Tabloid The Emperor’s New Clothes

[The Storyteller]

It has been hard to ignore the grand theater that has been on display across the galactic stage these past few weeks. Even those fortunate enough to be living under a rock would have found it hard to stay ignorant in the recent shakeup in the hierarchy of power in the newly rebranded “Empire”. But the question must be asked, just how much has really changed?

The Sith, much like any other government in the Galaxy, and possibly even more than some, have gone through many changes in their power structure since their arrival on the Galactic stage. Scholars and historians will claim this is the nature of the Sith, the student displaces the master, only to then prepare to be replaced themselves when their own pupils gain sufficient strength. The Sith plot, struggle, fight, all for one ultimate goal. Power. And what is being sold to us as a new Empire, a fresh start, might be nothing more than yet another instance of the Sith doing what they do best. Deceive.

Altair Din, a trained Sith himself, claims that he killed the former Empress and her Council member Darth Trelain. And in doing so has taken their place at the top of the Empire’s food chain. He asked the Galaxy to help him deal with the Sith menace, banishing them from Imperial territory, treating them in a manner similar to what much of the Galaxy has done in the past. Yet the rank rank and file members of the Order continue to serve him even now. The ones exiled were nothing but those not loyal to the Warmaster himself. The newly formed Imperial Knights, meant to replace the Sith the Empire now claims to have exiled, is filled with former members of that very same Sith Order. A new name, new uniforms, yet the same people. No longer shall the Sith wield power within the Empire, Din claimed. Yet the Imperial Knights are being lead by a Sith Master. Surely a few weeks is not enough time to change a person. Unless they continue being who they are, as long as they serve a new master, hide their ideologies behind a mask of Imperial Patriotism.

A fresh coat of paint, public fanfare to distract from the truth, and a widespread PR campaign to push their rebranding. But despite what the Empire might want us to believe, it seems like nothing has really changed.