Shessaun, Silya

[Rose]

Silya Shessaun

Basic Information -

Homeworld: Thesme
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Height: 1.5 meters
Affiliation: Galactic Senate; Galactic Republic

Expanded Universe -

Silya Shessaun was the first native of her planet's working class to ever ascend to the position of Galactic Senator, and she carried the humbleness of her early days with her into that elevated office. Shessaun was a child prodigy on Thesme, the industrial and political capital of the Thesme sector. She was thrust into politics at a young age, and was passionately devoted to championing causes for the poor and underprivileged throughout her career.

She first met Padmé Amidala at a summit on Alderaan when both were Apprentice Legislators. The elder by five years, Shessaun was paired with Amidala as a mentor during a week-long political workshop. She was impressed by the 12-year-old's quick mind, sharp intellect, and genuine care for the needs of others. After the workshop ended, the two remained in correspondence for years, and Shessaun was pleased to learn when Amidala became the Queen of Naboo.

When Shessaun was 20, she earned a position in the Senate, and became a key player in a wide variety of social programs to help those in need across the galaxy. The harshest criticism her office endured was that she spread herself too thin concentrating on the bigger picture, and perhaps paid too little attention on her native Thesme. When Amidala joined her in the Senate rotunda as representative of Naboo, the two would confer often.

In the years leading up to the Clone Wars, Silya was called back to her home planet on a more permanent basis to mediate several territorial disputes in the sector. Many worlds in the Thesme sector threatened to secede, and Shessaun took a personal interest in keeping these planets within the Republic.

She was one of the greatest Loyalist proponents outside of Coruscant. In the trying times of the Clone Wars, both Padmé and Silya missed the strength of the other that they had come to depend on. Though she was extended an invitation to the Delegation of 2,000, she declined. She felt that undermining the Supreme Chancellor during such trying times was tantamount to a Separatist act.

She felt the loss of Padmé Amidala deeply when word reached her that the Senator from Naboo had died in the Jedi uprising. Shessaun had her doubts about the circumstances of Amidala's death and pushed for a Senate investigation after attending Amidala's funeral. Little was accomplished in this regard due to opposition by the Emperor, citing "security concerns."

It was then that Shessaun realized that the Empire had gone too far. Shessaun hid her sympathies for the growing fledgling resistance groups that had sprung up in the wake of the Clone Wars, but her allegiance to Amidala and the more vocal Senators came back to haunt her. Though she was never targeted for reprisal like some of the members of the Delegation, she was quietly forced to step down from office, to let a more Imperial-minded Senator take her place.

Shessaun lived out her early retirement on Alderaan, helping Bail Organa's efforts from deep behind the scenes. She also came to assist in the raising of young Leia Organa, Bail's adopted daughter. She eventually returned to Thesme to little fanfare.

Shessaun died peacefully on Thesme surrounded by her loved ones, including Princess Leia, shortly after the destruction of the second Death Star.