Trade Federation (Veteran series)

The Trade Federation was a trade & shipping conglomerate that became one of the galaxy's most influential corporations. Its existence became vital to the Galactic Republic's economy in its last decades, gaining enough power to have its own seat for representation of itself and its subisidiaries in the Galactic Senate. In early 32 BBY, the Directorate of the Trade Federation entered an alliance with Darth Sidious, a Dark Lord of the Sith, who offered his support of the conglomerate's machinations, should they also provide him with their services. Following the taxation of the Free Trade Zones, Viceroy Nute Gunray and Settlement Officer Rune Haako launched a blockade over the peaceful world of Naboo and later invaded it upon Sidious's orders. Ultimately, Queen Padme Amidala and her allies were able to defeat the army of battle droids and capture the leaders, who were sent on trial together with Senator Lott Dod, though they retained their respective positions. In 22 BBY, the Federation secretly signed on as a leading faction in the Confederacy of Independent Systems, providing warships and battle droids for the Separatist arsenal. Despite this and the uncovering of many treacherous plots against the Republic, senator Dod was able to convince many influential officials through lies and brives of the corporation's neutral stance in the Clone Wars. At the end of the conflict, the surviving members of the Directorate were sent with the rest of the Separatist leadership to Mustafar, where they were killed by the Sith Lord Darth Vader, at Sidious's - now Galactic Emperor - command. The Federation was nationalized by the newly-founded Galactic Empire and its droid armies were given a shut-down signal.