What were Obi Wan and Qui Gon doing on the Trade Federation flagship?

Question

I noticed that the filmmakers didn't actually establish why two Jedi were sent to talk with the Trade Federation.

Unless you're asking why Jedi were specifically chosen for the negotiations with the Trade Federation, this is a "general reference" question which is indeed addressed in the film itself. If we had "general reference" as a close reason here (as some other sites do) I'd imagine this question would be closed. — Iszi, Feb 08 '12 at 04:26

score 21 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 07 '12 at 12:44

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This is explained on the opening crawl :

EPISODE 1
THE PHANTOM MENACE
Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlaying star systems is in dispute.
Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo.
While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict.....

opening crawl

answered Feb 07 '12 at 12:44

DavRob60

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...the guardians of peace...: that must be why they fight so much. – Xantec Feb 07 '12 at 14:22
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+1 for excellent source. -1 for no hand-drawn circles – DVK-on-Ahch-To Feb 07 '12 at 15:06
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@DVK hand-drawn circles are sold separately on opening crawls. An order could be made at the cost of a 50 reputation bounty. – DavRob60 Feb 07 '12 at 15:37
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@DVK - I like hand-drawn circles. Especially in red ink – Valorum Jul 27 '14 at 15:17
@Xantec: For the same reason that cleaners work in dirty areas and doctors focus on sick people. The area of focus is always directly opposite to the change that they try to introduce. – Flater Oct 13 '17 at 09:17
Trade Federation Tea is the best tea in the galaxy. This ensures that Jedis are always looking for an opening to get in on all-expenses-paid "missions" involving the visit of a Trade Federation Ship. – David Tonhofer May 24 '20 at 09:08

score 7 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 07 '12 at 13:38

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http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Invasion_of_Naboo

Valorum and the Council dispatched two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to meet with the Federation Viceroy and ensure the Federation's withdrawal from the system.

Basically, they were doing what Jedi ALWAYS did - serving as diplomats and conflict resolution negotiators. They were acting in their official capacity as Ambassadors for Supreme Chancellor Valorum (from the TPM script):

CAPTAIN : ... the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately.

The reason they were sent to talk was because the blockade of Naboo was basically a small move in a large chess game between the Trade Federation and the Republic over trade route taxation.

edited Feb 07 '12 at 13:38

Kevin

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answered Feb 07 '12 at 11:24

DVK-on-Ahch-To

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I know when I travel on diplomatic missions, I never fail to bring my laser swords. – Jeff Feb 07 '12 at 12:25
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It's called aggressive negotiations – DVK-on-Ahch-To Feb 07 '12 at 15:06
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The opposition sends two heavily armed religious fanatics with psychic powers that can warp minds to the Trade Federation and they say they want to "negotiate". Is it any wonder that they went for a preemptive attack? – FuzzyBoots Oct 07 '14 at 17:27
Yeah, why not gas them and then attempt to execute them by firing squad? This whole 'jerking off to the anti-Jedi-perspective' routine is so tired. – Daniel B Oct 13 '17 at 05:32

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 07 '12 at 11:12

I think we're meant to infer from the context that the Jedi council is worried about the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo, and has sent a couple of diplomats to try and resolve it.

This was probably routine crisis handling for the Jedi at this point, given the effective paralysis of the Republic Senate.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 10 '15 at 05:21

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They were sent by the Chancellor to negotiate like it says in the prologue." The chancellor secretly dispatched two jedi knights."

answered Jan 10 '15 at 05:21

Victoria

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While this is true, this has been covered with better detail and references in an existing answer. Do you have any additional information to add? – phantom42 Jan 10 '15 at 07:39

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 10 '19 at 01:57

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Correct me if im wrong, but i read up on it apparently they were sent to negotiate the TF and nebula font trade routes

enter image description here

answered Apr 10 '19 at 01:57

Alexander

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Hi, welcome to SF&F. If this is something you've read in an authoritative source, you should quote it directly and link or capture the content to include in your answer. Check out the [answer] guide. – DavidW Apr 10 '19 at 02:22

What were Obi Wan and Qui Gon doing on the Trade Federation flagship?

5 Answers5