PROLOGUE A long time ago in a galaxy far far away Before the Rebel Alliance fought its way to freedom freedom before the Jedi Knights all but vanished from the known worlds before the Empire was founded to expand like a cancer across the stars before any of these things occurred the Galactic Republic ruled much of the galaxy It was a time of peace watched over by the Jedi Knights and Masters But the Jedi were guardians only using their amazing fighting skills to defend justice They were the Republic’s peacemakers its rulers were the members of the Galactic Senate Thousands of delegates representing every planet in the Republic met regularly in the great Senate chambers on the central world of Coruscant There they wrote the laws of the Republic and settled the disputes that sometimes arose between planets Over the centuries many problems came before
the Senate At first the dispute over taxing trade routes seemed no different from all the others The Trade Federation an organization of merchants so powerful that they had a representative in the Galactic Galactic Senate just as if they were a planet wanted more control in the outlying star systems The outlying outlying planets objected The debate dragged on and on Finally the Trade Federation lost patience and took more drastic action They chose the small watery world of Naboo and blockaded it surrounding it with battle ships so that no spaceships could land or take off from the planet They hoped that the young Queen of Naboo Naboo would agree quickly to their demands Then they could use Naboo as an example to persuade or force other planets to do the same But the young Queen did not give in Tension in the Senate grew worse Worried that the Trade Federation’s Federation’s blockade might lead to open war the Supreme Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate asked the Jedi for help Soon two Jedi ambassadors were on their way to Naboo to settle the conflict They expected expected their mission to be short and simple
CHAPTER 1 The Galactic Republic’s cruiser dropped out of hyperspace hyperspace at last giving Qui-Gon Jinn his first look at Naboo or rather at the menacing cloud of Trade Federation battleships that surrounded it Like fat white maggots they spread through space blocking all access to the planet Qui-Gon was not impressed In the decades he had been a Jedi Knight he had seen many battleships The ships were unimportant what mattered were the beings they carried The view screen lit Leaning forward Qui-Gon peered over the cruiser captain’s shoulder The screen showed a Neimoidian with grayish-tan skin and dull orange eyes wearing a three-pronged headdress One of the Trade Federation’s viceroys Does he greet all incoming ships personally or only ambassadors ambassadors Qui-Gon wondered Captain he said aloud Tell them we wish to board at once Yes sir The captain looked back at her view 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 R 18 L 19
