The Advanced Science Division functioned as a top-secret research and science division within the Imperial Science Bureau. Its central location was a highly guarded complex nestled inside Mount Tantiss on the planet Wayland. Project Necromancer, a clandestine clone research endeavor, represented a crucial project for the Advanced Science Division, deemed essential for the continued existence of the Galactic Empire.
The Advanced Science Division operated as a component of the Imperial Science Bureau, reporting to the scientific minister of the Galactic Empire. A Chief Scientist headed the division, overseeing highly confidential research installations across various planets. Other chief scientists and a Head Medical Officer managed projects and operations within the Advanced Science Division. Clone Commander Scorch, a commando, was in charge of the division's military units.
A primary focus of the Advanced Science Division was the execution of advanced biological studies. This encompassed the manufacturing of specialized substances intended as novel [fuel](/article/fuel] sources for Imperial vehicles, the development of bioweapons, the indoctrination of clone troopers into programmed assassins, and the incorporation of Force-dampening agents, such as the unusual spice karrak.
The development of the Imperial cloning program under the direct supervision of the Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine himself was another significant research area, kept secret even from most Science Corps personnel. This involved the creation of Zillo Beast clones, matured from larvae to fully grown adults in mere days utilizing patented Kaminoan technology, along with Nala Se's individual research and Hutt clone troopers deployed as guards for Tarkin Initiative sites. The program's ultimate objective was the creation of a Force-sensitive clone of Palpatine to serve as a successor and backup in the event of his death, developed under Project Necromancer within the Tantiss vault.
The Advanced Science Division conducted experiments on a number of clone troopers discharged from the Imperial Military and imprisoned in its facilities following the conclusion of the Clone Wars. Several clone commandos constituted the Imperial royal guard, responsible for safeguarding essential personnel and locations within the division, such as the Tantiss Vault.
Under a deep undercover program, certain clones underwent training and brainwashing, transforming them into a unit of Clone X troopers, who carried out assassinations and other secret missions for the Empire. Security for Tantiss Base was provided by two army divisions. These divisions initially comprised clone commandos supplementing the Imperial Royal Guard, but following the implementation of Project War-Mantle, non-clone TK stormtroopers replaced these commandos.
The Advanced Science Division was established soon after the Galactic Empire's inception in 19 BBY. Royce Hemlock served as the Chief Scientist during this period, and the Division's headquarters were located in an Imperial medical laboratory on Setron. There, Hemlock began experimenting on clone troopers stationed at the facility, including clone cadets, collecting blood samples from them in search of an individual with a sufficiently high midi-chlorian count to be used as a test subject. In addition to Hemlock's research, scientists at the facility also created slither vines, an experimental bioweapon that breached containment and overran the facility, forcing the staff to evacuate and initiate a Base Delta Zero orbital bombardment to destroy it.
Shortly after the Setron incident, the Division relocated its headquarters to Tantiss Base on the planet Wayland. Following the Empire's attack on Kamino that destroyed the Kaminoan facilities, essential personnel, including Chief Medical Scientist Nala Se, were transferred to Tantiss by Imperial royal guards and compelled to contribute to the cloning program's advancement under Hemlock. Nala Se's individual contributions proved vital in the development of the Zillo Beast clones, and by 18 BBY, she was additionally tasked with conducting blood tests on clones held at the base to continue the Empire's search for blood donors rich in midi-chlorians.
While Nala Se and fellow scientist Emerie Karr searched for an m-count among the clones, Hemlock tasked select class one bounty hunters with capturing Force-sensitive subjects from around the galaxy. These were delivered to Tantiss base and kept in stasis inside the Vault to be preserved for Hemlock's experiments. Other research performed by the Division at this time included the development of exotic fuels and brainwashing clones for the clone assassin program.
Despite Hemlock's encouragement and threats, Nala Se harbored numerous reservations about her work within the Division, often refusing to cooperate, thereby hindering the projects' progress. Hemlock consulted the Kaminoan Prime Minister Lama Su for a method to compel her cooperation, learning of the scientist's strong bond with a genetically flawed clone named Omega, who had previously served as Se's research assistant on Kamino. Omega was freed by the Clone Force 99 shortly after the Proclamation of the New Order when they went rogue, and their whereabouts were unknown. Hemlock tasked ex Force 99 sniper Crosshair with tracking the group down, but when he eventually located them on Kamino he allowed them to walk away. Hemlock placed Crosshair back to the clone test subject pool and began looking for possible witnesses around the galaxy, eventually coming in contact with information broker Ciddarin Scaleback who was hosting the Force in her parlor on Ord Mantell City. Clone Commander [Scorch](/article/scorch] traveled to Ord Mantell with a clone commando detachment and captured Omega alive, bringing her to Tantiss and successfully using her as leverage to force Se to continue her experiments.
In 18 BBY, when Emperor Palpatine visited Tantiss to tour the facility and monitor the Division's progress, Emerie Karr accidentally discovered that despite seemingly cooperating, Nala Se had been disposing of Omega's blood samples instead of testing them. Karr's test yielded a positive result for a high midi-chlorian count, but when attempting to locate the clone Hemlock realized that she was in the process of escaping alongside Crosshair. Hemlock ordered the V-wings pursuing them to stand down, as Omega had become too valuable to kill, and notified Imperial forces around the galaxy to hunt her down. Hemlock and Scorch personally oversaw the attempts to locate her, including on the planets Lau and Teth, but were repeatedly unsuccessful.