Unemployment rate growing in your sector? Call on the Citizen Watch’s Labor Assist Program! This agency is designed to seek out secure employment that suits the needs of every citizen. The Labor Assist Program will help with relocation costs (if needed) and do everything to ensure that citizens have steady work and remain a productive member of the Empire.








Jander Sirus left for work in the morning. An accident had happened on the factory floor killing several engineers and technicians. As a result of the company's nationalization, the administration had called in government investigators and as his transport neared the factory complex, he saw the tell tale signs of stormtrooper activity.

Being a floor manager, he knew they would want to talk to him regarding the accident. As the transport center took control of his flight plan, Jander leaned back and closed his eyes trying to recall the experience that happened just yesterday. Broken images and interrupted memory clouded his mind.




The large hulking Savrips carrying the gantry pieces for the reconstruction of the testing pit. Kuat Drive Yards was bringing a special engine over for testing..


The Cerean going over the final figures as the revisions were holocommed to his department the night before. The changes looked significant in concept but did not seem to call for much difference in the physical layout of construction materials.


The Silver Meerians checking and double checking the mathematics..


The overhead twin doors opening as the engine construct was lowered via tractor beams. It was to be held in place during activation.


KDY's project heads entering, Jander shaking each of their hands..



The 'all go' signal being given, Jander motioning the newcomers to the Observation Room and handing out eye covers.


Giving the signal to activate...


The machinery of the engine coming to life and the appreciative remarks of the observers..


He remembered the red flashing warning light that activated forty five seconds into the test.


He remembered the large computation device indication the passage of time before the explosion.


He remembered someone pulling a dead project head off of him before losing consciousness being evacuated to a nearest medical facility.

His injuries being less than what he should have received and being discharged to a home filled with a worried wife and scared children.


The call to report to the On Site Investigators in the morning...




The transport docked and he noted the entire facility was shut down giving the government officials full reign of the compound. Overhead flew the Tie Fighter containment squadrons to keep the various INS owned news agencies at bay. Medical transports entered the airspace, given priority entrance along with military escorts. Civilian Air Traffic Control has redirected all nearby routes to facilitate the needs of this emergency.


Jander felt tired as the transport door slid open, his hair suddenly was blown out of place by the high winds of their high level compound.


Off in the distance several districts could be seen including several Invisec residential areas.

He turned his eyes away from the familiar sight and stared ahead to the building he had worked in for the past decade.


Stormtroopers lined his path standing at stoic attention.

To ignore the next generation of Imperials is to ignore all the progress such individuals as Daemon Hyfe, Azrael Zell and Simon Kaine have made on behalf of the Empire. Our generation of today remember the hardships they experienced at the hands of the Rebels as they tried to follow the tenets of their heart and remain true Imperials. It is these hardships that Citizen Youth will combat fervently with special education programs. Many youth’s, regardless their of status in life or race, face the pain of lost loved ones, the loneliness of having both parents work, the heartache of being thought of as different by peers.

Citizen Youth, with the cooperation of public and private school districts throughout the Empire, will educate, counsel, rehabilitate, and, if necessary, discipline our youths instilling in them a sense of Pride. A sense of Acceptance. A sense Belonging.








Netta Sirus travelled to her local public educational facility through the standard community transport. Her father had left early for work due to some accident at the plant.

Her mother worked for a location locator for business and residential areas throughout their disctrict on Coruscant.

But the goings on with her parents were not quite a high priority with her at this moment. What mattered the most to her at this very moment was that she intended to tell Chase Farcaster how she felt. Having sat behind him during Biochemical Analysis and Hypertravel Vectors for two whole semesters she just could not contain her infatuation.

She had told her Twileck friend Teras and her friend had encouraged her to tell Chase. Unfortunately, that was two months ago but she finally, finally! had gathered up the nerve to do it.

It was a fear she thought she would have outgrown but her shyness was something inherited or so her mother had said once.

But so close to graduation, she knew she would be forced to come out of her self-imposed shell. Decisions were going to have to be made. Already the recruitment posters for various organizations were advertised everywhere. Digital commercials situated in the school's main student traffic areas. Advertisements for colleges, higher learning establishments, technical schools, apprentice-ships and the famed Imperial Academy which would prepare for the various military training facilities servicing the Imperial Armed Forces.

There were also recruitment posters for the Citizen Youth Program whose membership was not to any particular college, Academy or school.

But even that had been pushed back in Netta's mind as she rushed to make sure she made her first class, Hyertravel Vectors. She took a moment to scowl at the teacher's homework project.

Why learn how to calculate spacial travel vectors if we have astromechs to do it for us?


Sometimes, the stupidity of adults was annoying.

"An industrial accident left Cytech Industries closed indefinitely as government investigation committees determine the reason. How this will affect the actions of Arliss Towers in a bid to purchase the company from the governmental umbrella of nationalization has yet to be seen. Experts have noted the falling stock of Cytech for the past three quarters and, in light of yesterday's accident, do not predict a change.

In other news, the Census Bureau has released a new report based on the last quarter of mandatory medical check-ups. Those considered 'High Risk' are encouraged to look into government grants for relocation. Your consideration for your fellow Imperials will not go unforgotten."

- INS

Moriah Sirus stared across at the Aplocaph across from her. "Enteri, why on Coruscant would you want to sell your beautiful home?" she asked her friend.

The female Aplocaph smiled, her mouth moving with the familiar slow pace so their translation device could keep up. "I agreed with my mates that there was no planet quite as exotic as Coruscanti, but with these reports being posted, we feel our safety brings a more paramount concern to us."

"Reports?" Moriah asked confused. "Regarding what? Property values?" Being an agent helping both person and business concerns find adequate locations for both living and commerce, the wife of Jander Sirus knew the ins and outs of the business. A growing concern was that someone was trying to swindle her friend out of their very premium tower location in the Invisec District.

Enteri made a sound that passed for the light laughter of her species. "Mori, no one is pulling our digits. We are not fools being made." The tall alien female gave a serious pause and asked confidentially, "Have you been following the Census Reports?"


Moriah Sirus seemed to go cold. "No.." she whispered. "You are not High Risk are you?" The Census Reports were both frightening and encouraging. In the course of Empire, several enemies of the state had risen under the shadow of fearsome biological weapons. From Tilaric Brel's Wrath Virus to the Dragon's Phage (just to name the more potent), citizens all over the Empire were understandably concerned. With the mandatory medical reviews set up for all citizens, the Census Bureau was able to compose lists of those races of the Empire who were at risk to contract any lingering aspects of the horrendous biological agents used as weapons.

Those that were considered High Risk, for their own protection and the protection of their fellow citizens, were encouraged to relocate to worlds specially prepared by the Empire in connection with the Resettlement Commission. Billions of credits had already been spent by the Empire and it seemed to pull out all stops to ensure the comfort and dignity of the many races found within it's borders.

"Oh, Emperor no!" Enteri exclaimed. "But one of my mates has made the observation that our race has moved up the 'risk level' in the past two quarters."


"But it's not conclusive.." Moriah began. She began to fear for her friend and the female named Enteri pattered her hand. "Moriah, I've been wanting a brood of my own for a long time. Eshte, Eore and I have been trying for months. Perhaps our inability stems from the risk factors."

"But there hasn't been an outbreak.." began Moriah.

"Here, Mori! Here! On the surface! But who knows what is brewing underside? There are just too many people here on Coruscanti for the Empire to protect us all. Perhaps it is affecting us and perhaps it is not. But why take the chance with our future children?"


"Oh, Enteri." There was really nothing Moriah could say. "I am going to miss you."

The alien smiled. "I want you to get top dollar for our home, Mori!" she said in a conspiratorial whisper.

Moriah giggled despite herself, a sharp grin brightening her features. "You can bet on it, Enteri. You can bet on it!"


And the women continued to chat in a quiet but animated manner. The talk of friends...

INS Security Sub-Level: The Think Tank...



Three veteran INS correspondents lounged on a the massive couches munching absent-mindedly on the finger foods brought in by the secretary. Newly joining them was a fourth, the newest member of the INS elite of spinsters and storytellers.


As the secretary left the new appointee, the three veterans continued their discussion as the doors closed.

"A damned animal magazine. Not even owned by INS! It is cutting into the profits.." complained a correspondent named Ventry.

"Oh come off it, Ven. I've seen the analysis on it. The magazine is family owned and poses no threat to us whatsoever." Groder Stu lazily stretched on the couch grabbing for more fried calamari.

"What do you think boy?" Ventry asked the younger addition to their Think Tank.

"What's your name anyway?" called out the quiet Yaffler.

"Mekoli." he said a bit uneasily. He was the youngest nephew of one of the board members of the INS conglomerate and the veterans knew it. And they made sure their expressions conveyed the fact that they knew it.

"I do..don't understand." he said as the others made no move to give him room. He sighed and sat down on an empty chair though his eyes gazed longingly at the most comfortable looking couches.

"An exercise, lad. An exercise. A little editorial came out in the Coruscant New Edition of a rapidly growing little magazine involving the selection and purchase of pets."

"Pets? Is that big business?"

"Apparently. But what if we wanted to shut them down for fun, what route would you take?"

"Buy them?" the younger man asked.

"Too expensive and INS does not want to run an animal magazine."

"Then I don't..."

"Litigation lad. Litigation is the key! Bog them down in the courts and let them drain all their money." Ventry seemed pleased with himself.

"But.. But.."

"I think young Miko is confused. What would be the reason?" Yaffler commented pointing to Groder. "Look at that man, Miko. He can spin anything from nothing and make it stick."

Miko grew skeptical. "It's an animal magazine. I don't see how.."

"No, boy." Groder suddenly sitting up to give the others eye contact. "Not by a long shot. It's pornography. Specifically, alien pornography!"

"What?"

"It degrades poor, poor fucking aliens..."

"I don't.."

"Do the pictures portray them with clothes?" Groder asked.

"In an animal magazine?"

"No... in the blantantly pornographic publication bent on the degredation of all life different from humanity. Did the company conduct tests on these ..these poor creatures to determine if they were sentient?"

"I don't think.."

"Oh, so if you throw unclothed Azguardians or Wookiees in the magazine, it's suddenly ok?"

"I wouldn't have an Azguard as a pet!" Miko griped back.

Groder smiled, "Of course not. They are too vicious. Just look what they did to Corellia. Vicious and stupid creatures. But is that any reason to take advantage of them in this magazine?"

Miko frowned. "So what is the legal definition of animal? What is the legal definition of sentience?"

And Groder's grin widened. "That, my young friend, is for the courts to decide in litigation."


Ventry laughed. "That's not bad.."

Yeffler began to crunch the calamari between his teeth. "Ok... here's one. A minor report from an Outer Rim Administration Official. An Admiral of our illustrious fleet has been heard making racist comments about non-humans going so far as to say they should be outright dragged from their homes and killed."


Miko and Ventry turned to Groder who's eyes narrowed in thought. Miko glanced at Yeffler, "I think you got him."


Groder snapped his fingers, "Glory to the Empire for such a tolerating attitude that people from all walks of life, of all species and of differing backgrounds can come together and yet voice even unpopular opinions!

Freedom of Speech! A reality in the Empire!

Never has such freedoms been enjoyed to the fullest as was demonstrated here. Not in the New Republic nor in the Galactic Coalition where such talk would be viewed as unpopular and the citizen arrested or harmed for expressing what was merely his opinion.

Stand for Freedom! Stand for Liberty! And stand with the Empire!"


Miko's mouth was gaping open. "Hyfe's Bloody Knickers... "


Groder and Yeffler chuckled as Ventry signaled for more fried seafood brought in as well as more refreshments.



However, instead of the secretary, Simon Kaine entered in silent confidence clapping his gloved hands.

The room turned a blueish hue which indicated that the room was now locked down with even more security than normally provided for by INS Securities.

"Not bad for off the fly, Groder." his quiet voice commanded authority.

Groder casually began to chew the remaining pieces of calamari, "I take it you need a spinster?"

"You perceive correctly." Kaine confirmed.

"Lay the facts down.... " Groder looked up and Kaine merely stared. The INS man grinned. "Sir."




Kaine's expression did not change.


"An explosion at Cytech Industries yesterday was caused by interference from an active radion pulse transmitter located two floors below, aimed secretly, for the past six months, at certain sections of the Invisec Residential District."

"A radion pulse does not kill." Groder commented, slightly confused.

Kaine nodded, "If sufficiently exposed to a radion pulse, the reproductive matrix of certain species is destroyed. More specifically, a female's eggs are more affected but there is evidence of male sperm destruction. Those living in the affected sections of Invisec District will be the last generation. The investigating government forces do not know nor will they know."


Everyone was silent.


Groder swallowed his mushy calamari and nodded. "Keep the food coming. I'll have your spin up this afternoon."


Kaine merely nodded, briefly looking at the other two veteran INS correspondents and the younger one before leaving.


Yeffler grinned to Mikoli. "Welcome to the big leagues, kid!"

Ventry laid back on the couch and began to make spinning motions in the air. "Prepare to weave... boys and girls. Be prepared to weave!"


Groder closed his eyes in thought...


Radion, Radion, Radion... . to make a Radion Pulse Transmitter...

PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING

Meerians living in and around Invisec and outlying districts are hereby ordered to report to the nearest Emergency Medical Terminal for an immediate physical. A viral danger has been identified and our Medical Teams are close to arriving at a cure. We need your help!

If you have a Meerian living near you, please inform them that they are required to proceed to the nearest EMT. If you do not know where the nearest one is to your location, please press 000 on your private holonet relay or *000 at a public relay.

The medical checkup is free.






Groder Stu looked at the report flashing on all local emergency INS frequencies.

"Sometimes, I amaze even myself.." he murmured before retiring.

Jander Sirus sat back rubbing his eyes as the investigator also sat back asking to a camera for some drinks to be brought in. The questioning had been rather hectic and intense during some moments as the Imperial Intelligence officer nodded.

"It is almost over Mr. Sirus. You've been most helpful."

Jander nervously glanced from the Imp Intel agent to the ISB representative standing off to the side.

"Um.. are there political implications?" he asked with a calm he definitely did not feel and for the first time the ISB agent turned to him

"There are ALWAYS political implications. Arliss Industries is in a bid for a company that is close to nationalization."

Jander nodding his thanks to the young lady that walked in with the drinks. "I did not know such a thing was possible. Someone can outbid the Empire for control of a company?"

The ISB agent reddened at the term and Jander's eyes went fearful until the Imp Intel agent laughed. "ISB is all about flag and country and government and ferretting out traitors. But yes, if the Empire finds more use of a company in someone else's hands than it's own bureaucrats, then they will allow such an aquisition."

"If a company has a great number of questionable err.. employees.." the ISB agent warned and Jander looked up questioningly.

"Questionable employees?"

"In terms of loyalty to the Empire," The Imp Intel agent supplied.

"I don't understand."

The Imp Intel man spread his hands out. "Our organizations are not around for no reason."

Jander nodded at that. "So are we done here?"

"Almost," the Intel man replied. "What we have is that this accident is either the fault of the research or employee error. So Mr. Sirus, what we need to do is go over the files of your employees until the analysis comes back from our scientists working with the wreckage."


The Imperial Intel man's face turned into a frown as he glanced at his notes. "It seems most of your employees were under the Labor Assist Program?"


Jander nodded. "That is correct."


The agent's face turned hard, "But these positions are technical positions. Not layman positions."


Jander sighed. "Believe it or not, but there are highly skilled and technically capable individuals within the Labor Assist Pool. I was just as surprised as you to find them and the company has been taking advantage of this fact by allying with the government labor program to employ these people for certain.. ah.. considerations."

This was going to be a long day.

Netta was joking with a nearby fellow student as they left Hypertravel Vectors Class heady off the passing of a surprise test when she turned and saw her friend Teras walking with Chase Farcaster, laughing and giggling.

And Chase seemed to be enjoying her company!


Netta's eyes widened in surprise and then lowered in hurt. How could Teras do such a thing! They had been best friends since...! And she knew.. SHE KNEW that Netta was interested!

And then her eyes moved together in anger.


That slut!

But anger once more turned to self pity and tears began to form, the crowds around her beginning to fade as students entered their next class.

She stood alone in the hall for a few minutes when the intermission bell rang.



Though crying, her mind began to realize she was late for her next class and as she began to run a monitor caught her.

The boy, dressed in the khaki's of the Citizen Youth Program, cast a stern gaze her way as he held her arm. "Are you hurt?" he demanded, seeing her runny makeup and tear stained cheeks.

"N... No!" she stammered in fear. Citizen Youth initiates were taken very seriously in school. As if they were the most popular clique on campus.

"What's wrong?" the boy asked with a puzzled frown.

Netta was shocked at the prospect of telling the boy (any boy for that matter) the problems between her and her friend. But she had to tell somebody!

And so, with a hateful vengence only a teenage girl could muster, she told the boy of her infatuation and of what she saw in the hall.

The boy was just as shocked as she was. "I know Chase!" he blurted and the girl seemed to wither. To have Chase know of her interest was just too much.

"Teras? He murmured. "What sort of name is that?"

"A Twileck name," Netta answered wondering what that had to do with anything.

"Twileck!" the boy raged. "I should have guessed it was a no good Twileck! There's no way Chase would pick her over you!" he growled.

Netta seemed to brighten at that as she was of the same opinion.

"I'd better get to class." she mumbled out, happy to have spoken with anyone even if it was with a boy she didn't know.

The Citizen Youth Initiate didn't seem to hear her as she scampered off to class, the hum of the advertisement going on in the background...


"Citizen Youth! Feel a sense of Pride. A sense of Acceptance. A sense Belonging. A sense of You!"

Jander walked like a stunned man after the final report had been delivered. After a day of questioning, the new data from one investigative branch that had been called into action at the onset of the tragedy.

A Public Health Warning had been drafted to handle the issue that now seems to have greater implications.

Apparently, there was some strain of virus going around that affects Meerians brain activity, the non-technical term being kicked around called "Brain Rot". Starts as a type of dyslexia and progresses further causing the victim to have trouble with short term memory. As the Silver Meerians were in charge of final mathematical preparations of the test of the new Kuat engine.

The Meerian's math was off which affected the parimeters of the engine enviroment considerably. The change, of course, caused the engine to have trouble in it's operatation which spiraled into a cascade failure resulting in the tragedy.

The Census Bureau, ISB and the Ministry of Health were now concerned, in light of this virus, of Meerians in other specific and specialized positions in other companies. They would need to undergo severe scans to ensure the virus is not spreading and ensure such an accident would not happen again.

Jander Sirus walked to where his aircar was parked.

It was time to go home.




Moriah Sirus had just completed the virtual tour of Entari's apartment when a government official was pointed to her cubicle.

"Moriah Sirus?" he asked politely, causing the Real Estate Agent to turn around.

"May I help you?" she asked, equally polite.

"I understand that you've been contracted to sell a residential property registered to a female Aplocaph named Entari?"

Moriah frowned. "That information is currently confidential as the property has not been listed yet. It does not go public for another two days. If you want to place a bid, you will have to wait until then."

The man's smile turned grim. "I am sorry ma'am. I have no wish to purchase the property. I am from the Medical Division of the Census Bureau, here to inform you that the property is being placed in quarantine."

Moriah suddenly turned white. "Quarantine? Whatever for?!" The staple of a property being quarantined now a part of it's history would lower dramatically it's resale value.

The man looked positively regretful, "Ma'am, the Aplocaph cited medical reasons as to the reason for her request to transfer residence off Coruscant. Standard procedure is to list their property as under quarantine until it is determined that their medical reason is not hazardous to future residents of the said property."

"She's having a baby!" Moriah nearly shouted at the man.

The man seemed apologetic. "I am sorry, ma'am. If 'medical reasons' is cited, we must act on it."

The man left and Moriah looked at her tour program with regret. This is going to be aweful. Her property will not be worth much after the quarantine is lifted.




Netta Sirus heard a snuffled crying as she stepped off the school transport to head for her home. It was coming from a narrow alley between to nearby scrapers and, curious, she followed the noise.

Squeezing through the narrow opening did not prove difficult and the small square gap hidden between three buildings opened up to a bleeding, broken
and crying Twileck.

"TERAS!" she cried out in surprise, reaching into her bag to pull out her emergency communicator her parents made sure she carried with her.

"EMERGENCY SERVICES, EMERGENCY SERVICES, MY FRIEND IS DYING! I NEED HELP!" she screamed into her comm and a voice on the other end told her to keep the channel open and remain where she was at. They were tracking her location.

She ran over to her friend and rubbed her face.

"I.. I was talking to Chase Farcaster.." Netta's friend was saying through the sobbing. "I told him you liked him. He was happy about that... but..but.. his friend, Barre and some others beat me up for liking him." She began another round of sobbing before looking up, "I swear, Netta. I didn't... I don't know why.."

Netta felt a deep sense of shame and guilt for Barre was the Citizen Youth Initiate she had talked too earlier. She did not expect the boy to do anything about it and now she found out just how wrong she was.

"Hang on, Teras. Help is coming.." she whispered feeling ill herself.

"I'm... sorry..." Teras was saying through crying spells.

Netta began to cry as well. I'm sorry too..

Jander Sirus ate his dinner in silence. He knew his wife was disappointed with a house deal for a friend but was too enraptured in his own gloom to ask. His daughter had seen her friend in the local hospital and they were mildly shocked at the assault. But the city was dangerous. He began to think about a droid companion for his daughter's walk to school.



Moriah Sirus knew her husband had had a rough day at work with the accident and all. But it looked like, according to the media, that the cause had been found and proactive measures taken. Now if only there was some proactive measures she could take for her friend's estate. This was proof of bureaucratic bungling but what was one going to do? Sometimes one benefited from it and other times one didn't. She would see if she could get the government to purchase the property for no self respecting person would want a home that had been quarantined for 'medical reasons'. Her daughter's friend had also been assaulted today and that was a cause for concern. What was the neighborhood coming too? This was urban Coruscant though and crime had not been irradicated. But to attack a young girl? She would have to talk to Jander about a droid companion for Netta.


Netta sat there eating her meal thinking about Teras. The Twileck's parents rushed to the hospital and she had heard them talking about moving. An assault on their daughter was reason enough. But both Teras and she were not saying who had done it and the adults seemed content with the story that Teras didn't get a good look at her attacker. Citizen Youth was in a lot of schools and besides, if Barre was questioned, he would implicated Netta as well. Guilt overwhelmed her and her parents misunderstood it for sadness over her friend.


Jander stared at his daughter's sorrow over her friend. He chewed his dinner feeling a sense of guilt at something the investigators never asked him. He had also looked over the Meerian's figures before initiating the test. And the more he chewed, the more guilt he felt. He looked at his daughter and thought, we need to get her a protocol droid.


Moriah began eating but it still did not wipe away the sense of guilt. If she filed for an appeal of the quarantine and lost, her reputation would suffer and probably her position with the housing firm. So she would sell Entari's property to the government, who never paid top dollar for anything, and simply take a smaller commission than normal. It was still much much less than Entari was entitled too but that was the best she felt she could do and yet she still felt guilty. Perhaps her commision would be enough to obtain a protocol droid for Netta, who was still sad over her friend.


Tomorrow was another day, after all.

"75% sterility rate for those in the outlined sections of Invisec and with the subjects transported away under various programs or self interest relocation initiatives, we feel the project was a success."

"About fucking time too.." Zell growled. "I've been buying up all those empty fucking homes at dirt cheap prices and now, with the scum of alien stench gone, we can make that sector some prime real estate once more."


"I did not know you were such the businessman, Zell." Kaine commented and the old man snorted.

"Government housing is where the money is at nowadays. Buy and resell. Buy and resell! A man's gotta eat you know?"

Admiral Ckeller chuckled, "Somehow, I do not think you are worried about where your next meal will come from."

Zell scowled, "But I gotta do something about those fucking 'quarantine' labels on the bloody homes. Isn't there someone over at Census we can talk too?"

"Ortho Gutt has oversight over that. Give him a cut and I think he can get that little history wiped from permanent record." Jaeder commented.

Zell broke out into a grin, "Right. I had forgotten that little faggot was the face to all this. He'll do it or I'll fucking run him through with a gaffe stick!"

"In any event, Arliss is setting up shop in the Cytech place. The radion emitter is being dismantled with the project shutdown and the workpool of Labor Assist is being reorganized for the new year. The Census Bureau plans on expanding operations and has submitted a budget for the next five years," Kaine interrupted bringing the meeting back on track, "Now, we turn our attention to the Occupation Zone, formerly called Onyxian Commonwealth. Pacification procedures are..."