Republic Intelligence Analyst Zane Jossin scowled at his computer screen. "Come on..." He muttered, hoping the planetary information network hadn't crashed again. He cursed, "Sithspit!" as the 'This Network is Down. Please Try Again' message flashed on to his screen. As Zane began to restart his log in to the system, he was aware of a commotion at the front of the office. Zane glanced over his partition wall, to the public information datascreen in the corner of the office, now with most of the workers in the department around it. Lorem, the junior data analyst who worked with Zane, noticed him peering over the partition, and called, "Zane! You have to see this!" Curious, Zane strolled over- on the screen was Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, with a 'Live' message flashing in the corner of the screen. "...every Jedi is now an enemy of the Republic!" Palpatine declared, to the roars of the Senate. The message along the bottom of the screen scrolled across; JEDI COUP DEFEATED- SUPREME CHANCELLOR ATTACKED. As a number of excited reporters and news anchors replaced Palpatine's image, Zane turned away, a little appalled. After all... everyone knew the Jedi were good, right? "Look!" Gasped one of the girls who worked in filing. "You can see the smoke from here!" Everyone rushed to the window where, in the distance, thick smoke could be seen rising from the Jedi Temple, one of the towers already gone. "All right everyone, all right... settle down..." Siran Gronel, the senior boss in the office, an older Bothan with greying fur, tapped on a desk for attention. As all turned to him, quiet now, he smiled with his sharp teeth. "With the deaths of the separatist leaders, and despite the attempted Jedi betrayal, the war is over! You all heard the Supreme Chancellor. As such, there seems little point us being here, so you may all take the rest of the day off. Be here early tomorrow, however. Many of you may well be reassigned. I will try to tell you more when I know more. So, enjoy the rest of your day." A general murmur of thanks rippled through the workers, and Zane slowly made his way back to his desk. Would he keep his job as a Republic Analyst, no, Imperial now?

He had a young wife and child to support. This was a good job, good pay... a position Zane couldn't afford to lose. Lorem packed up his stuff as he grinned excitedly. "Wow. Who'd have thought the Jedi would betray the Republic, eh? Lucky for us Palpatine survived! And an Empire..." Lorem shrugged, then, "Ah well. Fancy a drink after work? Or maybe that Black Bantha holodrama? Garik Loran's tipped to be the next big thing, you know." Zane smiled, but said, "Sorry, Zane. I have to get back to Val, and little Ioan. Another time, perhaps?" Lorem nodded. "No problem. See you tomorrow."

Later, on the public shuttle, Zane found himself sat next to a rather drunk Ithorian, and looked deliberately out at the Coruscant cityscape. Clone troopers, it seemed, were out in force, and there was an air of near unbearable tension across the whole planet. As the shuttle swerved to avoid a careless taxi, Zane caught sight of a crowd being held back by clone troopers far below- suddenly, the glow of energy weapons could be seen. Before Zane could see more, the shuttle passed a building, and the scene far below was lost. A few minutes later, Zane was making his way to the nice, if basic, apartment his family lived in. He paused a second before going in, glancing back at the smoke which could still be seen in the direction of the Jedi Temple. From here, only a half dozen levels below some of the nicest areas of housing on Coruscant (but only a dozen above some of the worst), despite the intervening bulk of the Senate building, the rising smoke could still be seen... Shaking his head, Zane used his key card to unlock the door. As it slid open, Val's voice immediately called, "Zane? Have you seen the news?" "I have, love. How's Ioan today?" Val smiled, as she gently rocked Ioan before the holo screen. Zane felt his heart lift as he gazed upon her dark, curly locks, her slightly plump frame- suddenly, here, tucked away in this apartment, the problems in the outside world seemed a long way away.

For several weeks, Military Intelligence Department 42 was turned over to compiling reports on pirates and smugglers, until Chief Analyst Gronel called them all together for a departmental meeting. As the last stragglers gathered round, Gronel began. "I have today received the new organisational details concerning this department from the office of the Emperor himself. However, due to the nature of this work, I cannot divulge it at this time, until I have completed the reorganisation of the department. So, if everyone will gather up all your things, I'll speak to you one by one in my office. Don't worry- no one will be fired. Some will be retained by this department, in this new work, others will be relocated to other departments. One or two will be promoted. But, as I say... one by one, eh? So, first; Ganus Abrahals." The tall Alderranian entered Gronels office. A few minutes later he emerged, gathered up his things, and left without a word. "Janus Beckley." The nervous Corellian woman followed Gronel into his office. The door closed. She was in there for a few minutes too, before emerging, biting her lip nervously, and returned to her desk. Wordlessly, she began unpacking her things.

One by one they were called in. A few stayed; many left. There were almost 100 people in Department 42; by the time Zane was called in, at least half had already left. As the door slid shut behind Zane, Gronel said, "Zane, my boy, sit, please." Palms sweaty, Zane did so. Gronel smiled. "Don't worry, Zane. You are remaining in this department, with a promotion to senior intelligence analyst, effective immediately. Now, as to our new role..." Gronel leant forward conspiratorially. "Our analysis skills and existing contacts will be used, not to glean tactical information about the separatists, but to seek out the locations of a new enemy... the last Jedi. Latest estimates put the number of Jedi still out there at as many as a few hundred- we are still trying to pin down exact numbers. Now, where there were 10,000, even one hundred seems so insignificant... but even a single Jedi is a great danger to the Empire. We will seek them out and pass relevant information on to... to the relevant parties. Here." Gronel handed Zane a data chip. "This contains all the necessary information. Read it, but mention this to no one else in the office. No one outside this department must know of our role. Understood?"

Zane nodded slowly, pleased at his promotion, but with cold dread at this grim duty. "Thank you, sir." As he walked back to his desk, he got curious glances from those who had yet to go in, and knowing looks from those who already knew. With a deep breath, Zane sat, plugged in the datachip and began examining the information contained on it.

The remit of this new department, the new organisational structure... and, attached, a long list of names. As Zane scrolled to each name, a picture and biography popped up. Most of the biographies had DECEASED in big red letters over the picture, but it was those that did not that Zane now concentrated on. Absentmindedly, Zane jotted a few notes on to the pad on his desk, and noted the names on the list showing either MISSING- PRESUMED DEAD or UNKNOWN. Mentally, Zane reviewed what he would have to do tomorrow... first, he'd get someone to go the Jedi Temple, if there was any of it left, or maybe the Central Library, check their databanks to ensure no Jedi had been missed off. Then, to check intelligence on the last known locations of all the surviving Jedi, and to begin sifting data to find their trails. Engrossed in his work, Zane barely noticed when Lorem returned, nervously, to his desk, and unpacked his box. Zane did notice when Gronel called, "Zane! A word, please?" As Zane entered Gronels' office, Gronel said, "So! Thoughts on our new role?" Zane smiled. "It sounds... interesting, sir. I have some ideas..." "As do I, Zane, as do I!" said Gronel enthusiastically. "Now, where to begin?"

Within a week, Gronel had already put his first idea into operation- a huge screen had been fitted to one wall of the office, and on it the holo picture and biography of every surviving Jedi, arranged in a certain priority. At the top level, Master Obi Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda, the only remaining members of the Jedi Council. A priority, Gronel had been told, as they would be a rally point for any remaining Jedi. A little below them, the other Jedi Masters that survived Order 66- a bare handful of them, and one of these with a MISSING- PRESUMED DEAD? that needed to be confirmed. Then, several dozen Jedi Knights, some with the same MISSING- PRESUMED DEAD? label. The same number, again, of Padawan's and a handful of Younglings, too. Unfortunately, of some individuals, there were only names- no ranks, no biographies, could be seen. While it was known none were Council Members- these were all accounted for- someone had attempted to wipe the Jedi Archives and the Central Library, and the fire at the Jedi Temple had destroyed any chance of finding these elusive identities. For all the Empire knew, there could be another dozen Jedi Masters out there.

One of these names, Vima da Boda, had turned up in the databases- a Jedi who apparently had little involvement in the Clone Wars and disappeared sometime before Order 66 had been enacted. After, apparently, purging virtually all record of herself from the databases. Of the others... for Zane, and the whole of Department 42, it was frustrating. The Intelligence Analysts under Zane were beginning the laborious task of sifting through reams of data- reports from Clone commanders, observers, eye witnesses, forensic teams... Of Zanes 8 man team, 3 reports were sitting on his desk- the most promising leads on Jedi. These, Zane would read, and judge whether they were worthy of follow ups, or useless. If they were worthy, Zane would give them to Gronel... and, from there, at some point, Lord Vader or perhaps even the Emperor himself would see them, and Lord Vader or an army of clones would descend to track down the unfortunate Jedi.

Zane read the first report, on Master Yoda. After leaving Kashykk, it was known Yoda had been on Coruscant, and attacked Palpatine- a last Jedi betrayal, a final throw of the dice. Then, a ship matching Yoda's had been seen on the Hydian Way. After that, it had disappeared; Yoda could have been in a dozen systems in the mid or outer rim. Zane scrawled a note on the report; it was a good report, but more digging was needed. That one went into his out tray. The next report concerned a possible Jedi in Hutt space; a Knight who had escaped the betrayal of his clone troopers, but whose ship had been damaged enough that he had been forced to set down for repairs. This, Zane flagged for immediate attention. The third report was an update of a previous report, with two more names of Jedi whose status could now be officially confirmed as dead, as opposed to 'missing; presumed dead.' Zane took these 2 reports to Gronel; the Bothan grinned ferally as he read them. "Excellent, Zane, excellent! I'll leave you to update the Wall, if you wouldn't mind? I'll contact Lord Vader's on the last report." Zane nodded. "Sure, chief. Sure you don't want to see?" Gronel waved Zane away with a laugh. "No, it's more than my jobs worth if I don't get this info to Lord Vader ASAP. Go, go."

Zane strode out of Gronel's office, to the screen on the wall. As they saw him approach the Wall, as the Analysts had already begun calling it, the Analysts nudged each other to get their attentions. Zane waited, until all eyes were on him, then solemly tapped a couple of the holograms; and Jedi Knight Y'thrap Ngrel and Padawan Caso Ntoura suddenly had faded holograms, with DECEASED in large red letters taking the place of the biographies. A clapping from the analysts, and Zane bowed mockingly. "Good work, guys. Keep it up." The workers of Department 42 cheered, and began to return to their work.

Zane gazed at the now faded holo of the young Padawan, and wondered again whether this Jedi had been beyond hope, had been part of the Jedi Rebellion, had had to die. Then he shook his head, mentally chiding himself for such thoughts. The Jedi had no place in the Empire, that was for sure, they had tried to kill Palpatine and take over... and the sooner the remaining Jedi were rounded up the better. As always, Zane steadfastly ignored the little voice, deep within him, that persisted, but hadn't Palpatine taken over anyway? Weren't the Jedi guardians, of democracy and the Republic? Why suddenly change? And at a time when, for the first time in decades, there was an army to stand against them? And why- Zane scowled, burying such thoughts as he returned to his desk. He had a family to support, it wouldn't do to allow his thoughts to descend into treachery against the Empire.

That night, as he waited for the (delayed again) shuttle, a report flashed on to a public viewscreen; Lord Vader had captured a group of agitators at an illegal pro-Jedi rally in one of Coruscants more affluent areas- the next shot was of their dismembered bodies, and Zane grimaced and turned away. He hoped Val wasn't watching- she hated seeing this sort of stuff on the holo channels. He also hoped it was the last such rally; there had been more immediately after the Jedi betrayal, but now, only an occasional, isolated rally. Zane knew several Senators had been arrested last week, all charged with aiding Jedi or plotting the overthrow of the Empire, or both. All had signed confessions, and been publicly executed within hours of their arrest. Slowly, but surely, the Emperor was gaining control, his iron grip crushing all opposition, all resistance. And this was right, Zane knew- the Republic had been corrupt, had needed strong leadership, a firm hand to guide it. Then why did he find himself wondering, with each Jedi death, whether the Republic had truly been so far beyond reprieve, the Jedi so hungry for power that their Order had needed to be wiped out? Then, Zane thought of his wife and child, who were far richer, far better off under the Empire than they ever were under the Republic. No, he assured himself, it HAD been necessary. Hadn't it?