Star Wars: Saboteur

Star Wars: Saboteur is an American science fiction novel and a prequel to the film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It retells the story of the novel Cloak of Deception.

Plot
The Trade Federation is targeted by a terrorist group called the Nebula Front, led by Captain Arwen Cohl. Above the planet Dorvalla, a Trade Federation ship transporting precious nuggets of aurodium is attacked and it subsequently crashes onto the planet below. The Republica Galactica dispatch two Jedi Knights, Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Dorvalla to investigate. Here, they encounter Cohl, who is trying to steal the aurodium. Cohl manages to escape in his ship, and the rest of his crew bar Rella and Boiny are killed.

The Trade Federation decide to petition the Galactic Senate to increase their number of security battle droids. Chancellor Coriolanus Valorum considers the issue and consults his advisor, Naboo Senator Palpatine, who recommends that he allow the Trade Federation to do what they want as long as the Republica Galactica can put a tax on the trade routes the Federation hold. A debate begins in the Senate and Valorum sets up a summit on the planet Eriadu.

The Nebula Front devise a plot to assassinate Valorum in order to continue opposing the Trade Federation's activities. Cohl recruits a group of assassins to assist them as the summit approaches. Cohl meets the particularly ruthless Havac, who has secret intentions of his own. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan continue to investigate.

Finally, on the day of the summit, the Senate gathers on Eriadu while Cohl and his mercenaries arrive, unknowingly followed by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. The two Jedi then hunt down each of the assassins and defeat all of them except for Havac and a lone sniper. Cohl learns that Havac has other motives and plans and tries to stop him, but is wounded. He is tended to by Boiny and Rella, just as the Jedi arrive and they agree to help each other. They watch in horror as the sniper fires at Valorum, but suprisingly misses. A squad of guards then arrive just in time to shoot the sniper to death, while shields are activated around the senators for protection. Suddenly, a reprogrammed battle droid rises and aims at the Trade Federation Directorate, who are trapped thanks to the shield. The other senators watch in shock as the Federation leaders are executed by the droid. The guards then pour in and destroy the droid.

Rella then spots Havac preparing to flee and alerts the others. In the ensuing chase, Rella and Boiny are killed by Havac, who then stabs Cohl. The Jedi become lost in the panicked crowds and managing to catch up just as Cohl retrieves Havac's gun and shoots him dead, in spite of Qui-Gon's cries to spare him. The Jedi Master then reflects on the fact that now that Havac is dead, they can not know why he set up the assassination of the Trade Directorate. With Cohl's death, the Nebula Front collapses and leadership of the Trade Federation falls to Minister Nute Gunray. Obi-Wan notes how suspicious it is that the only surviving members of the Federation are Neimoidians.

In the aftermath, the new tax legislation is passed and Nute Gunray is contacted by Darth Sidious, who suggests getting revenge by invading Naboo.