Secret landing platform

Tech: "Are you positive about these coordinates?"

Omega: "Yes. I told you. They're to a landing pad that we can use in Tipoca City."

Echo: "Every platform down there will be swarming with troopers."

Omega: "Not this one. Trust me."

―Omega tells Echo and Tech to head for the secret landing platform^[1]

A secret landing platform was located outside of the main structures of Tipoca City on the planet Kamino. The platform remained hidden underwater until a ship approached the coordinates that would make the platform appear. The clone Omega had knowledge of the platform and knew it led to Nala Se's private lab in the city. Omega guided her squad, Clone Force 99, to the platform when they undertook a mission in 19 BBY to save their leader, Hunter, from the Galactic Empire.

Description

"If I go any lower, we will be in the water."
"It's the only way to activate the platform."

―Tech and Omega^[1]

The secret landing platform was hidden below the ocean's surface.

Hidden underneath the ocean on^[1] the Wild Space planet^[3] Kamino,^[1] the secret landing platform^[4] was circular with minimal lighting and would appear when a starship approached the water's surface at the correct coordinates.^[1] The platform was part of Tipoca City,^[2] although it was located some distance away from the city. It connected to Kamino's tube system, which allowed transit to Nala Se's private lab. From there, the main city structures could be reached. When the tunnel opened, a spherical tube vehicle would emerge and allow individuals to enter and travel through the system. The platform was detectable via scanners.^[1]

History

"Remind me. How long were you left stranded on that Kaminoan platform before being recovered?"
"Thirty-two rotations."

―Vice Admiral Rampart and Crosshair^[5]

Clone Force 99 viewing the ruins of Tipoca City from the secret landing platform.

In 19 BBY,^[6] the rogue clone commando squad Clone Force 99 was directed to use the platform by their newest member, the young clone Omega, when they sought to rescue their leader, Hunter, from the Galactic Empire. Although Omega's companions Tech, Echo, and Wrecker were unsure about the plan, Tech flew their ship, the Marauder, to the coordinates. Sure enough, the platform appeared on the ship's scanners, and as the platform rose out of the water, Tech landed the vessel on it. Disembarking, Omega located the entrance to the tube system and the squad traveled to the private lab used by Kaminoan doctor Nala Se via a tube vehicle. From there, the clones succeeded in infiltrating Tipoca City and rescuing Hunter.^[1]

The squad returned to the platform following the Empire's bombardment of Tipoca City with their former companion Crosshair,^[7] who had previously joined the Empire^[6] but escaped the bombardment alongside his former squad. Despite the annihilation of the city, the landing platform survived the destruction. However, as day broke and the clones reached the platform, Crosshair chose not to rejoin them,^[7] instead waiting on the platform while the rest of the squad left Kamino. Crosshair waited for thirty-two rotations until an Imperial patrol discovered him. Later, when he was given a new mission by Imperial Vice Admiral Edmon Rampart, the officer asked Crosshair to remind him how long he had been stranded on the platform.^[5]

Behind the scenes

The landing platform first appeared in the episode "Return to Kamino," the fifteenth episode in the first season of the animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch.^[1] The episode released on August 6, 2021.^[8] It was identified by name in the ensuing episode guide released to StarWars.com on August 9 of the same year. Concept art of the secret landing platform was done by Lucasfilm Animation artist Jim Moore, with one artistic rendering being dated to May 30, 2020.^[4] Moore also worked on concepts of the tube vehicles associated with the platform, with one work being dated to May 27, 2020.^[9]