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Click here for Wookieepedia's article on the Canon version of this subject.  This article covers the Legends version of this subject. 
For other uses, see Mundi (disambiguation).

"Our predicament is dire, but do not despair. Focus! We are Jedi!"
―Ki-Adi-Mundi, during the Battle of Hypori — (audio) Listen (file info)[12]

Ki-Adi-Mundi was a Force-sensitive male Cerean Jedi Master of the Jedi Order who served on the High Council in the twilight years of the Galactic Republic and played a major role in several battles during the Clone Wars. Born in 93 BBY, Mundi was discovered at age four by the Jedi An'ya Kuro and became one of the few permitted by the Jedi Order to be trained starting beyond infancy. After more than two decades as a Padawan to Master Yoda, Mundi was named a Jedi Knight and returned to Cerea to liberate his home village from a gang of raiders. Assigned the Jedi Watchman of the Cerean sector, Mundi was granted a rare exception to the Jedi Order's ban on marriage due to his species' low birth rate and had a polygamous family of five wives and seven children, although he was able to love them without being attached.

Like many Cereans of his generation, Mundi favored his homeworld's isolation from the galaxy, speaking out against off-worlder technology and encouraging Cerea to maintain their independence from the Republic. Mundi was held in high regard by members of the Jedi High Council, on which he occasionally sat in during the absence of Master Micah Giiett. He was eventually offered a permanent seat on the Council despite not yet having obtained the rank of Jedi Master. Before accepting, Mundi rescued his daughter Sylvn from the captivity of an agent of the crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure, and in doing so uncovered a secret Cerean smuggling ring and illegal Trade Federation activities. Shortly after formally joining the Council in 33 BBY, Mundi was sent to seek the lost Jedi Sharad Hett on Tatooine. Following Hett's death, Mundi agreed to continue the Jedi training of his son, A'Sharad Hett.

While Mundi and Hett grew close, the Cerean eventually agreed to turn his training over to Kuro after Hett felt tempted by the dark side of the Force during a lightsaber duel with bounty hunter Aurra Sing. As the Confederacy of Independent Systems uprising threatened the stability of the Republic, Mundi was among the Jedi dispatched to Geonosis in 22 BBY to confront the Separatist Droid Army, marking the beginning of the Clone Wars. Now a Jedi General commanding the Galactic Marines branch of the Grand Army of the Republic, Mundi participated in several major battles, including the battle of Hypori, where he barely survived a lightsaber duel against General Grievous. Mundi's entire family was killed during the Battle of Cerea, but the Jedi overcame his grief by further committing to his Jedi duties. He briefly assumed the Jedi training of Anakin Skywalker following Obi-Wan Kenobi's presumed death.

Mundi also dueled the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress on Coruscant after exposing a spy from within the Galactic Senate working with her. Along with Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, Mundi led an assault against several Separatist battle droid foundries on Geonosis. Following the assault Mundi earned the "everlasting respect" of Anakin Skywalker, as Mundi killed a total of 65 droids and Geonosians during the assault. As the Clone Wars approached conclusion, Mundi suggested to the Jedi High Council that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine may have become too powerful and that the Jedi Order might need to assume control of the Republic for an interim period until a transition of power could commence. Mundi was leading the Galactic Marines to battle on Mygeeto in 19 BBY when Palpatine began the Great Jedi Purge with Order 66, resulting in Mundi being shot to death by his own clone troopers.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Birth and infancy[]

"Take him. We need a Jedi of our own, one who will be here always. This… must not go on."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi's father giving him over to An'ya Kuro for Jedi training[7]

Ki-Adi-Mundi, a Cerean male,[7] was born in 93 BBY[2] on Cerea. He was one of several children in the Mundi family but was the only boy among his siblings and one of the few males in his home village, as the birth rate for male Cereans to females was one-to-twenty. Among his siblings was an older sister, Droe. His father was a farmer and, for the first four years of his life, Mundi lived on the family farm, where his father and mother were content to raise him in a secluded lifestyle typical of Cereans,[7] who largely shunned technology and lived in isolation from the rest of the galaxy. As a youth, Mundi was drawn to off-worlder technology, but his father warned him embracing it would come at too high a price, something that Mundi did not understand as a young child.[13]

Throughout his early childhood, Mundi demonstrated great skill with the Force and was able to levitate items and sense danger, although his abilities were unstable due to lack of proper training. On at least one occasion, an item Mundi lifted with the Force exploded in mid-air due to this instability. Mundi's home village was periodically attacked and pillaged by a gang of raiders led by Bin-Garda-Zon. During these raids, Zon repeatedly broke into the Mundi household, smashed their belongings and demanded financial tributes from them, which the family always paid to avoid problems. Mundi could sense Zon's approach prior to these attacks, and his family would hide Mundi in concealed floor compartment before Zon arrived because the raiders would kidnap male children due to the species' low birth rate.[7]

Despite the family's seclusion, rumors of Mundi's abilities with the Force began to spread even outside of Cerea. When Mundi was four years old, a Jedi Knight named An'ya Kuro, better known simply as the Dark Woman, traveled to Cerea after hearing stories about the child. Although most Jedi are trained starting from infancy, she nevertheless hoped to take Mundi to Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Republic, where the Jedi Order could test him and assign him a Master to train him in the ways of the Force. When Kuro arrived in her starship, which Mundi called the "metal beast," Mundi's siblings fled at the sight of the unfamiliar technology, but Mundi stood his ground and insisted he was not afraid. When Kuro descended from the craft, Mundi immediately sensed she had come for him, even before she identified herself.[7]

Dwkam

A young Ki-Adi-Mundi, surrounded by his family, demonstrates his Force abilities for An'ya Kuro.

Once she explained her motives to his family, Mundi demonstrated his Force abilities for Kuro by levitating items and describing his sensory abilities. After Kuro announced her desire to take Mundi to Coruscant, Mundi's father asked whether he simply be taught in his home village or at the Cerean capital of Tecave City. When Kuro said this was impossible due to the commitment required by the Jedi lifestyle, Mundi's father angrily refused to allow him to leave. During this conversation, however, Mundi sensed that Zon's raiders were approaching the village and that an attack was imminent. As Mundi and his sister Droe were hidden away, Kuro volunteered to defend the village against the raiders, but Mundi's father urged against it because he believed the gang would only act more aggressively toward them later, once Kuro had departed.[7]

Mundi listened as Zon smashed the door in, physically beat his father and stole several of their belongings, although they did not find Mundi himself. Once Zon and his men had departed, Mundi's father lifted him out of the hidden compartment, tearfully wished him goodbye and told Kuro she could take him to Coruscant. He believed Cerea needed a Jedi protector of their own or the attacks from raiders like Zon would never stop. An emotional Mundi promised his father he would work hard in his training, become as powerful and strong as possible, and then come back to Cerea to protect his family and defeat Zon's men.[7]

Jedi training[]

"Remember, Ki-Adi-Mundi, nobility in many hearts lives! Find it you must, and cherish!"
―Yoda to Ki-Adi Mundi during Jedi training[14]

Some Jedi expressed concern that, having missed four critical years of instruction, Mundi was too old to begin his training and that his childhood on Cerea would impair his judgment.[15] Nevertheless, the Jedi Council agreed to let Mundi be trained, making him one of a very few Jedi, along with Jedi Knights Eeth Koth and Anakin Skywalker, to be accepted at such a late age prior to the New Jedi Order, and he became relatively well-known as a result of this distinction.[16] Kuro would have liked to have taken Mundi as a Padawan herself, and sensed he had the potential to be her greatest apprentice, but the Council only entrusted her with more challenging students.[8] Instead, Jedi Master Yoda was assigned to train Mundi. Nevertheless, Mundi often referred to Kuro as "First Teacher" and remained immensely grateful to her for the rest of his life. While many regarded Kuro with suspicion for her unorthodox and aggressive Jedi training techniques, Mundi regularly defended her and her methods, and refused to refer to her by the name Dark Woman as others called her.[8]

Young Ki Prelude

Mundi trains with Master Yoda.

For the next 21 years, Mundi learned the ways of the Force under Yoda's tutelage.[7] Mundi traveled to many different planets as part of his Jedi training,[17] and eventually built his own lightsaber, which had a green blade. As Mundi got older, his ability with the Force proved strong and his ability with the lightsaber exceptional; he had no difficulty deflecting shots from multiple remotes during training sessions. However, Mundi also showed occasional signs of arrogance and willfulness during his training, which Yoda sought to counter by teaching him humility. During one session, when Mundi fought off remotes, Yoda warned him to watch his "blind spot" and, when Mundi insisted he had no blind spot, Yoda tripped him with his gimer stick.[18] Like most Jedi, Mundi also occasionally experienced difficulty with his both his Force power and lightsaber training, but Yoda provided him reassurance on those occasions.[14]

Throughout his training, Mundi had always made clear his intention to one day return to Cerea and free his family from the persecution of the criminal raiders there.[7] Although Yoda did not sense anger or fear in his Padawan,[19] he was concerned Mundi's motivations were based on a desire for vengeance, which could often lead to the dark side of the Force. Mundi insisted this was not the case and that he was driven by the desire for justice, not revenge. Nevertheless, Mundi admitted he hated Bin-Garda-Zon for what he had done to his family, and Yoda urged him to avoid feelings of hatred and to instead pity Zon, who Yoda said had already lost his own personal battle with the dark side.[20] The Jedi Master also encouraged Mundi to seek out and cherish the nobility in the hearts of other living beings, and taught him the future was constantly in motion and that the truth of any given situation is not always clear until more time passes.[14] Mundi was the last Jedi directly trained by Yoda before he retired from direct Padawan-Master training and became a staff instructor teaching Jedi Initiates at the Jedi Temple.[21]

Return to Cerea[]

"This mission you speak of, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Jedi Knight…about justice it is? Or revenge?"
―Yoda to Ki-Adi-Mundi[20]

After passing his Jedi Trials, Mundi was named the Jedi Watchman of the sector that included his home planet of Cerea,[8] just as many Jedi return to the service of their birth planets.[16] Mundi returned to Cerea at age 25 with the intention of following through on his promise to protect his family from the raider gang,[7] although Yoda again warned him not to become consumed with revenge or anger. Upon arriving home, Mundi was greeted with love and excitement from his family, who he entertained with tales of his Jedi training and experiences on other worlds. Later, his father informed him the village was still persecuted by the raiders, although Zon himself no longer participated in the raids. Although the raider base was rumored to be very dangerous, Mundi insisted he did not require any additional assistance from the villagers and would confront Zon and his men himself.[20]

SWREP5 cropped

A restrained Ki-Adi-Mundi is attacked by the leader of a Cerean gang of raiders.

Mundi rode an Aryx at night to Zon's camp in the hills outside the village, where he disguised himself as a drifter until reaching the inside of the camp. Upon arriving, Mundi revealed his identity and announced his intention to challenge Zon, hoping eliminating the leader would disorganize the rest of the gang and allow the local authorities to deal with the remnants. Mundi overconfidently boasted he could beat the man with both hands tied behind his back. Mundi was taken to the gang's new leader, who had previously defeated Bin-Garda-Zon in combat to take control of the raiders. Treating Mundi's boast literally, she ordered her guards to tie his hands behind his back, then engaged Mundi in combat with her spear. Taken aback by how quickly his plan fell apart, and not yet strong enough in the Force to win under such circumstances, Mundi was quickly defeated and rendered unconscious.[20]

Mundi later awakened tied to a wooden post inside a tent, where an older and weaker Zon threatened him with a vibroknife. Zon intended to slit Mundi's throat, then use that accomplishment to attempt to regain power. However, Mundi used the Force to loosen the ropes binding his wrists, then subdued both Zon and the guards who responded to the commotion. Upon exiting the tent he was confronted by the raider chief, who this time said she would battle him to the death. Mundi offered her the chance to surrender, but she instead attacked. More cautious this time and no longer restrained, Mundi easily disarmed her and won the fight, although he did not kill her. Surrounded by dozens of her fellow raiders, Mundi knew he could not defeat them all based on sheer numbers, so he feigned bravado and ordered them all to disband and stop pillaging the villagers, or else they would have to face him.[22]

This threat largely worked and the gang began to dissipate except for Zon, who hurled a vibroblade at Mundi with the hopes of winning his command back. Mundi used the Force to easily push the blade aside, but left Zon alive, recognizing that leaving the former chief powerless and inconsequential was a fate worse than death for Zon. The victorious Mundi then returned to his family.[22]

Jedi Knight[]

Establishing home and family[]

"The Jedi Code forbids attachments. I cared for them but I tried to remain unattached. It was always…difficult."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi speaking about his family[23]
Ki-Adi-Mundi family

Ki-Adi-Mundi with his five wives on Cerea

As the planet's Jedi Watchman, Mundi lived on Cerea and quickly cultivated a deep love and appreciation for his homeworld,[8][17] and gained a great deal of respect among the Cerean community.[24] Despite having been drawn to off-worlder technology in his youth, Mundi came to develop a very different perspective in his adulthood, as did many other Cereans his age. Like his father before him, Mundi now believed Cereans should take pride in their technologically-primitive culture and resist opening itself too much to outside worlds that would seek to change and modernize their planet, which he felt could lead to unexpected and disastrous consequences.[13] As a Jedi Watchman, Mundi developed a network of contacts who provided him information about the activities on and around Cerea, including the Ortolan Ydde, who outwardly claimed to only care about the money Mundi gave him, but secretly admired the Jedi Knight.[14]

Due to the Cerean's social customs and low birth rate for males, Mundi was granted an extremely rare exception to be allowed to marry and have children, which was usually forbidden by the Jedi Order as Jedi were not allowed attachments. Although Mundi cared for his family, as a Jedi, required not to attach to them, a balance that Mundi found extremely difficult.[23] Like all Cereans, Mundi practiced polygamy due to the 1-to-20 male-to-female ratio among his species.[13] Mundi first married Shea, his bond-wife, and later married four honor-wives, including Mawin.[24][1] Shea remained Mundi's closest and most trusted wife, and he felt he could hide nothing from her, so much so that Mundi suspected she had some of the Force within her.[13] Mundi had seven daughters with his wives,[24] none of whom were born by Shea, which bitterly disappointed her.[13] Mundi desperately wanted a boy, but tried to conceal his disappointment from his wives; he avoided having children with Shea because he did not believe he could hide his feelings from her.[13][20]

Mundi and his family lived in a large house not far from Concave City. The polygamist nature of Mundi's family inevitably led to tension and arguments among his wives. The honor-wives occasionally envied Shea's status as the bond-wife and, in turn, Shea was often jealous of them because she had never bore any children. Mundi often had trouble understanding his wives' emotions and responding accordingly, which would upset them further.[13] Among Mundi's daughters was Sylvn, who he had with Mawin. Sylvn demonstrated rebellious tendencies and anger issues as early as age six, when she regularly drew pictures of angry faces. Although this concerned Mawin, Mundi assured her it was normal youthful behavior and nothing to be worried about. Sylvn's rebellious tendencies continued into her teenage years, when she began spending time with the dissident Maj-Odo-Nomor and his swoop gang, the Techrats, but Mundi nevertheless felt she was a good girl and that her actions were not a source of concern.[13]

Early Jedi Council service[]

"I would urge you to consider Ki-Adi-Mundi. Though he is still but a Jedi Knight, he previously stood in for Giiett and has demonstrated exceptional judgment and valor."
―Mace Windu recommending Ki-Adi-Mundi for the Jedi High Council[25]
Mundi swk

Ki-Adi-Mundi as a seasoned Jedi Knight.

Ki-Adi-Mundi was held in high regard by members of the Jedi High Council, and he was occasionally asked to sit in on High Council meetings and participate in their decisions in the absence of Jedi Master Micah Giiett.[25] Yoda, already very familiar with Mundi from his training, held the Cerean in high regard,[22] and Jedi Master Mace Windu believed he demonstrated excellent judgment and courage.[25] Mundi sat temporarily on the Jedi Council in 44 BBY, a time of particularly high tension and increased security due to a failed assassination attempt against Yoda within the Jedi Temple. Also during this time, Obi-Wan Kenobi, then 13 years old, briefly left the Jedi Order and tutelage of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn to assist with the Melida/Daan Civil War. Mundi was present at the meeting when Kenobi appeared before the Jedi Council to apologize for his brief departure, requesting to return to the Order. Like the other Council members, Mundi expressed reluctance and disappointment with Kenobi, and said he did not believe Kenobi recognized that he had violated the trust not only of Jinn, but of the entire Council.[26]

Also in 44 BBY, Mundi was present when Sha Koon, a Kel Dor Padawan and niece of Jedi Master Plo Koon, appeared before the Jedi High Council at the behest of her Ithorian Jedi Master Saldith during the Stark Hyperspace War. Sha Koon explained that her uncle had communicated with her via telepathy and asked her to approach the Council so they could speak to Plo Koon through her. When Saldith vouched for Sha Koon's credibility, the Council agreed to join their minds with her, which led them to dispatch a Jedi strike force to Troiken to assist with Plo Koon's mission there.[27]

Following the death of Giiett during the Yinchorri Uprising in 33 BBY, the Jedi Council was forced to consider a permanent replacement for Giiett. Although some considered Jinn for this vacancy, Windu advised against it because of Jinn's headstrong and iconoclastic personality and instead strongly supported Mundi for the position. Yoda did not object to Mundi's selection, but did not immediately voice support for it either, as he was distracted by his concerns over who was responsible for causing the Yinchorri Uprising.[25] The possibility of Mundi joining the Jedi Council was expressed to him during this time, but before formally accepting the invitation, Mundi returned to Cerea and his duties as a Jedi Watchman so he could consider the matter.[28]

Conflict on Cerea[]

"Silais looks at our world and sees backwardness. If he could see it through my eyes, he'd find the view far more appealing. I see a world and a people in harmony with nature, who choose not to sully their waters and their air with the noxious emissions of motorized craft."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi urging to the Council of Elders to reject Silais' offer to join the Galactic Republic[13]
Ki-Adi-Mundi and Silais

Before the Council of Elders, Ki-Adi-Mundi speaks out against a proposal by Silais to join the Galactic Republic.

Despite his allegiance to the Jedi Order, Mundi actively lobbied for Cerea to reject proposals to join the Republic, in doing so, encouraging his species to maintain their neutrality. In 33 BBY, Silais, a Twi'lek representative, encouraged the Council of Elders to join the Republic and called Cerea a backward world due to its lack of technology. In response to these remarks, Mundi spoke passionately in defense of the planet, calling Cerea's lack of technology as a virtue rather than a detriment. He argued giving greater power to off-worlder influences would make the planet as unpleasant and corrupt as the Outsider Citadel cities. The Elders were so moved by Mundi's speech that they rejected Silais' request without even taking the matter to a vote, which prompted the Twi'lek to view Mundi as an enemy. Shortly after this speech, a distraught Mawin informed Mundi that Sylvn had run away with Maj-Odo-Nomor, and Mundi promised to find her and bring her home. He found both Sylvn and Nomor at a Pro-Tech Movement rally, where Republic diplomat Bron was encouraging an agitated crowd of young Cereans to reject their elders advice and embrace off-worlder technology.[13]

Emboldened by his earlier speech before the Council of Elders, Mundi attempted to sway the crowd against Bron's way of thinking, but succeeded only in antagonizing them further. Too late, Mundi realized Bron tricked him into addressing the crowd because Bron knew it would anger them and make Bron himself appear accepting of outsider opinions. Incensed by Mundi's words, Nomor encouraged the crowd to physically remove Mundi from the rally. They picked him up and began carrying him, but Mundi resisted fighting back because he felt they were only children and presented no real danger. Distracted while calling out for his daughter, Nomor grabbed Mundi's lightsaber, now a purple-bladed weapon, but accidentally activated it and killed a Cerean bystander. Nomor and Sylvn fled and the confused crowd mistakenly believed Mundi killed the bystander himself, much to Bron's delight. Although the crowd called on Mundi to be charged with murder, surveillance footage and an examination on the skin cells on Mundi's lightsaber proved that Nomor was responsible for the death. Nevertheless, Bron used the incident to spread rumors and create a sense of mistrust about Mundi and the Council of Elders.[13]

The elders allowed Mundi to go free and bring Nomor and his accomplices to justice, which they indicated included Sylvn. They did not, return Mundi's lightsaber, however, because they claimed it was required for evidence. Mundi immediately returned home, where he found four members of the Techrats gang—Skeel, Kordren, Twin and Sylvn herself—had broken into his house and stolen his groceries. Mundi suspected they had stolen the food because they were harboring Nomor, and he traveled via Aryx to the Outsider Citadel to find him. There he sought his source Ydde, but learned he had gone into hiding and was missing for the last two days. Ydde's wife told Mundi he had was afraid for his life after overhearing the smuggler Ephant Mon speaking to somebody else about a shipment. Believing the shipment to be related to the Swoops, Mundi found Ydde in a nearby cantina, but Ydde refused to talk to him despite offers of money and stormed off.[14]

SWREP2

An unarmed Ki-Adi-Mundi fighting off a band of attackers at the Outsider Citadel.

Due to the rumors Bron had spread about Mundi, most of the Outsider Citadel citizens distrusted Mundi. A group of alien outsiders—led by a Devaronian who previously lost half of his left horn in a fight with Mundi—attacked the Cerean, overconfident because he lacked a lightsaber. Mundi easily fended them off with hand-to-hand combat, but when the attackers continued to heavily outnumber him, he summoned his Aryx, who rushed into the fray and helped Mundi defeat them. Citadel security forces arrived after the scene ended, which meant Mundi had to face another inquiry before the Elders the next day. Not far away, Mundi discovered the dead body of Ydde, who had been shot to death at close range by what a Mundi determined was likely a skilled assassin. The guilt-stricken Jedi blamed himself for Ydde's death.[14] During the inquiry the next day, Elder Nar-Somo-Dali, a friend of Mundi, insisted the search for Nomor was growing out of control and considered relieving Mundi of the duty due to his personal involvement because of his daughter. Dali refused to return Mundi's lightsaber and explained the Council was proceeding with caution because some members of the public saw the pursuit of Nomor as prosecution for his Pro-Tech beliefs, but Mundi said the Council should instead be focused on doing the right thing.[18]

After using a Jedi mind trick on a Gran prisoner with knowledge of Ephant Mon's activities, Mundi learned where the smuggler was hiding Nomor, but they were gone before Mundi arrived. He discovered a sketch of an angry face that Sylvn used to draw when she was young, and felt despair over never recognizing how troubled she was. Distracted, he nearly failed to detect an attack by FLTCH R-1, a huge mercenary droid left behind by Mon to attack the Jedi. In his haste to depart, however, Mon failed to calibrate the droid's target system, so Mundi was able to dodge it's attacks and escape. As he was fleeing, Mundi ran into a Cerean messenger sent by Nar-Somo-Dali. The Jedi directed the messenger into the sewers with him and drew FLTCH R-1's fire away from the boy, but was struck and injured by one of the droid's blasts and nearly crushed by falling debris. The messenger ran to assist him and delivered Dali's message by returning Mundi's lightsaber and explaining that Dali had taken to heart Mundi's earlier statement about doing the right thing. The now-armed Mundi disabled the approaching FLTCH R-1 with one swoop of his lightsaber, then collapsed. The messenger took the unconscious Mundi back to Dali, who placed Mundi into a bacta tank to treat his injuries.[18] Upon learning that Mon had fled the planet with Nomor and Sylvn, Dali obtained permission from the Jedi Council to extend Mundi's jurisdiction, freeing the Jedi to pursue Nomor anywhere in the galaxy. These efforts furthered Bron's arguments that the Cerean search for Nomor was personal and unjust, as many Cereans felt the pursuit should be dropped now that he was off the planet.[7]

Rescuing Mundi's daughter[]

"Valuable he has been already. More valuable he yet will be."
―Yoda recommending Ki-Adi-Mundi for the Jedi High Council[20]

Dali received word that Mon's ship was located in orbit around the planet Tatooine, but that it was infested with 2,000 dangerous divvik pupae ready to hatch. When communication with the ship failed, Dali freed Mundi from the bacta tank early so he could continue his pursuit right away, even though the Jedi was still not fully recovered. Silais provided Mundi with a starship and a crew of marginally-effective droid prototypes from a bankrupt manufacturer, which Silais insisted were the best he could provide on short notice. They included maintenance droid J1M, navigator B3NK, medical droid 2-ROB and pilot FLTCH R-1, who had been reprogrammed since previously attacking Mundi. After a 10-hour flight, the crew arrived at Tatooine, where it was impossible for B3NK to detect whether Sylvn was alive because the thousands of divviks aboard Mon's ship made it impossible to separate lifeforms. Mundi detected Mon's presence aboard the ship and, despite the mortal danger presented by the divviks, donned a spacesuit and boarded the craft.[7] Aware there were too many divviks to fight single-handedly, Mundi attempted to move quickly through them and fought his way through the ship. Mundi used the Force to navigate himself to an escape pod where Mon, Sylvn, Nomor and Twin were hidden inside.[20]

Ki-Adi Prelude

Ki-Adi-Mundi fighting divviks as he attempts to reach his kidnapped daughter.

Mundi offered to bring them back to his ship, but Mon instead explained the pod's electrical circuit was damaged and the outside hatch could only be opened manually from outside the pod. Mon ordered Mundi to open the hatch, which could fatally expose Mundi to the vacuum of space, or else Mon would manually eject the pod himself and kill all the occupants, including Mundi's daughter. When Nomor tried to resist Mon, the smuggler shot him to death. Mundi recognized Mon intended to follow through with this threat and agreed, but first ordered FLTCH R-1 to get a reading on both the escape pod and Mundi himself. After opening the hatch and allowing the pod to eject, Mundi leapt through the airlock door and toward his own ship, where the robot crew quickly picked him up and safely brought him aboard. Mundi pursued the escape pod into Tatooine's atmosphere, where they initially met resistance from Trade Federation ships, despite the fact that Tatooine was outside the Trade Federation's jurisdiction. Mundi used the Force to trick the pilots into abandoning their pursuit,[20] then landed the ship on Tatooine and tracked the pod, but found it empty besides Nomor's body. The crew followed the trail until it was lost in an ion storm, prompting the Jedi to become distraught over the thought of losing his daughter, and regret having previously desired a son rather than appreciate his own daughters.[20]

Upon learning Sylvn was taken to a Hutt Citadel owned by the crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure, Mundi believed his daughter was being held as bait in a trap meant for the Jedi himself. Mundi secretly ordered J1M to enter the cargo bay, where he planned to drop the droid along with non-essential material from the ship. Mundi hoped Jabba would believe unloading the cargo was an attempt by Mundi to simulate damage to his own ship, but in fact, Mundi planned to have J1M infiltrate Jabba's shuttle and download his cargo manifest. Mundi then ordered his crew to prepare for an air battle and piloted the ship toward the Hutt Citadel, where they were pursued by several atmospheric flyers. Mundi recognized they depended upon air circulation to fly, so he flew his ship close to the planet's surface to create a sandstorm, clogging their air intakes and destroying several of the ships. He then dropped his cargo, including J1M, and Jabba fell for the ruse and launched a shuttle to collect the debris. Upon arriving at the Hutt Citadel, Mundi found Sylvn and Twin surrounded by guards and chained to an ion attractor atop of a tower during an ion storm, where they were at risk of becoming electrocuted by bursts of plasma. Mundi had the robot crew take over piloting, then dropped onto the tower along with FLTCH R-1 to assist the girls. Mundi blocked a plasma blast with his lightsaber just as it was about to strike the ion attractor, then killed the guards while FLTCH R-1 untied Sylvn and Twin.[22]

SWREP6 cropped

Ki-Adi-Mundi and FLTCH R-1 fighting together on Tatooine.

After embracing his daughter, the four returned to the starcraft and exited the system just as Jabba's shuttle was releasing its garbage, including J1M. Mundi picked up the droid, who had successfully downloaded the cargo manifest, revealing the Trade Federation had obtained several illegal items from Jabba, violating the Republic's rules of engagement. Mundi decided not to continue pursuing Ephant Mon and instead left Tatooine and dispatched the Trade Federation information to Coruscant. After returning to Cerea, testimony from Sylvn and Twin dispelled the public's suspicions about the pursuit against Mundi and calmed the hysteria previously caused by Bron's rumors. Around this time, Mundi sensed a disturbance in the Force among the Republic, but it was too diffuse for him to determine a specific cause. Dali suggested he spend as much time with his family as possible before Jedi Order business would force him away from Cerea. With his outlook on family changed by Sylvn's recent abduction, Mundi finally got Shea pregnant and this time insisted he did not care whether it would be a boy or a girl.[22]

Upon learning of Mundi's recent actions, Yoda became impressed that the Cerean was able to carry out his mission and obtain helpful information about the Trade Federation even while his own daughter's life was at risk. Yoda formally recommended that Mundi indeed be selected for the vacancy on the Jedi High Council. Mundi was summoned to Coruscant, where after a vote among the Council[22] he was inducted to their ranks despite not yet having obtained the title of Jedi Master, an extremely rare accomplishment.[19] Mundi continued to serve as the Jedi Watchman for the Cerean sector while serving on the Council,[29] and although he now began spending more time on Coruscant and less on Cerea, he often missed his homeworld and felt uncomfortable among the modern cities and excessive technology of Coruscant.[8]

Jedi Council member[]

Mission to Asmeru[]

"Again, we are betrayed."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi[30]

Ki-Adi-Mundi joined the Jedi High Council just as the Nebula Front terrorist organization made an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum. Mundi was present during a Council discussion with Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn about the matter, where Jinn said he did not believe Valorum was really the Nebula Front's intended target and that he felt the organization had more duplicitous motives. Mundi was one of seven Jedi—along with Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Saesee Tiin, Yaddle, Vergere and Depa Billaba—selected to investigate the attempted assassination and apprehend leaders of the Nebula Front. Following a lead, the Jedi traveled to the planet Asmeru aboard the Consular-class cruiser Prominence, accompanied by another cruiser, Ecliptic. Mundi watched from a starboard viewpoint as the Prominence navigated the minefield around the planet and listened into the Nebula Front contacting the ship and asking them to leave one of their vessels in orbit around the planet, as a sign of good faith, while the other one landed. Mundi, like the other Jedi, did not feel comfortable with the proposal, but they ultimately agreed to it.[30]

As the Prominence approached the planet, they were attacked by Nebula Front Tikiar starfighters and the Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser Famulus, which destroyed Ecliptic and forced Prominence to crash into a lake on the planet's surface. Mundi, the other six Jedi and a few surviving members of the Judicial Forces escaped from the ship and swam to a nearby island; the diminutive Yaddle rode on Mundi's shoulders to safety. The survivors traveled to a high vantage point among the boulders where they watched vehicles searching for them and, when a Human from the Nebula Front approached and asked to speak peacefully to them, Mundi revealed himself to him along with Jinn and Tinn. The man said they felt the Republic was allying itself with their enemy, the Trade Federation, by hosting the upcoming Eriadu Trade Summit. While the Nebula Front said they would not attack the Jedi and other survivors, they intended to leave them stranded on Asmeru and effectively hold them hostage unless the Republic canceled the summit. By nightfall, Mundi took turns at guard duty along with Jinn, Kenobi, Depa and Saesee.[30]

The next day, when the Jedi heard someone approaching, Jinn and Mundi investigated and captured an Ossan, one of the enslaved natives of the planet. The Ossan offered to help the stranded survivors escape the planet, and led Mundi and the others through underground tunnels to a nearby city, where they planned to commandeer a ship and escape. As they arrived, however, they were attacked by members of the Nebula Front. Mundi, Jinn and Kenobi stood back to back and deflected blaster bolts with their lightsabers as they worked their way into a plaza, trying to reach the nearby CloakShape fighters before any of the terrorists could get to them. They were attacked by a gunship, however, which forced Jinn and Kenobi to take cover as Mundi wildly parried the vehicle's shots. The three Jedi were forced to pull back, but eventually they made their way forward again, along with Tiin. As the four Jedi spread into a wedge formation and deflected shots with their lightsabers, a group of Ossan slaves revolted against the Nebula Front just as Lancet starfighter reinforcements from Eriadu arrived to help the Jedi. The tide of the battle was quickly turned and the Nebula Front militants surrendered.[30]

Eriadu Trade Summit[]

"Should we order the delegation to remove the droids, Master?"
"Whoever is watching may decide to trigger the droids into action. If that happens, it could appear that we posed a threat, prompting the droids to respond with blasterfire.""
―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ki-Adi-Mundi[30]

Mundi returned to Coruscant after the Asmeru incident to await the Eriadu Trade Summit. During this time, Mundi received a transmission from Jinn and Kenobi that they were pursuing Nebula Front official Arwen Cohl to the Eriadu, and Mundi delivered that message to the others on the Jedi High Council. When the date of the Summit arrived, Mundi traveled to Eriadu along with other fellow Jedi to provide protection. Mundi and Tiin patrolled the seats of Seswenna Hall, where the Summit was held, searching for any disturbances in the Force. The two Jedi learned that Cohl's freighter had been spotted at a nearby customs warehouse, where several custom agents were attacked and tied up by armed assailants. Mundi and the other Jedi traveled to the warehouse, where they split up on airspeeders to search for the assailants. Mundi, riding along with Vergere, helped locate the Nebula Front militants, who opened fire on the airspeeders with missile launchers from the rooftop of a building. Mundi and the Jedi engaged the attackers along with help from Judicial Forces members. They eventually captured six terrorists, including a Gotal wearing a mimetic suit that Mundi and Vergere subdued, but found neither Cohl or the Nebula Front leader Havac among them.[30]

Interrogating the captured assailants, the Jedi quickly realized the entire encounter was a distraction to keep the Jedi occupied while the Nebula Front advanced their secret plans back at the Eriadu Trade Summit. The Jedi returned to Seswenna Hall where, later, Kenobi and Jinn shared with Mundi and the other Jedi information they had obtained from Cohl: that Havac planned to use a droid from the Trade Federation Directorate to assassinate Chancellor Valorum. Kenobi suggested ordering all droids removed from the delegation, but Mundi said that could prompt the Nebula Front to trigger the droids into opening fire. Mundi suggested getting someone aboard the Trade Federation freighter to shut down the central control computer, thus disabling the droids, but there was no time. Mundi, Tiin and Kenobi took positions in front of the Trade Federation rostrum with their lightsabers ready to deflect fire from the droids. However, when the Trade Federation Directorate activated their force fields, thus ensuring no blaster shots could enter or leave their shielded area, their droids suddenly turned on them and opened fire, killing all present Directorate members as Mundi and the other Jedi looked on helplessly. They later learned it was the Trade Federation Directorate, not Valorum, who had been Havoc's target all along.[30]

Later, also in 33 BBY, Mundi attended a Jedi High Council meeting during which Jinn and Kenobi were informed Jedi Master Adi Gallia had gone missing during a covert mission to the planet Esseles. The Council had obtained a datacard informing them the research facilities on Esseles had progressed to the full-scale manufacturing, and that a factory owned by Trinkatta Starships was building 50 experimental vulture droid starfighters equipped with hyperdrives. Concerned about this potential threat, the Council had dispatched Gallia to investigate. After losing contact with her, the Council assigned Jinn, along with Vel Ardox and Noro Zak, to travel to Esseles and find Gallia. The Council ordered Jinn to leave Kenobi behind, but Jinn brought his Padawan along with him anyway.[31]

Prior to the mission to Obredaan, Kenobi and Mundi had a lightsaber duel in the Jedi Temple; Kenobi was victorious in the duel.[32]

Reemergence of the Sith[]

"Impossible! The Sith have been extinct for a millennium!"
―Ki-Adi-Mundi's reaction to the return of the Sith[6]

In 32 BBY, Mundi was still working toward the rank of Jedi Master,[1] when he and the rest of the Jedi High Council were approached by Qui-Gon Jinn, who had recently escaped the Trade Federation's blockade of the planet Naboo. Jinn told the Council of a lightsaber duel he had with a Zabrak warrior who was well trained in the dark side of the Force. Jinn believed the attacker was a Sith Lord, a claim that the Council met with incredulity. Mundi, in particular, insisted it was impossible as the Sith had been believed extinct for a millennium. Mace Windu agreed with Mundi, but the Council agreed to further investigate the attacker's identity.[6]

Mundi Skywalker

Ki Adi Mundi meets Anakin Skywalker for the first time at the Jedi Temple.

Jinn also presented the Council with a nine-year-old Human boy named Anakin Skywalker, who he had discovered during his recent stay on Tatooine. The child had a very high midi-chlorian count and Jinn believed him to be the Chosen One, identified in a prophecy as the one who would restore balance to the Force. Mundi and the other Jedi were skeptical, but agreed to see the boy.[6] Upon meeting Skywalker, Mundi sensed a danger in the child that he could not fully explain, and felt leery not of the boy himself but of what he could become in the future. The Cerean came to believe the disturbance he felt in the Force during his previous trip to Tatooine was somehow connected to Skywalker's presence on the planet. Mundi was so amazed by Skywalker's strength with the Force that the Cerean questioned the reliability of his perceptive abilities for failing to have located the boy on Tatooine when visited the planet himself, which he considered a personal failure.[15]

It was initially decided, however, that Skywalker was too old to begin Jedi training. Mundi agreed with this ruling and felt he should be empathetic toward him, since he believed, the situation is not so different from his own, since he himself had also been trained at a later age. Nevertheless, he had his concerns regarding Skywalker's training.[15]

Later, Jinn's suspicions about the Sith were proven correct when the Zabrak warrior, later identified as Darth Maul, killed him in a lightsaber duel during the Battle of Naboo.[6] Mundi grew extremely troubled by his failure, and the failure of the Council, to recognize that the Sith had indeed returned as Jinn foresaw. He had trouble finding peace in the months that followed, even during meditation. Under the circumstances, Mundi and the rest of the Council agreed that Skywalker would be trained as a Jedi, but Mundi secretly harbored feelings of discomfort about the boy and intended to be more watchful of him than of other Padawans.[15] The Cerean traveled to Naboo to attend Jinn's Jedi funeral, and was also present the next day at the Theed Royal Palace for the celebration of Naboo's liberation from the Trade Federation.[1] Upon the realization that the Sith had indeed resurfaced, Mundi and the other members of the Jedi began feeling major disturbances in the Force.[33]

Seeking Sharad Hett[]

"I've had dreams! Great dangers await you—dangers that whisper of the Dark Side! Within the deserts of another's heart, your life will be changed forever! Listen to the Force! Let it guide every step and thought! Beware on this world to which you go, Ki-Adi-Mundi! Beware!"
―An'ya Kuro, to Ki-Adi-Mundi[8]
Ki-Adi-Mundi Republic8

Ki-Adi-Mundi fights a Devaronian thug during his voyage back to Tatooine.

By 32 BBY, Mundi formally obtained the title of Jedi Master,[34] although he modestly continued to refer to himself as a Jedi Knight in the weeks immediately following this promotion.[8] Following an attack on Mochot Steep, a Jawa trading site on Tatooine, the Jedi Council received word about a series of increasingly violent attacks by Tusken Raiders on that planet. Yoda and Eeth Koth spoke privately to Mundi about the matter in the Jedi Temple, and revealed they believes one of the Tusken leaders was Sharad Hett, a famous Jedi Knight who had gone missing 15 years earlier. Mundi knew Hett by reputation, but had falsely believed him to be dead. In light of the recent reemergence of the Sith, Yoda feared that if Hett were still alive, or whether he had succumbed to the dark side of the Force, which they felt could make him vulnerable to being recruited by the Sith.[19] Yoda asked Mundi to seek Hett because they believed he was the only Jedi powerful enough to fight him who did not know him personally, thus Mundi would harbor no reservations if Hett had to be fought or killed. When Mundi accepted, Yoda explained he would first have to seek an audience with Jabba Desilijic Tiure to request safe passage through the desert without Jabba's forces interfering with the mission. Mundi expressed disgust with the concept of meeting the Hutt, still angry over Jabba's previous abduction of his daughter Sylvn, but he agreed to do so and departed for Tatooine.[19]

Due to the secretive nature of Mundi's assignment, he was to depart from Coruscant in a Consular-class cruiser via a nondescript building rooftop rather than a spaceport. As he awaited the cruiser, Mundi was visited by An'ya Kuro, who he had not seen for several years after she went into a self-imposed exile for allowing the Jedi trainee Aurra Sing to be kidnapped and lost as a child. Mundi comforted Kuro and assured her Sing's fate was not her fault. He could not tell Kuro details about his upcoming mission, but as his ship arrived, Kuro warned him she had dreamt of a great darkness awaiting him on the planet he was visiting, and urged him to beware of the dark side of the Force. Mundi traveled to Tatooine and landed at one of the Mos Eisley spaceport docking bays owned by Ohwun and Chachi De Maal which, although run-down and cheap, provided Mundi's mission with further cover and was the closest available port to Jabba's Desilijic Complex. Unbeknownst to him, Mundi's movements were being tracked by Sing, now a bounty hunter, who had been hired by the Hutt crime lord Gardulla Besadii the Elder to find and kill Hett. Upon arriving at Jabba's complex, the Hutt explained he would normally seek revenge for Mundi having stolen Sylvn, who he considered his slave and property, but Jabba feigned ignorance over the identity of Sylvn's rescuer so he would not have to attack Mundi.[8]

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Ki-Adi-Mundi battling a krayt dragon after discovering Sharad Hett's tribe of Tusken Raiders.

With little patience for Jabba's antics, Mundi repeatedly insulted the Hutt and insisted he would one day pay for his crimes, but for now demanded free passage to The Needles,[8] where the Tuskens had established camp.[35] Jabba claimed to admired Mundi and granted this request, offering him a Bantha-II cargo skiff along with his henchman Hoonta and five other guards to accompany Mundi on the trip. The Jedi suspected it was a trap, but nevertheless accepted. His suspicions proved true when the skiff was piloted into a dangerous sandstorm and the guards attacked the Cerean. Mundi tried to persuade them to surrender, but when they instead attack, the Jedi easily killed them all with his lightsaber and Force skills. However, the skiff crashed and flipped over, leaving Mundi with a broken arm and forcing him to travel the rest of the trip on foot. While climbing the mountain foothills at The Needles, Mundi was attacked by womp rats and, while fending them off, fell into a krayt dragon lair. As Mundi attempted to fend off the creature, he was watched from above by a band of Tusken Raiders, including Sharad Hett and his son and Jedi learner, A'Sharad Hett. Sharad was originally suspicious of Mundi's motives for seeking him, but when he learned he had been sent by Sharad's former teacher, Eeth Koth, he and the Tuskens jumped down into the lair to help Mundi and slew the krayt dragon.[35]

Afterward, Hett explained to Mundi that Jabba had recently flooded the Tatooine black market with a surplus of outdated weapons he had received, then provoked farmers and off-worlders into a conflict with the Tusken Raiders to drive up the demand for those weapons. Around 100 Tusken Raiders were killed as a result, and the recent barrage of brutal attacks by the Tuskens were conducted in an attempt to repel those attacks. Mundi condemned Hett's justifications, claiming the Jedi should use their power to defend and protect others rather than attack. Nevertheless, Mundi detected that Hett remained with the light side of the Force and asked him to return to the Jedi Order to help combat the rising threat of the Sith. Hett refused to abandon his fellow Tuskens. However, as they were speaking,[16] the tribe was attacked by dozens of skiffs and speeder bikes commanded by Gardulla, who hoped wiping out the Tuskens would end her rival Jabba's weapon profits and improve her own stature.[16] Mundi, Sharad and A'Sharad attempted to reach the rest of the Tusken tribe before they charged, but were too far away and they attacked Gardulla's forces. As the Tuskens were getting bombarded by Gardulla's explosives, Mundi and A'Sharad took to higher grounds as Sharad rallied his warriors and helped organize their attack. From afar, Aurra Sing used a sniper rifle to kill the Bantha Mundi and A'Sharad were riding, thus slowing their ability to assist with the battle.[9]

SWREP12-FC cropped

Ki-Adi-Mundi dueling bounty hunter Aurra Sing after she struck down Sharad Hett.

Sing engaged Sharad in a lightsaber duel and, before Mundi and A'Sharad could arrive to help him, she stabbed Sharad through the heart. Mundi recognized Sing as Kuro's former student,[9] and he was disturbed not only with her abilities with the Force, but also by the fact that she had killed multiple Jedi in the past, which was evident from her collection of stolen lightsabers.[33] Mundi tried to persuade her to turn away from the dark side of the Force, but she nevertheless attempted to finish off Sharad with her lightsaber. When A'Sharad stopped her and nearly killed her himself, Mundi implored him not to do so for fear of succumbing to the dark side himself. A'Sharad hesitated long enough for Sing to escape. With the majority of their Tusken tribe wiped out from the battle, A'Sharad announced his intention to return with Mundi to Coruscant to further learn the ways of the Force. With his dying breaths, Sharad asked Mundi to take A'Sharad as his Padawan and continue his Jedi instruction, a request the Cerean accepted. After Sharad died, Mundi and A'Sharad departed Tatooine for Coruscant.[9]

Upon his return, Mundi presented a report to the Jedi High Council and announced he had taken A'Sharad. Due to Sharad Hett's wide recognition among the Jedi, Mundi also issued a recording to the entire Jedi Order about Hett's death, explaining that he had stayed true to the light side of the Force right up to the end.[36] A'Sharad, who had never before left Tatooine, had difficult adjusting to life on Coruscant and the other worlds of the galaxy, but Mundi was able to empathize because of his feelings for Cerea and helped A'Sharad with the transition. Mundi allowed Hett to receive some training from An'ya Kuro, who sparred with the young Padawan and trained him in her unconventionally violent and brutal method. Some, such as Jedi Masters including Mace Windu and Even Piell, found her approach unorthodox and disturbing, but Mundi defended her and insisted she be allowed to continue.[33] Throughout Hett's training, Mundi could never convince the Padawan to remove his Tusken Raider mask.[37]

Emissary to Malastare[]

"The treaty negotiations must be handled with the greatest of care. The potential for danger is great, but we remain the most logical candidates for the task. I, for one, volunteer."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi[33]

Later in 32 BBY, Mundi attended a meeting where the Jedi High Council described the long-standing conflict between the government of the planet Lannik and the Red Iaro terrorist organization, which appeared to be drawing to a stalemate. When the Red Iaro sought peace negotiations on the Gran-dominated planet Malastare, they asked for six Jedi to attend and ask as arbiters for the negotiations. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine requested that all six come from the Jedi High Council given the importance of maintaining peace with both sides of the conflict. Mundi agreed with this logic was among the first Jedi to volunteer, along with Mace Windu, Even Piell, Adi Gallia, Plo Koon and Yaddle.[33] The group, along with A'Sharad Hett, traveled to Malastare within a matter of days, where they were greeted by Gran Senators Ainlee Teem and Baskol Yeesrim. The Jedi were suspicious of their Gran hosts, who they sensed that ulterior motives for hosting the negotiations.[17]

While the rest of the group were escorted to their quarters by Teem and Yeesrim, Mundi lagged behind to offers words of comfort to Hett, who felt continue to feel uncomfortable on worlds other than Tatooine. Once the two caught up with the others, they found Piell and Gallia being fired upon by a Red Iaro Lannik and a hooded member of the theocratic sect Order of the Ffib. Mundi and Hett drew their lightsabers and ordered them to surrender, but the two attackers fled. The Jedi gave chase and Mundi questioned two nearby Gran guards as to their whereabouts but, much to the Cerean's frustration, the Grans claimed not to have seen anybody pass by and the duo escaped. Mundi noted that for them to sneak blasters onto the spaceport, the attackers must have been either very cautious, or they received assistance in getting past security. The Jedi sensed growing danger on Malastare, but nevertheless continued with their mission,[17] although Mundi ordered A'Sharad to remain alert. The emissaries were next taken to Governor Gujdim Wiphshun's palace, where the negotiations were to take place involving Gran Senators Wphshun and Aks Moe, Lannik Prince R'cardo Sooflie IX and Red Iaro leader Myk'chur Finux Zug.[38]

SWREP16 cropped

Ki-Adi-Mundi, Yaddle and Adi Gallia battling an akk dog during their mission to Malastare.

The Jedi attempted to guide the peace negotiations, but the talks failed to lead to any significant progress, with both sides becoming combative and refusing to consider demands from the other. Matters were further complicated by the fact that both Sooflie and Zug treated the Jedi disrespectfully and felt their presence was there was not required. After Windu called a recess in the talks for a day to allow all parties to calm down, Sooflie's military advisor Hutar Zash offered to give the Jedi a ride on to their quarters on their two EasyRide passenger airspeeders. Mundi, A'Sharad, Yaddle and Koon rode on an airspeeder with two Lannik escorts, while Windu, Piell and Gallia rode in a second with Zash and another Lannik. However, it turned out to be an ambush: the Lanniks wore thermite bombs around their torsos with the hopes that sacrificing themselves to kill the Jedi would help Red Iaro's cause. Piell thwarted the attack on his airspeeder by literally cutting the vehicle in half with his lightsaber, causing the three Jedi occupants to fall into the path of podracers participating in the Phoebos Memorial Run. The Lannik on Mundi's airspeeder were so distracted by this development that the Jedi was able to push them both out of the vehicle.[38] Yaddle and Hett then took the speeder's controls, while Mundi directed them down into the podracing event and helped them catch and rescue Windu, Piell and Galla.[39]

The Jedi realized the Red Iaro terrorists who attacked them had been wearing uniforms from the House of Lannik, and that they had meant for the attack to have been ordered by Sooflie, thus ensuring his rule would be brought to an end and the Red Iaro would assume his power. This led the Jedi to conclude that, once the attack against them failed, the Red Iaro would try to assassinate Sooflie himself. They sped to Sooflie's chamber, where Mundi was the first to crash through a ceiling window with his lightsaber drawn to defend the Lannik prince. The Jedi arrived just as Zug and his men were preparing to feed Sooflie to a pair of akk dogs, non-sentient predators native to Haruun Kal. The Jedi successfully defeated Zug and his men, during which time Mundi provided instruction to Hett, warning him not to underestimate the enemies nor to boast upon defeating them. Although Sooflie was saved, the peace negotiations were called off in light of the recent developments, and Mundi and his fellow Jedi returned to Coruscant.[39]

Hunt for Aurra Sing[]

"I don't know why, or how, but she is neither a disciple of the light or the dark. She is somewhere in between. An assassin, perhaps, but not a random murderer."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi speaking ofAurra Sing[40]

Over the next two years, the mutual respect between Mundi and Hett continued to grow, and Mundi not only taught the Padawan everything he knew, but felt he was learning from Hett as well. However, the Cerean began to sense that Hett's instruction would need to continue elsewhere and that Mundi would soon have to pass him along to another Jedi Master.[36] In 30 BBY, Mundi and the rest of the Jedi High Council received reports that the Jedi J'Mikel and Peerce, as well as a squad of Republic Peace Officers, were slain by Aurra Sing within the walls of the Jedi Temple. Council members were disturbed by such a vicious attack right in the heart of Coruscant, but when they suggested Sing had fallen to the dark side, Mundi insisted he did not believe it was so and that Sing fell somewhere between the light and dark sides. The Council was approached by An'ya Kuro, who wished to track down and kill Sing, but Mace Windu felt her past connection to the bounty hunter would cloud her judgment. Kuro sought support from Mundi, who said he had to support the Council's decision, but volunteered to seek out Sing himself in Kuro's place. Hett also volunteered, prompting concerns from Yoda that Hett was simply seeking to avenge his father's death, but Mundi defended his Padawan and insisted Hett would resist such temptations from the dark side. Adi Gallia also volunteered to accompany the two Jedi.[40]

Traveling in a Consular-class cruiser, the three Jedi followed intelligence from Republic scouts and tracked Sing to the Kamdon system, where they engaged her cruiser in orbit around a jungle world. Mundi locked his proton torpedos onto Sing's ship and sent her a transmission ordering her to surrender to Republic arrest or be destroyed. When Sing did not slow down, Mundi felt he had no choice but to destroy Sing's ship, and disregarded a warning from Gallia that she felt a disturbance in the Force. Sing, however, had ejected from her cruiser in a starfighter, which Mundi's sensors failed to pick up due to cover from a nearby asteroid belt, allowing Sing to get behind the Jedi craft and opened fire on them. Since Mundi had diverted all power to the front shields, Sing caused critical damage to the Consular-class cruiser. Mundi, A'Sharad and Gallia fled to an escape pod and ejected seconds before Sing took another pass and destroyed the ship.[41] Sing believed the Jedi dead and exited the system. The escape pod's comlink and thrusters were defective, so the Jedi were left to drift in space until its distress beacon was detected by a Mon Calamari ceremonial ship carrying Tikkes, a Quarren senator from Dac. The ship took the pod aboard and rescued the Jedi.[42]

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Ki-Adi-Mundi, An'ya Kuro, A'Sharad Hett and Adi Gallia on the surface of the jungle world.

Tikkes claimed to be on Galactic Senate business to inspect unclaimed investment properties, but the Jedi sensed he had his own agenda and that his plans were somehow connected to their quest to find Sing. Although Tikkes offered to drop them off at the nearest outpost, Mundi insisted they remain with the Senator until his work was complete, much to the Quarren's discomfort. The Mon Calamari vessel then ascended to the jungle planet regularly bombarded by meteor showers. Upon landing, Mundi discovered traces of the mineral quald runium, which is what Tikkes actually traveled to the planet to mine. Mundi and the other Jedi sensed danger and remained on guard, although the Cerean explained to Hett that it could simply be a natural feeling from the planet itself. Shortly after venturing into the planet, several of Tikkes' Quarren guards were killed by deliberately-set traps and mines. The ensuing explosion caused Kuro, who had secretly established her own safe haven on the world, to reveal herself. The Quarren, believing her to have set the traps, open fire and shoot Kuro through the shoulder, prompting a horrified Mundi and Hett to run after her. As they approached, however, they were intercepted and attacked by Sing, who had traveled to the planet to kill both Kuro and Tikkes.[42]

Hett wished to pursue and attack Sing, but Mundi ordered him to stay focused on the mission and get Tikkes and his men safely back aboard their ship. Mundi ordered Gallia to pursue Sing as the Cerean himself aided Kuro. After finding her alive, Mundi and Kuro raced to assist Gallia, who was wounded by one of Sing's mines but still alive. As Mundi and Kuro tended to Gallia, Sing infiltrated Tikkes' ship and killed all his Quarren guards before engaging Hett in a lightsaber duel. Mundi and the other Jedi arrived back at the ship just as Hett defeated Sing and rendered her unconscious. Although Mundi congratulated his Padawan on the victory, Hett was disturbed because he had desired to kill Sing, and he feared he was still at risk of falling to the dark side despite all of Mundi's teachings. No longer feeling worthy of his Jedi training, Hett asked to renounce his Padawan status and return to exile on Tatooine. However, Kuro asked to continue Hett's training herself, explaining she had more experience in struggling with the dark side and could pass these skills on to Hett. Mundi left the choice with Hett, who felt he needed Kuro's instruction and accepted. At that moment, the planet was bombarded by another meteor shower, which provided Sing the cover she needed to escape. Tikkes, Mundi and the rest of the Jedi departed the planet on the Mon Calamari ship and returned to Coruscant.[43]

Pre-Clone Wars years[]

"Well done, Jedi."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker during a Jedi High Council meeting[44]

Mundi missed Hett like a son,[43] but accepted the Padawan's decision to leave with pragmatism and concentrated his focus on serving the Jedi Order.[36] Later in 30 BBY, Mundi and the rest of the Jedi High Council attended a private ceremony in which the Kiffar Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos was named Jedi Master, and the Twi'lek Padawan Aayla Secura was named Jedi Knight, following both their roles in the successful rescue of Nat Secura on the planet Kintan.[45] Mundi continued to serve on the Jedi High Council in 29 BBY, when they received reports that a Sith holocron had been located on Kodai. Concerned that the holocron could fall into the hands of the Sith, the Council dispatched Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, to recover the holocron. Mundi shared with the two Jedi his deep concerns about not only the holocron, but about disturbing messages Jedi across the galaxy had recently received making threats that the Sith were returning to power, some of which contained images of Jedi being violently killed. Mundi was also present at a later meeting when Kenobi and Skywalker brought the holocron to the Jedi Temple after successfully recovering it, much to the Cerean's visible happiness and relief.[44]

The next year, Mundi was present when Kenobi appeared before the Council to report information he had obtained that the insectoid species Colicoid may have been working with the T'surr slave trader Krayn to take over the galactic spice trade. The Council agreed to Kenobi's request to investigate the Colicoids' activities on Nar Shaddaa and attempt to infiltrate and expose their operation.[46] In 27 BBY, Mundi participated in a conversation among his fellow Council members about the threat posed by the Annoo-dat Prime General Ashaar Khorda, who was rumored to have obtained a mysterious weapon that he planned to use against the Republic. Upon narrowing Khorda's list of possible targets to Coruscant, Corellia and Alderaan, the Council decided to dispatch the Jedi Masters Yarael Poof, Oppo Rancisis and Eeth Koth, respectively, to safeguard those worlds. The strike proved to later take place at Coruscant, where Poof helped to successfully repel Khorda's attack at the cost of his own life. Mundi later attended Poof's Jedi Funeral, where he stood behind Mace Windu as he delivered Poof's eulogy.[47]

Later that same year, Kenobi appeared before Mundi and the Council to warn them of the danger posed by the son of Xanatos, Granta Omega, who wanted revenge against the Jedi for his father's death. Kenobi believed was planning to dominate the galactic bacta market through the mining of titanite on the volcanic world of Haariden. Mundi pointed out the Council's options in dealing with Omega were limited because he had not yet committed a crime. When Kenobi said Omega had paid bounty hunters and soldiers to attack the Jedi, and claimed Omega had drugged Skywalker, Mundi pragmatically claimed that Kenobi could not prove those accusations. Nevertheless, the Council authorized Kenobi to seek out Omega.[48] In 24 BBY, Mundi and Plo Koon helped disperse a mob of 20 sociolog students from the University of Coruscant who broke into and vandalized a Jedi Temple lobby in protest of the "Baby Ludi" custody case. Jedi Padawans had originally attempted to contain the mob but they pushed through and the Padawans were unwilling to harm them with their lightsabers. Mundi and Koon used Jedi mind tricks on the mob to make them leave peacefully.[49]

Clone Wars[]

First Battle of Geonosis[]

"He is a political idealist, not a murderer."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi defending Count Dooku[50]
Yoda mace windu ki-adi-mundi aotc

Yoda, Mace Windu and Ki-Adi-Mundi discussing the threat of the Separatist movement.

In 22 BBY, Mundi attended a meeting with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in his private chambers, along with fellow Jedi Mace Windu, Yoda, Plo Koon, Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee.[50] Palpatine explained an alarming number of star systems were breaking away from the Republic to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a Separatist movement led by the former Jedi Master Count Dooku. The Senate was to consider a vote on the establishment through the Military Creation Act, a move Palpatine claimed he wished to avoid if possible, as some feared it could lead to war with the Separatists.[51] As the meeting concluded, Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo, who had just survived an assassination attempt, arrived and explained she believed Dooku was the attacker.[50] Mundi, who knew Dooku from the Jedi Temple before he had left the Jedi Order,[36] expressed strong doubts and insisted Dooku was merely a political idealist who was incapable of murder. Nevertheless, Palpatine requested that Amidala be placed under the protection of Obi-Wan Kenobi to ensure her safety.[50]

Later, when Kenobi reported that the bounty hunter Jango Fett had attempted to arrange Amidala's assassination, Mundi and the Council ordered Kenobi to track the bounty hunter down, and commanded Anakin Skywalker to bring Amidala safely back to Naboo.[50] Later, Mundi listened along with the rest of the Jedi High Council to a message from Kenobi, who explained he had tracked Fett to the droid foundries of Geonosis, where it appeared the Trade Federation was about to take delivery of a droid army. Kenobi explained Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray was behind the attempts on Amidala's life, and that the Trade Federation was committing its army to Dooku and the Separatists, along with the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance.[52] Kenobi's transmission was interrupted as he was attacked by a droidekas, prompting a meeting in the Republic Executive Building between Mundi, Yoda, Windu, Palpatine and the Senators Bail Organa, Ask Aak, Jar Jar Binks and Mas Amedda. When the Jedi explained only about 200 fellow Jedi were available to go to Geonosis to stop the Separatist forces from assembling, the Senators made plans to vote Palpatine emergency powers so he could call into the recently-discovered clone army into battle.[51]

Windu assembled a strike team[50] of 200 Jedi[21] to rescue Kenobi on Geonosis. Mundi was among the Jedi who traveled to the planet's surface and infiltrated the Petranaki arena, where Kenobi, Skywalker and Amidala were about to be executed. Mundi appeared at a ledge overlooking the arena along with Aayla Secura and Plo Koon, all of whom ignited their lightsabers as Windu personally confronted Dooku. Although they were desperately outnumbered by the Separatist Droid Army, Mundi and his fellow Jedi engaged the droids in a bloody battle.[50]

During the fighting, Master Mundi was in charge of a failed attack aboard a Lucrehulk-class Droid Control Ship that had landed on the planet's surface.[53]

Amid the fighting, Mundi led a group of seven other Jedi, including Plo Koon, aboard a Lucrehulk-class Droid Control Ship that had landed on the planet's surface. The group hoped to find the ship's control system and disable the battle droids. The Jedi were met with intense fire from battle droids as they entered the ship, forcing them to deflect blaster shots madly from all directions. Two of their ranks were killed before reaching the inside of the craft. Once aboard, they met further resistance as they navigated the hallways of the ship and another Jedi was killed. The group finally reached the bridge of the ship, where Mundi raced to the controls and deactivated them as the other four Jedi defended themselves, another one of which succumbing to enemy fire. After Mundi deactivated the controls, the battle droids both inside the control ship and on the battlefield outside suddenly deactivated, allowing the Jedi a few moments of rest. Just as suddenly, however, the droids reactivated and starting firing again, and Mundi realized they were able to operate independent of the control system. Two of the four remaining Jedi in Mundi's team were killed as the droids surrounded Mundi and Koon, who were forced to surrender and escorted back outside with the other Jedi.[54]

Yoda mace windu ki-adi-mundi battle of geonosis

Ki-Adi-Mundi aboard a gunship during the battle on Geonosis.

After several tense minutes of fighting, the majority of the Jedi were slain and Dooku's forces gained the upper hand, rounding Mundi and about 20 other surviving Jedi into the center of the arena.[51] Before he could kill them, however, the Jedi were rescued by the Republic's newly-acquired clone army, led into the arena by Yoda aboard Low Altitude Assault Transports. As the gunships opened fire on the droids, the Jedi resumed their lightsaber battle against the droids, with Mundi deflecting blaster shots and fighting back-to-back with Amidala.[50]

Mundi and Windu got aboard a gunship with Yoda, and the Cerean helped Kit Fisto get aboard before taking off and escaping the arena. As they flew away, Yoda insisted to Windu and Mundi that they must attempt to prevent Dooku's escape or he would rally more systems to his cause. Windu ordered the pilot to land in an assembly area in the desert where he, Mundi and Fisto met up with five clone commando units.[50] Mundi took command of one of the clone units and led them into a fierce ground battle,[1][36] where they engaged B2 super battle droids, W-series droidekas, DSD1 dwarf spider droids, OG-9 homing spider droids and other battle droids. Mundi continued to fight until the Separatists ordered a full retreat.[50] Mundi was one of the few Jedi to survivor the battle at Geonosis, which formally marked the beginning of the Clone Wars. The Cerean took no comfort in surviving the battle, however, as he knew the conflict ahead would be brutal.[36]

Battles of Lianna, Hypori[]

"We can't face him!"
"We must try, Padawan!"
―Sha'a Gi and Ki-Adi-Mundi, about General Grievous[12]

After the battle on Geonosis, Mundi was named a Jedi General and became one of the forefront Jedi leaders of the Republic's military forces during the Clone Wars. One of his first tasks as general was to command the clone trooper forces on Lianna,[1] where the Republic had established a vitally-important Sienar Fleet Systems facility that was manufacturing starfighters and developing twin ion engine technologies. Mundi, along with fellow Jedi Master Cei Vookto, were tasked with defending the planet from a major Separatist invasion. The Republic proved victorious in defending the planet, but Vookto was killed in the battle, which also resulted in many clone and civilian casualties, along with the devastation of much of the planet's surface. Afterward, Mundi attended Vookto's Jedi Funeral, where he stood alongside the deceased Jedi's former Padawan, Dama Montalvo. Windu gave Mundi command of Vookto's troops and temporarily assigned Montalvo as his Padawan, although the assignment would prove very brief before Montalvo was reassigned to another Jedi Master.[11] Shortly after the battle on Lianna, Mundi attended the funerals of Jedi masters Knol Ven'nari, Jon Antilles, Nico Diath and Fay, all of whom were killed during a mission on the planet Queyta seeking an antidote for the chemical weapon swamp gas, which was used to destroy a Gungan colony on Ohma-D'un.[55]

Four months after the battle of Geonosis, Mundi was assigned to a task force led by Jedi Master Daakman Barrek that was dispatched to the planet Hypori, along with fellow Jedi Shaak Ti, Aayla Secura, K'Kruhk, Tarr Seirr and Sha'a Gi. Following up on intelligence gathered by Barrek and Gi, the Jedi and their accompanying clone troopers were to destroy a large droid factory on that planet. However, the mission became a disaster almost immediately upon the task force's arrival at Hypori. Space mines destroyed all of the Republic's transport ships, causing the Acclamator-class assault ship carrying the Jedi to crash behind enemy lines on the planet. Barrek was quickly killed and the Republic forces were soon surrounded by thousands of B2 super battle droids. The clone troopers who survived the crash were all killed by blaster fire and the six surviving Jedi were forced to take cover among the debris of the assault ship.[56] As they hid, the battle droids suddenly ceased fire all at once, much to Mundi's confusion.[12]

Aayla and Ki-Adi vs

Ki-Adi-Mundi and the other Jedi called Tarr Seirr, Aayla Secura, Shaak Ti and K'Kruhk engaging General Grievous in battle on Hypori.

Fleeing deeper into the wreckage, most of the Jedi were disheartened and believed death to be imminent, but Mundi attempted to calm them and encouraged them to stay focused. General Grievous, the cyborg Supreme Commander of the Confederacy armies, who had never before been seen by surviving members Republic, called out to the Jedi and promised them a noble death if the surrendered. A panicked Gi insisted they could not face Grievous, but Mundi said they had to try. Mundi remained calm and cautious, but Gi panicked and ran out of the ship, where Grievous leapt onto him and crushed him to death. Grievous then battled the remaining five Jedi simultaneously, using two lightsabers in a form of combat the Jedi Order had never faced before. Mundi was nearly struck down, but leaped onto an overhead rafter and launched a powerful Force push at Grievous. The general dodged the attack, however, and continued his duel with the Jedi, striking down K'Kruhk and killing Seirr. After Grievous hurled Secura away, Mundi and Ti attacked from either side of the general, but Grievous kicked Mundi, and sent him hurling into nearby wreckage, where he dropped his lightsaber.[12]

Grievous attacks Ki-Adi-Mundi

General Grievous dueling with Ki-Adi-Mundi on Hypori.

As Grievous disarmed and nearly killed Ti, Mundi fought himself free and tried to Force pull his lightsaber back, but the general grabbed it. Mundi instead used the Force to steal one of Grievous' own lightsabers,[12] then dropped through the unstable ground to a cavern underneath just as Grievous leaped toward him. The two dueled for several more minutes, which left the Cerean exhausted and his shirt torn. Grievous disarmed Mundi and was about to strike him down when a company of Advanced Recon Commandos reinforcements led by Captain ARC-77 arrived.[57] Mundi leaped away as the clones opened fire, forcing Grievous to take cover. After ARC-77 ordered the clones to fall back, Mundi tried to insist they pursue the general, but the captain said they did not have time and the surviving Jedi would die if they stayed. Mundi hesitantly returned to the clones' LAAT/i gunship, where he was horrified to find Ti and Secura were on life support and the other Jedi were presumed dead. The gunship escaped Hypori,[57] and afterward, Mundi informed Windu about Grievous, whom he explained was well trained in the Jedi arts. Mundi's intelligence ultimately helped the Jedi Order be better prepared to engage Grievous in the future.[58]

Command of Galactic Marines[]

"There is something very touching about them. They look like soldiers; they fight like soldiers; and sometimes they even talk like soldiers. They have all the finest qualities of the fighting man. But behind that is nothing—no love, no family, no happy memory that comes from having truly lived. When I see one of these men killed, I weep more for him than for any ordinary soldier who has lived a full and normal life."
―General Ki-Adi-Mundi, regarding the clone troopers under his command[59]

As a member of the Jedi High Council, Mundi was privy to some of the Jedi Order's most sensitive information during the Clone Wars. Near the end of 22 BBY, Windu sent a confidential datatape to Mundi and fellow Council member Agen Kolar informing them that the Weequay Jedi Master Sora Bulq had turned to the dark side of the Force. Windu explained that Bulq's fall to the dark side stemmed from his use of Vaapad, a form of lightsaber combat created by Windu and Bulq that forced the combatant to tread dangerously close to the dark side when using it. Windu also shared with Mundi and Kolar his fears that Quinlan Vos had learned the technique and could be at similar risk.[15] Additionally, when Vos appeared to succumb to the dark side and joined the Confederacy, Mundi was one of the few Jedi who knew that Vos was actually an undercover double agent still working for the Republic. In 21 BBY, Mundi was present at the Jedi Temple with Yoda, Windu and Tholme when Kolar contacted them via holocomm to inform them of his discovery on Nar Shaddaa that Vos was a traitor to the Jedi Order. Mundi knew this was not the case, and privately lamented having to lie to Kolar, but the other Jedi insisted it was necessary to make Vos' apparent defection appear legitimate.[60]

Also by 21 BBY,[61] the development of more specific units with specialized skills within the Grand Army of the Republic led to the formation of the Galactic Marines, an elite and heavily-armed rapid-reaction unit that became one of the most fearsome and versatile of the Republic forces. The Marines were placed under the command of Mundi and Bacara, a clone marshal commander.[62][63] Mundi occasionally clashed with the outspoken and independent Bacara, who so fiercely sought the best performance from his soldiers that he would reassign men who did not meet his standards without consulting the Cerean. Mundi found Bacara's aggressive tendencies caused by his training remarkable, as he recorded on several occasions.[63] Nevertheless, the two had respect for each other and maintained an effective working relationship despite their occasional animosity. Mundi and Bacara agreed on several elements of warfare, including the use of the Unstable Terrain Artillery Transport as a military transport and vehicle, one which they put to use in several Clone Wars battles.[62]

Ki-Adi-Mundi's entire family, including all five of his wives and all eight of his children, were killed during the Battle of Cerea,[36] a brutal conflict that resulted in more than one million casualties,[64] and destroyed much of the planet.[65] The damage was so extensive that there were no bodies of Mundi's family members left to bury.[23] Although Mundi had always strived not to become attached toward his family per the Jedi Code, he nevertheless felt the attachment following the tragedy.[1] However, Mundi recognized he had to accept their passing and move on to stay true to the Jedi beliefs,[23] so after mourning only in private, Mundi applied himself more thoroughly to his work as a Jedi General to overcome the grief. This helped prevent Mundi from running any risk of falling to the dark side of the Force after his loss.[36]

Battle of Aargonar[]

"Rally the troops and prepare to fight on, and trust the Force!"
―Ki-Adi-Mundi to Bultar Swan on Aargonar[37]
Ki-adi-mundi bultar swan

Ki-Adi-Mundi and Bultar Swan during the battle of Aargonar.

When the Separatist Droid Army opened a new front on Aargonar, a world that fell on the border of Republic and Separatist space, Mundi was ordered to lead the Republic's efforts to defend the planet. Jedi General Bultar Swan was to accompany Mundi,[66] and the Cerean also traveled to the hospital world New Holstice to collect further reinforcements in the form of Anakin Skywalker, A'Sharad Hett and Hett's Padawan, the Nikto Bhat Jul. Mundi was particularly overjoyed to once again see his old Padawan Hett,[36][66] who by now had attained the title Jedi Master.[66] Mundi and his fellow Jedi brought an army of clone troopers to Aargonar, where they were met with heavy fire from the battle droids and debilitating sandstorms on the desert world. Mundi established his troops on a Republic base on Aargonar, but the transport ship carrying Skywalker, Hett and Jul was shot down and crashed elsewhere on the planet and Mundi had no immediate word on their survival. Swan asked Mundi whether he wanted to retreat and surrender Aargonar to the Separatists, but Mundi felt the Republic could not afford another loss so soon after the recent Battle of Jabiim, and doubted the forces could escape the planet amid the sandstorms.[37]

With the base about to be overrun by the Droid Army, Mundi decided his forces would maintain the base as long as possible, then withdraw to the nearby Vondar Canyon, from which they would launch a counter-attack once the sandstorm dissipated. Before retreating from the base, Mundi ordered that whatever supplies could be taken be gathered and that all other equipment be disabled so it could not be seized by the Separatists. Mundi fought alongside his troops right up until they all retreated back to the canyon, where the battle droids could not reach them due to the sandstorms, although Mundi knew the droid would attack once the storms cleared. When the droid army indeed began advancing on them, the clone troopers' targeting and communication systems failed due to storm damage. Swan lamented that they could suffer a loss even more devastating than Jabiim, but Mundi said they must place their trust in the Force and rallied the troops. Around this time, Mundi felt a disturbance in the Force from elsewhere in the planet. Unbeknownst to him, this stemmed from Skywalker attacking Hett after experiencing flashbacks of the murder of Skywalker's mother Shmi at the hands of Tusken Raiders.[37]

KiAdiMundiHett-Republic59

Ki-Adi-Mundi and the newly-unmasked A'Sharad Hett after the battle of Aargonar.

Later, when the storms cleared and the battle was about to resume, Mundi and Swan personally rode LAAT/i gunships to survey the battlefield. Swan argued they were exposing himself at great risk by going airborne, by Mundi insisted it was their duty as leaders and that they could only properly monitor the battle from the air. Mundi's forces sustained heavily casualties from the battle droids and IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tanks, prompting Swan to order the units to fall back while she and Mundi flew low and provided covering fire from the air. At that moment, however, Skywalker and Hett emerged in a Gunship Bomber Enhanced from an underground tunnel in the middle of the battlefield. They were being chased by an enormous gouka dragon, which emerged from the tunnel and destroyed many of the Droid Army forces. With Skywalker and Hett joining the fight, Mundi's forces quickly drove back and defeated the Separatists.[37] Although the battle proved a Republic victory, it was also among the bitterest and most costly battles that Mundi experienced throughout the Clone Wars.[36] Mundi was later surprised to learn Hett was no longer wearing his Tusken Raider mask, something Hett said was inspired by his experiences with Skywalker. When informed Jul had been killed, Mundi mistakenly assumed the disturbance he felt earlier was caused by the Padawan's death. With the battle complete, the Cerean then tended to the prisoners his forces had taken.[37] The Separatists withdrew from the sector surrounding Aargonar after the battle, so Mundi ordered the Republic's own forced be reduced in the area as well so they could be diverted to other fronts.[10]

Training Anakin Skywalker[]

"It is good to see you, Obi-Wan. And I will gladly return your Padawan to you. Perhaps he will obey you."
"What, Anakin not obeying? I can't believe it!"
―Ki-Adi-Mundi and Obi-Wan Kenobi[23]

Mundi and Skywalker traveled to Senate Building on Coruscant, where they stood alongside Palpatine in his repulsorpod to make a report about the Aargonar battle to the Senate in the Grand Convocation Chamber. Palpatine publicly credited Skywalker for the victory and gave no acknowledgment to Mundi, although Skywalker explained others deserved credit for the success. Meanwhile, following Obi-Wan Kenobi's presumed death during the Battle of Jabiim, the Jedi High Council requested Mundi temporarily take over Skywalker's Jedi training, to which the Cerean agreed. While Mundi's troops were being refitted, Mundi was ordered to look into reports of increased piracy against Republic starcraft in the Varonat system.[1][10] Around this time the Galactic Senate passed the Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act, a law that expanded Palpatine's powers, and one Mundi feared would make the Republic's enemies more combative and make the Jedi's efforts policing the galaxy more difficult.[23] After a brief audience with Palpatine,[10] Mundi and Skywalker departed along with Plo Koon and Adi Gallia for the planet Varonat.[23] Skywalker had trouble opening up to Mundi,[28][23] but the Cerean hoped that would change in time. Skywalker strongly believed Kenobi was still alive, although Mundi pragmatically claimed that Skywalker's thoughts were misleading him and suggested the Jedi Master would have tried to contact them if survived Jabiim. Mundi tried to help Skywalker cope with the loss of Kenobi by explaining how he recovered from the loss of his own family on Cerea.[23]

Anakin skywalker ki-adi-mundi

Ki-Adi-Mundi briefly took on the training of Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars, but found him a very difficult and headstrong student.

Flying in Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptors, Mundi, Skywalker, Koon and Gallia engaged the pirate attack ships and mothership around Voronat. Mundi ordered them to surrender but, as the Cerean feared, they refused because the felt passage of Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act meant they would be destroyed anyway. Skywalker took a pass at the mothership, despite Mundi's orders to fall back because it was too dangerous. As he approached the ship, however, Skywalker was suddenly distracted by a Force call from Kenobi, who was indeed still alive and stranded on the planet Riflor. Skywalker nearly crashed directly into the mothership but was called back to attention by Mundi just in time for him to fire his shots, destroying the pirate ship. Mundi chided Anakin for his reckless behavior. When Skywalker explained he felt Obi-Wan's presence on Riflor, Mundi initially did not believe him because he felt nothing himself. When Plo and Gallia encouraged him not to disregard Skywalker's vision, however, Mundi agreed to follow Skywalker into hyperspace to Riflor. Upon arriving at the planet, however, Mundi recognized his new Padawan was correct, for he could now sense Kenobi's presence as well.[23]

Mundi sent word for Republic reinforcements to meet them there, but Skywalker insisted they could not wait for them and headed down tot he planet, much to Mundi's chagrin. The Cerean nevertheless followed Skywalker down, and the two Jedi dropped into the middle of a battle in which several bounty hunters were trying to capture or kill Kenobi and Alpha-17, an Advanced Recon Commando clone trooper who had escaped Jabiim with Kenobi. Even as they engaged the bounty hunters in battle with their lightsabers, Mundi rebuked Skywalker for his lack of patience and failure to follow orders. Skywalker was extremely concerned with Kenobi's well-being, but Mundi ordered him to stay focused on the fighting at hand. Kenobi and Alpha-17 eventually reached Mundi and Skywalker, where the four of them together easily defeated the remaining bounty hunters. Mundi was pleased to see Kenobi alive and returned Skywalker to his tutelage, happy to be relieved of such a difficult and headstrong student. The four survivors later reunited with Koon and Gallia aboard a Acclamator I-class assault ship, where Kenobi explained his escape from the Dathomirian Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress, which he later debriefed the Jedi High Council about.[23]

Dueling Asajj Ventress[]

"Another time, Jedi."
"It will be the last time, Sith."
―Asajj Ventress and Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi[67]

Following multiple ambushes against Republic troops by General Grievous, the Jedi Council deduced the Separatists had planted a spy on Coruscant and ordered Mundi to investigate. Mundi quickly identified a Human senator as the traitor and organized a company of clones to catch the spy in the act.

CoruscantSkirmish TCWCC

Ki-Adi-Mundi reveals himself to Asajj Ventress.

Aboard a LAAT/i gunship, they followed the senator to a Coruscant rooftop, where they observed him providing a datachip containing the Jedi Order's entire war strategy to Asajj Ventress. As Mundi and the clones descended to attack Ventress, she slashed the senator across the chest with her lightsaber, recognizing his usefulness as a spy had ended. Mundi then engaged Ventress in a duel, using a single lightsaber against the Dark Jedi's paired lightsabers. Amid this duel, clone trooper aboard the gunship opened fire against Ventress, but she evaded the shots and leaped onto the ship, killing the troopers as well as the pilot. Mundi jumped aboard the gunship to pursue Ventress, but she leaped out just before the vessel crashed onto a rooftop below. Mundi survived the crash and crawled out of the wreckage, but Ventress was able to escape with the datachip. Mundi tended to the injured senator, who told Mundi his traitorous aide Messo would rendezvous with the Separatists on the planet Mon Gazza and attempt to deliver them the datachip. Just before the senator died, Mundi promised to protect his family, who the senator feared were in danger from the Separatists.[67]

Mundi-vs-Ventress

Ki-Adi-Mundi dueling Asajj Ventress on Coruscant.

Mundi and Yoda later appeared before Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to debrief him about the recent developments. In light of the intelligence failure and risk of the Republic's battle plans falling into enemy hands, Palpatine insisted the Republic press forward their offensive as soon as possible, despite appeals from Mundi and Yoda that doing so would place many Jedi and clone troopers at risk. After leaving Palpatine, Mundi suggested to Yoda that the Jedi Order attempt to recover the stolen datachip from Messo before it reached the Separatists. Yoda agreed the action could potentially save millions of lives. The two sent a holocomm message to Kenobi, Skywalker, Clone trooper captain Rex and Ahsoka Tano, Skywalker's Jedi Padawan, all of whom had just participated in Battle of Queel. After informing them of the situation, Mundi and Yoda assigned Skywalker to Mon Gazza to intercept the datachip, while Kenobi and the others remained on Queel to continuing fighting the battle droids there. Skywalker would later ultimately succeed in this mission.[67]

Return to Geonosis[]

Mundi: "Sixty-five, Skywalker."
Skywalker: "Um, sorry?"
Mundi: "My total—65. So what do I win?"
Skywalker: "[pause] My everlasting respect, Master Mundi."
Mundi: "Oh."
Kenobi: "That is a gift Anakin rarely bestows, I assure you."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi, Skywalker and Kenobi discuss enemy kills — (audio) Listen (file info)[68]

Although Geonosis had been captured by the Republic at the onset of the Clone Wars, resistance from the Geonosian natives and their loyalty to Count Dooku proved stronger than the Jedi Order anticipated, and the Jedi soon discovered Separatist leader Poggle the Lesser had established several battle droid foundries on the planet capable of creating thousands of weapons.[68] The Jedi Council dispatched Mundi, Kenobi and Luminara Unduli to lead a massive clone army fleet to retake Geonosis and destroy the droid foundries,[69] the destruction of which was viewed as essential to the Republic war effort. Determined that the second battle on Geonosis go better than the first, Mundi reviewed intelligence reports extensively looking for deficiencies in the Geonosian defenses, and spent hours discussing battle tactics with Clone Commander Jet.[70] The Jedi traveled to Geonosis along with a huge fleet of Venator-class Star Destroyers and Acclamator I-class assault ship. Aboard the bridge of one of the Star Destroyers during the voyage, Mundi and Kenobi lamented at the Republic's failure to recognize how loyal the native Geonosians remained to the Confederacy.[68]

GeonosisPlanning

The Jedi plan their assault of Geonosis.

Later, a hologram meeting session was held between Mundi, Kenobi, Skywalker, Unduli, Ahsoka Tano, Palpatine, Yoda and Mace Windu to discuss the battle plan. Mundi, Kenobi and Skywalker were to lead three separate fronts of a three-pronged attack on a Ray Shield Fortress generator, which protected the primary droid foundry where Poggle had established his command post. Mundi and Jet were to lead a northern advance through the Geonosian defense lines to a staging area called Point Rain a short distance from the shield generator. The troops would establish a defensive perimeter around the staging area, where Mundi's forces would meet up with those of Kenobi and Skywalker, who would be coming in after leading their forces through central and southern advances, respectively. Once they rendezvoused, the three Jedi were to combine their forces on an attack against the shield generator. Mundi suggested if either of the three forces were met with heavy resistance that prevented them from reaching the staging area on time, the others should wait until they arrive before advancing on the shield generator.[68]

With their planning complete, the Jedi split up to mobilize forces for the upcoming battle. Shortly after Kenobi and Skywalker's men entered the battle, Mundi boarded the LAAT/i gunship Separatist Nightmare and launched along with Jet and a company of clones aboard the Resolute, the flagship of Admiral Wullf Yularen. Mundi led several other gunships into the battle and were immediately met with extremely heavy gunfire. Several of the ships among Mundi's forces were destroyed, and Mundi quickly lost contact with Skywalker after his own gunship was shot down. Many of the ships were carrying All Terrain Tactical Enforcers and Mundi ordered them to be dropped to the ground right away, before they were all destroyed all with the gunships. Immediately after issuing this order, the Separatist Nightmare was struck by enemy fire and crashed onto the planet surface below. Many of the clones aboard were killed but Jet and Mundi survived, although the Cerean was injured, particularly in the area of his left ribcage. Jet reported that only Kenobi's forces made it to the staging area, and that Skywalker and his men had crashed were caught in a firefight with the Geonosians.[68]

KiAdiMundiGeonosis-LaPR

Ki-Adi-Mundi fighting beside special ops clone troopers on Geonosis

Mundi ordered the injured among his men to be loaded onto the AT-TE walker, and then for the forces to move forward toward a nearby bridge, where Mundi hoped to meet up with Skywalker's forces on their way to Kenobi's position. As the forces traveled through a large caltrop field, Mundi went up ahead and used his lightsaber to cut down the giant caltrops so his tanks could pass them unharmed. Jet requested air support from Ylaren, but the admiral denied the request, claiming all starfighters and other resources were engaged elsewhere in the planetary invasion. Upon arriving at a trail leading up to a clifftop cave, Mundi split up his forces, ordering the AT-TE walkers to take the longer route to Kenobi's position while the Jedi took a squad of 13 clones to investigate what Mundi believed was a shortcut through the cave. Mundi admitted to Jet he did not know for sure the cave would be a faster route, but could only trust his instincts. After entering the cave, which disrupted their communications, Mundi sensed an incoming presence and ordered his men to take defensive positions just as a swarm of winged Geonosian warriors attacked them.[68]

Several of the clones were swept up and carried deeper into the cave to be killed, but Mundi ordered the men not to stop and continue pushing forward. Despite heavy casualties, Mundi's men cut their way through the cave, and upon reaching the other side, the Cerean ordered his clone flame troopers to fire their flamethrowers. Most of the remaining Geonosians were killed, allowing Mundi and his surviving troops to exit the cave. Afterward, Mundi made contact with Skywalker, who informed him the path to the staging area was now clear but that Kenobi's forces were being overwhelmed by the enemy there. Upon a request for air support from Skywalker, Yularen dispatched a Y-wing bomber squadron, which dropped their munitions on the advancing Separatist tanks just as Mundi, Skywalker and Tano arrived at Kenobi's position. The Jedi regrouped and determined that, despite their losses, their combined forces were still sufficient to destroy the shield generator. Skywalker took a small force through the shield barrier and jammed the Geonosians' scanners, which freed the AT-TE walkers to fire upon the shield generator without risk of being targeted. Once the generator was destroyed, Mundi led the rest of the clone troopers into the battle via gunships.[68]

SecondGeonosis

Ki-Adi-Mundi, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker leading troops at the conclusion of the Geonosis battle.

After they landed, the remaining Geonosians at the Ray Shield Fortress were outnumbered by the clones and forced to surrender, marking the end of that phase of the battle. The injured Mundi and Kenobi were unable to continue with the rest of the attack, and were to be taken back to the fleet along with the other injured soldiers for bacta tank treatment. Skywalker was left in charge of the remaining Republic forces, which were to set out for Poggle's primary droid foundry. Before departing the planet, Mundi overheard Skywalker and Tano boasting about their number of kills during the battle, and the Cerean noted that his own kill total of 65, which was greater than that of either of the two other Jedi and thus earned Skywalker's respect. Mundi and the rest of the injured left the planet,[68] while Skywalker and Unduli later led a successful effort to destroy the primary droid foundry.[71]

By the time Mundi recovered from his injuries in the bacta tank, he was aboard a Jedi transport docked at a Geonosian landing zone. Anxious to return to the mission at hand, Mundi reviewed strategic charts and maps to help continue the search for Poggle, who had escaped the primary droid foundry. Mundi and Kenobi were contacted via holocomm by Unduli, who had been tracking Poggle and believed he was hiding at the nearby Progate Temple. Mundi felt that location was unlikely because little would have survived the first wave of Republic attacks there, which would leave Poggle to exposure at the temple. Unduli nevertheless decided to investigate, despite Mundi's warnings against it due to an incoming sandstorm. The storm left the Jedi unable to leave the transport and provide Unduli assistance and, when Skywalker grows concerned that she failed to report in several hours later, Mundi urged him to have patience.[72]

When Unduli finally reported back, she explained Poggle had been tracked to the temple, and her holocomm transmission cut out just as she was attacked by unseen assailants. Skywalker wished to rescue her immediately, but Mundi and Kenobi said they had no choice but to wait for the sandstorm to die down. Later, Mundi stayed behind while Kenobi and Skywalker led forces into the temple to rescue her. After getting attacked by Geonosians infected with brain worms, the Jedi tried to send clone troopers to Mundi for reinforcements, but they were killed and the message never reached him. Kenobi and Skywalker ultimately succeeded in rescuing Unduli and taking Poggle prisoner.[72]

Post-Geonosis service[]

"I'm afraid we have a complication."
"Don't we always?"
―Ki-Adi-Mundi and Anakin Skywalker[73]
RexJediBrainInvaders

Captain Rex, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Luminara Unduli and Ki-Adi-Mundi shortly after the battle of Geonosis.

As they prepared to take Poggle back to Coruscant, Mundi received a transmission from Windu on Dantooine. Although Windu's forces had fended off an attack there, they had suffered heavy casualties and were in immediate need of medical supplies from a medical station at Ord Cestus. Mundi informed the others, who decided to send Tano and Barriss Offee to pick up the supplies while Mundi, Kenobi and Unduli took Poggle back to Coruscant to be interrogated. Later, on the Venator-class Star Destroyer making the voyage back to Coruscant, Skywalker informed Mundi, Kenobi, Unduli and Captain Rex that the ship carrying Tano and Offee has been infected by Geonosian brain worms. Skywalker later interrogated Poggle alone and learned the brain words were susceptible to cold temperatures. When Mundi asked Skywalker how he convinced Poggle to talk, the Jedi Knight declined to answer, and the Cerean was unaware that Skywalker used violent methods to achieve his means.[73]

Capture of Eeth Koth[]

JediHighCouncilGrievousTransmission-GrievousIntrigue

The Jedi Council watches Grievous's torture of Koth.

Mundi remained busy with Jedi High Council business throughout 21 BBY. He was present at the Jedi Temple when the Jedi High Council viewed a hologram transmission from General Grievous, who has captured Eeth Koth. Upon discovering Koth secretly used hand signals in the message to indicate he was in the Saleucami system, the Council assigned Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Adi Gallia to rescue him.[74]

Jedi in distress[]

Some weeks later, Mundi also viewed a holocomm strategy session led by Plo Koon on Coruscant along with Ahsoka Tano and Aayla Secura, who were interrupted by the astromech droid R2-D2. When R2 projected a message that Skywalker and Windu were trapped on Vanqor and in grave danger, Koon prepared his ship for an immediate rescue.[75]

Trouble on Valahari[]

Later that same year, Mundi attended a meeting when the Jedi High Council discussed a recent mission by Kenobi and Skywalker to the planet Valahari to convince their population to stop providing assistance to the Separatists. When a Valhari ship was destroyed in the process, Mundi explained to the Jedi that the public opinion against them had grown unanimously negative. Although scanner records proved Kenobi and Skywalker were not responsible for the explosion, the Council nevertheless removed the two Jedi from Valhari for political reasons.[76]

Mysterious transmission[]

Also in 21 BBY, Mundi and the rest of the Council received a report from Admiral Tenant about a mysterious transmission that had been intercepted in the Wild Space system Chrelythiumn. Although the source for and reason behind the call were unknown, Tenant reported that it contained a Jedi distress signal that had not been used in more than 2,000 years.[77]

Early stages of the Battle of Mygeeto[]

Later, Mundi also received reports about Delta Squad actions during the early stages of a battle on the planet Mygeeto, where the Squad called in air strikes and sabotaged enemy ground defenses to help prepare Bacara and the Galactic Marines' main assault. Mundi was pleased with the outcome and directed the Jedi General Arligan Zey to send Delta Squad his commendation.[78] Around this time, the Confederacy of Independent Systems placed a 350,000 credit bounty on Mundi's life, one of several the Separatists issued against various high-profile Jedi.[79]

The Starcrusher trap[]

"I've defied the Chancellor's orders. It's that rebellious streak of mine you keep cautioning me about, I'm afraid."
" Bless that rebellious streak! For once, you're right where I want you!"
―Skywalker and Kenobi[80]
Infiltration of the Starcrusher

Kenobi, Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Tano and Somtay climb the lift shaft of the Starcrusher

Shortly after, Kenobi and Skywalker infiltrated a Separatist munitions factory on an asteroid. Skywalker joked that he had forgotten the explosives as Kenobi used his lightsaber to cut into the factory. Once inside they were surrounded by battle droids, but the two Jedi destroyed them and ventured deeper into the factory. Skywalker threw the explosives into the station's reactor, and the resulting explosion brought down the shields.[80]

Three Republic Venator-class star destroyers led by Captain Trask moved into position to destroy the factory, but the Separatist battleship Starcrusher ambushed the destroyers. The two Jedi were unaware of the destruction of the Republic fleet, and Skywalker called for extraction. The Jedi Knight Jyl Somtay, piloting a T-6 shuttle, arrived to pick them up. The three Jedi were able to fly past the Starcrusher and return to Coruscant, where the Jedi Council decided to send a team to hunt down the dangerous Separatist vessel, which included Kenobi, Somtay, Master Windu, Master Mundi, and Skywalker's Padawan. Chancellor Palpatine contacted Grand Master Yoda, and asked for the services of Skywalker.[80]

Skywalker met the Chancellor in his private office, where Palpatine presented a collection of seeds for Skywalker to take to the Daltarri inhabitants as a gesture of goodwill. Skywalker took R2 and his starfighter to the planet Daltarri and met the inhabitants, who agreed to aid the Republic. During his mission, Skywalker received a premonition of danger, and cut short his mission to Daltarri by two days.[80]

The Jedi assault team had gotten trapped on a decoy Starcrusher and were on the verge of crashing into a star when Skywalker arrived. At that time, the real Starcrusher arrived. Kenobi came up with a plan, and had Skywalker fly his fighter into the battleship's main hold, where he caused damage to the inside of the vessel. Skywalker proceeded to the vessel's power generator and destroyed it. Kenobi's plan involved magnetizing the hull of the decoy to cause the real Starcrusher to crash into it. The team then escaped using spacesuits, and Skywalker used a tow cable to pick up the team as the Separatist vessels disintegrated in the sun.[80]

Later issues[]

By 20 BBY, Mundi and the Jedi High Council ordered Kenobi, Skywalker and the Jedi Master Siri Tachi to seek an audience with the surveillance technology expert Talesan Fry and attempt to purchase a new code-breaking device Fry had developed. The Council believed this technology might be what the Republic needed to deal a major blow to the growing Separatist uprising and convince neutral planets to join the Republic.[81]

Later that year, Mundi remotely attended via holocomm a Jedi High Council meeting to consider whether Quinlan Vos could be re-accepted into the Jedi Order. Although Vos had previously been assigned to infiltrate Count Dooku's inner circle, the Jedi had come dangerously close to the dark side of the Force and some in the Order questioned where his current loyalties stood. Mundi did not speak during the hearing and, like many of his fellow Council members, deferred to the judgment of Oppo Rancisis, who was the senior Jedi present with Vos while the other Jedi were scattered throughout the galaxy. Believing Vos had returned to the light side, he allowed him to return to the Jedi Order.[82]

Plot to abduct the Chancellor[]

KenobiMockFuneral-Deception

Mundi attends the mock funeral.

Sometime after that, the Jedi Council learned that Count Dooku schemed to abduct Supreme Chancellor Palpatine at the Festival of Light on Naboo. As a result of this, the Council hatched a plan to thwart Dooku's efforts. Obi-Wan Kenobi would fake his death by assassination and then pose as Rako Hardeen to infiltrate Dooku's cadre of bounty hunters and provide information to the kidnapping itself. Mundi attended the mock funeral for Kenobi.

Darth Maul returns[]

"He is a broken, unbalanced monster. I have dealt with him before, I can do it again."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi addresses Mundi and the other Jedi of his ability to confront Darth Maul[83]

Sometime afterwards the Jedi received an extraordinarily shocking transmission sent from the Outer Rim planet of Raydonia by Darth Maul—the Sith Lord who had murdered Qui-Gon Jinn on Naboo in 32 BBY. Mundi and Plo Koon watched Maul's transmission via hologram, as Maul massacred a village of people ordering Kenobi face him alone. Kenobi went against Mace Windu's wishes of caution and headed out to face the resurrected Sith Lord alone.

Distress signal from Mandalore[]

"Without involvement from the Separatists, if this is an internal affair for the Mandalorians, I'm afraid we cannot help."
"We cannot just hand Mandalore over to these crime families and let Satine become a martyr."
"I'm afraid her decision to keep Mandalore neutral makes this situation difficult."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi and Obi-Wan Kenobi debate about assisting Satine Kryze[84]

Mundi, along with Grand Master Yoda, announced to Obi-Wan Kenobi that Duchess Satine Kryze had asked for his help to free Mandalore from criminals. Mundi argued that the Jedi would not be able to help her, because intervening on neutral Mandalore would be considered an act of war.[84] Nevertheless, Kenobi secretly traveled to Mandalore to assist his former lover.

Attack on the Jedi Temple[]

TempleBombingFuneral

Mundi attends the funeral for the six deceased Jedi.

Sometime later the Jedi Temple had been attacked by an unknown assailant. The attack killed six Jedi, maintenence crew and clone soldiers within the Jedi Temple hangar. As a result of this attack, Grand Master Yoda contacted Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, recalling them from the battle on Cato Neimoidia to question witnesses and lead the investigation. In the Council chamber, the Council briefed Skywalker and Tano as to what they needed to do. Mace Windu told them to be on alert and to not make any assumptions. The Council also aired out their concern that someone within the Jedi would have turned to the dark side and committed the act. Soon after, it was discovered that anti-Jedi activist Letta Turmond fed her husband, Jedi Temple worker Jackar Bowmani, nano-droids which unwittingly caused him to explode, thus causing the damage to the hangar bay. Shortly after Turmond's arrest, Mundi and the rest of the Council attended a joint funeral for the six Jedi - including Jedi Knight Tutso Mara - that perished.

Fugitive Padawan[]

Sometime after that, the Council learned that Ahsoka Tano had been arrested after she allegedly murdered the imprisoned Letta Turmond via the Force. Tano was arrested by clone commander Fox after the incident. Soon after that, Tano broke free and escaped a Republic military base, eventually reaching the portal to the Coruscant underworld. Anakin Skywalker, Fox and Captain Rex failed to re-apprehend Tano as she made her getaway.

After that, the Council held a meeting to discuss the course of action to take. Plo Koon and Skywalker were sent with commander Wolffe and Rex to find Tano and bring her back into Jedi custody. Their search led them to the Coruscant Underworld level of Level 1315, where Tano was found in a warehouse with crates full of nano-droids.

A little while later, the Council received a communication from Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin. Tarkin made it clear that Tano should be expelled from the Jedi Order and put to a military tribunal, and warned the Council that the Senate believes that an internal Jedi trial would seem biased. Once the transmission ended, Obi-Wan Kenobi strongly suggested that they side with Tano, but Mundi, Saesee Tiin and Mace Windu all refused, pointing out the fact that in addition to the evidence against her, failing to comply could be regarded as an act of opposition to the Senate.

Yoda then said that Tano should appear before them in the Chamber of Judgment alongside her master, Skywalker.

Mundi was a part of that meeting, seated alongside Kenobi, Windu, Koon and Yoda. Tano tried in vain to prove that she was innocent, but Windu closed the matter by formally expelling Tano from the Jedi Order. As Tano's platform lowered, Mundi informed her that she was to be stripped of her Padawan status, as well as all battlefield privileges and dealt with by the Republic courts.

Shortly after that, a military trial was held for Tano. But before the verdict could be given out for Tano, Skywalker burst into the room and revealed that the true culprit that framed Tano was none other than Jedi Knight Barriss Offee, who openly confessed to her crimes and claimed that the Jedi had fallen to the dark side by fighting in the Clone Wars. The Council was willing to accept Tano back into the fold as a true Jedi Knight, but she refused and left, claiming she could no longer trust the Council for turning their backs on her when she needed them.

Battles of Boz Pity, Hitaka[]

"Fortunately, we have some of the greatest minds in the Jedi Order at our disposal."
―Mace Windu before the battle of Boz Pity[85]

Two years and seven months after the Battle of Geonosis,[28] Mundi participated via holocomm in a Jedi High Council meeting where Obi-Wan Kenobi requested to conduct a search for Asajj Ventress, who had gone missing and was believed dead by some. Mundi suggested Kenobi abandon the search because so many Jedi had been dispatched to the Outer Rim Territories and that the Jedi Order could not spare the resources. However, when Kenobi insisted the threat presented by Ventress was too significant to ignore, the Council ultimately agreed to allow him to pursue with caution.[86] When Kenobi's pursuit ultimately uncovered intelligence that the Separatists had established a major blockage on the planet Boz Pity, the size of which suggested the presence of the Confederacy leadership. The Jedi Order believed the Clone Wars could be brought to an end if these leaders were captured, so they dispatched several of their best Jedi Masters, including Mundi, for a mission to investigate. In order to infiltrate the planet, the Jedi planned to bring the Venator-class Star Destroyer Intervention to come out of hyperspace between the blockade and the planet. Mundi was aboard the Intervention when Anakin Skywalker piloted the ship and attempted the maneuver. However, the spacecraft came out of hyperspace too close to Boz Pity's gravitational pull, causing the Intervention to crash onto the planet's surface. Mundi, the Jedi and most of their clone forces survived the crash, but having lost the element of surprise were forced to engage the Separatist armies in battle immediately.[85] Despite the presence of Count Dooku, General Grievous and Ventress on the planet, the attack went as planned, and the Republic forces successfully infiltrated the Separatist's surface installations and headquarters. Although Jedi Masters Adi Gallia and Soon Bayts were killed in the battle, the Separatists suffered much heavier casualties and their blockage was dispersed.[87]

Afterward, Mundi and Jedi Master Aayla Secura were personally assigned by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to the planet Hitaka for a top secret mission, the details of which were revealed to very few others. In actuality, unbeknownst to Mundi and Secura, their mission was a completely meaningless exercise arranged by Palpatine to distract the two Jedi Masters from Dooku, who was tending to his own top-secret business on Hitaka. As part of Mundi's supposed mission, he and Secura ordered the new Jedi Knight Anise I'Zak to deliver a canister across enemy territory to a clone army commander at a base elsewhere on the planet. However, the canister was actually empty, and I'Zak was unaware that her mission was simply meant to distract the clones while Mundi and Secura tended to their own top-secret mission. The two Jedi Master performed their mission and later met I'Zak at the base, where she was disappointed that the canister she was meant to deliver was destroyed. When they explained to her that her mission was simply a decoy, she was initially angry, but later came to accept that she was contributing to a greater cause. Mundi also explained that the mission doubled as a lesson about the importance of following orders even when you do not completely understand the motive behind them.[88]

In 19 BBY,[89] Mundi and the rest of the Jedi High Council met with Palpatine on Coruscant and explained that the war had reached a stalemate. The Jedi argued they had to strike against the Separatist leaders to turn the tide of the war in their favor. As a result, Palpatine agreed that the Jedi General should be dispatched to areas of the galaxy to try to apprehend these leaders, starting with Kenobi and Skywalker on a mission to Tythe to search for Count Dooku. Some days alter, Mundi remotely participated in a Council meeting where Secura reported that a biological agent had been released on the planet Felucia shortly after the destruction of Confederate ally Shu Mai's compound there. Secura explained the compound could potentially contaminate Felucia's water supply in a matter of days and kill everyone on the planet. Mundi discussed with the Council a State of the Republic address Palpatine made before the Galactic Senate. The Jedi were concerned with the amount of power Palpatine had accumulated throughout the Clone Wars and remained suspicious of his claims that he would end the conflict and return that power to the Senate when the war was done. They also believed Palpatine's decision to deploy massive troops in the Outer Rim was a show of power designed to acquire additional worlds for the Republic by force, and rejected his declaration of the planets Felucia, Mygeeto and Saleucami as a "Triad of Evil" as false, as those worlds were remote and strategically insignificant.[90]

Sacrifice of Rivi-Anu[]

"Greater love has no being than to lay down their life for a friend. Rivi-Anu is now one with the Living Force. It will make me proud to one day join her."
―Ki-Adi-Mundi[91]

Mundi was given command of hundreds of clone troopers and ordered to attack a Separatist base on a besieged planet. A handful of Jedi were assigned to accompany him, including Rivi-Anu, who had not yet finished her full apprenticeship but was made a Jedi Knight early because the Jedi Order was so shorthanded as a result of the Clone Wars. After Mundi's forces established themselves on the planet, Rivi-Anu admitted to the Cerean that she was afraid of the upcoming conflict, but Mundi assured her the fear was nothing to be ashamed of because it humbled her to the power of the Force. Rivi-Anu was strongly comforted by these words. Later, Mundi led his clone and Jedi forces into battle against a large contingent of battle droids outside the Separatist base. After an intense fight, the battle droids began to retreat and Mundi ordered the clone troopers to continue their advance. He ordered Rivi-Anu to secure the west flank of the battlefield, but she was shot in the right arm by blaster fire and briefly incapacitated. As the battle raged on, a Venator-class Star Destroyed in orbit around the planet was destroyed and began crashing toward the planet. Mundi realized the craft was going to strike the battlefield, killing everyone from both sides. He ordered a retreat and stayed behind to direct his clone troopers away, but he realized the Star Destroyer was approaching too quickly for the forces to possibly escape.[91]

At that moment, Rivi-Anu regained consciousness and Mundi began running toward her, shouting that they had to flee. Instead, the wounded Jedi Knight told the Cerean to get the troops as far away as possible while she used the Force to hold back the Star Destroyer. Mundi insisted she was not strong enough, but she nevertheless refused to retreat. Rivi-Anu reached out with the force and, to Mundi's astonishment, successfully slowed the massive ship's descent through the atmosphere. She held the ship aloft long enough for Mundi to direct his forces away from the battlefield and, once they were clear, the Star Destroyer crashed. The explosion killed Rivi-Anu instantly and destroyed much of the battle droid army, but the Republic forces survived and the battle was victorious. Mundi was extremely moved by Rivi-Anu's sacrifice and it instilled him with a sense of hope and pride. Shortly after the battle was won, Mundi was informed that he was being dispatched to Mygeeto, where fighting had erupted seeking control of an InterGalactic Banking Clan holding on that planet.[91]

Battle of Mygeeto

Ki-Adi-Mundi and his troops on Mygeeto

En route to Mygeeto, Mundi participated in a handful of Jedi High Council meetings via holocomm. During one, the Jedi discussed their growing distrust of Palpatine, who has now been granted direct control of the Jedi High Council and appointed Anakin Skywalker as his personal representative on the Council. Mundi and the other Jedi were disturbed by these events and decided they would allow Skywalker's appointment to the Council, but not grant him the title of Jedi Master. Furthermore, the Council decided to ask Skywalker to spy on Palpatine and report his actions back to the Council. Kenobi voiced strong opposition to this plan and Mundi himself had reservations about it, but ultimately felt it was necessary given how dire the state of the galaxy was growing. Mundi also felt that if Skywalker were indeed the Chosen One as prophesied, he should be kept close in play to events as they unfolded in Coruscant so he could be in a position to strike against the Sith should they arise. Later, when the Council informed Skywalker that he would not receive the rank of Jedi Master, Mundi was visibly disturbed by Skywalker's angry reaction. During a later meeting, Skywalker presented intelligence from Palpatine that Grievous was in hiding on the planet Utapau. Mundi was concerned about this report, as the Jedi Order's own agents on Utapau had no such information.[92] Although Palpatine had requested Skywalker himself lead the mission to but the other Council members felt a more experienced Jedi Master was necessary and Mundi suggested Kenobi, much to Skywalker's frustration.[93]

Death on Mygeeto[]

"I hesitated for a moment when I received Order 66 because the last thing I expected was a Jedi coup. Did I feel betrayed? You bet I did. I thought of all my men who died under Ki-Adi-Mundi's command, and if I'd known then that he and his buddies were gearing up to do the Separatists' work for them and overthrow the government, I'd have shot him as a traitor a lot earlier. He betrayed the trust of every one of us."
―Bacara[94]

Mundi arrived at Mygeeto along with Bacara and a large contingent of Galactic Marines clone troopers. They established a command center amid the mountains of the planet with several tents, one of which was established for Mundi to privately meditate in.[91] They were joined by a unit of troopers from the elite 501st Legion who had been personally assigned by Palpatine to apparently eliminate a droid energy collector on the planet. Unbeknownst to Mundi, they were actually seeking a power crystal from the planet that Palpatine needed for a top-secret superlaser weapon he was developing under the code name Hammertong.[95][96] For reasons he could not identify, Mundi was suspicious of the presence of the 501st and the fact that they were operating outside of his direct control, but felt reassured after Bacara assured him they were trustworthy.[95] Mundi accompanied the 501st on their mission on Mygeeto, helping them push through their battle droid forces and reach what the Cerean believed was the droid energy collector. As they reached it, the Jedi also helped them destroy a Separatist shield generator so the 501st could reach and obtain the technology, which was taken back to a LAAT/i dropship. Mundi's cooperation during this mission proved to be a revelation for the members of the 501st, as it marked the first time they realized the Jedi could be fooled, which in turn made them realize the Jedi could be killed if it became necessary.[96]

KiAdiMundi-realization

Ki-Adi-Mundi realizes, too late, that his clone troopers have turned on him.

From his Mygeeto command center, Mundi remotely participated in another Jedi High Council meeting,[1] where Kenobi revealed he had indeed discovered Grievous' location. The Jedi began to discuss the possibility that, upon the conclusion of the Clone Wars, the Jedi Order might have to forcibly remove Palpatine from power if he refused to give up the extraordinary amount of control he had received throughout the war. Mundi suggested that if such an extreme measure indeed became necessary, the Order might have to code with major political ramifications from the Republic, since Palpatine's dictatorship was technically obtained legally through the super-majority he controlled in the Galactic Senate.[92] Mundi advised it would be up to the Jedi Order to take control of the Senate for an interim period until a new transition of power could commence, an unprecedented and potentially treasonous suggestion,[1] but one the Council ultimately agreed was necessary.[92] Prior to engaging in his final push during the battle on Mygeeto, Mundi meditated and reflected once again upon the sacrifice Rivi-Anu, which helped inspire him to continue on with his duties. As he finished this meditation, Bacara informed him the troops were ready for deployment.[91] Mundi led his clone troopers into the battle, which consisted mainly of urban fighting among the remains of the modern Mygeeto towers. Engaging in firefights from house to house, Mundi and his men slowly began pushing the Separatist forces back, although at great cost to the Mygeeto cityscape, which was getting destroyed by the Confederacy's tri-droids and the Republic's artillery equipment.[95]

The Death of Ki-Adi-Mundi

Ki-Adi-Mundi is shot to death by his own clone troopers on Mygeeto following Order 66.

Amid the warfare, Bacara received a transmission that Palpatine had issued Order 66, a top secret contingency order that branded the Jedi as traitors of the Republic and called for all clone troopers around the galaxy to execute their Jedi leaders without question. Aware of the Cerean's strong battle prowess, the Galactic Marines decided to wait until Mundi was at his most vulnerable to attack. The opportunity presented itself as they reached a narrow bridge into one of Mygeeto's massive cities,[53] where they were met with heavy resistance fire from the other side. Mundi encouraged his men to follow him and charged toward the enemy without hesitation. The clones, however, immediately stopped in their tracks, prompting a surprised and confused Mundi to turn around and face them.[3] Bacara hesitated only a brief moment before executing Order 66 because he was shocked by the idea of a Jedi coup, but he had no doubt of the order's authenticity and grew furious with the Jedi, thinking back to all his men who had died following Mundi's command.[94] Bacara and his fellow troopers raised their blaster rifles and opened fire on the Cerean Jedi. Realizing too late he had been betrayed, Mundi raised his lightsaber and deflected a handful of the shots,[3] sending them hurling back toward the clones and killing three of them.[53] However, one of the blasts struck Mundi in the stomach, which rendered him incapable of defending himself from a subsequent barrage of shots. Dropping his lightsaber, Mundi was riddled with blaster fire and fell to the ground, dead.[3]

Post-death and legacy[]

"In light of Ki-Adi-Mundi's battle prowess, the Galactic Marines elected to wait until the Jedi was most vulnerable."
―Sate Pestage[53]

Although the truth of Palpatine's actions and betrayal of the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order were eventually revealed, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the rest of the Jedi were initially branded as traitors following the successful execution of Order 66. As Palpatine transformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire, his Grand Vizier Sate Pestage was tasked with compiling the official records regarding the deaths of those Jedi. In Mundi's record, Pestage claimed the Cerean was executed by his clone troopers on Mygeeto because they discovered him planting an explosive device on one of the planet's historic bridges.[53] News of Mundi's death traveled quickly throughout the galaxy. Even among the Jedi who survived Order 66 and had trouble believing the mass reports of Jedi executions were true, it was confirmed that Mundi had been killed on a remote Separatist world.[97]

While Mundi was believed to be a traitor by most of the galaxy at this time, he was still held in reverence by some of the surviving Jedi. For example, the Aleena Jedi Knight Kazdan Paratus, who escaped to the planet Raxus Prime, went insane with grief over the fall of the Jedi and built a faux Jedi Temple on the world. Atop that temple were junk replicas of each member of the Jedi High Council, which Paratus staged in a fake Council meeting and protected as if they were still alive. Mundi was among these replicas and, when he was later destroyed by the Jedi Galen Marek in a lightsaber duel against Paratus in 3 BBY, the Aleena reacted in mournful horror as if the Cerean had been killed a second time.[98]

Personality and traits[]

"You are a great Jedi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, noble and true. I knew that you would be the day I found you. What a fine Padawan you would have been."
―An'ya Kuro[33]
Ki-Adi-Mundi SWFB

Stoic Jedi, Ki-Adi-Mundi

Ki-Adi-Mundi was an extremely wise and stoic Jedi who was well known for his strong judgment,[25][99] his practical thinking,[99] and his courage.[92] Like all Cereans, his binary brain made him extremely logical and insightful and he was a skilled tactician and diplomat.[65] Unlike many of the other Jedi on the Jedi Council, Mundi acknowledged the deep connection that once existed between the fallen Dooku and Yoda, as master and apprentice. He was the first and only to conclude that Dooku was perhaps the Sith apprentice towards the final year of the Clone Wars. Thus, he believed that when Yoda saw visions of Qui-Gon Jinn, it was in fact the Sith taking advantage of the previous bond between the Grand Master and Count. His elongated head made him stand out among his peers on the Jedi High Council, but also gave him a stately, introspective appearance.[100][51] Mundi had great empathy for other living beings, particularly his fellow Jedi. During his meditations in the Clone Wars, he preferred to have drops of water falling on his head because each drop reminded him of a Jedi who fell in battle.[91] As a Jedi Master, Mundi had no fear of death, and believed that to die simply meant becoming one with the Living Force. Mundi believed the greatest honor was to sacrifice oneself for others and for a greater cause.[91] During his time as a Jedi General during the Clone Wars, Mundi believed that as a leader, he should not only give orders his forces but personally lead them into battle. During battle against the Droid Army on Aargonar, fellow Jedi Bultar Swan questioned his decision to monitor the battlefield from a LAAT/i gunships because it placed him in mortal jeopardy by exposing his position, but Mundi insisted it was his duty as a leader.[37] Mundi demonstrated a strong ability to rally his troops and encourage their trust in the Force in the face of overwhelming odds, such as during the battles at Aargonar and Hypori.[37][12]

When he was granted the rare exception of being allowed to marry, as a husband and father Mundi had to face a difficult struggle to find the balance between attachment and love, but managed to do so.[23] Although he cared for his family and loved them, Mundi was able to remain a Jedi Knight above everything else. This was particularly evident when, after his family was killed following the Battle of Cerea, Mundi was able overcome his grief during a situation in which other Jedi would risk falling to the dark side of the Force.[36]

His shrewdness was illustrated when, near the end of the Clone Wars, Mundi recognized not only Palpatine's increasing efforts to expand his own power, but the political ramifications that the Jedi Order could face if they attempted to challenge Palpatine's power directly.[92]

Mundi harbored a deep love of his homeworld of Cerea, and felt the Cereans were in perfect harmony with nature. Like many other Cereans of his generation, Mundi was suspicious and distrustful of technology and preferred that his home planet remain technologically primitive and relatively isolated from the rest of the galaxy. Although drawn to off-worlder technology during his youth, Mundi in his adulthood came to respect what his Cerean ancestors had built, such as the planetary capital, Tecave City. He also came to look upon the Outsider Citadels, more modern cities built by off-worlders, with disgust and contempt. Mundi spoke so passionately about this subject that, when arguing against Silais' offer to join the Republic, he immediately persuaded the Council of Elders to reject the proposal after a single speech.[13] Mundi did not completely oppose the use of all technology, but felt that it should be used in moderation and not simply for the sake of having it.[14] Although he was able to find beauty in other worlds,[17] Mundi felt uncomfortable on technologically-advanced planets when he left Cerea for Jedi business—particularly on the cities of the capital planet Coruscant—and feared Cerea would one day become like them.[8]

Despite his wisdom and mindfulness, Mundi was not infallible. He could occasionally fall victim to his own pride, as when, after successfully arguing against Silais's offer to join the Republic, Mundi believed himself invincible and tried to sway the minds of a youthful Pro-Tech rally, inadvertently making them angrier.[13] Mundi demonstrated more of these prideful features during his younger years. When encouraged by Yoda during a training session to watch his blind spot in combat, the adolescent Mundi boasted that he did not have a blind spot.[18] Similarly, when he first confronted the raiders on his homeworld, Mundi believed he was too strong for the enemy to possibly defeat him, which nearly cost him the battle. He also showed fallibility by secretly wishing for a son instead of a daughter, but eventually he realized how foolish this desire was.[20]

When Qui-Gon Jinn theorized that the Sith had reemerged following his duel with Darth Maul, Mundi claimed that the return of the Sith was "impossible" because (as far as the Jedi knew) they had been extinct.[6] Likewise, given Mundi's past experience with Count Dooku he refused to believe that the former respectable Jedi master become a murderous schemer.[50][36]

When padawan Ahsoka Tano framed for treason, Mundi, alongside the rest of the Jedi Council, stripped her of her status as a Jedi and turned her over to the Republic military court, in order to not oppose to the Senate's will. Due to the many circumstantial evidence against Tano, he believed her to be guilty. After Tano was proven innocent and the real traitor apprehended, Mundi joined the Council in offering to reinstate Tano into the Jedi Order, apologized and praised her efforts to prove her innocence, even stating that she had shown the true signs of a Jedi Knight.[101] When Master Yoda heared the voice of the late Qui-Gon Jinn Mundi feared that he had become deceived by the Sith.[102]

Powers and abilities[]

"Of all living Jedi, have you only the skills to defeat Sharad Hett."
"You flatter me, Master Yoda."
"The truth only, I speak."
―Yoda and Ki-Adi-Mundi[19]
Lightsaber mundi

Ki-Adi-Mundi's lightsaber (blue blade)

By the time of the Clone Wars, Ki-Adi-Mundi was considered by many to be one of the best swordsmen in the Jedi Order.[103] Mundi was a powerful practitioner of Form IV, Ataru, and was second only to Grandmaster Yoda in his mastery of the style, and was rivaled only by Agen Kolar.[104] Mundi also mastered Form III, Soresu, and was highly proficient with it. He was also very skilled in Form II, Makashi.[34] His lightsaber prowess was particularly demonstrated during his duel with General Grievous on Hypori, where he not only survived the fight, but was the only one out of six Jedi to still be standing by the end of the duel.[57] Despite getting disarmed and nearly killed, Mundi was able to successfully defend himself against a combat style which had never been seen before by the Jedi, as Hypori marked Grievous' first appearance against a Jedi who lived to recall the experience, as well as being fatigued and having his Force Augmentation greatly weakened by the deaths of the Jedi around him.[57] Likewise, Mundi engaged the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress on Coruscant and not only survived the duel, but fought Ventress to a stalemate and forced her to retreat.[67] He also often performed a glancing cut with his lightsaber in combat.[5] Mundi had extremely fast reflexes which allowed him to react in time to briefly defend himself after his clone troopers attacked him following the issuance of Order 66. While he was ultimately killed in the encounter, Mundi was able to deflect several shots and kill three of his attackers before they killed him.[3][53]

KiAdiMundi-SWJPE

Mundi was a master of Form IV and also proficient in Form II.

Mundi was also skilled in the use of several Force powers. During his duel with Grievous, Mundi displayed the ability to produce powerful telekinetic blasts capable of creating a crater in the ground.[57] The Cerean could also leap incredible heights, such as when he launched himself onto a moving gunship during his battle with Ventress.[67] He was also able to use Force healing to some degree, as proven when he healed a broken collar bone after the skiff he was riding on crashed during his mission to find Sharad Hett on Tatooine.[35] Beyond his abilities with the Force, Mundi was a competent pilot. Mundi survived starfighter dogfighting against pirates in the Voronat system,[23] and directly engaged Aurra Sing in space combat in Talas.[41] Additionally, while rescuing his daughter Sylvn from Jabba Desilijic Tiure on Tatooine, Mundi successfully performed a tricky maneuver in which he brought his ship nearly to the planet's surface, creating a sandstorm that clogged the air intakes of his enemies' atmospheric flyers, thus destroying them.[22] Mundi could also speak fluent Huttese in addition to Galactic Basic Standard.[8]

Behind the scenes[]

Concept and design[]

"When I first saw the design, I just thought it was amazing, because it incorporates so many different things. To me, he looks part Native American and part European, and he's got a wonderful, wise face. Once I'd seen that design, I had a pretty good idea of what he should be like."
Silas Carson[105]
MundiConceptArt

Concept art of Ki-Adi-Mundi for The Phantom Menace.

Ki adi mundi eyepatch concept art

Ultimately unused concept art of Ki-Adi-Mundi from Revenge of the Sith

Ki-Adi-Mundi was designed by artistic director and concept designer Iain McCaig for the first film of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, The Phantom Menace (1999). The design for what eventually became Mundi began when Star Wars creator and executive producer George Lucas asked McCaig to draw sketches for alien characters to be featured on the Jedi High Council. In doing so, McCaig experimented by drawing some unusual parodies of the elderly Obi-Wan Kenobi, including one with whale-like features, with an elongated head and ridges along the back of the neck.[106] While drawing early conceptual sketches of the Jedi characters for the final film in the trilogy, Revenge of the Sith (2005), concept artist Derek Thompson proposed a version of Mundi that had lost his left eye during the battles of the Clone Wars and now wore an eye patch along with a black and gold cape. The concept was ultimately not used in the final film.[107]

Although originally designed for The Phantom Menace, Mundi was featured as the protagonist in the Dark Horse Comics series Star Wars: Republic: Prelude to Rebellion, the first issue of which was released in December 1998. This makes that comic book series Mundi's first formal appearance in the Star Wars universe, not The Phantom Menace, which was released in May 1999.[99][108] Due to his large, oval-shaped head, Mundi has often been compared to the Coneheads, the big-headed alien characters played by Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman.[109][110][111] This reference was even featured in a Star Wars medium, when the clone instructor Kal Skirata disparagingly referred to him as a Conehead.[78]

Film portrayal[]

"I enjoy playing this very wise man who is part of the great council. You get the feeling that he is kind of like your uncle, because he's this nice, kind, wise, protective master. I always think that way of him."
Silas Carson[105]

Ki-Adi-Mundi was portrayed by Silas Carson in all three prequel films. Carson also portrayed the characters Nute Gunray, Lott Dod and Antidar Williams in those films. Carson originally auditioned for the supporting role of a fighter pilot role, but the character was eliminated from the script a few days after the audition.[105][112] However, George Lucas screened a video of Silas' audition and was so impressed he encouraged the actor to accept the role of Mundi,[112] which led him to play the other parts as well. In addition to appearing on-screen, Carson also performed Mundi's voice, mimicking that of an elderly man who speaks slowly and deliberately.[105] During the filming of The Phantom Menace, executive producer George Lucas had not yet decided whether he would keep Carson's voice or dub in that of another actor, as he had done for several other characters, but Lucas found he liked Carson's vocal performance and decided to keep it.[105][113] To create Mundi's movements, Carson spent time with elderly people and watched the ways they moved and spoke.[99] In crafting Mundi's manner of speech, Carson said he spoke slowly not only because of the Jedi's age, but because he believed Mundi was wise and would not waste his words.[99]

Lieutenant Williams

Ki-Adi-Mundi was portrayed in the prequel trilogy by Silas Carson, who also played Nute Gunray, Lott Dod and Antidar Williams.

Since Carson played many characters in The Phantom Menace, he was one of the few actors who received the entire script during filming, rather than simply portions like most of the rest of the cast. During the filming of The Phantom Menace, there were instances when Carson would play both Mundi and Gunray in different scenes on the same day. Lucas did not give Carson any backstory from which to build his performance as Mundi, but simply left it up to the actor to create.[105] Once the shooting of each film was completed, Carson did not know right away whether he would be returning for the next film. According to Star Wars Insider writer Scott Chernoff, Lucas, producer Rick McCallum and casting director Robin Gurland were so impressed with Carsons' four performances in The Phantom Menace that they decided to expand upon Mundi's role in the second film.[105]

The Mundi costume and prosthetics were designed by the Industrial Light & Magic visual effects creature shop.[99] They included a prosthetic head, fake hair and two cheek pieces that were built and glued onto Carson's face so they would actually move along with his facial reactions.[99][114] During the first film, it took about four hours to apply Mundi's make-up and prosthetics,[99] but in the later films the process was narrowed down to three hours.[105] However, while the process took longer to prepare for Mundi than it did for Nute Gunray or Lott Dod, Carson said the Mundi make-up was less hot and comfortable to wear than those other character and that he would often walk around off-set and forget he had the make-up on at all.[105][99] During filming for Attack of the Clones (2002), the make-up artists used a different brand of make-up glues and removers, causing Silas' skin to break out due to allergies.[105] Silas was trained by stunt coordinator Nick Gillard for his lightsaber scenes in Attack of the Clones. Upon learning Mundi would be fighting in that film, Carson worked out a great deal before filming began to get physically fit, and claimed he was even outrunning some of the stunt performers. For these scenes, Carson decided that although Mundi appeared slow and frail at normal times, he should be fast and strong while fighting, although the actor struggled to maintain the balance between those two different aspects of the character.[105]

Ki-adi-mundi green lightsaber

Ki-Adi-Mundi is shown with a green-bladed lightsaber, while he has a blue lightsaber in all other scenes.

Mundi is the only sitting Jedi High Council member other than Yoda and Windu to have a speaking role in the final cut of the first three films.[3][6][50] In Attack of the Clones, Mundi can be seen fighting with a green-bladed lightsaber during a shot when he stands back-to-back with Padmé Amidala. The character uses a blue-bladed lightsaber in every other shot in the film, including those that come immediately before and after that particular shot.[50] A scene was partially filmed for Attack of the Clones in which Mundi and Plo Koon led a group of Jedi on a raid of a Trade Federation ship during the battle of Geonosis. This scene did not appear in the final version of the film, but the rough cut and animatics later became available on the official website for registered Hyperspace customers.[115] That rough cut was also included among the deleted scenes for Attack of the Clones in the Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray collection, which was released in September 2011.[54]

Other appearances and merchandise[]

Ki-Adi-Mundi was voiced by Jess Harnell in the video games Star Wars: Obi-Wan,[32] Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles,[116] and Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns,[117] and Corey Burton in Star Wars: Battlefront II. The character was voiced by Daran Norris in the 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars animated television series,[72] and Brian George in the 2008 series.[68] Mundi also appeared, but was not voiced, in Star Wars: Battle for the Republic, a THQ Wireless turn-based strategy video game where the characters appear as hero and villain squares that can be used for attack and defense. Mundi is one of the hero squares.[118] Mundi could be unlocked as a playable character in the LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game video game series (which his name is misspelled "Ki-Adi Mundi" from 2005 to 2007) by entering a cheat code or purchasing the character with tokens.[119] Additionally, players could purchase a costume pack for the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008) allowing the player to change the main character Starkiller's appearance into that of Mundi.[120]

Ki-adi-mundi action figure

The Ki-Adi-Mundi action figure from Hasbro's Star Wars: Episode I toy line

Ki-adi-mundi lego minifigure

The Ki-Adi-Mundi LEGO minifigure

The first Ki-Adi-Mundi action figure was produced in 1999 as part of Hasbro's Star Wars: Episode I toy line of three and 3/4 inch figures.[121][122] A 12-inch action figure of Mundi was also created in 1999 by Sideshow Collectibles.[123][124] In 2006, a holographic action figure of Mundi was released as part of Hasbro's Star Wars: The Saga Collection toy line.[125] The visual concept of Mundi wearing an eye patch designed by Derek Thompson was used as the basis of a 2009 action figure from Hasbro's Star Wars: The Legacy Collection line.[126] Don Post Studios also developed a latex Ki-Adi-Mundi mask.[127] A Lego minifigure of Mundi, with a removable head-piece, was created for the LEGO Geonosian starfighter box set in 2011.[128]

Mundi made a non-canonical appearance in a flashback in Star Wars (1998) 41, the 41st issue of Star Wars: Republic comic book series by Dark Horse Comics. The story features the Devaronian smuggler Vilmarh Grahrk describing his own, obviously false and exaggerated version of his encounters with the Jedi Council. Grahrk describes returning a lost treasure to the Jedi Council, prompting each of its members, including Mundi, to drop to their hands and knees and literally worship him out of gratitude.[129]

Retcons[]

"I have heard of a Cerean Jedi Master named Ki-Adi-Mundi. Is he not married?"
"Because of the low birthrate of Cereans, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi is exempt from the Jedi edict that discourages marriage."
"And has he been married long?"
"He has been with his wives for many years."
"Wives? How many does he have?"
"Two. As I said, the Cerean birthrate is very low.
"
―The Margravine Quenelle (Skull Queen) inquires of Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bultar Swan about Mundi's marriage[130]

When Ki-Adi-Mundi was first introduced in Star Wars: Republic: Prelude to Rebellion, he was engaged in a polygamous marriage and had children. This comic book series was released prior to the knowledge that the Jedi Order discourages marriage, as revealed in the film Attack of the Clones. To explain the continuity error created by Mundi's family, a retcon was later established that due to the Cerean gender ratio of 20 females to 1 male, Mundi was granted an exception to allow the continuation of his species.[130][23]

After the theatrical release of The Phantom Menace, several Star Wars reference books such as Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace Scrapbook and The New Essential Guide to Characters established that Mundi was the sole Jedi Knight on the Jedi High Council, while the others were Masters.[131][132] This conflicted with dialogue in Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin Skywalker becomes angry that he is appointed to the Council without being promoted to Jedi Master, and claims it has never happened in the history of the Jedi. Since the films remain the highest level of canon at G-canon, the Expanded Universe and the StarWars.com Databank established that Mundi's promotion to Jedi Master was still in progress right before the Naboo crisis.[1]

Appearances[]

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Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

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Notes and references[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Databank title Ki-Adi-Mundi in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  2. 2.0 2.1 According to Star Wars: Episode I Insider's Guide, Ki-Adi-Mundi was sixty years old during the events of Star Wars: Republic: Prelude to Rebellion and Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, dated to 33 and 32 BBY, respectively, by The New Essential Chronology. Therefore, Mundi's birth must have occurred sixty years before 33 BBY, in 93 BBY.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  4. The Official Star Wars Fact File
  5. 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: Head-to-Head Tag Teams
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 Star Wars (1998) 4
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 Star Wars (1998) 8
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Star Wars (1998) 12
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Republic 61
  11. 11.0 11.1 Jedi: Mace Windu
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 CloneWarsLogoMini Star Wars: Clone Wars — "Chapter 20"
  13. 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 Star Wars (1998) 1
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Star Wars (1998) 2
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Star Wars (1998) 11
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Star Wars (1998) 14
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Star Wars (1998) 3
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Star Wars (1998) 7
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 Star Wars (1998) 5
  21. 21.0 21.1 Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 Star Wars (1998) 6
  23. 23.00 23.01 23.02 23.03 23.04 23.05 23.06 23.07 23.08 23.09 23.10 23.11 23.12 23.13 Republic 62
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Jedi Council: Acts of War 4
  26. Jedi Apprentice: The Captive Temple
  27. This event took place in Star Wars (1998) 39. Ki-Adi-Mundi does not appear in that issue. However, when Sha Joon recalls the instance in Star Wars: Purge: Seconds to Die, Mundi is clearly visible in the illustrations of her flashback to that event.
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 The New Essential Chronology
  29. Databank title Seirr, Tarr in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 Cloak of Deception
  31. Episode I Adventures 1: Search for the Lost Jedi
  32. 32.0 32.1 Star Wars: Obi-Wan
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 Star Wars (1998) 13
  34. 34.0 34.1 According to Ki-Adi-Mundi's entry in the Star Wars Databank, Mundi obtained the title of Jedi Master before his assignment to find Sharad Hett, but after the Invasion of Naboo. Since both events take place in 32 BBY, it can be stated that Mundi obtained the Jedi Master title in that year.
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 Star Wars (1998) 9
  36. 36.00 36.01 36.02 36.03 36.04 36.05 36.06 36.07 36.08 36.09 36.10 36.11 The Official Star Wars Fact File 140
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 37.7 Republic 59
  38. 38.0 38.1 Star Wars (1998) 15
  39. 39.0 39.1 Star Wars (1998) 16
  40. 40.0 40.1 Star Wars (1998) 28
  41. 41.0 41.1 Star Wars (1998) 29
  42. 42.0 42.1 Star Wars (1998) 30
  43. 43.0 43.1 Star Wars (1998) 31
  44. 44.0 44.1 Jedi Apprentice Special Edition: The Followers
  45. Star Wars (1998) 45
  46. Jedi Quest 3 comic
  47. Star Wars: Zam Wesell
  48. Jedi Quest: The Master of Disguise
  49. HNNsmall Activists Deface Jedi Temple LobbyHoloNet News Vol. 531 #51 (content now obsolete; backup link)
  50. 50.00 50.01 50.02 50.03 50.04 50.05 50.06 50.07 50.08 50.09 50.10 50.11 50.12 Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
  51. 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones novel
  52. Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 53.5 SWInsider "Order 66: Destroy All Jedi" — Star Wars Insider 87
  54. 54.0 54.1 Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Disc 7, Star Wars Archives: Episode II Deleted Scene: Raid on the Droid Control Ship and Extended Arena Fight
  55. Republic 53
  56. Databank title Barrek, Daakman in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  57. 57.0 57.1 57.2 57.3 57.4 CloneWarsLogoMini Star Wars: Clone Wars — "Chapter 21"
  58. Labyrinth of Evil
  59. Republic Commando: Hard Contact
  60. Republic 54
  61. The year can be identified as 21 BBY because the Galactic Marines were first mentioned in Republic Commando: Triple Zero, which is set in 21 BBY.
  62. 62.0 62.1 SWInsider "Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic" — Star Wars Insider 84
  63. 63.0 63.1 Databank title Bacara, Commander in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  64. WizardsoftheCoast "Disapproval" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
  65. 65.0 65.1 The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
  66. 66.0 66.1 66.2 Republic 58
  67. 67.0 67.1 67.2 67.3 67.4 The Clone Wars: Crash Course
  68. 68.0 68.1 68.2 68.3 68.4 68.5 68.6 68.7 68.8 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Landing at Point Rain"
  69. StarWars Fan Days Script: A Prelude to "Point Rain" on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
  70. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia
  71. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Weapons Factory"
  72. 72.0 72.1 72.2 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Legacy of Terror"
  73. 73.0 73.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Brain Invaders"
  74. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Grievous Intrigue"
  75. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "R2 Come Home"
  76. The Clone Wars 10
  77. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Overlords"
  78. 78.0 78.1 Republic Commando: True Colors
  79. SWInsider "CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 15:01:15 Edition" — Star Wars Insider 73
  80. 80.0 80.1 80.2 80.3 80.4 The Clone Wars: The Starcrusher Trap
  81. Secrets of the Jedi
  82. Republic 71
  83. TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Revenge"
  84. 84.0 84.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Lawless"
  85. 85.0 85.1 Obsession 4
  86. Obsession 1
  87. Obsession 5
  88. CWACite "Chain of Command" — Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 10
  89. The Essential Reader's Companion
  90. Labyrinth of Evil
  91. 91.0 91.1 91.2 91.3 91.4 91.5 91.6 CWACite "To the Vanishing Point" — Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 6
  92. 92.0 92.1 92.2 92.3 92.4 Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith novelization
  93. Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'
  94. 94.0 94.1 Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel
  95. 95.0 95.1 95.2 Databank title Mygeeto in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
  96. 96.0 96.1 Star Wars: Battlefront II
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External links[]

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