Tatooine

Government

The Prefectural Council
The Council, the formation of which was announced the day after the Empire's departure from the system, has tried to provide some semblance of normalcy and continued political leadership in the absence of a sovereign authority.  Despite their efforts, there is a considerable power vacuum on the planet, as the newly proclaimed council is weak without the support of Imperial troops and guns.  The government has barely kept control in some areas;  in a few neighborhoods and settlements, gangs, organized crime, or private militias run the streets.

The Council is led by the Planetary Governor, Errik Dodd, who manages the planet-wide bureaucracy, while the Prefects themselves remain in control of individual settlements and serve as local judicial magistrates.  Despite a lack of personal charisma, Dodd is an excellent bureaucrat and administrator who has earned the respect of his peers and the appreciation of his people.

In addition to the governor, the Council includes all six Prefects from across Tatooine:

• Prefect Chandler, administrator of Motesta, has little political power outside his home region, where he is the settlement's wealthiest man.  He has a personal friendship with Prefect Elera and a great amount of professional respect for Prefect Jai'den, and he has accordingly given his support to their chosen leader, Prefect Zhaal.

• Prefect Elera, newly named administrator of Bestine, rose to prominence as a commander in the Tatooine Militia.  A native of Anchorhead, she was named its Prefect several years ago, and with the departure of the Empire, she proved to have a strong and stable hand, maintaining order in Anchorhead and lending political capital to the newly-formed Prefectural Council, in particular to Prefect Zhaal.  Following Dodd's election as the world's new governor, she was selected to take command over the capital as its new Prefect, and Dodd simultaneously gave her authority over the Militia and its paramilitary Nomad Battalion.

• Prefect Gdann, administrator of Mos Espa, is one of the leading figures on the Council, although he has come to be seen as the "opposition leader."  He did an excellent job of maintaining security control in his town following the departure of the Empire, although such an accomplishment hardly rates at the level of the task of securing Mos Eisley.  He is nevertheless considered the chief rival to Prefect Zhaal, and the two have had many heated exchanges in Council sessions.  Gdann has criticized Zhaal as weak on law and order, while Zhaal counters that Gdann's preoccupation with security and law enforcement is symptomatic of his authoritarian leanings.

• Prefect Jai'den, newly named administrator of Anchorhead, is a prominent planet-wide businessman who translated his financial success into his position on the Council, although most say his interest lies not with the people or the political future of Tatooine, but with maintaining stability to insure his continued prosperity.  He bought out Tosche Station several years ago and quickly turned it into a major service point for small communities south of Anchorhead;  the last Imperial Governor used his success as a justification for granting him official political control over Tosche Station and the areas immediately south as an Imperial Prefect.  Following Prefect Dodd's election as governor, Prefect Elera moved from Anchorhead to Bestine, and Jai'den's authority was widened to include all of Anchorhead.

• Prefect Werdon, administrator of Arnthout, is a long-time moisture farmer who has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow townspeople.  He is particularly loyal to Dodd, whom he sees as the most honest and capable planetary leader the world has had since the coming of the Hutts.
• Prefect Zhaal, administrator of Mos Eisley, is the leading voice on the Council, having been granted primacy in controlling the agenda and setting the Council's direction by Governor Dodd following the latter's election.  Zhaal claims his primary motivation is safeguarding the people's newly won freedom.  While Zhaal has done much to relieve the poor and squalid conditions in Mos Eisley, popular opinion on him is divided, as he has been unable to maintain adequate security control over the city.  But many also understand what a gargantuan undertaking this must be.  Zhaal also claims that his difficulties are in some part due to Prefect Gdann sabotaging his efforts by quietly supporting several of Mos Eisley's gangs and factionalizing the Militia.  Gdann, of course, denies these charges.

The Tatooine Militia
Tatooine's only significant public law enforcement unit, the Militia has been stretched thin trying to keep the peace and prevent civil unrest following the Empire's departure.  Composed of former local militias banded together into a single unit during the Second Imperium, the Militia has grown larger and stronger in the last few years, but the task before it is beyond even its current brigade strength.  The Militia has had noted success in the smaller townships, while in Mos Eisley, some neighborhoods are practically ruled by organized crime, territorial gangs, or anarchic social movements.  The militia maintains five battalions and three detached companies of troops;  two battalions are attached to Mos Eisley and one each to Anchorhead and Bestine, while the fifth is scattered between a few of the minor townships.  The last is a quasi-military battalion reserved for offensive operations, based out of the Militia barracks in Bestine.

The Mos Eisley Police Force
Largely composed of former starport security officers and retired militia members, the Mos Eisley police force is responsible for patrolling the city's chaotic central sector.  The force is small, composed of only a few hundred officers, and the task far too gargantuan for them to accomplish alone, or even with the help of the local Militia battalions.  The Chief of Police, Captain Harburik, reports directly to Prefect Zhaal.