Invasion of Naboo/Legends

"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

The Invasion of Naboo, also known as the Battle of Naboo, Battle for Naboo, 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 the Trade Federation.

The Trade Federation was controlled in secret by two Sith Lords in their plot to destroy the Jedi Order and rule the galaxy: Darth Plagueis, also known as Hego Damask of Damask Holdings and the InterGalactic Banking Clan; and his apprentice Darth Sidious, under the guise of popular Senator Palpatine of Naboo. After infiltrating the Galactic Republic, they would ensure the fall of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum and make sure that Palpatine was elected in his place, with Hego Demask as Co-chanceller.

Two Jedi, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, were sent as ambassadors to negotiate with the Trade Federation. But Darth Sidious ordered the Neimoidians to have them destroyed and deploy all forces on Naboo, causing the Jedi to retreat. Soon, the Jedi were able to rescue Queen Padmé Amidala, who was under pressure by the Federation to sign a treaty to legalize the invasion, and help her escape from the blockade. She hoped to have the Galactic Senate assist in outlawing the Trade Federation's activities on Naboo.

With the Jedi and the Queen on the run, Darth Sidious sent his personal assassin, Darth Maul, to track them down on Tatooine. In Maul's brief duel with Qui-Gon Jinn, in which the Jedi Master withdrew aboard Amidala's royal starship, the Sith had revealed themselves to the Jedi Order.

Queen Amidala had arrived on Coruscant to ask the Senate in Naboo's time of need. But Senator Palpatine, as discussed with Darth Plagueis in private, persuaded the Queen to put out a Vote of No Confidence in the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Valorum. Thus, the Senate would be selecting a new chancellor. But it didn't stop there. Amidala had decided to return to Naboo to liberate her people from the Trade Federation's grasp.

The crisis ended with the capture of Viceroy Nute Gunray and the destruction of the main droid control ship at the hands of Anakin Skywalker, a boy destined to become a Jedi Knight. Senator Palpatine, shortly after betraying and murdering his Sith Master Plagueis, took the seat of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate and began 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.

With Darth Maul presumed dead on Naboo, the Jedi were on the lookout for anything more the Sith would have in store for them. It was only a matter of time before their doom was at hand.

Origins
"I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war."

- Padmé Amidala

Naboo in the galactic community
"Yes, we must be mindful of the concerns of the present electorate, but we shouldn't allow the fearful voices of a few to cripple our chance of joining the galactic community and raising the profile of the entire Chommell sector. I suggest we add boldly. To avoid being perceived as having bowed to pressure, I say we use this unprecedented visit by Damask Holdings to announce publicly that we and we alone are capable of entering into an arrangement with the Banking Clan and others that will allow Naboo to restructure its debt, achieve favored-world status with the Core, and provide for tax cuts, lower interest rates, and endless opportunities for employment, both on- and offworld. We must seize this moment before it disappears."

- Ars Veruna, during the Naboo election of 62 BBY

The growth of the Trade Federation
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.

The taxation of trade routes
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. Unfortunately for the Republic, the Trade Federation felt offended, and was determined 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 the scheme made by his Master, Darth Plagueis 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, which would fall to the Federation's will without the unsuspecting Republic's immediate aid or sympathy. Five months later, and after procuring the necessary resources on a number of planets, including Alaris Prime, Esseles , and Eos, the Trade Federation blockaded the Mid Rim world.

The Blockade of Naboo
"This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plans. Begin landing your troops." "My lord, is that... legal?" "I will make it legal."

- Darth Sidious and Nute Gunray



Early crisis
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 reticent 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 insidious demands.

Negotiations
"Is it in their nature to make us wait this long?''" "''No. I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this trade dispute"

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn

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.

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 (as well as stating that he'll ensure that the invasion was made legal by the senate when questioned about its legality by Gunray). Gunray then sent the toxic gas dioxis 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.

The occupation of Naboo
"You were right about one thing, Master. The negotiations were short."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Qui-Gon Jinn

Although the two Jedi escaped aboard separate landing craft, Gunray continued sending them down, each filled with battle droids and assault vehicles, also warning the droids of their presence among them and to not underestimate them. From their landing areas in the swamps, the invasion force was sent out towards New Centrif, Vis, and Parrlay, in order to disable the communication transmitters and keep the event secret from Coruscant. Attacks continued on Harte Secur and Spinnaker, the last frontier before spreading to the Naboo capital of Theed.

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 run into 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.

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. Since the hyperdrive was leaking badly during the escape, they group decided to hide on Tatooine in the Outer Rim Territories until a replacement could be found.

Resistance
Not willing to surrender to Trade Federation forces without a fight, some of the Royal Naboo Security Forces organized a Resistance movement. The most well-known group was the one organized by Captain Kael and Lieutenant Gavyn Sykes. After escaping from Theed they assisted local farmers and rescued a police officer Vedd Deviss, who informed them of a mysterious smuggler located in the mountains. Kael, Gavyn and Vedd soon found out that this smuggler was Borvo the Hutt. After they escorted the Hutt to his base, Borvo joined the Resistance and provided it with starfighters. With the help of Borvo they destroyed the Trade Federation satellite and liberated Naboo slaves. However, Borvo soon revealed himself as a traitor and killed Kael. Lieutenant Sykes then assumed the command and forced the Hutt to retreat to Nal Hutta. With the information from Kol Kotha, Borvo's mercenary, who defected from his former employer, Gavyn liberated the notorious Camp 4.

After breaching the blockade, Bravo pilot Rhys Dallows, along with the pirate Nym, Toydarian Reti, and mercenary Vana Sage, also joined the Resistance. While Reti and Rhys delivered the supplies, Vana and Nym defended one of the Resistance bases against the Trade Federation attack. They also rescued some Naboo prisoners. It is unknown if the Resistance cell that they joined was the same as Kael's and Sykes'.

One resistance group, called "Naboo Underground" and led by Lucos Dannt included a group of offworld students who were sent to Royal House of Learning prior to the Invasion, some of whom were even Jedi Padawans. The Naboo underground conducted a number of successful operations against the occupying forces, primarily involving weapons theft and liberation of prisoners. In one daring operation, they liberated the Naboo Minister of Culture, Kyu.

Return of the Sith
"Tatooine is sparsely populated. If the trace was correct, I will find them quickly, Master." "Move against the Jedi first. You will then have no difficulty taking the Queen to Naboo to sign the treaty." "At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge." "You have been well trained, my young apprentice. They will be no match for you."

- Darth Sidious and Darth Maul

After finding out that the Queen had escaped the blockade, Darth Sidious was furious. He sent his Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, to find the Queen and the Jedi, destroy the latter, and bring the former back. Using an edited Holomessage of Sio Bibble, Naboo's governor, to pinpoint where the Queen's ship may have gone to, Maul knew where to go. On his ship, Scimitar, he traveled to Tatooine. He touched down on the planet's sand and sent probe droids in different locations to find his targets. He would be waiting.

Petitioning the Senate
"Honorable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. Naboo's system has been invaded by the droid armies of the Trade&mdash;" "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



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 Finis Valorum.

On Coruscant, Amidala was kidnapped by mercenaries, their leader being hired by the Trade Federation and Darth Sidious, and was taken to the Coruscant underworld, but was freed by Captain Panaka and was escorted by him to Palpatine, but not before he had to kill the mercenary leader himself.

No confidence
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. Against Palpatine's seemingly genuine requests, Amidala returned to Naboo, deciding that her fate belonged with that of her people. 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.

The Battle for Freedom
"Now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty."

- Padmé Amidala

Amidala and the Jedi formulated a plan to capture Viceroy Gunray in Theed, which would allow them to take back the planet. With the aid of Jar Jar Binks, an alliance was formed with the proud Boss Nass and the Gungans, and Captain Panaka organized together all Resistance cells.

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&mdash;the Droid Control Ship, where all the battle droids were controlled by a single computer.

The plan began as intended, but the entire dynamic of the situation changed with the arrival of Darth Maul. The two Jedi engaged the Sith Lord 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. Meanwhile, Maul led Jinn and Kenobi through the hangar and into Theed's power generator complex. Soon enough, Maul managed to kick Kenobi, who fell several stories below. Jinn was then able to punch Maul in the face, who also fell. Jinn jumped down after him, but the Sith Lord managed to get to his feet, kicking Jinn in the head. The duel moved down the catwalk near a laser shield room.

Kenobi was able to jump up on the catwalk Jinn and Maul were on, and ran to help Jinn. But Jinn, Kenobi and Maul became trapped by the laser walls, each cut off from the other. Maul paced like a caged animal, Jinn calmly mediated, and Kenobi anxiously awaited what would come next. When the walls shut down, Jinn jumped up to battle Maul once again. In the melting pit, Maul battled Jinn, who was ultimately stabbed in the chest. The Sith then turned to face Kenobi. When the walls, once again, shut down, Kenobi was left to face Maul, alone. Maul managed to kick Kenobi into the pit, but Kenobi grabbed hold onto a nozzle which was jutting out a little below Maul. The Sith Lord then kicked Kenobi's lightsaber into the bottomless shaft, past the still hanging Jedi. Calling his master's lightsaber to him, Kenobi jumped and cut through the Sith Lord's waist. Maul then fell into the shaft, but reached out to the Force to sustain himself, becoming an exiled, amnesic cyborg on Lotho Minor. Obi Wan joined his dying master who, in his final words, told Obi Wan to train Anakin, the fabled "chosen one" destined to bring balance to the force. Jinn died in a distraught Obi Wan's arms. With Maul presumed dead, Amidala's assassination failed, but 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.

Aftermath
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.

Many reports were made about the Invasion, as the Battle on the Grassy Plains represented a part of warfare rarely seen in the galaxy at that point. Other reports suggested that the droid starfighters performed sluggishly, as the Central Control Computer also had to direct large numbers of ground forces.

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.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Darth Plagueis
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Star Wars: Darth Maul 1
 * Star Wars: Darth Maul 2
 * Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
 * Star Wars: Starfighter
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Queen Amidala
 * 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 video game
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace junior novel
 * Star Wars Episode I: Watch Out, Jar Jar!
 * Star Wars: Invasion of Theed Adventure Game
 * Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Star Wars: Obi-Wan
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
 * Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Anakin Skywalker
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Darth Maul
 * "End Game"
 * Deep Spoilers
 * Star Wars: Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War
 * Jedi Quest: The Way of the Apprentice
 * Starfighter: Crossbones
 * Star Wars: Republic: Honor and Duty
 * The Approaching Storm
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novel
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Star Wars: The Wrath of Darth Maul
 * Star Wars: Republic: The New Face of War
 * Changing Seasons
 * MedStar II: Jedi Healer
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * A Wretched Hive
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
 * The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * Survivor's Quest
 * MedStar II: Jedi Healer
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * A Wretched Hive
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
 * The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * Survivor's Quest