The Episode I lead-in series was a loose collection of media published around a year before Attack of the Clones was released, detailing the run-up to The Phantom Menace from a year to just before the start of the movie. The series consists of the ebook Darth Maul: Saboteur, the books Cloak of Deception and Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, and the comic Darth Maul. The comics Marked and Jedi Council: Acts of War could also be considered part of the series due to their chronological placement and subject matter.

Major plotlinesEdit

• Darth Maul finishes his training, receives the Scimitar, and carries out several missions for Palpatine.
• Potential threats to Palpatine's future rule (including Silus, Black Sun, and the Yinchorri) are dealt with either by the use of Maul or tricking the Jedi into doing the work for him.
• Ki-Adi-Mundi is placed on the Jedi Council.
• Palpatine, with the help of Wilhuff Tarkin, helps maneuver Nute Gunray up the ranks of the Trade Federation, setting him up for an eventual takeover.
• Finis Valorum's standing in the Galactic Senate is eroded by Palpatine via fiascos such as the Yinchorri Uprising, Eriadu Trade Summit, and Valorum Shipping scandal, as well as his manipulation of various senators.
• Tarkin and Palpatine arrange the murder of the Trade Federation Directorate and the taxation of trade routes by the Galactic Republic, giving Gunray complete control over the Federation and having him order a blockade of Naboo.
• Palpatine arranges the death of King Veruna and the ascension of the inexperienced Amidala, so that he can have full control over the Naboo senatorial delegation.

New charactersEdit

• Arwen Cohl
• Vilmarh Grahrk
• Hath Monchar
• Silus

New locationsEdit

• Dorvalla