Naboo System – Mid Rim32 BBY
Space rippled with tension as a fleet of dark, crescent-shaped battleships emerged from hyperspace and took formation above the peaceful jewel of Naboo.
The Trade Federation blockade was complete.
Massive Lucrehulk-class control ships cast looming shadows across the upper atmosphere, their hangar bays alive with activity. Droid dropships, MTTs, and troop carriers began mobilizing under the command of the Neimoidian leadership.
On the bridge of the flagship, Viceroy Nute Gunray stood nervously beside Rune Haako, both robed in ceremonial trade garb and constantly glancing at the holoprojector as it flickered to life.
A dark-robed figure stood in the transmission. Cloaked. Hooded. Voice cold as the void.
"Begin landing your troops, Viceroy."
Gunray hesitated. "This is… getting out of hand. I wasn't—"
"I will make it legal."
And with those five words, Darth Sidious silenced any further objections. The Neimoidians bowed quickly and turned away.
Surface of Naboo
Dozens of C-9979 landing craft broke through the clouds, streaking over emerald forests, lakes, and open plains. The Naboo, peaceful and unarmed, watched in disbelief as the skies darkened.
From the bellies of the ships, the droid army unfolded.
Legions of B1 battle droids, walking tanks, STAP riders, and armored transports marched in formation. The soil shook beneath them. Quiet meadows became occupied zones in hours.
Cities fell without a single shot fired.
The invasion had begun.
Republic Cruiser – High Orbit
On the diplomatic vessel Radiant VII, two Jedi stood calmly in the main hold as the ship docked with the Trade Federation flagship.
Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, were prepared for negotiations—but wary of deception.
The moment the doors sealed behind them, they knew something was wrong.
"Something elusive is happening here," Qui-Gon muttered.
Indeed it was.
Minutes later, battle droids flooded the hallway, ordered to kill the Jedi. But blasters were no match for lightsabers.
Green and blue blades ignited.
Within seconds, smoking wrecks of droids littered the corridor.
The Jedi cut their way through the ship, seeking the bridge, evading gas, security gates, and pursuit. They passed troop deployment bays and saw it firsthand—the Federation wasn't just threatening.
They were invading.
Swamps of Naboo
Escaping to the surface via separate landing pods, the Jedi emerged in the thick jungles and marshes of Naboo.
It was there that fate intervened in the most unexpected form.
A strange, clumsy Gungan crashed through the underbrush—panicked and loud. The Jedi barely had time to draw sabers before the creature tripped over his own feet.
Jar Jar Binks, outcast of the Gungan city of Otoh Gunga, quickly became entangled in their journey.
Though baffled by his behavior, Qui-Gon sensed usefulness in the creature.
"He owes me a life debt," the Jedi Master explained calmly to Obi-Wan as Jar Jar pleaded not to be left behind.
With Jar Jar leading the way, the trio dove into the depths of Lake Paonga, where an elegant bio-domed city of the Gungans awaited beneath the waves.
Otoh Gunga
The Jedi stood before Boss Nass, the bloated and ceremonial leader of the Gungan people. Tension filled the chamber—millennia of disdain between Naboo and Gungan societies simmered just below the surface.
Qui-Gon pressed his case: Naboo was under threat. The Trade Federation would soon reach all corners of the planet.
Boss Nass grumbled, frothed, and swayed, but eventually relented—not out of kindness, but amusement.
He granted the Jedi a bongo submarine, and grudgingly allowed Jar Jar to accompany them.
"Wesa give yousa una transport... but it'sa bouncy bumpy ride," Nass warned.
With that, the Jedi dove into the planet core.
The Deep Voyage
Through the dark depths of Naboo's oceans, the bongo slipped past monstrous sea life—opha sea killers, colossal gooberfish, and the predatory sando aqua monster. "There's always a bigger fish," Qui-Gon said with calm clarity as their vessel narrowly escaped disaster after disaster.
At last, they breached into daylight.
The city of Theed awaited them—and it was under occupation.
Theed Invasion
Droid patrols marched through the beautiful marble streets of Naboo's capital. Queen Amidala and her court had been captured, detained by the Trade Federation, and prepared to be transported for forced negotiations under threat of extermination.
But the Jedi arrived just in time.
With swift coordination and Jedi precision, they infiltrated the droid compound and liberated Queen Amidala, Captain Panaka, and a small group of loyal Naboo guards.
Qui-Gon cut through security doors like paper, and Obi-Wan coordinated the assault. Amidala, regal and poised, quickly took command of her people's escape.
The Escape from Naboo
Under fire, the Queen's Royal Starship lifted off from Theed's hidden hangars.
Federation cruisers opened fire—ion blasts struck the vessel mid-flight, disabling shields.
Several of the ship's repair droids were destroyed, but R2-D2, a single astromech, managed to bypass external systems and restore enough power for a desperate jump to hyperspace.
"Where are we going?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Tatooine," Qui-Gon said. "A remote system. We'll find repairs there… and keep the Queen out of reach."
As the stars stretched into lines and the ship leapt into hyperspace, none of them realized how significant this journey would become.
Nor how many destinies were converging on that desert world.
Far away, in the depths of the galaxy, Shepard Kael studied galactic events from his lab in Facility Zero. He had seen the blockade. Seen the Jedi movement. Detected the Republic's shift.
And soon, he would choose how much of this story… he would let unfold.