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| “ | Federation's Envoy: We are businessmen! We deal in trade and commerce! Riyo: Yes, but perhaps your business is war profiteering. Federation's Envoy: How dare you! Riyo: I dare because you claim to have no involvement, and yet here stands the chairman's daughter on your ship, held by your administrator. I may understand your position, but I doubt the rest of the senate will. Federation's Envoy: Blackmail. Riyo: No, business. I could, of course, be persuaded to defend your unfortunate circumstances to the senate. That is, if this blockade ended. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo Chuhi. |
| “ | Curious how speaking up for what's right has become an act that causes a stir, unlike inaction, apathy, or ignorance. | „ |
| ~ Riyo about the corruption of the Empire. |
| “ | I don't know. But I will keep fighting for the clones. You all deserve the same rights as every citizen. I won't give up. | „ |
| ~ Riyo determined to defend the cause of the Clone Troopers. |
Riyo Chuchi was a senator from Pantora in the Star Wars series. She represented the Pantorians during the Clone Wars and also played a decisive role in the peace treaty with the Talzs and the blockade of Pantora. Following the transformation of the Republic into the Galactic Empire, Riyo remained one of the few uncorrupted senators and tried to guarantee the future of the Clone Troopers slowly replacing within the Empire, eventually working behind the scenes with the Clone Underground against the new dictatorial and perfidious system.
She is voiced by Jennifer Hale, who voiced Ms. Keane in Powerpuff Girls, Fanny Fulbright in Codename: Kids Next Door, Cinderella in the Cinderella franchise since 2002, Ophelia in Brutal Legend, Aayla Secura in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Flora in Tak and the Power of Juju, Black Cat in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Alana in Ariel's Beginning, Sam in Totally Spies, Commander Shepard in Mass Effect, Jean Grey in X-Men '97 and Rivet in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
Physical appearance[]
Rioi Chuchi is an attractive young woman Pantoran who has blue colored skin just like the fellow members of her species. She is quite short, barely bigger than a pre-teen Ahsoka. She also has yellow markings on her face, greyish-pink hair and light brown eyes.
At the start of the Imperial era, Riyo aged slightly and wore red and white clothing. She also wears a hairstyle in the shape of a pylon supported by golden brushes and sports a ponytail at the back of the neck.
Personality[]
| “ | To die for one's people is a great sacrifice. To live for one's people, an even greater sacrifice. I choose to live for my people. | „ |
| ~ Riyo Chuhi. |
Riyo Chuchi is very brave and idealistic, as she represented Pantora in the Galactic Senate. She began her term in the Senate timidly, often submitting to her hawkish local chairman, Chi Cho. When Cho eventually crossed a line that brought war to the world of Orto Plutonia, Chuchi bravely stood up to him and ended the conflict, earning the respect of the Talz. As time passed Chuchi grew into a far stronger leader and was able to force the Trade Federation into lifting a blockade over her home planet, all with pure determination and perfectly mastered arguments.
Due to her strong sense of morality that she once demonstrated during The Clone Wars, Riyo came to see the Clone Troopers as living beings deserving of rights and fought for them so that they gain fair compensation for their years of services fighting for the Republic even though her effort seemed hopeless. Riyo also cares about the truth and would even risk her life for the truth to prevail. Even after the future of the Clone Troopers was compromised, Riyo didn't give up on defending them. During the Imperial period, Riyo seemed to have formed a bond with Omega.
Biography[]
The Clone Wars[]
Riyo Chuchi was a Pantoran woman politician from the moon of Pantora which orbited the planet Orto Plutonia. Chuchi served as a senator and represented her people in the Galactic Senate of the Republic during the Clone Wars.
Riyo's first major role during the Clone Wars happened on Orto Plutonia. Sent to the ice planet as an emissary with Chairman Chi Cho, the senator and the other Pontorans meet the Jedi generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker who have also come to investigate the recent attack on an outpost. Obi-Wan and Chi Cho argue about belonging to the planet, leaving Chi Cho retorted that the Jedi are under the authority of the Senate, so they are also under the authority of Riyo. The young woman then takes the floor to corroborate the words of the chairman.
After the Jedi leave for a separatist outpost further away, Chi Cho asks for the reactivation of armaments if another separatist attack takes place but Riyo expresses her doubts about the separatists' involvement in the attack. Chi Cho claims that the mess here is proof enough, prompting Riyo to point out to the chairman that there are no traces of droids on the ground, blaster impact on the walls, and no typical injuries of this sort of confrontation but Chi Cho interrupts her by criticizing her poor knowledge of the war before declaring to have led their people long before the birth of Riyo and to have enough wars to know that separatist or not, the attackers of Orto Plutonia are warlike. Riyo offers a possible peaceful solution in case the separatists are not responsible for it, just so that Chi Cho does not declare that he is ready to die for his people while questioning her if she is brave enough to do the same.
When the attackers turn out to be the Talz, furry creatures native to the planet, Riyo states that the Senate must decide on jurisdiction, only for it to fall on deaf ears when the chairman refuses to consider the Talzs like nothing but primitive savages. She then tries to plead the cause of the Jedi for peace but Chi Cho quickly puts her in her place. A meeting later took place in the separatist outpost between Chi Cho and Chief Talz Thi-Sen and Riyo volunteered to represent Pantora but the contentious chairman not only refused but also rejected the young woman when he said his so-called authority over the Talz, concluding the meeting with a protracted conflict.
Shaken by Chi Cho's actions, Riyo is approached by Obi-Wan and Anakin to find an alternative to stop this preemptive war. Riyo then contacts the assembly of Pantora which condemns Chi Cho's actions and allows the senator all authority to negotiate peace with the Talzs. During the journey to join the skirmish, Riyo hopes that the two Jedi can negotiate for her due to their experience with the Talz. Obi-Wan declares this impossible, almost causing Riyo to use her position on them until Obi-Wan reminds her that the Talz are in conflict only with Pantora and that it will only end if she represents her people, leaving Riyo skeptical.
Arriving at the scene just before a total massacre, Riyo watches the dead and wounded them before joining a mortally wounded Chi Cho. The latter knowing he is condemned declares as the last chairman's order to exterminate the Talzs, only so that Riyo does not reveal to him that the assembly relieves him of his functions and that she is going to make peace, pitifully horrifying Chi Cho who dies then. Accompanied by C-3PO who acts as his interpreter, Riyo tells Thi-Sen that to die for his people is an honor but that to live for his people is a greater honor then plants a spear in the snow and declares to live for her people. Thi-Sen ends up accepting peace, to the pleasure of Riyo who declares the Talzs a free people and equal to the Pantorans.
Some time later, Riyo made part of the senators held hostage on Coruscant by bounty hunter Cad Bane to free Ziro the Hutt. She notably helped take care of an unconscious Anakin Skywalker captured by bounty hunters soon after.
About a year later, Riyo is sent by the new chairman Papanoida to speak on behalf of her people in the Senate when the Trade Federation installs a blockade on Pantora. Lott Dod claims Federation neutrality while demanding the repayment of Pantora's debts, prompting Riyo to claim that this is all lies since the Trade Federation is allied with the separatists. Desperate, She implores the Senate to allow the resumption of trade.
The debate over, Padmé Amidala congratulates Riyo on her bravery while letting her know that many people in the Senate support Pantora in these troubled times and that the Separatist Alliance will try to offer their help. Riyo assures her friend that Pantora will always remain loyal to the Republic. In her office, Riyo meets the Papanoida family and then after the sisters leave, she begins to discuss the situation with the chairman and his son. The latter are worried about the damage that the blockade is causing to their planet as well as the Pantorans wanting Pantora to join the separatists. Faced with this, Riyo asserts that they cannot give up the Senate and asks Papanoida to convince their people to stay faithful to their cause.
The next day, Riyo learns of the kidnapping of Papanoida's daughters. Ahsoka Tano, a padawan and also a close friend of Riyo, then comes to warn her of Padme's suspicions of the separatists, which combined with a recent proposal from Dooku to find the sisters suggests that there is no coincidentally, prompting Papnoida to send Riyo and Ahsoka to inspect the Federation ship in Pantora orbit to see if her daughters are being held there.
Disembarked on the ship, Riyo and an Ahsoka disguised as a servant pretend to come and negotiate with the federation to better explore the ship in search of the sisters. While searching a meeting room, the duo hide under the table before Sib Canay and the Federation envoy surprises them leaving the office. When the envoy expresses his objection to the kidnapping and segregation of the girls on his ship, Riyo startle of amazement, alerting Canay. Fortunately, Riyo is saved from being seen by Ahsoka's telekinesis, holding her aloft as the two Neimoidians leave the room.
Finding the detention block, Ahoka uses the mind trick on the guard to let her pass but he doesn't let Riyo pass, forcing Ahsoka to start over. After inspecting five areas, the duo have no idea that they have been spotted by Canay. They eventually find Chi Eekway in a holding cell, guarded by two battle droids whom Ahsoka quickly destroys. Canay suddenly confronts the trio with a troop of super battle droids. Once the droids are destroyed, the envoy in turn arrives at the scene with Neimoidian guards who surround the three girls. Riyo then accuses the envoy of taking advantage of the war to enrich himself as well as of the kidnapping of the Papanoida girls. However, she says she understands her position but does not think it will be the same for the senate, to which the envoy replies that it is blackmail. Riyo clarifies that they are only doing business and that she will argue for the envoy provided the blockade is lifted.
Back in the Senate, Riyo and the entire Papanoida family listen to Lott Dod declare the end of the Pantora blockade and the resumption of commercial activities.
Towards the end of the war, Riyo was among the jurors in the trial of an Ahsoka Tano accused of crimes she did not commit and was finally proven innocent. In the last days of the Clone Wars, Chi Eekway took her place as senator of Pantora.
Beginning of the Imperial era[]
Sometime after the Republic transformed into the Galactic Empire, Riyo get back her status as a senator in the now Imperial Senate on Coruscant. During the debate on the reconfiguration of the Imperial army, Riyo protested against the draft recruitment in favor of the clone troopers for their many heroic acts during the war while they are more and more decommissioned due to their accelerated aging and that the Kamino cloning factories have been destroyed. Riyo defends them as living beings not deserving to be left behind, leading Admiral Rampart in charge of the bill to state that the legislation is intended to help clones during their retirement but Riyo accuses him of don't care about their personal opinions.
With the defense recruitment bill postponed yet again, Riyo meets with clone troopers on leave in a cantina to tell them about the situation, only to have them react in frustration at the inevitable retirement and claim they haven't been trained to see beyond war. Riyo urges them to think better and that they accept her pension plan proposal for the clones with the promise that she will fight to make the Rampart project work for them. Convinced by the senator's speech, the clones agree to talk. Later, Riyo is approached by the clone trooper Slip who warns her about Rampart and his lies, including the truth about the destruction of Tipoca City and all the towns in Kamino that weren't actually devastated by a storm but bombed by Rampart himself. Slip was present on the Venator-class Star Destroyer and reveals that all the clone troopers who tried to speak were silenced then asks Chuchi to consult his service records to verify his words, all declaring his confidence in Riyo and that she has to be careful.
In her apartments, Riyo looks out worried when one of her employees comes to tell her that Rampart is waiting for her for a meeting while Slip has still not been located. Rampart centralizes the difficulty of managing the creation of a new army and pensions for the Clone Troopers to which Riyo suggests that the recruitment project should be abandoned in this case but Rampart claims that he must keep the galaxy safe at causes rumors of growing threats and insurrection, though he also claims that the welfare of the clones deserves careful planning. Riyo then questions how Rampart survived the "storm" on Kamino and how the death of the majority of the Kaminoan population is more than a tragedy, all pointing out that moving forward is not easy for everyone before taking leave.
Following a secure call, Riyo meets in secret with senator Bail Organa who also warns her to beware of Rampart as the admiral usually says what others want to hear when he doesn't want a certain thing to be noticed, such as Riyo doubted it. Organa also reveals that Tipoca City was designed to withstand thousands of storms, making the official statement implausible. Riyo mentions her subsequent encounter with Slip whom she is still trying to track down, leading Organa to warn her that others may be looking for the clone.
In the slums of Coruscant, Riyo and two members of her staff finally find Slip, but the latter quickly becomes paranoid, scared at the idea that Chuchi has been followed. Fearing for his life, Slip leaves to join a contact but Riyo follows him in an attempt to change his mind, using the destruction of all of Kamino's cities and the many deaths deserving of posthumous justice to convince him. Slip has time to tell Riyo that he backed up the Venator command log from Rampart to the central system before being shot by a mysterious assassin. The two guards are in turn killed during Riyo's escape through an assembly plant. She stops in fear when a hooded individual appears in her path until he stuns the assassin with stun shots. The man turns out to be the Captain Rex whom Riyo had previously met on Orto Plutonia and figures out he was Slip's contact and tells him about the circumstances that led to his death before the pair find out the assassin is a clone but not a Trooper according to Rex. The mysterious clone commits suicide during his interrogation with an electric capsule in his teeth, much to Riyo's horror.
Afterwards, Rex and Riyo recruit the defector clone team, Clone Force 99, in their operation to expose the Empire's crimes on the Kamino Assault. While the clones infiltrate the shipyard where Rampart's Venator is stored to extract the crucial backup before the draft recruitment is voted on tomorrow, Riyo decides to return to the senate to gather support, this which Rex deems to be risky but Omega, an unmodified clone girl, offers to stay by Riyo's side in order to protect the senator.
The next day in the enclosure of the senate building, Riyo shows the place to an Omega infiltrated as a novice senator and explains to her what the role of a senator consists of. After an almost cold encounter with Rampart, Riyo brings Omega to the senate chamber where each people is represented by pod, leading Omega to question the lack of clone representation since they are part of the galaxy just like others. Riyo says that many see the clone troopers as cannon fodder but not her and that she will do anything to earn them the same rights as any living being. By meeting Organa a second time, the latter advises Riyo and Omega to go and talk with the former senator of Kamino Halle Burtoni because of her former status as a member of the defense finance committee.
At her home in Coruscant, Riyo summons Burtoni to question her about the funds earmarked for Kamino that have been embezzled. Burtoni first warns Riyo of the consequences that can befall her if she delves too deep while showing her apathy for the last surviving members of her species. After Omega reveals that she is a clone and witnesses the destruction of Tipoca City, Burtoni becomes more cooperative, acknowledging that Lama Su's arrogance brought Kamino to ruin and confirming Riyo's suspicions on Rampart's liability for embezzlement. Riyo invites Burtoni to testify against Rampart but the senator says her word won't take anything and only evidence will do but Riyo says she needs both.
Succeeding in convincing Burtoni, Riyo brought her to the reopening of the recruitment project and begins the accusation against Rampart for the embezzlement without the senate being informed. As Rampart defends his position with false claims, Riyo quickly comes to the blame for the Kamino bombing. The representatives of the InterGalactic Banking Clan quickly demand the expulsion and censorship of Riyo for her remarks but at the last moment, Omega returns with the backup which she entrusts to Organa who passes it on to Riyo. Riyo displays the command log as a hologram, showing Rampart's Star Destroyer and others firing on Tipoca City, publicly exposing his crime. Emperor Palpatine joins the debate in person, and on his behalf, Mas Amedda has Rampart arrested for his actions. Palpatine then speaks up, praising Senator Chuchi for uncovering the truth, only for him to coldly state that the clone troopers are also to blame because of their blind loyalty and indifference to the consequences of the orders they follow. giving a justification for the Emperor to approve the recruitment project in view of the new Imperial era being embodied by the stormtroopers.
In the evening, Riyo and her friends discuss how they did exactly what Palpatine wanted, sealing the fate of all the clone troopers, but that doesn't make Riyo give up on continuing the fight for the clones' rights, approaching also from Omega to assure her that she will never give up. As Clone Force 99 prepares to leave, Echo decides to join Rex and Riyo in helping them defend his brothers.
Riyo has since become an active member of the resistance network created by Rex to fight against the Empire. Some time after the Recruitment Bill was approved, Riyo was present at the Martez shop serving as the base of operations for the resistance and chatting with Echo and a freshly freed Howzer about where the clones arrested by the Empire for sedition are sent. In order to get an answer, Echo decides to reconnect with the Bad Batch to decrypt the confidential data he recovered during the rescue of Howzer while Riyo leaves to seek answers from her side.
Months later, Riyo secretly invites former Raxus senator and now fugitive to the Empire, Avi Singh, to Pantora with the help of the Clone Underground. While Rex and his men ensure their security, Riyo discusses over a cup of tea the common desire of their people to obtain independence from the Empire, rumors hovering about the Emperor fearing that other planets and systems unite to oppose him. Singh is not very optimistic due to the Empire's continued expansion onto other worlds besides his own, but for Raxus' sake, he is willing to listen to Riyo's suggestions. Suddenly, an assassin clone like the one from Coruscant bursts in but the senators are quickly protected by their allies, shortly before a Howzer who also joined the Clone Underground captures the assassin. Following the attack, Rex advises Riyo to stay hidden until the Clone Underground regains control of the situation.
Quotes[]
| “ | Riyo: Chairman, can you hear me? Chi Cho: Senator. Good. You must avenge me. As my final command as Chairman of Pantora, I order you to destroy the Talz. Riyo: I'm afraid I cannot do that, Chairman. The Pantoran Assembly has called you out of order. I am to negotiate peace. Chi Cho: No. Impossible! Peace? Never! I died for our people. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo Chuchi finally standing up to Chi Cho before he dies from the conflict he caused against the Tarz and Riyo tries to stop. |
| “ | We will leave Orto Plutonia under the watchful eyes of the Talz from this day forth, and recognize your sovereignty as a free and equal people. | „ |
| ~ Riyo to the Talz people. |
| “ | Riyo: That is a lie. It is well known that the Trade Federation is aligned with the Separatists. Lott Dod: Slanderous! We are not Separatists simply because we do business with them. How many times must I remind you of the Commerce Treaty of 1647? The Trade Federation is neutral. Riyo: I beg the Senate to listen to our pleas. Ignore the Trade Federation's feeble attempt to paint this as a domestic financial issue and allow us to resume trade. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo Chuchi trying to win the Senate's support against the Trade Federation blockade. |
| “ | Riyo: You see? The Trade Federation is behind the kidnapping. Ahsoka: Let's find The detention area. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo to Ahsoka Tano. |
| “ | If we don't, who will? After all they have sacrificed, you now wish to discard them? Leave them with nothing? Is that how we repay them for their service? Is that what this Empire stands for? How can we debate commissioning a new army without a plan in place to care for our current one? | „ |
| ~ Riyo defends the Clone Troopers. |
| “ | His attack on Kamino didn't just affect the cloning facilities. Rampart wiped out entire cities. Those who perished, including the clones who died trying to speak the truth, they deserve justice. Testify before the Senate. Rampart must be held accountable. | „ |
| ~ Riyo tries to convince Slip to help her take down Rampart for all his crimes against both Kamino and the Clone Troopers. |
| “ | Riyo: This is where the Senate gathers to discuss many pressing issues and legislation. Where the future of the galaxy is decided. For better or worse. Omega: Wow. Riyo: Each pod belongs to the numerous representatives and delegates. Omega: Which one belongs to the clones? Riyo: Clones do not have representation in the Senate. They never have. Omega: Why not? We're part of this galaxy too. Riyo: There are those who view clones only as military assets. But I am working to change that, to ensure you all have the same rights as any galactic citizen. It is a battle worth fighting. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo explains to Omega how the Senate works and assures her that she will do her best to get the clones the rights. |
| “ | Halle Burtoni: I suspected an attack was imminent. Lama Su was arrogant. Too confident his clones were a necessity to the Empire. But none of us are. Riyo: Did Admiral Rampart divert the funds? Halle Burtoni: You already know the answer. But yes. Riyo: You must testify to that in front of the Senate tomorrow. He cannot continue to get away with what he's done. Halle Burtoni: Rampart is a mere cog in the machine. And my word won't do you any good. You need concrete proof. Riyo: I need both. And I'm running out of time. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo Chuci to Halle Burtoni. |
| “ | Gani Riduli: What so-called proof do you have? Riyo: The recovered command log from Admiral Rampart's Venator. Which indicates his own ships caused the destruction of Tipoca City. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo exposes Rampart's crimes. |
| “ | Riyo: For what crime were you all being detained? Howzer: Dissidence. Questioning and disobeying Imperial orders. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo to Howzer. |
| “ | Riyo: We must find out where that ship was headed. Echo: I recovered a portion of the data logs. It's heavily encrypted, but I know someone who can crack it. Riyo: Go. I'll take care of things here and see what else I can find out. Echo: Thank you, Senator. Riyo: Be careful, Echo. |
„ |
| ~ Riyo to Echo. |
| “ | Riyo: I must apologize for all the secrecy. Unfortunately, it is a necessity. Avi Singh: I must say your request was unexpected. Seeing as how our planets were on opposite sides during the Clone war. Riyo: I believe we are now united in wanting the same things. Avi Singh: The Separatist Senate may not exist any longer, but our desire for true independence has not faded. Riyo: That is a growing sentiment among my people as well. There are whispers. The Emperor is concerned that planets and systems may unite and oppose him. Avi Singh: That will be difficult to do. With no unifying leaders on our side, we're at a disadvantage. Riyo: Yes, but the Emperor needs to be cautious. Public opinion could turn on him quickly. He cannot just strike out at us openly. Avi Singh: Such limitations haven't stopped them from occupying planets, including my own. But I would do anything for my people. For Raxus. What are you suggesting? |
„ |
| ~ Riyo to Avi Singh. |
Trivia[]
- Although she and Ahsoka are friends, Riyo didn't really show any concern for Ahsoka during her trial.
- In Revenge of the Sith, which takes place at the end of The Clone Wars, Riyo did not yet exist within the Star Wars universe, only being introduced years later in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which serves as a prequel to Revenge of the Sith. Her replacement by Chi Eekway at the end of the Clone Wars and her return as a senator soon after are unexplained.
External Links[]
- Riyo Chuchi on the Near Pure Good Wiki
- Riyo Chuchi on the Disney Wiki
- Riyo Chuchi on the Star Wars Wiki
