Buoyant Buoyant was an Inner Rim planet that was terraformed by a sentient species millennia before 54 BBY . The alterations made to Buoyant by the terraformers included an increased rotation rate as well as lush vegetation and imported animals , among them a long - necked herd quadruped . In 54 BBY , Buoyant was visited by the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Plagueis and his apprentice , Darth Sidious . The two engaged in a series of hunts in various biomes of the planet , killing numerous creatures in order to strengthen their connection to the dark side of the Force and also discussing the nature of the dark side . Description . Buoyant was a low - gravity planet located within the Inner Rim star system of the same name . At some point , a sentient species had terraformed the planet , increasing its rotation rate so that days and nights alternated rapidly . Members of the species also altered the planet ' s atmosphere , and , by 54 BBY , it was being regularly scrubbed by violent , fast - moving storms . On Buoyant ' s surface , the terraformers encouraged the expansion of wide - ranging grasslands and dense forests as part of an experiment . Millennia after the modifications to Buoyant ' s ecosystem , the planet also featured savannas , arid wastes , and inland seas . By 54 BBY , the planet ' s flora was represented by brushes growing in the savannas as well as a species of tree that had thick branches , an enormous canopy , and a trunk wide enough to contain a landspeeder inside . Flowering parasitic plants grew on at least one of the trees ' branches . When experimenting with Buoyant , the terraformers also imported several animal species , which were numerous and well adapted by 54 BBY , resulting in a bewildering mix of plants and animals on the planet . All of Buoyant ' s fauna was quick - moving and included flying insects as well as long - necked herd quadrupeds with brown - and - black - striped fur . History . Millennia before 54 BBY , a sentient species terraformed an Inner Rim planet , altering its ecosystem and introducing several animal species from offworld . The sentients had been long - forgotten by the year 54 BBY , during which time the planet had become known as Buoyant and was visited by the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Plagueis and his apprentice , Darth Sidious . The pair engaged in a series of hunts there , killing many creatures in Buoyant ' s forests , wastes , and under several of the planet ' s seas , all in order to strengthen their own connection to the dark side of the Force . The two Sith , armed with vibroblades and traveling on foot , also hunted members of a local quadruped species for several kilometers across the grasslands of Buoyant . After the extensive and tiresome hunt , Plagueis and Sidious rested beneath one of the planet ' s large trees , engaging in a discussion on the differences between the light and dark sides of the Force . To illustrate a point he was making during the conversation , Sidious ' s Master ignited the nearby grass in the savanna with a display of Force lightning , causing a brief brush fire . Later , when Plagueis had Sidious undergo combat training on the planet Hypori , the latter expressed his impatience with visiting Buoyant and Hypori instead of worlds like Korriban , Dromund Kaas , and Zigoola , which had a strong connection to the dark side as well as historical significance to the Sith . Locations . By 54 BBY , Buoyant ' s landscape was dotted by machines used by the sentient species that had terraformed the planet . Despite the species being long - forgotten , the equipment left behind on Buoyant was still functioning by that time . Behind the scenes . Buoyant first appeared in " Darth Plagueis " , a 2012 novel written by James Luceno . The 2012 reference book " The Essential Reader ' s Companion " placed Buoyant in grid square J - 14 .