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This report is in response to the Political Disruptions, The Lady Jolene and I Feel The Weight threads.
Once again this is open to everyone from anywhere in the galaxy as it is a galaxy wide holonet broadcast. This is the second of two threads from the same broadcast.
"Welcome back," Nastia Vant's face filled the screen for the second time that day.
"Before the break we covered the callous slaughter of civilians and nobles on Onderon, the first of the Mandalorian attacks. We move now to an investigative report on the destruction of the Kuat Drive Yards. Jacob Tagger is standing by with that story."
The camera cut to a full-body shot of Jacob, standing dwarfed by a massive view port in the administrative complex of the Kuat Drive Yards. It was one of the few places not damaged and it gave a wonderful view of the devastation.
Behind him, clearly visible to the audience, was the still glowing wreckage of factories, orbital dry docks and support halos for capital ships that had previously been built there. It was as if the sky behind him was alight with a million new stars as debris fell into Kuat's atmosphere and burned up.
"Good evening, Nastia," Jacob said evenly. His face was that of a practiced journalist: impassive but with just a hint of dismay. Like a drunk who'd lost a bet. "As I'm sure all have heard by now, there was a massive attack on the critical world of Kuat a day ago. Once again it was the Mandalorians who were behind the attack."
The camera zoomed in to show warped, twisting debris and the pixelated but still distinct forms of flash-frozen bodies tumbling slowly through space before igniting in the atmosphere and burning out of existence. It was a grizzly imaged but it was mean to show just how horrible the attack had been.
"It seems, however, that the Mandalorians were more bold with this attack. They left behind an astromech droid who was party to the destruction. Sources in the Kuati local defense force, dismayed by the attack and the lack of Imperial support during this trying time, have leaked to me the transcript of the droid's debriefing."
The camera cut back to a tight-in shot of Jacob's face, holding a microphone and looking distressed.
"The details contained in this report are harrowing and may be upsetting to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised." Jacob, of course, offered no time for people to switch away before plowing on. "According to the droid, an astromech by the name of RE-N4, formerly of the Imperial Republica but stolen by the Mandalorians on Onderon, the attack was the work of a single Mandalorian clan.
"Clan Solus, as they are called, was formerly thought to be a dying clan. They had no distinct leadership, no drive among their people to see action though they harbored a systemic hatred for the dominance of the Empire. They had, for years, rested on their laurels, ignored and ridiculed by even their own people for being xenophobic and old fashioned. It seems however that that has changed in recent months.
"RE-N4 had a great deal to say about this topic. He credited and heralded the return of Clan Solus to the galactic stage as the work of their newly appointed leader, Raz Solus (@Sreeya). Previously Raz Souls had thought to be only a minor bounty-hunter working for the Hutts or whatever warlord offered her enough credits to live on. It would seem, however, that her people see something in her or perhaps she inspires a certain amount of bloodlust within them.
"The droid said the plans for attacking the drive yards, however, did not come from here and were instead the work of a Clan Solus member he only referred to as "Master Daniel". We were unable to come up with any information on a Daniel Souls, so we are treating this as suspect information at this time.
"RE-N4 went on to explain how they had infiltrated the drive yards from two fronts. This is the most shocking piece of information that he revealed during his debriefing. It seems that the Mandalorians were able to walk through the Drive Yards totally unopposed and deliver RE-N4 to the research and development levels [the most secure parts of the installation] where he was able to deliver the scrip to the droid brains aboard The Lady Jolene. She was a prototype vessel in dry-dock at the Drive Yards. They implanted into her untrained systems a script that caused her to align along the vector of the orbital structures and jump to hyperspace.
"It was that action that destroyed the Drive Yards. She exploded with the stress after lancing through many of the facilities. It was an elegant plan and even in the Kuati Security Forces' director's own words 'Flawlessly executed.'
"It is odd however, that they chose to attack when they did. They launched their attack at a time when the shifts were changing and the amount of sentient life aboard the facilities that were destroyed was at a minimum. The loss of life is staggering, however it is not nearly as large as it could have been.
"That is a concerning development, as the Kuati Security Director pointed out, because it suggests that this was not an act of terrorism but a strategic attack with the goal of crippling the Imperial Republica's ability to bring new fleet elements into being."
Jacob paused to let the weight of the statement to sink in.
"It raises the question 'Should the citizens of the Imperial Republica be worried for a full scale Mandalorian offense?'. While currently our information on the Mandalorians is limited, suggesting their numbers are not that large, just the simple fact that the Kuat Drive Yards were all but totally destroyed by only three members of one clan is a terrifying prospect.
"So far our Emperor has shown only token interest in the Mandalorian insurrection. It must be remembered that Emperor Elix is young, heir to a position that has, for many years, been graced by times of peace. The lack of response, beyond a token bounty on the heads of Clan Solus is concerning."
Jacob's gaze intensified as he prepared to say something truly controversial. Journalistic ethics had its place but now was not the time. Lives were on the line here and if their Emperor wouldn't try to rouse the people of the Imperium, then he would do his duty as a citizen.
"If the only response to the horrible attack on Kuat and the death of millions of our citizens is a simple bounty then it is our duty as citizens of the Empire to question whether our Emperor is really fit for the job. He is young yet and as past interviews have shown, a true showman. Perhaps his education was focused mostly on apperance rather than action, a sad thought when it is clear that forces are moving in the galaxy.
"Every day we hear of rebellions coming into open opposition on the fringe worlds while the Mandalorians have made their intentions clear with strikes to the heart of our Empire. Elix is but a boy, unprepared for the riggers of leadership. We are at the precipice of galactic conflict yet he does nothing. When will it change, or is it time for us to take change into our own hands?
"Back to you, Nastia."
There was stunned silence in the newsroom, the live report from Jacob Tagger had taken the network by surprise, just as it had the rest of the galaxy. Nastia paused as she listened to a quick word from her producers in her earpiece, urging her to get off the air as soon as possible.
Thank you Jacob, she said hastily. Those are indeed very crucial questions at this time.
This has been the Holo Net News, News at 11. I am Nastia Vant and I wish you all, good evening. The cameras clicked off and the feed switched to a broadcast of an old holo-drama.
Nastia could only stare at the others in the newsroom. What had Jacob just done?
Once again this is open to everyone from anywhere in the galaxy as it is a galaxy wide holonet broadcast. This is the second of two threads from the same broadcast.
HOLO NEWS NETWORK
NEWS AT 11
NEWS AT 11
Jacob Tagger on the Destruction of Kuat Drive Yards
"Welcome back," Nastia Vant's face filled the screen for the second time that day.
"Before the break we covered the callous slaughter of civilians and nobles on Onderon, the first of the Mandalorian attacks. We move now to an investigative report on the destruction of the Kuat Drive Yards. Jacob Tagger is standing by with that story."
The camera cut to a full-body shot of Jacob, standing dwarfed by a massive view port in the administrative complex of the Kuat Drive Yards. It was one of the few places not damaged and it gave a wonderful view of the devastation.
Behind him, clearly visible to the audience, was the still glowing wreckage of factories, orbital dry docks and support halos for capital ships that had previously been built there. It was as if the sky behind him was alight with a million new stars as debris fell into Kuat's atmosphere and burned up.
"Good evening, Nastia," Jacob said evenly. His face was that of a practiced journalist: impassive but with just a hint of dismay. Like a drunk who'd lost a bet. "As I'm sure all have heard by now, there was a massive attack on the critical world of Kuat a day ago. Once again it was the Mandalorians who were behind the attack."
The camera zoomed in to show warped, twisting debris and the pixelated but still distinct forms of flash-frozen bodies tumbling slowly through space before igniting in the atmosphere and burning out of existence. It was a grizzly imaged but it was mean to show just how horrible the attack had been.
"It seems, however, that the Mandalorians were more bold with this attack. They left behind an astromech droid who was party to the destruction. Sources in the Kuati local defense force, dismayed by the attack and the lack of Imperial support during this trying time, have leaked to me the transcript of the droid's debriefing."
The camera cut back to a tight-in shot of Jacob's face, holding a microphone and looking distressed.
"The details contained in this report are harrowing and may be upsetting to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised." Jacob, of course, offered no time for people to switch away before plowing on. "According to the droid, an astromech by the name of RE-N4, formerly of the Imperial Republica but stolen by the Mandalorians on Onderon, the attack was the work of a single Mandalorian clan.
"Clan Solus, as they are called, was formerly thought to be a dying clan. They had no distinct leadership, no drive among their people to see action though they harbored a systemic hatred for the dominance of the Empire. They had, for years, rested on their laurels, ignored and ridiculed by even their own people for being xenophobic and old fashioned. It seems however that that has changed in recent months.
"RE-N4 had a great deal to say about this topic. He credited and heralded the return of Clan Solus to the galactic stage as the work of their newly appointed leader, Raz Solus (@Sreeya). Previously Raz Souls had thought to be only a minor bounty-hunter working for the Hutts or whatever warlord offered her enough credits to live on. It would seem, however, that her people see something in her or perhaps she inspires a certain amount of bloodlust within them.
"The droid said the plans for attacking the drive yards, however, did not come from here and were instead the work of a Clan Solus member he only referred to as "Master Daniel". We were unable to come up with any information on a Daniel Souls, so we are treating this as suspect information at this time.
"RE-N4 went on to explain how they had infiltrated the drive yards from two fronts. This is the most shocking piece of information that he revealed during his debriefing. It seems that the Mandalorians were able to walk through the Drive Yards totally unopposed and deliver RE-N4 to the research and development levels [the most secure parts of the installation] where he was able to deliver the scrip to the droid brains aboard The Lady Jolene. She was a prototype vessel in dry-dock at the Drive Yards. They implanted into her untrained systems a script that caused her to align along the vector of the orbital structures and jump to hyperspace.
"It was that action that destroyed the Drive Yards. She exploded with the stress after lancing through many of the facilities. It was an elegant plan and even in the Kuati Security Forces' director's own words 'Flawlessly executed.'
"It is odd however, that they chose to attack when they did. They launched their attack at a time when the shifts were changing and the amount of sentient life aboard the facilities that were destroyed was at a minimum. The loss of life is staggering, however it is not nearly as large as it could have been.
"That is a concerning development, as the Kuati Security Director pointed out, because it suggests that this was not an act of terrorism but a strategic attack with the goal of crippling the Imperial Republica's ability to bring new fleet elements into being."
Jacob paused to let the weight of the statement to sink in.
"It raises the question 'Should the citizens of the Imperial Republica be worried for a full scale Mandalorian offense?'. While currently our information on the Mandalorians is limited, suggesting their numbers are not that large, just the simple fact that the Kuat Drive Yards were all but totally destroyed by only three members of one clan is a terrifying prospect.
"So far our Emperor has shown only token interest in the Mandalorian insurrection. It must be remembered that Emperor Elix is young, heir to a position that has, for many years, been graced by times of peace. The lack of response, beyond a token bounty on the heads of Clan Solus is concerning."
Jacob's gaze intensified as he prepared to say something truly controversial. Journalistic ethics had its place but now was not the time. Lives were on the line here and if their Emperor wouldn't try to rouse the people of the Imperium, then he would do his duty as a citizen.
"If the only response to the horrible attack on Kuat and the death of millions of our citizens is a simple bounty then it is our duty as citizens of the Empire to question whether our Emperor is really fit for the job. He is young yet and as past interviews have shown, a true showman. Perhaps his education was focused mostly on apperance rather than action, a sad thought when it is clear that forces are moving in the galaxy.
"Every day we hear of rebellions coming into open opposition on the fringe worlds while the Mandalorians have made their intentions clear with strikes to the heart of our Empire. Elix is but a boy, unprepared for the riggers of leadership. We are at the precipice of galactic conflict yet he does nothing. When will it change, or is it time for us to take change into our own hands?
"Back to you, Nastia."
There was stunned silence in the newsroom, the live report from Jacob Tagger had taken the network by surprise, just as it had the rest of the galaxy. Nastia paused as she listened to a quick word from her producers in her earpiece, urging her to get off the air as soon as possible.
Thank you Jacob, she said hastily. Those are indeed very crucial questions at this time.
This has been the Holo Net News, News at 11. I am Nastia Vant and I wish you all, good evening. The cameras clicked off and the feed switched to a broadcast of an old holo-drama.
Nastia could only stare at the others in the newsroom. What had Jacob just done?
