Arriving on the planet Kamino, our little group was greeted with the dignity of foreign ambassadors, giving a very promising start to our new working relationship. The last time I had been here was to get modifications made to the armor I wore due to some growth, how I wish the growth actually amounted to even an average height, and to provide another genetic sample for the force clone project I had agreed to be a part of. My involvement amounted solely to giving a few samples of my genetics, mostly in the form of blood samples except for the initial master sample coming from my bone marrow.

Now I was here because the training methods utilized for the clones were failing somehow and it was my job as the template to figure out if it was because the methods don't work for force sensitive clones or if the methods specifically don't work because I am a different genetic template from the Fett clone troopers.

To begin with, Visha and I sat through a presentation on the current training regime. A three hour explanation of every detail. The gist of it being a lot of simulation and installed learning and memories. After the presentation was a visit to the tanks and explanation that several concurrent batches had been tested to determine how much growth acceleration could be applied and still have a stable clone. We only got an explanation on the ones with a 25% increase in growth and less, all clones grown faster had physical mutations that I was happy to not have described in exhaustive details.

Of those that did not physically mutate, only the ones not given any growth acceleration were considered successful due to not having fallen into insanity quickly. I was assured that no tests on modifying my genetic code to produce a more docile clone had occurred yet, the added complication of the force staying the curious hands of the Kaminoans until they had proof positive a batch of force sensitive clones was possible.

Nodding my head, I decided it was time to meet my clones.

Which is a disturbing experience on several levels. The most pressing being given a very pertinent reminder that despite being older both physically and biologically by nearly nine years, I still looked very similar to when I was nine with the only real difference being a few extra inches in height. Hiding the fowl mood that reminder put me in, I was further disturb to simply be around so many of my selves. Even if I tried to think of them as siblings, I was uncomfortable due to having two separate lives of being an only child.

Gazing at the assembled crowd, a single successful unit for me to evaluate and retrain with all my methods recorded to be adapted to a mass scale for all the units, I saw they were all wearing the same black body gloves and boots with training blaster rifles on their backs and training sabers hooked onto their wastes. Looking to the scientist at my side who was going to be monitoring everything, I asked a simple question.

"Is the goal to create a bunch of soldiers or is the goal to get a bunch of replacement Jedi?"

"What is the difference?" The scientist asked and I could see some curiosity on my faces.

"I have seen enough. I will need to speak to Vader before he leaves."

"Vader and the Perilous have already left the system."

"Then get me a holocall with him. If I am to get you and the Empire the results you want, I need to make sure certain things are in place."

Turning to the clone unit, I gave them one last look over before issuing my first instructions to them. "Our first training begins at 06:00 tomorrow. Be ready for a long day."

Deciding that since I have my assistant with me, a little delegating was in order, I decided to give Visha instructions too. "Visha, I expect you to be there as well and ready to help these clones access the force. They are going to need it for what I have planned."

—-

It was uncommon for anyone besides my Master to seek out a conversation with me, my reputation having grown enough that most know to leave me alone. Even fewer were brave enough to request anything from me. And yet, Tanya once again chooses to defy everyone while sticking firmly to the rules and orders set in place.

The request though was not what I would have expected to get her clones trained to. Materials, travel, even artillery I could understand from the reports from her previous training exercises, but no that is not what she wanted. Instead, she was asking for a clear rank appropriate salary, a pension, and option to either continue serving or retirement from active forces for the clones. The subsequent lecture on motivating workers to perform and the benefits to economy of making sure as much money continued to move left my head spinning and made me regret asking in the first place. Though it does give me a few ideas on how to better enforce galactic peace and weaken my Master's position. I would just have to find someone that understood economics and force them under my command first.

"I will make sure the funds you are asking for are available. Do not let your interest in finance tax your ability to train the clones though."

Dismissing the call, I brought up a data screen to begin my search for a suitable financial advisor. Someone who would not be missed should they be physically relocated to my presence.

—-

Having gotten the approval from my boss, I set about planning how to train my clones. If they were anything like me and rational beings, then they would prefer peace, safety, and a promise of a comfortable future. I would have to convey those guarantees will be provided by the government for a relatively short military career in a manner that sounds appropriately patriotic and brave for the Kaminoan scientists to not question. I would also have to remember that all my training methods would have to be repeatable without my direct supervision otherwise I will be pigeonholing myself into a single position and would have no chance at further advancement.