Umbaran airbase

"We've gathered intel on an airbase to the west. It is resupplying the capital's defenses."

―Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Pong Krell^[1]

The Umbaran airbase was an airbase located on the planet Umbara. During the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Umbaran Militia, an ally of the Separatists, used the airbase as a supply line to the planet's capital city. During the Battle of Umbara in 20 BBY, a battalion of the Republic's 501st Legion was sent to capture the airbase shortly after the battalion, usually commanded by the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, was placed under the temporary leadership of Jedi General Pong Krell. After a disastrous assault on the airbase involving a reckless plan from Krell that sent one of the clone divisions into a devastating encounter with Umbaran tanks and mobile heavy cannons, Clone Captain Rex authorized the clone troopers Fives and Hardcase to go on a stealth mission to steal Umbaran starfighters from the airbase. The two clones successfully used the stolen fighters to destroy the enemy vehicles. The clones were then able to push into the airbase and take it over.

As the clones continued to conflict with Krell's seeming indifference to high casualties and unwillingness to alternative tactics, Rex was unable to convince Krell that another direct assault on the capital in the face of long-range missiles would be too dangerous. The clone troopers Fives, Hardcase, and Jesse decided to directly disobey Krell's orders and commandeer Umbaran starfighters from the airbase, using them to attack a Separatist supply ship that has supplying the capital. Although their plan succeeded, Krell had the survivors detained in the airbase's brig. As the Battle of Umbara neared its conclusion, Krell, secretly a traitor, tricked Rex's forces and clones from the 212th Attack Battalion into attacking each other, lying to both groups that the enemy was disguised in clone armor. When the clones discovered the truth, they returned to the airbase to arrest Krell, attacking him and eventually capturing him. Krell would be executed in the brig as Umbaran forces that had been pushed out of the Umbaran capital threatened the airbase. The battle soon ended in Republic victory.

Description

"There's a base there, all right, and it's heavily guarded. At least three tank divisions, plus guns."

―Captain Rex^[1]

The command center of the Umbaran airbase.

The Umbaran airbase^[3] was located on the Expansion Region planet Umbara during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the latter of which was allied with Umbara.^[4] It was used by the Umbaran Militia primarily for resupply,^[1] sending weapons^[2] and other resources to the Umbaran capital city during the Battle of Umbara^[1] in 20 BBY.^[5] The base had an outer perimeter defended by an sensor wall, a surrounding an airfield, and eight buildings surrounding a main command center situated in the central control tower. The room featured many circular viewscreens, consoles, and holographic displays, all spread around a large holographic display in the center of the space.^[2]

One of the buildings was Hangar 9-4, a large room that could dock multiple Zenuas 33 Umbaran starfighters. Crates and shelving were also present in the hangar. The base also had barracks and a brig. The surrounding landscape was the^[2] shadowy jungles characteristic of the world.^[4] Fluorescent blue spots marked out the perimeter roads of the base.^[6] In addition to the starfighters, the base was defended by Umbaran mobile heavy cannons and Umbaran hover tanks.^[1]

History

A grueling advance

"If you could capture that airbase, it would sever the capital's supply lines."
"I'll see to it that the airbase is placed under our control."
"Remember, General Krell, the entire invasion depends on your battalion."

―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Pong Krell^[1]

The Umbaran airbase was of key strategic importance during the Battle of Umbara.^[6] When the Republic landed forces on Umbara, a battalion of clone troopers from the Grand Army of the Republic's 501st Legion fought their way across the harsh jungle landscape and secured a position on a ridge. When the battalion's Jedi General, Anakin Skywalker, was soon called away from the battle, Jedi General Pong Krell was placed in charge as an interim commander. Krell quickly employed his direct and unrelenting tactics to advance the troops in the direction the Umbaran capital city. After a long, twelve-hour march left the battalion's men tired, Clone Captain Rex attempted to convince Krell to let the battalion rest, but was swiftly denied. Although Skywalker's original plans had involved surgical strikes at the capital's defenses, Krell was adamant about a heavy assault down the main road. Although Rex felt the tactics were rash, he and the men complied, which resulted in heavy casualties.^[4]

Rex relays Krell's orders to advance towards the Umbaran airbase through the gorge.

Soon after the disastrous attempt at a direct advance, Krell was contacted by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who told the force to redirect their advance towards the Umbaran airbase, which lay to the west, in an attempt to cut off the capital city's supply lines and ultimately assist in capturing the capital alongside Kenobi's 212th Attack Battalion. Following the conversation with Kenobi, Krell ordered that Rex immediately map the coordinates and prepare the men to move out.^[1]

As they neared their target, Krell, Rex, ARC trooper Fives, and another clone trooper climbed a ridge to observe the airbase. Through electrobinoculars, Rex counted three enemy tank divisions and guns stationed there. Krell firmly declared that the men would advance directly down the gorge towards the airbase. Rex expressed concern with the plan, noting that the narrow gorge would mean that only single squads could advance down it at a time. Although Rex suggested recon, Krell vehemently shut down his idea and ordered the first division of troops to begin their attack immediately.^[1]

Attacking the airbase

"All right, listen up. We'll assemble the squads into two divisions. We'll move straight up this gorge towards the airbase at the far side. The casualties are going to be high."

―Rex tells the men about Krell's plan to take the airbase^[1]

The 501st's head-on assault was no match for the Umbaran heavy weapons.

Many of the troopers, already displeased with Krell's imprudent tactics and seeming indifference to high casualties, were upset when Rex relayed the orders to them. However, Rex, despite his own internal doubts on Krell's philosophies, stood by the plan and told the clones to follow orders. As the first division advanced, they encountered heavy resistance in the form of Umbaran Impeding Assault Tanks and Umbaran mobile heavy cannons, weapons the clones had never encountered before. The clones suffered heavy casualties against the superior weaponry, unable to damage the vehicles even with rocket launchers. Despite Rex's pleas, Krell refused to send the second division to assist them. It was then that two troopers, Fives and Hardcase, were sent ahead with the approval of Rex to steal two Umbaran starfighters from the airbase, hoping to use them to destroy the Umbaran vehicles.^[1]

The two troopers departed the battle and approached the airbase's sensor wall. Needing to avoid detection, Fives tasked Hardcase with finding a way to use a Zabrak Spine tree to climb over the wall as he planted thermal detonators on another nearby tree. Hardcase deployed his ascension cable and climbed up the tree, clambering across a branch that allowed him to safely land on the opposite side of the wall. Fives followed suit, and the two then ran across the airbase's airfield and took cover against the main structure. Detonating the explosives, they waited as Umbaran soldiers hurried towards the commotion before approaching two starfighters. Although the clones were unfamiliar with the Umbaran technology, they managed to fly the fighters despite being under fire from Umbarans that had discovered them.^[1]

The 501st Legion captured the airbase and began using it as their own base of operations.

Noticing that the attack was not going according to plan, Krell angrily contacted Rex. The Captain informed him of their plan to steal enemy starfighters. The Jedi berated Rex's strategy and demanded that he launch a full-frontal assault on the airbase immediately, threatening to relieve him of duty. As Rex ordered the troops to hold position, Fives and Hardcase returned. The two clones swooped back into the battle and were able to destroy the mobile cannons. Although Krell was angered by the tactic, it ultimately proved successful. The Jedi then ordered Clone Sergeant Appo to lead the rest of the forces to attack the airbase. Together, the clones finished the advance and captured the airbase, taking several Umbarans as prisoners. As the fighting ended, Rex congratulated Fives and Hardcase for saving the men, although Krell diminished their successes as "fortunate." Rex maintained that a lot of clones had sacrificed themselves to take the airbase, but Krell shook off the comment and told the captain that their deaths were the price of victory.^[1]

Under Republic control

"Congratulations on your capture of the Umbaran airbase, General. It's refreshing to have good news."
"There will be time for celebration when we've taken that capital."

―Obi-Wan Kenobi congratulates Pong Krell on their capture of the airbase^[2]

The Umbaran airbase fell under Republic control.

The clones occupied the airbase, setting up their own command center. Umbaran forces repeatedly attacked the 501st, escalating attempts to regain control of the airbase. In response, Krell ordered the clones to reconfigure and lock down the Umbaran security systems, instructing them to interrogate the prisoners if necessary. Krell also tasked clone trooper Jesse with stacking ordnance, while others searched containers that were left on the base. A pair of Advanced Recon Force troopers guarded the entrance to the base's central command tower. Meanwhile, Fives began working on the Umbaran starfighter hardware.^[2]

In the command tower, Rex again received word from Kenobi and summoned Krell to communicate with the Jedi Master. Kenobi congratulated Krell on taking the airbase before relaying information about Umbaran long-range missiles causing his forces to retreat away the capital. Krell was disappointed, thinking the 501st had cut off the capital's arms shipments when they took over the airbase, but Kenobi spoke of a Separatist supply ship that was the new source of the capital's defenses. As the outnumbered Republic fleet was unable to destroy the supply ship, Krell decisively said that he would bring his forces to the rendezvous nonetheless. He ordered the troops to prepare their weapons and be ready to move out in twelve hours, where they would cross the nearby delta and head towards the capital despite the missiles.^[2]

Rex and Fives argue outside the airbase's barracks.

As Krell's leadership continued to cause dissent amongst the clones, Fives and Jesse suggested flying the airbase's starfighters on a mission to destroy the Separatist supply ship. When Rex proposed the plan to Krell, the Jedi dismissed it as "frivolous." Just then, a trio of long-range missiles landed in a sector of jungle surrounding the airbase. Rex informed the men of Krell's decision in the barracks, causing the clones more outrage. Fives declared that they intended to go about their plan regardless of Krell's orders.^[2]

The clones caused damage to the base when experimenting with Umbaran weaponry.

With both Hardcase and Jesse onboard with Fives' plan, the clones entered Hangar 9-4 to practice their piloting skills. Hardcase attempted to fly a starfighter but was unable to control it, causing damage inside the hangar. Learning of the commotion, Krell requested to know what was going on, and although the clones attempted to cover it up, Hardcase accidentally fired a missile and destroyed a portion of the hangar. Krell arrived in time to angrily confront the men, and while Hardcase and Fives lied that the damage had been caused by an Umbaran booby trap, Krell expressly rejected their plan to attack the supply ship with the commandeered fighters, saying the technology was clearly dangerous and ordering the clone to lock the vessels down.^[2]

Dissension in the ranks

"General Krell would like to see them in the tower."

―Sergeant Appo orders Fives and Jesse to be brought to the airbase's control tower^[2]

Fives, Hardcase, and Jesse nonetheless decided to carry out their plan, sneaking out of the airbase's barracks to commandeer the fighters. The clone trooper Dogma, who had routinely argued in favor of Krell's orders in the past, noticed the three clones were not in their bunks, causing him to wake clone trooper Tup to ask where they had gone. Tup feigned innocence, but Dogma then convinced him to report the actions to Krell, saying that if they withheld knowledge of the insubordination, they would be complicit in it.^[2]

Rex told Krell that he had authorized the launch of the Umbaran starfighters from the airbase.

As the trio of rogue pilots took off, the airbase's flight officer reported the launch to Krell, who confronted Rex and questioned why the fighters had not been locked down. Rex, knowing what his comrades had been up to, lied to Krell and said that he had authorized the ships to do recon of the delta before the advance. Krell was upset by Rex's decision to order a reconnaissance, and as he returned to the command center, Rex spotted Dogma and Tup approaching. He ordered the pair to tell him where they were going, and when Dogma said they intended to speak with Krell, Rex said that he would pass along the report on their behalf. Dogma then said that it was not important and turned around, causing Rex to smile.^[2]

Hardcase ultimately sacrificed himself to attack the supply ship's reactor, and the enemy vessel was destroyed. Rex and Tup observed the massive explosion from the airbase. When Fives and Jesse returned, Appo and two other troopers arrived on behalf of Krell, summoning the Fives and Jesse to the control tower. The two were subsequently court-martialed^[2] and imprisoned in the airbase's brig behind a ray shield. When they were sentenced to execution by firing squad, the two clones were brought outside the airbase's central tower to be shot. However, after passionate remarks by Fives, the firing squad purposely missed and set their comrades loose. Krell confronted Rex about the incident but was interrupted by new intelligence on enemy movement.^[7]

Krell's betrayal

"We received a message from General Kenobi. His forces have captured the capital, but the remaining Umbarans are heading here!"

―A clone trooper^[7]

The clones returned to the airbase to arrest Krell.

With the new intelligence, Krell had the 501st move out from the airbase to attack the Umbarans, telling the men to be prepared for the enemy being disguised in clone armor. Krell gave the clones of Kenobi's 212th Attack Battalion the same instructions, tricking the two groups into attacking each other. Meanwhile, Krell sabotaged the airbase's transmitter to prevent the men from receiving word from the outside. As the clones began to kill each other, Rex noticed that one of the bodies of the 501st's supposed enemies was a clone. He managed to get both groups to stop firing on each other, and after learning from the 212th's platoon leader Waxer that Krell had tricked them, they discovered the truth and realized the Jedi General was a traitor.^[7]

Together, clones from the 501st and 212th returned to the airbase to stop Krell, with Rex leading a group into the command center to surround him while others positioned themselves outside on the airfield. The Jedi Master fought and killed many clones before leaping from the tower and onto the ground. He tore through the force of clones waiting for him outside and escaped the airbase, fleeing into the jungle. As the clones gave chase, Dogma, still blinded by his loyalty to their commanding officer, raised his weapon at Rex and told him to stop. Rex ordered Dogma to stand down, but Dogma would not relent, calling the other clones traitors. Removing his helmet, Rex told Dogma that while he used to believe following orders without questioning them was the right thing to do, he now knew that they had to make their own decisions. Dogma turned his weapon on Tup, and when Tup told Dogma once again to stand down, Dogma lowered his blaster. Two clones jumped on him, and Rex ordered for Dogma to be taken to the brig.^[7]

Krell was eventually executed in the airbase's brig.

As the clones rushed into the jungle around the airbase to track down Krell, they eventually captured him with the help of a vixus. Krell was also imprisoned in the airbase's brig. Soon after the incident, Kenobi and the 212th captured the capital city, causing surviving Umbaran forces to travel towards the airbase. After the clones repaired the sabotaged transmitter, they received Kenobi's message and realized the airbase was under threat. When a trooper informed Rex of the impending threat, he ordered the men to defend the perimeter of the base. The clones found themselves in a dilemma regarding having Krell as a prisoner, as they knew they could not allow him to communicate intel to the enemy. Krell was then executed by Dogma after Rex found himself unable to pull the trigger.^[7]

Soon after, Dogma was arrested and led into a gunship in stuncuffs due to his execution of their commanding officer, although he and Rex locked eyes and non-verbally acknowledged that Dogma had done the right thing. Several other gunships arrived at the airbase as Fives told Rex that Kenobi's troops had routed the last Umbaran holdouts and all sectors had been secured. Although the Battle of Umbara would end in Republic victory, Rex was left to question the point of the entire war and wonder what would happen to the men if the fighting came to an end.^[7]

Behind the scenes

The Umbaran airbase first appeared in "The General," the the eighth episode of the fourth season of the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.^[1] The episode premiered on November 4, 2011.^[8] The airbase was identified in the StarWars.com episode guide released on July 1, 2014,^[9] and it was first pictured in the show's Season Four trailer on August 16, 2011.^[10]

Concept art of the airbase's control tower.

Concept art for the airbase's command center was done by artist Thang Le and dated to May 24, 2010,^[11] while environment design for the airbase's buildings was completed by artist Jackson Sze and dated to May 11 of that same year.^[3] Sze also worked on final environment design of the airbase.^[12] Concept art of the airbase's brig was done by artist Wayne Lo, dated to June 15, 2010.^[13] Lighting concepts for multiple scenes in the airbase were created, including scenes of the clones standing together after taking the airbase,^[14] the execution of Fives and Jesse,^[15] Krell's fight with the clones in the command center,^[16] and Rex's confrontation with Krell in the brig.^[17]

The story for the Battle of Umbara, which the airbase features prominently in, drew from several classic war films. Writer Matt Michnovetz, who worked on all four episodes depicting the Battle of Umbara, noted that many different war movies contributed to the storyline, specifically the elements of the commanding officer not having the best interest of the troops in mind during actions like the attack on the airbase.^[18] The show's creator, George Lucas,^[19] based elements of the narrative on films such as The Longest Day, What Price Glory, and The Caine Mutiny. Michnovetz was also inspired by episodes of the television series M*A*S*H.^[18]