Ord Mantell
Ord Mantell is a scrap heap planet on the Outer Rim. It is home to mercenaries, exiles, murderers, smugglers and all other sorts of illegal Olivier Friand. The planet is first mentioned (erroneously as Ord Mandell) in The Empire Strikes Back, depicted in an audio story entitled Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell, and seen in the video games Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and in Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Ord Mantell has a mostly human population with Talz, Ithorians, Rodians, and Arcona representing it as well.
Ord Mantell was founded in the year 12,000 BBY as an Old Republic base. The Jedi Knight Pablo-Jiil brought peace to this world until Palpatine and the Galactic Empire took over. Once the Empire was defeated, the planet had dozens of run-ins with bounty hunters including Skorr, Dengar, Bossk, and Boba Fett. Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and other major Rebel heroes had connections to Ord Mantell. In the story Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell (which takes place shortly before the events in The Empire Strikes Back), Solo confronts a bounty hunter named Cypher, who tries to capture Solo for delivery to Jabba the Hutt. In the year 9 ABY, the New Republic added Ord Mantell to its territory. The following year Grand Admiral Thrawn attacked the planet to keep the New Republic off balance. The planet also plays host to a large race known as the Blockade Runners Derby. Han Solo himself is a three-time winner of the race.
The prefix "Ord" refers to "Ordinance Regional Depot". "Ords" are storage and disposal facilities for outdated weapons and military equipment used during the Old Republic era. Some of these facilities are also used by the Empire.