Cato Neimoidia

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Affiliation:
  Trade Federation

• Climate:
  Temperate

• Terrain:
  Fog-shrouded tree-lined mountains; city-bridges

• 

From the Movies

Cato Neimoidia, a key world of the Neimoidians who manage the Trade Federation, is one of the wealthiest worlds in the galaxy. Its polished skylines are suspended upon gently swaying bridges, feats of architectural wonder spanning the fog-shrouded valleys of the mountainous world.

Cato Neimoidia was the site of several major engagements during the Clone Wars, including a notoriously botched mission involving Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Clone Commander Cody. Despite such missteps, the Republic was ultimately victorious on Cato Neimoidia, securing the world, if ever so tenuously. Pockets of resistance continued to flourish in scattered bridge cities, resulting in regular Republic sorties to patrol and quell any uprisings.

The Jedi Master Plo Koon was tasked with leading these missions, flying from span to span in a wedge-shaped Jedi starfighter. During one such mission, Order 66 was enacted on Coruscant. The repercussions found their way to Cato Neimoidia, and Koon's wingmen open fired on him. His damaged starfighter spun out of control and crashed into one of the suspended Neimoidian cityscapes.

From the Expanded Universe

As an ancient spacefaring species, the Neimoidians have colonized hundreds of worlds. Such planets became the basis of their riches, as the aggregate resources of their colonial holdings funneled back to their home world of Neimoidia. The most prestigious of the colonies were the so-called purse worlds. These were not simply resource-rich planets of to be strip-mined and exploited -- they served as administrative posts, managing their own set of colonies. They also served as repositories of the harvested resources. They alone were allowed to carry the name of Neimoidia. Among the most famous of purse worlds were Cato Neimoidia, Koru Neimoidia and Deko Neimoidia.

Cato Neimoidia is the eldest of the purse worlds. It is also, perhaps, the most exclusive. Only the richest of a very wealthy culture live here, protecting their troves in subterranean vaults guarded by difficult landscapes and seemingly endless battle droids. Not wanting to live too far from the vaults, yet not trusting anyone to get too close to them, the Neimoidians instead built bridge cities suspended above the foggy grottos that led to their treasures.

During the Clone Wars, the Neimoidian Home Defense Legions doubled their conscription rate, and called up all reservists for active protection Neimoidia and her purse worlds from the war, although for a time the Neimoidians claimed neutrality in the conflict, despite the duplicitous and disavowed actions of Nute Gunray. The Trade Federation and Cato Neimoidia by extension remained part of the Republic, though it was clear to many they profited greatly from selling to both sides of the war. In protecting their riches, the gently swaying bridge-cities became filled with Neimoidian tanks and airstrips, mansions became billeted with soldiers and gunners, and polished skyscrapers and gilded towers were marred by anti-starfighter emplacements. Even the private redoubt of Viceroy Nute Gunray was bolstered by upgraded defenses as the Neimoidians cowered at the notion of possible attack.

The terrifying possibility became reality as the Republic breached the orbital defenses of the purse worlds and began a concentrated strike against the Neimoidian holdings. A month before the Battle of Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Clone Commander Cody led their forces against the planet in an effort to capture Viceroy Gunray. Gunray escaped, but the Jedi were able to seize his mechno-chair that contained the coded holographic transmitter through which the Viceroy contacted Darth Sidious. This gave the Jedi valuable proof as to the Dark Lord's existence.

Behind the Scenes

Although Cato Neimoidia was mentioned in dialogue in the shooting script, its appearance in the film was not always a guarantee. It was first developed as one of a montage of planets, when the initial story of Episode III opened with a series of Clone Wars battles across the galaxy. Cato Neimoidia (often spelled Niemoidia at this stage) was very different in its early incarnations. It was a gas giant surrounded by an artificial ring space station. This was meant to echo the donut-ship design of the Neimoidian Trade Federation battleships. Always envisioned as an affluent world, its interiors were marked by golden structures and gaudy riches in early paintings.

At the same time, the Art Department was developing "bridge world," a planet then named Saleucami. This planet of curving arc-like structures with city skylines suspended on the bottom edge of the bridges was to be home of the Techno Union.

Both designs were dropped from the film in the finished shooting script, though Cato Neimoidia was mentioned twice as a place where Obi-Wan, Anakin and Cody had some rocky history. The shooting script also described Order 66 and Plo Koon's death, but in this version, Koon is killed over Mygeeto.

During postproduction, the mix of planets changed, and Plo Koon was moved off Mygeeto. The bridge world was resurrected and modified -- the city skyline now rested atop the bridges, and it was no longer a Techno Union world. It was identified as Cato Neimoidia, and the name Saleucami was reused elsewhere for a reworked concept.