Nute Gunray (ASWS)

Nute Gunray was the Viceroy of the Trade Federation during the blockade of Utapau. He participated in the Stark Hyperspace War when he was the Trade Federation representative in the, and shortly thereafter he became the leader of the trade organization. During his tenure, he replaced nearly the entire governing body of the organization with in order to secure as much power as possible.

Gunray fiercely opposed the congressional bill that proposed an outlawing of slave labor in the outlying systems of the, as the Federation relied heavily on slave labor, though the bill passed and was signed into law. Because of the law, Gunray organized a blockade of Utapau, whose monarch was a staunch supporter of the bill, with the help of Darth Maul, a man who claimed to be a. After the blockade began, Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum sent two Jedi ambassadors to resolve the situation. Gunray attempted to kill the Jedi for it, and because of it he was severely beaten by Maul, and quickly invaded the planet with the Trade Federation army.

Early life
Nute Gunray was born on. He joined the Trade Federation as a trade officer, though he quickly found an opportunity to be promoted when he helped force the Pulsar Supertanker Cooperation out of the Trade Federation Directorate and, eventually, the Federation itself. Because the directorate had a vacant seat, Gunray lobbied for it and won out.

With his position on the directorate, Gunray served as the Senator of the Trade Federation in the and supported a Republic offensive against the Stark Commercial Combine after it began to attack Federation Bacta transports. Gunray ultimately demanded that the Federation be granted the right to expand its army and later met with Ranulph Tarkin in an attempt to bring a swift end to the enemy.

Many suggested that Gunray acted as a coward when he fought in the Stark Hyperspace War, though others gave him the reputation of being a ruthless and cold-blooded killer when he ordered his droids to assassinate Jedi Master Tyvokka. However, Gunray denied that he had anything to do with the assassination and there was no official proof as the droids that had been used to murder the Jedi Master were mysteriously destroyed.

Viceroy
Because of his role in the conflict, Gunray was appointed Viceroy of the Trade Federation, though he did not have complete control due to the powers of the directorate. In order to deal with the problem, Gunray was contacted by a man named Darth Maul who claimed to be a, though Gunray did not truly believe his claims as the official reports said that the Sith had been destroyed during the final battle of the. Though he was wary of Maul’s initial claims, Gunray decided to become allies with him when Maul promised to make him the sole leader of the Trade Federation. Maul also promised that the Trade Federation would be able to create a much larger droid army.

One year later, during a summit on Eriadu, the federation battle droids unexpectedly opened fire on the members of the directorate, all of whom were not Neimoidian, killing each one except for Gunray and Senator Lott Dodd, who were both conveniently absent from the meeting. Under Maul’s guidance, Gunray filled the seats with Neimoidian puppets such as his head advisor Rune Haako and other associates such as Daultay Dofine and Hath Monchar, thereby establishing Cato Neimoidia’s monopoly over the corporation.

Shortly thereafter, Senator Malus Palpatine of Utapau proposed that the slave trade be abolished in the outlying star systems. After several months of debate, Palpatine’s bill was signed into law by Chancellor Finis Valorum and all worlds and corporations in the outer reaches of the Republic, including the Trade Federation, were forced to free all of their slaves. Outraged, Gunray requested Maul’s help in forcing the Republic to overturn the law. It was then that they plotted the blockade of Utapau. Gunray and the directorate had help from Maul during the process, as well as a man named Fett who served as Mandalore of the Mandalorian Clans. However, Gunray never was able to find out why a Mandalorian, especially Mandalore, would help them in their cause.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I - The Chosen One