Neimoidian Royal Guard

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Neimoidian Royal Guard

General information

Organization type

Infantry^[1]

Other information

Affiliation

"Guards aren't supposed to engage with passersby during our duty. It's disruptive."
"I appreciate the hard work of loyal guards. My apologies for getting in the way of your tasks. If, however, anyone wishes to discuss the previous transgressions of the Republic… I offer a sympathetic ear. And I will be easy to find."

―Guardswoman Ruug Quarnom and Separatist Asajj Ventress, who aimed her response at guardsman Ketar Nor^[2]

TheNeimoidian Royal Guard, whose members were known asNeimoidian guards,Neimoidian soldiers, orNeimoidian gunners, was a military branch of thegovernment of theNeimoidian Purse World Cato Neimoidia. Members of the Guard also served theTrade Federation andConfederacy military.

Description[]

Organized under theTrade Federation Home Defense Legions,^[1] the Neimoidian Royal Guard was aNeimoidian security force^[2] composed of personnel identified as Neimoidian guards,^[6] Neimoidiansoldiers,^[1] or Neimoidiangunners.^[7] The Royal Guard served as a security branch within both theCato Neimoidian government^[2] andTrade Federation corporation.^[3] As a result of the Trade Federation's alliance with theConfederacy of Independent Systems, something that was officially covered up by the Federation's supposed neutrality, members of the Neimoidian Royal Guard found themselves serving theConfederacy military^[1] while others, such as those within the Cato Neimoidian government^[2] or serving more neutral Federation personnel, found themselves outside the CIS military.^[3] The NeimoidianHouse Maccon also maintained a force of guards.^[5]

History[]

"The detention block is closed to visitors. Move along."

―A Neimoidian guard, to Ahsoka Tano and Riyo Chuchi^[3]

After questioning theTrade Federation,Ruug Quarnom was discharged from theNeimoidian special forces and assigned to the Royal Guard onCato Neimoidia, where she was assigned the young guardKetar Nor as her partner, with Quarnom becoming a mentor to her partner. When amassive bombing, secretly orchestrated by theSith, rocked theCadesura district, theGalactic Republic dispatchedJedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi to clear its name andinvestigate, while theConfederacy of Independent Systems sentCommander Asajj Ventress. Ventress managed to convince Nor, who already hated the Republic for its anti-Neimoidian prejudices, to begin a new bombing campaign designed to push his people to the Separatists, but he was stopped by the Jedi and Quarnom. While theCato Neimoidian government remained neutral, Quarnom was branded a traitor thanks to Nor's testimony, but she wasrescued frombattle droids by Kenobi andAnakin Skywalker.^[2]

A Neimoidian soldier during the Blockade of Pantora

In21 BBY,^[8] Neimoidian guards were stationed onboard the Trade Federation'scommand ship during theBlockade of Pantora. Some of them were given their own offices aboard thevessel. Jedi PadawanAhsoka Tano was able tomind trick aguard into letting her and senatorRiyo Chuchi enter the detention block. Following the freeing of the kidnappedChi Eekway, the Federation'senvoy and a squad of Neimoidian soldiers arrived at the scene to stop them. To avoid a scandal with the Republic over theSib Canay's scheme, the envoy allowed them to leave and convinced the higher-ups to end the blockade.^[3]

Neimoidian soldiers were also part of theTrade Federation Home Defense Legions that made up theConfederacy of Independent Systems' forces that fought against the Republic's2nd Fleet, which had blockaded theQuellor sector where the Federation'spurse worlds were.^[1] Several of Neimoidian guards were present at amining complex onMustafar protecting theSeparatist Council. However, whenSith Lord Darth Vader arrived under orders from hisSith Master,Darth Sidious, todispose of the Separatist Council, theSith apprentice slew all present.^[4]

During theNew Republic Era,House Maccon employed a number of Neimoidian Royal Guards as security personnel. In34 ABY,Lor San Tekka traveled toCato Neimoidia and entered thePalace of Baron Paw Maccon, disguised as a visitor on a guided tour. However, after finding theKazerath device which he sought he was arrested by Neimoidian guards.^[5]

Equipment[]

The general attire of the Neimoidian Royal Guard was a suit of bronze armor^[1] completed with ahelmet of the samecolor. The gear was a heavy suit of armor,^[4] but it was lighter than the armor worn byNeimoidian heavy troops.^[2] The standard weaponry of the guard was a type of longrifle.^[1] Nonetheless, the Neimoidian Guards aboard theDroid Control Ship orbiting the moon of Pantora wore grey sharp-edged pauldrons, gauntlets, and helmets, as well as bluish light armor with symbols of the Trade Federation on them. For weaponry, they wieldedWeequay blaster pistols.^[3]

Commandos in theNeimoidian special forces wore maroon armor. The formfitting commando gear blended the mobility of standard guard armor with the protection of heavytroopers thanks to its plating.^[2] During theCold War between theFirst Order and theResistance, Neimoidian guards in the employ of House Maccon wore grey heavy armor with bronze helmets and the long rifles.^[5]

Behind the scenes[]

During the development ofStar Wars: Episode IIIRevenge of the Sith, one predecessor to the Neimoidian Guard design used theAbyssin species previously seen inStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hope. This design, called simply the "Separatist Alien Guard," was depicted in concept art and later included on theStar Wars: The Complete Saga blu-ray collection.^[9] Like other unique alien soldiers seen in the film, the Neimoidian guard needed specifically designed guns for their organization, so that work was done byTy Teiger's team. Teiger later recalled making Neimoidian guns as an example of how work onRevenge of the Sith was "more specific" than work on the previousprequel trilogy films, which had comparatively more background characters to focus on. Using the Neimoidian gun as an example, Teiger broke down the creative process in an interview withStar Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Official Episode III Souvenir Movie Guide, explaining that he would receive a base sketch, which he then passed out to twenty propmakers, each of whom had their own creative approach to making the weapon, allowing DirectorGeorge Lucas to pick from a diverse spread of options.^[10]