1242 Days prior to the Beginning of the Clone Wars, Undisclosed Research Platform, Kamino
Waves crested high off the large column that supported the platform, guarding against the sheer might of the ocean capsizing the large facility. Rain stung Kimo-Sul as she cradled in her arms the data recording module. It annoyed her to no end that she was summoned from her research to go and recover the module, even in a time of instant communications and transmission. Endless Ultrawatts of information; hard storage of records was still necessary. Especially records as old as the ones she carried in her arms. But, Lama-Suu insisted she find a proper specimen and when the Governor demanded it, you moved with a purpose. Kimo shook the rain off her shoulders as it followed her inside briefly, cascading at the entrance before the inside doors slid shut keeping it out. It echoed hard off the door, Kimo looking out at it and past the platform to the ever-swirling ocean.
Kamino was the perfect planet in every way for her work. Surrounded by an ocean, nothing but platforms dedicated to every type of research from Oceanography to the subject of the hard data she carried in her arms. After getting adjusted from the torrential storm, she finally proceeded down the bleached white hallway. The ocean was the perfect soup, it not only teemed with life and was the center of the Kaminoian culture; it was, as they believed the creator of all life in the known universe. Their philosophy, their very livelihood centered on the notion that it would provide and had provided all they would ever need. Not surprisingly, the Kamino ocean also provided the base for their chief export; the bath and suspension fluid for their chief commodity: Cloning Technology. As Kimo reached the end of the hall, she craned her long neck slowly to the ceiling, speaking loudly.
“Lights. Activate archive computer, list known Eras starting with samples viable at seventy-five percent...”
As Kimo sat the data-recorder, which was filled with bits of DNA samples, down she looked at her Holo-comm. It listed the last message from Lama-Suu in text only. After reading it, her tiny face frowned slightly. She and the remaining Kaminoians had a dilemma, the order Lama-Suu had accepted was gigantic. One million Clones to be delivered upon notification with another Million set aside to be trained and delivered as replacements. In the past, the Kamino cloaning facilities catered to the tastes of the rich or companies wanting to dabble in the possibility of an improved and unpaid workforce. This was an undertaking Kimo wasn’t sure could be done and simply wasn’t realistic without a massive outside investment. But those were issues beyond her scope. Kimo wasn't a financier or management; she was a scientist. This was a scientific problem; for her part. Intriguing to say the least.
Her mind wandered a second. The possibility of outside resources, their closely guarded facilities exposed and the truth finally known. All it was distracting. Outside personnel would have to be brought in. Flash training would simply not be enough. Even though, it too, was still being experimented with. What would have to take place would be a combination of their own training programs and live instructors. LOTS of live instructors. This was a military order. An Army. Something none of them had done before; at least of the scale being requested.
Beeping from her archive computer brought Kimo back to the present as she tapped the keys absently, trying to waylay her worry. All of it wasn’t her department; it was another scientist, or administrator, or logistics. Kimo shook her head, they were all going to be involved with this project. And all of the detail was hardly her concern. Her job was to find a viable match, a pure specimen. The computers soft feminine voice spoke in no uncertain terms, it was bad news, but also gave her some place to start.
<…Eras on file…Hyperspace Conflict…76% match…Old Republic Era…92% match…Sith Conflict of…>
Kimo tapped a key, speaking just as softly back to the computer, “Hold, please…viable samples on file for Old Republic Era?”
The computer took a moment as Kimo lifted the large Data-recorder off the white table moving it toward the input device, she already knew what she was going to hear.
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<…Archive record shows ELEVEN projects on file, Czerka…Republic…Sith Empire…INPUT required…>
Kimo was already placing the data sampling into the input slot on the computer as she heaved the large device in place with a slight ‘BANG’ and ‘POP’ the computer fell silent a moment as it read the data.
<…ELEVEN Projects projects present, Dr. Sul…beginning listing…Harbeck project, Czerka corporation – 67% match with viable material, Project X – Sith Institute of Genetic Research – 57% match with viable material, Project Omega – Republic Bureau of Special Projects and Sciences – 45% match with viable material…>
The frown that creased Kimo’s face made her hand move to the input device to disconnect it. It would be back to the Archive to begin searching again. Given the time Kimo had been alloted it was looking bad, the percentages continued to go down as the computer droned on. Her head went up a moment as the computer spoke something that looked promising. She stopped the computer's speech with the press of a key on the white interface.
“Please restate last project and viability…”
The computer took a moment as the data device whirled and clicked back into place.
<…Project Alpha, Republic Bureau of Special Projects and Sciences – 99% match with viable material…>
Kimo's heart nearly leapt from her chest as she quickly moved to the interface pressing a series of very noisy keys. In the ether above her an image swirled and rezzed into existence of a spinning humanoid figure. Data began outlining itself next to the image as Kimo began reading the text still emerging in the blue holo-field.
<…SPECIMEN: REPUBLIC TROOPER, SUPERCOMMANDO CLASS, DESIGNATION RT-946…Campaigns include: Sith Resurgence, Battle of Coruscant, Battle of Alderaan, Battle of the Twin Moons, Pirate Insurrection, Mandalorian Takeover of Bilringhi, Hutt Cartel/Makeb Insurrection….>
The computer droned on as Kimo continued to read, her heart still racing. She gestured for the computer to stop. Finally realizing the archaic computer only responded to tactile input.
“Fine…fine. Collate and release sample for Cloning template. Assign genome of Eighteen years…set template to hard and capable of withstanding One million geno samples….”
That was necessary, with this many clones on order the sample would have to be hard cast to withstand millions of individual samples. Kimo was giddy, letting out a slight squeal as she watched the computer begin casting the template. She only hoped there was enough genetic data there to record a pure template capable of so much sampling. Her mind wandered again, the bonus, she was sure to get a bonus for this.
It was better than what Kimo could have hoped for given the genetic age. Carefully taking the sample and placing it in a durasteel antiseptic container, a 99% match, Kimo punched the data chart into the Clone template computer preparing to begin a replication protocol to increase the sample volume.
As Kimo was beginning to punch the keys a soft tone chimed throughout the room. Kimo looked up annoyed at the interruption, she stopped her work to answer the Comm. The voice on the other end spoke up first.
“Kimo, this is Lama-Suu, I trust your search goes well?”
“Ma’am, I have found a ninety-nine percent candidate from the Old Republic era that will more than--“
“Kimo, begin your search for equipment for a Clone template, we have a live donor….”
Stunned, Kimo stammered slightly. It was one of the best samples she had ever replicated. This live donor; they always preferred a live donor, could not have possibly been as good. Even with the given age the sample Kimo found was nearly perfect. So quick Lama-Suu was to dismiss her without knowing the details.
“But Ma’am, my donor is an Alpha sample probably the purest in the system, there–“
The voice in response was soft, but purposeful.
“Kimo, YOU WILL begin your search for equipment to outfit a series of Military Clones, we have a donor and he just arrived I will be bringing him down to the sampling computer shortly”
This was a bad turn of events, so much for the bonus. Live donor? Who could possibly outclass this sample? Kimo reluctantly placed the container on the table next to the sampling device bringing up the schematic of armor and armaments conducive to Lama-Suu’s request. It wasn’t a total loss, most of the armaments from the Old Republic era would more than fill the need requested and might even save come credits. The technology had not advanced so much that anything new had to be procured. She scoffed slightly, from scientist to armorer in the span of a moment. Kimo found herself doing the work of any number of working class Kaminoans in less than a second.
“Computer, disregard previous sample and re-archive, recalibrate for live specimen. Bring up equipment listing for Alpha Nine-Four Five and all Sith/Republic Armaments for the period.” The armament listing was extensive as it should have been for that period. The Great Galactic War was massive and a lot of material was created during that time that was little changed since then. The door opened as Lama-Suu entered with a blue and silver armored figure in tow.
“Kimo is the template computer ready?”
“Yes ma’am, re-calibrated for live specimens.”
“Good, Kimo-Sul allow me to introduce our template, this is Jango Fett; Mandalorian.” Fett merely nodded his head in acknowledgement. Kimo smiled at the tall armored figure reluctantly, he may be the template, but at least Kimo had access to the most extensive equipment library in the galaxy. Perhaps if she played her cards right, she could get the bonus after all.