Zill Kartay

Zill Kartay was a male Neimoidian affiliated with the Trade Federation. In 32 BBY, when the Federation sucessfully invaded the planet Naboo, he was appointed to the Occupation Council. Following the liberation of the planet by its revolted inhabitants, Kartay and the remainder of the council were arrested and sent to Coruscant to be judged.

Biography
Zill Kartay was a male of the Neimoidian species who lived during the rule of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, in the last decades of the Galactic Republic. By 32 BBY, he served as a consul of the Trade Federation, a labyrinthine organization of trade officials and associated bureaucrats. That same year, the Federation invaded the backwater planet of Naboo by order of Darth Sidious, a mysterious Dark Lord of the Sith. On that occasion, Consul Kartay accompanied the Viceroy Nute Gunray to Theed, the capital city of Naboo, where he took a seat in the so-called Occupation Council. In addition to Gunray and his aide, the Settlement Officer Rune Haako, Zarkay's colleagues on the board were Magistrate Kund Ekorr, Treasurer Hap Brehg and Chronicler Viff Almay.

While the Occupation Council discussed their options in the Theed Royal Palace, the Human and Gungan inhabitants of Naboo decided to forget their quarrels and to strive together to take their planet back. When a battle was expected to take place in the Great Grass Plains, Zarkay and the other councillors remained in the relative seclusion of the Theed palace throne room, where they thought they would be safe. After a fierce struggle both on ground and in space, the revolted locals destroyed the Federation's droid army, while an elite group led by Queen Amidala infiltrated the palace to capture the Neimoidian dignitaries. In the wake of the battle, Kartay was arrested by Captain Panaka of the Royal Naboo Security Forces, alongside his fellow councillors Ekorr and Brehg. Subsequently, they were all shipped as prisoners to Coruscant, capital world of the Republic, to await trial.

Personality and traits
Zill Kartay was a red-eyed Neimoidian who stood between 1.75 and 1.91 meters. His pale, yellowish skin was mottled, a common trait among high-ranking Neimoidians who had an overly self-indulgent lifestyle.

Behind the scenes
Zill Kartay appeared as a nameless background character in the movie Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, which was released on May 19, 1999. However, since the members of the Occupation Council made a collective appearance in the Terry Brooks's movie novelization, which was published earlier, Kartay's actual first appearance can be dated to April 21 of the same year. In 2014, the character's name was revealed in Rogues Gallery: The Devious Neimoidians Revealed, an article written by Tim Veekhoven, Kevin Beentjes and Sander de Lange for the 147th issue of the Star Wars Insider magazine. Kartay was named after the Neimoidian fan "Lizzi Kartay-Dod," known as Kweh-chan on Wookieepedia.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace novelization
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace