Trade Federation Home Defense Legions
The Trade Federation Home Defense Legions operated as a component of the Trade Federation's military arm during the Republic Era. When the Clone Wars erupted across the galaxy, these defense forces were integrated into the Confederacy of Independent Systems and its ground forces. Their primary responsibility was the protection of the Federation's collection of Purse Worlds located within the Quellor sector. The Trade Federation Home Defense Legions consisted of Neimoidian Royal Guards, battle droids, vulture droid starfighters, C-9979 landing craft, Multi-Troop Transports, and Armored Assault Tanks. Neimoidian soldiers were outfitted in bronze armor and carried long-range blaster rifles. Furthermore, the Trade Federation Home Defense Legions commanded a substantial fleet of Lucrehulk-class Battleships.
Description
As a planetary defense organization, the Trade Federation Home Defense Legions functioned as a part of the Trade Federation's private military and maintained ties to the government of the planet Cato Neimoidia. Their operations were centered in the Quellor sector of the galaxy's [Colonies](/article/colonies] region, where they were responsible for safeguarding the wealthy Neimoidian Purse Worlds within the sector, including Cato Neimoidia itself. To ensure the security of the Quellor sector and its Neimoidian planets, the defense legions possessed a large home defense fleet featuring Lucrehulk-class Battleships and droid control ships that had been converted from cargo transports.
On the ground, soldiers from the Neimoidian Royal Guard, clad in bronze armor and wielding long blaster rifles, directed the mobile and adaptable legions of battle droids. These droids were deployed from C-9979 landing craft that were protected by vulture droids. The Neimoidian Home Defense Legions could deploy entire companies of battle droids at a time, transported by Multi-Troop Transports with armored support from Mark I Armored Assault Tanks. The defense forces also included elite commandos within their special forces, who conducted covert assignments, assassinations and other missions that served the interests of both the Federation and the Neimoidian government. Following the Trade Federation's alliance with the Separatist Alliance, the Home Defense Legions were integrated into the Separatist Droid Army under the command of Supreme Martial Commander General Grievous.
History
During the era of the Galactic Republic, a home defense force was created to safeguard the cluster of affluent Neimoidian planets known as the Purse Worlds, situated within the Colonies' Quellor sector. While operating under the Trade Federation's direction, the organization also had connections to the government of Cato Neimoidia. Prior to the Clone Wars, which was a conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, soldiers such as Ruug Quarnom served in the defense legion. Quarnom, who was a special forces commando, participated in numerous missions and covert operations, sabotaging or protecting supply lanes, blockades, or other interests of both the Federation and Neimoidian government, until her demotion to a royal guard for questioning the former's judgement of the Jedi Order.
As the Clone Wars approached, the Trade Federation, along with five other major galactic corporations, formally allied themselves with the Separatist Alliance, offering military and economic resources in exchange for increased financial gain. These military assets were then reorganized into the Separatist Droid Army, under the tactical and logistical 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 substantial home defense fleet to confront the Republic fleet, utilizing its Lucrehulk-class Battleships and other vessels to resist the blockade.
Behind the scenes
The Trade Federation Home Defense Legions received a mention in the new Star Wars canon within Rise of the Separatists, a 2019 supplement for Fantasy Flight Games' Star Wars Roleplaying series. They were initially conceived for the Star Wars Legends continuity, making their debut in the HoloNet News article titled "CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 14:10:05 Edition," authored by Pablo Hidalgo and featured in Star Wars Insider 71 in 2003.