For three years, a major conflict spread across the galaxy. The Clone Wars claimed billions of lives and nearly ended the Jedi Order.
Sheev Palpatine orchestrated the conflict from behind the scenes. His political power within the Galactic Republic grew as he manipulated the Confederacy of Independent Systems under his secret identity as Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious. When the conflict broke out after years of careful planning, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine already controlled both clans. No one distrusted his public persona, and no one imagined that the galaxy would soon be plunged into darkness.