J-type 327 Nubian royal starship

J-type 327 Nubian royal starship "This is not a warship! We have no weapons. We're a nonviolent people." "That is why the Trade Federation was brave enough to attack us."

- Captain Panaka to Qui-Gon Jinn

The J-type 327 Nubian royal starship (also known as the Naboo royal starship) was a starship used by Queen Amidala, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Invasion of Naboo.

Characteristics
An example of the marriage between art and design, the craft was designed to embody the glory of Naboo royalty which represented the noble spirit of the citizens of Naboo. It was, in fact, reserved only for use by the Naboo sovereign.

Naboo engineers claimed that the royal starship was actually composed of two major components: the spaceframe and all the other components. This spaceframe, created by the skilled engineers of the Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps was a single, long supple hull. The frame was covered in chromium, formerly used to shield starships from radiation and some forms of laser attacks, but later used simply in a time-honored tradition. Only the Queen's own vessel could be entirely chromium-covered, but royal starfighters, such as the Naboo N-1, had chromium on the front of their engines. Non-royal Naboo ships were forbidden to wear chromium.

The rest of the ship's component's were provided by Nubian Design Collective, including the impressive T-14 hyperdrive generator. The T-14 was compact and accessible, unlike most other hyperdrives, and was powerful enough to take the ship from Naboo to Tatooine in a single jump even when damaged. It could also be raised from a compartment in the floor to allow easy checking, repairs and even complete replacement.

The royal starship had no weapons since it was designed as a peaceful ambassadorial ship. The Headon-5 sublight engines, which had been modified by the Naboo to be environmentally friendly, could exceed the speed of most starfighters. Its powerful deflector shields could withstand large amounts of damage, including bombardment by turbolaser emplacements. Intricate sensors built into the craft reported damage instantly, allowing the crew to locate trouble spots immediately. When the starship was damaged, up to 8 astromech droids could be automatically deployed. These droids would even venture onto the surface of the ship's outer hull during flight, braving the vacuum of space and enemy fire to make emergency repairs.

The royal starship was normally accompanied by a small wing of Naboo N-1 Starfighters. This elite squadron, known as Bravo Squadron, was handpicked from the most dedicated and talented pilots in the Royal Naboo Security Forces. During Queen Amidala's term in office, the royal starship was piloted by Ric Olié and a well-trained crew of technicians, engineers, navigators and diplomatic aides.

The ship was furnished to accommodate the Queen's entourage, including handmaidens and bodyguards. The vehicle also had large climate-controlled wardrobes that provided Padmé with clothes for all occasions.

History
This ship was used to carry Amidala on formal state visits to other planetary rulers and to the Galactic Senate in Coruscant.

It was King Veruna which ruled that the old Royal hunting of the Royal House of Naboo retirement to go. Veruna gave the Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps contract to design a ship that was built around the famous components of Nubia. Three engineers from Naboo traveled to Nubia where they explained their design. With the expertise of the Nubians turned the delegation returned and made their motion after six months off. Then it would take almost four years before the ship was ready.

Veruna would only use the ship three times in his ship travels before he was slain and his administration were plunged in corruption and betrayal. Two trips he made in the Naboo System and a trip remained unknown. Then the ship was owned by Queen Amidala. Before Veruna and Amidala had chosen a name for the ship, hard times broke out for Naboo. In 32 BBY during the Invasion of Naboo, the Royal Starship was the vessel that rescued the lives of countless Naboo and Gungans. It was even partially responsible for the evolution of the history of the universe. When the Trade Federation blockaded and occupied Naboo, Amidala decided to go to Coruscant to plead their case. Led by Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Captain Panaka were a group of pilots, engineers and soldiers freed in the Theed Hangar. Ric Olie sat behind the wheel of the ship he normally controlled and fled away from Naboo. During their flight, the HyperDrive began to leak. Only the intervention of the Astromech Droids and especially R2-D2 saved the ship and allowed it to make a hyperspace jump. The next stop was Tatooine where they hoped to find a new T-14 Hyper Drive Generator.

After Tatooine traveled by ship to Coruscant to finally return to Naboo to return where it landed in the Lianorm Swamp.

After Amidala retired her position, the royal starship was decommissioned and another craft was handcrafted for her successor Queen Jamillia.

By 25 ABY, it was described as "quite the collector's item".

Behind the scenes
The design of this starship was inspired by the chrome hood ornaments of 1950s automobiles.

The ship was also inspired by the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance jet.

"327" was the docking bay number the Millennium Falcon was tractored into on the Death Star.

In the original drafts of Star Wars, the first space ship seen is described as follows:
 * A small silver spacecraft emerges from behind one of the Utapau moons.

Interestingly, neither of these concepts appeared in the original trilogy, yet both were used in the prequels.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Starfighter
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace novel
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace game
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace junior novel
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Episode I: Qui-Gon Jinn
 * Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
 * Star Wars Republic: Twilight
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Clone Wars Chapter 16
 * The Artist of Naboo
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope junior novel
 * Vader's Quest
 * Star Wars Galaxies
 * Star Wars Adventures Volume 2: Princess Leia and the Royal Ransom
 * Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial



Notes and references
J-Typ 327 Nubian Königliches Raumschiff Nave real de Naboo 327 tipo J J-Type 327 Nubian Starship J-tyypin 327 Nubian kuninkaallinen tähtilaiva