Trade Federation

The Trade Federation was a conglomerate of trading businesses and marketplaces of planetary bodies run by the Nemoidian Nute Gunray. It was formerly run by a council of Nemoidian businessmen until Gunray masterminded a plot that killed off the council and initiated a new age for the federation.

The Federation was a member-state of the CIS, disenfranchised after the Galactic Republic's inability to protect trade routes from aggravating pirate gangs. The Nemoidian council at the time was manipulated by Count Dooku to make this decision. Nute Gunray, a rising star in the Federation's ranks, was annoyed with the Council's refusal to militarise the droid forces of the Federation, and crush the pirates that were now attacking major Bacta Supplies that were potent for the Federation's economy.

Working with Dooku, Megatron, and Poggle the Lesser, Gunray bombed the Council Building and used the event to blame it on the Jedi, rallying a faction of Federation extremists around himself. Gunray became seen as the head of the Federation's Extremist faction that denounced the Republic and Jedi, and his men grew heavily in power in all facets of the Federation, taking over economic growth points and hording valuable resources and giving them to the CIS.

During the Clone Wars, the TF assisted the CIS in their offensives, taking over numerous worlds, Rodia being an exception as the Rodians rebelled ferociously against the droid armies. Gunray's failure on Rodia was largely covered up though as he hired a mysterious figure, later revealed to be Thanos, to cover up the incidents.

The Clone War's ending revealed Palpatine's treachery, and Dooku's death cemented General Grievous as its de-facto head. Grievous and Gunray knew that Sidious was Palpatine, but decided to make a deal with him instead of rebelling against him. In exchange for immunity and safety to continue the CIS, Grievous would pull out of the SW Galaxy. Gunray personally detested the deal and vowed vengeance on Palpatine.

The Federation continued as a political and economic body, growing more powerful in the CIS and becoming the dominant mega-corporation alongside the Techno Union. Their prosperity was also compounded by Sauron's war on the Pike Empire, bolstering the need for droid production that make the TF rich in the first place.

The TF suffered major setbacks during the Thanosian Conflicts, as Thanos's extended quest to gain the Infinity Stones resulted in many CIS resources gone to waste in fruitless campaigns across the universe. Gunray betrayed Thanos after news reached him that the Mad Titan's gauntlet was destroyed.

Grievous led the militaristic CIS as Gunray led the economic one. Gunray's position held more power and Grievous was forced to become subservient to the Nemoidian slime. With total power in the CIS the TF quickly recovered from its losses and grew into a powerhouse once more.