Chapter Text
{Tipoca City - Kamino - 21BBY}
“Prime Minister Lama Su, thank you for meeting with me on such short notice.”
Chancellor Palptine appeared via halo. His projection stands him in the center of the white glowing room.
“The pleasure is all mine, Chancellor.” Lama Su bows his long neck in a show of respect, though he remains seated in his ovalong chair suspended from the ceiling.
“Will Master Shakk Ti be joining us today?” Palpatine holds himself with an air of grace to him.
“No, the General was called in for support in the Hetzal System.”
“Terrible thing war is. So much fighting, so much loss. Tell me how are your operations fairing after the horrid Separatist attack the other week.” The Chancellor extended out his sympathy.
Lama Su, like any Kaminoian, wasn't one for emotions such as sympathy. Especially insincere sympathy. They were a culture of truth, science, and facts. Part of the reason they stayed uninvolved with the Republic for so long was that they couldn’t bear the unrelenting schmoozing of politicians.
The Kaminoian crossed a long leg over the other. “Our facilities withstood tremendous damage. We lost an entire incubation lab in the main cloning platform of Tipoca City. We are still waiting to receive the promised funds for rebuilding. Thousands of clones were lost in that battle. I imagine you’ll want more to replace them.”
“My deepest condolences. The senate is currently on the defensive of aiding more funds to the war and further depleting Republic resources. It’s a very delicate matter, I’m sure you can understand.”
“Yes. Of course.” Lama Su’s large black eyes narrow ever so slightly.
“That is why it’s urgent that we turn out more clone forces as soon as possible.”
“Chancellor, we’ve been producing soldiers the fastest we can. Many we’ve shipped out before even passing all the requirements. Our source DNA grows more deficient, some batches come out more lacking than others.”
“Ah, but not all defects are lacking. I’ve heard great things about the Clone Force, 99, is it?” The Chancellor walks in his office back on Coruscant, taking a seat in his throne of a desk chair. “Remarkable scientific engineering. Super soldiers like these are what we need to tip the scale of this war.”
“Clone Force 99 are medically defective clones with desirable mutations. They’ve been undergoing specialized training dedicated to each clone's mutation. We foresee them being more capable than an army by the time they are fully developed.” Lama Su had a feeling he knew where this was going to go.
“I’m afraid war doesn’t wait for many, these days. I understand the method to your cloning process, and they’ve proven effective time and time again. If these Clones are so advanced, then perhaps they are ready to be put to the test?” Palpatine serves his request in the form of a question.
Lama Su doesn't even hide his sigh. “Clone Force 99 are still in a very critical stage of development. If we graduate them now, they’d be the youngest clones we’ve ever sent out, and because of their mutations we’d be risking undocumented side affects resulting in failure. They will be ready, but in due time.``
“Time we sadly just don’t have. As Supreme Chancellor I request for the Clone Force 99’s battle evaluation test to be moved up.” His holographic eyes stare right into Lama Su’s.
“It will be done. But I can’t guarantee they will pass. Like I said, they are still young.”
Palptine nods in approval. “This week then. I will personally want to see their exploits.” A sly proud smile creeps across his face that was so sympathetic a moment ago.
The holo transmission ends, leaving Lama Su mildly unsettled.
He hails Nala Se on a secure private channel. She answers, her hologram reveals her to be in the subterranean lab far below the city’s surface.
“The Chancellor has requested for Clone Force 99’s final test be moved up.” Lama Su leans closer into the projection.
“How soon?” The head scientist asks.
“This week.”
“They are simply not ready. They’re still not fully developed, let alone are their skills and enhancements fully mastered.” Nala Se never shows concern, but this is the closest he’s seen her get.
“I’ve already explained this to the Chancellor. He is still insistent.”
Behind Nala Se’s legs is the young clone, Omega. Peering from her hiding spot. She’s approaching six standard years old, and is growing curious. Nala Se rests a hand atop the child's small head. Project Omega has remained confidential since her creation. Not even her host Jango Fett was aware she existed, surely if he found out he’d have adopted her like he did Clone Alpha, or as he prefered to call him, Boba. It is vital to their cloning operation’s future that she is never discovered by the Republic. Their place in the galaxy hinges on this one child and the DNA she possesses.
“I’ll send for Clone Force 99 from our off-world training facility. Their bi weekly evaluation is due anyways.”
Nala Se bows her head. As the transmission fizzes out the young Omega looking between the two Kaminoians. A million questions brewing behind her concerned brown eyes.