Zhin-Vel is Dead

DATELINE HAERCH

Consul Zylum Orh of Haerch has publicly confirmed the rumors which have swept the Royal HoloNet like a virus and inspired celebrations throughout the Golden Empire—Zhin-Vel, the Zyked slaver lord of the dreaded criminal and slaving syndicate Red Eclipse, has been killed.

"At approximately 14:22 local time, Centurions of the Order of Keltrayu shot down a freighter in near space and forced it to land in the Doort District," Orh read from a prepared statement. "The Centurions pursued Zhin-Vel as he attempted to flee and killed him. The Empire has confirmed that the body and biological profile match Zhin-Vel.  The slaver tyrant is dead."

Once a shadowy and secretive syndicate so powerful that many citizens refused to even refer to it by name, Red Eclipse has been dragged into the spotlight in the last year as the Royal Navy and the Order of Keltrayu have prosecuted a merciless campaign of annihilation against the slavers, who are blamed for thousands of disappearances and deaths over the last decade alone. Earlier this year, the Empire scored a major victory by capturing Harth Gool, a planet occupied by Red Eclipse as its primary base. Those slavers taken captive were disemboweled and burned alive, but Zhin-Vel escaped.

Attempts to capture Zhin-Vel have defined the Hunt for Red Eclipse that followed, and though law enforcement agencies have acted on dozens of tips, the Zyked evaded all efforts at capture. One month ago, Zhin-Vel narrowly escaped the Order on Synno, killing two Centurions in the process. He has been on the run from the massive manhunt ever since.

It is not clear who, if anyone, stands to assume command of the scattered Red Eclipse operatives with Zhin-Vel's death, but experts agree the tide has turned firmly against the slavers.

"Red Eclipse has thrived on secrecy and fear since its inception," said Teffyo Tharkin, Commandant of Police on Haerch. "Zhin-Vel's death shows that no matter how far they run or what holes they hide in, the Empire's going to find them and put an end to their evil."

Update: Lord Tariun Sakaros, Prefect of the Order of Keltrayu, has also confirmed Zhin-Vel's death and the Order's involvement.

"Good riddance," he observed in a holoconference from the Royal Naval Academy on Iscandar. "And to all of Zhin-Vel's followers, lackeys, agents, and minions—you're next, and we're coming for you."

Sakaros identified the Centurions involved in Zhin-Vel's death as Zyked Rajj-Yo and Vuul Eskol Kaartinen. He did not state which Centurion actually struck the deathblow, but attributed the victory to both Centurions jointly. Neither Centurion was available for comment, but News First Mezlagob contacted Kaartinen's family on Yin.

"We are very proud of our son's service," said Wyaan Kaartinen, Eskol's father.