Gunray is a coward like all Neimoidians. The negotaitions will be short.
—Qui-Gon Jinn to Obi-Wan Kenobi
Nute Gunray was the name of the Neimoidian Viceroy of the Trade Federation during the invasion of Naboo in 23 BBY. Gunray had risen to power with the helps of Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who bonded the Federation with other systems, creating the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Although he was captured at the end of the invasion, back-up droid forces attempted to retake Naboo, thus starting the Clone Wars.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
This was a good deal. The Sith will help us with the invasion as long as we help them take over the galaxy."
"Then why do I feel like we will be killed before they succeed?"
"It's nothing.
—Nute Gunray and Rune Haako during the invasion of Naboo
Sometime before the invasion, Gunray had left the Republic with the rest of the Trade Federation. Gunray had met Sidious and his apprentice, Darth Maul, the ex-Jedi Khameir Sarin, who wanted help in taking control of the galaxy. Gunray agreed and combined forces with the Commerce Guild, the Techno Union, the Banking Clan, and the industries of Geonosis. Their meeting was recorded by Gunray's personal protocol droid, TC-14, in which the holographic recording would be used as evidence behind the invasion.
Invasion 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. As for the Jedi, the Chancellor should have never brought them into this. Let them go on their way. But since you are a coward, kill them immediately.
—Darth Sidious and Nute Gunray
In 23 BBY, Gunray had set up the invasion force above Naboo and controlled the orbit. Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum sent Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his former apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi to negotiate terms with the Viceroy. Gunray and his adviser, Rune Haako panicked and worried that they would be done for. While Gunray sent TC-14 to distract the Jedi, he contacted Sidious for what to do next. Sidious told Gunray to ignore the Jedi, but then told Gunray to kill them if it pleased him, for the Viceroy was a coward. Gunray blew up the Jedi's transport, preventing them from escaping, and tried to poison the conference room they were in with gas, but the Jedi had survived by holding their breaths. Gunray sent droid commander OWO-1 to check if the Jedi were still alive. They were, and Gunray watched in horror as droid forces were cut down by the two Jedi. Gunray ordered the bridge doors to be locked and that droidekas arrive to finish off the Jedi. As Qui-Gon tried cutting through the door, the droidekas arrived and the Jedi were forced to flee. Gunray was then contacted by Naboo's queen, Sabé Amidala, and warned Gunray that the Federation had gone too far. Gunray told her not to worry and that the invasion is with the Senate's approval.
Gunray and Haako talk to Sidious about the Jedi shortly before the invasion.
After the transmission, the invasion began with droid forces landing on the planet. Gunray then contacted Sidious of the missing Jedi and went with his master's plan of letting them go. Both the Viceroy and his attaché landed on the surface and met up with droid commander OOM-9, who had captured Amidala, along with her personal guards and advisers. The queen was defiant with signing the treaty that would make the invasion legal, but Gunray guaranteed that she would soon see things through their eyes. As OOM-9 sent the prisoners to be escorted to the concentration camps, both Jinn and Kenobi had been aboard the Federation transports and snuck into the capital. They located the Queen and freed her and her men from the droid escort. They soon escaped with the Queen, which angered Sidious. He sent Maul to locate Amidala's ship and kill the Jedi, which ended in failure. Gunray's invasion soon had failed when Maul abandoned them after his duel with Jinn, Kenobi, and Yoda, in which Maul killed Qui-Gon. Gunray had been captured by Amidala and members of a resistance force, led by Brittany Emerson, while his droid armies were defeated by Annikin Skywalker. After Gunray and Haako were sent to Coruscant to stand trial, the Federation's back-up forces arrived to retake the planet, but were defeated by the Jedi and new Clone army of the Republic. This battle had sparked the Clone Wars.
Personality and traits[]
Gunray was described as being a coward and ruthless. He showed very much fear when it came to Jedi affairs. When asking how to deal with the Jedi aboard his ship, Sidious wanted the Jedi to go untouched, but let Gunry try to kill them, seeing he was a coward. Gunray, like most Neimoidians, also cared about finances of invasions and armies. When Haako told Gunray that their deal with the Sith was a fatal mistake, Gunray denied it, thinking that Sidious promised that he was equal to him.
Behind the Scenes[]
- Nute Gunray in the Star Wars Saga by User:Knuckleheads the Squirrel is so far the same as the character with the same name.
- Although captured at the end, Knuckleheads the Squirrel guarantees that he will still appear throughtout the saga.
Appearances[]
- Star Wars Saga (KHS Edition)
- Star Wars: Episode I- Menace Reborn (First appearance)
- Star Wars: Episode II- The Clone Wars
- Star Wars: Episode III- Labyrinth of Evil
- Star Wars: Episode IV- Death of the Force
- Star Wars: Episode V- Dark Lord (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Episode VI- The Force Unleashed (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Episode VII- Birth of a Hero (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Episode VIII- Truth Revealed (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Episode IX- Dawn of a New Era (Mentioned only)