HoloNet News BREAKING! Sith Order's Walk of Shame

[The Storyteller]

Images of a fleet of transports, escorted by a detachment of the Imperial fleet, above Junction would appear on screens across the galaxy. The chyron at the bottom of their feed would say "Sith Order's Walk of Shame" as a reporter's voice echoed from somewhere off-screen.

"This is HoloNet News breaking into to your regularly scheduled programming to bring you these stunning images being live-streamed above Junction," the anchor said. "The latest reporting suggests that these ships are filled with members of the Sith Order who were caught conspiring against the new Imperial government on Junction, having elected a new Dark Lord of the Sith." The images would switch to the lithe form of an armored figure (@Altaris) boarding one of the ships moments before.

"Our viewers will recall that earlier this same standard week, non-Force sensitive members of the now former Sith Empire — led by newly appointed Warmaster Altair Din (@Sreeya) instigated a coup that saw the Dark Lords of the Sith locked out of their government and military positions. These same Sith were then given an ultimatum: get out within the week or be arrested and tried for treason." Images would pan to that earlier announcement by Altair, followed by a short clip of his speech, before the anchor resumed. "Many of our panelist openly wondered if this was a ploy to convince the galaxy to relax severe sanctions imposed on the Empire from the ISC and important businesses in the Corporate Sector. But it now seems as though their threats were credible."

"Don't believe us? Look."

A new series of images played showing the Sith being forced to drop their lightsabers on the ground as they were loaded onto their transports. Some of them were attempting to break their hilts and remove the crystals, only to have their sabers taken from them Forcefully and throw down on the ground.

Finally, the feed switched back to the Twi'lek anchor. "Now, HoloNet News Network has reached out to the interim Imperial government for comment, particularly about the week grace period given for any non-reforming Sith to leave Imperial Space, as this move would seem to be in breach of that agreement. However, we received quick clarification from a spokeswoman from the Imperial Security Bureau."

The transitional government had every intention of honoring the week-long grace period for Sith intent on leaving Imperial Space. However, the ISB intercepted communications to Sith by their new 'Dark Lord' summoning them to Junction to make plans of war and treason against the Empire. We could have reacted with more force, but the Warmaster did not want to endanger Imperial lives on Junction. He also wanted to show the galaxy that we were not as barbaric as the Sith have been in times past—needing to bombard worlds to prove some point.​

"We also asked the Bureau about the recent blackout of communications to and from Imperial Space, including what we believed to be the censure of several damaging HoloNet reports about the Empire. The agency ensured us that the HoloNet has been restored to all parts of the Empire now that the Sith regime has been toppled and there are reforms planned in the coming weeks to ensure such blackouts never happen again. It does seem as though change is on the way for the Empire. Our reporters are tracking down important galactic leaders for comments on this stunning development, and we'll have more updates for you when those comments are made. Until then, this has been breaking HoloNet News!"

 

[Amun Seti]

Jeset had reached the edge of Imperial space under escort, sweating in fear the entire time. The knowledge that the order could come at any time to blast him was at the forefront of his mind. The young Sith had hyperspace coordinates set the moment that he crossed the border, pulling the lever to launch into the dizzying blue before his Imperial escort had the chance to exercise some independent thought and make the decision themselves.

It was only after several navigational hops that Jeset could breath easy. He had travelled a chaotic course, both to spoof anyone who might have tried to track his heading and just to get as far away from the Empire in as short a time span as possible. He glanced at a screen on his dash, recognizing he was still in holonet range. It was a risk but he wanted to see what information the Warmaster was releasing to the public. Several moments passed as he watched the broadcast before he reacted.

"Fuck!" He yelled at nothing, slamming a fist on the console. They had recorded the whole parade of Sith dropping their sabers in a pile. He had spotted himself several times in the images, masked and cloaked as he had been. He recalled taking off his helmet when he lifted off and wondered if they had caught a glimpse of his face. Then the realization hit him.

He had told them his name.

While the names of the conspirers weren't broadcasted, and he had really only been there to see what the next move the Sith were taking were, he could have just... left without revealing himself. Now the whole ISB probably knew he had been there. He was just an acolyte, barely not a kid, but to them he would always just be a Sith. Which was fair, he had killed more than his fair share of people over his short tenure as a Sith.

He held his head in his hands for a moment, wracking his brain for options. Fuck fuck fuck. The panicked mantra was repeated over and over in his brain. He turned off the holonet once again and grabbed his NalPhone for a moment, intending to send a message to his master. He paused. Jeset had no idea where Aadya stood in all this, whether she had already handed over her saber and slipped into a normal life, or was continuing to pursue the path of a Sith. He couldn't see her willingly submitting herself to another's rule, but he wasn't sure if he could trust her either. In the end he decided to follow her advice.

No gods, no masters.

Putting the phone down, message unsent, Jeset started to calculate new coordinates. Whatever Aadya's path, he no longer needed her. She had taught him everything that he needed to know to survive on his own, and whatever else he needed, he could find himself. If anything, she would probably look down on him with disgust if he went running back to her like some child crying to their mother. After a few moments, his course was set. He pulled the lever and launched into hyperspace once more.

@Logan

 

[The Storyteller]

Spoiler: Switter Reacts

 

[Maura Starwalk]

 

[Amira Din]

If Amira wanted to become an effectual member of the newly reformed Empire, assisting with image management as the government attempted to distance themselves in the eyes of the public from the Sith Order, she would need to keep up to date with current events. Now more than ever. Truthfully, however, that was only one of the reasons she had recorded the holonet broadcast that played on a loop across her monitor.

Comfortably positioned on the couch, she was putting the finishing touches to a sympathy card. On the front of the manufactured card it read, Losing your job really sucks! and on the inside, in the Tiefling's own handwriting, she'd scribbled,
You know what they say—when one door closes, another opens. Don't trip on your lightsaber on your way out. P.S. I know that Wookiee senator of yours prefers a little nookie, but do share a cookie with him ;)
Satisfied, and with a gleam in her amber eyes, the card was attached with care to the package that sat beside her on the couch, already wrapped and ready to go. Two dozen cookies, to be sent to the Office of the Sultana, Celeste Stythani, Rattatak, Outer Rim Territories in the western reaches. No return address would be given. The last thing Amira needed right now was for the Sith Champion to show up on her doorstep when she inevitably decided to jump Sith ship and switch sides. Again.

A soft, contented sigh escaped Amira's lips, her hand coming to rest on her stomach as she stared at the package. It was the little things in life. @LadyRen