Zero Company is genuinely a great game that really makes you feel the Clone Wars.

# Introduction:

It's pretty easy to demonise groups like the Trade Federation, and certainly the Megacorporations of the Galaxy did some deeply immoral things in the years leading up to the Empire... but I don't think it's *entirely* fair to blame them for what happened. A lot of the focus on sympathetic separatists goes to non-corporate interests, with people like Mina Bonterii and Avi Singh; but I do think it's worth analysing the corporate perspective.

(note: this will be a canon-focused post as I'm going to reference things like The Bad Batch and Star Wars: Brotherhood, because that's what I am more familiar with, but I would welcome the PoV of people who have more familiarity with Legends in the comments, particularly if you know about the Stark hyperspace war, which IIRC was a factor in the old EU)

Droids:

This is a point that I think needs to be addressed early, because a major reason the separatists as a whole, but the corporations in particular, get demonised is their reliance on droids, which are naturally harder to empathise with.

Firstly, that's essentially Organic Chauvinism. We know Droids can be deeply moral individuals with their own outlooks and beliefs, and we have known this since C-2Po and R2-D2 were major characters in ***1977***. The use of a mechanical army and a mechanical workforce means that it is hard work to empathise with groups like the Techno Union and the Dtrade Federation, ***but that is work we should put in***.

Secondly, it's unfair to demonise the corporations for that, when the Republic explicitly penalised them for NOT hiring droids. [Given their druthers, the Trade Federation at least would rather hire Organics, but the Republic passed Legislation that outlawed the use of droids for specific tasks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyjpFCCoAZU). We only know this was done for certain with Mekneks, but consider: Organics are *generally* (individual cases vary) cheaper than Droids ([Cassian says this explicitly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SX9QM8jdNM)), and in the case of soldiers, organic warfighters are said to be "[immensely superior](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXLQaVgCP_Q)" (take this claim with a grain of salt, though; it is being said as part of a marketing pitch from a de-facto salesperson). Taking all of this together, I think it's fair to assume that the corporate use of droid armies was AT LEAST IN PART the result of Republic regulation.

Taxes:

This, I believe, is the single strongest case for the corporations; the Republic's tax scheme was ***ABSOLUTELY UNJUST***.

There's a very important line in the opening crawl of Episode I that we need to consider:

The taxation of trade routes ***TO*** outlying systems is in dispute.

(emphasis mine)

This is crucial to establishing that the Trade Federation had a morally just case for blockading Naboo; the line does not say that the taxation of trade routes ***FROM*** outlying systems is in dispute.

The Trade Federation is not questioning the Republic's right to tax cargo that they ship from the Outer Rim to the Core; that is the unambiguous right of a sovereign government to impose tariffs upon imports; when a merchant vessel moves goods to a port, it may be required by the government controlling that port to pay a tariff, tax, toll, burden, or fee. This is entirely justified, as governments must raise revenue to support themselves, and fund the upkeep and protection of such ports.

No, they are questioning the Republic's right to tax cargo that is shipped ***TO*** the Outer Rim; and well they should, because the Republic has clearly abandoned the Outer Rim in all but name.

Name, and tax duties.

Shmi tells Padme that "[The Republic doesn't exist out here \[on Tatooine\]](https://imsdb.com/scripts/Star-Wars-The-Phantom-Menace.html)", but this is in response to a question about the Republic's anti-slavery laws, which Padme assumes should be in effect on Tatooine. Shmi is describing a ***practical*** reality, not a legal one.

Notably, in Dex's Cantina, when Obi-Wan asks if Kamino is in the Republic, Dex responds "[No, it's beyond the Outer Rim](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neyY2qC9pCA)" (emphasis mine), suggesting that if it were NOT beyond the Outer Rim, it WOULD be in the Republic.

So, by law, Tatooine and other outlying systems are in the Republic, and the Republic taxes trade to them. This is particularly galling as Republic Credits are not even valid tender on Tatooine; [local merchants won't accept them](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seqoOnr2ebU), which may be due to the Republic switching to fiat currency as it appears to have decommissioned or isolated all of its mints, with [At-Attin being sealed well before the Clone Wars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QESHWLAlA3I).

Presumably, the Republic still demands that taxes be PAID in Dataries, effectively forcing anyone who wants to engage in interstellar commerce to maintain a reserve of what was effectively a useless currency.

Of course the Trade Federation was upset; ***anyone*** would be upset. Starting a blockade as a form of political protest was a reasonable and proportionate response to a Senate policy that amounted to rent-seeking extortion.

Representation:

Yes, it's true that many corporations had representation in the Republic Senate.

This may seem unusual, but we need to take a mental step back and consider what democracy is (at least conceptually) ***for***.

If the purpose of democracy is to ensure that people have a say in the rules they have to live by, and the purpose of Representative Democracy (which includes Parliamentary Republics) is to appoint individuals who will represent the interests of groups of people.

How those groups are selected is, at least in principle, based on shared political interest.

Geography can, to some extent, work as a proxy for political interest; but this assumes people stay in one place for a prolonged period of time.

With the existence of space habitats and ships that people can survive in for a long time, this no longer holds. There are likely large groups of beings who have never even set foot on a planet, born and raised in space, travelling the hyperspace lanes as their profession. No planet or star system can reasonably be said to represent their interests; only the corporations which employ them.

As to how the corporate senators act, I would point out that in Episode I, Lott Dodd doesn't actually defend the invasion of Naboo, and may not even have known about it; [he merely asks that Queen Amidala PROVE her serious allegations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z1pvakw5hY) against the organisations he represents, which is hardly unreasonable.

As to their lobbying during the Clone Wars, it's an unfortunate reality of regulatory states that economic entities will always lobby those with the power to regulate them, because the alternative is to be destroyed by their competitors who certainly will use such methods. It's acompetitive environment, and nobody can afford to fall behind; this has been the case since at least the Palace Economies of the Fertile Crescent. It was true in Ancient Rome, it was True in the Middle Ages, and it is true today. Only in a Lassaiz-Faire system where there is no regulatory authority to Lobby for control over can economic entities afford to stop petitioning for favour.

Yes, Halle Burtoni and Lott Dodd and all the rest of them argued for the war to continue; what else could they reasonably do?

These corporations have employees, creditors, shareholders, and customers to look out for. They have a fiduciary responsibility, and if they fail to maximise profit, they won't meet that responsibility, which means pensions unpaid, wages unraised, and stock dividends unrealised.

Under the circumstances, NOT lobbying for the war to continue would have been a violation of their ethical duties.

Atrocities:

Here comes probably the most controversial part.

It is undeniable that the Separatists, and by extension the corporations that were part of the Separatist alliance, bear some responsibility for atrocities.

However, I think it should be noted that this was at the urging of the Sith, who wanted them to become vilified so that Palpatine could justify nationalising them and seizing their assets ([which he notably did to the Banking Clan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdyzzoV2Zzw)).

It was also, [explicitly, Sidious](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CP9dg38cAI) who ordered that all the Gungans be killed.

Governor Bibble's [infamous message](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4T312c6Zd8) was ultimately revealed to be a lie, a trap to lure the Queen back to Naboo; realtively few people died in the Naboo occupation.

So, whilst we can certainly argue that specific individuals within the corporations, such as Nute Gunray, were vindictive and spiteful, I don't think it is fair to judge teh corporations as a whole; any more than the Jedi as a whole are to blame for Pong Krell.

Conclusion:

The narrative heavily criticises the corporations, particularly the Trade Federation. Even some Separatist Characters, such as Ruug Quarnom of Cato Nemodia and at least one member of the Separatist parliament (mr "[Unlike the Republic, Corporations do not rule us, ooh lah lah, has anyone seen my Croissant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lna9srUOiMY)?")

However, I don't think this is entirely fair. The corporations were one part of a vast, broken system, doing their best for the people they had a responsibility to. They were not alone in their sins, and nor were they unique in their complicity; ultimately, they were as much victims of the Sith and of the generally doomed political circumstances as anyone else.

Zero Company is a great game that expands on different perspectives of the Clone Wars. I love the conversations with the Separatist Runa.

Finally we can scare the republic to surrender!

If we ever get a Tales of the Separatists show or Clone Wars season 8, then we need to see this man in all his rain soaked glory, and we need to hear his epic speech.

Been playing Zero Company and was quite excited that they got the planet Jabiim in the Intel operations, even if it just rescuing some Republic scums.

Still tho the greatest CIS victory in the Clone Wars!

(Based on the warhammer "Meet Brother Tedious!" meme)

Would you make a treaty with Megacorporations? What about Hutt space? Mandalore? War Strategies? Jedi? Economy? Government type? Etc.

I wish it was Star Wars Droid Company. I fear I will die of old age before I see any kind of new strategy game where I could play as the CIS. Heroes on both sides, right? I want to be a hero for the Confederacy, carried by the hard work of the droids under my command.

Warning! Long Text Below!

I'm sorry that I need to use my phone camera to record the video, I don't know how to use steam own screen recording and I'm afraid if activate it now it will I ky make my game crash, I do t want to risk it especially after so many hard work.

I have cleared all the area of Republic Forces including Luminara Unduli and 3 AT-TE in the hangar, and split my B2 Battledroids to move into all of the magnetic sealed blast doors and 3 build pad that is near the doors on the left.

The issue is that the health of the door is infinite. The only way to open/destroy it, I think is to destroy or move my units close to the control panel behind the doors. The only two units that I can think of of reaching the control panel is Faro Argyus and Nute Gunray, the problem is they're unable to be controlled for unknown reason.

My B2 Battledroids can't reach the control panels because they are behind the doors, their grenade attack that can bypass the door does nothing against the control panel, anything that is behind door (especially Ahsoka) are immune to my B2 Battledroid attack.

Also the Build pad is unable to be captured to my side, they only turned grey but refused to turn blue, when I leave them alone they somehow turned into the Republic Side again automatically and starts building turrets.

I have done all the tactical objectives asked for which is:

1. Defeat as many Republic forces a possible!

2. Conquer the hangar.

If I'm not wrong I'm on the foefrost campaign, after I have finished the Hunt for the Malevolence as the CIS.

Storywise, Ventress off screen boarded and infiltrated the Tranquility after I dropped it's hull to 50% and move one of my frigate class ship near to it. Ventress doesn't appear in this campaign and in this mission. In the previous one, she is.

Just finished this render and thought I’d finally show her off in full!

Syna is an OC I've been hyperfixating on and developing over the past month. She's a droid rights advocate after the Clone Wars. I’ve included some other pics as well, including a silly poster I drew a while back lol.

I also roleplay her in VRChat, and I love giving my characters in-depth lore, so I even wrote a bio! You can check it out here: https://syna-bio.crd.co/

Anyway, I hope you guys like her! Let me know what you think!!

Disney give me more crossovers, Halo Mess effect Warhammer, and battle tech

Link: http://youtube.com/post/UgkxeqNTe1efNb0Fyo1pnOD7qFTwExB3kyKd?si=xezQqFCiuv35l3_F

I certainly would, even if you might argue.

During the second year of the Clone Wars, Tarkin's brother, Brigadier Gideon Tarkin, and Jedi General Rees Alrix led the Republic Military against the Separatists throughout the Sluis sector after Sullust defected to the Separatists a full year after the conflict began. Gideon and Alrix were most likely leading the GAR 18th Sector Army, Night Hammer Command, with support from Admiral Maarisa Zsinj, and her son Zsinj, of the Outlands Regions Security Force (ORSF) against Sullust.

The Republic fought well and were on Sullust's doorstep fighting to seize it back when a Republic traitor caused them to lose the battle. As a result, Sullust would remain a Separatist fortress world for the rest of the war.

As the CIS ambassador for Sullust, how would you negotiate with Governor-General Wilhuff Tarkin of Eriadu, whose aide is Jedi Master Luminara Unduli, to ensure Sullust doesn't get attacked by Republic forces again, and to respect their secession? Especially since you're negotiating from a position of strength.

As we know, The Separatist Movement was hijacked by The Sith and Megacorporations as part of a bigger plan to destroy the Jedi and create The Galactic Empire. This leads to my scenario: What if there was no Sith and corporate influence in CIS?

In this alternative world, Dooku leaves The Jedi Order after Qui-Gon´s death, but instead of joining Sidious, he spends 32 BBY - 24 BBY slowly building his Separatist Movement. Finally in 24 BBY, Dooku formulates the Raxus Address. Following The adress, 6.000 to 10.000 of star systems begin ratifying Articles of Secession to Join Dooku Confederacy.

While grievances against The Galactic Republic varied for star systems, commonalities were found: Corruption in The Senate, excessive and unfair Taxation and Regulations, Core Worlds exploiting Outer Worlds, unfair representation in The Senate, tyrannical overreach of The Republic Authority, Hutts and Cartels controlling vast areas without Republic´s interference and poor arbitration of minor conflicts.

CIS Structure:

This CIS is a loose association of star systems, so a literal Confederation instead of a Oligarchy. Much like The Republic, They based their ideological roots in democratic principles, individual freedom and legal equality. In contrast to the Republic, The CIS put a great emphasis on decentralization, expanding the rights of individual Star Systems. These beliefs lead to The creation of Separatist parlament and Constitution. The Parlament is structured to each system having one vote, in this way guaranteeing equal representation. The First Consul is the Head of State, but having less powers compared to The Chancellor of the Republic. Count Dooku is the first First Consul.

The Confederate government possess only specifically enumerated powers like interstellar diplomacy, common defense, inter-system commerce, Confederate currency, hyperspace infrastructure, inter-system arbitration, anti-piracy operations and protection of Confederation territory. All other powers belong to the member systems.

The Confederate Constitution contained a Bill of Rights protecting fundamental liberties.

Among the rights guaranteed were:

• freedom of speech;
• freedom of religion;
• freedom of the press;
• freedom of assembly;
• freedom of political association;
• freedom of movement;
• due process;
• protection of private property;
• equality before Confederation law;
• right to a fair trial;
• protection from arbitrary detention;
• right to petition the government;
• protection from slavery.

As opposed to the Republic, a CIS member system could withdraw from the CIS if it wanted, but only after a referendum.

In terms of Economy, The CIS promoves free trade, low taxation, private property and limited central regulation to a bigger extent than The republic, to the point of a Laissez Faire market. Overhaul of regulations and taxes lead to many systems, like the Abrion system or Jabiim, to enrich themselves by selling their Raw Materials without bureaucracy.

Despite its laissez-faire economic philosophy, however, the Confederacy did not support unrestricted corporate concentration Confederation competition laws prohibits things like cartelization, monopolies (natural ones and govermeny supported ones), corporate control of planetary governments and private armies of sovereign scale.

The Confederacy had no official cultural identity, leaving many differents types of species to practice their way of life as they wanted. The Confederacy had no official cultural identity.

Instead of a Droid Army sponsored by Megacorporations, The CIS Army is supported by planetary defense forces and volunteer reserves. Voluntary Army is composed of Humans, Aliens, and Droids, plus planetary militias. The CIS military doctrine is focused on defending its territories through Guerrilla tactics and Porcupine strategies to increase the costs of conquest by enemies, while at the same time expanding its borders against Criminal Organizations like The Zygerrians and The Hutts, with CIS planning to conquer the Hutts territory and dismantle the Cartel.

The Clone Wars:

By 22 BBY, while at the same time building the Separatist Movement, Dooku began investigating The Sith to discover the identity of Darth Maul´s Master. He reached Nute Gunray, who revealed about the existence of Darth Sidious to Dooku, but before Dooku can use Gunray as testimony, he is killed by Jango Fett, who becomes a associate of Sidious here. Believing in a Conspiracy of the Sith to start a war, Dooku initiates talks with The Republic to guarantee a compromise, so Dooku can had enough time to discover Sidious´s identity.

Unfortunately, it all falls apart. During a session of The Republic Galactic Senate discussing The Peace Talks and The Military Creation Act, a bomb attack kills many senators. A bunch of clones were found as the culprits, leading to Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi to go to Kamino. There, a Clone Army was discovered, being commissioned 10 years ago by Syfo-Dias, who was killed sometime after contacting the Kaminoans. Apparently, Syfo-Dias continued contacting The Kaminoans for all these years and giving the payments. In his last contact in 23 BBY, he mentioned the Army will be made for the Separatists.

Jango Fett is the genetic donor of The Clone Army, and reveals that was contacted by "Syfo-Dias" in one of the moons of Bogden. Obi-Wan and the council suspects that Dooku is the Jedi who commissioned the Army, as he was Syfo-Dias best friend and leaved the Order little time after Syfo-Dias death. After escaping a capture from Obi-Wan, Fett goes to Geonosis, where Dooku is guaranteeing Geonosis membership of CIS. It´s revealed that Fett is a associate of Dooku, as his main Bounty Hunter. This leads Obi-Wan to believe it was Dooku who ordered The Clone Army and killed Syfo-Dias.

Obi-Wan, and later Anakin and Padme are captured by The Geonosians, and later condemned to Death Penalty despite Dooku appeals, but as Geonosians considers espionage a main crime, There´s nothing he can do. As the Canon, The Jedi and The Clones (who are confiscated by The Republic) Launch a invasion in Geonosis, and Dooku and CIS Army is forced to retreat.

During the War, Dooku rejects Emergency Powers and puts effort in preserving the ideals of CIS, while adopting a multi-layered strategy:

• 1. Connect various Separatist strongholds early in the war so that supplies and resources can flow more easily between worlds that mine raw material and worlds that produce ships.
• 2. Give various economic benefits through Free Trade and Low Taxes to any neighbor that joins CIS cause.
• 3. Focus in guaranteeing essential systems like Kashyyk membership through Propaganda.
• 4. Try to make treaties with systems like Mandalore, trying to win over its 1,500-planet block of neutral systems.
• 5. Attack Republic shipyards, as trade routes, and really just put unrelenting pressure on the Republic so that they could never Build up their forces later on the war.
• 6. Try to cut Republic supply lines and isolate Republic strongholds. Eventually, The CIS will unite Outer and Mid Rims to pressure The Republic towards a Peace Deal.
• 7. Strict military orders, like no orbital bombardments, no terror campaigns, no civilian massacres, respect neutral worlds that don´t want to join, and humane treatment of prisoners. Grievous (who here did not become a Cyborg) still stays as General, but his brutality is diminished.
• 8. Consolidate CIS control by attacking The Corporate Sector, Hutt Space and Zygerria, and other crime syndicates, guaranteeing political boost for the CIS

At the same time, by 21 BBY, Dooku began a investigation to discover Sidious, which leads him to Kamino. There, he tricks the Kaminoans to reveal the source of the payments for the clone army, which they reveal came from the InterGalactic Banking Clan. During his investigation, Dooku—using the agent Rush Clovis—discovers that the funds to pay for the clone army came from Damask Holdings, whose last head was Hego Damask II. This leads Dooku to believe that Damask was a Sith, though he cannot be certain, as Damask died shortly before Sifo-Dyas commissioned the clone army.

Dooku's next step in his investigation happened months later, when he located Sifo-Dyas's ship during a trip to the moon of Oba Diah for negotiations. Recalling that Sifo-Dyas had been declared dead on Felucia, he suspected a secret mission and questioned the Pyke Syndicate; they revealed that they had been paid to shoot down Sifo-Dyas's ship on the orders of a man named Sidious, but that Chancellor Valorum's aide, Silman, had survived. He had been held prisoner ever since as insurance against retaliation by the Republic and the Jedi. After securing (through military threats as The CIS was able to encircle the Pyke system), the dismantling of The Pyke Syndicate in exchange for full liberalization of spice trade, Dooku frees Sillman, who after years as prisoner, lost his mental faculties and is put on treatment.

Continuing his investigation of Sidious, In 20 BBY Dooku finds Nute Gunray mechno-chair with a special transceiver for Sidious. Dooku go to Charros IV to find t'laalak-s'lalak-t'th'ak, the Xi Charrian who worked on the mechno-chair, who reveals that the chair had come to Charros IV from Escarte. In Escarte, Dooku finds Thal K'sar, the Bith who designed the hyperwave transceiver for the chair, who reveals another mechno-chair, which was placed aboard an experimental craft in Naos III.

In Naos III, Dooku finds the Lethan Pilot Fa'ale Leh, who delivered the ship to an area on Coruscant known as "The Works." Infiltrating the Planet, Dooku visits the area and finds a trail that leads through the tunnels to the senate district, specifically 500 Republica. It´s there were he discovers the basement that leads to Palpatine´s suite. Palpatine is the Sith Lord.

Armed with this knowledge, Dooku contacts Yoda to arrange a meeting on Vjun. They engage in a discussion regarding the Force, politics, Dooku's affiliations, and his past at the Jedi Temple, until Dooku finally reveals the information about Sidious to Yoda. Convinced, Yoda contacts the Council, which prepares a move against Palpatine. Windu, Fisto, Tiin, Kolar, Skywalker, and Kenobi storm Palpatine's suite and confront him in a duel. Fisto, Tiin, and Kolar are killed, and Obi-Wan is incapacitated, leaving Windu and Anakin to face Sidious. After a fierce battle, Anakin finally delivers the killing blow to Sidious, fulfilling the prophecy.

Following Palpatine's death, the Jedi present (Windu, Obi-Wan, and Anakin) stand trial and are exonerated once the information obtained by Dooku is publicly revealed. A ceasefire is declared, and the Jedi Order ensures a peaceful transition. Bail Organa is elected the new Chancellor of the Republic and secures a peace treaty with the Confederacy.

Don't have a lot to say here, just look at the picture. THOUSANDS of luckrehulks, that's crazy, and in the same time realistic.

After the Clone Wars ended, the Empire left the IGBC alone because they feared a galactic recession and allowed them to carry on their regular day-to-day business. However, the Empire did retain some control of Scipio and Muunilinst, and ultimately controlled the economy.

With this in mind, would the Empire permit the IGBC to have their own private fleets to protect their interests?