Nute Gunray is a fictional character in the Star Wars Universe. Gunray was a neimoidian politician who served as the Viceroy of the Trade Federation during their invasion of Naboo and later served as a prominent Separatist leader during the conflict known as the Clone Wars. Gunray appears in Episode 1, Episode 2 and Episode 3 of the Star Wars Prequels Trilogy as well as in other media such as the Star Wars: The Clone Wars Animated Television series.
The Invasion of Naboo was an event that took place 32 years before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The Invasion began as a blockade around the planet, with Nute Gunray taking charge of the fleet, this blockade was set up in order to protest the taxation of trade routes by the new republic, however the real intention of the blockade was to stage a droid invasion of the planet so that Senator Palpatine (who was secretly controlling Nute Gunray as Darth Sidious) could gain sympathy in the Galactic Senate. After the Blockade was set up, the trade federation began sending Battle Droids down to the planets surface. This event was seen throughout Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
The Republic sent Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi to negotiate with the Viceroy, Gunray assumed they had arrived to force a negotiation so, after consulting Darth Sidious, ordered their death. Droideka's were sent but the two Jedi were able to escape to the planet below were they witnesses the invasion first hand. Nute Gunray would later descend to the planet below of Naboo in an attempt to force the planet's queen Padmé Amidala into a deal, he would eventually be stopped.
Nute Gunray argues that everything he does is legal and he also states that he would not do anything without the approval of the senate, when saying this he is talking about the trade blockade, not the invasion. If proof could be shown to the senate that the trade federation had began an invasion of the planet, the republic would intervene, but the senate could not be convinced. Gunray and the trade federation had a presence in the senate and were even accused of taking part in bureaucracy.
Nute Gunray was under direct command of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. This was the Sith alias of Senator Palpatine. Sidious commanded Gunray to invade Naboo. By creating an artificial conflict, Sidious could gain sympathy for Naboo in the senate. He could use this sympathy along with the Republic's lack of action to achieve the political position of Supreme Chancellor. However, Nute Gunray was unaware that he was just a pawn in Sidious' plan to achieve the position of supreme chancellor. By working as the necessary opposition, Gunray was not aware that this was his purpose but despite this Sidious was able to ascend to Supreme Chancellor and he would not be able to do this without Nute Gunray.
Nute Gunray was not fond of his Sith overlords. When Darth Sidious introduced Darth Maul in a hologram to Gunray, Gunray was not pleased and when the communication ended exclaimed "This is getting out of hand, now there are two of them!" referring to the two Sith. It is likely that Gunray disliked the Sith as he feared their power and they could threaten his position. Gunray also feared they could be too controlling.
Nute Gunray also knew the Sith Lord Darth Tyrannus was Sidious's second apprentice and played a large part in the separatist rebellion along with Gunray. They were seen together on Geonosis.
After the conflict on Naboo Nute Gunray along with others from the Trade Federation, Banking Clan, Techno Union and others form the Confederacy of Independent Systems (C.I.S.) the C.I.S. would be what fought against the Republic During the conflict known as The Clone Wars.
Gunray was the chairman of the separatist council and sat on it alongside others such as Count Dooku, the Corporate Alliance’s Passel Argente, the InterGalactic Banking Clan’s San Hill, the Commerce Guild’s Shu Mai, the Techno Union’s Wat Tambor, Poggle the Lesser of Geonosis, and Senators Po Nudo and Tikkes.
Shortly after the death of Tyranus, which unknown to Gunray and the Separatist Council, was orchestrated by Darth Sidious, the Sith Lord had them moved to Mustafar under the guise of protecting them. However, not too long after, Nute Gunray and the Council were unknowingly betrayed by Sidious, who ordered his new apprentice Darth Vader to wipe them out as he no longer had any use for them. Prior to Vader's arrival, Sidious informed Gunray and the Council that Vader was arriving and deceived them into believing he would protect them. Unaware of Sidious's betrayal and their own demises, they were shocked when Vader attacked them after his arrival. The Council was killed one by one until only Gunray remained. As Vader cornered Gunray, he attempted to reason with Vader, telling the newly appointed Sith Lord that the War was over and Lord Sidious had promised them peace. However, Lord Vader ignored Gunray's pleas and proceeded to slash him across the chest with his lightsaber, killing him
"This is getting out of hand, now there are two of them!"
"What about the Senator from Naboo? Is she dead yet? I am not signing your treaty until I have her head on my desk!"
"She can't do that! Shoot her, or something!"
"She has disappeared, my lord. One Naboo cruiser got past the blockade."
"And the Jedi?"
"My lord, it's impossible to locate the ship. It's out of our range."
"Yes, of course. As you know, our blockade is perfectly legal and we'd be happy to receive the ambassadors."
"No need to report that to him until we have something to report!"
"My lord, is that, legal?"
"Ah, victory!"
"The war is over. Lord Sidious promised us peace. We only want..."
"Safe? Hum. Chancellor Palpatine managed to escape, General. Without Count Dooku, I have doubts about your ability to keep us safe."