Ponds

Biography

Debut on Geonosis

The clone designated CC-6454, who later adopted the name Ponds, was a clone trooper commander. He was born on Kamino and was one of many clones created from the genetic template of bounty hunter Jango Fett for the Galactic Republic to serve within the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 22 BBY, Ponds joined the 200,000 clone troopers assembled by Jedi Grand Master Yoda from Kamino. This force was dispatched to Geonosis, where the Republic initiated an operation to rescue Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker, and Senator Padmé Amidala, all of whom were facing execution by the newly established Confederacy of Independent Systems. During the ensuing First Battle of Geonosis, Ponds reported to Jedi Master Mace Windu and organized five commando squads for Windu's use. The Republic emerged victorious, and Ponds remained under Windu's command as the Clone Wars spread throughout the galaxy.

Battle of Ryloth

As the conflict progressed into its initial year, Wat Tambor, the Techno Union foreman and a member of the Separatist Council, led an invasion of the planet Ryloth, resulting in the enslavement of its Twi'lek population. After Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano successfully broke the Confederate blockade around Ryloth, Ponds joined General Windu aboard an Acclamator-class assault ship. Windu's invasion force, composed of three Acclamator transports, prepared to land in the city of Nabat, but came under attack from Confederate proton cannons positioned within the city. Ponds informed Mace Windu that the cannons had breached the transports' shields, and as he spoke, one of the transports was destroyed. Windu then instructed High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi to eliminate the cannons to enable their transports to land in Nabat. Kenobi succeeded in destroying the cannons, allowing the remaining two transports to land. Ground forces were then deployed, heading towards Ryloth's capital, Lessu, with the objective of retaking it and liberating the planet.

On the way to Lessu, Ponds accompanied Windu and commanded the GAR unit known as Lightning Squadron, along with a number of AT-TE walkers. While traversing a cliffside path, the forces were ambushed by several Confederate Armored Assault Tanks, which aimed to trap the Republic forces on the cliff, disabling the lead walkers before targeting those at the rear. Windu and Ponds led a counterattack with Lightning Squadron and several AT-RT walkers against the tanks. Despite defeating the tanks, the ambush resulted in the loss of thirty-two soldiers and three AT-TE command crews. Windu and Ponds realized they needed reinforcements to succeed.

Windu then engaged in a holographic conference with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, Jedi Grand Master Yoda, Ryloth's Twi'lek senator, Orn Free Taa, and Admiral Wullf Yularen. Discovering that no reinforcements were available, Windu decided to seek assistance from Cham Syndulla and his freedom fighters, a resistance group that had been fighting the Confederacy since the invasion. Windu, accompanied by Advanced Recon Force troopers Razor and Stak, went to meet the rebels, while Ponds continued towards Lessu with the remaining forces.

Upon encountering a Twi'lek village, Ponds instructed his troopers to share some rations with the Twi'lek women and children present. Suddenly, several Confederate Hyena-class bombers appeared and attacked the village, dropping bombs and destroying it within moments. A shocked Ponds reported this to Windu, and the growing loss of life convinced Syndulla to reopen negotiations with his political rival, Senator Taa. Syndulla resolved his issues with Taa and decided to join Windu and his forces. The group then devised a plan to enter Lessu, but the only viable option was to activate the city's plasma bridge, as it was the only access point, and the bridge's controls were located inside the city. To infiltrate Lessu, Windu decided to sneak aboard one of two Confederate Multi-Troop Transports carrying stolen treasure for Emir Tambor. However, they had a limited time before being discovered, and Ponds and Syndulla needed to provide Windu with as much time as possible to cross.

Accompanied by Razor and Stak, Windu boarded one of the MTTs stealthily. When their presence was revealed, the Jedi and the two clones made a dash for the other side of the plasma bridge, while Ponds and Syndulla initiated their attack. Windu and the clones successfully crossed the bridge, and Syndulla led the assault towards it. Razor and Stak managed to activate the bridge, and after the Republic forces crossed and entered the city, Windu cornered Tambor. Four Hyena bombers prepared to destroy the city under orders from Confederate Head of State and Sith Lord Count Dooku, but the timely arrival of General Skywalker and Commander Tano in their fighters prevented the destruction. Following the battle, Ponds attended a parade on Ryloth with Syndulla, Taa, and Windu.

Battle of Behpour

Immediately following the events on Ryloth, a Separatist superweapon was discovered on Behpour by Naboo Senator Padmé Amidala. This weapon had been created by Kul Teska, the Skakoan agent responsible for the attack on Juma-9. Ponds was part of the Republic task force sent to destroy the weapon before it could cause the collapse of the Naboo sun. After Generals Kenobi and Skywalker disabled the facility's shield, the clones entered and quickly secured the entrance. Ponds later assisted Cody and Captain Rex in securing a landing platform for Skywalker's starship, the Twilight.

Battle of Juma-9

Shortly after the events on Ryloth, the station Juma 9 came under attack. Mace Windu and Commander Ponds, along with Jedi Master Kit Fisto, sought to retake the station. They located Clone Commander Cody, and while the Jedi entered the station, the clones scouted the station's surface, encountering several droids. They eventually destroyed all the droids and discovered two lightsabers in space. They then met the owners of the lightsabers, Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon, who had been separated from their weapons by a ray shield, forcing them to navigate around it. They eventually succeeded and retrieved their sabers, leading to a Republic Victory at the Battle of Juma 9.

Battle of Malastare

Ponds aided Mace Windu in the search for survivors within the Zillo Beast's pit. Mace Windu instructed him, along with Trapper and Hawkeye, to conduct a search of the area. Soon after, the Zillo Beast discovered them and pursued them. However, Mace, Ponds, and another trooper managed to escape aboard a gunship.

Tour on the Endurance

While aboard the Venator-class Star Destroyer Endurance, Ponds instructed Mace and Skywalker to proceed to the bridge, preventing the two Jedi from giving a tour of the ship to a group of clone cadets. Unbeknownst to them, a young Boba Fett had infiltrated the clone youth brigade touring the ship, seeking to avenge his father's death at the hands of Mace Windu. Fett managed to slip away from the rest of the brigade and proceeded to sabotage the ship's main reactor. Ponds and several other clones were dispatched to investigate the cause of the reactor's destruction. Later, Ponds stated that he would remain on the Endurance with Admiral Shoan Kilian and go down with the ship while the rest of the clones evacuated.

Capture and death

Following the crash, Ponds, along with Admiral Kilian and another clone officer, was captured by Aurra Sing, Boba Fett, Castas, and Bossk. Initially, the bounty hunters intended to ransom the three hostages to the Separatists. However, when their booby trap failed, Sing decided to use the hostages as bait to lure Mace Windu into the open, allowing Boba to kill the Jedi who had killed his father. They decided to send a message to convince the Jedi to come, ordering Boba to kill Ponds as proof of their intentions. When Boba hesitated, Aurra, growing impatient, killed Ponds herself when he refused. As the Jedi watched in horror, the bounty hunters terminated the transmission. Subsequently, the bounty hunters ejected Ponds' body into space.

Personality and traits

Ponds exhibited obedience and diligently followed orders. He was assertive and decisive when issuing commands, as demonstrated when he immediately ordered Lightning Squadron to the front of the Republic walker formation during the cliffside ambush. Ponds also displayed compassion, as seen when he learned that only Twi'lek women and children remained in a nearby village, prompting him to show pity and order his men to share rations. He was also visibly shocked and angered when the Confederacy bombed the village.

He maintained friendships with fellow officers Captain Rex and Commander Cody. He offered comfort to Cody when he expressed concern for Generals Plo Koon and Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Juma 9 station mission. He also complimented Rex's marksmanship skills on Behpour.

After being captured by Aurra Sing, Ponds initially refused to provide his name when asked, relenting only after she forcefully demanded it. Just before Aurra killed him, Ponds calmly closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

Equipment

Ponds' armor was distinguished by dark-red markings on his helmet, arms, shoulder plates, the back of his torso, and from his knee pads down to his mid-calf. Ponds also wore a kama that held two DC-17 hand blasters, which he used on Malastare. The back of Ponds' helmet was inscribed with the phrase "Some guys have all the luck" in Aurebesh. He also utilized a DC-15A blaster rifle on Ryloth and a DC-15S blaster carbine on Behpour.

Behind the scenes

Ponds, like all other clone troopers in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, was voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. He was first mentioned, albeit briefly, in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia (2008), and subsequently made his first appearance in the series' 2009 first season episodes "Innocents of Ryloth" and "Liberty on Ryloth."

In the 2010 episode "Lethal Trackdown," when Aurra Sing asks Ponds for his name, he provides the designation "CT-411," which contradicts the "CC-6454" designation given in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Visual Guide Ultimate Battles reference book and repeated in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes video game, both of which were released in 2009. This discrepancy was later addressed in the 2010 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia, which assigned him the new designation "CC-0411" to align with the conflicting number from "Lethal Trackdown." However, when Ponds received an entry in the StarWars.com Encyclopedia in 2012, his designation was listed as the previously established "CC-6454." This article assumes that the latter designation is correct, as precedence is given to the Encyclopedia as the most recently published source.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Visual Guide Ultimate Battles noted that Ponds was assigned to Mace Windu during the Battle of Geonosis, which was depicted in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones. Although Republic Heroes stated that his assignment to Windu occurred after Geonosis, Ponds's 2012 Encyclopedia entry confirmed his participation in the battle, even going so far as to retcon a clone commander featured in the film as Ponds.

Ponds made an appearance in the comic The Clone Wars: The Colossus of Destiny, but his armor featured blue stripes down his arms and two blue eyes on his helmet, positioned above his visor.