



Within the first decade of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's rule, Count Dooku emerged as the face of the Separatist movement, rallying systems to his cause -- though some planets, such as the strategically located trade world of Eriadu, resisted his entreaties. On Geonosis, he conspired with other leaders to construct a massive droid army that would overwhelm the Republic. He was surprised to find, however, that Obi-Wan Kenobi had made his way to the system while on mission. Once the Jedi was captured, Dooku claimed he was glad to meet him -- as the former Master of Qui-Gon Jinn, Dooku had heard only good things about Obi-Wan -- and asked for his help. The reason Dooku joined the Separatists, he said, was that he learned a terrible truth: a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious controlled the Senate. With Obi-Wan at his side, they could destroy the Sith. “I’ll never join you, Dooku,” the Jedi said. Dooku coldly left Obi-Wan in his cell.

Later, Dooku and the Geonosians planned to execute Obi-Wan, as well as Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, in their massive arena. The three staved off the beasts unleashed upon them, however, which gave the Jedi and their new clone army time to stage an attack. Thus marked the start of the Clone Wars, with both sides suffering heavy losses.







In his bid to escape, Dooku rode a speeder to a nearby hangar but was followed by Obi-Wan and Anakin. The Separatist leader ignited a red-bladed lightsaber -- evidence that he had in fact turned Sith -- and struck Anakin with a powerful shot of Force lightning. Arrogant and eager for combat, he taunted them both, ultimately wounding Obi-Wan and severing Anakin’s right arm. Ready to finish the Jedi, Dooku stopped when he heard familiar footsteps: Yoda had arrived. The Sith claimed to be more powerful than any Jedi, but Yoda easily absorbed his Force lightning attack. “Much to learn you still have,” he said. With that, the two fought a furious lightsaber duel, which ended with Dooku making a hasty exit. “This is just the beginning,” he warned. The former Jedi fled the system and landed in an unmarked dwelling on Coruscant, greeted by the evil Darth Sidious. “I have good news for you, my lord,” he said. “War has begun.”