What we know of it is that there are many, many worlds within the Caldera with Type 1 atmospheres, well suited to most sentient life. There are also worlds, such as Begeren, with an abundance of resources including gemstones. There is a network of established hyperspace routes, and also Sith ruins and historical sites throughout the Caldera that should be protected, and artifacts that belong in museums or in archives where both the New Republic and the Jedi Academy can study them. There is also a surprising variety of Force sensitive predators on many of these worlds, which should also be studied both for anthropological reasons and also the practical purpose of how best to stop these creatures.

But perhaps most importantly, there have long been rumors of worlds in the Stygian Caldera that are unknown to the New Republic, and were unknown even to Palpatine who, it should be noted, made various forays into the Caldera. These new worlds could contain resources valuable to the Republic or, possibly, threats to us. For indeed, as with any largely neglected region of space, the Stygian Caldera has played host to a number of fugitives and warlords in recent years. Warlord Zsinj, for instance, controlled much of the region until his death in 8 ABY. More recently, in 14 ABY, the so called "Disciples of Ragnos"--a Sith cult then affiliated with the Imperial Remnant—used the planet Korriban as a temporary base of operations and necessitated the use of three Mon Calamari cruisers and a large contingent of Jedi to clean them out. It was a costly campaign, and one that we can prevent in the future by exploring and monitoring the Stygian Caldera now.

The Defender-class assault carrier Wayward Son, presently assigned to the Republic's Fifth Battle Group, is ideally suited to this assignment and its crew has experience in exploration. I propose that it be requisitioned from the Fifth Battle Group and reassigned to serve as the command ship for this expedition. It would be fitted with various shuttles and starfighters, as well as sensor beacons, probe droids, and other exploration equipment. I also propose that the Jedi Academy be involved in this expedition—the Jedi can assist in navigation and in subduing Force sensitive predators, and also, naturally, the Jedi would have an interest in the many Sith artifacts in this region. They should be permitted to study them, as long as it is made clear that the artifacts themselves, holocrons, scrolls, etc., belong to the New Republic.

The Wayward Son would begin its expedition at Jaguada, one of the few inhabited worlds in the Stygian Caldera. It would then circumnavigate the so called "holy" Sith worlds on the Nache Belfia hyperlane, then, from the planet Khar Delba, travel the Kamat Aegit hyperlane to Begeren, in the interior of the Caldera. From there, I would suggest the commander of the expedition use his discretion in exploring the rest of the region as best he, she, or it deems appropriate. At each world, a comprehensive survey is to be made of the local flora and fauna, atmosphere, gravity, and also natural resources and the potential for colonization. There will also be sensor beacons left behind on these worlds to monitor potential threats that may reside there. As for those threats, the Jedi aboard the Wayward Son should be adequate to dispose of them, along with a contingent of marines.

I don't imagine the expedition lasting longer than two standard months. I vote in favor, and I also volunteer to command the expedition myself.