Cato Neimoidia

"This is hardly your planet anymore&mdash;not since you signed your holdings over to the Banking Clan in return for a stake in this new droid foundry."

- Senator Rush Clovis of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, to Senator Lott Dod of the Trade Federation

Cato Neimoidia was a planet in the Cato Neimoidia system, within the Quellor sector of the galaxy's Colonies region that was a colony world of the Neimoidians and the base of operations for the Trade Federation. Much of the world was covered in a persistent fog, while the bridge cities of Cato Neimoidia were suspended above the planet's ocean surface on bridges anchored between giant rock arches, upon which thrived forests and grasslands.

Description
Cato Neimoidia was located in the Cato Neimoidia system, within the Quellor sector of the galaxy's Colonies region. Emerging from the depth of its stormy, geyser-spouting oceans, were massive rock formations that made up the fog-covered planet's canyons and were home to its forests and grasslands.

History
"That business on Cato Neimoidia doesn't... doesn't count."

- Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi

During the Clone Wars, Senator Rush Clovis of the InterGalactic Banking Clan visited Cato Neimoidia to negotiate with Senator Lott Dod of the Trade Federation at his palace while accompanied by Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo, who was secretly investigating rumors of the Banking Clan backing the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Sometime later, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano were sent to assist in defending Cato Neimoidia from the Separatist, but shortly after their dramatic arrival on the planet they were summoned back to Coruscant to investigate the bombing of the Jedi Temple hangar.

At one point, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were involved in 'messy business' on the planet which required Kenobi to be saved by Skywalker. Kenobi, however, felt that this particular rescue didn't count towards Skywalker's running tally of the number of times that he had saved him.

During the final days of the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Plo Koon led the Grand Army of the Republic in an attack against the Separatist Alliance, resulting in a Republic victory. Following the battle, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine ordered the execution of Clone Protocol 66, forcing the Jedi General's own wingmates to open fire on his starfighter, killing him along with the thousands of other Jedi across the galaxy affected by this swift command.

Inhabitants
Cato Neimoidia was colonized by the Neimoidians, a wealthy species originally from the planet Neimoidia who operated the Trade Federation, which controlled most of the interstellar shipping passing through the Rim territories. One of the wealthiest corporate organizations in the galaxy, Cato Neimoidia was the Trade Federation's headquarters. The Neimoidians constructed opulent bridge cities that spanned the world's rock formations and jeweled palaces owned by the Trade Federation's barons, who sought constantly to one-up each other and dazzle guests with displays of ostentatious hospitality and luxury living.

Behind the scenes
Cato Neimoidia first appeared in Labyrinth of Evil, a prequel novel to Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Though the events of this title are now considered part of the continuity of Star Wars Legends and thus not canon, the details of the messy business that took place on this planet involving Kenobi and Skywalker were originally provided in this title.

In the early development of Episode III, Cato Neimoidia was to be a gas giant ringed by a flat, disc-like space station - reminiscent of the donut-like shape of the Trade Federation battleships seen in Episode I. The design was later reused for Ringo Vinda.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Journeys: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * A New Dawn
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * A New Dawn