Kamino

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Kamino

Kamino (pronounced /kə'minoʊ/) was anaquaticplanet located in a remotestar system inWild Space ofthe galaxy. It was sometimes consideredextragalactic due to being in close proximity to theRishi Maze dwarf satellitegalaxy. It was inhabited by theKaminoans—a race of tall, elegant beings with long necks who were regarded as a mysteriousspecies that tended to keep to themselves. They were also known for theircloning technology, which was used to create aclone army for theGalactic Republic.

Largely isolated from the wider galaxy, Kamino's existence was erased from theJedi records byCountDooku.Jedi KnightObi-Wan Kenobi, who was investigatingthe attempt to assassinatePadmé Amidala,traced thebounty hunterJango Fett to the planet, where he discovered the cloning program. With the outbreak of theClone Wars, Kamino became a prime target for theConfederacy of Independent Systems and a vital asset for the Republic, resulting in at least two attempts to invade the watery world. During the early days of theGalactic Empire, with the cloning program halted, Kamino's civilization was almost completely wiped out via orbital bombardment of all cities and structures, including the capital ofTipoca City, leaving only a small diaspora of Kaminoans in Imperial custody or scattered amongst the stars as all that remained.

Description[]

Located seventy thousandlight-years from theCore Worlds,^[18] in theAbrion sector^[3] ofWild Space,^[1] Kamino was located twelveparsecs away^[5] from theRishi Maze dwarf satellitegalaxy,^[19] and was sometimes classed asextragalactic.^[2]

Kamino was a remote and inhospitableplanet^[13] which was covered inoceans that held an abundance of life.^[13] ThenativeKaminoans lived on stilt-cities scattered across Kamino'swatery surface. The majority of these cities were devoted tocloning projects, as the highly intelligent Kaminoans specialized in cloning for clients needing workers or private security forces, along with other one-off requests. Due to the remoteness of the planet and its extensive rainy season, only occasional representatives of clone purchasing authorities were undeterred from visiting the world. During some parts of the year was covered with heavy electrical storms, where Kaminoans rode onaiwhas underwater and resurfaced once they were near their destination.^[2]

History[]

Early civilization[]

At some point the planet was not covered in water, and theKaminoans built a large land-based civilization. However, the water level rose, forcing the Kaminoans to build their structures on stilts.^[2]

The Kaminoans were generally isolationists, staying out of contact with the nearbygalaxy. This behavior could be traced back to thegreat flood that changed their homeworld, as they decided it was less risky to adapt theirgenetic code and planet than to ask for aid from theGalactic Republic.^[8]

The Republic[]

Creating the clone army[]

In33 BBY,^[20]Jedi MasterSifo-Dyas commissioned the Kaminoans to create a clone army for the Galactic Republic,^[21] in response to aForce vision that saw the galaxy descending into a galaxy-spanningconflict.^[22] However, theSith secretly took over the project, after arranging Sifo-Dyas'death at the hands of thePyke Syndicate.^[23][24] The Sith selected thehumanbounty hunterJango Fett to serve as thegenetic template of the clone army.^[25]One year later, shortly after theBattle of Naboo and taking advantage ofJocasta Nu's current absence,CountDooku snuck into theJedi Archives and deleted all information of Kamino from them to cover up the Sith's tracks.^[26]

The dawn of the Clone Wars[]

In22 BBY,^[27] Kamino was governed byPrime MinisterLama Su. Working on a request fromViceroyNute Gunray, Fett attempted toassassinateNaboosenatorPadmé Amidala on the Republic'scapital planet,Coruscant, during theSeparatist Crisis. However, Fett's fellowbounty hunter tasked for the assassination attempt,Zam Wesell, failed tokill Amidala and was cornered by theJedi KnightObi-Wan Kenobi. Fett killed Wesell before she could reveal any information. Kenobi went on to investigate the assassination attempt, searching for clues from theKamino saberdart used to kill Wesell. After receiving no answers from the Jedi Archives, Kenobi sought counsel withDexter Jettster, aBesalisk chef andinformation broker who owned and operatedDex's Diner inCoCo Town on Coruscant.^[5]

Jettster informed hisJedi friend that the dart originated from Kamino, a planet located twelveparsecs outside of theRishi Maze, a satellitegalaxy in orbit of the main galaxy. Jettster explained that Kamino was home to highly competent cloners who mostly kept to themselves. Kamino had been removed from the records of the Jedi Archives, so Kenobi and MasterYoda had to locate the planet by other means. After finding a way to reach Kamino, Kenobitraveled to the planet, where he discovered theproduction of the clone army supposedly commissioned by the Jedi Order.^[5]

Clone Wars[]

Following the outbreak of theClone Wars, Kamino was one of the main operational areas of the Galactic Republic. It served as the main training grounds forclonecadets as well as the location for the clone army's creation.^[14] As such, it was a major military asset for the Republic and a prime target for aSeparatist attack and thus warranted the protection of a massive Republic navalblockade of tenVenator-class Star Destroyers, oneAcclamator-class assault ship, and twoArquitens-class light cruisers; the size of this blockade discouraged all but the most risky of full-frontal assaults by the Separatists to stand a chance of taking Kamino.^[17]

At some point, a galactic explorer—who may have been theIthorianartistGammit Chond—elected to make the long journey needed to visit Kamino, wanting to visit Tipoca City and meet the cloners who had come to play a vital role ingalactic history. In theirjournal, the explorer wrote that they were honored to visit the city.^[18] From the beginnings of the war, the Separatists plotted their assault on the clone homeworld. In22 BBY, thecyborgGeneralGrievous sent a strike team ofcommando droids to take outRishi Station, a Republic outpost that could warn Kamino of an impending attack. The base was taken over by the droids, but as Grievous's fleet arrived in the system before attacking Kamino,clone trooperCT-782 "Hevy" sacrificed himself to alert Republic forces of the enemy fleet, causing the Separatists to retreat and call off their attack.^[28]

Later, a Separatistassault finally made its way to Kamino. Led byAsajj Ventress and General Grievous, a massive force hit Kamino in an attempt to end clone creation for the Republic. Jedi Generals Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi with the501st Legion and the212th Attack Battalion were sent to assist in the planet's defense alongside Jedi GeneralShaak Ti. The two-pronged assault saw Ventress leadTrident-class assault ships beneath the surface of the planet's oceans to sneak up onTipoca City as the two fleets clashed above the watery planet. ManyAQ-series battle droids invaded the cloning facilities, killing many clone troopers, includingClone ARC CommandersColt andHavoc and the malformed clone99. Ventress successfully stole the prime sample of the clone trooper DNA template, but she was attacked by Skywalker, who, with the assistance of a force of clones, reclaimed the DNA. Republic forces managed to defeat the Separatists and cloning continued on the planet.^[17]

Anotherbattle of Kamino involvedJedi GeneralKit Fisto, who fought against Separatist droids deployed in the battle.^[29] Late in the war, the Sith's plan to destroy the Jedi using the clone troopers was almost revealed. During theBattle of Ringo Vinda, the clone trooperCT-5385, nicknamed Tup, executed the Jedi MasterTiplar during the confrontation due to a defect in hisinhibitor chip. Wanting answers, it was decided that the clone would be sent to Kamino.^[30]

The Kaminoan leadership did everything possible to prevent the truth about the chips from being revealed, that they would guarantee the clones' obedience when the order to destroy the Jedi was given. Although Tup died during a procedure carried out without permission to remove the chip by his clone friendFives and the medical androidAZI-3,^[15] the threat to the Sith plan did not end while Fives continued to investigate. Fives found that all clones had chips and decided to remove his, and he and the two chips were sent to Coruscant for analysis.^[31] Fives was eventually killed on Coruscant and the truth about the chips was kept secret.^[32]

Imperial Era[]

New relations[]

After theestablishment of theGalactic Empire, rumors spread throughout the Imperial ranks that the cloning facilities in Kamino were to be closed down, which concerned the clones.^[34] Shortly after its establishment, ImperialGovernor andAdmiralWilhuff Tarkin arrived on Kamino to discuss the status of the newImperial Army with Lama Su. Tarkin informed the Prime Minister that the Empire was reluctant to continuing using clones. He added that the Empire, the successor to the Republic, was no longer bound to contracts signed with the Kaminoans. Upon seeing a group of enhanced clones—Clone Force 99, also known as "the Bad Batch"—cause a disturbance in the mess hall, Tarkin requested they undergo a battle simulation before sending them on amission toOnderon, claiming they would encounter Separatist insurgents.^[16]

On Onderon, the Bad Batch encountered civilians instead of rebels, and theclone commandos—with the exception of teamsniperCT-9904 "Crosshair"—chose to disobey their orders. The Bad Batch discovered that Tarkin used aprobe droid to observe their mission. Nevertheless, the Bad Batch decided to return to Kamino to rescue the young enhanced cloneOmega, who earlier warned against returning to the planet. Upon arrival, they were captured, and Crosshair was taken away to a medical chamber. Learning that the commando's inhibitor chip had, unlike the other members of his squad, responded to Order 66, Tarkin increased its effectiveness to turn Crosshair to the Empire's side. Donning new Imperial gear, Crosshair and a force ofshock troopers attempted to stall Omega and the Bad Batch from departing the hangar, only for Nala Se to secretly override the door controls. Evading Crosshair and the other Imperial forces on Kamino, the Bad Batch left for theSuolriep sector.^[16] Crosshair was then placed in charge of anelite squad ofhuman, non-clone soldiers. The Bad Batch'sold barracks in Tipoca City were then cleaned out and used by Crosshair's elite squad.^[35]

The Empire slowly dismantled the cloning program as the troops in the Imperial Army were gradually replaced by non-clone recruits.^[36] As the Empire began to cancel contracts, the Kaminoans grew wary of them and made arrangements to flee from the Empire, only to be foiled. The Empire had the Prime Minister arrested, with Chief Scientist Nala Se forced to cooperate with the Empire and disclose her scientific knowledge.^[33]

Decommissioning of the cloning facilities[]

Hunter, who was captured by the Empire while extracting a cloneGregor on the planetDaro, was brought back to Kamino by Crosshair. The rest of the Bad Batch returned to the planet to extract Hunter. Noticing the absence of troops and the facilities stripped down, the Bad Batch encountered Crosshair and his squad with Hunter in the training chamber. Crosshair offered the Bad Batch to join the Empire, declaring that they were superior to the "regs" and that they would aid the Empire in establishing order as its elite squad. Chaos ensued, as Crosshair fired on his squad-mates to make his point and Omega activated the battle droids.Vice AdmiralEdmon Rampart, who oversaw the evacuation of all remaining clone troopers and essential personnel from Kamino, abandoned Crosshair and received the order from Tarkin to destroy Tipoca City. As the Bad Batch attempted to return to their shuttle, they were caught in the bombardment and fled back inside the falling city.^[11]

Like Tipoca City, all other Kaminoan facilities the Empire knew of were targeted and destroyed, causing their civilization to sink beneath the waves. Alerted to their success by aclone trooper, Rampart ordered his trio of Star Destroyers to reunite with his overall fleet, leaving the remains of Tipoca City to sink into the ocean, completing the Imperial withdrawal from Kamino. Meanwhile, through the actions of Omega and AZI-3, Crosshair was saved from drowning and reunited with his former squad, regrouping in their former barracks, which had ironically become one of the few rooms that was temporally safe to reside in. After the squad debates about Crosshair's recent actions, the group decided to make their way to Nala Se's secret laboratory, evading akamoradon sea dragon along the way.^[12]

Aided by AZI-3, the squad made their way up to the ocean's surface by stowing themselves in the very growth jars they had been created in. When AZI-3 began to run out of power and sink into the depths of the sea, Omega risked her life to save her robotic friend, exiting her jar to swim after him. It was only because of Crosshair, who shot a grapple line from his sniper into the water, that she and AZI-3 were brought to the surface, even though the rest of the Bad Batch had initially assumed Crosshair was going to shoot Hunter.

Upon reaching theHavoc Marauder, the clones looked out at the wreckage of their home, mourning for the loss of their birthplace before turning away to loading onto the starship. As the squad prepared to leave, Crosshair denied their offer to rejoin, intending to stay with the Empire. Omega reminded him that he was still their brother before Clone Force 99 departed, leaving Crosshair alone on Kamino to be picked up by incoming Imperial scouts. The sky of Kamino was clear when the Bad Batch left their homeworld.^[12]

Cover-up and revelation[]

Following theAttack on Kamino, Imperial officials including Vice-Admiral Rampart claimed that the planet had been devastated by a cataclysmic storm, that had destroyed the cloning facilities and almost annihilated the Kaminoan population. Rampart claimed that he had been unable to intervene since he was in an off-world training exercise. Despite Rampart's efforts to suppress the truth behind Kamino's devastation, the Clone trooperCade, who served aboard Rampart flagshipVZ-114, attempted to convince Rampart to tell theImperial Senate the truth. Rampart sent the Clone assassinClone X to assassinate him. Cade's friendSlip managed to contactSenatorRiyo Chuchi, who was sympathetic to the plight of Clone troopers, before being assassinated by Clone X. The assassin was subdued by fugitiveClone CommanderRex but committed suicide.^[37]

Chuchi sought the help of the Bad Batch clones in exposing Rampart's role in the attack on Kamino. The Bad Batch managed to infiltrate Rampart's flagship and uncover footage of Rampart's fleet bombarding Tipoca City. In addition, Chuchi andOmega learnt from former Kaminoan SenatorHalle Burtoni that Rampart had diverted Senate funds earmarked for the cloning facilities. Using these pieces of information, Chuchi was able to temporarily derail theImperial Defense Recruitment Bill and expose Rampart's role in the destruction of Kamino. In response,Grand VizierMas Amedda andEmperorPalpatine ordered Rampart's arrest and claimed he was acting against Imperial orders. However, Palpatine was still able to use the devastation of Kamino to convince the Imperial Senate to pass the Bill by claiming that Rampart's clones had followed his orders without question.^[38]

Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts[]

During or after34 ABY,^[39] a city was present on Kamino.SF-R3 andCAM, two members of theGalactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts, visited the planet to witness a Kamoradon hatching.^[40]

Behind the scenes[]

Creation and development[]

Kamino was created for the2002 filmStar Wars: Episode IIAttack of the Clones, the second installment of theStar Warsprequel trilogy.^[5] Originally,George Lucas promised to explain the mystery behind the erasure of Kamino from the Jedi Archives in2005'sStar Wars: Episode IIIRevenge of the Sith. However, after refocusing the story on Anakin Skywalker, Lucas opted to sacrifice extraneous plot points related toAttack of the Clones, including Kamino's mystery.^[41] It would not be untiltwenty years later that the mystery behind Kamino's deletion from the Archives would be revealed in theStar Wars: Tales of the Jedi episode "The Sith Lord."^[26]

Inconsistencies[]

The location of Kamino has not been consistent throughout theStar Warscanon. Some sources, such asStar Wars: Galactic Atlas placed Kamino inWild Space.^[3] Others, such asStar Wars: Complete Locations stated that Kamino was not even part ofthe galaxy,^[2] whileUltimate Star Wars, New Edition^[42] places Kamino in theOuter Rim Territories, but states that it lay beyond the Outer Rim.

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

• LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales — "Exit from Endor"(In flashback(s))
• LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Zander's Joyride"(Mentioned only)
• LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Showdown on Hoth"(Mentioned only)
• LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return to the Wheel"(Mentioned only)
• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
• "Clash on Kashyyyk" —LEGO Star Wars 83(Mentioned only)
• "Skating in the Rain" —LEGO Star Wars 95
• "Kamino Crisis" —LEGO Star Wars 101

Sources[]

Non-canon sources[]

• The Art of Star Wars: Visions

Notes and references[]