<font size=4>Imperial assaults liberate Demosthesian & Jutraalian worlds
Seti Ashar killed by Imperial forces on Commenor; Emperor Fearsons bows to Simon Kaine on Jutraal</font>

After two days of sketchy reports of the presence of Imperial fleets in the Commenor, Bilbringi, and Despayre systems, the Empire has stepped forth with a bold announcement; the Holy Demosthesian Empire has fallen, and the Jutraalian Remnant has sworn fealty to the New Order.

Yesterday, we reported vague sightings of a Demosthesian ship on the Imperial world of Duro only days before. Today, in a press conference, Commodore Theren Gevel revealed that Bhindi Drayson, spurred into action by evidence that the Demosthesian Empire was seeking to establish strong diplomatic ties with remnants of the New Republic, had in fact joined forces with the Empire previous to the now-confirmed assaults on Commenor, Bilbringi, and Despayre.<table width="100" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tr><td><img src="http://www.desktopstarships.com/SwImages/swinvasion.jpg" width="250" height="232" border="1"></td></tr><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="-2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Commodore Gevel's flagship, the Zenith, closes in on Commenor in this exclusive shot.</font></div></td></tr></table>

<div style="text-align:justify;">Unless you’ve been living on an asteroid for the last few days, you have heard of the stunning announcement made by the Empire. The Jutraalan Empire, once a vocal member of the galaxy long since gone silent and recluse, has come under the shadow of the New Order. The Holy Demosthesian Empire has been crushed, Seti Ashar presumed dead. But, after sorting through all the propaganda, press releases, etc, a certain phrase has caught the attention of this news writer.

Currently the most popular imperial circulation contains the following paragraph.

<div style="margin-left:50px; margin-right:50px; background-color:#F1F1F1; color:#000000; padding:4px; text-align:justify;"> In the chaos, an Imperial assault on the world of Xa Fel by the Governor of the Corellian Protectorate, Lupercus Darksword, has succeeded. Utilizing the uncertainty of the situation, the Imperial forces commanded by Darksword quickly and easily captured the world.</div>
Wait, wait one moment you say! Do your eyes deceive you? No, it’s perfectly true. The latest, and most circulated INS report spesificly mentions Lupercus Darksword as the Governeor of the Corellian Protectorate. Darksword, of course, is the sir-name for the current ruling family of the Hapes cluster. And the name Lupercus, need I go any further? Perhaps it is simply a horrific clerical error, or an accidental crossing of articles, for I am sure the New Empire would not condemn the now defunct Jutraalan Empire for “condoning insane religious cults”, yet openly allow one of the most wanted men in the galaxy - a member of the same cult that assaulted the planet of Naboo not that long past – to govern Corellia?

Or would they?

Ah, the things that make us wonder in the galaxy. The casual mention of the world of Xa Fel also coming under the control of the Empire raises more questions –Xa Fel has for some time been off limits to even the most determined tourist, unsubstantiated rumors of the goings on on the planet often pass through the main holonet.

But, until the Empire issues an official statement concerning this matter we are left to wonder.
</div>

<font size=4>Anti-Imperial opinion writer trashed by Commodore Gevel
"Random accusations" discredited</font>

Following the Imperial News Service's release regarding the recent Imperial victories, viewers in some parts of the galaxy were treated to the words of a certain John Snid, an opinions collumnist. Treading in the footsteps of Viryn Quell, this pundit leveled considerable accusations towards Imperial officials.

Today, Theren Gevel called a press conference to discuss the construction of the new Imperial Academy on Alsakan, a project set to begin in three days and finish by the end of the month. During the conference, Gevel was asked a number of questions regarding Snid's piece. "Yeah, I've read it," the Commodore admitted. "It was pretty good -- one of the better pieces of fiction I've read lately, I have to say. The Holonet is great, it really is. Anyone can pull a bunch of asinine, random accusations out of thin air and get a billion people to read them."

When further questioned on the matter, Gevel explained. "The charges laid against Darksword have no merit. He was not involved in the combat on Naboo, which I'll remind you was less of an 'attack' and more of another instance of the Jedi finding themselves some enemies and having a melee right in the middle of a populated area, and saying to hell with the consequences. I have no knowledge of Darksword being a wanted criminal."

A reporter from a competing Holonetwork suggested that it was possible governments other than the Empire may have posted charges against Darksword, to which Gevel responded, "Well, it wouldn't be the first time that some illigitimate rebel government had tried to defame someone in good stead with the Empire. I'm pretty sure there's a price on my head in the Coalition, but that doesn't make me a goddamn criminal."

After these comments, Gevel insisted that those gathered returned to the subject of the Alsakan Academy.

<div style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold;">Commodore Gevel misinformed?</div> – Syndicated Opinion by John Snid

<div style="text-align:justify; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:90%;">In my last article, I expressed concern over the apparent misprint of the Corellian Protectorate's name. After doing a little research, and reading the surprising release by INS, I am convinced that it was indeed not a misprint. Why I have not seen such a potentially scandalous incident smeared all over supermarket tabloids yet, I will never know. Perhaps I got lucky, and saw it first – though I do doubt that very much.

Commodore Gevel himself rebutted my article in a recent news conference, first time someone worth more than a million credits has mentioned me. However, the apparent lack of accurate information by the Imperial commander is atrocious. Gevel is quoted as saying:

<div style="padding: 4px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px; background-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;"> "The charges laid against Darksword have no merit. He was not involved in the combat on Naboo, which I'll remind you was less of an 'attack' and more of another instance of the Jedi finding themselves some enemies and having a melee right in the middle of a populated area, and saying to hell with the consequences. I have no knowledge of Darksword being a wanted criminal."</div>
Firstly, the tragic terrorist attack on Naboo was, and has been proven beyond a doubt by several independent investigation agencies, to be more than simply "the Jedi finding themselves some enemies". It was a deliberate, genocidal effort on the part of a truly insane cult to rid the galaxy of the Gungan race. They almost succeeded too, had it not been for the Jedi themselves, the Gungans would be all but extinct. Security holos, testimony from both Jedi and Theed citizens, and physical evidence support this. How Commodore Gevel could be so misinformed is a problem the Empire needs to sort out immediately. If such misinformation appeared during a casual rebuttal to a small time columnist like myself, who knows what damage other ill informed Imperial officers might be unwittingly doing at this very moment.

As for Gevel's comment about not knowing that Darksword was a wanted criminal, perhaps it is true, perhaps it is not. Again I must point out the apparent lack of accurate information in the Empire. I'm quite positive that they [the empire] could not be that incompetent, the name of Darksword is a household word for any lawman of any salt. Background checks are typically done before someone is appointed control of several worlds, are they not? The name, and possible implications thereof, would have turned up on even a casual 'net search. Even if Gevel himself was not aware about the implications, someone in the Empire must have.

But then, perhaps it is simply a case of two men having the same name. If so, I suggest that the Corellian Protectorate change his name immediately, and without delay. A casual 'net search such as mentioned above revealed that Lupercus Darksword, exiled prince of Hapes, is guilty of almost every terrorist crime the galaxy has a law for. Mass murders, not one but two (that I could find) genocidal efforts, this man has blood on his hands beyond belief. I for one would not want my name even remotely associated with one such as this Lupercus.


I fully expect this article to be totally ignored by the Empire. But, it does raise some interesting points about the legendary efficiency of the Empire's data-system, and intelligence agency. Perhaps they need to upgrade their database software, the new wave of Open Source systems are rumored to be very efficient, and quite scalable.</div>

Press Release:

From the Office of the Governer of the Corellia
Newsmarked 12:43 CST
RE: Vicious instances of anti-Imperial slander.

The Office of the Governer of Corellia expresses its regrets that 'John Snid' continues to level his vicious and entirely baseless rumours against the Empire; specifically his convoluted charges of Genocide and such against the Governer.

The Governer, while not needing to defend himself against public slander, points to his long Imperial record,long standing since before the liberation of Imperial Centre, as stark testimony of his innocence in this matter.