Nute Gunray, with his associates Rune Haako and Daultay Dofine were hired by the shadowy Darth Sidious, a Sith Lord, to blockade Naboo, severing all connections with the rest of the galaxy. When the Trade Federation armies were confiscated after The Batttle of Naboo, He bizarrely managed to hang on to his position as viceroy of the Federation. When the seperatist movement began, Nute was one of the first to go over to Dooku's side, coupling their Battle Droids with those of the Geonosian's.