Crispus Commons, also known as simply Crispus, was a housing project in the Inner Rim planet Gorse's Gorse City built for Clone Wars veterans around 19 BBY. At some point, the demolitions expert Skelly moved into an apartment in the complex and began renovating Crispus's bomb shelter for his personal use. In 11 BBY, the Twi'lek Hera Syndulla tracked Skelly to the complex's bomb shelter to discuss combating Imperial overreach.

Description[]

Crispus Commons, also known as simply Crispus, was a housing project built in the Inner Rim planet Gorse's Gorse City. The complex featured several residences—including at least one apartment—and was sandwiched between two of Gorse's industrial districts, placing it within easy commuting distance of most of the planet's major work sites by the time of the Imperial Era. The facility had an exercise yard for residents, at the far edge of which housed its trash bin. Behind the trash bin, a rusted-out grate led to the area's permacrete bomb shelter.^[2] By 11 BBY,^[3] residences in Crispus Commons had become dilapidated.^[2]

History[]

Around 19 BBY,^[1] Crispus Commons was constructed as a retirement colony for Republic war veterans of the Clone Wars conflict fought between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The project's builders erected a bomb shelter on its premises for its residents to use if the Separatists' Count Dooku or General Grievous decided to destroy the facility. After the war's conclusion^[2] that year,^[1] the complex fell under the control of the nascent Galactic Empire formed from the Republic. Over the following years, the Empire continued sending residents to live at Crispus Commons. However, the Imperials neglected to invest in improving the complex, leading to the project becoming increasingly dilapidated.^[2]

At some point, the Corellian demolitions expert Skelly moved to Crispus Commons and lived in an apartment. Though not fond of the complex's conditions, he resolved to continue residing there due to its location on Gorse being close to the world's industrial districts. While a resident, he cleaned out mold growing in the facility's bomb shelter and began using the space to work on and display his manifesto about the adverse effects of mining on Gorse's moon, Cynda. The man eventually came to consider the room "his world" and used different parts of the area to display his interests. At some point, Skelly's file at Gorse's Transcept Media Solutions began listing his last known address as Crispus Commons.^[2]

In 11 BBY,^[3] Skelly attacked Count Denetrius Vidian—an "efficiency expert" in service of the Empire—trying to draw attention to mining activity that he felt could lead to Cynda's destruction. The assault resulted in Imperial stormtroopers searching Skelly's Crispus Commons apartment for his whereabouts and information about him. Later, Hera Syndulla, a Twi'lek seeking to form a resistance against the Empire, became interested in Skelly after learning of his actions against Vidian. Shortly after, she tracked him to the bomb shelter in Crispus Commons and conversed with him about fighting Imperial overreach. However, the Twi'lek's impression of his erratic demeanor during their conversation eventually dissuaded her from working with him in the future and she left him in the compound.^[2]

Behind the scenes[]

Crispus Commons appeared in A New Dawn, a 2014 novel written by John Jackson Miller.^[2] The complex was named in reference to Saint Crispin, also known as Crispinus,^[4] a patron saint of shoemakers, saddlers, and tanners.^[5] Miller took inspiration from Crispin's Day, on which the Battle of Agincourt took place, and also presumes that Crispus was the name of some battleground or war hero from the Clone Wars. The author's conception of Crispus Commons reflected that no actual clones were housed at the facility, but rather, various planetary volunteers and draftees.^[6]

Appearances[]

• A New Dawn (First appearance, simultaneous with audiobook)
• A New Dawn audiobook

Notes and references[]