HoloNet News Internal Imperial Broadcast

[The Storyteller]

INTERNAL IMPERIAL BROADCAST
A broadcast detailing the aftermath of the terror attack on Raxus​

For Imperial Citizens the following statement was given a few days after the terror attack on Raxus:

"The Imperial Knights, lead personally by the Lord Commander, managed to track the culprits of the horrific terror attack down to Anzat. They were members of the Sith Order and after a swift battle met with fatal judgment. The Emperor has ordered the Imperial Security Bureau to significantly increase its efforts to assure and maintain security on Imperial world and granted them access to planetary and private subnets according to Imperial Decree 23-1-34-Delta.

We regret to confirm that Commander Levik Karn was among the victims. As an Imperial Peacekeeper, Commander Karn was praised for his devotion to the Imperial Principle and securing our current peace with the Independent Systems Consortium when he represented the Empire in the Galactic Senate. His warm-hearted smile and dedication to the Empire's core values of Order, Stability and Prosperity will be fondly remembered."​

For members of the Imperial Security Bureau, the Imperial Armed Forces and the Imperial Knights, the real truth was clear. Levik Karn hadn't ever smiled in their presence and was one of the most unpleasant people to work with, although his devotion to the imperial principle seemed to be real, so that entire statement was obviously covering something up that the public wasn't supposed to know about the Commander.

On the same day of the announcement, several individuals were summoned to the headquarters of the Imperial Security Bureau by the Emperor himself. He didn't show, but them witnessing the following was an Imperial Decree nevertheless.

The heir-apparent to the Empire, Prince Pierre (@The Good Doctor), members of the Imperial Council, which included Grand Marshal Din (@Sreeya), the Lord Commander of the Imperial Knights (@Phoenix) and others involved in the investigation of the terror attack on Raxus (@Xorism, @Volene) had been summoned to witness Levik Karn's execution.

Director Senyn wasn't mild and and showed them his most Palpatine-like stern face, "You see, strapped to his chair-" he motioned towards the chair he was standing besides, one that had Levik Karn strapped to it, bulging eyes filled with fear looking at the people gathered before sticking to the prince in what seemed to be a voiceless beg for mercy. "Levik Karn, former Commander of the Imperial Peacekeepers, former chief peacekeeper of Taris, handler of Operation Oracle and runner-up to the position of Director of the Imperial Security Bureau." It secretly, although he didn't show it, pleased Director Senyn that he got an opportunity to get rid of an influential Commander that would be trying to get his newly acquired position. Executing Levik meant further securing his own position at the top of the Security Bureau.

"After a thorough investigation by my bureau, the Emperor himself decreed that Levik Karn is guilty of Grand Larceny, Endangering Imperial Citizens, the death of the victims in the Terror Attack by the Sith and most damning, he is found guilty of High Treason." Director Senyn turned towards Levik and motioned for the nearby droids to begin the procedure.

"You are here to witness his execution by slow automated lobotomy." and throughout the entire procedure camera's in the corner of the room would record whether the people present here would be able to witness this gruesome execution style, or had too weak a stomach to endure it. This wasn't how executions were usually handled.. no, this one was special to remind even those higher-ranked that betraying the Empire was not just the dumbest thing to do, but also by far the most painful way to die.

If Levik still had his tongue at the start of the procedure, he would've cried and screamed and yelled, so the director had it removed beforehand. Levik was kept awake with chemical stimulants throughout the procedure until finally the execution was complete and he was declared deceased.

 

[Kellan Solari]

Kellan handed the datapad back to Brinks and returned to his press-ups. The fitness facility aboard The Detente was all but abandoned at such a late hour affording the pair of TIE pilots a modicum of privacy. Or at least as much as one might reasonably expect aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer with its nearly omnipotent monitoring protocols.

“So the Sith were behind it the whole time.” Brinks remarked. Kellan offered a grunt in response. “I guess it was foolish to assume they were still hiding in the unknown regions, licking their wounds.”

Another uninterested growl of effort in reply. Brinks continued on undeterred.

“Shame about this Karn fellow though. Another good Imperial officer gone.” he remarked. “Still, wish I could’ve seen those Sith bastards faces when the Imperial Knights kicked down their door. Not as fun when the other side has their own wizards.”

Kellan strained his way through his final press-up and got to his feet.

“Or maybe…” he said, mopping a halo of sweat from his brow. “...the Imperial Knights were more involved than you think.”

“Involved? What?” Brinks brow furrowed.

“Maybe the Council rubberstamped the creation of an entire division of mystics with conflicting loyalties.” Solari said.

Brinks blinked hard and his eyes shot nervously to the far side of the gym, where in one corner a domed security camera gave a mechanical whirr.

“...I…don’t…” he stammered before being cut off by Kellan. The mirthless flight leader spoke softly now.

“Maybe we drop our guard around these mystics and Karn will wind up just being the first of many.” he sighed and slapped his dumbfounded companion on the shoulder. “Get to your press-ups Brinks.”

 

[Merian Sere]

Even though she’d risked her life in the investigation, Merian felt like the scene unfolding before her wasn’t meant for her eyes.

Perhaps it was the ISB headquarters she hadn’t entered in two years, still forbidden to her. Perhaps it was the invitation from the Emperor himself. Perhaps it was the exclusivity of it: no more witnesses than could be counted on two hands, half of which were Imperial Council or Imperial family. In such company, Merian felt like a grunt.

Possession of Sith artefacts, facilitating terrorist activity, eighteen counts of aggravated assault, and six counts of murder of an Imperial peacekeeper in the execution of their duties, she added internally. Not that it mattered. More accusations wouldn’t make Levik Karn more dead. Merian had been surprised to learn the identity of the traitor. Had Varyn known Commander Karn was a suspect in their pursuit to Anzat? If he did, he hadn’t thought good to share.

Then the procedure started, and Merian didn’t flinch. She’d seen worse cruelty on Korriban, not that it made it any less revulsive. On several occasions Merian was tempted to reach out with the Force and snap the Commander’s neck. She’d known her Empire to be ruthless; she hadn’t known it to be barbaric. But this display of power? This gratuitous suffering? All this spectacle for the death of a rival? The barely concealed attempt to keep them all in line through fear? How easily Director Senyn stooped to the level of the fanatic Sith Merian despised. The ones who’d been cast out.

Merian watched the bulging eyes until she couldn’t anymore. The act itself left her oddly indifferent. Maybe the Anzati were still too fresh in her mind. Or maybe she was dissociating. How this could be her if only they learned about Maros. Would they call it high treason?

She stayed still until the end. Maybe the next Commander would be just a bit more open to loyal Force-sensitives. And go from there.