Battle of Umbara/Legends

The Battle of Umbara, one of the most prolonged campaigns of the Clone Wars, took place on the planet Umbara between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Prelude
"Onaconda and I were often at odds, but I respected him. I respected him greatly."

- Mee Deechi, whose murder was followed by Umbara's withdrawal from the Republic

During the Clone Wars, the planet Umbara and its native Umbaran people were loyal to the Galactic Republic, being represented in the Galactic Senate by Senator Mee Deechi, a militarist politician who supported expansions for the Grand Army of the Republic. However, around 21 BBY, the second year of the war, Deechi was murdered by a fellow senator, Lolo Purs, who sought to cover her tracks as the culprit of the poisoning of Senator Onaconda Farr. The Umbarans subsequently withdrew their support of the Republic and allied themselves with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, bringing their advanced combat technology to the Separatists. As a result, the Republic and the Jedi Order launched a campaign to retake Umbara, sending Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Jedi High Council members Obi-Wan Kenobi and Saesee Tiin as commanders for clone trooper detachments from the Grand Army.

The northern landing
Spearheaded by Z-95 Headhunters, Republic forces launched a blitz attack on the Separatist blockade fortifying the Umbara system. After quickly punching a hole through Separatist defenses, the Republic forces consolidated for a ground assault on the Umbaran capital. While Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi, Pong Krell, and Saesee Tiin took command over the southern front, Anakin Skywalker and the 501st Legion were given control over the northern front with the intention of flanking Separatist reinforcements and neutralizing the local Umbaran militia. Upon reaching the atmosphere, the ground forces were deployed in a squadron of gunships vanguarded by a wing of Headhunters. A large number of AT-RT scout walkers were deployed from the gunships, and they charged the Umbaran militia, clearing the way for the clone infantry to land. The Umbarans employed tanks which utilized electric current-based weaponry; however, the scout walker's agility allowed them to easily outmaneuver several of the tanks and take them out from the side. Skywalker and his men touched down after a rough landing, losing at least one gunship to surface fire. The attack force proceeded onward to claim a ridge to the north that was viable as a potential staging area for Republic forces. The clone forces charged straight into the Umbaran's frontlines, forcing the enemy militia to fall back. However, the clones encountered a bizarre form of Umbaran fauna: a carnivorous, tentacled creature known as the Vixus. The creature grasped several clones with its tentacular appendages and dragged them into its gaping maw. ARC trooper 5555 nicknamed "Fives" who was in the grasp of the creature, tricked it into swallowing a thermal detonator, destroying the monster from the inside.

After securing the landing zone, the clone forces entrenched themselves on the ridge. As they rested, the Umbaran insurgents regrouped themselves for an ambush on the clone camp; by distracting the tired clones with millicreep assassin droids, the Umbarans circled around the camp and attacked the clones from the rear. In response, General Skywalker authorized a carpet bombing of the ridge, and ordered his men to fall back to the south, losing at least one AT-RT walker in the process. Upon reaching the fallback zone, two BTL-B Y-wing starfighters led by Commander Odd Ball carpet bombed the ridge, wiping out the last of the Umbaran resistance in the area.

As the clone forces regrouped for the imminent attack on the Umbaran capital city, General Pong Krell arrived, relaying an order from the Jedi Council requesting Skywalker's return to Coruscant, an order which apparently originated from Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Skywalker reluctantly followed the order, leaving Krell to lead the 501st in the interim. Krell then ordered his men to march on the capital. Along the way, they were attacked by a pair of Banshees, which Krell killed so that the battalion could resume marching onwards. When Krell and the 501st reached the outskirts of the Capital, Krell ordered the troops to launch a full frontal assault instead of using preemptive surprise attacks. Captain CT-7567 nicknamed "Rex" complied with the order and then led his troopers and AT-RTs onto the main road to assault the capital. As the 501st marched along the road, they ran into a minefield, killing troopers Oz and Ringo. ARC trooper Fives was able to find more mines and a way through them. The 501st were soon ambushed by the Umbaran militia, but held their ground, although they were too exposed to hold out for long. Captain Rex then ordered the 501st to retreat in order to gain a better fighting position. They were then able to rejoin Krell and the rest of the 501st. Together they were able to repel the Umbarans. After that, Krell criticized Captain Rex for giving up the road. Rex and Fives were able to convince the general that they did what was best for their men. After Krell gives Rex a dubious compliment, the Umbarans launch a counterattack on the 501st.

Capturing the airbase
"They're coming from all directions!''" "We don't have any cover!" "''We need to fall back, get them to follow us. If we can draw them out, we can see them. If we can see them, we can hit them!"

- Dogma, Fives, and Rex

Krell and the 501st continued to hold their positions despite the relentless attacks of the Umbaran militia from both ground and air. The 501st could not break through to support General Kenobi's battalion. Kenobi then contacted Krell, ordering him to take out an airbase being used as a supply base for the capital. The 501st regrouped and proceeded to the airbase. When the 501st got within distance of the airbase, Rex suggested that they try and scout for another way in. Krell, knowing the urgency of Kenobi's situation, ordered the captain to take the battalion through a gorge single file. Rex's men started to criticize Krell's orders and tactics knowing that their casualties would be high but he was able to convince them to go through with it.

As he started the attack, Rex divided his men into three groups, with Fives, Hardcase and himself being in charge of these groups. As the 501st made their way through the gorge, they were attacked by caterpillar tanks which they subdued with their rocket launchers and thermal detonators. The 501st then resumed their advance towards the airbase before being forced to retreat by enemy fire from spider cannons. Krell then ordered Rex to push the attack; his men tried using rocket launchers on the spider cannons, but to no avail.

Rex then ordered Fives and Hardcase to acquire a couple of Umbaran starfighters and use them against the tanks. However, Krell ordered Rex to launch a full-scale attack. Rex and his men then continued to hold their ground against the tanks. The two troopers passed the sensor fence surrounding the airbase by climbing a tree. After Fives and Hardcase made it over, Fives blew up the tree to distract the Umbarans. Fives and Hardcase were then able to get into a couple of starfighters and destroy the tanks. Krell then sent clone sergeant CC-1119 nicknamed Appo and the rest of the battalion in to take the airbase. The 501st was successful in taking the airbase. The battalion then rounded up the prisoners and held the base before moving on to aid Kenobi in taking the capital.

Attack on the supply ship
"Can't we destroy the supply ship?''" "''We're trying, but with little success. Their fleet outnumbers ours, and the extra ships we were promised have not yet arrived."

- Captain Rex and Obi-Wan Kenobi

After Krell and 501st conquered the airbase for the Republic, the Umbarans then stepped up their attacks, trying to retake their airbase. The Jedi made sure that all security measures were reconfigured and that the battalion stayed on alert to anything, while ARC trooper Fives worked on examining the Umbaran starfighters. Krell was then contacted by Kenobi, who congratulated him on taking the airbase, though the latter wanted to wait until the battle was over to celebrate. Kenobi then informed Krell that his battalion was being pushed away from the capital by long-range missiles and that the capital was being resupplied by a Separatist supply ship within orbit, guarded heavily by the Separatist Fleet. The Republic fleet was trying to destroy it, but with little success against the Separatist fleet and the reinforcement ships that were promised to the campaign did not arrive yet. Krell, however, stated that they would have to take the capital regardless of these missiles and said that he would meet Kenobi and his battalion at the rendezvous point. Kenobi's transmission was then lost. Krell then ordered Rex to ready the battalion to move out in 12 hours to advance on the capital; the captain then asked Krell if he should try and get a message through to Kenobi to coordinate their attack in light of the recent threat. Krell knew, however, that like himself and his battalion, Kenobi had his hands full and asserted that they needed to throw everything they have at the capital. Rex told Krell that they would be walking into a blast zone, but the Jedi disagreed and ordered him to prepare his troops.

After Rex briefed his troops, ARC trooper Fives tells Rex that they have broken the Umbaran access codes and that they can use the captured starfighters to infiltrate the supply ship and destroy it, thus cutting off supplies to the capital. Rex tells Krell of this plan, but Krell does not wish to waste men on this plan knowing they will need everyone to help take the capital. The airbase then comes under fire from long range missiles. Despite Krell's orders, Fives decides to go through with the mission despite the risk of Court-martial so he, Hardcase, and CT-5597 nicknamed "Jesse" then go into a hangar and train themeselves at flying the captured starfighters. Unfortunately, Hardcase is having trouble at flying the craft. Krell is informed of this. Fives tells Krell that it's just a safety drill, but Krell however does not believe it. After Hardcase accidentally shoots the hangar door apart, Krell comes down. Hardcase then figures out how to fly the starfighter. When Krell demands to know what happened, Fives and Hardcase tell him that it was an enemy booby trap and that they were lucky they got in control before the starfighter went haywire. Krell then orders the starfighters to be locked down, despite Hardcase's objections. After Krell leaves, Jesse and Hardcase volunteer to fly with Fives, regardless of the consequences. Fives tells them his plan knowing how when General Skywalker was a kid, blew up a ship by hitting its reactors from the inside. Rex was then conducting a perimeter sweep when Fives, Jesse and Hardcase tell him that they intend to go through with their plan. Rex reluctantly gives them permission to do so, but tells them that if they get caught, he won't be able to help them.



Fives, Jesse and Hardcase then commandeered the captured starfighters and made their way into orbit towards the supply ship. When they got there, they were in the middle of a space battle between the Republic and Separatist fleets. Luckily, the enemy fighters think they're Umbaran. When Krell finds out about this, Rex tells him that it's merely a reconnaissance mission. Meanwhile, the rogue troopers then make their way through the battle towards the supply ship. The battle droids then see that the fighter pilots are clones. The Tactical droid is informed of this. When the droids start closing the doors, Hardcase shoots them but damages his fighter. The Tactical droid then orders the defenses to increase and the reactor's Ray shields to be activated. Just when the rogue troopers make thier shot on the reactors,the ray shields come up. The rogue clones then come under ground fire from the droids. Hardcase then leaves his fighter and takes one of his missile pods into the reactor room. Hardcase then tells Fives and Jesse to get out. Just as Fives and Jesse leave, Hardcase rams the missile pod into the reactors, thus destroying the supply ship. After Fives and Jesse land they are taken to see Krell. Though Krell knows it was a brave act, they disobeyed his orders. Rex tries to take the blame for this mission, but Fives insists that it was his idea. Krell tells Fives and Jesse that they will be court-martialed and executed.

Execution
"Let me be clear about the punishment for the treason committed by ARC trooper 5555 and CT-5597: they will be court marshaled, they will be found guilty, and they will be executed. Make no mistake. For crossing me, you will pay the price."

- Jedi General Pong Krell

After the event in which Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase (Who sacrificed himself to destroy the supply ship) disobeyed Krell's orders, Rex tries to talk Krell out of court-martialing Fives and Jesse and tells him there is no need and that the troops feel Krell is putting their lives in danger needlessly. Krell only replies that the the court-martial is needed to show the clones who is in charge. After a short lived talk, Krell decides that the execution of Fives and Jesse will be more effective than court-martialing them. He orders Rex to prepare a squad for execution. Shocked, Rex tries again to reason with the general, only to be yelled at. Doing as he is told, Rex retrieves Fives and Jesse from their prison cells. Rex tells them that he tried to reason with Krell with no success. He and the other troopers set them up along the wall of the airbase. Dogma, the leader of the execution, asks Fives and Jesse if they would like to be blindfolded. With no response, Dogma takes it as a no. As the execution team prepares to fire, Fives stops them and says that what they are about to do is wrong and that they should not listen to Krell's order for execution. The troops begin to wonder if Fives is right. But not caring at all, Dogma orders them to fire. The troopers fire but avoid hitting Fives and Jesse. Dogma begins to question why the troopers didn't kill Fives and Jesse, only for Rex to step in and tell him that their actions in destroying the supply ship was heroic and that if all clone troopers in the 501st legion were rewarded with execution for heroic actions, then one day they would all face a similar fate. The troopers then untie the two clones.

Up in the tower, Krell is furious to hear that the clones didn't kill Fives and Jesse and reprimands Rex for it. Soon an incoming message comes through and a clone trooper reports that the Umbarans have stepped up their defenses and have recently ambushed a clone platoon and seizing clone armor and weapons and have disguised themselves as clone troopers. Krell puts the execution on hold and orders Rex and his men to prepare to march on the capital and reminds him to tell his men that the enemy has now disguised themselves as clone troopers.

Rex then leads the 501st to attack the disguised Umbarans. When Rex and the rest of his men come under fire from the disguised Umbarans, the troops then set up their mortars and open fire on the enemy. The firefight between both sides continued till Rex discovered that the "disguised" Umbarans were actually clones. Rex then orders his men to stop firing, telling them to take off their helmets to see that they were all clones. Both sides revealed themselves to be clones. Kix then found the 212th battalion platoon leader, Waxer who was mortally wounded in the firefight. Rex then asks Waxer who gave the order to attack them. Waxer tells Rex that Krell told his platoon that the Umbarans had stolen clone armor. Waxer then cries before he dies. Rex then rounded his men and the remnants of Waxer's platoon. Rex tells them that they are going to arrest Krell for treason against the Republic. Rex then tells them that if anyone did not wish to do this, to step out of the line. All of Rex's men stepped forward to arrest Krell.



Rex and the 501st, along with the remainder of Waxer's platoon prepare themselves to arrest Krell. Along the way, Rex frees Fives and Jesse from their imprisonment and gives them back their armor and weapons. Rex and his men then go to the control tower to confront Krell. Rex then states that General Krell is relieved of his command, but Krell tells Rex that he and his men are committing mutiny. Krell then admits he did tell his men to kill each other. Just as the clones close in on him, Krell subdues them, killing some them with his double bladed lightsabers and then escapes in to the jungle. Rex then orders his men to go into the jungle and find him. Dogma, remaining loyal to Krell, tries to stop his brothers, calling them traitors. After Rex convinces him to stand down, Dogma is then taken to the brig. When Rex and the rest of his troops go into the jungle, Krell subdues one of the squads. Krell, using the force, taunts Rex and his men, saying that he has been using them all along, laughing at them. Tup then has Rex lure the corrupt Jedi Master over to him. When Tup manages to lure Krell's attention from the rest of the clones, the general then runs into a Vixus. Although Krell is able to free himself from the Vixus's grasp, he is then stunned by Tup, and the troops place a pair of binders on his hands and is then taken into custody.

When Rex questions Krell about his actions, he admits that he has turned traitor and tells Rex that he foresees that the Jedi will lose the war, and that a New Order will arise, and that in exchange for betraying the Republic, he will become Count Dooku's new apprentice. This suprises Dogma, since he was one of Krell's most loyal troopers. Rex then discovers that Krell had sabotaged the airbase's communications and that General Kenobi's battalion had long since taken the capital. Unfortunately the Umbaran forces are on their way to retake the airbase. Captain Rex then orders the troops to prepare for a full scale attack. When Fives warns Rex that if Krell is freed, he would undermine the Republic's foothold. So Rex decides to execute the fallen general. Rex and Fives then go down to the brig and let Dogma out. Rex then tells Krell to face the wall and get down on his knees. Krell taunts Rex that's he afraid to pull the trigger. Just when Krell finishes his last taunt, Dogma takes one of Fives's pistols and shoots Krell for betraying every one of his men. Rex then gets word that Kenobi's battalion have all sectors secured and that the enemy has been defeated, marking the end of the invasion on Umbara.

Aftermath
The battle of Umbara gave background to the events taking place during Order 66. This shows that the clones were not just cold, heartless killers that were simply following orders with out question. It shows that the clones did not perseve what Palpatine was saying about the jedi as inconseveable, and still doing what he ordered. They saw that Jedi were coruptable, even onto evil. Pong Krell is a pefect example of that, as are Asajj Ventress, Count Dooku, and&mdash;to a lesser extent&mdash;General Grievous, all of which killed thousands of their clone bretheren.

Behind the scenes
"Do you think there can be more stories like the Umbara arc?''" "''Yes there can, and there will. I have it on good authority. Bring in the drop-ship and let's go!"

- Jonathan Wilkins and Dee Bradley Baker.

The battle of Umbara was featured in a four-part series starting from "Darkness on Umbara" and ending at "Carnage of Krell." It is the third major battle featured through multiple episodes in the series, the first being the Battle of Ryloth from Season One, and the second being the Second Battle of Geonosis that appeared in Season Two.