History of the Regal Imperial Defenders/Year Five

History of the Regal Imperial Defenders

&mdash; &mdash; &mdash; &mdash; &mdash; Operation Silent Dust &mdash; &mdash; &mdash; &mdash; &mdash;

To lend her support, Myzia agreed to commit her spy alias “Rouge” for membership in the Unseen Eye. To accomplish this, Rouge set off to become an undercover member of the Rebel Alliance, and was inducted into the Unseen Eye by Sirgio Darkstalker as a Pupil. After joining, Rouge had even managed to extract information from Cannar of MEK regarding the existence of multiple Rebel networks. According to Cannar, MEK was primarily allied with Rebel organizations including TJA, SoA, and WPOER, among others. He also revealed that GD organized base busting operations for the Rebellion, and that MEK operated two safe houses near Restuss. Rouge also aided Sirgio by taking on more administrative roles within the Unseen Eye. Thanks to Rouge, the EYE expanded to include a few legitimate Rebels, including Panterra, Sawn Wingstar and Voodo Tatum. The three of these Rebels took on the title of Lashes.

As the EYE continued to awaken, we finally wished to fulfill our commitments to Osar, the mayor of Torn Shadows. Osar was still considering an allegiance between Torn Shadows and RID. However, in order to truly earn Osar’s trust, we still needed to help him and his citizens with the destruction of any and all Rebel installations constructed within his town. Not too long ago, we had bribed Spomes Olms of the Rebel Alliances for the vulnerability times of one Rebel base located within the borders of Torn Shadows. However, records suggest that we had failed to destroy the installation immediately thereafter. In due time however, RID finally succeeded in cleansing Torn Shadows of its Rebel presence, military installations et al. This was achieved with little fanfare, but Osar was duly grateful for our assistance all the same. While purging Torn Shadows of its Rebel military presence was well appreciated, it was still not enough for the town to fully commit its allegiance to RID. We still needed to help the town with a much more pressing issue – growth. Unfortunately, the only way for Torn Shadows to be granted permission to grow in accordance to planetary policies would be if another large city on Tatooine were to be decommissioned or downgraded. This was not a simple task. Under the alias of Sol’, my friend Com still maintained a residency in Mesric Sanctuary. Although he had already lost a recent mayoral election bid to Chataka, Sol’ once again entered the running during a subsequent campaign. Because Chataka did not enter the running during this subsequent election, Sol’ ended up being the only candidate on the ballot. According to the procedures mandated by the rules of local governance, this assured Sol’ a certain electoral victory.

It was only a matter of weeks before the election drew to a close. When it did, Sol’ emerged victorious, therefore unseating Chataka, and becoming the city’s newest mayor. At first, Sol’ thanked his citizens, and outlined his vision for the future of Mesric Sanctuary in a mayoral address. “Greetings citizens of Mesric Sanctuary,” the address began. “Today marks a significant new chapter in the history of the city—entirely thanks to all of you who have exercised your democratic right and elected me into office, thereby freeing ourselves from the iron grip of the long-standing incumbent.” Obviously, this was pure political theatrics on the part of Sol’. After all, he was the only candidate who ran for office, as Chataka had failed to register before the deadline. Indeed, Sol’ was no stranger to local politics. Under his normal name, Com Cypher not too long ago made an election bid in his home city of Libertas on Rori. Com won the election, and went on to serve the city dutifully for a period of time. Sol’s address continued, “As mayor, my actions will be decisive and effective. For my first act as mayor, I will conduct a census of the city's population to more accurately gauge its health and help me decide on the best way to continue. More information about this will be formally mailed to all of you shortly and I kindly ask for everyone's participation.” Sol’ also cautioned the citizens in his address, “Although I have been democratically elected, there are dubious elements living within the city at this very moment conspiring to subvert our democracy. My actions in the coming weeks will largely revolve around combating this threat and ensuring they never steal another election.” In closing, “This is a critical moment in the city's history, and you should all be proud for the part you played. Thank you all for your support.” To the more astute citizens, it was quite obvious what Sol’ was actually planning to do. Indeed, Sol’ did not have serious plans to continue managing Mesric Sanctuary into perpetuity. He was setting the stage for the retirement of Mesric Sanctuary, and agreed to coordinate this process with RID, so that the planetary authorities could grant extra territory and privileges to the town of Torn Shadows, at Mesric Sanctuary’s expense. This was all part of a grand plan referred to as Operation Silent Dust.

Shortly after Sol’s inauguration, Rouge of the Unseen Eye travelled to Mesric Sanctuary to oversee the next phase of the operation. This entailed the construction of a storage depot intended to house civic deeds and other public and private property contained within the city hall. Following the decommissioning of Mesric Sanctuary, Chataka and other city coordinators would be allowed to collect this property. Sol’ and Rouge had no interest in looting the city of its valuables and other items of sentimental value. To put up appearances, Sol’ also went through the motions of conducting a census, in order to ascertain the overall integrity of Mesric Sanctuary as a sustainable settlement. Of course, this was more theatrics on his part. I knew that with Sol’ elected as mayor, Mesric Sanctuary would be decommissioned, and the expansion of Torn Shadows would soon be at hand. As mentioned already, if Mesric Sanctuary could be decommissioned in a coordinated manner, the planetary authorities would be forced to recognize another settlement on Tatooine as a new city and metropolis. This recognition would not only earn the settlement extra territory, but also the authorization to build a new and highly prized shuttle port. Feeling confident that Torn Shadows could finally be expanded in this manner, I called for a private meeting with Osar and a woman named Nightlyn’ in Torn Shadows. Nightlyn’ was a member of the United Sithh Army, an organization with close ties to Torn Shadows. When I arrived to town, I was warmly greeted by the two Imperial dignitaries, both of whom were wearing dark, ominous robes. The two led me to a small, private meeting room inside a bunker situated within the township. Before the meeting began, Osar and Nightlyn’ changed into more formal attire. After exchanging pleasantries, the three of us sat down and finally got down to business. No comprehensive record of the meeting dialogue was preserved. However, due to the sensitive nature of the discussion at hand, that was probably for the best. Although we touched upon several different topics, the main point of discussion was in regards to facilitating the growth of Torn Shadows. While I did not go into great detail, I explained to Osar and Nightlyn’ that an operation was underway, which if successful, would lead to the expansion of their town. Both of them were pleased to hear this, and seemed to trust in our capabilities. In return for our assistance, Torn Shadows would finally agree to become a fortified city under the general guidance of RID.

Sol’ quickly conducted his census, and “concluded” that Mesric Sanctuary could not be sustained indefinitely. In a final address to the citizens, Sol’ announced that the city of Mesric Sanctuary would be “retired.” This entailed completely deconstructing the city hall, and shutting down other public structures, like banking kiosks, employment terminals and parks. Private structures, like the domiciles owned by the citizens, would remain standing. Completing this process would decertify Mesric Sanctuary as an official city in the eyes of the planetary authorities, thus allowing Torn Shadows to receive the requisite acknowledgements. Sure enough, after sending his final address, Sol’ initiated the retirement of Mesric Sanctuary, thus completing his part in an otherwise rare instance of complicity between him and RID. As planned, Chataka and another member of the local militia, a Twi’lek by the name of Nosmina Osoga, were allowed access to the storage depot constructed as part of Operation Silent Dust. The depot contained deeds for at least some of the retired public structures, and also artifacts and other personal effects moved out of the city hall prior to its deconstruction. Naturally, Chataka and his entourage of followers in the West Anchorhead Community were not pleased to see Mesric Sanctuary reduced in this manner. To their credit, they did not spend a moment wallowing in their misfortune. Instead, they quickly went to work constructing a new city hall in the place of the old one, thus rebuilding Mesric Sanctuary anew as a budding outpost. However, with much of its territory revoked, and privileges denied, Mesric Sanctuary did not regain its former stature. RID could have interfered with the reconstruction of Mesric Sanctuary, and have created an entirely new outpost of our own. However, this seemed overly zealous. The people of the West Anchorhead Community had loyalties to the Rebellion, yes, but they were by now largely reclusive and posed virtually no threat to the Empire at large. With time, the new Mesric Sanctuary did expand to become a township, therefore becoming visible on public navigation maps. However, it never was able to rebuild a shuttle port. Chataka, again serving as mayor, erected two monuments, one of which was placed on the location of their former shuttle port. The battle statue was inscribed with the words, “Dedicated to the Shuttle Port Stolen by Despicable Thieves!” Another statue, symbolizing a sun of Tatooine, was inscribed with the words, “Mesric Sanctuary Lives: To the Sarlacc Pit with Thieves and Liars!”

Truly, the decision to orchestrate such a covert operation against the likes of Mesric Sanctuary was not one I took lightly. Indeed, it was not an operation I looked back upon with a copious measure of pride. Up until that time, RID affected local elections and acquired political offices through more or less respectable means. Fort Oasis was constructed through our own sweat and tears, while some, like the former Fort Farpoint Valley, were acquired and maintained through sheer determination and relentless political maneuvering. Others, like the recently acquired Fort Endeavour, were seized through the expenditure of immense financial means. This time was different however. For the first time, RID had succeeding in taking over and subverting control of another city through deception and roundabout means. Indeed, the galaxy at large knew nothing of RID’s involvement in this matter. We had plausible deniability. The bulk of RID was left unaware of our plan, and even Osar and Nightlyn’ were not fully apprised of the intricacies of the plot. At the end of the day, the operation was conducted on my orders, a decision for which I assumed full responsibility. To help Torn Shadows grow, Osar said he was willing to do whatever it took, so I took him at his word. Now, these were the sort of tactics that would have made the old Europa Network proud. Did this make us hypocrites? Adopting the strategies of what used be one of most ardent of enemies? Perhaps, but whatever moments of introspection I had on the matter were short lived. Due to the success of Operation Silent Dust, the planetary authorities finally awarded Torn Shadows recognition as a large city. It gained extra territory, and Mayor Osar wasted no time ordering the construction of a shuttle port, attracting many new visitors and potential citizens. Not only did Osar and the people of Torn Shadows begin to recognize RID as a close ally, but the personal friendship between me and Osar strengthened as well. In many ways, Osar felt like a fellow member of RID, without actually being a member of our organization. The two of us often discussed ways to benefit the Empire moving forward.

Osar was obviously grateful to me and RID for the assistance we offered. He knew we had gone above and beyond for himself and the citizens of Torn Shadows. For our service, Torn Shadows was inducted as an honorable member of RID’s collection of settlements, and renamed to Fort Torn Shadows (at first, the city was erroneously named to Fort Shadow Haven, due to a mistake I had made in a memo sent to Osar). Thanks to the city’s quick growth, it even became recognized as a metropolis, acquiring additional territory. By this point in time, Osar made the decision to leave the Imperial association of Torn Shadows, and join the United Sithh Army. He did all this upon the suggestion of the city’s original mayor. Upon joining the United Sithh Army, the metropolis was renamed to Fort Recovery in order to distance itself from the Imperials of TORN, but it continued to maintain close ties with RID. To further emphasis this, Osar allowed Akou to establish and operate a RID sanctioned shopping center within the metropolis. The shopping center was similar in design to the one operated in Fort Oasis, both inside and out. With its sign painted in the colors of red and black, the structure served as RID’s first tangible contribution to the physical landscape of Fort Recovery. To expand our influence even further, Osar drafted an outline which allowed for RID to send a representative to act as part of Fort Recovery’s local militia. As arduous as Operation Silent Dust may have been, we were bearing witness to the fruits of actions. With Osar, RID had found a new ally with the people of the United Sithh Army, many of whom were considering the possibility of joining RID on a more permanent basis.