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Lott Dod was a male Neimoidian Senator representing the corporate interests of the Trade Federation in the Galactic Senate, as well as a constituent of the enterprise's governing board. Part of Viceroy Nute Gunray's party, which was in league with the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, Senator Dod eagerly assumed the position of the rich conglomerate's delegate in the Congress, exploiting breaches in the Galactic Republic's policies to better suit the Federation's profit margins. While publicly dismissing his superior as a rogue radical during the Clone Wars, behind the scenes the Senator stayed true to both the Viceroy and their Sith patron, while often conniving with the Confederacy of Independent Systems in exchange for a healthy income. Eventually, Dod lost his life to the conflict he and Gunray half-willingly, half unwittingly, allowed Sidious and his apprentice Dooku to engineer.
Biography[]
In Nute Gunray's following[]
Born on Neimoidia, the homeworld of the Neimoidian species, Lott Dod was a key member of Senator Nute Gunray's pushy party of like-minded people within the upper echelons of the Trade Federation. The group coveted absolute control of the commerce and shipping enterprise and also assumed a slightly subversive stance towards the Galactic Republic's policies, in addition to brokering a pact with the Sith. Gunray and Dod seized their chance to supplant the current directors in 33 BBY: a conference was convened on Eriadu to settle the never-ending disputes between the Republic and the union of the Federation and its affiliates. The summit was far from the fruitful meeting expected, turned into a disaster by the intrusion and attack of the Nebula Front, a terrorist cell that made an attempt on Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum's life and successfully assassinated the Trade Federation governing board.
With the aid of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, the ambitious Neimoidian group stepped in to fill the void left by the loss of leadership: Nute Gunray ascended to the position of Viceroy, while Lott Dod clamed his superior's old seat of Senator; the two then filled remaining prominent places with the rest of their clique and slowly but surely morphed the organization into a greedy pawn of the Sith, damaging its reputation as an honorable business. As the Trade Federation's envoy in the Galactic Senate, Senator Dod was assisted by the diplomat Lufa Danak in using bribes, intimidation and influence to prevent the commercial combine from being held accountable for its most questionable endeavors. Fellow delegates Aks Moe and Tikkes had been bought by Dod and rumors abounded that even Vice-Chair Mas Amedda was receiving kickbacks. In spite of the Neimoidian Senator's best efforts, he could not hope to halt the introduction of Prop 31-814D, a legislation that would see the Republic stripping the Federation of its monopoly in the Free Trade Zones through exacerbated taxation meant to increase the government's budget.
Invasion of Naboo[]
Following the excessive taxation of the Free Trade Zones, the Lord Darth Sidious had Viceroy Gunray and Senator Dod retaliate against the perceived outrage: in a stunning move, the Trade Federation fleet blockaded the Outer Rim world of Naboo, home to the bill's proponent Sheev Palpatine - in reality the public alter ego of the Neimoidians' hooded benefactor. Advised by the Dark Lord of the Sith, the Viceroy commanded the invasion of the planet and had his underling stall the Senate with numberless procedures. With the aid of Chancellor Valorum's Jedi Knight messengers, Queen Padmé Amidala and her entourage were able to escape before she could be force into signing a treaty which would legitimize the Federation's occupation.
Lott Dod in the Senate Rotunda, denying allegations of the Naboo occupation..
Senator Dod intervened just as Queen Amidala arrived on Coruscant to ask the Galactic Senate for help and testify about the blockade. Backed by Aks Moe (and indirectly by Mas Amedda), Dod recommended a committee be formed for further inquiries, knowing such a course of action would at the very least slow the Senate and gain the Federation more time.
Nonetheless, the occupation was thrawted by the Queen Amidala and her allies, while Viceroy Gunray was sent on trial and Senator Dod's station in the Senate decreased - unknown to the pair, they had merely moved Lord Sidious' agenda forward: exploiting the crisis, Palpatine had orchestrated the discredited Valorum's ousting from office and his own rise to the Republic's Supreme Chancellor. While Gunray endured four trials that would eventually see his acquittal and retaining of titles and assets, Dod advanced the Federation's interests in his absence, such as solving the conflict between the Neimoidians, the Ithorians and the people of Urce in the favor of his faction, which was allowed to keep its ownership of the lane maps through the Lesser Plooriod Cluster. Around this time, he would also prove to be a frantic opponent to selflessness of now-Senator Amidala, using any device available at his disposal to counter her, as payback for the Federation's severe setback on Naboo.
The Clone Wars[]
Clone Wars[]
Enticed by the firebrand Count Dooku of Serenno - the widely known persona of the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus, whose Master was Darth Sidious - thousands of star systems and corporate titans seceded from the Galactic Republic and flocked to the nascent Confederacy of Independent Systems. Among the pioneering supporters this coalition surrounded itself with was the Trade Federation, with Viceroy Gunray and Senator Dod as important allies to the Dark Lords Sidious and Tyranus. However, the conglomerate professedly took a neutral stance between the Confederacy and the Republic, with the Neimoidian supreme representative as the sole conduit to the Galactic Congress as the Clone Wars unfurled.
Purportedly distancing himself from his supperiors radicalism, Dod in truth stayed one of Gunray's allegiant followers and still had ties to Darth Sidious, Dooku and Tikkes. The Senator's versatility and connections in the political arena maintained the Federation's air of plausible neutrality, granted by its corporate rights and saved it from the Republic's repercussions for its association with the Confederacy. Not all were fooled or tolerant of this charade, chiefly Senators Amidala and Bail Prestor Organa, as well as Oje N'deeb, a honest clerk of the Federation who felt Viceroy Gunray had sullied the enterprise's name through his cronies and so wished to replace Senator Dod.
The Treaty of Toydaria[]
During the Battle of Ryloth, the planet of Ryloth was invaded by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, cutting of the supply lines to the beleaguered Twi'leks and loosening the Galactic Republic's grip over the Outer Rim. The T-series tactical droid TA1313 intercepted a transmission sent by the Jedi High Council to Senator Bail Organa, in which they asked the Alderaanian First Chairman to begin negotiations with Toydaria. As a response to this, Count Dooku contacted Senator Lott Dod and dispatched him to ensure that Ryloth did not receive aid against Emir Wat Tambor in its most desperate hour.
On Toydaria, Senator Dod did the best he could to persuade King Katuunko that claiming Organa was deceiving him, claiming that the Republic planned to use the planet as a military not humanitarian base. The Neimoidian was able to convince the Toydarian ministry council to remain neutral by threathening that the Separatist Senate would order attacks upon cargo ships, forcing the Federation to cease trade with the planet. However, Katuunko together with Organa and Jar Jar Binks secretly joined forces and the ships with supplies reached Ryloth much to Dod's chagrin.
War-time investments[]
Dod conspiring with Clovis and Poggle the Lesser on Cato Neimoidia
In late 22 BBY, Senator Dod conspired with Baron Rush Clovis of the InterGalactic Banking Clan and Archduke Poggle the Lesser of Geonosis to strengthen the Separatist Droid Army and Line their pockets with more credits by building a new droid foundry. Because the elite of Cato Neimoidia had suffered financially from the conflict, the Federation was forced to cede much of its holdings to the Banking Clan.
At his luxurious palace, Senator Dod asked for a greater share of the profits on behalf of his organization, but Baron Clovis declined as the Trade Federation had become too indebted to the Banking Clan. The negotiations were cut short by Amidala's arrival. The Neimoidian realized that the moneylender cared for the Naboo representative and saw an opportunity to both rid the Federation of her meddling and force him into accepting the new terms by poisoning her. The plan was foiled when Clovis and a disguised Anakin Skywalker threatened Dod's life and he was forced to hand over the antidote. Skywalker left Clovis behind and the latter was arrested by a B1 battle droid squad on Dod's orders.
Lott Dod's cunning intervention allowed the Federation neutrality, at the expense of pawns such as Sib Canay
Blockade of Pantora[]
As part of yet another Separatist plot, the Trade Federation blockaded Pantora on the grounds that the planet had not paid its dues to the company. This was in reality a ploy devised by Viceroy Gunray and Senator Dod to either extort money out of Chairman Papanoida or coerce him to accept the hand lent by Count Dooku. After the scheme that would benefit the Confederacy was uncovered, Senator Dod shifted blame of the incident solely on blockade Captain Sib Canay, branding him as an extremist fallen under Viceroy Gunray's sway. This clever excuse provided a justification for the enterprise's questionable endeavor and allowed it to avoid losing its seat in the Senate.
Deregulation of the banks[]
Following the failled attempt by Gume Saam and Halle Burtoni to push a financial reform bill through to escalate the war effort, at the expense of deregulating the banks, Dod discussed the matter further with Saam and Nix Card. Reaching the conclusion that the Senate would be unlikely to vote in favor of the legislation if a peaceful initiative could be found, the Senators their clients on the Confederacy's side to ask for help.
Dod, Saam and Card eagerly awaiting Dooku's reassurances
Though dismayed by the Separatist Parliament's approval of negotiations with the Republic, Senator Dod's concerns were put at ease when Count Dooku and his top enforcer, General Grievous, arranged for the bombing of Coruscant's power generator. Convinced by the attack and by the insinuations of Senators Saam and Burtoni, the Republic Congress agreed for the need of more credits to purchase Clone Troopers and passed the bill.
Legacy[]
Sometime later during the war in 19 BBY, Senator Lott Dod lost his life. Decades after his demise, his palace was in the possession of House Maccon, an influential Neimodian family who rented its vaults to wealthy individuals during the Cold War.
Appearances[]
Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace- Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings
- Queen's Shadow
- Queen's Shadow (audiobook)
- Supply Lines
- Senate Spy
- Sphere of Influence
- Heroes on Both Sides
- The Rise of Clovis
- Crisis at the Heart
- Poe Dameron 20: Legend Found, Part I (Mentioned Only)
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