Maul: “You seem more worried about the Jedi than you are of me, puppet. I am amused.”
―Rune Haako and Maul
Rune Haako was a Neimoidian male member of the Trade Federation shipping cartel during the Invasion of Utapau in 22 BBY, serving as Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray’s personal adviser. In this position, he was one of the commanders of the Utapau invasion, serving aboard the lead blockade vessel orbiting Utapau in the month prior to the commencement of the invasion. After the planet was secure, Haako and Gunray oversaw the ongoing planetary subjugation from Ogana, the capital city of Utapau, where they eventually learned that the planet's queen, Sabe Arcadia, had managed to escape Federation custody and, subsequently, the planet.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Rune Haako, a Neimoidian male, joined the Trade Federation shipping cartel sometime prior to 22 BBY, becoming Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray's most trusted adviser. In 23 BBY, the Republic Anti-Slavery Law, which banned Galactic Republic corporations from using slave labor outside of Republic territory, was signed into law by Finis Valorum, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. Following this, Haako became one of the leaders of the planned blockade and invasion of the planet Utapau, whose queen, Sabé Arcadia, had been a principal supporter of the law's passage. The goal was to force the Republic to overturn the law, as the Federation's profits were hurt by it due to the company's use of slaves in the Outer Rim Territories.[1]
Utapau crisis[]
Invasion[]
When the Federation, under the leadership of Gunray and the supervision of Dark Jedi Master Maul, blockaded Utapau in 22 BBY, Haako continued to perform his duties as Gunray's adviser, serving aboard the lead blockade vessel. One month after the blockade began, during which time Queen Arcadia attempted but failed to negotiate an end to the blockade, Chancellor Valorum sent two members of the monastic Jedi Order, Jedi Master Jard Dooku and Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, to the command vessel in the hopes of reaching a settlement.[1]
When the two Jedi arrived on the vessel, the protocol droid TC-14 informed Haako and Gunray that the ambassadors were Jedi Knights, prompting Haako to believe that the Jedi would force the Federation into a settlement that would require it to give up its trading rights. Gunray, with Haako by his side, contacted Maul about the situation. Haako lost his temper when Maul told them that he knew they were Jedi, prompting a chastising from the Dark Jedi that caused Haako to leave the conversation. Maul ordered Gunray to let the Jedi continue on their way, although Gunray defied him and ordered the Jedi's execution. This prompted Maul to have his guards forcibly remove Gunray from the command bridge, placing Haako and the Dark Jedi Master in temporary command as Maul ordered the invasion to begin.[1]
Subjugation[]
Once the invasion began, the Federation's battle droid army successfully occupied nearly the entire planet, including the capital city of Ogana. Upon arrival, Haako and Gunray confronted Queen Arcadia, and Gunray informed her that she would have to sign a treaty that would legitimize the Federation's occupation of the planet. Arcadia refused, so Gunray placed her under arrest and sent her to a Federation concentration camp on the outskirts of the city.[2]
Before arriving at the prison, Arcadia was able to escape the planet, with help from the two Jedi who escaped the assassination attempt and fled the Federation command vessel, aboard her J-type 327 Utapauan royal starship, which Haako and Gunray were informed of when they arrived in Ogana to oversee the ongoing planetary subjugation. The two Neimoidians contacted Maul, who remained on the command ship, to inform them of Arcadia's escape and that the Federation was unable to locate her vessel. Maul decided to leave the blockade and search for the vessel, leading Haako to believe that he and Gunray would finally be able to carry out their plans without Maul's interference.[2]
Personality and traits[]
Similar to how other Neimoidians were perceived by many people in the galaxy, such as members of the Jedi Order, Haako displayed characteristics of cowardice and greed, the latter through his participation in the Invasion of Utapau. Displaying these characteristics, he openly feared the Jedi ambassadors when they came aboard the lead blockade vessel, specifically their ability to influence the minds of others using the Force, the metaphysical field the Jedi believed could bind the universe together. However, there were instances where Haako appeared to be more confrontational, such as when he accused Maul of betraying the Trade Federation by allowing the two Jedi to come aboard the command ship.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
Rune Haako is directly based on the Star Wars canon character of the same name, who appeared in all three films of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.[3] Author Brandon Rhea has utilized the character in his alternate universe novel Star Wars: Episode I - The Chosen One, portraying him similar to how the character was portrayed in the film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.[4]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Chosen One (First appearance)