The Imperial HoloNet
|
Top StoriesArticles transmitted by Leia Vosh shall be published here.
|
The Imperial HoloNet
|
Onderon’s Latest War Enters Fourth Year
Iziz, Onderon (HoloNet) – Bloodshed continues to rock the streets and skylanes of Onderon’s capital city. The conflict entered its fourth year yesterday with a series of bloody raids on Iziz. The Beast Riders killed over a hundred civilians and thirty militia members. General Voklo issued a statement saying “We killed nine Riders, they’ll be back.”
Meanwhile, Queen Galia II continues to press the Eternal Empire for aid. In a personal, private hologram meeting with Emperor Shadow that lasted some forty-two minutes, unnamed sources report, she pressed the Sith Lord for immediate action to help stamp out violence. Later in the day, the Emperor’s Office released a statement claiming “The planetary conflicts of Onderon are an ongoing drama. It is an invariable part of the planet’s culture. Interfering would be injecting resources into an endless battle.”
There are vigilante groups, however, known as the Purity League with Sith-manufactured weapons, leading some observers to speculate the Emperor is not entirely neutral on this matter. “It’s a real shame,” Dradin Dash, a former Beast Rider now living on Nal Hutta told me, “that Galia drew first blood. We’re simply fighting for our right to live, and the Empire is sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Onderon’s government mandated harsh policies four years ago that required Beast Rider women to be sterilized. The attempt, experts agree, was to phase out the population. The group did not react kindly, and so violence broke out. General Voklo has since headed a bloody campaign that has killed more than fourteen hundred Beast Riders. Professor Tatum How of Galactic University, Onderon, has noted “It is a full-fledged genocide here. You just can’t escape it.”
Much of Iziz’s population has been living in the grip of fear and panic. Terrorist attacks from the Beast Riders have prompted action from the planet’s Sith administrators. Moff Celestial in an interview via hologram has stated “It is a time of perilous upheaval. I have ordered the evacuation of civilian government contractors and employees.” Some wonder if the reaction is too little too late.
A surge in violence against Sith and Onderonian civilians was the Beast Rider’s response when General Voklo’s forces air-raided a camp with over two hundred Beast Rider children. Queen Galia has appeared in public, saying that “These attacks against civilians must stop. I propose a temporary cease-fire, mediated by our Sith arbiter, Darth Celestial, to help quell unnecessary violence.”
Dol Sey’dren, the Beast Rider’s public face in the conflict, transmitted an exclusive feed to the HoloNet, where he shot down the Queen’s proposal. “This is another attempt of Galia’s to draw us into Iziz, where our leadership will be slaughtered by the Sith forces so blatantly playing favorites in the conflict.”
The divisions do not stop there. Beast Riders, relatively easy to identify, have been receiving aid from sympathetic Onderonians and alien groups, coming to Onderon in scores to help fight on either side. Surgeons and fighters have been bolstering the Beast Rider Rebellion. Kidnappings have increased in the Queen’s government, leaving shell-shocked survivors to note “No job is really sacred anymore. We lost our entire staff in a raid last week.”
Several members of Queen Galia’s council have been killed or defected. The Onderonians and the Beast Riders have always had a tense peace. Several wars following the Naddist Uprising on the planet in 4,400 BBY saw mounting tensions between the planet’s two factions. The Mandalorian stronghold on Dxun, Onderon’s closest moon, have remained neutral in the conflict. Mandalore, the clan’s leader, has refused to accept contracts or give supplies to either embattled group.
The Sith Moff’s Council has approved legislation proposed by Moff Celestial to place 2,500 peacekeepers in the city of Iziz. Patrols orbiting the planet have attempted to keep external forces from influencing the conflict. High Commander Vexen of the Sith Armed Forces, tasked with managing the planet-side patrols, has said “It’s an extremely difficult situation. The Empire is neutral in this conflict. Protecting citizens on both sides is the Emperor’s goal.”
Lexicon Sespis, Chief Operator of the Czerka Corporation, parent company of the HoloNet’s Eclipse Entertainment, has made his position on the matter quite clear. “Czerka continues to support the legitimate government of Onderon.” A hastily negotiated contract between Security Minister Renvil Xan and Czerka has seen the gifting of over 5,000 automated turrets, battle droids and an undisclosed number of soldiers to General Voklo’s army.
Queen Galia has expressed her gratitude to the Czerka Corporation many times in the past four years by granting more and more land use rights to the galactic giant. Massive construction projects have been taking place in remote parts of Onderon, leading Sith officials like Lord Vexen to issue statements saying “Czerka could very well be overstepping its role in this conflict. The Emperor is steadfastly against private holding of superweapons.”
An investigation is underway. Meanwhile, violence continues to rock Onderon. An uneasy peace broken, lives forever destroyed. The question on everyone’s mind is now: How will it all end?
|
The Imperial HoloNet
|
Church’s Biological Experiments Force Quarantine on Anaxes
Galactic City, Coruscant (HoloNet) – So far, twelve planets have been quarantined by the Sith Armed Forces in their on-going effort against biological forces. Governor-General Crix Bowler and Moff Lynx of Anaxes announced at 930 Kuat Standard Time that their planet would join the growing list of “forbidden zones” as declared by Grand Moff Tarna. Girvin Lo, Director of the Imperial Research Center, has stated he is “working closely with Sith officials to resolve this matter swiftly,” but more and more planets are showing signs of infection.
“The situation is bleak,” Darth Lynx acknowledges. “The death toll is catastrophic. No species is being spared from the near total devastation of this mutating virus… We don’t know what else to do.”
Two weeks have passed since the Eternal Empire officially acknowledged a biological program known only as “Project Sandstorm.” The unnamed spokesman from the Emperor’s office issued a short message of condolence to the victims’ families and assured the public “all that is possible to cure this virus is being done.”
This initiative, still highly secretive, once had a network of Prophets on at least twenty planets with different genetic sequences to a highly dangerous virus. Prophet Crozeus of the Church of the Dark Side, delivering a report before the Moff’s Council yesterday, says “It is true, the alchemists in my Order developed different pieces, a puzzle of sorts, of a virus. The intent was never to unite the markers, but rather to study their reactions with other, more benign viruses and bacteria.”
But the Church did unite the markers. Supreme Prophet Praxeum, speaking from his chambers on Kuat, says “I ordered the unification of the markers in our base on Antar 4 four weeks ago. I have spoken with the Emperor, and I have accepted the consequences of my actions.” Praxeum, also the Empire’s Grand Vizier, has not been seen in public since the Feast of Darth Vader two weeks ago.
Dr. Nathaniel Falan, project leader of the Royal Institute for Infectious Diseases on Hoth, attended a galactic symposium on mutating genetic viruses in Galactic City today where he claimed the alchemical wing of the Church of the Dark Side has irreversibly damaged the populations of at least a dozen worlds.
“These planets,” Dr. Falan claims, “once so rich and full of life, have been laid siege to by highly docile viruses manufactured by Dark Side alchemists with no interest in the sanctity of sentients.” Falan, a former fellow of the Sith Research Group on Kuat, has worked closely with members of the Church of the Dark Side, many of whom he is now personally attacking.
“Lord Praxeum has gone too far. The jump of the Sandstorm Virus from Gotal to Human is simply tragic.” The “jump” Dr. Falan is referring to occurred three weeks ago when the Sith Navy was forced to destroy the trade freighter Lost Time, outbound from Antar 4, after learning the vessel’s human pilot had contracted the virus. Until that point, the Sandstorm Virus was limited to the Gotal population. The virus quickly spread from Antar 4 to Nal Hutta and beyond.
Sandstorm Virus has a 50% kill rate. Dr. Falan has noted symptoms take four days to manifest and from there “about a day to kill. By the time you know, it’s too late to cure,” he goes on to note that at this time, a cure is only speculative. “The Church of the Dark Side is certainly living up to its title,” he writes in an Op-Ed piece to the Kuat Journal.
Grand Moff Tarna appeared alongside Emperor Shadow and various Imperial officials in what one observer called “a show of unity” to encourage citizens “a cure is being developed. If necessary, Sith will intervene and attempt to use the Force to heal individual planets.”
The likelihood of more planets being infected is very real. Disaster relief organizers and aid workers have been put on call by various Imperial institutions. An advisor to the Emperor, Darth Acrimonus, has stated his belief “in the ability of the Empire to resolve this matter quickly and efficiently.”
The track-record of the Eternal Empire to handle things efficiently has seen the destruction of three worlds, nineteen vessels, two moons, a nest of Killiks and an entire race of shape-shifters. The planets currently under blockade and those that may soon be joining them can only hope for moderation in the Empire’s response this go around.
|
The Imperial HoloNet
|
Several Government Offices Ransacked on Naboo
Anomid, Naboo (HoloNet) – Junior Reporter Xav Wes’har with the Chommell Sector’s Regional News Bureau was live in Anomid today when a large group of cloaked mercenaries stormed the Center of Business and Administration today. Reporting on Galactic News Service with Flint Wex, Wes’har says “The smoke rose about a hundred meters into the air and could be seen from ten klicks out.”
The group, suspected by Security Volunteers of Naboo’s Royal Guard, are “highly trained and motivated professional thieves.” Moff Aequitas of the Eternal Empire has declined to comment on the situation, but the HoloNet was able to obtain an exclusive interview with Prophet Crozeus of the Church of the Dark Side. His office seems to have been a target of these mercenaries.
Speaking on the matter, Prophet Crozeus issued a stern warning to the group: “The Supreme Prophet has granted me wide discretion to recover items stolen from my offices today. I will not rest until property of the Empire is returned safe and sound.”
Darth Crozeus, infamous for his vendettas and blood feuds against adversaries, is a formidable foe to be certain. Several preliminary reports have put the Prophet, also Moff of Cerea, in contact with Emperor Shadow himself. The reasons at this time are unknown but the HoloNet shall follow up as deemed necessary.
“The thieves,” Wes’har reports from the ground, “used conventional explosives to make their way into the Center. Panicked workers fled the building where on the streets below, revealed the group was largely calm and methodical.”
Security footage has shown untold brutality taking place beyond the public’s vantage point. Several workers were killed, others maimed. As soon as the mercenaries had reportedly gotten what they had come for, they left. When revived by medical staff, workers were confused and did not recall details of the incident. One woman last reported she was making a trip to the ‘fresher when she was ambushed.
A bizarre case of petty theft has turned into a galaxy-spanning manhunt as the Inquisitors have been ordered onto the scene by the Emperor’s Chief of Staff, Kayte Cleves. Cleves, a new commodity on the Emperor’s staff, is off the Pureblood House Bastra and is rumored to be more ruthless than her ancestors.
“By order of His Highness, Darth Shadow, the Inquisitors have been dispatched to Naboo to gather more information to better bring these fugitives to justice… assuming Prophet Crozeus doesn’t reach them first,” Cleves said with a flourish as she exited the chamber with the galaxy’s three largest news divisions.
The thieves have made no ransom demands and issued no statements. The particulars of this case are sketchy and the trail is going cold. Whatever the thieves were after has not been revealed and has been deemed “classified” by the Naboo authorities.
|
The Imperial HoloNet
|
Emperor Promises Reform
Kuat City, Kuat (HoloNet) – Speaking directly to the people today, Emperor Shadow of the Eternal Empire promised “sweeping governmental and social reform in the coming weeks.” There has been wide speculation for sometime that the Emperor would conduct a top-level review of the Empire’s managers.
Professor Der Franjela of Vortex University, a leading scholar and historian on Sith administration, had this to say in response: “Frankly I’m surprised it’s taken him this long to shake things up. It’s been a solid year.”
All jokes aside, it has been sometime since the Emperor announced broad reform. Speaking from his throne room, the Emperor said: “The time has come to evaluate our top executives and to replace or reassign those who are having little to no impact in their current position.”
“Fear,” a junior-level administrator in the Palace itself, “has gripped the top levels of government. It’s been a rumor for several weeks that the Emperor was about to take a vibroblade to top jobs.”
After the Emperor’s broadcast address, Chief of Staff for the Empire, Kayte Cleves, had this to add: “Specifically, the Emperor shall be chairing a panel of impartial advocates. It shall be the job of these advocates to collect data on the dealings of every member of the Emperor’s Inner Circle.”
“Exact agencies and offices affected by this review are: The Church of the Dark Side, The Order of Inquisitors, The Royal Guard, The Imperial Armed Forces, The Subcouncil of Games and Canon, The Subcouncil of Sith Population Control and Ranks, The Subcouncil of Justice, The Moff’s Council, The High Council, The Special Committee on Historical Preservation, The Imperial Diplomatic Corps, The Hall of Dark Patronage, The Offices of High Historian, Grand Vizier, Darkest Knight, and all honorary Lords/Dark Lords.”
“No office is safe from this review, basically,” Cleves concluded. “Effective government will be restored in the coming weeks or months.”
It has been hinted that the punishment for inactivity or “substandard abuse of power” shall be an immediate removal from office. “Suitable replacements for nearly every office are on standby.”
It is a characteristically bold move by the Emperor, to be certain.
|
|
|
|