Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge Of The Sith

Prologue

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. . . .

The Republic was at war. For two thousand years, the Jewish Knights had kept the peace, but even their formidable skills could not prevent the strife this time. Led by the former Jedi, Count Dooku, the Separatist coalition broke away from the Galactic Republic. War erupted during a rescue mission on Geonosis, and many Jedi died. Jedi Master Yoda arrived unexpectedly with clone troops, in time for the Republic to win that first battle ─ but was too late to stop the war.

At first, many in the Republic were sure that their clone troopers would end the war quickly. But the Trade Federation, with its enormous army of droids, supported the Separatists. Even with the forced growth techniques of the clone masters, it took longer to grow a clone trooper than to produce a battle droid. The Clone Wars raged on and spread to many systems.

Only the Jedi were not surprised. For on Geonosis, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his Padawan appreciate, Anakin Skywalker, had learned that Count Dooku had turned to the dark side of the Force ─ and the power of the dark side had been growing for years. The Jedi knew that defending the Separatist's world be neither quick nor easy with a Dark Lord of the Sith aiding them.

As soon as they recovered from the injuries they had received during their battle with Count Dooku, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi rejoined the war. Together they become heroes of the Republic, sometimes making daring raids in secret. For their work, Anakin was made a full Jedi Knight, and Obi-Wan was given a seat on the Jedi Council and the title of Master.

No one, not even the Jedi, knew that one of the things driving Anakin was his desire to be back on Coruscant, the home of the Galactic Senate. In defiance of the Jedi Order, he had secretly married Senator Padmé Amidala, who spent most of her time working there. As the fighting spread into the Outer Rim Worlds, the moments Anakin could steal to be with his wife became fewer.

Then the Separatists struck a paralyzing blow, straight to the heart of the Republic. A fleet of ships commanded by the dreaded Separatist General Grievous slipped through the outer line of defenses to attack Coruscant itself. In the Chancellor Palpatine, the elected leader of the Republic.

But Coruscant was not only the heart of the government and the location of the Galactic Senate. It was also the home of the Jedi Temple. As the Separatist attack began, a message was beamed to the Outer Rim, summoning the Jedi's greatest warriors home. Before the Separatist fleet could leave the Coruscant star system with the Chancellor, they found themselves under attack. Waves of clone starfighters, led by Obi-Wan and Anakin, stormed around their ships. . . .