Trade Federation scope and holdings

[Eleas]

Hey all,

I'm frantically looking for indepth information on the Trade Feds, the Neimoidians, their industry and their military, and AFAIK, what's been stated so far on the forum has been in the context of other debates, and not as indepth as I would have liked.

So, again, what info is there to be had about hte size, scope and power of the Trade Feds?

[Publius]

TRADE FEDERATION (TRADEFED)

The TradeFed was a consortium of merchants and transportation providers which effectively controlled shipping throughout the galaxy, founded approximately 350 years prior to the Battle of Yavin [Databank: "Trade Federation"; Galactic Battlegrounds]. Its virtual monopoly on transportation, especially in the outlying star systems, afforded it considerable political and social influence, and its enormous fleet of heavy freighters and transports was crewed primarily by automata and 'droids. The Neimoidian subspecies of the Duros, from Neimoidia, were a dominant interest in the TradeFed [The Phantom Menace].

The TradeFed was governed by the Trade Federation Directorate, also called the Executive Board Directorate [Databank: "Trade Federation"]. Commanding Viceroy Nute Gunray, the leader of the Neimoidian Inner Circle, was one of seven members of the Directorate, and was its Chairman by the time of the Naboo incident [Cloak of Deception; The New Essential Guide to Characters].

The TradeFed's political influence was enormous. A delegation from the TradeFed was seated in the Senate, and was entitled to such voting and speaking rights as were accorded to members of the Republic; as of 14 PED, the head of the delegation was Senator Lott Dod [The Phantom Menace]. In addition to this representation, the TradeFed had a number of allies in other sectorial and planetary delegations, and its liberal use of bribery secured it a powerful voting bloc in the Senate; it was feared that the TradeFed's influence in the Senate would eventually enable it to overrule the legislature ad libido [Cloak of Deception].

The TradeFed was allied to a certain extent with lesser shipping concerns, including small companies like Viraxo Shipping and large shipbuilders like the Tagge Company and Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc. [Cloak of Deception]. Other shipping concerns, like Pulsar Supertanker, were participatory companies within the conglomerate; such participatory companies could be expelled from the organisation. Pulsar Supertanker itself was expelled after Nute Gunray testified before the Trade Federation Directorate regarding its "malicious disregard for profit" and "charitable donations lacking discernible reward"; and its CEO was removed from the Directorate [Cloak of Deception; The New Essential Guide to Characters].

In exchange for lucrative trade opportunities and, whenever possible, protection from smuggling concerns and pirates, several key resource worlds joined the TradeFed as signatory members, abdicating their representation within the Senate. Hundreds of outer systems also yielded their rights to representation to the TradeFed, becoming signatory members in their haste to trade with the Core. The membership of a number of such worlds had been arranged by the mysterious Darth Sidious, and was attributed to Nute Gunray, assuring his appointment to the Directorate as Commanding Viceroy [Cloak of Deception].

The TradeFed possessed at one time what was called its "trade franchise"; in exchange for its pledge to the Senate that it would remain a strictly mercantile venture, the Trade Federation was awarded what was essentially exclusive trade rights in the outlying star systems, and in the free trade zones in the Mid and Outer Rims. When it became clear that pirates, privateers, and terrorist groups (like the Nebula Front) preyed upon the Federation's shipping lines, the Senate granted permission for the freighters to be equipped with weapons of defence, to protect themselves in poorly policed systems between major trade routes and hyperlanes [Cloak of Deception].

Nevertheless, the raiders continued to prey on TradeFed shipping, upgrading their weapons to keep pace with the TradeFed's defences; in response, the TradeFed requested permission of the Senate to increase its own automated defence systems. Supreme Chancellor Valorum, after private counsel with Senator Palpatine, proposed that the Senate grant such authorisation, and enact taxation of all trade in the outlying systems, including in the free trade zones. A trade summit was called on Eriadu in order to allow the matter to be discussed more fully by the TradeFed, its signatory members, and key members of the Senate.

In direct result of the machinations of Lord Sidious, on behalf of Viceroy Gunray, the trade summit was disrupted, and the entire Directorate assassinated, with the only surviving members of the TradeFed's delegation being Viceroy Gunray and Senator Dod. Viceroy Gunray proceeded to appoint Neimoidian underlings dependent on his favour to the Directorate, cementing his control of the TradeFed [Cloak of Deception].

Also at Lord Sidious's behest, Viceroy Gunray had engaged in secret negotiations with Haor Chall Engineering, Baktoid Armour Workshop, and the Colicoids of Colla IV, in order to produce an enormous army of battle 'droids and combat automata, most of which were loosely based on designs and equipment already in use by the TradeFed [Cloak of Deception].

Also on the shadowy Lord Sidious's instructions, the TradeFed armaments committee made further preparations, and selected Haor Chall's C-9979 configuration for its 'droid army landing ships, and approved Baktoid Armour Workshop’s MTT and AAT designs for use by the army for its surface operations. It also planned the secret conversion of the TradeFed's fleet of Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc. freighters into its "battleships" [Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections].

The TradeFed's leadership, accustomed to graft, bribed Republican weapons inspectors detailed to ensure that it was not violating strict limits on its operations enacted by the Senate [Databank: "Trade Federation"]. It was thus able quickly to assemble an invasion force sufficient to invade and occupy the entire surface of Naboo, once it became clear that the blockade it had set up in protest of the enactment of Supreme Chancellor Valorum's taxation measure was ineffective. The invasion failed, and it was believed by many that the Senate would revoke the TradeFed’s trade franchise after the debacle, especially given that Naboo’s chief representative, Senator Palpatine, had been elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic [The Phantom Menace].

However, the Directorate was largely unaffected by the scandal, and the TradeFed survived [Databank: "Trade Federation"]. Viceroy Gunray himself was tried four times before the Supreme Court, but nevertheless remained Commanding Viceroy [Attack of the Clones]. The TradeFed assembled a select assassination corps in order to exact vengeance on the Jedi for the failure of the Naboo invasion [Databank: "Trade Federation"]. Three years after the incident, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine secured the passage of legislation disbanding a large portion of the TradeFed’s armed forces [Rogue Planet]. Some influential Senators prevented the Jedi from investigating the TradeFed to ensure compliance with the new arms control restrictions [The New Essential Guide to Characters].

Feeling betrayed by Lord Sidious, Viceroy Gunray sought an alliance with the Count of Serenno, and ordered a new 'droid army far larger than the first [The New Essential Guide to Characters]. He was present at the founding of the Confederacy of Independent Systems on Geonosis; TradeFed battle 'droids participated in the Battle of Geonosis [Attack of the Clones]. TradeFed battle 'droids remained in the Confederate arsenal throughout the War [Clone Campaigns].

[phongn]

That's quite detailed, Publius.

[Eleas]

<snip>

Thanks, Publius.

Anyone have any more detailed calcs about fleet strength and suchlike?

[Robert Treder]

Once again proving why Publius is one of my favorite posters.

I would have posted all that I could gather about the TradeFed, but Publius covered it +some. I don't really think there are very detailed fleet strength calcs, other than for the Blockade of Naboo. And for that, it's undoubtedly somewhere on the board, and I think it's on the main site too (check TPM Revelations, maybe). I think the number is in the tens of thousands (or is it merely thousands?).

[NecronLord]

I'm not sure they'd hold very many planets. To me they seem to be basically the SW Trucker's union, a few hundred would be about right.

[Illuminatus Primus]

There seems to be around 10,000 vessels around Naboo.

These were ALL light carriers.

Other ships and such...I'd say they have around 30,000 light carriers, and probably 100,000 ships total at least. I mean--think how many corvettes and frigates they have for each of those big light carriers.

[Eleas]

There seems to be around 10,000 vessels around Naboo.

These were ALL light carriers.

Other ships and such...I'd say they have around 30,000 light carriers, and probably 100,000 ships total at least. I mean--think how many corvettes and frigates they have for each of those big light carriers.

That'll definitely be a good place to start. Thanks, man.

[Robert Treder]

As far as other ships of the fleet goes, ICS2 says that the Core Ships fit into different kinds of warships and freighters that the TradeFed uses:

Core-Ship design has changed little in the last century. In a typical display of Neimoidian thrift, the spheres can serve a variety of craft: The split-ring freighter-battleships of the Naboo blockade; larger, unarmed container vessels and tankers; and newer warships of the post-Naboo period, including cruisers with improved weapons placement and smaller, faster destroyers that defend the fleets and chase down blockade runners.

[Illuminatus Primus]

That's impressive: the Sphere is larger significantly than the six-hundred-meter-long Dreadnought that was the staple of the rapidly assembled Republic starfleet.

The Victory-class destroyer, which would become the Navy's signature vessel is only nine-hundred meters long.

The TF destroyers must be BIG. And I'm talking approaching Imperator-size.

[Robert Treder]

That's impressive: the Sphere is larger significantly than the six-hundred-meter-long Dreadnought that was the staple of the rapidly assembled Republic starfleet.

The Victory-class destroyer, which would become the Navy's signature vessel is only nine-hundred meters long.

The TF destroyers must be BIG. And I'm talking approaching Imperator-size.

Indeed.

The Core Ship itself is lightly armed (280 8kt point-defense cannons). The rest of the destroyer hull must house powerful engines and sufficient weaponry to make the ship a credible threat. The combined sphere and hull likely make up a destroyer that is at least as large as an Imperator,

BUT: The very nature of a detachable sphere would make the ship structurally inferior to a single-hulled design. No matter how strong the connection is, a solid shape would be stronger.
Also, the sphere would be problematic for defending; more guns are necessary to cover all its angles than are necessary with less conspicuously-shaped vessels.
The TradeFed destroyers would be nothing to sneeze at, but they would probably be at least marginally inferior in battle than their dedicated-purpose Republic (or Imperial) counterparts.

Despite these drawbacks, it makes sense for the TradeFed to go with this system. What the TradeFed destroyers would lack in durability and combat efficiency they would make up with relatively large cargo carrying capabilities and strategic flexibility. The Cores have immense cargo-space, good for infantry, armor, supplies and building material, or merchandise. Being businessmen and merchants first and foremost, this would be important for them.
The swappable Cores also lend them some flexibility that they, being low-key (relative to the Republic's Grand Navy) might need. In theory, the TradeFed Navy could have more ship hulls than expensive command Cores. They could keep the non-used ship hulls in deep-space storage areas (perhaps along with their droid crews), ready to be called upon at a moment's notice. This would allow them to alter their fleet composition to suit their needs at any given time, without maintaining superfluous units.
The modular design philosophy of course also makes repair and maintenance easier; damaged components may be switched for good ones, so the unit can continue serving while its parts are being repaired. This decreased down-time would be important to the shrewd TradeFed.