candor1 | IC contact

19 BBY: Corrupt and failing Republic is disbanded and reorganized into the Galactic Empire by Emperor Palpatine. This day is celebrated as Empire Day even decades later.

00 BBY: Grand Moff Tarkin is forced to make an example of the traitorous planet of Alderaan to prevent unrest from spreading throughout the galaxy. In retaliation, rebel forces attack Death Star I and destroy it, murdering Grand Moff Tarkin and many Imperials. Alderaan is forever known as an example of what happens to a planet and its people who would undermine the stability of the Empire by trying to re-establish a corrupt government.

03 ABY: Battle of Hoth

04 ABY:

Battle of Endor. Death Star II is destroyed.

Emperor Palpatine is murdered by a self-proclaimed Jedi, the last of a group who had been executed as war criminals when the Empire was established.

Imperial Grand Admirals and Moffs take charge of the Empire. Rebel Alliance attempt to establish a New Republic.

05 ABY:

Siege of Arkanis was one of the many battles which were attempts of the Rebel Alliance attacking Imperial planets as punishment, attempting to force them to be loyal to their illegitimate government.

Battle of Jakku

Imperial forces spread into the Unknown Regions.

Galactic Concordance- the New Republic attempts to establish itself, claims to disarm while secretly funding a militia to continue attacking not only Imperial forces but Imperial citizens as well.

34 ABY:

New Republic is completely destroyed along with the entirely of their military forces in a single moment. Work begins on restoring stability to the galaxy and purge the chaos and corruption of the last of the Rebel Alliance.

Consider this a one-time favor. I hope you find this illuminating.

[Cassian's mind races to cross-reference. Anything he's ever known. (Until he can show this to Kay and his less faulty database.)

…yes, he knows Arkanis.

He heard it on Carida. Or if he was too young to remember it then, it would have been mentioned on Fest.

Why Jeron Andor, without anyone's bitterness, was never really expected to come back to Seidh and Cassian.

That's where the Republic's Officers' Academy was.

Once Jeron graduated from the military academy on Carida, if unchanged in ambition, he likely would have gone on to Arkanis.

If that Academy had transitioned, with the rest of the Republic, to being Imperial…

…then Arkanis would likely be a military target. Their Academy would have no aspect that was cilivian. And would be defended to the point of stronghold.

…quite likely with surrounding lands, peoples, even planets, made subservient to its needs. Natural resources diverted, allegiance enforced.

Given Hux's take on the events Cassian did know anything about—

(Right. "Forced" to inflict a planet-killer on a neutral, peaceful, and near-universally beloved civilian world. "Known forever" except by the rest of the galaxy who, he knows now thanks to Han and Luke, call it "the Disaster".
Cassian mentally shoots everything.

And "War criminals" indeed. Even the Separatists couldn't believe that once it happened. The Jedi had been their enemies—but they'd never fought dirty. It was something Cassian's comrades had scorned them for. Too worried about keeping their hands clean to do what it would take.)

—he was prepared to guess, regarding this detail he didn't know, that 'punishment' would not have been the ~~Alliance~~ New Republic's mission at all. Cassian would bet K-2 to Han, with the express upshot of both hurling things at him, that the New Republic and most civilian Arkanians would have called it liberation.

But Imperials tend to call punishment or oppression what they saw as being deprived of what was rightfully theirs.

So… Hux protesting too much… unlocks some of the tension Cassian has been carrying in his chest for weeks. And he breathes with relief.

4 to 34 ABY. For thirty years, at least, there was a difference.

But then what?

It's the lack of griping protestation at the last event, the total absence of explanation or description, that makes Cassian's blood run cold again.

All he writes back:]

can you quantify 'destroyed'
as in 'completely destroyed... in a single moment'
?

Edited 2017-06-10 12:07 (UTC)

You're going to have to do more than asking nicely for that bit of information.

[they're back to that.

Cassian still doesn't know what to trade and won't make an offer open-ended.]

what options would you suggest

That depends on what you're willing to offer,
especially since we both know I'm the only one who can tell you what happened.

i'm willing to trade but not on this footing
give me some idea what you want or need and i'll see what i can do
not going to draw a border for you to chart my course right up against it

If it reassures you, I wouldn't ask you to give up Jyn Erso. Or deactivate your droid, since I can already do that myself.

So I'll have to think of what you can offer, especially since I know how much you want this information.

[On the far side of the comm screen, eyebrows have cleared the ionosphere.

If ever he starts to fall into the trap of thinking he and Hux could think remotely alike…

Cassian had been thinking I'm not going to hurt or kill anyone for you.

Hux… was thinking things that hadn't even occurred to Cassian because Jyn and Kay weren't his to "give up" (whatever the fucking goddamn parentless hell that could mean) even if he would.

But all other beings were just commodities to Imperials, weren't they.

Cassian…

…closes the channel in disgust.

Though if/when Hux sends a message outlining parameters… Cassian hasn't preemptively said there's no dealing.

Never deal with the Empire. They don't deal fairly with you.

But Hux, for all he wants to be and mistakes himself for it, is not the Empire.

Try me, mudcrutch.]

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