Cha ' a The Cha ' a were a small , orange - scaled , reptilian species , known for their cunning natures . They were part of galactic society for many thousands of years . One of the most famous Cha ' a was the Merchant Lord , Ssk Kahorr , who lived during the Great Hyperspace War . Other notable Cha ' a included three Jedi students who trained alongside Jacen and Jaina Solo in the New Jedi Order . Biology and appearance . The Cha ' a were a delicately scaled , reptilian species , of predominantly orange coloration . Above their wide - set , slitted eyes , a line of horns ran along the top of their heads and continued down their backs . They had long snouts with sharp teeth and a long , dexterous , tongue . The Cha ' a were carnivorous , using their sharp teeth to consume live food shortly after they hatched . These teeth were sometimes also used against Cha ' a hatchling - mates , determining the dominant members of each clutch of eggs . The Cha ' a were bipedal , with each limb ending in three clawed digits . Society and culture . The Cha ' a were a technically proficient species , designing starships , such as the Cha ' a drone ship s , and droids , such as the message pod . The design of their drone ships was distinctive , with large ornate figureheads integrated into the design . One such ship was the " Zeta Five " , which was destroyed on an untested hyperspace route that passed too close to the star , Primus Goluud . History . The Cha ' a were active in galactic life from the times of the early Galactic Republic . Spread across the galaxy , Cha ' a were known to live on urban worlds such as Empress Teta and well as the mining colony of Goluud Minor . One powerful Cha ' a in that era was Ssk Kahorr , head of a trading fleet of drone ships . As a representative of his species , Kahorr was a ambitious individual , willing to take risks in his business , such as using the newly found Goluud Corridor hyperlane to access the mining colony . When the route proved unstable and destroyed his cargo - ship " Zeta Five " , he had the Hyperspace Navigator ' s Guild representative Shodon Ko killed and paid bounty hunters to hunt down the route ' s discovers , Dav and Jori Daragon . Kahorr later confiscated the Daragon ' s starship , " Starbreaker 12 " , and was killed when it was destroyed by the arrival of a Sith armada in the opening salvo of the Great Hyperspace War . The Cha ' a continued to be part of the galactic community into the administration of the New Republic , where three Cha ' a hatchling - mates underwent training at Luke Skywalker ' s Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 . They helped defend the Praxeum from an assault by the Second Imperium , an Imperial - aligned darksider training facility , by hiding in the murky jungle rivers to ambush Dark Jedi . As a species , Cha ' a were also targeted by the Diversity Alliance as possible recruits . Shistavanen , Adjunctant Advisor Hovrak identified them as being wily , and ambitious , traits beneficial to the Alliance ; however , the Alliance was defeated shortly after Hovrak ' s voiced his recruitment aim . Behind the scenes . Kevin J . Anderson created the Cha ' a for the Old Republic era comic book series " " ( 1996 ) and " " ( 1997 ) . Their only other appearances have been in the Young Jedi Knights series , co - written by Anderson and his wife , Rebecca Moesta .