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IF ARAMINTA THOUGHT that Coruscant was an empty and grey planet she wanted to run from, it was nothing compared to the clones' homeworld, Kamino. She had never been before, only heard of it from Obi-wan and sometimes from the clones when they grew uncharacteristically homesick on missions. To her, it had always sounded dreary and cold, the white facilities making her think back to her own upbringing.
But, as always, Araminta went where the mission demanded, and this time it was Kamino, their ship cutting a path through the cold and rainy atmosphere. Anakin was giving running commentary as they levelled above the seemingly endless expanse of ocean, as if he was a tour guide. Araminta let him go on, half because she wanted to humour him, and half because she was curious. Apparently it was almost always storming, there was even a season for it.
As they touched down at the landing zone for the clone facility, Araminta already missed the colour green.
They disembarked from the ship, the assassin taking her usual position at Obi-wan's flank as he led the way with Anakin, a squad of clones following behind them. The landing zone sheltered them from the lashing of wind and rain around them, the tinny sound echoing in Araminta's sensitive ears.
She bit her tongue as she scanned the lifeless and dreary area, but the word "miserable" came to mind. All the while she tried to ignore the word familiar, as many separate groups of clones marched past in formation, born and bred for one purpose. It was a weapons factory, after all.
The three were greeted by the Jedi Shaak Ti, a Togruta woman commonly assigned to Kamino, and accompanied by a local. "Masters Kenobi and Skywalker, Solarii– Welcome to Kamino," Shaak Ti greeted.
"Greetings, Generals," the male Kaminoan beside her greeted in a gravelly voice. Araminta knew him to be the Kaminoan Prime Minister, Lama Su.
"I wish our arrival wasn't under such circumstances," Obi-wan sighed. "We believe Grievous is planning a Separatist attack on Kamino."
"But the Republic blockade is far too strong," Lama Su said skeptically. "They would not dare."
"He sounded very confident in the transmission we intercepted," Araminta told them.
Shaak Ti nodded solemnly. "We'll make the appropriate preparations."
It was foolhardy, true, to trust the transmission the Republic had intercepted between Grievous and Ventress, Dooku's personal Sith assassin, at face value. But the Republic had concluded even if it most definitely was a way of baiting them, Kamino was far too important to the war not to defend.
Weapons factory.
Obi-wan glanced at Araminta and Anakin to his left, eyes flicking between the pair. "Prepare the defences," he told Anakin. "You'll lead the assault." Obi-wan then looked down at Araminta. "We'll be in the command centre."
