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Invasion of Naboo

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For other uses, see Battle of Naboo (disambiguation).
  [Source]
"The situation here is not what it seems. There is something else behind all this, Your Highness. There is no logic in the Federation's move here. My feelings tell me they will destroy you."
―Qui-Gon Jinn[src]

The Invasion of Naboo, also known as the Battle of Naboo, Battle for Naboo,[1] or simply the Naboo Crisis, was a significant galactic conflict that occurred on the planet Naboo in 32 BBY, where the planet's capital city, Theed, and surrounding regions were invaded and occupied by the battle droid forces of Trade Federation.

The crisis would end with the capture of Viceroy Nute Gunray and the destruction of the main droid control ship. The dire conflict would lead to Senator Palpatine of Naboo taking the seat of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate and rising tensions ultimately leading into the Clone Wars. The events of the Naboo Crisis are often depicted as a prelude to those of the Separatist Crisis.

Contents

[edit] Origins

"I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war."
―Padmé Amidala[src]

An ever-expanding trading alliance, the Trade Federation, headed by the Neimoidian Viceroy Nute Gunray, would purchase victories in the Galactic Senate with their immense resources. As an independent system, they even had their own senator, Lott Dod, and went so far as to "persuade" the weapons inspectors of the Galactic Republic to ignore the arming of their one-time cargo craft. Secretly, the Federation had converted these shipment vessels into lethal battleships. The modifications were made ostensibly to defend against increasing pirate activity in the Outer Rim Territories.

However, the Republic soon passed legislation calling for the taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems. The reason for this was two-fold; it would serve to weaken the growing Federation, and would recoup funds for the ailing Republic. The Trade Federation felt the immediate need to strike back.

An invasion force of deadly battle droid soldiers were built in addition to the increasing number of the Federation's disguised warships. They were part of a plot quietly masterminded by Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith, as part of his scheme to establish himself, beneath his public persona of Senator Palpatine, as Supreme Chancellor. Sidious had approached the Federation's Viceroy Nute Gunray and commanded him to use his cheap-and-dangerous army on the prosperous, distant and naïve planet of Naboo, who would fall to the Federation's will without the unsuspecting Republic's immediate aide or sympathy. Five months later, and after procuring the necessary resources on a number of planets, including Alaris Prime[2] and Esseles[3] , the Trade Federation blockaded the Mid Rim world.[4]

[edit] The Blockade of Naboo

Darth Sidious's first order to the Trade Federation was to make use of their battleships in a practically impenetrable blockade orbiting Naboo. It was a bold move for the usually cowardly Federation, but after bearing witness to the terrifying events that had elevated him to power, Gunray had few doubts as to the Sith Lord's influence.

Naboo, however, was able to maintain communications with the Republic's center at Coruscant and Naboo's Queen Amidala was able to speak with Senator Palpatine, the Republic's representative for Naboo. Palpatine, of course, was also the unlikely Darth Sidious, controlling the Trade Federation from the shadows.

When Queen Amidala told Palpatine that Naboo was being cut off from the rest of the galaxy, he then spoke with Supreme Chancellor Valorum and the Jedi High Council about resolving the Naboo conflict. Valorum and the Council dispatched two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to meet with the Federation Viceroy and ensure the Federation's withdrawal from the system. Soon, however, all communications were broken off as the Federation tightened its grip on the Naboo system. The Viceroy was still acting out Sidious's sinister demands.

[edit] Negotiations

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi go on the offensive.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi go on the offensive.

The two Jedi were scheduled to meet with Viceroy Gunray immediately. However, TC-14, the hostess protocol droid, whom they encountered first, promptly informed Gunray, his lieutenant, Settlement Officer Rune Haako, and invasion force Captain Daultay Dofine, that the ambassadors from Coruscant were Jedi.[4]

Terrified at the prospect of facing Jedi, Gunray contacted Sidious and presented the situation. Sidious ordered Gunray to kill the Jedi at once and begin landing his troops on Naboo for an invasion. Gunray then sent toxic gases through the ventilation system to the Jedi in the waiting room, and dispatched a squad of security battle droids just outside the door in case they sensed danger and tried to escape. Jinn and Kenobi proved more than a match for the droids and nearly cut through the blast doors to the bridge before being chased away by the more formidable droidekas.[4] Within hours, the armies had taken Theed, subduing Naboo's small Royal Naboo Security Forces and leaving the planet completely under the control of the Federation.

Nute Gunray himself landed in Theed and assumed control from Queen Amidala's own throne room. However, the two Jedi had survived and reached the Naboo swamps. After having met local Gungan Jar Jar Binks and contacted Boss Rugor Nass, leader of the Gungans, both Jedi Jinn and Kenobi finally made it to Theed. There they found Amidala and her entourage held hostage by battle droids. The Jedi made quick work of the droids and Amidala agreed to return with them to Coruscant, where she could plead before the Senate for help against her planet's cruel and abrupt siege.

However, getting past the Trade Federation blockade proved very difficult and the Queen's ship was barely able to scrape by, its shields having been repaired by astromech droid R2-D2 at the last possible moment. In the queen's absence, a failing revolt would occur on Naboo, apart from which, it would remain stable under the Federation's reign.

[edit] Amidala before the Senate

"Honorable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. The Naboo system has been invaded by the droid armies of the Trade..."
"I object! There is no proof! This is incredible. We recommend a commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth."
―Queen Amidala and Senator Lott Dod[src]
Amidala and Palpatine before the Galactic Senate.
Amidala and Palpatine before the Galactic Senate.

After a brief layover on Tatooine due to the engine-damage caused by Federation laser fire, the Jedi and Queen Amidala arrived on Coruscant to speak with Senator Palpatine and Chancellor Valorum.

In a special meeting of the Senate, Amidala herself spoke before the thousands of Galactic delegates. Her pleas were instantly accused of being lies and baseless accusations by the Senator of the Trade Federation, Lott Dod, who recommended appointing a commission to ascertain the truth. Senator Aks Moe of Malastare agreed with Dod. The blatant corruption of the Senate dismayed Amidala, shaking her faith in its ability to govern.

At the behest of Palpatine, Amidala shocked the Senate by moving for a vote-of-no-confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Valorum. Although she was reluctant to make the motion, it was taken up enthusiastically by the Senators. Within hours, Palpatine was named one of the nominees to succeed Valorum and promised to clean up the rampant corruption.[4] Against Palpatine's requests, Amidala returned to Naboo, deciding that her fate belonged with that of her people.[4]The Senate's decision on a new chancellor would preoccupy and only delay the Senate in assisting Amidala. Now, she had to take the defenseless Naboo's matters into her own hands. No one could do it better than a queen.

[edit] The battle for freedom

"Now Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty."
―Padmé Amidala[src]

Amidala and the Jedi formulated a plan to capture Viceroy Gunray in Theed, thus taking back the planet. With the aid of Jar Jar Binks, an alliance was formed with the proud Boss Nass and the Gungans.

Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padmé and Qui-Gon enter the Theed Hangar.
Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padmé and Qui-Gon enter the Theed Hangar.

The Gungan Grand Army would engage the droid army of the Federation in open combat while the queen and the Jedi would quietly infiltrate the palace in Theed with the remainder of the Royal Security forces to capture the Viceroy. The small number of pilots in the Naboo security forces would fly into space and attempt to destroy the only battleship still in orbit: the Droid Control Ship, where all the battle droids were controlled from a single computer brain.[4]

The plan began as intended, but the entire dynamic of the situation changed with the arrival of Darth Maul, apprentice to Darth Sidious. Jinn and Kenobi recognized immediately that there was more going on than an economic dispute. The two Jedi engaged Maul in battle while the queen led a raid into the throne room. Soon enough, Amidala and her Security Captain Panaka successfully captured both Gunray and Rune Haako. In the depths of Theed's power generator complex, Maul battled the Jedi and mortally wounded Qui-Gon Jinn. Maul himself was then killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi. The droid army, however, was still active, until the control ship was miraculously destroyed by an unexpected participant in the day's events: young Anakin Skywalker, a recently freed slave from Tatooine the Jedi had brought along with them.[4]

"Now, Viceroy, you're going to have to go back to the Senate and explain all this."
"I think you can kiss your Trade franchise goodbye."
―Padmé Amidala and Panaka to Nute Gunray and Rune Haako[src]
Amidala "discusses" (using aggressive negotiations) a new treaty with Gunray.
Amidala "discusses" (using aggressive negotiations) a new treaty with Gunray.

With the defeat of the Trade Federation and the deactivation of its mechanical army, the Invasion was over. Peace and order were restored, as were positive relations between the Gungans and the people of Naboo. Following Jinn's death, the Jedi Council appointed Kenobi to knighthood, whereupon he accepted young Skywalker as his Padawan learner. Also following the battle was the election of Palpatine as Supreme Chancellor, and he promised to bring Gunray and his lieutenants to justice and end the corruption of the Senate.

However, after four trials in the Supreme Court, Gunray would remain Viceroy of the Trade Federation.

It would be nearly thirteen years before the true reasons for the Invasion were revealed. The Clone Wars would show how influential the Invasion of Naboo had really been on the galaxy.

[edit] Appearances

[edit] Sources

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
  2. ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
  3. ↑ Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Adventures
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace


Battles during the Naboo crisis
Naboo Sieges · First Harte Secur · First Spinnaker · First Theed
Second Theed · Tatooine · Space I · Swamps · Sacred Place · Second Spinnaker
Second Harte Secur · Grassy Plains · Third Theed · Space II


Preceded by:
Yinchorri Uprising 		Major Galactic Conflicts
32 BBY 		Succeeded by:
Separatist Crisis

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Invasion_of_Naboo"
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