Pong Krell, a Force-sensitive Besalisk male, was a Jedi Master during the last years of the Galactic Republic. During the Clone Wars, he held the rank of Jedi General in the Grand Army of the Republic. Although the clone troopers under his command sustained the highest casualty rates, Krell was recognized as a successful general due to his victories on the battlefield. In addition to his reputation as a general, he was also noted for his ferocity in personal combat. 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. However, as the war carried on, Krell began to see visions of a new order rising to power in place of both the Republic and the Jedi Order. Driven by self-preservation, he secretly embraced the dark side of the Force and began undermining the Republic Military‘s war effort in hopes of gaining Count Dooku‘s attention, to ultimately become his apprentice preceding the fall of the Republic.

During the Battle of Umbara, Krell temporarily replaced Anakin Skywalker as the commanding officer of the 501st Legion. When his soldiers discovered their general’s secret allegiance to Dooku, the clones mutinied against Krell’s command and moved to arrest him for treason. Despite killing multiple troopers while attempting to escape, the fallen Jedi was captured and imprisoned by his men. Although his subordinate, Clone Captain CT-7567, decided to execute him, it was ultimately Krell’s strongest supporter, trooper «Dogma,» on questioning Krell as to why he was performing these actions, who stole a blaster from Fives’ holster, and killed him for betraying the Republic.