Pong Krell

"I will not be undermined by creatures bred in some laboratory!"

- Pong Krell, as Captain Rex and his men attempt to arrest him

Pong Krell was a male Besalisk Jedi General during the Clone Wars. While he was especially powerful and a very skilled leader, Krell was strict and showed less compassion to his troops than any other Jedi. He had a reputation for winning several key battles throughout the Clone Wars and had a reputation for large numbers of clone trooper casualties under his command.

His lack of compassion was apparent throughout the Battle of Umbara, addressing his troops by their unit numbers and even went as far as to cause Rex to engage in multiple arguments with him and threaten Fives with his lightsaber.

It was later revealed that Krell foresaw the destruction of the Jedi Order and had a desire to serve under Count Dooku.

Appearance
"Your flattery is dully noted, but it will not be rewarded. There's a reason my command is so effective, and it's because I do things by the book, and that includes protocol. Have all platoons ready to move out immediately. That is all."

- Pong Krell talking to his clones

Krell, like all Besalisks, had tan skin and had four arms. He wore standard Jedi robes, and most notably, he owned two double-bladed lightsabers; one was green while the other was blue.

Darkness on Umbara
"Any one else want to stop and play with the animals?"

- Krell after dispatching two Umbaran Banshees

The Jedi Council dispatched pong Krell to the dark planet of Umbara, which had recently fallen under the influence of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Upon his arrival, Krell observed that the Republic forces were already commencing their attack against the Umbaran resistance, with General Anakin Skywalker and the 501st Legion leading the way. Krell relieved Skywalker of his duties and ordered him to return to Coruscant under the order of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Krell then temporarily took over Skywalker's post as commander of the 501st Legion.

With Skywalker gone, Krell was informed of Skywalker's plan to take the Umbaran capital; however, Krell immediately dismissed Skywalker's strategy, knowing that the entire conquest relied on the 501st. He concluded that the strategy was too slow and ultimately a complete waste of time. He devised his strategy and ordered the 501st on a direct path to the Umbaran capital.

Krell was continuously questioned and exasperated by the clone troopers on the long march, particularly Clone Captain Rex. While on their journey, they were confronted by two flying Umbaran creatures which attacked the clones and were only defeated due to the intervention of Krell, who struck them down swiftly. Due to Krell's new strategy, the clones walked straight into an enemy minefield and were subsequently ambushed by the Umbarans. Almost overwhelmed by the Umbaran resistance while navigating the minefield, Krell expressed his disappointment that his clones could not succeed without his intervention. Krell chose to save the lives of his clones, despite his anger towards them, by dispatching reinforcements, resulting in a Republic victory. Krell informed Rex of his disappointment in him. ARC Trooper Fives retaliated to defend his Captain, only to be ordered to stand down by Krell, who held him at lightsaber point. Rex then intervened and stressed that he understood Krell's desire for success and the importance of the mission. Krell admitted that his style of leadership was unorthodox but defended that his strategies were almost always efficient.

The General
"We need to throw everything we have at them now!"

- Krell preparing his men to take the capitol

During a crossfire between the 501st and the Umbaran resistance, Krell received a message from General Obi-Wan Kenobi, who informed the Besalisk General that the Umbaran capital was almost impenetrable to the supplies it was receiving from a nearby airbase. To weaken the Umbaran defenses, the Republic forces had to destroy the Umbaran airbase, a mission assigned to Krell and the clone troopers.

Krell ordered Captain Rex to prepare his troops for the oncoming attack on the airbase. Upon viewing their target from a safe distance, Krell then commanded Rex and his men to charge through a gorge and to destroy the airbase using brute force; Rex disagreed and suggested that perhaps a reconnaissance mission would be more appropriate to the task at hand only for Krell to respond by reminding his Captain that the whole invasion depended on him and his troops.

By now, General Krell was having an impact on his men, who were now showing hostility not just between himself and the clones but also between the clones themselves, with Rex now showing more respect to his commanding officer and ARC Trooper Fives showing more and more hostility toward the General only to be criticized by fellow trooper Dogma, who strongly supported Krell's views.

Facing strong resistance from Umbaran tanks, Rex ordered Fives and Hardcase to infiltrate the airbase and take control of their starfighters. When Rex informed Krell of his plan of action, Krell expressed his displeasure at Rex's actions and considered him disobeying his orders. He ordered Rex and his troops to continue with the forward assault, or he would remove Rex from duty; knowing that his men would not overcome the Umbaran MHCs, Rex was forced to put his hope in Fives and Hardcase. Rex ordered his men to hold their position until the two clones had completed their objectives. Noticing Rex's struggle against the tanks, Clone Sergeant Appo offered to help reinforce the attack, only to be told not to do so until Krell gave the order. With their plans eventually succeeding, with thanks to Rex's cleverness and originality, ensuring that Krell's plan was successful. Krell then informed Rex that he would not be relieving him of his duty due to their success, even though he believed it was down to pure luck.

Carnage of Krell
"It's treason then."

- Krell as the clones attempt to arrest him.

Krell ordered the 212th Attack Battalion to attack the 501st Legion, both sides thinking that the other was Umbarans in disguise. The 501st Legion and the 212th Attack Battalion later realized that they were not Umbarans and came to the valid conclusion that Krell had purposely tricked them into attacking one another.

The 501st and 212th teamed up and decided to arrest Krell. When they reached the airbase, the clones surrounded Krell to arrest him, but Krell managed to fight his way through the clones and ran into the Umbaran Forest. As more attempts to take down Krell ensued, the clones tricked Krell into being captured by a Vixus. The Vixus grabbed Krell and managed to disarm him of one of his lightsabers, but he eventually cut himself free. When Krell fell on the surface, Tup stunned him, and the rest of the clones transported him back to the airbase. When Krell was in confinement, Rex interrogated him, asking why a Jedi would turn against the Republic. Krell answers by stating that his abilities extended beyond those of any Jedi and foresaw the Jedi Order's fall. He then revealed that he had a desire to become Count Dooku's next apprentice, adding that if Rex left him in the brig, the Umbarans would soon come and free him. Rex, Fives, Jesse, and Tup leave Krell and Dogma nevertheless.

Rex soon returns to Krell, knowing that it would be too dangerous to let him live. Rex pulled out one of his DC-17 hand blasters and aimed but could not stir up the courage to kill him. Surprisingly, Dogma, who was now set free, took one of Fives's DC-17 blasters and shot Krell in the back, putting an end to the traitorous Jedi general.

Trivia

 * In "The General," when the troopers are at the airbase and Krell comes over, he briefly lacks his beard in one shot.
 * In "Carnage of Krell," when Rex and the 501st and 212th surround him, Krell says, "It's treason then," something Chancellor Palpatine said to Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Appearances

 * "Darkness on Umbara"
 * "The General"
 * "Plan of Dissent"
 * "Carnage of Krell"
 * "Sabotage" Mentioned only
 * Star Wars: Dark Disciple