Lott Dod

Lott Dod's birth occurred on the planet Neimoidia, which serves as the homeworld for the Neimoidian species, situated in the galaxy's [Colonies](/article/colonies] region. He held membership in the Trade Federation, a coalition of financial, manufacturing, and commercial enterprises dedicated to advancing mercantile interests within the Galactic Republic, a democratic union that governed a significant portion of the galaxy from its capital planet, Coruscant. Alongside Nute Gunray, who represented the Trade Federation in the Republic Senate, Dod belonged to an ambitious faction of Neimoidians striving to gain control of the mega-corporation, headquartered on Cato Neimoidia. Dod and Gunray seized their opportunity to supplant the Trade Federation's board of directors in 33 BBY, following the calamitous Eriadu Conference. This conference, intended as a diplomatic endeavor to resolve the long-standing power struggle between the Federation and the Republic, descended into tragedy when the Nebula Front, a group opposing vast corporate conglomerates, launched an attack that resulted in the assassination of the Federation's directorate.

Through collusion with the enigmatic Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious, Dod and Gunray stepped in to fill the leadership vacuum within the Trade Federation in the aftermath of the Eriadu incident. While Gunray ascended to the position of Viceroy, Dod skillfully maneuvered his way into Gunray's former Senate seat. Once in positions of authority, the two appointed like-minded allies to key roles. As the Federation's representative in the Senate, Senator Dod leveraged his office to defend the conglomerate's actions and employed his political influence to frustrate Senate efforts to hold the Federation accountable. He received assistance from diplomat Lufa Danak, a financial officer, and another aide. Additionally, he utilized Neimoidian drones in his offices, which handled much of his delegation's workload. Due to his highly compensated and influential position, Dod acquired a beautiful palace on Cato Neimoidia.

In 32 BBY, after decades of objection to the Trade Federation's dominance over Republic-designated Free Trade Zones within the Mid and Outer Rim Territories, the Senate initiated measures to dismantle the Federation's monopolistic control over the region. For centuries, the Trade Federation had exploited and centralized the "free" trade systems, and a budget crisis within the Republic intensified calls to strip the Free Trade Zones of Federation authority. This action would remove the outlying trade routes from Federation control while simultaneously increasing funding for the Republic's expanding budget. Prop 31-814D was introduced in the Senate for this purpose, prompting Dod to promptly launch an effort to prevent its passage. Despite his endeavors, the Neimoidian failed to garner sufficient support to stall the bill.

With the Federation expressing outrage over the passage of Prop 31-814D, Sidious and Gunray instructed Dod to introduce a new taxation bill favoring the Trade Federation. However, a bypass amendment suggested by Senator Sheev Palpatine of Naboo and the broader Chommell sector cost Dod crucial support from the Delcontrian faction, resulting in the motion's failure. During that year, the Republic was under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, a progressive politician whose administration was hindered by increased bureaucracy, corruption, and inaction. Meanwhile, Gunray and Sidious deliberated whether to have Dod submit another bill, but ultimately deemed it too transparent and considered having another Federation-aligned faction introduce it instead. In the Senate, Dod persisted in advocating for the bills despite their repeated failures. Chancellor Valorum organized committee meetings with Dod and several other Mid Rim senators to alleviate tensions, but Dod maintained his positions. During the fourth of these hearings, Senator Palpatine attempted to persuade Dod that planets in the Mid Rim would be unable to financially manage shifted tax reforms, but Dod countered by stating that the Trade Federation was willing to offer assistance to any planet in need, only to be refuted by Senator Yarua of Kashyyyk.

Growing weary of continually advocating for tax bills destined to fail in the Senate, Sidious, Gunray, and Dod orchestrated a blockade of Naboo in response to what they perceived as a violation of the Trade Federation's centuries-old authority. Two warships, converted from Lucrehulk-class LH-3210 cargo freighters, blockaded the world, which had a long-standing dispute with the Federation over plasma exports, depriving its citizens of essential supplies, medicines, and food. During intense sessions in the Senate, Dod maintained that the Federation had not violated any laws or committed any acts of aggression against Naboo. Gunray dispatched a treaty to the recently-elected Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala, that would effectively grant the Federation control over the planet, but she refused to sign it. As the Senate continued to debate the transpired events, Chancellor Valorum sent two ambassadors from the Jedi Order, an ancient religious order of Force-sensitives, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to negotiate with Gunray, who, under orders from Sidious, attempted to have them killed instead. However, they escaped to Naboo and fled with Queen Amidala and her entourage when Gunray had his forces invade the planet.

With assistance from the Jedi, Queen Amidala was brought to Coruscant to testify before a special session of congress regarding the Trade Federation's blockade. Senator Palpatine was granted the floor by Valorum, and he informed the Senate that the Naboo system was engulfed in the oppression of the Trade Federation. Dod immediately propelled his repulsorpod toward the Chancellor's podium and objected to Palpatine's statements. Valorum informed Dod that he had not been recognized to speak, and Palpatine continued, introducing Queen Amidala to speak on Naboo's behalf. Amidala began stating that the armies of the Trade Federation had invaded Naboo, but Dod interjected and objected once more, insinuating that there was no evidence to support her claims. Dod recommended to Valorum that a commission be dispatched to Naboo to ascertain the truth, and he was supported by Aks Moe of the Congress of Malastare. Before Valorum could silence them, his Vice Chair, Mas Amedda interrupted and briefly conferred with him, after which Valorum announced that he conceded Dod's point.

Valorum inquired whether Queen Amidala would defer her motion to allow a commission to investigate the validity of her claims, but she refused, denouncing the Senate and, in a surprising turn, moving for a Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership. The Vote of No Confidence in Valorum passed in the Senate, triggering an election for a new Supreme Chancellor following Valorum's removal. The candidates included Senator Bail Antilles of Alderaan, Senator Ainlee Teem of Malastare, and Senator Palpatine, who campaigned on a promise to eliminate corruption in the Senate and won the chancellery, while Queen Amidala led a revolt against the Trade Federation forces on Naboo. The ensuing battle resulted in Gunray's arrest and transportation to Coruscant to face trial for his crimes. As had been his ultimate objective, Sidious had engineered a crisis, using Dod and Gunray as pawns, and assumed control of the Republic under his secret identity.

Despite Gunray's arrest, Dod remained in his Senate seat and continued to promote the Trade Federation's interests. By 28 BBY, Gunray and other Neimoidians arrested on Naboo had been tried by the Republic Supreme Court three times, but the Federation's legal team managed to help Gunray evade prosecution. However, Gunray's third trial ended in a hung jury, prompting Republic lawyers to quickly regroup and plan their next course of action. The actions taken by Queen Amidala had cost the Federation a significant amount of money, with Gunray's legal fees adding to their dwindling funds.

In the same year, Amidala's tenure as queen concluded, but she returned to public service as the senator of the Chommell sector, succeeding the retiring Oshadam, who, in turn, had succeeded Senator Palpatine upon his ascension to the chancellery. At the first Senate session attended by Senator Amidala, Dod focused on resolving an issue the Federation was facing with representatives from Ithor and Urce. Both the Trade Federation and the Ithorians asserted separate ownership rights to the distribution of maps of the hyperspace lane through the Lesser Plooriod Cluster, each claiming to have constructed it, while the people of Urce claimed ownership of a portion of the route because it passed through their space. The combined opposition to the Ithorians' motion from the Trade Federation and the Urce representatives resulted in the bill's failure, allowing the Federation to retain ownership of the lane maps.

Just over eight months later, following a brief recess period, a disaster on the Mid Rim planet Bromlarch compelled the Senate to convene in an emergency session. The failure of the planet's aqueduct system threatened to collapse its agriculture and subject its citizens to starvation. An audit team, led by Senators Mina Bonteri of Onderon, Rush Clovis of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, and Amidala, was dispatched to assess the disaster and coordinate the Republic's response. Upon their return to Coruscant, Bonteri and Bromlarch representative Caelor Gaans introduced a measure to fund essential supplies and repairs. After Bonteri concluded her speech, Dod immediately requested to speak, and Chancellor Palpatine recognized him.

Dod criticized the motion, asserting that Bonteri and Gaans were requesting excessive funds and that, given the disaster was an internal matter, Bromlarch should bear the responsibility for funding the repairs. Gaans addressed Dod, arguing that he did not fully comprehend the scale of the destruction, but Dod interrupted him and offered to broker a private deal between Bromlarch and the Trade Federation instead of Republic intervention, provided he was willing to consider it. Chancellor Palpatine put Bonteri's motion to a vote, but Dod's counterarguments convinced Federation allies to vote it down. As Gaans despaired over the bill's failure, Dod propelled his pod back to its dock.

Due to the failure of their initial relief bill, Amidala and Clovis reworked the motion into a broader economic stimulus, the Mid Rim Cooperation Motion, which would establish a network of trade and supply agreements between Mid Rim worlds, including Malastare, Kashyyyk, and Naboo, to rescue Bromlarch's aqueduct. Meanwhile, Dod and the Trade Federation drafted a treaty for Senator Gaans, who briefly considered signing as he pondered the possibility of the new motion also failing. Just three days after the initial bill's failure, Amidala introduced the Mid Rim Cooperation Motion, outlining how it would benefit key voting blocs, as well as Bromlarch. Upon Amidala's conclusion, Dod frantically attempted to get Chancellor Palpatine to recognize him, but the Chancellor recognized Senator Aks Moe instead. Moe, whose world stood to benefit from the motion, seconded the legislation, followed by the Kashyyyk delegation. Their crucial support overshadowed Dod's opposition, and the bill swiftly passed. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that Gunray's fourth trial had resulted in his acquittal, and the Viceroy retained his titles and assets within the Trade Federation.

In the years following Dod's failure to impede the Mid Rim Cooperation Motion, the Republic faced a severe internal crisis as dissatisfied member systems contemplated seceding from the government. In 24 BBY, Count Dooku of Serenno, a former Jedi Master, delivered the Raxus Address. In his speech, Dooku denounced the Republic as a futile endeavor rife with corruption and favoritism that disadvantaged outlying star systems to the advantage of the Core Worlds. Thousands of member worlds departed the Republic and joined the burgeoning Confederacy of Independent Systems, a new galactic government led by Dooku that promised an alternative to the bureaucratic Republic. In reality, Dooku, also known as Darth Tyranus, was the Sith apprentice of Darth Sidious, and the Confederacy was an integral part of Sidious' plan to achieve complete galactic domination. Viceroy Gunray was among Dooku and Sidious' key allies during the Confederacy's early years, and the Trade Federation adopted a neutral stance to maintain ties with both the Confederacy and the Republic. In 22 BBY, Gunray and several other corporate entities signed a treaty for Dooku, formally establishing the Confederacy and prompting a militarized response from the Republic. War erupted between the two on the planet Geonosis, and the galaxy was swiftly consumed by the Clone Wars.

Following the battle on Geonosis, Dod became the sole intermediary between the Trade Federation and the Republic. Given the Trade Federation's economic connections to the Confederacy, Dod implemented several strategies to maintain his Senate seat and the Trade Federation's legitimacy. Dod publicly asserted that Gunray had no control over the Federation and was instead the leader of an extremist splinter group that did not reflect the true intentions of the Federation. Due to the Confederacy's open use of Federation starships and technology, Dod propagated the notion that the Separatists had acquired the equipment on the open market. Despite Dod's success in distancing himself and the Trade Federation from Gunray, he secretly aligned himself with the Separatists and worked to undermine the Republic whenever possible. The Senator had also secretly remained a faithful associate of the Viceroy, as well as their Sith patron. Dod also maintained connections with other Separatist leaders, including Dooku and Tikkes, who had been one of Dod's allies in the Republic before defecting.

Early in the war, Dod faced an electoral challenge from a Trade Federation faction led by Oje N'deeb, who sought to replace Dod with someone who would genuinely represent the Neimoidian people. Supported by a Senate caucus that included Senator Amidala, N'deeb and his allies aimed to wrest power away from Gunray and his associates, including Dod, to reform the corporation and undo the damage they had inflicted upon it since the Eriadu Conference. Sidious and Dooku were aware of N'deeb's fight, but, at Sidious' command, they refused Gunray's requests for intervention and decided to allow N'deeb to continue his calls for change within the Federation before ultimately crushing him.

Shortly after the First Battle of Geonosis, the Cadesura district of the capital city of Cato Neimoidia, Zarra, was bombed. The disaster claimed the lives of numerous Neimoidians, and Dod was informed of the incident by the Republic. Count Dooku issued a statement claiming that the bombing was a Republic attempt to assassinate Gunray, who he claimed had been present on Cato Neimoidia around the same time. Dooku called for Chancellor Palpatine to travel to Cato Neimoidia and discuss the incident civilly in the interest of transparency. As Cato Neimoidia was officially neutral, Dod and the larger Trade Federation decided to abstain from any discussions or investigations between the Republic and Confederacy regarding the matter. The Republic dispatched Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to investigate the attack, but his efforts were thwarted when the local leaders of Cato Neimoidia blamed him and, by proxy, the Republic. Dod remained true to his word by staying out of the proceedings and joined other Trade Federation officials in orbit over Cato Neimoidia while Kenobi was on trial.

The people of Cato Neimoidia were resolute in blaming Kenobi and gathered in crowds to demand that the Neimoidian court find him guilty. Dod delivered a brief, calm speech to the Cato Neimoidians from orbit, reassuring them of his neutrality and urging them to trust the leadership of Cato Neimoidia. Both Dod and the Cato Neimoidian Minister of Defense, Alluv Eyam, recognized the publicity and power that Kenobi's trial afforded the Neimoidians before the entire galaxy and used their platform to advocate for neutrality for the Neimoidians and the Trade Federation. The Jedi, in turn, presented the findings of his initial investigation, which indicated that the bombing of Zarra was an action taken to provoke the escalation of the war. Kenobi blamed the Separatists and argued that the Trade Federation had to abandon its neutrality and join the Republic.

Kenobi's trial, however, was hijacked by Ketar Nor, a Neimoidian extremist, and Asajj Ventress, an envoy of Dooku's, who attempted to assassinate him. Several of Kenobi's allies, operating undercover on Cato Neimoidia, managed to help him escape, and in the aftermath of the crisis, Chancellor Palpatine officially integrated the Jedi Order into the Grand Army of the Republic to serve as military officers. Kenobi's failure to sway the Trade Federation into joining the Republic allowed Senator Dod to continue his machinations to benefit the Confederacy and increase the Federation's profits unhindered. The Trade Federation disrupted several of the Republic's military efforts by secretly assisting Dooku, and Dod used his knowledge of Senate precedents and procedures to protect other Confederate allies serving alongside him in the Republic. Although Dod's Separatist ties were widely known and he faced legal challenges for his actions, his dealings remained sufficiently private to allow him to retain his position.

As the Confederacy expanded its military operations across the galaxy, they launched an invasion and established a blockade around the world of Ryloth. The planet's native Twi'lek population and Republic resistance forces struggled against the Separatist onslaught. The blockade prevented any Republic assistance, leading to widespread starvation and resource depletion on Ryloth. Consequently, the Jedi High Council dispatched Senator Bail Organa from Alderaan to accompany Junior Representative Jar Jar Binks of Naboo to the neutral world of Toydaria. Their mission was to negotiate with King Katuunko for the use of Toydaria as a base for delivering supplies to Ryloth. The Confederacy intercepted and partially deciphered their encoded communication. The T-series military strategic analysis and tactics droid TA1313 relayed this information to Count Dooku, who then instructed the droid to contact Dod, tasking him with traveling to Toydaria to dissuade Katuunko from accepting the Republic's proposition.

Upon Dod's arrival on Toydaria, Organa and Binks commenced their presentation to Katuunko and the Toydarian Ministry Council. Soon after, Dod made his presence known, interrupting Organa and imploring Katuunko to carefully consider all aspects before reaching a decision. As the Neimoidian positioned himself on a levitating platform before the Toydarian council, Katuunko introduced Dod to Organa and Binks, who acknowledged him in turn. Binks inquired about Dod's purpose on Toydaria, to which the king responded that his planet's significant agreement with the Trade Federation justified his presence. Organa commented that the Federation was "too chummy" with the Separatists, a statement Dod swiftly challenged. He disputed Organa's assertion and disavowed Gunray as an extremist whose opinions did not reflect the Federation's overall stance, which Organa conceded. Dod then addressed Katuunko, assuring him that his sole objective was to safeguard the existing agreement between Toydaria and the Federation.

Organa sought to sway Katuunko by emphasizing the long-standing tradition of humanitarian aid from Alderaan and Naboo, assuring him that there would be no conflict with the Federation. Katuunko concurred, reminding his ministers that assisting Ryloth would align with the cherished Toydarian principle of compassion, given the suffering of its people. Dod countered by stating that honesty was also a Toydarian value and questioned whether Organa and Binks had disclosed the Separatist blockade surrounding Ryloth, which Organa had omitted. Alarmed, Katuunko questioned Organa about the veracity of Dod's claim, which he confirmed. Organa attempted to persuade Katuunko that the blockade was inconsequential, but the king and his ministers disputed this, arguing that aiding the Republic against the Confederacy would compromise Toydaria's neutrality. Katuunko then informed his visitors that he needed to confer with his ministers privately and that they would hear further arguments from Dod and Organa upon their return.

Shortly thereafter, Dod, Organa, and Binks reentered the throne room to present their formal arguments to Katuunko and the ministry. Katuunko invited Organa to speak first, and the Alderaanian informed the court that the proposed operation was strictly humanitarian, presenting a message from the Senator of Ryloth, Orn Free Taa. A holographic recording of Taa was played before the court, depicting the desperate situation of his people. After the recording concluded, one minister declared that the Toydarians were obligated to assist, while another cautioned against allowing compassion to draw them into the conflict, after which Katuunko gave Dod the floor. Dod asserted that Organa was deceiving him and that the undeniable truth was that Ryloth was a war zone. He presented images of the Battle of Ryloth, contending that Toydaria, by serving as a staging area for Republic aid, would become a military base rather than a humanitarian one. Dod posited that if Toydaria cooperated with the Republic, the Separatist Senate would perceive it as a breach of neutrality and retaliate, compelling the Trade Federation to sever trade relations with Toydaria.

As the council deliberated, Organa interjected, emphasizing that the people of Ryloth did not invite the invasion and urging the ministry not to allow them to suffer because of the war that had befallen them. Dod countered that, while he sympathized with the people of Ryloth, the discussion was not about rescuing them while they were actively engaged in conflict with the Separatists. Katuunko thanked Dod and Organa for their presentations, informing them that he would summon them once he and the ministry had reached a decision. Upon their return before the king, Katuunko informed Organa that he would not permit Toydaria to jeopardize its neutrality or its relationship with the Trade Federation. Dod proclaimed it a wise decision, casting a knowing glance at Organa. Despite Dod's belief in his victory, Katuunko secretly met with Organa and Binks, assuring them that he would permit a Republic humanitarian force to utilize Toydaria as a staging area in secret, provided that Dod and the Federation remained unaware, as he felt his world could not ignore the suffering of Ryloth since the Twi'leks were innocent victims caught between the warring factions through no fault of their own. The legislators agreed, and later that day, Dod and his aide joined Katuunko and the Toydarian ministers for a formal dinner. They arrived at the dining room to find Organa and Binks. Organa thanked Dod for joining them, but the Neimoidian grumbled that he found formal dinners tedious.

Organa then informed the group that he had urgent matters to attend to with Alderaanian officials, leaving Dod and the others in the company of Representative Binks. As they settled in for dinner, Organa proceeded to the palace dockyards to oversee the transfer of supplies. Upon informing Binks via earpiece that the ships were ready for departure, the Gungan abruptly ascended the table to divert Dod's attention from the windows. Binks announced to the gathering that he intended to create a conceptual artwork in honor of Dod, proceeding to gather plates and glasses from around the table. Disinterested, Dod attempted to take a drink from his glass, but Binks confiscated it and began balancing the dishes as a ship departed from the palace. Dod turned his head at the sound of the engines, prompting Binks to commence stacking the dishes atop one another. Once the Gungan completed the improvised art piece, the audience, with the exception of Dod, applauded. Among those who clapped was his aide, at whom Dod scowled. Another ship flew past, and Dod once again turned around at the sound of its engines.

He noticed Binks glancing out the window and inquired about what he was observing, to which the Gungan frantically attempted to dissuade Dod from looking out the window. As Dod peered out the window regardless, however, the final ship departed the palace from the opposite side. The following day, Dod discovered the events that had transpired on Ryloth. Enraged, the Neimoidian confronted Organa, Katuunko, and Binks as the latter two prepared to depart Toydaria. Dod informed them that he had received intelligence indicating that a Republic fleet had breached the Ryloth blockade, to which Organa disingenuously replied that he could present his case before the full Senate if he possessed any evidence to support his claim. Incensed, Dod exclaimed that it would take years for the Senate to reach any decision, throwing his hands up in frustration as Organa, Binks, and Katuunko remained unresponsive. His machinations thwarted, Dod began to depart, pausing briefly to warn Organa that he was playing a perilous game and that he would not escape unscathed next time. Following this development, Grand Master Yoda engaged in discussions with Katuunko regarding Toydaria's allegiance, ultimately leading to the King's decision to formally align Toydaria with the Republic.

In 21 BBY, Dod conspired with Geonosian warlord Archduke Poggle the Lesser, a founding member of the Confederacy, and Senator Rush Clovis, who had become entangled with corporate interests within the Senate following the Bromlarch crisis, to invest in a new Confederate droid foundry on Geonosis. Despite their personal aversion to Clovis, Dod and Poggle forged an agreement with him to secure the Banking Clan's vital financial backing. In return, Dod transferred his assets to the Banking Clan, effectively relinquishing his personal wealth and properties to the banks. However, Dod and Poggle felt that the deal unfairly favored the Banking Clan's profits, prompting Dod to invite Clovis to visit them at his palace on Cato Neimoidia to advocate for revisions to the contract. Dod also believed they were undertaking a substantial risk and feared that the Republic would uncover their treachery. Their fears were validated when the Jedi High Council began to suspect Clovis of aiding the Separatists. The Jedi Council enlisted Senator Amidala, a long-time friend of Clovis, to monitor him and uncover the truth behind the rumors.

As Dod and two BD-3000 luxury droids prepared to meet Clovis at his palace's landing platforms, he was surprised to find that Clovis had brought Senator Amidala with him. Despite the potential complications, Dod extended a warm welcome to her unexpected visit, dismissing her apology and expressing his hope for a fresh start. Upon entering the palace, Dod informed Amidala that his servants would escort her to her room, while he and Clovis had separate matters to discuss. After parting ways with Amidala, Dod and Clovis proceeded to the palace library, where they examined a hologram of the droid foundry and discussed the future of their agreement. When Clovis mentioned the new war profits the Banking Clan would derive from the factory, Dod retorted that he would only profit if the Republic remained unaware and rebuked him for bringing a member of the Republic Senate to Cato Neimoidia. Poggle emerged from another room, informing Clovis that he and Dod were taking a significant risk for minimal reward, to which Dod concurred. Clovis angrily inquired if they were suggesting alterations to the terms of their agreement, asserting that he would not accept any changes.

Clovis threatened to have Dod killed if any modifications were made to their deal, but Dod simply responded that Clovis could not threaten him on his own world. Clovis countered that Cato Neimoidia was hardly Dod's world after he had signed over his assets to the banks. Dod suddenly noticed Senator Amidala approaching the room, warning Clovis and Poggle. Clovis quickly deactivated the hologram while Poggle concealed himself behind a pillar. Clovis questioned her presence, and she explained that she was lonely and had come looking for him. Clovis informed her that he would give her a tour of the palace later, bidding Dod farewell so he could escort Amidala back to her room to prepare for dinner. As Clovis and Amidala departed, Poggle emerged and spoke to Dod in Geonosian. Dod expressed his resentment at having to answer to Clovis, then recognized a new opportunity to exploit Amidala's presence to their advantage. Knowing that Clovis harbored feelings for her, Dod devised a plan to poison her and use her as leverage against Clovis in their deal. By withholding the antidote, Dod and Poggle could compel Clovis to agree to their terms. Poggle enthusiastically endorsed Dod's idea, and the Neimoidian initiated the necessary preparations.

Dod chose to employ the slow-acting manax root to poison Senator Amidala, planning to administer it through a toast. He located Clovis in the palace's foyer and awaited Amidala's arrival for dinner. As Amidala descended the staircase, Dod retrieved a glass from a BD droid and invited her to share a drink with him as his honored guest. After taking a sip, Dod applied the poison to the rim of the glass using his thumb, then offered it to Amidala as a toast to their new friendship. She accepted the glass and took a sip, unknowingly ingesting the poison. Once she had finished drinking, Dod, Clovis, and Amidala proceeded to dinner with three of Dod's Neimoidian colleagues. Following dinner, Dod left Amidala and Clovis alone, at which point she began to exhibit symptoms of the poison. However, as Clovis attempted to care for her, she evaded his watch to download the plans for the droid foundry from the palace library. Although she was able to deliver the evidence of Clovis and Dod's treason to her pilot, who was actually her husband Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, she succumbed to the poison and lost consciousness.

Upon realizing what had occurred, Clovis frantically confronted Dod about Amidala's condition. Dod instructed Clovis to regain his composure, informing him that she was a Republic spy, which he immediately denied. Clovis departed from Dod and discovered that Amidala had stolen the hologram of the droid foundry, and fearing for his life if Dod discovered this, he resolved to assist Skywalker in retrieving the antidote in exchange for the stolen information. However, as they escorted the unconscious Amidala out of the palace, Dod, accompanied by a small entourage, intercepted them and inquired about Clovis's actions. Clovis explained to Dod that Amidala was ill and that they were taking her to her ship, but Dod suggested that she should remain at the palace if she was unwell. Clovis retorted that he had contacted the authorities on Naboo, who had urged him to return her to Coruscant as the doctors at the Grand Republic Medical Facility were better equipped. Dod yelled at Clovis, hoping to force him to stay, but Clovis aimed his blaster at Dod and demanded that he hand over the antidote. Dod growled that Clovis would pay and instructed one of his aides to provide him with what he wanted. As Skywalker left the building with Amidala, Dod asked Clovis if he had lost his mind, but Clovis ignored him and followed the others.

No longer held at blasterpoint, Dod was joined by Poggle and a small detachment of B1-series battle droids to confront Clovis. Clovis's attempt to retrieve the data Amidala had stolen had also failed, and Skywalker abandoned him on Cato Neimoidia after Clovis had given him the antidote. Dod, Poggle, and the battle droids ventured out onto the palace landing grounds, where Dod calmly informed the stranded senator that they needed to "talk." As Clovis began walking towards them, Dod ordered the battle droids to aim their blasters at him. However, Dod was unable to unleash his wrath on Clovis, and the senator's high rank in the Banking Clan saved his life. Amidala, meanwhile, recovered from Dod's poisoning, and the plans for the droid foundry she stole from the palace led to the Second Battle of Geonosis, during which Republic forces successfully destroyed the factory and took Poggle prisoner. Despite being implicated in investing in the droid foundry and poisoning Senator Amidala, Dod faced no repercussions and remained in the Senate, unlike Clovis, who was disgraced and removed from the body for his crimes.

As the war continued, the Trade Federation united with the Confederacy in an effort to distance the moon Pantora from the Republic. A Federation blockade led by Sib Canay was established on the moon, ostensibly to collect unpaid debts from the Pantoran government. The blockade isolated the Pantorans, fostering anti-Republic sentiments among the population. As the situation deteriorated, Dooku offered Confederate assistance on the condition that Pantora seceded from the Republic. Meanwhile, Dod worked within the Senate to legitimize the blockade and ensure its legality. The newly-elected Supreme Chairman of Pantora, Baron Notluwiski Papanoida, dispatched Senator Riyo Chuchi to Coruscant to counter Dod's efforts. Before the Senate, Dod stated that the Trade Federation remained neutral and that the blockade was solely intended to collect Pantora's debts. Senator Chuchi, however, vehemently disagreed, denouncing the Federation as an ally of the Separatists.

Dod dismissed Chuchi's statements as slander but admitted that the Federation conducted business with the Confederacy. However, he asserted that the conglomerate's economic ties to the Separatists did not constitute an alliance and invoked the Commerce Treaty of 1647, which guaranteed the Federation's neutrality during wartime. Before the session concluded, Chuchi implored the Senate to heed her pleas and disregard Dod's attempts to portray the blockade as a domestic financial matter, eliciting strong applause. Later that day, Chairman Papanoida's daughters, Chi Eekway and Che Amanwe, were kidnapped from their apartment. Believing that the Senate and the Coruscant Security Force were acting too slowly, Papanoida surmised that the Federation had taken his daughters hostage as leverage. Papanoida and Chuchi spearheaded an extralegal operation to recover them and, in the process, proved that they were kidnapped under Canay's orders.

With the Pantorans' evidence of Canay's involvement in the conspiracy, Dod and the Federation were compelled to lift the blockade over Pantora and resume commerce with the system. In the Senate, Dod conceded that the Separatists had allies within the Trade Federation, including Canay, but asserted that the officer had acted independently when plotting the kidnapping. Dod denounced Canay and informed the Senate that the Federation had returned Papanoida's daughters home to him in good faith, in what he termed a "gesture of friendship." Dod also announced that the blockade would be dissolved and that trade between the Trade Federation and Pantora would resume.

Due to high Republic military casualties and financial instability caused by the Clone Wars, the Senate convened an emergency session to discuss the future of the Republic's war efforts. Hoping to gain huge profits from increased war spending, Dod collaborated with Nix Card, Clovis's successor as the Banking Clan's representative, and Senator Gume Saam of the Techno Union. The three drafted a bill to be introduced by Saam that called for deregulating the Banking Clan, enabling the Republic to facilitate further loans with it and open more lines of credit for military funding.

Saam introduced the motion during the emergency session, but the bill immediately faced scrutiny from Senator Organa's faction, which included Senators Amidala, her uncle Onaconda Farr of Rodia, and Mon Mothma of Chandrila. As Saam argued that an increase in clone production was necessary to win the War, Organa protested that any increase in war spending was irresponsible, given that the Republic was already near bankruptcy. Dod entered the debate and offered his support for Saam's resolution, stating that opening new lines of credit would provide the Republic with much-needed funds. Mothma questioned if the bill called for deregulating the banks, but Senator Halle Burtoni of Kamino responded that it was a small price to pay for winning the War.

As discord erupted in the Senate chamber between anti-war and pro-war groups, Senator Amidala floated her pod into the gallery and attempted to dissuade support for escalating the War, arguing that it was morally and fiscally irresponsible to escalate the fighting. Saam asked if she was advocating for the Republic to surrender to the Confederacy. Although she denied it and instead pushed for negotiations, Saam's question succeeded in instigating members of the Senate to chant in support of an immediate vote on his bill. Despite this, Organa requested that the Senate table Saam's bill until it was determined that deregulation was the right course of action. Amedda conceded, much to Dod and Saam's anger.

Dod joined Saam and Card in the latter's office following the session, where Card complained that losing the legislation would cost them billions. Saam stated that he had tried his best to push the bill through, and Dod blamed their problem on Senator Amidala. Card stated that he thought age would temper her idealism, prompting Saam to mention that he knew people who would remove her from the game. Dod immediately dismissed Saam's offer because he had firsthand knowledge of how difficult it was to kill her. Card interjected and told the two that the Banking Clan and Trade Federation were about business, not violence, but Dod remarked that, in this case, their business was violence. Card agreed and told his colleagues that even if Amidala was gone, the Senate was unlikely to pass deregulation until the War hit home. Dod asked what he was proposing, and Card suggested that some unexpected bloodshed on Coruscant would help them. Dod noted that Coruscant had not been attacked in over a millennium, to which Card replied that it had a false sense of security. The Muun informed Dod and Saam that he had powerful allies in the Confederacy who would help them pass the latter's bill.

Dod, Card, and Saam reached out to Count Dooku, who, in turn, ordered General Grievous to send a team of infiltrator droids to Coruscant to bomb the planet's central power distribution grid. In the meantime, Senator Amidala embarked on her own mission to begin negotiations with her mentor Mina, who had joined the Confederacy before the War. The two and Governor Tawni Ames of Desix conceived a peace initiative that Bonteri introduced to the Separatist Senate, which swiftly accepted the proposal. Dod and his allies became troubled when Dooku informed them of this development. Dooku told them that their worries were exaggerated, but Dod fretted that the groundswell of peace would continue and demanded to know when the attack on Coruscant would occur. Dooku promised that the bombing would end all peace talks and that the Trade Federation, the Banking Clan, and the Techno Union would all get their fair share, which eased them.

In a later session of the Republic Senate where Saam's bill was debated once again, Amidala, Organa, and Farr introduced the peace initiative and argued that there was no need for deregulation if they followed a path of negotiation. When Amedda brought Saam's bill to a vote, Dod worried that Dooku had abandoned his promise, but before the voting was completed, the attack on Coruscant took place. The destruction of the power grid caused mass blackouts and fires across the planet, and the vote on the bill was halted. Once it was confirmed that the bombing was the Confederacy's fault, Saam used it to his advantage. Saam passionately argued that the Senate had to expand military funding to make the Separatists pay, and despite Amidala's pleas, the Senate quickly abandoned her peace initiative. Vice Chair Amedda took aim at the initiative's legitimacy and blamed it for lowering their defenses, and Senators Burtoni and Mot-Not Rab, among others, called for deregulation.

In the final death knell for negotiations with the Separatists, Chancellor Palpatine voiced his support for deregulation, and Dod smiled gleefully as the Senate voted to pass Saam's bill. The deregulation of the Banking Clan opened the Senate to a vote on a separate bill from Senator Burtoni that moved for the Republic to purchase an additional five million clone troopers from the Kaminoan government. Burtoni's bill eventually passed despite opposition from Organa, Amidala, Farr, and Mothma, who later attempted to counteract both Saam's bill and Burtoni's by introducing legislation that would reduce military spending but failed to gather enough votes to pass it.

Back in the year 19 BBY, Senator Dod was present within the Galactic Senate chambers during a crucial vote. The vote's purpose was to officially confirm Baron Clovis as the new leader of the InterGalactic Banking Clan. Despite Clovis's past interactions with the Separatist movement, he informed the Republic about the Banking Clan's Muun leaders, stating they were engaged in credit embezzlement that posed a risk to the Republic's entire financial infrastructure. Despite lingering suspicions, Clovis was put forth as the candidate to take over the Banking Clan after the Muun leadership was apprehended. He publicly committed to maintaining neutrality in all financial dealings. When it was brought up that Clovis enjoyed support from both the Separatist government and the Muun populace, Dod insisted on hearing Chancellor Palpatine's perspective. Palpatine responded by declaring Clovis to be the most suitable choice given the current circumstances. Subsequently, the Senate voted to confirm Clovis as the Banking Clan's new leader.

However, Darth Sidious and Count Dooku had manipulated Clovis's ascent to power as part of a scheme to transfer control of the banks to the Office of the Supreme Chancellor. A Separatist invasion of Scipio triggered a Republic counter-offensive. During this battle, Clovis took his own life. This event was sufficient to sway the Muuns to relinquish control of the banks to Chancellor Palpatine, an event that Dod witnessed firsthand in the Senate.

Ultimately, Lott Dod perished during the Clone Wars. After his death, the Trade Federation experienced a substantial decline in its external influence, and it never regained its former power as the war concluded. The Galactic Empire absorbed the Trade Federation's assets, including Dod's considerable personal wealth. For those unaware of his demise, it appeared as though Dod had simply disappeared at the end of the war.

In the years following the Clone Wars, the Trade Federation managed to recover from its decline. By adapting to the changing environment, the Federation preserved a degree of stability, even though it never restored its lost wealth. Dod's palace and other facilities on Cato Neimoidia remained under the Federation's control, becoming integral to the Federation's shift toward providing security services. During the Cold War between the Resistance and the First Order, long after the Empire's capitulation, Dod's palace came into the possession of Baron Paw Maccon of House Maccon. Maccon transformed the opulent grounds into the expansive Great Vaults of Cato Neimoidia. Maccon began leasing the abandoned palace vaults, once used to store the personal wealth of Dod and others, to affluent clients for secure storage. The former palace evolved into a tourist destination, where tour guides commemorated the late Dod as a prominent example of the Trade Federation's leading power brokers before the end of the Clone Wars.

Lott Dod, a male Neimoidian, possessed a height of 1.9 meters, equivalent to 6 feet and 3 inches. Like most Neimoidians, Dod had green skin and red eyes. He was materialistic and exploited his position of authority to generate income through corrupt practices and power brokering, often bribing fellow delegates to secure their loyalty to the Trade Federation. His extensive network of influence allowed him to justify even the most unethical actions of the wealthy corporation, confident in his ability to rally support. Dod strategically targeted bills that threatened his and the Federation's finances by employing economic pressure, leveraging the Federation's lucrative deals and contracts with key worlds against their senators. His corrupt behavior and the path he and Viceroy Gunray had taken the Trade Federation made Senator Dod unpopular among idealistic members of the Trade Federation, who sought to remove him from office. However, the people of Cato Neimoidia held mixed opinions of him, with many being anti-Republic and supportive of his claims of neutrality during the Clone Wars.

Those in the Senate were aware of Dod's corrupt and self-serving tactics, but he evaded serious challenges to his position through deception and his connections to the Sith. Although Senator Dod was allied with the Sith Lords Darth Sidious and Darth Tyrannus, publicly known as Chancellor Palpatine and Count Dooku, his primary motivation was personal gain. Sidious played a crucial role in Dod's rise to leadership within the Trade Federation after the Eriadu Conference, and Dod reciprocated by aiding Sidious's plans for the Federation to invade Naboo. Following Sidious's success in becoming the Republic Chancellor as Palpatine, Dod supported him and advocated for his chancellery, recognizing the mutual benefits of their alliance. Similarly, Dod supported Dooku's Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Another significant patron of Senator Dod was Viceroy Nute Gunray, a like-minded Neimoidian from the same greedy faction associated with Darth Sidious. After Dod assumed the position of Senator, previously held by Gunray, he assisted the latter during the Naboo Crisis, stalling in the Senate while the Federation and the Sith harassed Naboo's monarch, Amidala. During the Clone Wars, the Senator attempted to publicly distance himself from the Viceroy, referring to him as a rogue radical who did not represent the Federation as a whole. In reality, Dod remained one of Gunray's associates, a fact evident to the honorable Oje N'deeb. The Senator's covert support of the Viceroy continued to provide benefits, such as Gunray's protection; Gunray personally requested that Sidious and Dooku intervene when Dod faced an electoral challenge from N'deeb.

Dod employed a strategy of denial and gaslighting to maintain the dubious claims of neutrality for himself and the Federation during the Clone Wars, despite evidence to the contrary. He also made numerous attempts to publicly distance himself from the Separatists and Nute Gunray, using legal precedents to justify his actions. During the war, Dod made several attempts to undermine Republic legislation aimed at reducing the war effort, hoping to profit from the conflict by pushing the pro-war Senate to approve funding that would increase military production. In return, Dod received substantial income from both the Republic and Confederacy to ensure both sides remained well-equipped. Dod knowingly exploited the Republic's established democratic norms and bureaucracy for the benefit of himself and his allies in the Senate, doing so with evident satisfaction.

While Dod's tactics to obstruct Republic relief and peace efforts often involved legal, albeit questionable, means, he possessed a dark side and was willing to resort to harsher and more violent strategies to achieve his objectives. Dod had opposed Padmé Amidala since the Invasion of Naboo, but he outwardly maintained a cordial demeanor when addressing her in private. Upon realizing that Rush Clovis harbored feelings for her, Dod plotted to poison her to manipulate his deal with Clovis, although his plan failed. Dod collaborated with Nix Card and Gume Saam to push expansive military funding through the Senate, but when the motion was tabled, they turned to Dooku and requested him to orchestrate "unexpected bloodshed" on Coruscant, willing to attack innocent people solely to increase their own profits.

Lott Dod, an influential and commanding politician, wielded considerable power during his tenure as senator for the Trade Federation. His proficiency in manipulation and his ability to navigate and control the Republic's vast bureaucracy allowed him to effectively defeat any bill or motion he opposed. Dod leveraged his and the Trade Federation's economic influence over various systems, compelling entire voting blocs aligned with the Trade Federation to support him.

As a strategist, Dod possessed extensive political knowledge and wielded his power with subtlety or force as he deemed appropriate. When arguing against the precursor to the Mid Rim Cooperation Motion and presenting his case against Toydaria sending aid to Ryloth, Dod targeted his opponents with logical tactics, employing political and economic reasoning as his tools of obstruction. However, he was not averse to scheming or even resorting to violence to achieve his goals in other circumstances.

As the senator for the Trade Federation, Lott Dod wore attire befitting his high status. He often wore a senatorial miter, a tall hat with an arrow-shaped point at its apex, on his head. Dod's miter was a deep blue color, representing his position. He also wore darkly-hued, elaborate robes with the mantle of the supreme representative draped around his neck and down his body. The senatorial mantle was a long purple cloth with a repeating small swirling pattern and a diamond-shaped emblem on each side near Dod's shoulders. Both Dod's miter and mantle were of Neimoidian origin, and the senator proudly wore them to display his influence as one of the Trade Federation's wealthy power brokers.

Due to his substantial personal wealth, Dod also owned a luxurious and sprawling palace on Cato Neimoidia. Additionally, he possessed several gold-plated BD-3000 droids, servant droids manufactured by LeisureMech Enterprises.

Lott Dod made his first appearance in the novelization of the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks, and subsequently in the film itself. He was portrayed by Silas Carson and voiced by Toby Longworth in the film. Dod later appeared in the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where Gideon Emery provided his voice.

Lott Dod's name was inspired by Trent Lott, who was the Senate leader for the GOP in 1997. This naming choice was an intentional effort to draw a direct parallel between the Trade Federation's characterization and motives and the Republican Revolution that transpired in 1994. Initially, Dod and the Neimoidians were conceived as organic counterparts of the Federation's B1-series battle droids, suggesting that the Neimoidians had modeled the battle droids after their own image. To achieve this, the Neimoidians would have required production using computer-generated imagery. However, during production, Lucasfilm's Art Department chose to employ animatronic masks to bring the Neimoidians to life. As a result, the Neimoidians' appearances underwent significant changes, and Dod's senatorial miter, initially depicted in rough sketches of the Neimoidian, ultimately resembled that of fellow Separatist Rune Haako.

In the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, a Neimoidian wearing clothing similar to Dod's appears alongside Nute Gunray on Geonosis, sparking debate about the Neimoidian's identity. The film's end credits identify the Neimoidian as Lott Dod (portrayed by Alan Ruscoe), but the Neimoidian does not resemble Dod. The 2016 reference book Star Wars: Complete Locations and a 2022 Star Wars: Card Trader card also incorrectly identify the Neimoidian as Dod, but it is in reality Rune Haako.