Devastation of Manaan The devastation of the planet Manaan was an act carried out by the Sith Empire during the Great Galactic War , sometime between 3681 BBY and 3653 BBY . After centuries of hiding in sectors of space unexplored by the Galactic Republic , the Sith returned to the known galaxy and initiated their crusade against the Republic ' s member worlds and other planets . In their campaign for dominance , the Empire traveled to the water world of Manaan , a planet known for its staunch devotion to neutrality during periods of war . The Sith refused to accept the native Selkath ' s tradition of impartiality and bombarded the planet , destroying almost all of Manaan ' s free - floating surface structures . As a result , the Selkath species entered a period of extreme isolation from the galaxy , and it was many years before they reestablished contact with the rest of galactic civilization , though they remained wary of both the Republic and the Sith Empire . Prelude . After several centuries of self - imposed exile in the far reaches of the Outer Rim Territories , the Sith revealed themselves and their rebuilt Empire to an unsuspecting galaxy in 3681 BBY , sparking the Great Galactic War . The conflict between the Sith and the Galactic Republic saw the Imperials achieve major victories while the Republic crumbled under political infighting and economic depression . During the war , the Empire also came into conflict with fiercely independent societies , such as the Selkath of Manaan . Manaan was a water - covered planet with a long avowed neutrality during instances of galactic conflict — during the Jedi Civil War of the Old Sith Wars era , the native Selkath managed to maintain their impartiality and broker their kolto healing agent to both the Republic and Darth Malak ' s Sith Empire . The Empire , seeking to take sole the source of kolto , demanded Manaan ' s allegiance . The Selkath instead responded with an offer of neutrality similar to the one used during the Jedi Civil War , but the offer only angered the Empire . The attack . In response to the Selkath ' s proposal of neutrality , the Empire bombarded Manaan from orbit , sinking almost every surface structure — including their capital of Ahto City . The Republic was unable to lend aid on account of their being at war , and feeling betrayed , the Selkath retreated back into the seas of Manaan in a mass exodus , leaving their floating cities abandoned and in ruins . Aftermath . The Sith attack and lack of Republic aid gave rise to feelings of hostility towards off - worlders among the Selkath , who came to consider all foreigners — regardless of whether they were of the Empire or Republic — as slavers and enemies . The Selkath spent many years in isolation from the galaxy , and the Force - using Order of Shasa came to power as Selkath ' s protectors . In their isolation , Selkath culture thrived , but some began to seek the economic benefits that came from trade with off - worlders . The Mon Calamari diplomat Mahreen spent several years convincing a delegation of the Order of Shasa to meet with her ; the Selkath also found their economy to be declining and began discussing the issue amongst themselves . When they finally decided to end their isolation , Mahreen convinced the Selkath to convert one of the few remaining surface structures into the Mercantile Plaza , a trading plaza with strict rules as to who was granted landing privileges . At first only ambassadors from the Republic were permitted , but the Selkath politician Shuuru eventually extended an invitation to the Sith Empire , as he distrusted the Republic due to their inactivity in Manaan ' s time of need . Behind the scenes . The devastation of Manaan was first mentioned on the official website for the LucasArts video game , " " . The information could be found on " The Setting , " a webpage intended to provide background on the game ' s historical period . Since its establishment in 2008 , " The Old Republic " website has gone through a number of changes , resulting in the removal of some of the text that was originally located there . " The Setting " was updated mid - 2011 , and the information on Manaan was removed . It was later expanded on in promotional material for Game Update 2 . 9 of " The Old Republic " , which introduced a Flashpoint based on Manaan , and in entries of the in - game Codex discussing Manaan .