From Power, Truth (GNS)

Posted by: Orphaea Imperium, Galactic Empire
Date: Year 10 Day 322
Posted from: Unknown.

(Korthlis, Bothan Space) — After numerous press conferences and releases by the pirate organization Eidola, critics are beginning to question the truth and legitimacy behind the claims of Pirate ‘Queen’ Teniel Djo. Many of the most outrageous claims made by the privateer are in the popular journal posted on numerous galactic forums frequented by the very same individuals who keep gossip rags in print, in which the pirate lauds her own exploits, such as stealing and conning trivial items and insignificant sums of money from people through methods that would be better deemed attempts to alleviate boredom than actual piracy.

Recent claims hacked into the GNS by the Pirate ‘Queen’ herself face criticism from a dubious public at the veracity of such outlandish claims. Seeking clarification from Imperial sources of the claims made in the recent GNS issuance, Imperial News Bureau Coruscant Correspondent Claire Devulka was granted a brief meeting with Executor Thomas Cherokee following the Executor’s keynote speech at the recently completed Coalition of Diplomacy sponsored symposium on the pliability of aggressive alien races in an industrial setting.

Addressing the recent broadcast from Eidola, Executor Cherokee stated that Imperial forces had indeed been operating on the planet Iqobal, “The 10th Imperial Fleet and elements of the Imperial Army oversaw the strategic civilian training program operating on Iqobal, designed to test response time, crew composition, and fixed facility and emplacement construction strategy. Due to the danger inherent in the prospect of live fire training, the civilian building crews were composed mainly of hundreds of volunteers from among the former Eidolan slaves freed by the Galactic Empire at the planet Agrilat. These former slaves clamored for the chance to operate in defiance of Eidola law, even at the risk of their own life and limb.” Responding to a question about Eidolan claims to have slaughtered Imperial military personnel by the score, the Executor continued, “Such claims are blatantly false. Propaganda no doubt. The Imperial Military suffered zero losses, though losses among the civilian volunteers were indeed heavy as Eidolan mercenaries avoided all contact with military units and focused on the wholesale slaughter of the far easier prey among the volunteer construction crews.”

When questioned on his position regarding the legitimacy of the pirate organization as a government, the Executor went on the record to say, "Eidola government? I don't believe it really exists. It seems to me Ms. Djo is the only Eidolan. In over a year of operations, the Galactic Empire continues to only see evidence of Ms. Djo herself operating a handful of mercenaries and sycophant jedi puppets under a bright colorful banner she calls a functioning government.” Finally, when asked how recent events at Iqobal will affect Imperial strategy in the future, Executor Cherokee responded, “At this time, the Galactic Empire plans to continue its current course of using interaction with Eidola as training for our troops and development of tactical and strategic doctrine in preparation for action against real governments and actual threats in the future."

Executor Cherokee’s claims do shed some light on the shortcomings of the once-renowned band of pirates, such as the “Triumph at Agrilat” in which members of the Galactic Empire’s Ministry of Industry defeated the best efforts of the Pirate Queen herself, with the limited support of local elements of the Imperial Army and 6th Imperial Fleet. The fact that a well-organized, properly supported, and united band of industrial workers beat back the best efforts of trained and experienced “pirates” seems to indicate that the black flag of piracy is beginning to fade as time passes and that perhaps Eidola will end up as little more than a footnote, sharing space at the end of a page in Imperial Histories with the likes of the Kathol Republic.