Pong Krell

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

- Pong Krell

Pong Krell was a male Besalisk Jedi Master who served as a Jedi General during the Clone Wars. The advantage of his four-armed physiology allowed him to use a unique form of Jar'Kai; wielding two double-bladed lightsabers at the same time. With the war having dragged on to that point, Krell foresaw the demise of both the Jedi Order and the Republic, with a new power replacing it. Driven by self-preservation, he chose to immerse himself in the dark side.

He fought during the Battle of Umbara, where it was revealed by Clone troopers of the 501st Legion that he was a traitor to the Galactic Republic and served to please Count Dooku. After being stunned by clone trooper Tup, Krell was to be executed by Captain Rex, but was killed by his former right-hand man, Dogma.

Biography
A Besalisk male, Pong Krell ascended to the rank of Master in the Jedi Order by the time of the Clone Wars.

Clone Wars
As the Jedi were called into service by the Galactic Republic, Krell joined the war as a General in the newly formed Grand Army of the Republic. Despite high casualties of Clone troopers under his command, Krell achieved many victories.

As the war progressed, Krell became seduced by the dark side of the Force. He then received a premonition about the future; the jedi were all but extinct, the Republic fell, and a new order arose in it's place. Thus, Krell decided to betray both the Republic and Jedi Order. He decided act as a double agent in order to sabotage the Republic's efforts. Krell planned to serve as the new apprentice of Sith lord and Separatist leader Count Dooku in order to given a place to rule in the new order.

Battle of Umbara
In 20 BBY, Krell, along with Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi, Saesee Tiin, and Anakin Skywalker were sent by the Jedi Council to retake Umbara back from it's Confederate-aligned Umbaran Militia. Krell then provided an air strike to Skywalker's forces. Krell then met up with Skywalker, and told that he was being recalled to Coruscant at the request of both Palpatine and the Jedi Council. Krell was then given command of the 501st Legion during the interim.

Krell then led the 501st to the outskirts of the capital. Krell, against the 501st's captain, Rex, concerns, decided to attack the city by going along the main road instead of flanking the capital. However, Rex and his troopers were forced to retreat away from the capital much to Krell's chagrin. Krell and his forces then held their ground against the militia and their starfighters. Krell was then contacted by Kenobi, who told them that a airbase was re-supplying the capital. Krell and the 501st were then tasked to take the airbase.

As the 501st approached the outskirts of the airbase, Krell decided to send Rex and the battalion through a ravine to take the airfield. Despite Captain Rex's and his troopers' objections, they went into the ravine. However, they came under heavy attack by the Militia's impeding assault tanks and mobile heavy cannons. Krell refused to let Rex and the battalion retreat or to send them reinforcements. After the clones took the airbase, despite heavy casualties, Krell also objected to allowing the clones use stolen enemy Umbaran ships to attack a Separatist supply ship. Instead, he ordered the troopers to march directly into range of enemy missile fire. Rather than face certain death by following orders, several troopers treasonously used the stolen ships anyway and successfully destroyed the supply ships, thus supporting Obi Wan Kenobi's attack on the Umbaran capital. Krell still had the soldiers who disobeyed orders locked in the bridge. He later ordered them executed.

The troopers could not go through with the execution. Krell told the clones that enemy soldiers had stolen Republic weapons and armor and ordered them into battle. During the fight, the clones discovered that Krell had lied and had ordered two groups of clones, unbeknownst to any of them, to attack each other. Rex realized that Krell had intentionally orchestrated the deaths of countless clone troopers and organized the clones to arrest Krell. Krell initially escapes arrest, killing many clones in the process. However, the clones eventually manage to stun and arrest Krell, putting him in a holding cell in the airbase. After Krell admits to his treachery, and with the enemy on the run back towards to the airbase, Rex decides to execute Krell before he could be freed by the approaching Ubarans. Before he can do so, Dogma steals a blaster and shoots Krell dead.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense
 * Dark Disciple
 * Dark Disciple
 * Dark Disciple
 * Dark Disciple
 * Dark Disciple
 * Dark Disciple