Mace Windu/Legends

"For the Order and the Republic, I will give anything and everything, including my life."

- Mace Windu

Mace Windu was a male Korun Jedi Master of legendary status who was the Master of the Order in the days leading up to the Battle of Geonosis, after which he gave the title to Grand Master Yoda. Hailing from the world of Haruun Kal, Mace Windu served as one of the last members of the Jedi High Council before the Great Jedi Purge. Serving on the Council, Windu was often regarded as second only to the Grand Master Yoda, though Windu was eight centuries Yoda's junior. Windu's wisdom and power were considered legendary by many, as were the weight of his words.

Widely considered one of the best swordsmen in the Jedi Order, Windu created Vaapad, the modern seventh form of lightsaber combat which he mastered. He was the only practitioner of the form who did not fall to the dark side. Windu served the Jedi Order his entire life, training several Jedi, including Depa Billaba and Echuu Shen-Jon.

It was Master Windu who led two hundred and twelve Jedi into combat at the Battle of Geonosis and slew the infamous bounty hunter Jango Fett. He continued to serve the Republic throughout the Clone Wars, often on the frontlines of fierce fighting, where he led Republic forces as a High Jedi General. He would distinguish himself across many battlefronts, most notably on Dantooine, though he would distinguish himself on Ryloth, Null, Boz Pity and Haruun Kal amongst others. In the final days of the war, Windu confronted and defeated Darth Sidious in a difficult duel, after being informed by Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker that Sidious and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine were the same person. He was ultimately betrayed by Skywalker and subsequently killed by Sidious, falling to his death from the window of Sidious's office.

Early life
"I knew I would succeed. After all, I had my wits, and the Force, and my feet."

- Mace Windu, on Hurikane

Mace Windu was originally from the planet Haruun Kal, where he was born into the Ghôsh Windu in 72 BBY. Jedi anthropologists, who were studying the fact that all the Korunnai could touch the Force, asked the Windu clan if they might take a child back to the Jedi Order to regain the Korunnai's connection to the Force. Since his parents had already died in the jungles, Windu was given to the Jedi when he was six standard months old. Having not been old enough for his naming day within the tribe, the Order bestowed upon him a name as he entered the Academy. Like all in the Order, the young Korun boy was taught by Grand Master Yoda when he was a learner, and eventually went on to become a Padawan to another Jedi. At one point during his apprenticeship, Windu trained under Master T'ra Saa.

At a very early age, Windu learned of his unusual ability to see shatterpoints in the Force and how they would affect all of his future actions as well as the vulnerabilities of his opponents. With these unique abilities, he had glimpses of parts of his future, such as the lightsaber he would eventually build. By age fourteen, the Jedi Council was concerned with Windu, for even though he was at the top of his class, he still could not construct the lightsaber that came to him in visions multiple times. He informed the Council that he wanted a true challenge in order to find the best pieces for his lightsaber. After considering this, the Council sent Windu on his own to the world of Hurikane. While on this mission, Windu was at first chased away by the natives that resided there, but was easily able to resist them using the Force. When he caused one of the fragile natives to shatter, he sobered, and painstakingly restored it using the Force. Learning a valuable lesson about being a Jedi, then he was rewarded by the natives with a violet-colored special crystal. He used this crystal to construct the lightsaber he had seen in his visions and it produced its distinctive violet blade. He would alternate between this weapon and a blue lightsaber he created himself. He also used Eeth Koth's lightsaber, which he obtained when the two Jedi Masters exchanged their sabers during the sacred Concordance of Fealty.

Over the next decade and a half, Windu went on many notable missions that included his first visit to his homeworld, Haruun Kal (during which he learned his native Korun language), and one where he tracked down and defeated the killer Uda-Khalid. During his career, Windu trained many to be Jedi, including Echuu Shen-Jon, and fellow Council member Depa Billaba. He also discovered Darrus Jeht as a very young child after an incident involving the boy's parents. Windu ensured he was tested and placed in a training class, and later trained him for a time, although Jeht was never formally his Padawan.

Jedi Master
"I created Vaapad to answer my weakness: it channels my own darkness into a weapon of the light."

- Mace Windu, to Obi-Wan Kenobi

Prodigiously talented in the Force, Windu passed the trials early, and continued to progress through the ranks of the order by achieving the title of Jedi Master and, at the remarkably young age of twenty-eight, was appointed to the Jedi Council. The Council's invitation came after Windu's exploits during the Arkanian Revolution where he fought the cyborg Gorm the Dissolver. As a senior member of the Council, his lightsaber hilt would be uniquely decorated with electrum, a precious metal. He eventually rose to take the title of Master of the Order; making him the leader of the Council, and the second highest ranking member of the Order, behind Master Yoda.

As well as his incredible combat abilities, Windu also possessed a rare gift. He had a unique form of Force perception which allowed him to see the shatterpoint in situations, beings and circumstances. These shatterpoints revealed points upon which other things were reliant. Shatterpoints could form links between beings, creatures, planets, or other vessels, and if destroyed or utilized, these shatterpoints could hold the key to averting disaster, sealing fate, winning battles and fulfilling the very will of the Force itself.

In addition to being a legendary warrior and remarkably Force-sensitive, Windu possessed extensive knowledge of Jedi history and philosophy, and was known for his diplomatic abilities. Windu was the Council's primary liaison to the Chancellor, although the Clone Wars caused him to question his firmest beliefs.

In 44 BBY, Jedi Initiate Obi-Wan Kenobi had mere weeks until he would turn thirteen and the Jedi High Council expressed doubts about his future as he did not attract the attention of any potential Jedi Masters. Despite Yoda’s defense of Kenobi, Windu came to the conclusion that Kenobi was not suitable to become a Jedi. Kenobi would be conscripted into the Agricultural Corps on Bandomeer, but would be selected to become the apprentice of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Later that year, Windu would also assist in the mediation of the Stark Conflict.

Jedi Temple sabotage
"The thefts seem small for now. But a small threat can be a hint of a greater threat to come. Either from within or without, this threat is real. Take care, Qui-Gon."

- Mace Windu informs Qui-Gon Jinn of the thefts.

Sometime later, the Jedi Temple was under attack by an unknown assailant who had stolen various items: student files, a sports kit, training lightsabers and a teacher’s meditation robe. The Jedi High Council summoned Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn – without Obi-Wan Kenobi as the latter left the order to assist The Young on Melida/Daan – and asked him to investigate the matter with fellow Jedi Tahl. Later, it was revealed that Bruck Chun was the thief and that the attacker he allied with was none other than Xanatos – former and failed Padawan to Jinn from eight years before.

Soon after this, Kenobi returned to the Jedi Temple and approached the members of the Council. He pleaded his case that he should remain with the Jedi, but the masters were stern and were not so sure of Kenobi. Shortly afterwards, another act of sabotage occurred which saw a turbolift with Ali-Alann and his younglings trapped inside. Bant Eerin rushed to find the Council while Kenobi tried to assist the trapped younglings. Windu, along with the rest of the Council, remained at the bottom of the turbolift and used the Force to prevent it from falling. When the younglings were saved, Windu acknowledged and congratulated Eerin for alerting them. However, he scolded Kenobi for his reckless behavior stressing that something could have gone wrong.

After Xanatos fled and Bruck Chun killed in a duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, Windu stated to Jinn that if he decided to pursue Xanatos, it was without the support of the Council. Meanwhile, Kenobi requested that he be expelled from the Jedi Order but was instead put on probation and allowed to remain as a Jedi. Jinn and Kenobi faced Xanatos on Telos IV, where the latter died. Jinn then accepted Kenobi as his Padawan once more and the probation was lifted.

Sometime after the death of Xanatos, Windu and the rest of the Council received a communication from Vox Chun, the father of the late Bruck Chun, who had died in the incident in the Jedi Temple. Chun asked for the details of his son’s death to be relayed to him by Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Council had agreed to it. The Council summoned Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn and informed the pair of Chun’s wishes. Windu told them that Chun would arrive at the Temple in two days from then.

In 42 BBY, Jedi Master and former Council member Omo Bouri had died on a mission for the Jedi Order. Many, including Windu, were surprised when his former apprentice Saesee Tiin refused to speak at the funeral. This prompted Windu to do so.

Shortly afterwards, Windu approached Tiin and encouraged him to take an apprentice of his own. Instead, Tiin refused and searched inward for his former master's spirit.

Death of Tahl
In 41 BBY, Jedi Master Tahl informed the Council that she had received a communication from Alani and Eritha – twin daughters of the late ruler of New Apsolon, Ewane. Tahl said that the twins feared for their lives and believed that Ewane’s friend and successor, Roan, had murdered Ewane. At that moment, Qui-Gon Jinn burst into the room. Windu allowed Jinn to stay as he was on the original mission some years before. Once her briefing was complete, Tahl stated she would return in a few days with the twins in tow, though Jinn protested he should go along.

Three weeks later, Jinn approached the Council with Obi-Wan Kenobi and stated that he feared for Tahl’s safety and that he was going to New Apsolon to find her. Windu said that Jedi did not need to conform to a schedule and that the Council was not concerned about Tahl’s mission, but Jinn protested and said he was going regardless of what the Council said. Windu then sternly said that if he left, he was doing it against the wishes of the Council.

Sometime after, Windu received an urgent communication from Kenobi. He informed Windu that Tahl had been killed by someone within the government. This prompted Windu and Tahl’s apprentice Bant Eerin to venture to the planet to meet with Kenobi and Jinn. After seeing Tahl’s body lying in state, the team began analyzing the facts surrounding Tahl’s death. But Jinn abruptly left on his own pursuit of Balog – Tahl’s killer – for vengeance.

Windu and both apprentices learned of this and followed clues as to Jinn’s whereabouts. Eventually, Jinn returned and the team learned that Alani and Eritha were part of the Absolutes movement – a hidden criminal organization. The team eventually found the twins and Balog and placed them under arrest. They then left New Apsolon to restore its fragile government while they took Tahl’s body to the Jedi Temple for a traditional funeral.

Sometime after Tahl’s death around 40 BBY, Lena Cobral wished to testify before the Galactic Senate against the criminal Cobral family that she had married into through her late husband, Rutin, on the planet of Frego.

The Council believed that Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi had spent enough time not going on any missions. They knew that Jinn still grieved for the loss of his friend but felt it was time for him to take a mission. Windu, along with Plo Koon and Yoda stated that Jinn and Kenobi would act as bodyguards for Cobral as she made her way to Coruscant.

Sometime later, Cobral and the two Jedi arrived on Coruscant. Windu greeted the three of them and Cobral eventually testified to Supreme Chancellor Kalpana of the actions of the criminal family, also noting the corruption of the Frego senator.

In 39 BBY, the Council received a communication from the representative of Vorzyd IV, who believed that neighboring planet Vorzyd V was behind recent sabotages on the planet. Summoning Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Windu informed the two of the issues on Vorzyd IV and sent them there to deal with the issue.

Yinchorri Uprising
"As you know, I loathe to enter into situations where a show of force is our only likely option. On the other hand, we who are sworn to protect the Republic cannot ignore the threat posed to it by the actions of the Yinchorri anymore than we can ignore what they did to Naeshahn and Ebor Taulk."

- Mace Windu addresses the Jedi strike team

In 33 BBY, the Council received an urgent communication from a soldier on Mayvitch 7 and he requested that the Jedi alert the Galactic Senate immediately of the Yinchorri threat. He was killed as the message abruptly cut. After a discussion as to what to do, Windu informed the Council that he had sent Jedi Naeshahn and her apprentice Ebor Taulk to settle the matter, but their mutilated remains were dumped on Chancellor Finis Valorum’s doorstep. Shortly afterwards, Windu assembled a strike team with various Jedi being deployed to certain planets in the Yinchorr system to find a potential Yinchorri command base. Windu sent Adi Gallia, Eeth Koth, Tsui Choi and Theen Fida to Yitheeth, Lilit Twoseas, K'Kruhk, Plo Koon and Micah Giiett to Yibikkoror while he would accompany Saesee Tiin, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Yinchorr.

The Jedi sustained their losses in the skirmishes on the Yinchorri worlds as Lilit Twoseas and Theen Fida were killed. In the final battle on Yinchorr, Giiett sacrificed himself to save the others. That act killed him and swarms of Yinchorri. Giiett’s death rippled through the Force. Windu grieved for the loss of Giiett despite Jinn’s calm words.

In the aftermath of the crisis the Council held a debate about who Giiett would be succeeded with. Both Yoda and Windu nominated Cerean Jedi Knight Ki-Adi-Mundi, who was elected to succeed Giiett.

Cloak of Darkness
Later that same year, Windu learned that the terrorist Nebula Front had attacked Chancellor Finis Valorum at the Galactic Senate and had wounded him. Qui-Gon Jinn was summoned to meet the Council because he and Adi Gallia had prevented the assailants killing Valorum. Windu had learned that Arwen Cohl had survived an incident at Dorvalla – where he and a team stole aurodium ingots from the Trade Federation cruiser Revenue. Windu listened to Jinn’s claims that the Nebula Front did not mean to kill Valorum.

Sometime later, a small team was formed to find a base of the Nebula Front on the world of Asmeru in the Senex Sector. Jinn, along with his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, accompanied Ki-Adi-Mundi, Yaddle, Saesee Tiin, Depa Billaba and Vergere. Unfortunately, the team faced complications when their ship was shot down. But the tide turned when they defeated the Nebula Front in their base with the aid of sent reinforcements.

After the skirmish, Windu learned from Saesee Tiin and Ki-Adi-Mundi that Jinn and Kenobi had taken Cohl’s ship – the "Hawk-Bat" to track the terrorist to Karfeddion. On Eriadu, the Chancellor was holding a trade summit in light of the recent events. There, Windu learned that Cohl and the true Nebula Front leader Havac were killed and that the entire Trade Federation Directorate, except for Nute Gunray, had been killed by their own droids.

Shortly afterwards, the ingots were finally found – in Valorum Shipping. The Council talked about the matter and deduced that Havac had set Valorum up by suggesting collusion and placing the ingots in Valorum’s family business.

Exploits
As a Jedi Master and member of the Council, Windu stayed active, spearheading many diplomatic and peace-keeping missions, including ones to Yinchorr and Malastare. In 33 BBY, Windu also met with Chancellor Finis Valorum and advised him about how to deal with the terrorist organization known as The Flail.

In 32 BBY, Windu attended a gathering hosted by Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum. Windu spoke with the Chancellor alongside Yoda and Adi Gallia while Jorus C'baoth and Sifo-Dyas were elsewhere speaking with various figureheads, which included Hego Damask and Senator Palpatine who in reality were the Sith Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious respectively.

Around this time, Windu scrawled his own comments alongside the writings of Sorzus Syn, which would eventually make its way into the Book of Sith around 19 BBY to 18 BBY. Future Grand Master of the New Jedi Order Luke Skywalker would estimate that the notes Windu made dated prior to the battle on Naboo.

Jedi disappearances
Sometime later, the Jedi High Council dispatched Padawan Darsha Assant on her final mission before they could declare her a Jedi Knight. But Assant’s mission ended in failure prompting her master, Anoon Bondara to find her in the bowels of the feared Crimson Corridor. But when both Jedi were reported missing, Windu met with Yoda and Qui-Gon Jinn to discuss this turn of events. Jinn suggested that they send his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to find the pair.

Before Kenobi returned, the Chancellor contacted them and stated that the Trade Federation had launched a blockade of Naboo. Windu dispatched Jinn and Kenobi to negotiate terms with the Federation. En route to Naboo, Kenobi informed the Council that the pair were dead as he suspected Black Sun involvement.

Invasion of Naboo
When Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi had returned from Naboo, the Council learned that negotiations with the Federation had failed before they had begun and that they had saved Queen Amidala and some of her soldiers in Theed before fleeing the system. Master Jinn mentioned that prior to their departure from the outskirts of Mos Espa, he was attacked by a dark assassin wielding a red lightsaber. He claimed that it was a Sith Lord. Ki-Adi-Mundi said that the Sith had been extinct for a millennium, and Windu said that the Sith could not have returned without the Jedi being aware of it. Yoda stated that the dark side was hard to see. Windu said that they would use all their resources to confirm the identity of the attacker. Jinn also mentioned in his debriefing that, while stopping for repairs on Tatooine, he had encountered a nine year-old slave called Anakin Skywalker. Jinn professed his belief that the boy was the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy as his midi-chlorian count was unprecedented. Jinn requested that the boy be trained, and Windu asked that Skywalker be bought before them.

When Skywalker arrived, he was tested on his abilities in the Force. The Council noticed his strong connection, but after a vote, they decided not to train him because he was too old and his future was clouded. Following Master Jinn's report to the Jedi Council about the Invasion of Naboo and the presentation of Anakin Skywalker, Windu conducted a training duel with Jinn's Padawan, Kenobi. Kenobi successfully proved his skills by beating the Jedi Master. That night, the Council told Jinn of this, and the Jedi Master was frustrated with their decision and attempted to override it. With the matter dropped, Windu revealed that the Senate was voting for a new Chancellor and assigned Jinn and Kenobi to escort the Queen back to Naboo and to discover the identity of the dark warrior.

Sometime later, the Council had learned that Qui-Gon Jinn had been killed by that same Sith Lord in a battle in Theed. Windu, along with the rest of the Council excluding Oppo Rancisis, Yarael Poof and Yaddle, ventured to Naboo to attend the victory celebrations and Jinn’s funeral. The Council decided to honor Jinn’s final wish and allowed for newly-appointed Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi to train Skywalker as his Padawan. Windu concluded with Yoda in silence that the Sith were indeed alive. Yoda pointed that there were always two Sith: a master and apprentice. The only question Windu asked was which one of those two had been defeated.

Malastare and Nar Shaddaa
Later that year, Windu and the Council learned that insurgents from the planet of Lannik had agreed to peace talks which would be hosted on Malastare. Windu embarked there as an emissary along with Ki-Adi-Mundi, Yaddle, Adi Gallia, Even Piell, Eeth Koth and Plo Koon.

However, on their arrival the team realizes that they are being followed. This prompts Piell and Gallia to investigate only to attack. The attackers fled when Windu and the others arrived to help the two. Later, the talks finally begin but tempers begin to flare forcing Windu to call the talks off early. Upon leaving the venue, Hutar Zash offers the team a ride, but it is all a ruse intended to assassinate them. The Jedi barely escape only to be thrust into the middle of a podrace – the Phoebos Memorial Run.

The Jedi then race to find the Prince R’cardo Sooflie IX held captive by the Red Iaro, who unleash akk dogs on the team. After they are fended off, Windu set off to find those who set the dogs on them, as they came from his home world of Haruun Kal. On Nar Shaddaa, Windu, accompanied by his former Padawan Depa Billaba, were investigating an animal-smuggling ring. As he was surrounded by a large number of thugs, Billaba arrived to help him, and they made short work of their assailants. They eventually located the source of the smuggling, but only after fighting a number of deranged akk dogs originally from Haruun Kal. Windu and Billaba would eventually end up together on Haruun Kal, with tragic results ten years later.

The Pulas
In circa 31 BBY, the Jedi Order carried out an operation to transport the Pulas, a dark side artifact that had been recovered from a Sith Temple on the planet Almas, to the Jedi Temple, for safekeeping. Following the completion of the assignment, Jedi Master Lanius Qel-Bertuk introduced Windu to a group of freelance agents that had participated in the mission.

Mission to Radnor
Around 27 BBY, a plague broke loose on the planet of Radnor, and this prompted the Council to dispatch four Jedi teams to assist with the evacuation of those not stricken with the plague. The Council summoned Obi-Wan Kenobi, Siri Tachi, Soara Antana and Ry-Gaul and their respective apprentices Anakin Skywalker, Ferus Olin, Darra Thel-Tanis and Tru Veld and briefed them of the mission.

Windu stated that the Galactic Senate had dispatched several ships to assist with the evacuation. After briefing them at dawn that morning, the teams left for Radnor and soon returned after successfully quelling the plague, and a chance for a neighboring planet to invade Radnor.

Death of Yarael Poof
Later that year, the Council became aware that Ashaar Khorda wanted to unleash a potent artifact on one of the Core worlds of the Republic. At dusk one evening, the Council deliberated as to what actions to take. Eeth Koth volunteered to safeguard Alderaan, Oppo Rancisis volunteered to safeguard Corellia while Windu took it upon himself to watch over Coruscant. But Yarael Poof spoke up and said that he would assist Windu in the defense of Coruscant. Shortly afterwards, Windu and the Council learned that Master Poof had died saving Coruscant from Khorda, who had been killed in skirmish. In the Jedi Temple’s pyre room, a funeral was held for the Quermian. Delivering the eulogy, Windu said that Poof was the best of them all.

Prelude to war
In 22 BBY, Windu and several members of the Council, including Plo Koon, Yoda and Ki-Adi-Mundi, met with Chancellor Palpatine to discuss the growing threat of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Windu stressed the fact that if more planets tore apart from the Republic, there would not be enough Jedi to keep the peace. Minutes later, Naboo Senator Amidala the Loyalist Committee arrived to meet with Palpatine. Amidala asked who could have organized the attack on her, where her cruiser was destroyed on a landing platform earlier, and Windu said that their intelligence pointed to disgruntled spice miners on the moons of Naboo. The senator asserted her belief that former Jedi Master and Confederacy Head of State Count Dooku was behind it, but Windu and Mundi asserted that Dooku was a political idealist and former Jedi and that assassination was not in his character. Soon after, Windu and the Council summoned Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padawan Anakin Skywalker and briefed them of Amidala's problem. The Council assigned them to protect the senator, at the suggestion of the Chancellor. Sometime after that, the Council held a session where Kenobi and Skywalker briefed the masters of their encounter with a Clawdite assassin who had attempted to kill Amidala, but had been shot to death by an unknown armored figure. Yoda tasked Kenobi with finding the bounty hunter and assigning Skywalker to escort Amidala to safety on Naboo. Windu tasked Skywalker with getting the Chancellor to speak to Amidala about the Jedi mission.

Shortly afterwards, Windu met with Yoda and Kenobi to discuss the mission at hand. Kenobi expressed his doubts about Skywalker being alone on a mission, but Yoda said that the Council was confident in their decision. Windu then reminded Kenobi that if the prophecy was true, Skywalker was the Chosen One.

Later, Windu entered Yoda's private quarters to find the Grand Master disturbed in his meditation. Settling himself onto a seat, he asked Yoda what was wrong. Yoda said that he felt pain, suffering and death and said that something terrible had happened. He also said that Skywalker was in "terrible pain."

Sometime later, Windu was present in the Chancellor's office with fellow Jedi Masters Yoda, Kit Fisto, Stass Allie and Plo Koon alongside Senator Bail Organa, Mas Amedda and others. Windu watched Kenobi report that he tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to droid foundries on Geonosis. He also reported that Viceroy Nute Gunray was behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. He also said that the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance with other factions had pledged their armies to Count Dooku. Before he could say anything else, Kenobi was attacked by droidekas and captured.

Battle of Geonosis
"This party's over."

- Mace Windu, to Dooku

Shortly afterwards, it became apparent that a full-fledged military conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems would occur. Kenobi was captured by the Confederacy on Geonosis and had been prepared to be executed. Windu met with Yoda at the Senate, and watched as Jar Jar Binks bestowed emergency powers upon Palpatine, granting him the power to use the Grand Army of the Republic.

Having learned of this, Mace Windu, without waiting for the clone army to be put at the Republic's disposal, led a Jedi strike force to Geonosis. Windu, along with Luminara Unduli, destroyed Geonosian gun emplacements blocking the way to the arena in his TX-130S fighter tank. When Kenobi, Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala were brought to the Geonosis arena, Windu and his Jedi revealed themselves to Count Dooku, the leader of the Confederacy, who was personally overseeing the planned execution.

Windu personally confronted Dooku and his bodyguard, Jango Fett, in the former's private viewing booth. At that moment, Windu viewed Dooku as the shatterpoint of the entire Separatist movement, which meant striking Dooku down would theoretically end the imminent clone war before it even began. However, Windu's prior attachments to Dooku clouded his judgment, and Windu was promptly distracted by a squad of super battle droids before being flung into the arena by Fett's flamethrower. A heated but short battle followed, during which Windu decapitated Fett.

Eventually, the Jedi were outnumbered by Separatist battle droids, but Master Yoda and the clone troopers rescued the Jedi. After that, Windu and the other surviving Jedi joined the battle as military commanders. Windu again took the controls of his tank and was moving to intercept Count Dooku when three of Dooku's Dark Acolytes confronted him in their own vehicles. Windu was able to defeat all three of them, but the delay prevented him from reaching Dooku.

Windu's failure to strike down Dooku when he had the chance haunted him for some time afterwards, since Dooku's escape effectively neutralized the Count's position as the war's shatterpoint. While many Jedi were haunted by traumatic nightmares about the Battle of Geonosis, Windu was faced with a recurring dream in which he killed Dooku before dying an honorable death at the hands of Jango Fett. As stated in his personal journals, Windu viewed his own reality of preventing the Clone Wars as his nightmare.

In the aftermath of Geonosis, Windu handed the title of Master of the Order to Yoda, who held it in addition to that of Grand Master. Also, Windu spoke with Yoda and Kenobi in the Jedi High Council chamber, and he learned from Kenobi that while he was Dooku's prisoner he learned hundreds of senators were under the influence of Sith Lord, Darth Sidious.

Ruul
Several months after Geonosis, Mace Windu was contacted by his old friend Sora Bulq, who was leading a group of renegade Jedi who protested Jedi involvement in the Clone Wars. In response to Bulq's message, Windu traveled to Bulq's estate on Ruul to meet with them. Unfortunately, just after he arrived, Bulq was ambushed by the Dooku-trained assassin Asajj Ventress, resulting in the death of his Padawan. When the other Jedi, including Windu, involved themselves, Ventress claimed she had been sent by Windu himself, confusing the other Jedi.

While the other Jedi busied themselves, Windu began investigating Ventress' presence, unknowingly followed by the Jedi Rhad Tarn. During his investigations, he found Ventress' ship, and realized that Bulq must have allowed her on the planet, since no one could land on Ruul without Bulq being aware of it. Rushing off to confront Bulq, Windu found him in his estate mourning over the body of his Padawan. When Windu accused Bulq of turning to the dark side and joining the Confederacy, Bulq didn't deny it. Bulq went further and revealed that the only reason that he brought Windu here for was to exploit his hardliner reputation and discredit him, using the other Jedi as witnesses, as they were unaware of his plans. Bulq then drew his lightsaber and shoto and announced his intention to now kill Windu and return to the others alone, claiming Windu betrayed them. Windu drew his own blade and the battle was on. However, as the two engaged one another in a furious duel, Mace Windu sensed that the other Jedi were in danger and swiftly ended the fight by bringing down a pile of boulders upon Bulq. Rushing to Ventress' ship, he found Rhad Tarn dead and the other Jedi who had followed Tarn engaging the Dark Jedi assassin. Though Ventress breifly dueled Windu she realized she was no match for the Korun Jedi Master and was forced to flee in a solar sailer. After Ventress' retreat and Bulq's exposure as a Confederate agent, Windu and the surviving Jedi returned to Coruscant.

High Jedi General
During the Clone Wars, Windu commanded Systems Army Alpha as a High General along with the 187th Legion on many fronts, and won a widely publicized victory at the Battle of Dantooine.

He single-handedly defeated an army of B2 super battle droids and a massive seismic tank, using his bare fists for much of the battle when he lost his lightsaber in the tank's initial blast. Windu later regained said lightsaber, leapt onto a part of the tank, cut his way inside, battled the droids and destroyed the tank from within. Drawings made by a young boy at the scene would later be used as anti-Imperial propaganda during the Galactic Civil War.

Haruun Kal
"We don't have to win, we only have to fight."

- Mace Windu

Six months after the Battle of Geonosis, Windu returned to his homeworld of Haruun Kal to track down his missing former Padawan, Depa Billaba. He was attacked twice in the capital city of Pelek Baw, but met up with a team sent by Depa to bring him to her. While trekking through the jungle toward Billaba, he managed to defeat three Sienar Turbostorm gunships, destroying two and crippling the third, in a masterful display of the versatility and lethality of Vaapad. Windu, along with his companions Chalk, Lesh, Besh, and Nick Rostu, were frequently in danger from the numerous hazards of the jungle and militia attacks.

Throughout his stay on Haruun Kal, Windu was often attacked, beaten, and injured by a variety of opponents. After meeting up with Depa, Windu resolved to bring her back to the Jedi Temple. He also had to deal with the powerful lor pelek Kar Vastor. After the militia launched an all-out attack on the Korunnai that Depa had been leading, he then devised a plan to capture the world for the Republic and battled Kar Vastor, spiritually facing the dark side. Windu would also duel his former Padawan after she succumbed to pelekotan, and won without actually defeating her. Though Windu survived this trial and his strategy was successful, the memories of his return to Haruun Kal would continue to haunt him. Billaba later attempted suicide upon realizing her fall to the dark side, and would remain in a coma for an unknown period afterwards. Mace Windu, in Force-assisted dreams on Haruun Kal, accurately predicted the fall of the Jedi and the destruction of the Temple, in addition to the Yuuzhan Vong terraforming of Coruscant.

Battle of Simocadia
Despite the urgings of Yoda to stay far away from the planet and his own doubts about attachment, Windu made a return visit to aid his friends on Simocadia during the Battle of Simocadia. Attacked because of a rare agrocite crystal that both the Republic and Separatists desired, the Mosciive people desperately needed help to keep their planet from being ravaged completely.

Beginning on his starship, Windu took an encapsulated shuttle down to Simocadia's surface, taking out several Separatist ships in the process. Landing outside the Royal City, Windu and his clone brigade quickly overwhelmed the Separatist droids. Meeting with Empress Sephani, Windu learned that his old friend, Prince Yojan, had defected to the Separatists in order to do what he thought best to protect his planet. Despite the resistance of the palace guard to allow the Jedi to pursue their leader's son, Windu left Sephani with rapid speed, promising to bring her son back to the Republic alive. Utilizing the prince's Separatist-allied right-hand man Demo and carefully avoiding all of the man's traps, Windu allowed him to lead the way to Yojan, where he attempted to convince him to return to the Republic.

Yojan assured Windu that he had no intentions of actually switching persuasions to the Separatists- he merely wished to get close enough to Separatist voices to destroy the agrocite on the planet, leaving no temptation for any army to invade ever again. However, Windu was adamant that activating such widespread destruction would actually destroy Simocadia, and pledged to defeat Yojan for the good of the planet. The two engaged in a brief duel while Demo sneaked behind the pair and inserted the Ardana Shadex into a mechanism, activating a massive colossus that Yojan had programmed to destroy the agrocite mines. Windu, in an attempt to incapacitate the creature, sent his lightsaber into the Shadex, but ended up destroying the only link Yojan had to controlling it.

With the colossus on a planet-wide rampage, Windu teamed with Yojan to pilot a gunship in a tight orbit around the creature. Windu leapt onto the hulk, grabbed the Ardana Shadex, and wounded it, causing it to open its mouth, while Yojan grabbed the Shadex, leapt inside, and stuck it in the automatic-kill slot. The beast self-destructed with Yojan stuck inside, and although Windu had saved Simocadia from massive destruction, he was recognized and shunned as being the killer of their prince. He left in disgrace, shame, and disappointment, recalling bitterly the moment he and Yojan had pledged their undying friendship and the personal toll the war was taking on his life.

Knighting Anakin Skywalker
In the aftermath of the battle on Hypori, the Council became aware of a new threat in the form of General Grievous. Windu agreed that Grievous was tipping the war in favor of the Separatists, and Shaak Ti recommended that potential Padawan apprentices be elevated to the rank of Knight.

Obi-Wan Kenobi suggested that they forgo the traditional Jedi Trials and promote Anakin Skywalker to the rank of Knight, and this generated much debate and uncertainty. Adi Gallia and Oppo Rancisis respectively claimed that Skywalker was reckless with his gifts, and to walk the path of the Jedi it required discipline which Skywalker lacked at times. Nevertheless, Yoda decided that Skywalker would be elevated to the rank of Knight.

Helping a Hutt
Windu was present with Chancellor Palpatine alongside Plo Koon and Luminara Unduli when Jabba Desilijic Tiure sent an urgent communication. The Hutt said that his son had been kidnapped and he wanted the Jedi Order to find his son and bring him to safety. This put the Jedi in a tight spot as the Hutts possessed valuable trade routes the Jedi needed for the war.

Palpatine said that it was necessary and asked for as many Jedi possible to be called for this mission. But Windu said that General Grievous had many Jedi spread thin, though Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker could be called from their battle on Christophsis. It would also serve as an opportunity for Yoda to send Skywalker his new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano.

The Malevolence
After discovering that the Confederacy possessed a mysterious weapon in the form of a starship, the Jedi Council dispatched Plo Koon to Abregado-rae to deal with the weapon. Having lost contact with Koon, the Council feared the worst for him. Windu, Yoda, Kenobi and Chancellor Palpatine discussed this turn of events and Ahsoka Tano spoke out against them saying that just because no one had previously survived, it meant that Koon could still be alive. The Council then had Anakin Skywalker and Tano remain with their fleet.

However, Skywalker and Tano disobeyed the wishes of the Council and scoured the wreakage of Koon's fleet, and found him. The Council had learned that Skywalker and Tano had done this, and were furious. Yoda said that the duo had become twice the trouble they once were.

Failed capture of Nute Gunray
Following Viceroy Nute Gunray's capture on Rodia by Senators Amidala and Onaconda Farr, the Council dispatched Master Luminara Unduli and Padawan Ahsoka Tano to escort the Viceroy to Coruscant for trial.

Unfortunately, the ship fell under attack by Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress and her forces and with the aid of undercover Senate Guard Captain Faro Argyus, the two freed Gunray and fled in a stolen ship. Master Kit Fisto and his former Padawan, Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb were sent to track the ship to Vassek.

Upon Fisto's return to the Jedi Temple he was debriefed by the Council. Fisto reported they found the lair of General Grievous, and Gunray was not there at all. He also said that Grievous had killed Vebb, who challenged Grievous in anger and through his own power.

Dooku captured
Sometime after that, Windu had learned that Count Dooku had been captured by a pirate gang on Florrum in the Outer Rim. The pirate leader, Hondo Ohnaka, sent a message to Chancellor Palpatine saying that he and his men had apprehended the Sith Lord. Palpatine was skeptical of such an accusation, and Windu watched as Dooku was grabbed by Ohnaka into the transmission frame. Still, the Chancellor was skeptical of the claim citing that a hologram can be faked.

Ohnaka next presented Dooku's lightsaber and Yoda said that the curved hilt and elegant design was indeed Dooku's craftsmanship. Ohnaka then said that the ransom he wanted needed to be in spice. Once he received it, he would hand them Dooku. Senator Amidala then suggested that two Jedi go to Florrum to see Dooku personally before escorting him to Coruscant for a trial. Ohnaka accepted this on the condition that the Jedi be unarmed. After the transmission, Windu said that Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi were on nearby Vanqor and were eager to catch up with Dooku.

Battle of Ryloth
After answering a plea from the Senate, the Jedi Council sent Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano to breach the heavy Separatist blockade around the planet of Ryloth so as to make way for a ground assault aimed at freeing the Twi'lek people from Separatist occupation.

When the initial engagement with the blockade proved unsuccessful, resulting in huge losses on the side of the Republic, Master Windu warned Skywalker that he was allocated only a single planetary rotation of Ryloth to breach the blockade, as the invasion needed to move forward with or without having broken the Separatist's defenses. Windu told Skywalker that they would have to postpone the invasion. As such, Skywalker and Tano utilized less than conventional tactics to defeat the Separatist warships; making way for the forces led by Masters Windu and Kenobi to begin their ground assault of the oppressed planet.

Kenobi and Ghost Company set off to land at the village of Nabat, which the Jedi planned on using as a landing point. However, proton cannons from below attacked their Acclamator assault ships above, and after Clone Commander Ponds reported that the guns were breaking through their shields, Windu ordered Kenobi to get the hostages out of harm's way, destroy the guns and allow the transports to land. Kenobi was later successful, and after the transports landed, the Jedi and the clone troopers set off for the capital city of Lessu to retake it and free the planet.

Windu along with Commander Ponds, Lightning Squadron, and the rest of his troops and AT-TEs, despite Separatist forces trying to slow their forces. Windu told Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Orn Free Taa that their forces were stretched too thin for an all out attack on Lessu. To accomplish this, Windu was forced to rely on his considerable negotiation skills, as he knew he would require the aid of Cham Syndulla; leader of the Twi'lek freedom fighters. However, Syndulla loathed to negotiate with the Republic as he did not trust Ryloth's Senator Orn Free Taa, while Taa himself feared that Syndulla planned to seize power. After learning that the Separatists had begun to bomb innocent Twi'lek villages, Syndulla at least agreed to talk with Senator Taa.

Windu acted as moderator during the talks, and ultimately was able to form an alliance between the two out of their mutual wish to see their people free. Syndulla then added his forces to Windu's and the pair managed to retake Lessu from Tambor. In addition, Windu managed to capture the fiendish Separatist leader himself. Windu, alongside commander Ponds, watched the victory parade in the city in satisfaction.

Juma 9 and Behpour
Shortly afterwards, he was sent to Juma 9 in order to rescue Jedi Masters Plo Koon and Obi-Wan Kenobi with the aid of Kit Fisto and clone private CP-6824, while Commander Ponds fought on the outside of the station itself.

They eventually took over the station once more from droid control and the two Jedi were rescued. Shortly after that, the four Jedi held a briefing with Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano who were on Alzoc III, Coruscant and Ryloth respectively. They learned from Masters Unduli and Secura that a Separatist ship crashed on Alzoc III and an unknown thief had infiltrated the ship and stole a device that could prove deadly. In addition, they reported that they had encountered Asajj Ventress.

During the briefing, they received an urgent communication from Senator Amidala who stated that she had discovered a massive Separatist facility on Behpour under the command of the Sith Lord Count Dooku. Unfortunately, she could say no more as she was captured. The Jedi, before breaking communication, organized an attack on the foundry.

With Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi diverting attention to themselves in one part of the facility, Windu and Padawan Tano waited for the shields to the facility to be taken down to allow the Jedi and their forces to attack and invade the factory. Once the shields were down, Windu and Tano led the charge and struck at the facility after using AT-TE walkers to get there quicker.

Once inside the facility itself, Windu and Kenobi confronted Dooku himself. After a brief conversation and eliminating his personal guards, the two dueled Dooku. At the end of the duel, Dooku fell below the platform. Kenobi remarked he was gone but Windu said he was not dead. With that, they boarded the Twilight and left the facility. Soon after, Skywalker, Tano and the freed Amidala joined them.

Stolen holocron
"No more of your tricks."

- Mace Windu to Cad Bane.

Following the First Battle of Felucia, Windu was present during a meeting of the Jedi Council which heard that Padawan Tano had refused to comply with orders given to her by her superior Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. When Windu asked if Kenobi's claims were true, Tano responded by saying that she refused his orders. As a punishment for her actions, Tano was appointed as a guard of the Jedi Archives in order to spend time away from the battlefield.

Later, Master Yoda sensed a disturbance in the Force that suggested intruders would attempt to infiltrate the Jedi Temple. As such, the entire Temple was placed on high alert. While Kenobi and Skywalker tracked the intruders through the central ventilation system, Windu monitored the situation with Master Yoda, Kit Fisto and Aayla Secura in the Jedi Temple communication center. As Kenobi and Skywalker tracked the intruders through the Temple's ventilation system, Master Yoda deduced that it was likely that the intruders were receiving assistance from within the Temple considering their ability to avoid the two Jedi trailing them. As such, the diminutive Master contacted Ahsoka Tano in the Archives and cautioned her that he sensed that there was somebody in the Archives impersonating a Jedi. Fortunately, Tano was able to subdue the imposter, a Clawdite changeling named Cato Parasitti, who had been impersonating Master Jocasta Nu and feeding her employer Cad Bane information from the Jedi Archives.

Unfortunately, Bane's scheme worked, as he was able to keep the Jedi off his tail by creating a diversion using his droid Todo 360. Todo had been rigged with a bomb which was set to explode when he entered the communication center; however, Master Windu was able to use the Force to blast Todo back into the vent, saving the lives of the other Jedi present. However, in this time, Bane was able break into the Holocron Chamber and steal a Jedi holocron as ordered by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Unbeknownst to Bane, Parasitti revealed to the Jedi that Bane's next target was Jedi Master Bolla Ropal. This allowed the Jedi to deduce that Bane was after the Kyber memory crystal in Ropal's keeping, which when combined with a holocron would reveal a list of all known Force-sensitive children in the galaxy.

While Skywalker and Tano were dispatched to protect Master Ropal they were ultimately too late; Ropal was captured and died under torture, refusing to use the Force to help Bane unite the holocron and Kyber crystal. However, the Jedi believed that Bane himself was killed during the Battle of Devaron, though he later proved to have survived. Unfortunately, prior to faking his death Bane was able to coerce Skywalker into uniting the holocron and memory crystal giving him access to the names of the most Force-sensitive children in the Republic. After Bane's escape, Master Windu participated in a meditation session, along with Masters Yoda and Kenobi, and Jedi Skywalker. During this session, they used the Force to sense which children Bane would target. While Yoda sensed that children would be abducted from both Rodia and Naboo, Master Windu felt that a child on Glee Anselm was in danger. Unfortunately, Yoda revealed that he had sensed that particular child disappear into the darkness, meaning that Bane had already captured him. While Kenobi was dispatched to protect the Rodian child and Skywalker was sent to Naboo to safeguard the Force-sensitive Gungan, Windu and Yoda remained at the Temple to continue using the Force to search out those children who were in danger.

Unfortunately, Kenobi arrived too late to rescue the Rodian child, Wee Dunn, however, Skywalker and his apprentice successfully protected their Gungan charge and apprehended Bane. Masters Windu and Kenobi then proceeded to interrogate Bane as to the whereabouts of the two children he had abducted, along with the Jedi holocron, however, he refused to talk; causing Windu to conclude that the bounty hunter's fear of his employer outweighed his fear of the Jedi. Windu, Kenobi and Skywalker then decided to use the Force on Bane's mind simultaneously to force him to co-operate. This interrogation method nearly destroyed the bounty hunters mind, however, it proved successful as he agreed to take the Jedi to both the children and the holocron. Chancellor Palpatine later requested a report on the situation, however, both Kenobi and Windu felt that as an internal Jedi affair, there was no need for the Chancellor to be involved. However, Skywalker disagreed, and as such, Windu had the younger Jedi be the one to report to Palpatine, while he and Kenobi traveled to Black Stall Station with Bane acting as their guide.

At the station, neither Jedi Master could sense the children in the Force. Bane assured them that the children were safe and that he had brought them there to retrieve the holocron. When Windu stopped the bounty hunter from personally bringing them the holocron, and made to retrieve it himself, he accidentally set off Banes security measures. In the ensuing chaos, Bane proved able to escape, though both Jedi Masters survived the ordeal and reclaimed the holocron. Fortunately, through an examination of Bane's ship, Skywalker and Tano had discovered the location of the facility where the children were held, and managed to rescue them.

Following Bane's escape, Windu took the time to attempt to console Ropal's apprentice, Tyzen Xebec. Windu urged Xebec to view his master's death as an honorable service to the Republic, but his words didn't have much of an impact on the Padawan.

Separatist droid foundry
Masters Windu and Yoda later came to suspect that Senator Rush Clovis of Scipio, a member of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, was tied to the Separatists. As any sign of the Jedi's suspicions would cause a major incident, the Masters felt that a member of the Senate would have to investigate him in their stead; the Council ultimately decided that the perfect candidate for the mission was Senator Amidala of Naboo, who was both a long-time ally of the Jedi and had previously been close to Clovis. Unfortunately, Amidala rebuffed Yoda's initial attempts to recruit her, as he did not specify that the Council believed Clovis to be in league with the Separatists. Later, under the request of the Council, Anakin Skywalker approached Amidala about the mission and inadvertently persuaded her to accept it. Amidala traveled to Cato Neimoidia with Clovis, and ultimately discovered that he was aiding the Separatists to create the largest droid foundry in the galaxy on Geonosis; where the Clone Wars began. Despite a nearly fatal attempt on her life, Senator Amidala was able to successfully warn the Council and flee Cato Neimoidia, her mission successful.

The Council then dispatched a huge force led by Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Luminara Unduli to Geonosis in the hopes of destroying Poggle the Lesser's new droid foundry. Also, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano were sent to assist the three Jedi Masters after routing the Separatists from Dorin. Shortly before the attack on Geonosis, Windu - via hologram with Chancellor Palpatine and Yoda - went over the attack with the Jedi. It was stressed that Poggle the Lesser needed to be apprehended during the battle.

Funeral of Onaconda Farr
Windu later attended the funeral of Rodian Senator Onaconda Farr, who recently died on Coruscant in the company of fellow senators. Windu attended the service alongside Yoda and other dignitaries. After Farr's aid - Silood - delivered the eulogy and the casket was sent back to Rodia, Windu and the crowds dispersed.

Zillo Beast Incident
Windu later led Republic forces during the Battle of Malastare alongside Anakin Skywalker, pushing to drive Separatist forces out of the system and secure a treaty with the Dugs that would grant them access to their valuable fuel. At some point during the Malastare campaign, Dr. Sionver Boll developed an electro-proton bomb that would wipe out all electronic life but leave living organisms fully functional. They tested the technology out with outstanding results, although the resulting explosion site collapsed into a crater. Windu led the investigation squad into the crater, and was the first to discover the presence of the Zillo Beast, a creature long thought to be extinct by the Dugs.

Leading his troops in a quick retreat aboard a gunship, Windu organized an impromptu council with himself, Skywalker, Boll, Doge Nakha Urus and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to discuss their options in dealing with the creature. While the Jedi were in favor of preserving the beast's innocent life, the Dugs merely wished to see the dangerous creature destroyed forever. Taking the discussion to a private area away from Urus, Palpatine suggested that concentrated stun beams should be used to incapacitate the beast, leading the Dugs to believe it dead, and then transport it somewhere in the Outer Rim for research on its lightsaber-resistant scales. Windu and Skywalker agreed with the plan, although Urus had already begun his own mission to dump toxic fuels into the beast's crater to kill it. Despite Windu's threats towards Urus, the argument between the pair was negated when the beast clambered out of the pit and began to terrorize the Republic camps. It was brought down by the stun rays and, in a last-minute switch of orders from Palpatine, transported to Coruscant for research.

Windu and Skywalker followed the beast to Coruscant, where the former approached Kenobi in the hopes of starting a movement against the Supreme Chancellor and demanding the release of the creature. Although Kenobi was able to convince Skywalker and Senator Amidala to speak to Palpatine, they were too late, and the zillo beast escaped from its constraints, making a beeline towards the Senate chambers. Windu, alongside Kenobi, Yoda, and Aayla Secura as well as Captain Rex, oversaw the Republic's defense of Coruscant against the beast, commanding stun tanks to subdue the beast. Despite Windu's best efforts, the beast was unable to be peacefully tranquilized, and it was killed by concentrated toxin-bombs.

Boba Fett


"Whose helmet is that anyway?''" "It belongs to a bounty hunter I killed on Geonosis, by the name of Jango Fett." "You mean the clone template?" "''Yes. Strangely enough he had a son, or at least a clone he regarded as a son. His name is Boba Fett."

- Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu

Windu and Anakin Skywalker made a visit to the Endurance later in the war, where they mentored a group of young clone cadets. Unbeknownst to Windu, a young Boba Fett had stolen in amongst the cadets and was in the process of assassinating Windu in revenge for his father Jango Fett. With the help of fellow bounty hunters Aurra Sing and Bossk, Fett learned the coordinates of Windu's quarters and planted a bomb in the door frame, although Windu is called away to business just before stepping inside and a clone tasked with stowing the Jedi's datapad is caught in the blast instead. Examining the room's charred remains with Skywalker, Windu determined that he was the direct target of the attack, and ordered a thorough search of the ship. That search led a clone trooper into contact with Fett in the Endurance reactor core, causing Fett to panic and destroy the core completely, setting off a gigantic explosion and dooming the ship and its crew. Windu and Skywalker escaped the crashing ship in their starfighters and watched the flaming hulk descend to the planet Vanqor below.

During the salvage operation of the Endurance, Skywalker came across a Mandalorian helmet on the bridge, which Windu soon recognized as the helmet of the late Jango Fett. Although he warned Skywalker to drop it immediately, the helmet exploded, and Windu was barely able to pull Skywalker away in time. With the Endurance collapsing around them, the two Jedi were trapped under a large piece of the ship and, unbeknownst to them, were waiting targets for the approaching Fett, Sing, and Bossk. After learning that Windu's astromech droid R8-B7 had been destroyed by gundarks, Skywalker sent his own droid R2-D2 to transmit a message to the Jedi Temple, calling in help. R2-D2 was able to hold off the bounty hunters and pilot a starfighter well enough to evade Slave I and return to Coruscant, where he gained the assistance of Plo Koon and Ahsoka Tano. The two Jedi returned to Vanqor with R2-D2 in tow and rescued Windu and Skywalker moments before the entire Endurance collapsed in a flaming wreck. Windu was too wounded to continue the search for Fett, and was forced to watch along the sidelines as Koon and Tano tracked him across the galaxy and brought him back Coruscant for justice. Windu confronted the boy briefly before he was marched off to prison, only to discover his hatred of the Jedi was as strong as ever.

Savage Opress
Sometime later, the Jedi High Council became aware that their outpost - the Temple of Eedit - on Devaron had been massacred. An unknown assailant had slaughtered all the Republic soldiers including the Roonan Jedi Master Halsey and his Padawan, the Nautolan Knox. Even the Separatist troops were all destroyed. Delta Squad bought back the bodies for a Jedi funeral and several Jedi, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon and Adi Gallia inspected the bodies at a loss at who could have performed the murders.

Summoning Kenobi to meet with them, Windu and Yoda stated that they had recovered footage from Devaron of the massacre. The images showed a Dathomirian Zabrak brutally slaughter Master Halsey. Kenobi was baffled, for he was sure he had killed Darth Maul himself in Theed years before. Yoda said he was correct, but this creature, though from the same species, was from Dathomir, the planet of the Nightsisters. Windu said that Dathomir was the place that Maul was raised and Iridonia is were the men lived. Yoda then dispatched Kenobi to find this warrior and to deal with him.

Capture of Even Piell
Sometime later, the Jedi High Council learned that Jedi Master and fellow councilor Even Piell had obtained secret hyperspace coordinates on the Nexus Route, which were of vital importance. Those coordinates could turn the tide of the war to the side that possessed them because the route went into the homeworlds of both the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Unfortunately, Piell was captured along with his men and captain Wilhuff Tarkin. Piell was then taken to the Separatist prison known as the Citadel on Lola Sayu. Therefore, a rescue mission was planned. Using old data from the Jedi Archives, Master Plo Koon planned the rescue in which Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rex and Commander Cody would lead. In addition, Skywalker's Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. was initially refused to join, but she stowed away.

Shortly afterwards, a message was sent to the Jedi Temple, and Windu along with Saesee Tiin and Yoda learned that the plan had changed due to a slight incident that had occurred. Windu quietly spoke with Yoda until Kenobi and Skywalker reported in and said that their transport had been destroyed and their rescue mission had dramatically changed for the worst. Shortly after, Piell contacted the Jedi and asked for reinforcements, which Koon assured him he would get.

Koon and his men rallied Tiin, Kit Fisto and Adi Gallia to his side and planned a rescue for the strike team. However, Piell died during the fighting at the hands of an anooba beast before Koon arrived. He was laid to rest in the lava rivers of the planet. The team was soon saved and taken back to the Jedi Temple for debriefing. The coordinates, in the hands of Tano and Tarkin, generated debate as Tarkin was instructed by Chancellor Palpatine to bring the information directly to him, while Tano argued that Master Piell had ordered her to deliver it to the Council only. Yoda said he would meet with the Chancellor and discuss it with him. Piell's Council seat would remain vacant until 19 BBY when Skywalker would be elected as Palpatine's representative.

Padawan Lost
Afterwards, Windu was at the Jedi Temple with Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, Finn Ertay, Eekar Oki and Plo Koon when the bounty hunters Sugi and Seripas arrived with a group of younglings in their ship, Halo, that had been saved from Trandoshan captivity on the moon of Wasskah. Among them, was the missing Padawan Tano who had been missing since the second battle of Felucia. Windu and Yoda watched as Tano spoke with her master, Skywalker, and bowed to each other in mutual respect.

Darth Maul returns
"Master Yoda, if this is indeed Darth Maul, then his capture is far too important to leave it to Obi-Wan alone."

- Mace Windu to Yoda, expressing doubts about Kenobi's ability to defeat Darth Maul alone.

Later, Windu would learn that Qui-Gon Jinn's killer - Darth Maul - had indeed survived his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo. In the communications room in the Jedi Temple, Windu watched a message sent by Maul and watched as the Sith Lord slaughtered a village on Raydonia. Also in attendance were Kenobi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon and Yoda.

Maul stated that Kenobi must face him alone, but Windu stressed that an armed clone escort should go with him. But Kenobi and Yoda said that he must go alone to finish what he had started twelve years before. Windu then conferred to Yoda that his capture was far too important to leave it to Kenobi, but Yoda stated that he may have an unexpected ally to assist him.

Onderon
Sometime later in 20 BBY, Windu and the rest of the council were contacted by Lux Bonteri and Saw Gerrera on Onderon, who required assistance for their rebel forces against the Separatist aligned king Sanjay Rash. The council emphasized that they could not get involved, but agreed to send advisors to the planet to train the rebels.

Maul's rampage
As the Sith Lords Darth Maul and Savage Opress rampaged across the Outer Rim, several task forces of Jedi were sent to deal with them. Among them were Plo Koon, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ko Solok and Bruu Jun-Fan. Each of the Jedi were killed by the two at Pleem's Nexus, Yellowblade's Landing.

Jedi Master Judd contacted the Jedi Council and told them that on the planet of Moorjhone, the Day of Three Suns was approaching - a day where everything on the planet is incinerated. Judd informed the Council that the Gossam Ja'Boag intended to force the Moorjhoni people away from their homes, thus committing genocide. The Council paired the Jedi with Salmara and her apprentice Dray as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi to assist the people and arrest Ja'boag. Judd asked about finding and apprehending Darth Maul, but Yoda said that the captured Savage Opress would bring Maul to the Gossam, and also the Jedi team. Windu told Judd to trust the Force and to act accordingly as well as to discover why the natives had fallen silent since Ja'boag had come to the planet.

In addition to this, Finn Ertay and her Nikto companion were killed at a spaceport in the Outer Rim after engaging the two brothers in a duel.

Sometime later, Windu was in the Supreme Chancellor's office with Yoda and Anakin Skywalker to hear Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi's report of his battle against Darth Maul and Savage Opress on Florrum. Windu learned that Master Adi Gallia had been killed by Opress in the skirmish. Palpatine stated that Kenobi took the matter personally, and that he should divert his attention to the Clone Wars. As the Jedi left the office, Yoda stated that when the brothers resurfaced, the Jedi would be ready.

Null
As of the seventeenth month of the war, Null had become a battle zone between Republic and Separatist forces. A triage unit overseen by Jedi healers was set up behind Republic lines, though by this point, it was in danger of being over-run by enemy forces.

While attempting to heal wounded clone troopers and Jedi, Windu's former teacher T'ra Saa and the young Barriss Offee]were caught in an unexpected attack by bounty hunters working for the Crimson Nova chapter of the Bounty Hunters' Guild. The hunters, riding speeder bikes, opened fire on the Jedi, killing some and setting fire to the surrounding forest. During the fight, T'ra Saa's lightsaber was knocked from her hand and collected by one of the hunters, who ultimately fled the encroaching fires. Left with no alternative against the blaze, Saa used the Force to pull trees down over the survivors, effectively trapping them away from the flames.

A rainstorm soon doused the fires, and Windu arrived on the scene to rescue the survivors. He uncovered Offee, the clones and an unconscious Saa, who had been wounded during her valiant attempt to save the group. Windu raced her to a waiting gunship along with Offee, even as Separatists were spotted approaching their location. The Jedi healer informed Windu of the details of the unexpected battle, and the senior Council member resolved to put an end to the Crimson Nova's activities with a mission to the Rig, their base of operations.

The Rig
In the aftermath of the Battle of Null, the Jedi Council learned that a bounty had been posted on the Jedi, and that members of the Crimson Nova bounty hunters guild were attempting to collect. Rather than have his Jedi be targets on and off the battlefield, Master Windu assembled a team of the most powerful Jedi available&mdash;Jedi Masters Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin and Agen Kolar and infiltrated the Crimson Nova headquarters on The Rig space station.

Windu's team successfully breached The Rig's security. Windu himself remained fully visible to the bounty hunters, deflecting attention from the other Jedi. Kolar posed as Argent Kole, a bounty hunter looking to collect credits for his "captive", Kit Fisto. While Fisto incited riots among the prisoners, Tiin, in the guise of a smuggler, set off an explosion in the hangar bays.

With The Rig in turmoil, the Jedi executed their show of force, fighting their way into the command center and ensuring the deaths of the guild leaders. The bounties were rescinded, and the originator, Kh'aris Fenn, was later executed by Quinlan Vos.

Temple bombing
Sometime after that, an unknown assailant destroyed a portion of the Jedi Temple which was soon revealed to be the hangar bay. As a result of this, Windu assigned Russo-ISC to analyze the scene of the crime with the aid of two Jedi. Also, the Jedi High Council recalled Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, from the front lines of battle on Cato Neimoidia to brief them of the situation.

But before Skywalker and Tano arrived, the Council reviewed all possibilities as to the identity of the attacker. The Council agreed and suspected that it was a Jedi who had fallen to the dark side that had decided to attack the Jedi. Also, with the recent anti-Jedi sentiment growing it made it difficult to pinpoint the attacker. When Skywalker and Tano arrived, Windu assigned them to deliver an impartial view to the investigation which needed to be free of guesses. Sometime after that the Council reconvened to meet with Skywalker and Tano for a report on their progress in their investigation. Both Jedi reported that they had no evidence or clues as to the assailant in question. Shortly after that, Windu and Yoda met with the two again to learn that they had apprehended Letta Turmond, the assailant who had set her late husband up to blow the Temple. The husband was revealed to be a Temple worker and therefore the prime person for Turmond to use.

Shortly afterwards, a funeral was held for the six Jedi that had perished in the explosion. One of those Jedi that had died was Tutso Mara. Windu stood alongside the members of the Council during the funeral.

Fugitive Padawan
Sometime after the funeral, Letta Turmond requested that she speak with Padawan Ahsoka Tano privately. The Council would surprisingly learn soon after that Tano had been arrested on the charge of murdering Turmond, who was mysteriously killed in her cell in the presence of Tano herself via Force Choke. Tano then escaped custody, fleeing her own master, Anakin Skywalker, in a pipe that led to the Coruscant Underworld.

The Council then held an emergency meeting and debated as to how to proceed and find the fugitive Padawan. All members of the Council believed her to be guilty, save for Plo Koon and Anakin Skywalker. The Council sent Koon to find her with his clone commander, Wolffe, but when Yoda suggested that Skywalker accompany Koon, Windu refused to send him as he believed the Jedi Knight had formed an attachment to Tano. But Obi-Wan Kenobi disagreed and said that Skywalker should also lead the investigation to find his fugitive apprentice. Koon and Skywalker eventually found Tano in the underworld in a warehouse on Level 1315, and when she was stunned by Wolffe, she was taken back to the surface to await a trial. Skywalker would later inform Grand Master Yoda of the successful capture.

Trial of Ahsoka Tano
Shortly afterwards, the Council continued to debate as to what to do with the Padawan. Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin spoke - via hologram - to the Council and said that the Jedi's decisions were irrelevant and that Tano should not be treated as an internal affair. After the transmission finished, Obi-Wan Kenobi strongly advocated that they stand with Tano and not against her in the upcoming trial, but[Saesee Tiin said that the boxes of Nano-droids Tano was with made her even more guilty that she appeared to be. Windu then added to Kenobi and said that if they appeared to be in Tano's defense, it would be seen as opposing the Galactic Senate. Yoda then said that they must take Tano and Anakin Skywalker to the Chamber of Judgment for a trial.

In the chamber, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kenobi, Yoda and Plo Koon all took seats beside Windu in Tano's trial with Skywalker below Tano's podium watching the trial. Tano expressed her innocence and that she was not the one that attacked the Jedi Temple. But Koon pointed out that she had been seen with the bounty hunter Asajj Ventress, and Tano said that the two had a "mutual understanding". She also said that she, as well as the Jedi Masters, had been deceived. But Windu asked if it was Tano, Ventress or someone else doing the deceiving. Skywalker, below, said that the meeting was only a formality for their choice. The Council came to a decision, though Yoda said that not all members were in complete agreement. Windu soberly said that Tano was to be expelled from the Jedi Order. Ki-Adi-Mundi then said she would be stripped of her Padawan status and her battlefield privileges and would be surrendered to the Galactic Republic for a criminal trial and was forbidden to ever return to the Jedi Temple.

Shortly afterwards, a criminal trial was presided by Chancellor Palpatine for Tano in which Windu, Kenobi, Koon and Yoda attended. As spectators, the Jedi watched the trial as the defense (Senator Padmé Amidala) and prosecution (Admiral Tarkin) delivered their arguments to the Chancellor and the senators present. However, when the final ruling was to be given, Anakin Skywalker burst in with a team of Jedi Temple Guards and revealed that Tano had been framed by the true mastermind: Jedi Knight Barriss Offee. This revelation, followed by the latter's confession, startled and shocked the Council members present and they now knew that Tano was innocent.

In the High Council Chamber back inside the Temple, the Council members praised Tano for her resolve. Plo Koon spoke for all present and humbly apologized to Tano for their not standing with her and believing her. Saesee Tiin said that she had shown the true measure of a Jedi, to which Ki-Adi Mundi added that it was the true quality of a Jedi Knight. Then, Windu claimed that Tano's entire ordeal was simply a test, blaming the Force for working in mysterious ways rather than admitting that he had been wrong. Yoda and Anakin Skywalker then offered her the chance to come back into the Order as a full-fledged Jedi Knight and handed back her silka beads, but Tano refused and left. Despite Skywalker's attempts to bring her back, Ahsoka Tano parted with the Jedi.

Planet Killer
At some point, Windu went on a successful mission to disable a Separatist weapon known as the Planet Killer. The spherical device had been designed to destroy the planet which it was detonated upon, however, Windu deactivated it moments before it was scheduled to be tested by a scientist hoping to sell it to Count Dooku. Unfortunately, despite Windu's success, these events prompted Dooku to carry on work with the creation of his very own "Planet Killer".

Energy vampire
Later, Windu embarked on a rescue mission to locate the MIA soldiers of the Alpha-2 Squad, encountering the Countess Rajine, an energy vampire. The Countess used zombies of many different species, including the members of the dead Alpha-2 Squad, to capture Windu. With the help of the droid Z-18, he was able to subdue the countess by using the holocron of fallen Jedi Samuro who had trapped Rajine on the planet hundreds of years before.

Boz Pity
After Obi-Wan Kenobi discovered a Separatist presence on the planet of Boz Pity the forces of the Republic engaged the Separatists on the planet's surface after a crash landing, led by Jedi Generals; Mace Windu foremost among them. With Kit Fisto, Anakin Skywalker, Saesee Tiin, Kenobi and Senator Bail Organa, they targeted the Separatist's medical facility. Master Soon Bayts was in the first wave with his clones, and was killed by General Grievous, though Alpha-17 was merely impaled and survived the injury. Windu witnessed this and then dropped a STAP on the General, disabling him for the duration of the battle.

Count Dooku left the medical center, but was attacked by Windu. After a brief bout of indecisive swordplay, Dooku had two of his MagnaGuards grapple the Jedi Master and drag him into a pit. Dooku himself headed for the evacuation point, rescuing the badly damaged Grievous and leaving Ventress for dead.

The blockade apparently retreated or was dispersed following the victory of the battle.

Almas
On one occasion, Master Windu traveled to the Almas Academy in the Cularin system at the request of Master Lanius Qel-Bertuk. Qel-Bertuk sought an explanation of the history of his new staff member Darrus Jeht which Windu was able to supply given his knowledge of Jeht's history. Such was Windu's urgency to return to his troops that he left the planet immediately on conclusion of the conversation.

The fight with Fett
In 19 BBY, Windu was in the Jedi Temple when he passed Boba Fett, who was on his way to the visiting quarters. Windu did not take much notice, nor did he know that the boy was the son of the bounty hunter Jango Fett, whom he decapitated in the battle of Geonosis three years previously.

Windu then headed to the Senate Building to meet with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. But in the antechamber, he was confronted by Fett. Almost at once, Fett fired his flechette pistol at Windu. Windu dodged the first few rounds fired by Fett, and activated his lightsaber after jumping over the boy. Windu grazed Fett's armor in the shoulder and disarmed him of his pistol. Fett flung a knife at him, which went through his robes and also received a blow to the ribs. Windu responded by hitting his lightsaber against the bounty hunter's shoulder.

Windu gave Fett a chance for him to surrender, and after a brief fight, Chancellor Palpatine and his Red Guard arrived to end the fight. Before leaving, Windu explained to the Chancellor what had happened. Instead of placing Fett into custody, Palpatine - in private - spoke with Fett.

Hunt for Darth Sidious
"Sidious ... I know the name."

- Palpatine on the name of Darth Sidious to Mace Windu and Yoda

In the aftermath of the battle on Cato Neimoidia, the Jedi Order recovered a valuable mechno-chair which personally belonged to Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray who used the chair to communicate directly to the hidden Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious. Jedi Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who recovered the chair, were tasked with pursuing clues to the Sith Lord's identity through those that had a hand in constructing the chair and its appliances.

While Skywalker and Kenobi pursued clues from Charros IV, Escarte and Naos III, Windu and Grand Master Yoda, alongside Captain Dyne and Republic Intelligence, managed to listen in on a communication from the decrypted chair which came from General Grievous himself to Nute Gunray, and it pinpointed an attack on Belderone. An evacuation commenced, however, the Jedi knew that Grievous would deduce that the chair was in enemy hands.

Shortly after, both Windu and Yoda met with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to discuss the battle at Belderone, and also informed him of the chair and their hunt for Darth Sidious. Little did the two know that the Chancellor himself was Darth Sidious in disguise. With Skywalker and Kenobi travelling to face Count Dooku on Tythe, Windu and Shaak Ti led a team of clones and Padawans in a mission to scout a LiMerge facility in The Works - where it was believed Sidious was hiding. Their hunt took them down several kilometers until they reached the base of 500 Republica. But Windu and Ti disengaged when Coruscant fell under attack by Grievous.

Battle of Coruscant
"A very, very wise Jedi once said to me, ''we don't have to win. All we have to do is fight."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi, on Mace Windu

Towards the end of the Clone Wars General Grievous orchestrated a surprise attack on Coruscant itself. During the battle Windu piloted his personal ship around the capital and destroyed huge numbers of the Separatist's forces. However, he was eventually forced to abandon his craft and took control of a droid ship; using it to take down several of its fellows. After this, Windu apparently dueled Grievous himself atop a moving train and defeated the notorious cyborg; knocking him from the train. Windu subsequently joined Yoda and aided him to hold the Republic's line against the masses of Separatist battle droids. The two highest ranking members among the Order soon began to question why Grievous had launched such an attack without trying to capture the Jedi Temple or the Senate. It soon became clear that he had orchestrated the attack as a ruse to hide his true objective; the capture of Chancellor Palpatine.

Grievous successfully captured Palpatine, though before he tried to take the captive Chancellor back to his ship, the Invisible Hand, he was confronted by Mace Windu. Using Force Crush, Mace Windu devastated Grievous' armor and organs (the lungs in particular). This accounts for the coughing fits the cyborg would face during the end of his life. Force Crush is one of the darkest Force maneuvers known to the Jedi, and perhaps even the Sith, so Windu's use of such a dark mutilation was most unusual. However, the general survived and escaped with Palpatine; though Kenobi and Skywalker would ultimately rescue him, and kill Count Dooku himself.

Growing darkness
"I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor."

- Mace Windu, voicing his concern for the future of the Jedi

The Clone Wars divided the Republic not only within its territorial sovereignty, but also at its highest level of authority. Near the end of the conflict, the masters of the Jedi High Council became increasingly alarmed at the Supreme Chancellor's rapid transformation into a virtual dictator. As the Senate continued to voluntarily surrender its executive powers to Chancellor Palpatine, Master Windu became suspicious of Palpatine's motives. The war was ending, yet Palpatine was implementing stronger measures of political and social control over the Republic. Even the Senate itself was becoming little more than an advisory board and a rubber stamp for passing Palpatine's draconian laws.

Shortly after the Battle of Coruscant, Windu and a group of Senators personally greeted Palpatine after Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi freed him from the clutches of General Grievous and Count Dooku. When Palpatine insisted that the war would still carry on since the Separatists survived the death of Count Dooku, Windu vowed that the Jedi would prioritize the destruction of General Grievous, the last visible symbol of the Separatist cause, thus depriving the Chancellor of his last valid excuse to hold on to his emergency powers. In the days that followed, the Jedi were on the lookout for ways of peacefully removing Palpatine from office.

But relations between the Jedi Council and the Chancellor became so strained to the point where they no longer trusted the Chancellor to keep his word and lay down his emergency powers at the end of the war. The Council was further concerned about the Chancellor when out of the blue, he appointed Anakin Skywalker to sit as his personal representative on the Council, startling members of the Council such as Windu, Yoda and Kenobi. Windu said that Skywalker was on the Council, but he would not become a Master. This made Skywalker question the Council and its motives. Shortly after, the Council discussed the Separatist attack on Kashyyyk, to which Yoda said he would go to aid the Wookiee people.

Shortly afterwards, the Council decided that they needed to spy on the Chancellor and find out what he was up to. They tasked Kenobi with giving the task of spying to Skywalker, to which Kenobi tried to rebuke at first but relented. While Windu and Kenobi were in a LAAT gunship escorting Yoda to his ship for his departure, Windu said that it was dangerous pairing Palpatine and Skywalker together. Windu did not trust Skywalker and Kenobi asked if he really was the Chosen One. Sometime after that, Skywalker brought to the Council information that Grievous had hid on Utapau with the Separatist Council. The Jedi Knight further added that Palpatine wanted Skywalker to personally go to Utapau. Windu scolded this and said that the Council would decide, not the Chancellor. Master Kenobi was voted to deal with Grievous due to his experiences with the cyborg.

At a later stage, Commander Cody reported that he and Kenobi had commenced their attack on Utapau and that the Jedi Master had engaged Grievous in a duel. Windu tasked Skywalker with informing Palpatine of this. He also told Skywalker to look at his reaction so as to see his intentions. Once Skywalker left, Windu stated to Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Aayla Secura that the dark side surrounded Palpatine and that he sensed a sinister plot to eradicate the Jedi. Mundi declared that unless Palpatine stepped down after General Kenobi killed Grievous, then the Jedi would have no other choice but to remove the Chancellor from office by force. Thinking pragmatically, Windu concluded that the Jedi Council would have to seize control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition of power from the Office of Supreme Chancellor to the Jedi High Council. Master Yoda feared where such a line of thought would lead the Jedi Order, but even Yoda himself was weary of the Chancellor's actions and seemed to agree, albeit reluctantly, with the idea of arresting Palpatine and stripping him of his office.

When news of Kenobi's victory reached Coruscant, Windu felt ready to demand that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine relinquish his emergency powers at last. As Windu prepared for a meeting with the Senate Chair to bring him news of the elimination of General Grievous, a distraught Anakin Skywalker arrived and confirmed the Jedi Council's greatest fear: the elected leader of the Galactic Republic was in fact the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Master Windu ordered Skywalker to wait in the Jedi Council Chamber for his return and boarded a gunship along with the Nautolan Jedi Master Kit Fisto, the Iktotchi Jedi Master Saesee Tiin, and the Zabrak Jedi Master Agen Kolar. They departed to confront the Chancellor.

Death and final battle
"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you're under arrest, Chancellor."

- Mace Windu, declaring the arrest of Palpatine

The Jedi marched into Palpatine's office and Windu promptly announced that the Chancellor was under arrest to face trial before the Senate. Due to Palpatine's defiance (declaring himself as the Senate), he finally revealed his true colors. Darth Sidious ignited his crimson lightsaber and, with a battle cry more animal than Human, flew through the air and stabbed Agen Kolar. Before he could strike Sidious from behind, Saesee Tiin was also struck down. Masters Windu and Kit Fisto managed to defend against the initial assaults, but even Fisto's mastery of Shii-Cho was overwhelmed by the intensity of Sidious's swordplay. Fisto was slashed across the waist and died with his signature smile, leaving Mace Windu to fight Sidious alone. His mastery of Vaapad served him well in countering Sidious's dark side mastery. The two viciously battled through the Chancellor's private office and lounging room into his main office. Driving Sidious back with an offensive march, Windu steered the battle towards the office bay-window, which was promptly shattered by their whirling blades. By bringing the duel to the ledge of the window-sill above the sheer drop of the Coruscant cityscape, Windu prompted Sidious to channel more energy into a Force-powered grip on the ledge, and less into the Force powered speed that he was using against Windu. Sidious's slight drop in speed allowed Windu to defeat the Sith Lord with a well-placed kick to the face, which caused him to drop his saber into the streets below.

Windu had the upper hand but the fight was not over. A grueling battle ensued, and Anakin Skywalker appeared just as Windu cornered Sidious and again stated that he was under arrest. With a flash of his unique insight Windu sensed Sidious' shatterpoint: Anakin Skywalker. As the Jedi realized the depth of the Sith Lord's trust in Skywalker, Sidious unleashed his full power. The Sith Lord used Force lightning against Windu, driving him back. Grunting with exertion, Windu redirected the lightning back with his lightsaber, melting away the Chancellor's features in a display of the "superconducting loop" of Vaapad. Horrified, Skywalker watched the Jedi Master seemingly cause agonizing pain to the apparently helpless Sidious.

As they struggled, they each implored Skywalker to help them, each trying to convince him of the other's treachery. Eventually Sidious ceased his barrage, claiming he could no longer maintain his attack against Windu, exclaiming that he had become too weak. Skywalker believed that if Sidious died, any chance of saving Padmé from certain death would be lost. Skywalker told Windu that the Sith Lord should stand trial and that killing him was not the Jedi way, but Windu determined that the man, both as Palpatine and Sidious, was too dangerous to be kept alive because he had control of the Galactic Senate and the Courts. Perhaps he saw a shatterpoint in Sidious, a hinge of fate that would alter history. Sidious pleaded for Skywalker's help, as Windu moved to strike the Dark Lord. With Windu's attention focused entirely on Sidious, he failed to foresee Skywalker's intervention. Skywalker ignited his own lightsaber and severed the Jedi Master's lightsaber hand, leaving him defenseless against the full power of Sidious's Force lightning. Shocked, Windu realized he had been too focused on Sidious. He had failed to sense Skywalker's shatterpoint. As the Chancellor ranted, he once again unleashed his rage, blasting raw dark side energy through Windu's body, sending him hurtling out the window into the cityscape, where he would certainly have been killed upon hitting the surface miles below.

At fifty-three years of age and after decades of serving the Jedi Council, Master Mace Windu was dead. At a single stroke, Sidious had removed one of the few Jedi who posed any threat to him and secured the allegiance of the promising Anakin Skywalker. With Windu's death, Skywalker was transformed into Darth Vader and the Great Jedi Purge had begun.

Legacy
Windu was scapegoated by the New Order as the primary villain behind the alleged "Jedi Rebellion". Less than a week after his death, various media outlets began circulating The Private Journals of Mace Windu, an alleged first-person account of Windu's many years of scheming to conquer the Republic. In truth the journals were fabrications and Imperial propaganda, in which various portions of Windu's actual journal from the Clone Wars had been included to give them credibility.

In 18 BBY, a Duros sold a broken lightsaber to Senator Sano Sauro claiming it once belonged to Mace Windu. The Duros said he had found it on a street in the lower levels of Coruscant. Sano would later display the lightsaber in his office.

During the Galactic Civil War, bootleg HoloNet broadcasts were made showing animations of Windu's activities during the Battle of Dantooine. The Imperial Security Bureau unsuccessfully attempted to stamp them out, as they were a large recruiting tool for the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

Years after the fall of Palpatine's Galactic Empire and the creation of Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order, Windu was remembered as a hero of the Clone Wars. Several Jedi, most notably Jaina Solo (Anakin Skywalker's granddaughter), were known to refer to him as 'a great Jedi Master' and revered his abilities, most notably that of the shatterpoint.

Personality and traits
"I'm going to end this once and for all!"

- Mace Windu

Mace Windu possessed a unique personality for a Jedi; he was cautious to the point of occasional reluctance, a careful chooser of his friends, and slow to trust. These traits resulted in a man that often came off as being remote and intense. Despite this, he was extremely courageous, bravely risking life and limb on numerous occasions for the Galactic Republic. In fact, due to his talent as a duelist and Force-user, Windu was very prideful, quite secure in his own strength, and he was especially well known for a sharp tongue and an occasional sarcastic interface. However, he kept this arrogance in check for the most part, humbling himself towards individuals he felt superior, such as Yoda. Windu strongly believed in the Jedi's role as the servants of the Republic rather than its masters, and treated all civilians with respect.

During Ahsoka Tano's trial, Windu took his distrusting nature too far, to the point where he accused Tano of lying to the Jedi Council and then decided to strip her of her status as a Jedi Padawan, an act that most of the other Council members agreed with. After finding out that Tano was innocent, he took no responsibility for the Council's failure. Instead, he said that Tano's traumatic experience was nothing more than a test given to her by the Force.

Ultimately, Mace Windu's true motivation for all he did was a divergence from Jedi philosophy, as his personal belief system was an extremist viewpoint of peace at all costs. In his mind, peace was created by civilization, and he viewed the Republic as the ultimate civilization, thus developing an attachment towards the institution, and leaving him with a willingness to do anything required to preserve the Republic, even if it meant violating Jedi philosophy. This proved to be his ultimate downfall, when he resolved to execute the seemingly helpless Chancellor Palpatine, an unarmed opponent, spurring Anakin Skywalker into action.

Powers and abilities
"Vaapad is as aggressive and powerful as its namesake, but its power comes at great risk: immersion in Vaapad opens the gates that restrain one's inner darkness. To use Vaapad, a Jedi must allow himself to enjoy the fight; he must give himself over to the thrill of battle. The rush of winning. Vaapad is a path that leads through the penumbra of the dark side&hellip;This was Vaapad's ultimate test."

- Mace Windu on Vaapad

Lightsaber training
Mace Windu was a formidable warrior and generally considered one of the greatest swordsmen ever produced by the Jedi Order. He was a master of all seven forms of lightsaber combat. He began his development of the deadly form of combat known as Vaapad, the seventh form of combat which completed (to the Jedi) the Juyo form. Vaapad was named after a predator native to the moons of Sarapin.

Mace Windu was the only Jedi to fully master Vaapad. The other two practitioners of the style, Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba, were unable to master it&mdash;instead, it mastered them, driving them insane and leading them to the dark side. It is said that only his onetime friend, Dooku, and the venerable Grand Master Yoda could outspar him. When he went to Haruun Kal in search for his former Padawan, Depa, he used both his and her lightsabers in a masterful two-bladed variant of Vaapad. During his duel with Darth Sidious, he and the Sith Lord used a Form V opening stance in the middle of the battle, but it is unknown whether or not Mace Windu employed Form V. A factor that played into Windu's fighting style was his admission that his greatest character flaw was his enjoyment of fighting, and given the nature of the dark side, this was a very dangerous trait for a Jedi to possess. In fact, Windu intentionally created Vaapad to help channel his inner darkness into something more positive. He also often employed a behind the back parry and then thrust sequence in his dueling style.

Windu was one of the greatest swordsmen of his time. He defeated Sora Bulq during their duel on Ruul and overwhelmed Asajj Ventress shortly afterwards. Windu also fought on par with Count Dooku during the battle of Boz Pity and even managed to defeat Darth Sidious himself in a duel&mdash; a feat that no other Force Adept, including Grand Master Yoda, was ever able to accomplish unaided.

Force powers
Master Windu's mastery of the Force was extensive. He was known for his resistance to the lures of the dark side, channeling his inner darkness into his attacks to help him serve the light side of the Force. This allowed him to utilize some of the darkest powers known to either Jedi or Sith without succumbing to his aggression, such as the terrible Force Crush. His mastery of the form he created, Vaapad, also proved his devotion to the light, as the only two other advanced users, Depa Billaba and Sora Bulq, fell to the dark side. Mace Windu was known to be able to ponder matters of the dark and light sides of the Force with a clarity perhaps second only to Master Yoda.

Windu was known to use the Force to enhance the capabilities of his body, and as such, was able to leap to great heights and across enormous distances. He demonstrated proficiency in the application of the Force Wave power, and used it to an incredible degree during the battles of Dantooine and Coruscant; blasting hundreds of droids away from him with Force energy alone, and instantly destroying them through the sheer power of the kinetic blast alone instead of hitting them in an obstruction. The Jedi Master also demonstrated an affinity for using darker telekinetic powers, such as Force Grip and Force Crush, the later of which he used to severely injure the fearsome General Grievous. Another incredible feat of the body Windu demonstrated during the Battle of Dantooine was "riding" a landslide of rock and earth weighing hundreds of tons.

On Haruun Kal, he went toe-to-toe with Kar Vastor, and demonstrated incredible Force enhanced speed by landing six blows to the man's body before he could blink. On Dantooine, having lost his lightsaber, Windu took to tearing super battle droids apart with his bare hands, showing incredible Force strength and resilience as he crushed armor and tore out circuitry with his fingers.

The Korun Jedi Master's skill with telekinesis was so extensive that during the Battle of Ryloth, he was capable of Force pushing a huge AT-TE walker off of a cliff with apparent ease. He also demonstrated the ability to simultaneously levitate two clone troopers with the Force and move them swiftly across the length of a bridge. In addition, Windu proved able to release a torrent of Force energy capable of blasting several droids backwards and powerful enough to destroy them on impact with the ground. He even telekinetically removed the bolts of a super battle droid during the Battle of Dantooiee, allowing the droid to fall to pieces.

Aiding him was also his shatterpoint ability, a power he always had a natural affinity for. It allowed him to see weak points in opponents, events, and everyday life. This power also allowed a Jedi to shatter otherwise unbreakable objects by channeling the Force into the places of the object that bound it together. Master Windu's shatterpoint ability proved vital to his victory over Darth Sidious.

Other abilities
Despite the darker aspects of his nature and his incredible fighting prowess, Mace Windu was also extremely well-known for his diplomacy, with his use of words and legendary reputation settling many conflicts without incident. His skills as a diplomat, along with his courage, integrity, and skill, garnered him the position as a highly-respected Senior Jedi High Council member.

Master Windu was also an adept pilot as displayed during the battle of Coruscant. He was, however, shot down during the battle.

Character concept
The name "Mace Windu" (or Mace Windy) actually dates back to the earliest incarnation of Star Wars, a 13-page treatment written by George Lucas in 1973 called Journal of the Whills, Part I. The character Windy Marstrap is also derived from early incarnations of Mace Windu, becoming variously a brother of Leia in the rough draft and a friend of Luke's in the third draft. A similar name&mdash;Mace Towani&mdash;appeared in the made-for-television Ewok films Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). An alien in Spare Parts (c. 1994) and Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley (1993) also went by the name of Mace Windu, an abbreviation of his full name Macemillian-winduarté. The name Mace Windu was finally introduced into the films with The Phantom Menace (1999). Although a HoloNet article mentioning Mace Windu's participation in the Battle of Skor II explains Macemillian-winduarté's name, the coexistence of the names "Mace Towani" and "Mace Windu" may imply that "Mace" was a common name throughout the galaxy, or that Towani was simply named after Windu due to Windu's fame (given the fact that the Ewok films take place during the Galactic Civil War).

Early Star Wars Comics and Action Figures (usually ones released around the time of Star Wars: Episode I) depict Mace Windu with a blue blade rather than his traditional purple blade. This is presumably made canon by adding the story of Windu having made a blue lightsaber and alternating the use of the purple one with that one. There is also the story of him engaging in the tradition of Concordance of Fealty, and he is seen in Star Wars Episode I (the movie) with Eeth Koth's lightsaber.

Portrayal
"Who fights with a purple lightsaber anyway?"

- General Grievous, non-canon quote from the Revenge of the Sith game

Mace Windu was portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in all three films of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Voice actor Terrence Carson played Mace Windu in Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars video game, the Clone Wars animated series and in the Revenge of the Sith video game. Carson also returned to vocally portray Mace Windu in the 2008 TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and in the video game Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes. Mace Windu was played by voice-actor Kevin Michael Richardson in several video games: Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles, Star Wars: Obi-Wan, and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter. Samuel L. Jackson reprized his role as Mace Windu in the 2008 animated feature Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Samuel L. Jackson is bald in real life, though when starring in films he favors odd wigs. He did not assume a wig while acting in the films, adding even more to the originality of his character. Windu is the only shaved Human Jedi, the only Jedi in the films to carry a violet lightsaber and possesses a darkly creative signature fighting style known as Vaapad. These facts have made Mace Windu one of the most popular and famous characters from the Star Wars prequels.

George Lucas permitted Windu's signature amethyst-bladed lightsaber at the request of Jackson, making Windu the only character in any Star Wars film to have a lightsaber that is not red, green, or blue. In addition, the prop department replaced the activation plate stud with a plate reading "BMF" in reference to Jackson's character in Pulp Fiction. Before Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith began production, George Lucas was approached by Samuel L. Jackson who, knowing that Mace Windu was to die in the film, insisted that his character not die "like some punk". While promoting the movie on Conan O'Brien, he revealed his request to Conan, who joked that perhaps Windu would meet his demise by slipping on some soap in the shower. During shooting, Jackson and crew joked about Mace surviving his duel with Palpatine, and returning for a post-credit scene.

Since Jackson is notorious for playing loud foul-mouthed characters, the riffers in the RiffTrax commentaries held back from making jokes of that nature until the commentary track for Episode III, where they punctuated most of his dialogue with censor-bleeps.

In the Japanese localizations, mainly in the animated appearances, Windu is dubbed by Japanese voice actor Tesshō Genda.

Continuity
In Children of the Force, Mace Windu is seen in a flashback being taken from his parents by another Jedi. While not a canonical event (Shatterpoint claims he was already an orphan when the Jedi took him to Coruscant and the culture of Haruun Kal would seem to preclude the type of dwelling seen in the image), it does show Mace Windu's parents and himself as a baby and non-contradicting elements, such as the identity of the Jedi taking Windu, may be reintegrated into canon.

Star Wars Galaxies
In Star Wars Galaxies, Jedi who reach the rank of General are rewarded with a violet crystal called "Windu's Guile".

Non-canon appearances
In the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith video game, the duel between Palpatine and Mace Windu is replaced by one between the latter and Anakin Skywalker.

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 film
 * LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles video game
 * LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Tag & Bink Are Dead
 * Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Tag & Bink Are Dead
 * Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back