Darkness on Umbara

"The first step toward loyalty is trust."

- Moral

"Darkness on Umbara" is the seventh episode of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series' fourth season. It aired on October 28, 2011.

Official description
"When Anakin is forced to temporarily turn over command of his clone troopers to a new commander, the Jedi Pong Krell, tensions begin to run high as the clones are assigned with a very deadly mission to take the capital of Umbara."

Synopsis
Onboard their command cruiser, Anakin and Obi-Wan discuss their attack strategy against the Umbrian capital, which is defended by both Separatist and local militia forces. Joined by Rex and ARC Trooper Fives, Anakin prepares to repel enemy reinforcements striking against Obi-Wan’s joint attack with Jedi Masters Saesee Tiin and Pong Krell.

Amidst heavy flak fire, the Republican AT-RT forces manage to take out the Umbrian guns, allowing the LAATs to set down their load of clone troopers. But the assault is hampered by the planet’s natural murkiness and foggy conditions, as well as the local wildlife, one of which nearly claiming the lives of Fives and Hardcase. These adverse conditions allow the Umbrians to execute a sneak attack against Anakin’s forces just as they are getting ready for their mission, forcing them to retreat. An airstrike by Master Krell saves them just in time, but then Krell approaches Anakin with a disconcerting message: Anakin is to return to Coruscant and meet Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, for reasons unknown. Reluctant to leave his troops in the midst of battle, Anakin nevertheless is forced to relinquish command over his troops to Master Krell and make the journey back to the Republic’s capital.

As soon as Anakin is gone, however, Krell adopts a very derisive, condescending stance towards the clone troopers, showing them no respect or consideration. His harsh determination to complete the mission at all costs, no matter what, gradually raises the ire of the clone troopers. When they reach the capital, Krell insists on a change in the attack plan, opting on a full frontal assault on the capital’s main road instead of a series of preemptive surprise attacks against the enemy’s defenses – a course which would expose them to heavy enemy attack. And as Rex feared, the battalion begins to run into enemy traps, with mines on the main road and an all-out ambush which claim the live of many troopers. Rex orders his troopers to retreat in order to attain a more advantageous fighting position, and they manage to repel the ambushers, but Krell (who has stayed behind) immediately afterwards begins to criticize Rex for what he perceives as insubordination. Rex and Fives stand up to him, voicing their protests and pointing out that while they are aware of the importance of their mission, so are they about the welfare of their men. Krell eventually makes Rex a dubious compliment, but before Rex and Fives have the time to contemplate Krell’s word more thoroughly, the Umbrians launch a counter-attack, forcing them to refocus on the battle ...

Cast

 * Dee Bradley Baker as the clone troopers
 * Dave Fennoy as Pong Krell
 * Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
 * James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Tom Kane as the narrator

Behind the scenes
In the episode, when General Krell scolds Captain Rex, he refers to him at "CT-7567," even though Rex is a captain and holds the designation CC-7567.