Trade Federation Home Defense Legions
The Home Defense Legions of the Trade Federation operated as part of the Trade Federation's armed forces during the Republic Era. Once the Clone Wars erupted across the galaxy, these defense forces were integrated into the Confederacy of Independent Systems and its ground forces. Their primary mission was the protection of the Federation's chain of Purse Worlds situated in the Quellor sector. The Home Defense Legions of the Trade Federation consisted of Neimoidian Royal Guards, battle droids, vulture droid starfighters, C-9979 landing craft, Multi-Troop Transports, and Armored Assault Tanks. Neimoidian soldiers wore bronze armor and wielded long blaster rifles. The Trade Federation Home Defense Legions also utilized a vast fleet of Lucrehulk-class Battleships.
Description
Serving as a planetary defense force, the Trade Federation Home Defense Legions functioned within the Trade Federation's private military and had connections to the government of the planet Cato Neimoidia. They were linked to the Quellor sector within the Colonies region of the galaxy, responsible for ensuring the safety of the sector's cluster of affluent Neimoidian Purse Worlds, including Cato Neimoidia. To safeguard the Quellor sector and its associated Neimoidian planets, the defense legions deployed a large home defense fleet featuring Lucrehulk-class Battleships and droid control ships that were modified cargo transports.
On the ground, soldiers of the Neimoidian Royal Guard, clad in bronze armor and equipped with long blaster rifles, commanded the defense force's mobile and adaptable legions of battle droids. These stockpiled droids were transported from C-9979 landing craft escorted by vulture droids. The Neimoidian Home Defense Legions could deploy entire companies of battle droids simultaneously, transported in their Multi-Troop Transports with armored cover provided by Mark I Armored Assault Tanks. For specialized operations, the defense forces had several elite commandos serving as part of their special forces, who undertook covert assignments, assassinations, and other missions that aligned with the interests of both the Federation and the Neimoidian government. After the Trade Federation committed its military to the Separatist Alliance, the Home Defense Legions were incorporated into the Separatist Droid Army under the tactical command of Supreme Martial Commander General Grievous.
History
During the era of the Galactic Republic, a home defense force was created to protect the chain of wealthy Neimoidian planets known as the Purse Worlds, located within the Colonies' Quellor sector. While controlled by the Trade Federation, the organization also maintained connections with the government of Cato Neimoidia. Before the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, soldiers like Ruug Quarnom served in the defense legion; Quarnom was a special forces commando involved in many missions and covert operations, sabotaging or protecting supply lanes, blockades, or other interests of both the Federation and the Neimoidian government, until she was demoted to a royal guard for questioning the former's judgement of the Jedi Order.
As the Clone Wars approached, the Trade Federation and five other major galactic corporations pledged their allegiance to the Separatist Alliance, offering military and economic strength in exchange for greater financial gains. These military assets were integrated into the Separatist Droid Army, now under the tactical leadership of Supreme Commander General Grievous. After the war commenced in 22 BBY and continued until 19 BBY, the Quellor sector and its Purse Worlds were blockaded by the Republic's 2nd Fleet. In response, the sector deployed its vast home defense fleet to confront the Republic fleet, using its Lucrehulk-class Battleships and other vessels to hold them at bay.
Behind the scenes
The Trade Federation Home Defense Legions are referenced in the new Star Wars canon in Rise of the Separatists, a 2019 supplement for Fantasy Flight Games' Star Wars Roleplaying series. They were originally conceived for the Star Wars Legends continuity, debuting in the HoloNet News article "CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 14:10:05 Edition," penned by Pablo Hidalgo and featured in Star Wars Insider 71 in 2003.