Emperor Karina's Revival Plan
Queen Karina wanted the Death Star. Even without that terrifying superlaser installed, a spherical battle station 160 kilometers in diameter was more than enough to satisfy her.
If she could make this battle station her new hive, she would have the power to break free from the control of the Galactic Empire and the Kingdom of Dawn and gain her freedom.
In truth, the reason she had agreed to go with Poggle the Lesser was because she believed he had a point.
After the Clone Wars ended in defeat, all paths had been blocked for the Geonosians, as core members of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As the defeated side, they could only be at others' mercy. And Poggle the Lesser had indeed been right: Dawn Star Planet had the ability to negotiate terms with the Galactic Republic, but did the Geonosians?
There was a saying: what could not be won on the battlefield could not be won at the negotiating table either.
If they wished to avoid extinction, their only option was to sell themselves for the highest price possible. But what else did they have to sell? Dawn Star Planet's separate peace with the Galactic Empire had, in truth, largely cut off the paths of the other core species of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
The valuable things on the Confederacy's side had already been taken away by Dawn Star Planet. What did the other species have left? Fortunately, there was still the DS-1 battle station project. The Geonosians had handled its early-stage work, so it counted as their last remaining path.
Thus, their only choice was to continue participating in the DS-1 battle station project from the era of the Galactic Republic and sell themselves.
Poggle the Lesser had indeed kidnapped Emperor Karina