Keller (clone commander)

"Commander Keller, one of the STAPs is out of fuel. They ditched them and set off on foot. They're heading towards Ithaqua Station."

―One of Keller's troopers, informing him of the Jedi's location during Order 66^[2]

Keller was a clone trooper commander who served under Jedi General Simms, Jedi General Kai Hudorra, and Jedi Commander Noirah Na. He commanded a special unit of clone troopers and Galactic Marines.

Biography

"Nobody move! This is a raid! Have your identification ready for examination."

―Keller, raiding a local bar looking for the missing Jedi^[2]

Made from the genetic template of bounty hunter Jango Fett and born on the planet Kamino,^[1] the clone who would take on the name Keller^[2] was created to serve the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars against the Confederacy of Independent Systems.^[1] With the rank of Clone Commander, he was brought into the ARC Commander program^[3] and trained in ARC skills. Upon graduating, he was given the title of ARC commander.^[5]

During the final stages of the Clone Wars,^[6] in 19 BBY,^[7] Keller and his unit^[2] of Galactic Marines^[4] were sent to the frigid Outer Rim world of Toola to combat recent Separatist incursions into the area. After weeks of fighting, the Republic forces won the conflict after a successful attack on the battle droid's main generators. Shortly after the victory, Keller and his unit received Order 66^[2] from Supreme Chancellor Palpatine^[8] and the clones moved against their Jedi leaders. They managed to kill General Simms, but Kai Hudorra and Simms' Padawan, Noirah Na managed to get away and flee aboard STAPs to Ithaqua Station.^[2]

Attempting to hunt down the two Jedi, Keller and his men rode Mastmots through the snow-covered landscape. They eventually found the two STAPs the Jedi had taken, abandoned in the snow due to the fuel running out. One of Keller's marines took note of the footprints the Jedi left behind in the snow and informed Commander Keller that they were heading in the direction of Ithaqua Station. Keller ordered to comm ahead and inform the station's local garrison, then continued onward. Keller arrived at Ithaqua Station and eventually entered a cantina where he ordered the patrons to stay where they were and to have their identification ready. Unbeknownst to Keller, Kai Hudorra was present in the cantina and incited a brawl between the cantina-goers and Keller's troops, allowing the Jedi to escape from the raid unnoticed by the clones.^[2] The frigid night soon came, forcing Keller and his troops of the streets until morning. Once dawn broke, Keller and his men continued their search, unaware that the two Jedi had boarded a ship and were currently leaving the planet.^[9]

Personality and traits

As a male clone of the Human Jango Fett, Keller stood at 1.83 meters tall^[1] and had tan skin. He also had black hair and brown eyes.^[4]

Equipment

During the Clone Wars, Keller wore white clone paratrooper armor with blue markings. He also wore a white cloak over his clone armor and brown straps around his upper arms. Keller was also equipped with two DC-17 blaster pistols,^[2] and a DC-15A blaster rifle.^[4]

Behind the scenes

Keller first appeared in the story arc Star Wars: Republic: Into the Unknown, of Republic 79.^[2] Keller was ranked as number five on StarWars.com's top ten list of clones for 2005.^[3] Hasbro released a figure of Commander Keller as part of its range of Dark Horse Comics figure packs. It included the commander and a Galactic Marine apart of his unit.^[4]