Nute Gunray

> "*All I know is I never risk my own skin if I don't have to.*"
>
> ―Nute Gunray

## Summary

**Nute Gunray**, a male Neimoidian, is the Viceroy of the Trade Federation, a prominent figure in the Separatist Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Chief Architect of the Separatist Parliament, and the head of the Separatist Council. Gunray oversaw the Trade Federation's invasion of the planet Naboo at the command of the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, who was secretly Naboo's senator, Sheev Palpatine, and had orchestrated the battle in order to lobby himself for the position of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.

## Biography

### Early Life

Nute Gunray was born on the planet of Neimoidia, a vibrant planet filled to the brim with lush forests and native inhabitants. This agrarian utopia was renowned for its stunning agricultural landscape, enormous coniferous trees, and glistening manax tree orchards that towered over the clouds like skyscrapers. Despite coming from a wealthy and influential family, Gunray was nevertheless forced to follow the rigid traditions and customs of the ancient Neimoidian religion. Much like other Neimoidians, he was raised in the communal hive until the age of seven. He and the other grubs were purposefully made to fight for meager food supplies, a system intended to weed out the weak while the most avaricious prospered by eating more than they could stomach. Out of all of them, he was among the most successful.

### Early political career

#### Rise to politics

He began his active service career at a young age by joining the Trade Federation, an interstellar shipping and trade conglomerate, and enrolling in the Trade Federation Army. He quickly rose through the ranks due to his strategic thinking, competitive nature, and ability to spot small details, earning him the rank of Senior Trade Officer, but he wasn't particularly interested in serving in the military. His obsession with money drove him to quickly enter the field of politics, where he eventually rose to the position of Senatorial Aide before becoming a senator and earning a place on the Trade Federation Directorate, the conglomerate's executive board of directors. He devoutly defended the Trade Federation in the Senate, using his legal knowledge and senatorial position to refute any "misinformation concerning supposed corruption allegations of the Federation," doing his best to push corrupt laws to expand the influence of the trade conglomerate and line his own pockets.

#### Ascension to Viceroy

As the Confederacy of Independent Systems tightened its hold on the galaxy, so did the Neimoidian's voracious goals to increase his own cornucopia of wealth. He began making dubious agreements, supporting devious agendas, and even secretly backing well-known high-ranking CIS officials in order to win the faction's favor. His political savvy proved indispensable to the influential confederacy.

#### The Invasion of Naboo

The Invasion of Naboo was caused by a dispute between the Trade Federation and the Galactic Republic over the taxation of trade routes to distant worlds. At Darth Sidious' behest, the Trade Federation proceeded to blockade the planet Naboo with a fleet of warships, preventing all trade with the planet. In an attempt to remedy the situation, the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, were dispatched by Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum to remedy the situation. The Jedi, Queen Amidala, and the Naboo Royal Guard thwarted the Federation invasion, and Gunray was detained as a result.