<font size=4>Ludicrous charges discredited
Meer's comments find no hold in Imperial space</font>

Commentary by Ian Malcolm

I look forward to every press release of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty. Not because they are well dictated pieces of valuable information, but because they're really quite ammusing.

I find it highly ironic that the ORS can call the Empire 'evil' for possessing what they themselves possessed for years before the Wrath epidemic.

The unconfirmed reports of an Imperial Eclipse Class Star Destroyer are not so discomforting as they would be were this ship in the possession of a government such as the ORS.

It sounds to me like Vice-President Meer is simply jealous because the Empire has the resources and ability to mantain such a proud addition to their fleet, while his government does not.

What right does Meer have to critisize the Empire for holding such vessels? The previous incarnations of his government - the Outer-Rim Federation, the Duskhan Leauge, the Black Hand - all held Eclipse Class vessels in trust.

Yet if the Empire wishes to do so, they are immediatly labelled evil?

It was the ORS that destroyed Cloud City and Taloraan City. It was the ORS that bombarded the citizens of Abregado-Rae from orbit, causing hundreds of thousands of lives and billions of credits of damage.

It was the ORS that began this war, calling on the leaders of the Galactic Coalition to attack Corellia.

Commanders Jan Dondanda and Dolash have seen the error of their ways. President Griff and Marth Meer, sadly, have not.

It is their warmongering that makes the Empire's demands neccessary, and the enforcing of these demands a sad reality.

It is the warmongering of the ORS that neccessitates the existance of such vessels in the Imperial fleet.

Since the day the war began, with a Coalition fleet emerging from hyperspace above Corellia and her sister planets, the Empire has held firm to defend her holdings.

Attacking fleets were driven away from Carida, Dantooine, Bilbringi, and Corellia.

Imperial lives were mantained even against overhelming odds.

The Empire's forces liberated Abregado-Rae from her oppressive masters, before that planet was punished in a most horrid way for its independence.

And never in this war has the Empire used their fleets to target civilians. Never in this war have cities been assaulted ruthlessly from space, entire planetary populations slaughtered.

Those who commit these gross acts of murder are the ones for whom the Empire seaks punishment. It is they who cannot be allowed to mantain weapons of war, for fear that they will repeat past violations.

Bespin.

Taloraan.

Abregado-Rae.

These are events that we all remember. Events that will not be forgotten.

The ORS has shown its true colours. I put my faith in the Empire and her soldiers to end this threat, and restore peace to this galaxy.


-INS Exclusive

Coalition to Enclave: "Liar Liar Pants on Fire."

Well... I don't think we need to say much more then that really. The coalition official then procceeded to stick his toungue out at the reporters and then had to leave for a nap.

From the Office of Marth Meer

What right does Meer have to critisize the Empire for holding such vessels? The previous incarnations of his government - the Outer-Rim Federation, the Duskhan Leauge, the Black Hand - all held Eclipse Class vessels in trust.

I would suggest Mr. Malcolm does a bit of research before he opens his mouth and embarrases himself anymore.

The Outer-Rim Federation.

While a number of important officers from the Outer-Rim Federation serve the Outer-Rim Sovereignty, while we posses a number of the same planets while President Griff had an important position in both governments and I did serve the Outer-Rim Federation the Outer-Rim Federation no longer exists. The Sovereignty is not a new name, it is something totally different.

The Duskhan League.

I have never ever been a member of The Duskhan League.

Black Hand.

You are referring to the Intelligence Organization that I was once the director of and that saved President Griff from traitors in the Outer-Rim Federation. The Black Hand never possessed an Eclipse Star Destroyer nor does it still exist. With the creation of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty it was replaced by the Sovereignty Security and Intelligence Service.

It was the ORS that bombarded the citizens of Abregado-Rae from orbit, causing hundreds of thousands of lives and billions of credits of damage.

You know for some reason this reminds me a lot of Rachuk and Admiral Kraken.

And never in this war has the Empire used their fleets to target civilians. Never in this war have cities been assaulted ruthlessly from space, entire planetary populations slaughtered.

No. This war was started to prevent the empire from repeating the same tragedies that they'd commited countless times before. Rachuk, Camaas, Alderaan, Mon Calamari; the list goes on and on.

Bespin.

Taloraan.

These are events that we all remember. Events that will not be forgotten.

Bespin and Taloraan will be remembered. They will be remembered as horrific atrocities commited by the Empire. Millions of lives were extinguished in one minute.

<font size=4>Ian Malcolm challenges ORS
'Totally different'?</font>

Reading between the lines of Mr. Meer's release, we see clearly that the former ORF and the new ORS are the same:


<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>a number of important officers from the Outer-Rim Federation serve the Outer-Rim Sovereignty, we posses a number of the same planets President Griff had an important position in both governments and I did serve the Outer-Rim Federation the Outer-Rim Federation no longer exists.<hr></blockquote>

Of course the Outer-Rim Federation no longer exists! Today, you call it the Outeer-Rim Sovereignty. Leaders, holdings, ideals... all the same.

A lot of similarity for something "totally different".

Dom the Office of Marth Meer

There are also a number of differences including:

Government Structure:

The Sovereignty Government is structured so that the peoples representatives have power rather than the "Board of Directors" that led the Federation.

Ideals:

The Federation was a capitalist state which was concentrated on making every buck it could anyway it could. The Sovereignty was created to provide a Sovereign government for the people of the Outer-Rim that actually cared about them and not just about the Core Worlds.

Holdings:

Among other things the Sovereignty does not currently possess any worlds in the Koornacht Cluster. These worlds were a very important part of the Federations holdings. A number of these worlds are currently being subjugated by The Bastion Conclave under Commodore Theren Gevel.

Leaders:

President Griff was just the leader of the Armed Forces in the Federation. He had no political power and was eventually fired by the corrupt individuals who had the political power. I was just the Director of the Intelligence Branch of the Sovereignty.

The Outer-Rim Federation no longer exists. The name wasn't just changed to the Outer-Rim Sovereignty, rather a totally different government was created. A new nation.

I am quite disappointed that I am forced to spend time correcting Mr. Malcolm. His complete ignorance of the matters that he writes about is saddening but characteristic to a number of Imperial News Service Reporters.

From the desk of Mr. Malcolm

I was simply making sense of what you yourself had said, Mr. Meer. Do you deny that the ORF and the ORS have very similar names, officials, holdings, and ideas?

One word changed in a name does not make a new government.

From the Office of Marth Meer

Holdings:

Two or three planets isn't very similar holdings.

Officials:

Military officers are not the real officials of the sovereignty. The officials are the appointed and elected civilians. Very few of them are the same, especially considering the federation had very, very few elected officials.

Ideas:

See my last responce.

Names:

Yes you're right.