As an expert in the Star Wars universe, I can provide you with a detailed answer to your question regarding the fate of the Geonosians after the sterilization of Geonosis. It is important to note that the events I will be discussing are based on the official canon established within the Star Wars franchise.
The sterilization of Geonosis, ordered by Grand Moff Tarkin, was a devastating event that resulted in the near annihilation of the Geonosian population. The Imperial Weapons division utilized their advanced technology, specifically Imperial gas canisters, to carry out this heinous act. The gas released from these canisters proved to be highly effective in wiping out all but a small fraction of the Geonosian population.
Geonosis, home to approximately 100 billion Geonosians, was once a bustling hive of activity. However, after the sterilization, the planet was left desolate and devoid of its once-thriving inhabitants. The Empire’s actions on Geonosis represent the largest genocide ever committed by the Empire, highlighting the brutality and disregard for life that characterized their rule.
Despite the devastating impact on the Geonosian population, it is important to note that not all of them were completely wiped out. While the vast majority perished due to the gas canisters, a small number managed to survive. These survivors, estimated to be in the thousands or even less, went into hiding in the depths of Geonosis’ underground tunnels and caverns.
The survival of these Geonosians can be attributed to their natural resilience and adaptability. Geonosians possess a unique hive mind and a strong sense of community, which likely aided them in finding ways to endure and evade the Empire’s onslaught. Their ability to adapt to harsh environments and their exceptional engineering skills may have played a significant role in their survival.
It is worth mentioning that the fate of the Geonosians after the events of the original trilogy is not extensively explored in the official canon. However, there are some hints and references in other Star Wars media that suggest the Geonosians managed to rebuild their population to some extent.
In the Star Wars Rebels animated series, set a few years before the events of the original trilogy, a Geonosian named Klik-Klak is shown to be the last survivor of his kind on Geonosis. This suggests that there were at least some Geonosians who managed to survive and potentially rebuild their population in the years following the sterilization.
Furthermore, in the novel “Thrawn: Alliances,” it is revealed that the Empire later establishes a mining operation on Geonosis, indicating that the planet was not completely abandoned after the sterilization. This implies that the Geonosians may have continued to exist in some capacity, albeit in a significantly reduced population.
While the majority of the Geonosian population was wiped out during the sterilization of Geonosis, there were survivors who managed to elude the Empire’s eradication efforts. Through their resilience and adaptability, these Geonosians found refuge in the planet’s underground tunnels and caverns. The exact size of their surviving population remains unclear, but there are indications in the Star Wars canon that suggest they may have eventually managed to rebuild to some extent.