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
R screen With all due respect for the Trade Federation Federation the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately she told the Neimoidian Neimoidian Yes yes of course the viceroy replied Ah as you know our blockade is legal perfectly legal We’ll be happy to receive the ambassadors The view screen went black The main Trade Federation battleship loomed ahead Qui-Gon closed his eyes carefully testing the feel of the Force The ship carries mainly Neimoidians Neimoidians And they’re nervous About what he had expected And yet something else hovered ominously ominously on the edge of his perception something he could not quite identify The impression faded as the cruiser settled to the floor of the battleship’s docking bay Qui-Gon opened his eyes Whatever he had sensed it was gone Now he had more immediate duties to attend to Rising Qui-Gon motioned to Obi-Wan The younger Jedi’s face was stern as befitted an important important mission and Qui-Gon sighed Not for the first time he wondered what Master Yoda had been thinking all those years ago when he brought QuiGon QuiGon and Obi-Wan Kenobi together as Master and Padawan apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi had great skill no question of that but sometimes he was so intense
Qui-Gon smiled slightly Master Yoda always saw farther than anyone else Perhaps he had thought that an earnest young apprentice would be as good for Qui-Gon as Qui-Gon would be for the apprentice apprentice It would be like Yoda to balance Obi-Wan’s headstrong nature and by-the-book methods against Qui-Gon’s patience and unconventional ways He would have to ask Yoda about it after Obi-Wan passed the trials and became a full Jedi Knight That will be soon Qui-Gon thought though he hadn’t said anything about it to Obi-Wan yet As he came down the exit ramp Qui-Gon saw a protocol droid waiting below Obi-Wan’s eyebrows rose and he gave Qui-Gon a quick questioning look Qui-Gon nodded in reassurance Neimoidians were a nervous race happiest doing business at a distance They were probably still trying to get up the courage to face the ambassadors in person The droid led them to a large room equipped with a round conference table One entire wall was made of windows providing a spectacular view of the planet Naboo and the fleet of battleships surrounding it Not the best background for peace talks Qui-Gon thought I hope your honored sirs will be most comfortable here the protocol droid said My master will be with you shortly Bowing it left Obi-Wan put back the hood of his cloak revealing R
