Rhydonium is not only highly volatile and combustible, but also pretty risky to salvage, as its fumes are harmful to living beings. The earliest canonical mention of the fuel came in the 2021 comic series “Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures.” As the title suggests, the comic is set in the High Republic Era (231 BBY, to be exact), and it sees the Wyke Town settlement on Loreth exposed to a tragic accident. A semi-sentient species, Greta, attacks the town after its mate is captured by the town founder, but an accidental shot by one of the townsfolk pierces several Rhydonium canisters, causing an explosion. The town founder’s niece, Pela, inadvertently inhales the fumes, causing her mind to break and rendering her mute. Thankfully, this heartbreaking incident ends on a rather wholesome note, as the now-united Greta and its mate heal Pela, completely reversing the effects of Rhydonium.
While the Loreth incident is tinged with miraculous awe, the second major historical use of Rhydonium was in favor of a Separatist plot during the Clone Wars, which eventually backfired — as seen in the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Long story short, the desert planet of Abafar is a precious Rhydonium reserve, but its dwindling resources attract the attention of the Confederacy of Independent Systems (also known as the Separatist Alliance). Their initial plan is to use the fuel reserves to blow up the Galactic Republic space station Valor, but a Republic squad accidentally uncovers the scheme after triggering a Rhydonium explosion to counter Separatist droids. In the end, none other than R2-D2 (!!!) detonates the bomb prematurely and thwarts the Separatist plan to destroy Valor. R2 is blown to bits in the process, but there’s no reason to worry; he was rebuilt from scratch soon after.
Fast-forward 14 years to the events of “Star Wars: Rebels.” In this series, the starship fuel was present in an abandoned Republic base in Fort Anaxes, which had become a smuggling outpost after the Clone Wars. After a group of fyrnocks (creatures indigenous to Anaxes) attack the outpost, Sabine Wren and Hera Syndulla use the depleted Rhydonium reserves to fend off the monsters.
Though Rhydonium’s primary purpose is to fuel starships, these stories show how it can also be used as a weapon, its volatile nature being exploited by various factions.
