- "With all due respect, General, if someone comes to our home, they better be carrying a big blaster."
- ―CT-7567 "Rex," to Obi-Wan Kenobi
Kamino (pronounced /kə'minoʊ/) was an aquatic planet located in a remote star system in Wild Space of the galaxy. It was sometimes considered extragalactic due to being in close proximity to the Rishi Maze dwarf satellite galaxy. It was inhabited by the Kaminoans—a race of tall, elegant beings with long necks who were regarded as a mysterious species that tended to keep to themselves. They were also known for their cloning technology, which was used to create a clone army for the Galactic Republic.
Largely isolated from the wider galaxy, Kamino's existence was erased from the Jedi records by Count Dooku. Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was investigating the attempt to assassinate Padmé Amidala, traced the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the planet, where he discovered the cloning program. With the outbreak of the Clone Wars, Kamino became a prime target for the Confederacy 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 the Galactic 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 of Tipoca City, leaving only a small diaspora of Kaminoans in Imperial custody or scattered amongst the stars as all that remained.
Description[]
- "Kamino. I'm not familiar with it. Is it in the Republic?"
"No, no. It's beyond the Outer Rim. I'd say about, uh, 12 parsecs… outside the Rishi Maze." - ―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Dexter Jettster
Located seventy thousand light-years from the Core Worlds,[17] in the Abrion sector,[3] of Wild Space.[1] It was located twelve parsecs away[5] from the Rishi Maze dwarf satellite galaxy,[18] Due to this, it was sometimes classed as extragalactic.[2]
Kamino was a remote and inhospitable planet[12] which was covered in oceans that held an abundance of life.[12] The native Kaminoans lived on stilt-cities scattered across Kamino's watery surface. The majority of these cities were devoted to cloning 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 on aiwhas underwater and resurfaced once they were near their destination.[2]
History[]
Early civilization[]
- "These, uh, Kaminoans keep to themselves. They're cloners. Damn good ones too."
- ―Dexter Jettster
At some point the planet was not covered in water, and the Kaminoans 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 nearby galaxy. This behavior could be traced back to the great flood that changed their homeworld, as they decided it was less risky to adapt their genetic code and planet than to ask for aid from the Galactic Republic.[7]
The Republic[]
Creating the clone army[]
In 33 BBY,[19] Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas commissioned the Kaminoans to create a clone army for the Galactic Republic,[20] in response to a Force vision that saw the galaxy descending into a galaxy-spanning conflict.[21] However, the Sith secretly took over the project, after arranging Sifo-Dyas' death at the hands of the Pyke Syndicate.[22][23] The Sith selected the human bounty hunter Jango Fett to serve as the genetic template of the clone army.[24] One year later, shortly after the Battle of Naboo and taking advantage of Jocasta Nu's current absence, Count Dooku sneaked into the Jedi Archives and deleted all information of Kamino from them to cover up the Sith's tracks.[25]
The dawn of the Clone Wars[]
In 22 BBY,[26] Kamino was governed by Prime Minister Lama Su. Working on a request from Viceroy Nute Gunray, Fett attempted to assassinate Naboo senator Padmé Amidala on the Republic's capital planet, Coruscant, during the Separatist Crisis. However, Fett's fellow bounty hunter tasked for the assassination attempt, Zam Wesell, failed to kill Amidala and was cornered by the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Fett killed Wesell before she could reveal any information. Kenobi went on to investigate the assassination attempt, searching for clues from the Kamino saberdart used to kill Wesell. After receiving no answers from the Jedi Archives, Kenobi sought counsel with Dexter Jettster, a Besalisk chef and information broker who owned and operated Dex's Diner in CoCo Town on Coruscant.[5]
Jettster informed his Jedi friend that the dart originated from Kamino, a planet located twelve parsecs outside of the Rishi Maze, a satellite galaxy 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 Master Yoda had to locate the planet by other means. After finding a way to reach Kamino, Kenobi traveled to the planet, where he discovered the production of the clone army supposedly commissioned by the Jedi Order.[5]
Clone Wars[]
- "There's only one target of interest in this sector: Kamino. It's the closest thing we clones have to a home. Today we fight for more than the Republic. Today we fight for all our brothers back home."
- ―CT-7567 "Rex"
Following the outbreak of the Clone Wars, Kamino was one of the main operational areas of the Galactic Republic. It served as the main training grounds for clone cadets as well as the location for the clone army's creation.[13] As such, it was a major military asset for the Republic and a prime target for a Separatist attack and thus warranted the protection of a massive Republic naval blockade of ten Venator-class Star Destroyers, one Acclamator-class assault ship, and two Arquitens-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.[16]
At some point, a galactic explorer—who may have been the Ithorian artist Gammit 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 in galactic history. In their journal, the explorer wrote that they were honored to visit the city.[17] From the beginnings of the war, the Separatists plotted their assault on the clone homeworld. In 22 BBY, the cyborg General Grievous sent a strike team of commando droids to take out Rishi 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 trooper CT-782 "Hevy" sacrificed himself to alert Republic forces of the enemy fleet, causing the Separatists to retreat and call off their attack.[27]
Later, a Separatist assault finally made its way to Kamino. Led by Asajj 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 the 501st Legion and the 212th Attack Battalion were sent to assist in the planet's defense alongside Jedi General Shaak Ti. The two-pronged assault saw Ventress lead Trident-class assault ships beneath the surface of the planet's oceans to sneak up on Tipoca City as the two fleets clashed above the watery planet. Many AQ-series battle droids invaded the cloning facilities, killing many clone troopers, including Clone ARC Commanders Colt and Havoc and the malformed clone 99. 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.[16]
Another battle of Kamino involved Jedi General Kit Fisto, who fought against Separatist droids deployed in the battle.[28] Late in the war, the Sith's plan to destroy the Jedi using the clone troopers was almost revealed. During the Battle of Ringo Vinda, the clone trooper CT-5385, nicknamed Tup, executed the Jedi Master Tiplar during the confrontation due to a defect in his inhibitor chip. Wanting answers, it was decided that the clone would be sent to Kamino.[29]
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 friend Fives and the medical android AZI-3,[14] 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.[30] Fives was eventually killed on Coruscant and the truth about the chips was kept secret.[31]
Imperial Era[]
New relations[]
- "The Empire is not like the Republic. We have empowered them to our own detriment. I fear they will destroy us rather than allow this operation to continue."
- ―Lama Su, to Nala Se
After the establishment of the Galactic Empire, rumors spread throughout the Imperial ranks that the cloning facilities in Kamino were to be closed down, which concerned the clones.[33] Shortly after its establishment, Imperial Governor and Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin arrived on Kamino to discuss the status of the new Imperial 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 a mission to Onderon, claiming they would encounter Separatist insurgents.[15]
On Onderon, the Bad Batch encountered civilians instead of rebels, and the clone commandos—with the exception of team sniper CT-9904 "Crosshair"—chose to disobey their orders. The Bad Batch discovered that Tarkin used a probe droid to observe their mission. Nevertheless, the Bad Batch decided to return to Kamino to rescue the young enhanced clone Omega, 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 of shock 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 the Suolriep sector.[15] Crosshair was then placed in charge of an elite squad of human, non-clone soldiers. The Bad Batch's old barracks in Tipoca City were then cleaned out and used by Crosshair's elite squad.[34]
The Empire slowly dismantled the cloning program as the troops in the Imperial Army were gradually replaced by non-clone recruits.[35] 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.[32]
Decommissioning of the cloning facilities[]
- "It's...all...gone."
- ―Omega
Hunter, who was captured by the Empire while extracting a clone Gregor on the planet Daro, 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 Admiral Edmon 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.[10]
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 a clone 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 a kamoradon sea dragon along the way.[11]
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 the Havoc 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.[11]
Cover-up and revelation[]
Following the Attack 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 trooper Cade, who served aboard Rampart flagship VZ-114, attempted to convince Rampart to tell the Imperial Senate the truth. Rampart sent the Clone assassin Clone X to assassinate him. Cade's friend Slip managed to contact Senator Riyo Chuchi, who was sympathetic to the plight of Clone troopers, before being assassinated by Clone X. The assassin was subdued by fugitive Clone Commander Rex but committed suicide.[36]
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 and Omega learnt from former Kaminoan Senator Halle Burtoni that Rampart had diverted Senate funds earmarked for the cloning facilities. Using these pieces of information, Chuchi was able to temporarily derail the Imperial Defense Recruitment Bill and expose Rampart's role in the destruction of Kamino. In response, Grand Vizier Mas Amedda and Emperor Palpatine 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.[37]
Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts[]
During or after 34 ABY,[38] a city was present on Kamino. SF-R3 and CAM, two members of the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts, visited the planet to witness a Kamoradon hatching.[39]
Behind the scenes[]
- "Fighting a war tests a soldier's skills, defending his home tests a soldier's heart."
- ―Opening quote for "ARC Troopers"
Creation and development[]
Kamino was created for the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, the second installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.[5] Originally, George Lucas promised to explain the mystery behind the erasure of Kamino from the Jedi Archives in 2005's Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. However, after refocusing the story on Anakin Skywalker, Lucas opted to sacrifice extraneous plot points related to Attack of the Clones, including Kamino's mystery.[40] It would not be until twenty years later that the mystery behind Kamino's deletion from the Archives would be revealed in the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi episode "The Sith Lord."[25]
Inconsistencies[]
The location of Kamino has not been consistent throughout the Star Wars canon. Some sources, such as Star Wars: Galactic Atlas placed Kamino in Wild Space.[3] Others, such as Star Wars: Complete Locations stated that Kamino was not even part of the galaxy,[2] while Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition[41] places Kamino in the Outer 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