Negotiator

For other uses, see Negotiator.

"Yes, disaster was averted. But is a hair's breadth a comfortable margin in which to risk the outcome of the war? Factor in the recent loss of the Negotiator—an entire flagship destroyed while rescuing truant Jedi children in a sector far from the frontlines, we are left with an unescapable conclusion."

―Wilhuff Tarkin, in a memorandum to Palpatine^[9]

The Negotiator was a Venator-class Star Destroyer that served as a flagship of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Clone Commander CC-2224 "Cody" during the Clone Wars. It was also commanded by Admiral Block of the Republic Navy.

Description[]

The Negotiator was a Venator-class Star Destroyer in the Republic Navy's Open Circle Fleet. It was equipped with a self-destruct mechanism. It carried starfighters such as Clone Z-95 starfighters and BTL-B Y-wing starfighters or LAAT gunships.^[3]

History[]

The Negotiator saw service in the Republic Navy during the Clone Wars under the command of Admiral Block. It was adorned with three red markings on each "wing" surface and wore the symbol of the Open Circle Fleet.^[8]^[10] It served as the flagship of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi,^[11] who had earned the nickname "The Negotiator."

Battle of Christophsis[]

In 22 BBY,^[12] the Negotiator was sent to break Admiral Trench's blockade around Christophsis and rescue Senator Bail Organa who was trapped on the planet. During the time, a Stealth ship was loaded in the hangar. When the Negotiator arrived, Obi-Wan Kenobi ordered Anakin Skywalker to fall back to a position behind Christophsis's moon. Kenobi then devised a plan where Skywalker would deliver supplies to Senator Organa using the stealth ship. The situation quickly soured as Trench ordered a bombing of Organa's position, forcing Skywalker to go on the offensive. The Jedi were able to break the Separatist blockade and deliver supplies to the battered Republic military on Christophsis.^[5]

Hunting the Malevolence[]

VenatorTurbolasers-SoM — The *Negotiator*, *Resolute*, and another Star Destroyer firing all batteries on the *Malevolence*

The Negotiator joined the Resolute and another Republic star destroyer against the Malevolence in the Battle of the Kaliida Nebula and succeeded in further damaging the already-crippled warship. However, when General Grievous captured Senator Padmé Amidala aboard the Malevolence, Kenobi and Skywalker went aboard to rescue her, and also succeeded in reprogramming the ship's navicomputer to fly into the nearby moon.^[2]^[6]

First Battle of Felucia[]

BlockadeofFelucia — The blockade of Felucia

Later during the First Battle of Felucia, the Negotiator was present alongside two other Star Destroyers, the ship was under the overall command of Clone Commander CC-3636. After breaking the Separatists blockade, General Plo Koon led Wolfpack and V-19 Torrent starfighters towards the planet surface to evacuate the republic forces on the planet. Later, the republic forces withdrawn from Felucia.^[7]

Destruction[]

"This is General Kenobi. Abandon ship. Abandon ship!"
"Sir, shouldn't we stay and fight? We can't lose the ship now!"
"Cody, this ship is already lost. We must face it. You and I are going to give Grievous a little parting gift."

―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Cody, deciding to activate the Negotiator's self-destruct sequence^[3]

Around 20 BBY,^[4] the Negotiator was damaged and boarded when General Grievous launched an assault on Kenobi's fleet. It was eventually destroyed through its self-destruct mechanism that was activated just before General Grievous' boarding party overran the ship.^[3] Kenobi later transferred his forces to another Venator-class Star Destroyer.^[13]

NegotiatorDestroyed-BFR — The destroyed *Negotiator*

The destruction of this ship, as well as the Carida Incident later on that similarly resulted in the self destruction of a Venator-class Star Destroyer due to Separatist machinations, this time the Renown, was later cited by Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin in a memorandum to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in order to persuade him to gradually phase out the Jedi, fearing that their continued command over the Republic Forces would force the Republic to lose the war to the Separatists.^[9]