Lott Dod/Legends

"This is an outrage!"

- Senator Lott Dod, on more than one occasion

Lott Dod was the male Neimoidian senator of the Trade Federation, representing the trade conglomerate's interests in the Republic Senate. Dod, a manipulative being skilled at political maneuvering, held this position from as early as 33 BBY, when he fought against the taxation of the Federation-dominated Free Trade Zones. When this initiative failed, the Federation invaded the Mid Rim world Naboo in retaliation in 32 BBY. When Naboo's queen, Padmé Amidala, came to the Republic capital Coruscant to call upon the Senate to send much-needed aid to her beleaguered people, Dod made every effort to block Amidala's pleas, claiming that there was no proof to back up her accusations. Before the Senate could do anything about the Naboo crisis, Amidala returned to the world and oversaw its liberation, disgracing the Trade Federation and its Neimoidian leaders.

Despite the scandal, Dod continued to represent the organization in the Senate, even during the Separatist Crisis that culminated with the Federation aligning with the breakaway Confederacy of Independent Systems. In the midst of the crisis, Dod was injured in a speeder accident, but this did not hamper his senatorial duties&mdash;the outspoken Neimoidian often participated in Senate debates from his recuperative ward at the Fobosi District Medcenter and ultimately recovered from the accident. When the Clone Wars erupted in 22 BBY, the Neimoidian Senator claimed that the Federation's resources were being co-opted without the approval of its governing board. Nevertheless, Dod's true allegiance was to the Federation and the Confederacy, not the Republic. In his palace on Cato Neimoidia, he conspired with fellow Senator Rush Clovis and Geonosian Archduke Poggle the Lesser in Confederate dealings early on in the war, a plot uncovered by Senator Padmé Amidala&mdash;the former Naboo Queen.

Early life
"We recognize Delegate Lott Dod, representing the Trade Federation."

- Supreme Chancellor Valorum

The male Neimoidian Lott Dod was born on the Neimoidian homeworld of Neimoidia. By 33 BBY, Dod had become an influential and prominent member of the Neimoidian-dominated Trade Federation, a trade conglomerate that maintained a presence in countless star systems and possessed its own private army. The Neimoidians became more interested in representing the needs of the Federation in the legislative body of the Galactic Republic rather than the needs of their own homeworld, so Dod&mdash;a scheming bureaucrat&mdash;became the senator of the trade organization. Dod's skill in political maneuvering served the Federation well. The Neimoidian's use of filibusters and manipulation of internal strife within the Senate prevented others from uncovering the truth behind the Federation's deceptive moves throughout the galaxy. His actions put him at odds with the small amount of honest politicians within the Senate. At the same time, his machinations also earned him allies, such as the Gran Senator Aks Moe of Malastare and several members of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum's office. Rumors abounded that they, too, were on the Trade Federation's payroll.

Within his senatorial office in the Senate Building, which mimicked the grub-hatcheries on his homeworld, Dod possessed a mechno-chair throne and a towering hologram of the Trade Monarch. Two competing teams of Neimoidian office drones rushed to complete the work of the Neimoidian delegation, while aides and other employees &mdash;like diplomatic aide Mik Regrap and a financial officer &mdash;attended to Dod's needs.

The taxation of trade routes
"We submit that the senate does not have the right or the authority to enact taxation of the outlying trade zones. This is nothing more than a ploy to break up our consortium.''" "It was the Trade Federation who opened the hyperlanes to the outlying systems, who risked the lives of its space-faring captains to bring formerly primitive worlds into the Republic, and new resources into the Core." "''Now we learn that we are expected to defend ourselves against the mercenaries and pirates who masquerade as freedom fighters, merely to enrich themselves at our expense. We come before you asking for aide, and instead become the victim of an indirect attack."

- Senator Lott Dod, protesting the Senate's refusal to give aid

Around 33 BBY, the Trade Federation began to suffer from terrorist attacks launched by the Nebula Front, an organization that was opposed to the Federation's control over the trade routes. The Front scored a victory against the Federation above the lommite mining world of Dorvalla, where it succeeded in destroying the freighter Revenue and stealing a shipment of valuable aurodium. The Federation, fearing that the attack would be the first of many, decided to petition the Senate for assistance, as its own defense forces were insufficient to deal with the threat. Supreme Chancellor Valorum, fully aware of both the situation and the Federation's questionable dominance of the supposedly-Free Trade Zones, brought the organization's request to the Senate during a session. Valorum did not want to give the Federation more power, however, so he proposed that worlds within the Free Trade Zones&mdash;currently represented by the Federation in the Senate&mdash;should leave the Federation and instead join the Republic as full members. This move, if implemented, was expected to cause the trade routes in the area to become subject to taxation, something that the Federation did not want to deal with.

Senator Lott Dod, unhappy with Valorum's proposal, was the first to react. Detaching his Senate pod from the wall of the Grand Convocation Chamber, Dod was recognized by the Chancellor and was allowed to speak his protests. The Neimoidian was offended by what he considered to be an indirect attack against the Trade Federation; he argued that the Senate lacked the authority to tax the trade zones and was attempting to break up the Federation. Dod also stated that should the Senate refuse to intercede with the Nebula Front on the Federation's behalf, the governing body should at least give the trade consortium the appropriate means so that it could defend itself. Several other senators joined in, inserting their opinions into the debate. Finally, Valorum, on the written advice of Senator Palpatine of Naboo, proposed that some of the revenue from the taxation be used as financial assistance for outlying worlds. When this did not satisfy everyone, Palpatine suggested that a trade summit be held on the Outer Rim world of Eriadu to continue the discussion and eventually finalize the issue.

Dod attended the Eriadu summit alongside Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray and the other members of the Trade Federation Directorate. After arriving on the world, Dod informed Gunray of Senator Palpatine's stance as a potential ally of theirs after the Viceroy inquired after the man's identity. The two Neimoidians were flanked by their security droids as they walked with the rest of the Directorate. Dod stood by silently as Gunray and the others engaged in conversation regarding Chancellor Valorum and the impending taxation legislation. Unbeknownst to Dod, Gunray had entered into an agreement with the Sith Lord Darth Sidious &mdash;the secret Sith persona of Senator Palpatine &mdash;that would see the Neimoidians firmly in control of the Federation. To secure this result, Sidious had supplied Gunray with an additional battle droid, a commander that ultimately feigned a malfunction and assassinated the non-Neimoidian members of the Directorate. When the droid was added to the other security droids guarding the Neimoidians, Dod told Gunray that he thought they had only brought twelve droids, not thirteen, although he did not question the matter further. The Federation delegation entered into the summit chambers and took their seats, with Gunray making note of Dod's location.

Before Valorum could begin his opening remarks, a Human page approached Gunray and informed him that a plasma leak had been detected in his shuttle's engines, a security matter that he needed to tend to immediately. Dod asked the Viceroy whether or not he should remain with the rest of the delegation, but Gunray told him to accompany him to handle any legalities that should arise. After they departed, blaster fire erupted within the chamber, prompting the remaining members of the Directorate to activate a force field that had been set up around their seats. Though successfully shielded from outside attacks, the Directorate members had trapped themselves inside, vulnerable to Sidious's thirteenth droid. When the time came, the commander and the twelve other droids unleashed a volley of blaster bolts that killed the remaining Directorate members as the other members of the summit helplessly watched in horror. When the two Neimoidians returned, security agents initially prevented them from entering the hall. After learning of the events, Dod and Gunray did not protest when technicians utilized field disruptors to deactivate the droids. Because of their diplomatic privileges, the pair left Eriadu without responding to any inquiries. The Republic launched an investigation into the incident, and when asked about the thirteenth droid, Dod said that both he and Gunray had been puzzled by its presence. The Republic also concluded that the reasons for the Neimoidians' absence from the massacre was legitimate, albeit somewhat mysterious, as whoever had contacted security about the plasma leak had disappeared by the time of Gunray's and Dod's arrival.

In the end, despite all his influence, Dod was unable to prevent the passing of a bill enacting the taxation of the outlying trade routes. Senate Resolution BR-0371 became law, much to the Federation's chagrin. The Trade Federation, however, was not ready to submit to the new law without a fight. Senator Dod, from his repulsorpod in the Senate Rotunda, was fully prepared to do what was necessary to further the conglomerate's goals, despite the setback.

Invasion of Naboo
"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&hellip;''" "''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 Dod

In 32 BBY, the Trade Federation blockaded and invaded Naboo as a means of protest against the taxation of trade routes. The move was not conceived by the Neimoidians, however. Rather, they were instructed to do so on the advice of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, their mysterious benefactor. Chancellor Valorum had dispatched two Jedi&mdash;Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi&mdash;as his ambassadors to the Federation, but before any negotiations could commence, Viceroy Gunray attempted to have them killed per Sidious's orders. The pair escaped to Naboo's surface and rescued the captive Queen Amidala and her entourage. The group fled Naboo and, after a detour to the planet Tatooine for repairs, they arrived on Coruscant, where the Queen brought news of the Federation's actions to the Senate.

During the Senate session, Senator Palpatine revealed the Federation's invasion of Naboo to his senatorial colleagues but was cut off by Dod, who rushed his Senate platform to the center of the rotunda. The Neimoidian objected to Palpatine's insinuations and called for him to be silenced, but Valorum ignored him, ordering Dod and his delegation to retreat from the discussion. Palpatine continued and introduced the Queen to the governing body. As she began to divulge information of the Federation's invasion, Senator Dod again detached his platform from the wall of the chamber and rushed to cut off Amidala mid-sentence. Staying true to his filibustering ways, Dod objected to the Queen's accusations and suggested that a commission be formed and sent to Naboo to determine if Amidala's claims were valid. Valorum initially overruled him, but Dod pressed further, calling for an impartial observation in accordance with the rules for procedure.

This time, the Gran Senator Aks Moe seconded the motion. Valorum consulted with his Vice Chair, the Chagrian Mas Amedda, and concluded that a commission should be established in accordance with the rules that Dod had cited. Valorum asked Amidala to defer, but she was resolute and announced that she would not suspend her plea. Having seen the bureaucratic manipulation firsthand, Amidala took Palpatine's advice and called for a Vote of No Confidence in Valorum's leadership, hoping that a new Supreme Chancellor would be able to bring order to the Senate and resolve the Naboo crisis. Following a cascade of cheers of both support and disapproval, Dod maneuvered his Senate pod close to Naboo's and briefly exchanged a glance with Palpatine before Senator Edcel Bar Gane of Roona formally seconded Amidala's motion. Dod then suggested that the motion be sent, for further analysis, to the procedures committee. In the end, Amidala personally led the liberation of her homeworld and captured Viceroy Gunray, while Valorum was voted out of office and replaced by Palpatine. Though Gunray ultimately faced four trials before the Republic Supreme Court, he still retained his title of viceroy, and the Federation itself only faced minor setbacks in the aftermath of the Naboo incident. By 22 BBY, Gunray had pledged the Federation's support to the growing Confederacy of Independent Systems, a collection of corporations and other organizations with grievances against the Republic government.

Separatist Crisis
"He's probably calling it an outrage, [and] thinks that the Skyway Flyer company has a long history of anti-Neimoidian sentiment, and has evidence that the transit company is horning in on Trade Federation markets."

- Senator Orn Free Taa, joking about Dod's speeder accident

In 22 BBY, during the Separatist Crisis, scientists from the University of Sanbra discovered unicellular microbial life on PDC3141-02, a Mid Rim planetoid previously believed to be devoid of life that was being used for the disposal of toxic waste produced by corporations. The University was able to get an injunction stopping further dumping on the planetoid, but news of the injunction came too late for the crew of the Spotty Conveyor, a Trade Federation scow transporting radioactive waste from Federation-owned industrial worlds. With failing rad-dampening shielding and not enough fuel to leave the system, the six-being crew was faced with a perilous situation. Dod and the Federation lobbied for the injunction to be removed, hoping to allow the scow to deposit its cargo and leave the system. During a Senate session, Dod expressed his displeasure over the situation and even said that the centuries of dumping on the planetoid could have played a part in nurturing the lifeform.

Not long after the PDC3141-02 incident, Dod was traveling along Skylane T-534D of the Fobosi District in an airspeeder when a malfunctioning Skyways Flyer automated pubtrans flitter, traveling down T-534D in the wrong direction, forced several commuters&mdash;including Dod&mdash;to collide with a water silo in their attempts to avoid the flitter. Dod was injured in the accident, and he was hospitalized at the Fobosi District Medcenter. Though somewhat disfigured from the collision, he was listed as in stable condition and had to undergo bacta therapy and reconstructive surgery. According to a HoloNet News report, Dod's lawyers intended to sue Skyways Flyer for the accident.

Despite his injuries, Dod continued to serve as the Federation's representative in the Senate. Some of Dod's contacts were used by the Trandoshan Crovessk, chief executive officer of Revessa Global Shipping, in his appeal to the Senate requesting representation for Trandosha in the governing body. After a Republic courier ship was fired upon by droid starfighters in Andoan space, Senator Rasit Brun of Rintonne accused the Federation of supplying the Aqualish with military hardware. From his recuperative ward, Dod responded to Brun's accusations during a Senate session, calling the Senator's insinuations outrageous. Dod's statements caused the session to dissolve into a series of orderless arguing.

Around this time, Coruscant health officials began quarantining Neimoidians newly arrived to the world because of the species's notoriety for carrying the Brainworm Rot disease. This move likewise outraged Dod, as he saw the segregation as just another act of laying blame on the Neimoidian people for something that was not their fault. Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth made a joke about Dod's speeder accident on the Amberdawn morning show; although Taa later apologized for the move, Dod was still offended by the joke. Dod eventually recovered from his injuries and returned to his full senatorial duties.

Wartime investments
"This investment by the Banking Clan will create unimaginable new war profits. The largest droid factory ever built.''" "''As long as the Republic doesn't find out."

- Clovis and Dod conspire on Cato Neimoidia

War eventually broke out between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems in 22 BBY on Geonosis, and the Republic became aware of the Federation's involvement in the Separatist Alliance. Senator Dod denied this fact, however, stating that Federation resources had been co-opted by the Confederacy without the permission of the Federation's governing board. The truth of the matter was that Dod knew of his organization's active involvement with the Separatists and was even involved in dealings with the Confederacy. However, despite pursuing a Confederate agenda, Dod remained as the Federation's senator at the urging of those who sought a peaceful resolution to the war.

To strengthen the Separatist's droid army, Dod entered into an agreement with Geonosian Archduke Poggle the Lesser and Senator Rush Clovis of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, another pro-Separatist organization that also claimed to be remaining aligned with the Republic. In exchange for handing over his assets to the Banking Clan for use in the construction of a new droid foundry on Geonosis, Dod would be rewarded with considerable wartime profits. Yet, the Jedi Order had begun to suspect Clovis's Separatist sympathies and decided to send Senator Amidala, the former queen of Naboo, to spy on the Banking Clan senator in hopes of uncovering his true loyalties. To this effect, Amidala accompanied Clovis to the Neimoidian purse world Cato Neimoidia, where he was to collect on a business transaction with the Trade Federation. In reality, Clovis would be finalizing his deal with Dod.

Allegiances revealed
"For all the risks we are taking, we should be getting a greater share of the profits.''" "Are you suggesting we change the terms of our agreement? No. A deal is a deal. I'd hate for something to happen to you." "You forget yourself, Clovis. You cannot threaten me on my own planet." "''This is hardly your planet anymore, not since you signed your holdings over to the Banking Clan in return for a stake in this new droid foundry."

- Dod and Clovis haggle over the terms of their agreement

Upon their arrival at Lott Dod's palace, Amidala and Clovis were greeted by the Federation Senator. Dod, flanked by two BD-3000 luxury droids, expressed his surprise at Amidala's arrival but nonetheless welcomed her after an exchange of their mutual beliefs in second chances. While Amidala was led to her guest chambers, Dod and Clovis ventured to a lower level of the palace to further discuss their deal. Dod expressed his concern over Amidala's presence, whom he correctly believed was spying on Clovis. Faced with an increased risk, Dod and Poggle the Lesser&mdash;who had emerged from the shadows&mdash;attempted to negotiate a greater profit from the venture. Clovis strongly disagreed, as Dod had become too indebted to the Banking Clan to begin asking for a larger stake. The trio was forced to cut the negotiating short as Amidala approached. Poggle retreated into the shadows upon her arrival, and Dod watched silently as the two senators conversed before departing. When the pair was out of earshot, Dod and Poggle discussed the possibility of using Amidala to their advantage, as Clovis had an affection for her. The Neimoidian decided that with the Naboo Senator dead, Clovis was likely to be more susceptible to agreeing to their demands, so he planned to poison Amidala.

Dod caught up with his fellow senators before dinner and offered a toast to their friendship. The Neimoidian Senator discreetly applied poison to the brim of Amidala's glass. In taking a sip, Amidala unknowingly swallowed the poison. The trio proceeded to dinner, after which Dod departed. Amidala used this opportunity to accompany Clovis on a tour of the palace and secure the hologram containing the coordinates to the new droid foundry. Before she could depart Cato Neimoidia, however, she began suffering from the poison. Clovis recognized her symptoms and confronted Dod with his knowledge. The Neimoidian told him of Amidala's true reasons for accompanying him to the world; Clovis confirmed this by finding that the data on the droid factory had been stolen. After confronting Amidala, Clovis decided to retrieve the antidote from Dod in exchange for the stolen data. Holding Dod and his aides at blasterpoint, Clovis obtained the antidote but failed to retrieve the data before Amidala fled the planet with the antidote. Dod, accompanied by a squad of B1 battle droids, approached the stranded Banking Clan Senator and calmly requested that they "have a word" with each other as the droids trained their blasters on Clovis.

Personality and traits
"Your Honor, you cannot allow us to be condemned without granting our request for an impartial observation. It is against all the rules of procedure!"

- Senator Dod, to Chancellor Valorum

Cunning and immoral, Lott Dod was a scheming bureaucrat who often used political tactics such as filibusters, manipulative wrangling, and even bribery to further the goals of the Trade Federation. Profit-driven, Dod was an unsympathetic, overbearing, and arrogant Neimoidian, embodying both the pomposity that stereotyped his species and the corruption that plagued the Senate in the final years of the Republic. When needed, the accomplished statesman would stall any investigations into the Federation's actions, including the conglomerate's expansion.

Though reviled by the few honest politicians that remained within the Senate, Dod gained the allegiances of several corrupt senators like Aks Moe and members of Chancellor Valorum's administration. The Neimoidian's influence had spread throughout the Senate, but he was unable to use his sway to defeat the bill proposing the taxation of trade routes. Following the Federation's invasion of Naboo, however, Dod successfully utilized political stalling to block inquiries into the incident and derailed democracy in the process, though the extent of the Federation's actions were soon revealed when Naboo was liberated. Even when it was learned that the Federation played a considerable role in the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Dod continued to represent the organization in the Senate, claiming that the Federation's resources were being used without approval from the governing board. Even he himself had dealings with the Separatists.

Because of their status-obsessed culture, Neimoidians commonly donned lavish clothing with symbolic meanings as a way of displaying one's wealth and position in society. As senator, Dod wore a large senatorial miter capped with a diplomatic ploov, which indicated his position. His clothes were made out of Tyrian violet cloth, an incredibly expensive fabric. The Neimoidian also wore a supreme representative mantle draped over his shoulders, one that indicated his high status.

Behind the scenes
"In the Old Republic, the Trade Federation enjoyed representation in the Galactic Senate. Sadly for democracy, it did so in the form of Neimoidian Senator Lott Dod."

- The introduction to Lott Dod's Fact File entry

Portrayal and development
Senator Lott Dod first appeared as a minor character in the novelization of 1999's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In the film, he was played by Silas Carson and voiced by Toby Longworth. Though Dod only appears in the Senate scene in The Phantom Menace, he plays a major role within the legislative body in safeguarding the Federation's ambitions. Dod later received a relatively larger role in 2001's Cloak of Deception, in addition to mentions in several online HoloNet News articles severing as lead-ins to 2002's Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. On October 16, 2009&mdash;over ten years after Episode I release&mdash;Dod was featured as a major character in "Senate Spy," an episode in the second season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In the episode, he was voiced by Gideon Emery.

Originally, for their Episode I debut, Dod and the Neimoidians were designed as organic versions of the Federation's B1 battle droids. This was done to suggest that the Neimoidians had modeled the battle droids after their own image. For this to work, the Neimoidians would have had to been produced by computer-generated imagery. During production, the Art Department opted to use animatronic masks to bring Dod and the Neimoidians to life. Consequently, the Neimoidians' appearances changed dramatically. Additionally, Dod's senatorial miter first appeared in rough sketches of the Neimoidian who later became Rune Haako.

While the StarWars.com Databank lists Neimoidia as Dod's homeworld, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia claims Dod hailed from Cato Neimoidia.

Possible appearance in Attack of the Clones
In 2002's Attack of the Clones, a Neimoidian wearing clothing similar to that of Dod appears alongside Viceroy Gunray on Geonosis, spawning a debate as to who the Neimoidian was. The end credits for the film identify the Neimoidian as Lott Dod (as portrayed by Alan Ruscoe), but the Neimoidian does not resemble Dod&mdash;in voice or appearance&mdash;from The Phantom Menace. A series of HoloNet News articles published before Episode II theatrical release seem to establish a speeder accident, followed by reconstructive surgery, as the reason for his altered appearance. The behind-the-scenes explanation for this is that Daultay Dofine's mask from Episode I was given to David Healey, who actually portrayed the Neimoidian in Episode II, with a voice provided by Christopher Truswell. Nonetheless, the confusion over the character did not stop there.

Because the Neimoidian utilized Dofine's mask, it was believed that he would be made into a new character, named Gilramos Libkath, after Gillian Libbert and Kathryn Ramos. This name was also applied for the Neimoidian in Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary. Although Gilramos Libkath was later used as an actual Neimoidian in Boba Fett: Hunted, it was eventually established that Libkath did not appear on Geonosis. Rather, as Leland Chee revealed, Lucasfilm's official verdict is that the Neimoidian who appears alongside Gunray on Geonosis is not Dod, but Rune Haako. More recent sourcebooks, such as Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, also identify this character as Haako. As for Dod, the Senator has since appeared in The Clone Wars series appearing much like he did in The Phantom Menace.

Appearances

 * Cloak of Deception
 * 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 junior novel