===Bo-Katan===
The hum of the Battle Barge's resonated through the steel walls as Bo-Katan strode down the long, dimly lit corridors. Her boots clicked against the cold metal floor, the only sound that filled the otherwise silent ship. She had returned alone after their visit to Alderaan. The betrayal of one of her own—one of the Talons—lingered in her mind like a wound that refused to heal. There were no answers she had found, but the faintest trace of a lead had emerged, and she would follow it to the end.
Her first stop was the Armory. Bo-Katan meticulously examined every weapon, piece of gear, and bit of equipment, searching for anything out of place, anything that might point to the traitor's identity or their intentions. But after a thorough inspection, she found nothing. No hidden devices, no signs of tampering. The trail had gone cold, at least here.
Undeterred, she moved on to the next step in her investigation: the mission logs. As the captain of the Azure Talons, Bo-Katan had complete knowledge of every assignment her company had been given. Every world, every mission, every departure and arrival—it was all cataloged in the archives. She knew them like the back of her hand, and she knew when something was off.
Sitting down at one of the terminals in the ship's command center, she began scrolling through the mission data, her fingers moving with practiced speed over the console. Mission after mission, world after world, each entry looked as it should. She scanned the logs meticulously, looking for discrepancies, anything that might indicate foul play or a covert operation.
Then, something caught her eye.
It was a single, seemingly insignificant entry. A mission log for Kamino. It was blank, absent of any details, and—most importantly—hadn't been assigned to anyone.
Bo-Katan's gaze fixed on the name of the planet. Kamino. A world hidden in the far reaches of the galaxy, home to the mysterious cloning facilities. It was a place that had remained off the radar for years, a world not easily accessed. The absence of any record of Talon activity there was not a coincidence—it was deliberate. She had no doubt now: she had found the lead she had been searching for.
Her pulse quickened as the realization set in. Kamino had never been on her radar, but it was clear now that someone had deliberately deleted the logs. Someone who wanted to keep it hidden from the Talons—someone who might have ties to whatever treachery was unfolding.
Bo-Katan stood from the terminal, her mind racing with possibilities. There was more to this mystery than just a single traitor. Kamino was the key, and she was going to find out why it had been erased from the record. Her next move was clear: she would go to Kamino herself, and she would uncover the truth—no matter what it cost her.
As she got up and left, she found her path blocked by a tall, imposing figure. Jarek, captain of the Obsidian Crusaders, stood in her way. His arms were folded in front of him, his stance relaxed but alert, his eyes behind his obsidian helmet locked on her with a steady gaze. Jarek was no stranger to Bo-Katan, their interactions had been many. There was an unspoken understanding between the two captains, both leaders in their own right, both bearing the weight of responsibility for the lives of their people.
"Bo-Katan," Jarek's deep voice cut through the tension in the air. "The Scarred Blade has sent me to assist you with your investigation."
"I've found a log on the planet Kamino. But no one from my company has been assigned there." Her tone was sharp, betraying her urgency.
Jarek's brow furrowed slightly, and he tilted his head in silent thought, as if processing the implications. "I see." His voice remained steady, calm, though the glint in his visor told her that he was already analyzing the situation, piecing together the puzzle. "You plan to go there?"
"Immediately," Bo-Katan said without hesitation.
Jarek nodded once, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he stepped aside, gesturing for her to lead the way. "Then I'll follow your lead, Bo-Katan. Let's get to the ship."
For a brief moment, Bo-Katan considered refusing his help. She didn't need anyone else; she could handle this alone. But she quickly realized that it wasn't about needing help—it was about making sure she didn't miss anything, leaving no stone unturned. If Kamino held the answers she sought, she would need all the support she could get.
With a sharp nod, she turned on her heel and began walking toward the Gauntlet. The Crusader captain fell in line beside her, his steps as measured and deliberate as her own. The sound of their boots echoed in the empty corridor as they walked side by side, each focused on the dangerous mission ahead.
===
The journey to Kamino was long and silent. Bo-Katan's ship cut through the stars like a dark streak in the void. The sleek, black vessel, designed for speed and stealth, was a perfect fit for their mission. Inside, the hum of the engines was a constant companion, but the rest of the ship was eerily quiet, save for the soft tapping of Bo-Katan's fingers against the control panel.
Jarek had stayed mostly to himself since boarding. He didn't speak unless it was necessary, his focus unwavering as he scanned the galaxy map and reviewed the mission logs. Every now and then, Bo-Katan would glance at him, studying his helmet. He was calm, composed, as always. But there was something about his presence—something unsettling. She had always felt uncomfortable with his possession of the Darksaber, but if Sebastian the Black Templar said he was its owner, then he was.
Kamino loomed ahead like a hidden specter in the distant reaches of space. The planet was known for its stormy weather and its isolation, tucked away in a remote section of the galaxy where few bothered to venture.
"How long until we enter the system?" Jarek's voice broke the silence, low and steady. His eyes were fixed on the navigational readouts.
"Not long," Bo-Katan replied curtly. "We're dropping out of hyperspace now."
The countdown clock on the console ticked down. Bo-Katan's hands hovered over the controls.
As the ship neared its destination, the turbulent, ever-present storms of Kamino came into view. Thick clouds churned violently, lighting flashes illuminating the sky in chaotic patterns. The planet seemed to be wrapped in a perpetual storm, making it difficult for any ship to approach undetected.
"We'll have to be careful," Bo-Katan murmured as she adjusted the ship's course. "The storms here make landing difficult."
As they descended into the stormy clouds, the Gauntlet shook violently under the immense pressure of the wind and rain. The flashing lights from the storm outside lit up the cockpit like a strobe, creating the unsettling feeling that they were flying through a never-ending lightning storm. Bo-Katan's hands were steady on the controls, guiding the ship with precision through the churning skies. She could feel the ship groaning under the strain, but this was nothing she hadn't faced before. She had flown through worse.
The relentless rain pelted the hull, a thousand sharp needles of water striking the ship with thunderous force. The Gauntlet dipped and swerved with the gusting winds, but Bo-Katan refused to let the storm dictate her path. The surface of Kamino was drawing closer, and she tightened her grip, maintaining her course as the visibility grew worse by the second.
The storm seemed to grow more intense as they neared their destination, and the cloud cover thickened until the landscape below was all but obscured. Bo-Katan could just make out the silhouette of massive, towering structures through the sheets of rain—a sign that they were approaching the facility.
"Almost there," Bo-Katan muttered under her breath, narrowing her eyes as she focused on the controls. Her mind was already processing their next move, every possible scenario running through her head.
Jarek didn't speak, but Bo-Katan could hear the subtle sound of his armor shifting as he moved to the back of the ship. The soft clank of his helmet being secured broke the silence. Bo-Katan glanced over her shoulder for a moment, catching the familiar tension in his posture.
The ship began its final descent, breaking through the last layer of clouds and cutting through the storm to reveal their destination: the massive landing platform that sat at the base of the massive cloning facility. The iconic, circular building loomed in the distance, its stark, industrial design a stark contrast against the roiling, turbulent skies. The place was nearly as inhospitable as the storm that surrounded it, a reminder of the twisted history it carried.
"This is it," Bo-Katan's voice was steady, unwavering as she made the final adjustments to their approach. "Let's see what we find here."
With a soft thud, the Gauntlet touched down on the slick, rain-soaked surface of the landing pad. The storm outside raged, howling against the ship's hull, but inside, the ship was eerily quiet. The tension in the air was thick, as though the world outside was holding its breath.
Bo-Katan opened the hatch, and the cold, salty air of Kamino rushed in. The smell of rain and ocean mingled with the damp, sterile scent of the sprawling factory complex. It was a familiar scent, one that spoke of years of secrets and hidden operations. The massive dome of the cloning facility loomed ahead, its glowing lights cutting through the storm like a beacon.
Without a word, Bo-Katan stepped onto the slick surface, her boots splashing into the pooling rainwater that had gathered on the landing pad. The storm beat down around them.
As they approached the entrance, a figure emerged from the shadows, its tall, spindly form easily identifiable against the storm's fury. The Kaminoan stood before them, their elongated neck, slender body, and smooth, gray skin making them appear even more alien in the harsh rain. The being's large, oval eyes regarded Bo-Katan and Jarek with a cold, dispassionate gaze as it stepped forward, its voice calm and collected despite the chaos around them.
"You are not welcome here," the Kaminoan said, its tone cool and uninviting. Its words seemed to cut through the roaring winds and crashing thunder like a sharp blade. "This facility has no dealings with outsiders. Leave now."
Bo-Katan stopped just short of the figure, her gaze unwavering. She could feel the weight of the Kaminoan's presence—its height, it's quiet authority—but she wasn't about to back down. Not now.
"We're here to investigate a matter of great importance," she replied, her voice firm but not unkind. "We need to speak to someone with access to your records."
The Kaminoan's eyes narrowed slightly, but its expression remained unreadable. It stood still for a moment before answering in that same cold voice. "You misunderstand. The facility has no connection to your inquiry. We have nothing to do with the Astartes or any records you seek."
Jarek, standing silently beside her, crossed his arms, his helmet reflecting the dim light of the facility. "We both know you're lying," he said, his voice calm, but carrying an unmistakable edge. "There's something hidden here, and we aren't leaving until we find out what."
The Kaminoan's expression remained stoic. "I said, we have no records here to help you. The facility's operations are focused on other matters. Any weapons, armor, or personnel you refer to are not within our jurisdiction."
Bo-Katan's patience was thinning, but Jarek's low voice cut through the tension. "If you're telling the truth, then you won't mind showing us your records."
The Kaminoan's eyes narrowed slightly, as if considering how much to reveal. The storm raged louder around them, the constant pounding of the rain filling the silence between words. The Kaminoan turned its gaze up, as though it were contemplating something in the storm, before it finally spoke again.
"You misunderstand," it said, its voice more clipped now. "There is nothing to find here. You will leave now, before you are forced to leave." The words were final, leaving no room for argument. The Kaminoan then turned its back to them, indicating that the conversation was over.
Jarek stepped forward, scanning the facility's perimeter, his mind already racing with options. "They're lying," he said quietly. "And they're hiding something or someone. We can't just leave."
Bo-Katan shot him a sharp glance. "No, we can't," she said firmly. "We need to find a way inside." Her thoughts were already turning, her eyes scanning the massive structure. If they couldn't get answers the easy way, they would have to find another method—subtle, quick, and quiet.
Jarek seemed to sense her resolve. "We'll need to sneak in. Get in under their radar. This won't be the first time I've bypassed security."
Bo-Katan nodded, her determination hardening. The rogue Azure Talon had been here, and the Kaminoans were hiding something—whether it was the stolen armor, the modified bolt pistol, or something darker. The only way forward was through stealth.
"Let's make sure we're not seen," she said, her voice cold with resolve. "The truth is here. We'll find it—one way or another."
With that, the two captains turned and moved toward the shadows, disappearing into the storm as they prepared to infiltrate the heart of Kamino's hidden secrets.
===
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