| “ | Yes, a clone army; and I must say, one of the finest we've ever created. | „ |
| ~ Lama Su to Obi-Wan Kenobi. |
| “ | There is a particular Clone you must locate, a young girl. She is the key to controlling Nala Se. | „ |
| ~ Lama Su telling Dr. Royce Hemlock about Omega. |
Lama Su is a supporting antagonist of the Star Wars franchise.
He was the Prime Minister of Kamino who oversaw the creation of the Galactic Republic's first clone armies. That effort gave his storm-swept homeworld influence in the Republic and made it a Separatist military target.
In the film, he was portrayed and voiced by Anthony Phelan, and later voiced by Bob Bergen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Bad Batch.
Personality[]
Prime Minister Lama Su is the head of the ruling council of Kamino colony governors. He was aware of the larger arena of galactic events, but was uninterested in outworld politics. Lama Su was aware of the clone army's importance to his economy and personally met the Jedi whom he thought had come to inspect it. Lama Su showed great pride in his achievements of the clone army, regarding them as the finest in his people's history.
Biography[]
Creating an Army[]
Lama Su served as Prime Minister of Kamino during the waning years of the Galactic Republic. During the events of the blockade of Naboo, Lama Su received a request for a clone army by the Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas for the Republic. Master Sifo-Dyas was seemingly killed later and Lama Su became acquainted with his partner, who went by the name Count Dooku and was given a genetic template for the army to be based on belonging to a bounty hunter called Jango Fett.
The Jedi's Visit[]
After several attempts on Padmé Amidala's life, the former Queen now Senator from Naboo occurred, Obi-Wan Kenobi identified the dart that killed the assassin Zam Wesell as a Kaminoan saberdart and traveled to the planet Kamino in pursuit of her partner, Jango Fett. Arriving on the stormy world, Obi-Wan first met Taun We and introduced him to Lama Su, who anticipated a visit from the Jedi, which surprised Obi-Wan. Lama Su assumed Kenobi's purpose was to inspect the clone army, and he assured the Jedi it would be completed on schedule. Su then told him of Sifo-Dyas, who had commissioned the army for the Republic ten years ago and intrigued Obi-Wan, who recalled that Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost a decade ago.
Lama Su called the situation unfortunate and showed his guest their progress by taking him on a tour of Tipoca City and their cloning facilities. Using growth acceleration technology, the Kaminoans were able to produce fully developed human clones within a decade. Su explained by the time of the Jedi's visit, 200,000 clones had matured with a million were in production. The clones were physically identical to their genetic host, Jango Fett, but were engineered to be more durable and completely obedient.
As part of his payment, Fett requested a single, unaltered clone to raise as his son, naming him Boba. Obi-Wan requested to meet Jango, and Taun We happily arranged it while Lama Su showed him the Kaminoan combat training of the massive clone army, asking the Jedi if they were as magnificent as the Kaminoan thought.
The Rise of Galactic Empire[]
After Order 66 was issued by Darth Sidious, destroying the Jedi Order and ending the Clone Wars, the Republic was reformed into the new Galactic Empire. As a result, the demand for more clones was being questioned by the new order. Grand Moff Tarkin debated with Lama Su that recruited soldiers can keep order in the galaxy, at half the cost it take to produce more clones. Lama Su argued that their clones were more superior to "any recruited body".
When the Empire terminated its contracts with the Kaminoans, Lama Su told Nala Se that they must leave Kamino, ordering her to gather essential personnel. However, Nala Se was caught in the act and Lama Su was confronted by Vice Admiral Rampart and four Elite Squad Troopers, who brought Nala Se into the room. Rampart said that he had use for a scientist, but not a politician and that Lama Su's services were no longer needed. Rampart left the room along with two of the Elite Squad Troopers, who took Nala Se away while the two remaining troopers detained Lama Su as the doors to the room closed.
Su's services would still be required by the Empire, however, as it soon found itself in need of insight regarding how to control Nala Se, who had proven uncooperative to the attempt made by Dr. Royce Hemlock to recruit her to a project of Emperor Palpatine's that required her skill. To this end, Su was incarcerated at Coruscant and thus emerged one of the few living Kaminoans left alive in the galaxy after Imperial forces led a bombardment of an Kamino's cities, wiping out the Kaminioan population.
Baring Su, those the Empire had moved off-world beforehand like Nala Se and a scattering of others throughout the galaxy. Shortly after his civilization was destroyed, Su's confidence in the vital need for clones by the Empire was condemned by the former Senator of Kaminio, Halle Burtoni, in a conversation between her and Riyo Chuchi, who was investigating the truth behind the supposed "storm" that had destroying the Kaminoan cities. Sometime later, the former Prime Minister was brought before Dr. Hemlock, who requested his assistance in coercing Nala Se to Imperial service.
In exchange for his freedom, Lama Su informed Hemlock that there was one thing that could motivate his former Chief Medical Scientist to obey the Imperials' demands: Omega. Su's words appear to imply that he had somehow realized that Nala Se had been responsible for sending Fennec Shand to thwart Cad Bane delivery of Omega and he told Hemlock that if the Advanced Science Division could capture Omega, that Nala Se would do whatever they requested to ensure her assistant's safety.
It’s unknown what happened to Lama Su after that, as he is not seen not by the end of the Bad Batch. It can be assumed that Hemlock either freed him as promised or killed him to silence him.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Galactic Republic (formerly) - Former Clients
- Obi Wan Kenobi
- Galactic Empire (formerly) - Former Clients and Captors
- Sheev Palpatine (formerly)
- Dr. Royce Hemlock - Situational Ally
- Count Dooku/Lord Tyranus
- Jango Fett
- Zam Wesell
- Kaminion Government
- Nala Se (formerly) - Former Subordinate
- Omega (formerly)
Enemies[]
- Galactic Republic
- Galactic Empire
- Darth Sidious
- Count Dooku
Trivia[]
- In addition to Senator Halle Burtoni, Lama Su is the only Canon Kaminoan that is confirmed to still be alive. However, his ultimate fate has never been confirmed as The Bad Batch's final season ended without any mention of him.
