TPM: Short Negotiations

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Chapter II: Short Negotiations

Short Negotiations


The first vessel seen in the saga is the Consular-class space cruiser Radiant VII, more commonly referred to as a Republic Cruiser. The design was partially based on that of Tantive IV, the Blockade Runner that opens Episode IV. The controls in the cruiser cockpit were designed in a retro style.

The Republic Cruiser is produced by the Corellian Engineering Corporation, the company also credited with the creation of the CR90 corvette (or Blockade Runner, mentioned above) and the YT-1300 light freighter (the model of the famed Millennium Falcon). Radiant VII, part of the Judicial Department that serves as the Republic’s law enforcement office, was constructed thirty-four years before its eventual destruction.



Naboo was named "Utapau" in the rough draft—the name originally given to Tatooine during writing of Episode IV, and was eventually used as the name of Tion Medon's homeworld in Episode III.

Naboo is located in the system of the same name in the Chommell Sector of the Mid Rim. The system is comprised of five worlds (Moth, Erep, Naboo, Widow and Storm) orbiting the star Naboo. The planet Naboo has three moons, including future Gungan colony Ohma-D'un (as featured in Star Wars: Republic issues #51 and #52: The New Face of War) and Rori (an environment in the massively-multiplayer online RPG Star Wars: Galaxies).



Qui-Gon Jinn speaks the first line of the saga; "Captain?" to Maori Madakor. The novelization expands this scene, delving into Qui-Gon's thoughts on the mysterious circumstances of the Naboo blockade, and musings on why the Trade Federation picked such an unassuming, peaceable world to stage its protest.



Here we see Silas Carson, as Judicial Department pilot Lieutenant Williams, watching his own performance&mdash;Carson also plays Nute Gunray, who welcomes the Jedi ambassadors via a holographic viewscreen from aboard his flagship, Saak'ak.



The design of the Trade Federation Battleship, developed by artist Doug Chiang, was inspired by retro-style flying saucers, though the hull was split into two docking arms after George Lucas requested the vessel have a distinct sense of front and rear. Lucas himself added the battleship’s centersphere. This is the ship's bridge, and later sources reveal it as a Core Ship, able to detach from the docking arms to serve as a planetary transport and base of operations.

Music
The Arrival at Naboo accompanies the flight and landing of the Republic cruiser.

First appearances

 * Consular-class space cruiser (Radiant VII)
 * Lucrehulk-class battleship (Saak'ak, Trade Federation blockade)
 * Naboo
 * Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson)
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor)
 * Lieutenant Williams (Silas Carson)
 * Captain Maori Madakor (Bronagh Gallagher)
 * Viceroy Nute Gunray (Silas Carson)

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