The Home Defense Legions of the Trade Federation played a role within the Trade Federation's armed forces during the Republic Era. Following the onset of the Clone Wars in the galaxy, these defensive units were integrated into the Confederacy of Independent Systems and became part of its ground forces. Their primary mission was the protection of the Federation's collection of Purse Worlds located in the Quellor sector.
The Home Defense Legions of the Trade Federation included 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 carried long blaster rifles. The Home Defense Legions of the Trade Federation also utilized a large fleet of Lucrehulk-class Battleships.
The Home Defense Legions of the Trade Federation served as a planetary defense organization, functioning as a component of the Trade Federation's private military and having connections to the government of the planet Cato Neimoidia. Their area of operation was the Quellor sector within the Colonies region of the galaxy, where they were responsible for safeguarding the sector's group of prosperous Neimoidian Purse Worlds, including Cato Neimoidia. To defend the Quellor sector and the Neimoidian planets within it, the defense legions operated a substantial home defense fleet that featured Lucrehulk-class Battleships and droid control ships that had been converted from cargo transports.
In ground combat, soldiers of the Neimoidian Royal Guard wearing bronze armor and equipped with long blaster rifles, commanded the mobile legions of battle droids. These droids were deployed from C-9979 landing craft escorted by vulture droids. The Neimoidian Home Defense Legions could deploy entire companies of battle droids at a time, transported in Multi-Troop Transports with Mark I Armored Assault Tanks providing cover. For specialized tasks, the defense forces included elite commandos in their special forces, who carried out covert operations, assassinations, and other missions 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 became part of the Separatist Droid Army under the command of Supreme Martial Commander General Grievous.
During the era of the Galactic Republic, a home defense force was created to safeguard the cluster of affluent Neimoidian worlds—known as the Purse Worlds—within the Quellor sector of the Colonies region. While the Trade Federation directed the organization, it also maintained connections with the government of the planet Cato Neimoidia. Prior to the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, soldiers like Ruug Quarnom served within the defense legion. Quarnom, a special forces commando, participated in numerous missions and covert operations, sabotaging or protecting supply lanes, implementing blockades, or safeguarding other interests shared by the Federation and the Neimoidian government. However, she was later demoted to a royal guard for questioning the Federation's assessment of the Jedi Order.
As the Clone Wars approached, the Trade Federation, along with five other major galactic corporations, formally pledged allegiance to the Separatist Alliance, offering their military and economic resources in exchange for enhanced financial gains. These military assets were then reorganized into the Separatist Droid Army, with Supreme Commander General Grievous assuming tactical and logistical command. Following the outbreak of the war in 22 BBY, which lasted until 19 BBY, the Quellor sector and its Purse Worlds were subjected to a blockade by the Republic's 2nd Fleet. In response, the sector deployed its large home defense fleet to confront the Republic fleet, utilizing its Lucrehulk-class Battleships and other vessels to hold them at bay.
The Home Defense Legions of the Trade Federation were referenced in the new Star Wars canon within Rise of the Separatists, a 2019 supplement for Fantasy Flight Games' Star Wars Roleplaying series. Originally, they were conceived for the Star Wars Legends continuity, making their debut in the HoloNet News article titled "CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 14:10:05 Edition," which was authored by Pablo Hidalgo and featured in Star Wars Insider 71 in 2003.