Nexu

Nexu were feline creatures native to the chilly forests of the Indonacontinent on the planet Cholganna. During the Clone Wars these creaters were used, much like the Ssi-Ruuk, in order to display honors for the Commandos of the Grand Army of the Republic. However, unlike the Ssi-Ruuk these creatures were only hunted by the Commando Grenadiers for their fur, not their blood.

Characteristics
There were other breeds of nexu on Cholganna's other continents, but only the forest nexu had an additional set of eyes able to view in infrared wavelength, which aided in their hunting of bark rats and tree-climbing octopi. They were often exported and trained as security beasts, as used for patrolling on Malastare, or used in arena combat, as seen on Geonosis. Nexus were 4.15 meters long and generally 1 meter tall.

The nexu appeared to be feline in nature, with claws which could slice a Human in half. They had spikes along their back, and a long tail that in the wild allowed the nexu to swing from tree branch to tree branch. They had extremely sharp instincts and reflexes, although they were known to tire easily, and often used swift movements to finish an enemy quickly, biting down and thrashing their head about to break their victim's neck. Cubs are born pure white.

History
Too vicious to be kept in zoos and difficult to train as watch-beasts, they were instead sought after for arena battles where their ferocity was much appreciated by spectators. This resulted in many big-game hunters making regular visits to Cholganna, hoping to capture a live nexu for export. Many hunters ended up dead however, when tracking prides of nexu, and as a result fees for live nexu often ranged up to half a million credits per animal. Buyers such as Senator Ask Aak of Malastare and Archduke Poggle the Lesser of Geonosis willingly paid such prices however, in order to add these magnificent creatures to their collections.

In 32 BBY, after the Invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federatio, the bounty hunter Jango Fett faced many nexus on his visit to Malastare, during his The Hunt for Komari Vosa.



A nexu was used during the attempted execution of Padmé Amidala prior to the outbreak of the Clone Wars, and its actions could be considered typical of the species. It would strike, then return to the ground quickly, waiting to see if its enemy would strike back. It was an extremely aggressive creature, snapping and clawing in the general direction of Amidala. When a Geonosian attempted to direct it with a blast from his electropole, this only served to irritate the creature further and the Geonosian guard was quickly devoured. An agile hunter that sacrificed bone mass for speed, a kick from Amidala knocked the nexu down weakening its tender body greatly. A reek finally rammed and slit the neck of the beast.

By 130 ABY wild nexu were a common and dangerous sight on Coruscant and tourists were advised to stay with their groups when sightseeing on the capital. The nexu were usually seen in areas of the planet still scarred by the Yuuzhan Vong war a hundred years prior.