After contact was lost with a Republic base on the icy planet of Orto Plutonia, Pantoran Senator Riyo Chuchi accompanied Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Pantoran Chairman Chi Cho and a squad of clone troopers to investigate what had happened.

The Jedi discovered that the base had been caught in a conflict between Orto Plutonia’s native Talz and Separatist battle droids. The Talz only wanted to be left alone. But to Chuchi’s dismay, Pantoran Chairman Chi Cho insisted the Talz were trespassers, not natives, and Orto Plutonia belonged to Pantora.

Cho declared that negotiations with the Talz were an internal affair of Pantora’s, leaving the Jedi unable to intervene. With Cho preparing for war, Chuchi appealed to the Pantoran Assembly, which declared the chairman’s actions out of order and gave the senator the authority to negotiate a peaceful settlement.

Cho got more than he bargained for; by the time Chuchi and the Jedi reached the site of the skirmish he’d fought with the Talz, the chairman was mortally wounded and many clone troopers were dead. Showing both humility and maturity, Chuchi negotiated an end to hostilities with the Talz war chief.

The Trade Federation blockaded Pantora, part of a Separatist plot to pressure the planet into leaving the Republic. Senator Chuchi condemned the blockade, but the Trade Federation insisted it was only trying to force Pantora to pay existing debts.

Chuchi briefed Papanoida, Pantora’s new chairman, on the prospect of Senate action, with the Papanoida’s son Ion warning of growing pro-Separatist sentiment on Pantora. Shortly afterwards, the chairman’s daughters Chi Eekway and Che Amanwe were kidnapped.

Ahsoka Tano suspected that the chairman’s daughters had been kidnapped by the Separatists and were being secretly held on the Trade Federation flagship blockading Pantora. At Papanoida’s suggestion, Chuchi visited the flagship on a diplomatic mission, with Ahsoka posing as her servant.

While in hiding aboard the flagship, Chuchi and Ahsoka learned that the Trade Federation was indeed behind the kidnapping. Using her Force powers, Ahsoka managed to get herself and Chuchi into the ship’s detention area.

Chuchi and Ahsoka found Chi Eekway, but her sister had been taken to Tatooine. In a confrontation with the Trade Federation’s Sib Canay, Chuchi forced an end to the blockade, foiling the Separatists’ plans.

Later in the war, Chuchi was one of the Senators held hostage by Cad Bane’s thugs when the daring bounty hunter invaded the Senate Building on Coruscant to win the release of Ziro the Hutt from Republic custody.