seek control of the star system in order to secure a strategic advantage over competitors . Upon visiting Kintan , the Hutts desired in taking the planet for themselves and witnessed the Cult in action . The envoys from the Hutts was led by Churabba the Hutt who had a cunning business being . Upon " " her " " arrival in the Kintan system , she came to realize that the Cult of M ' dweeshu held a stranglehold over the planet and that the Nikto feared them . Legends spoke of " " her " " respecting the Cult but recognizing them as being fierce and unpredictable . Churabba also saw that many of the Cult ' s " " loyal followers " " were a disgruntled people and thus ripe for a rebellion . Thus , instead of finagling or bargaining with the Nikto , Churabba decided to destroy the cultist ' s seat of power from orbit and had no regrets in doing the act . Not only did this act show the Hutt ' s power but demonstrated that the Cult was not infallible to common Nikto . Many of the cultists were killed when their stronghold was destroyed and earnt the gratitude of the Nikto who saw the Hutts along with Charubba as saviors . Following their control of Kintan , the Hutts had no qualms with forcing the powerful Nikto into servitude . The grateful Nikto almost immediately joined in a pact with the other two servant races of the Hutts . Thus , by circa 25 , 100 BBY , the Nikto alongside the Klatoonians and Vodrans were bound into permanent servitude to the Hutts following the signing of the Treaty of Vontor . Kossak Inijic Ar ' durv was known to had worked to lure the Nikto into Hutt service so that they would tip the balance in the eventual Battle of Vontor . They would serve their Hutt masters in the Third Battle of Vontor where Nikto warriors fought alongside conscripts from the Vodrans and Weequay races . In the ground battle , Xim ' s Warbot s and janissaries were overwhelmed by the berserker Nikto , Klatoonian and Vodrans that were being led by Boonta Hestilic Shad ' ruu . These hordes of fighters battled against Xim ' s war - robots where Xim would be utterly vanquished as a result . Legends would be spoken of how the Nikto aided in the defeat of Xim at Vontor . The Hutts later used the Nikto to maintain their hold over Hutt Space and eventually build a powerful criminal empire within the Old Republic . The pact between the Nikto and the Hutts remained unbroken for thousands of years though the Cult of M ' dweeshu returned in one form or another over the years . Days of the Old Republic . By 4000 BBY , millions of Nikto had been transplanted from their homeworld and had been distributed to other planets such as Nal Hutta . In this time , they began to question the value the Hutts had on their lives and began to believe that they were having less and less say on their own affairs . They noted that millions had died protecting the interests of the Hutts leading to general discontentment . Looking into their own past , the Nikto learnt that the Cult of M ' dweeshu had opposed the Hutts during distant times . This led to a new period where many Nikto embraced the ideals of the Cult in the hopes of gaining freedom that led to a re - emergence in the Cult of M ' dweeshu . Rapid popularity in the Cult led it to overthrowing the minimal Hutt presence on Kintan . In response , the Hutts dispatched their armies of mercenaries to retake control . At this time , the Great Sith War was being waged in the galaxy that prevented the Republic from being involved in the conflict as they were already mired in their own war . The control for Kintan , fought over a millennia ago , saw the Hutts forced off the Nikto homeworld and led to a series of blood mercenary strikes . After a short time , the Hutts regained control of Kintan though the struggle had left almost a third of the planetary population dead . During the time of the Jedi Civil War , the rank - and - file membership of the Black Vulkars swoop gang on Taris was composed largely of Kadas ' sa ' Nikto . At some point , Nar Shaddaa ' s Nikto Sector was awarded to the species following successful services of a Nikto warrior to his Hutt master . During the Cold War , groups such as the Kintan Kings consisted of Nikto who operated against the Republic . On Taris , a group of Nikto settlers were targeted by the Sith Empire ' s Mandalorian allies for extermination . Some Nikto formed a cult that followed a Dark Jedi known as Ki Sazen in this time . At some point around the time of the Cold War , a proxy conflict between the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic , miners on the world had discovered cave paintings , presumably made by pre - civilized Nikto . Eventually , someone was sent to discover the history behind the paintings . Findings revealed that the paintings depicted four terrible wars in Kintan ' s ancient past and honored a warlord named Da - Shek Yalaa . Rise of the Empire . The Jedi Order contained at least six Nikto during the waning days of the Galactic Republic including Fi - Ek Sirch , Bhat Jul , Ausar Auset , J ' oopi Shé , Ma ' kis ' shaalas , and Ima - Gun Di . By the time of the Separatist Crisis , a renewed fear came from the Cult of M ' dweeshu that had found a way off their homeworld of Kintan . The blood cult ' s Nikto followers had committed numerous acts of violence against travelers near the Sisar Run . This led to a warning being issued by the Bureau of Ships and Services for travelers in the region due to the death of numerous beings as part of occult mutilations . As a result , local businesses and planetary governments issued open bounties on free Nikto in the Periphery with rewards ranging from 1 , 000 to 5 , 000 credits for Nikto ; either dead or alive . These bounties only covered free Nikto that were not in the employ of the Hutts or their enterprises which was why they were strongly advised from traveling within the Periphery . During the Galactic Civil War many " Kajain ' sa ' Nikto " and " Kadas ' sa ' Nikto " worked for Jabba Desilijic Tiure on Tatooine . In this time , many Nikto slaves escaped following the demise of Jabba . However , many willingly returned to the service of another Hutt who " " inherited " " them that fell in accordance with custom . Despite this , a few number of them decided to take advantage of the situation to become free beings . New Jedi Order Era . In 26 ABY , the Yuuzhan Vong conquered Kintan . Over the course of the Vong occupation , 75 % of the planet ' s Nikto population were either killed or enslaved ( more often the former , due to the combative nature of the Nikto people ) . The remaining 25 % either went into hiding in Kintan ' s more inhospitable areas or fled the planet altogether . The population began increasing after the war , eventually returning to prewar levels . Society and culture . Early in their development , tensions between the sub - species erupted into four bloody wars , although as their civilizations advanced , conquering the dangerous mutated flora and fauna of Kintan united them . Nikto civilization gradually developed to a pre - star travel level , when they gained an understanding of M ' dweshuu ' s influence on their species and their world . Numerous cults and secret societies developed in praise of M ' dweshuu , offering sacrifice through bloodshed . The most prominent of these was the Cult of M ' dweshuu , which rose and fell several times through its history . Another secret society was the Morgukai . A harsh life on Kintan combined with casual Hutt brutality made Nikto cunning combatants . Whilst lacking free will , they made up for this with their single - mindedness and tenacity . They were also able to quickly adapt to their environment . Nikto were a fierce people and perhaps the most dangerous of the Hutt ' s warriors and enforcers with them being a fearless as well as humorless race . Most Nikto were content with a life of servitude as in their eyes a life in slavery was preferable to the hardship and toil on their homeworld . Not all Nikto worked for the Hutts though most free members of their kind came from an enslaved species . Whilst Nikto were known to escape from their master , most tended to fall into service of another Hutt who " " inherited " " them according to custom should their previous employer die . However , some escaped Nikto did instead use some opportunities to genuinely become free beings . Any such emancipated Nikto had to be constantly on guard as they risked capture by Hutt - employed slavers who returned their prey to their " " rightful owners " " . In addition , they lacked charisma and preferred to follow orders instead of giving them . As a result , the Nikto were most identified with their Hutt masters . Far - flung groups of Nikto rarely interbred and this has been the case ever since the species gained hyperdrive technology . Many taboos on racial divides were formed by the Nikto that was further supported by genetic diversity that was forced on them by their Hutt overlords . As the Hutts did not trust their servants , the Nikto had no real government of their own . Instead , an attache of the Hutt Clans of the Ancients ruled them who spoke for the Nikto on every political level . No planetary government was allowed on Kintan also due to the lingering presence of the Cult of M ' dweeshu . However , individual Nikto were capable of becoming a clan chieftain . Despite this being the case , the Hutts spoke for the Nikto in dealings with the rest of the galaxy . Behind the scenes . In " Darksaber " , they are called Niktus . " " mistakenly identifies the Kadas ' sa ' Nikto as the " Klaatu " , implying they were a different species than the Nikto . This confusion stems from the origins of the species ' name ; it is an homage to the iconic 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still , in which the most famous line is " Klaatu Barada Nikto " . In the Star Wars Roleplaying Game published by Wizards of the Coast , Gluss ' sa ' Niktos have specific rules for a natural armor and hold breath . However , the Gluss ' sa ' Niktos in the adventure " A Mon Alone " are listed with an unexplained feature , " really ugly " , instead of the previously - mentioned ones .