DARTH VADER, the fearsome enforcer of the Empire, is no more, having apparently been killed by the Emperor's adopted daughter, JYN ERSO, also known as Darth Thana.
EMPEROR PALPATINE, outraged by the death of his longtime apprentice, has summoned Jyn to his throne room on Coruscant to explain her actions.
Unknown to the Emperor, Jyn is no longer loyal to him, and is now almost ready to carry out her plan to overthrow him. It remains to be seen whether she succeeds or fails….
On Coruscant, the Emperor's Palace sits at the site of the former Jedi Temple. The ancient structure has been heavily modified to suit its new purpose, with external gun turrets on every level, and long, red banners carrying the logo of the Galactic Empire.
Inside the palace, Jyn Erso, Princess of the Galactic Empire, approaches a large double door, which is blocked by two red robed guards. The guards move aside, and Jyn approaches the door.
The Emperor did not sound pleased when he contacted me. That's no surprise. I expect he will punish me for acting against Vader without his permission. Hopefully the evidence that Barriss and Ahsoka fabricated for me will be good enough to fool the old bastard. Jyn thinks.
After a few seconds hesitation, Jyn goes through the door.
Jyn enters the throne room, a massive area, with a long, narrow corridor leading to the throne, which sits upon a platform at the top of a long flight of stairs. Jyn walks down the corridor, stops at the bottom of the stairs, and kneels on one knee.
"Rise, and approach, Thana." Palpatine says.
"Yes, father." Jyn says. She stands up, and approaches the throne, stopping several feet in front of it.
"I have called you here to discuss recent events." Palpatine answers.
"I understand." Jyn says.
"You will explain your actions at Kuat, daughter. Why did you kill Lord Vader?" Palpatine asks.
Foolish old man! I didn't kill him. I just want you to think I did. Without your right hand man, your Empire will be less efficient. Not only that, but one of your earliest victims has been given a chance at freedom. Jyn thinks.
"Vader was going to betray you. I have proof that he planned to engineer our deaths and take the throne for himself. He has also been training another secret apprentice." Jyn answers.
"Another? Surely he has learned from his past failures. Who is this new apprentice?" Palpatine asks.
"One of the Inquisitors. Second Brother." Jyn answers.
Since Vader personally trained Second Brother, I felt he was the most viable candidate to be a non existent secret apprentice. Jyn thinks.
"I see. You say you have evidence of your claims?" Palpatine asks.
"I do." Jyn answers.
"You will show me this evidence at once." Palpatine says.
"Of course. I have it here, on this datapad." Jyn says. She hands a datapad to the Emperor, who examines it for a few minutes.
"It would seem that Lord Vader did indeed betray me. You have eliminated a traitor and a fool. Well done, my daughter." Palpatine says.
Yes! We've completely fooled him! I can sense it! Well done, Barriss and Ahsoka! Jyn thinks.
"Thank you, father." Jyn says.
"I want Vader's apprentice killed." Palpatine says.
Oh, he will be, along with the rest of the Inquisitors. Jyn thinks.
"Of course. I will tend to it personally." Jyn says.
"No. Order the Grand Inquisitor carry out that task. You… will assume command of my forces as well as Lord Vader's mission to destroy the rebellion." Palpatine says.
He's giving me fleet command? This is… unexpected. Jyn thinks.
"Of course. What of my role on the advisory council?" Jyn asks.
"Your political duties can be performed from the Executor, and you can preside over council meetings via hologram." Palpatine answers.
He's letting me leave Coruscant? Good. I can use this to my advantage. Jyn thinks.
"Yes, father." Jyn says.
"I know that you and Lord Vader had been at odds for some time." Palpatine says.
That would be an understatement. Vader was a monster. One of your creation, old fool! Now, I have taken your monster away from you and set him free! Jyn thinks.
"You have on several occasions said that Vader was a disappointment to you. You were correct to think so. Also, I feel that his performance as fleet commander was… lacking." Jyn says.
"I agree. Let's hope you fare better." Palpatine says.
"I will. I am not weakened by foolish sentiment as Vader was." Jyn says.
"Yes… he often thought of his dead wife. He often… regretted his past deeds. Such thoughts are unbecoming of a true Sith. I know that you will never fall prey to such weakness." Palpatine says.
"I will not." Jyn says.
"Good. You may go now, Thana. Bring peace to the Empire." Palpatine says.
"Yes, father." Jyn says.
Your days are numbered old man. Your closest supporters will be swept away, then… you will die, and I will bring true peace to the galaxy. Jyn thinks.
A few hours later, Jyn is aboard the Super Star Destroyer Executor. She enters the bridge, accompanied by two red robed guards. The guards wait at the entrance as Jyn approaches the holotable at the rear of the bridge, where Admiral Piett now stands. The admiral turns to face Jyn, and bows to her.
"Welcome to the bridge, Your highness. I hope your chambers are to your satisfaction." Piett says.
"They are. Those were Lord Vader's rooms, were they not?" Jyn asks.
"Yes, milady. Your Chief of Staff has been here for over a day, personally supervising the removal of Lord Vader's equipment, and arranging accommodations for the rest of your support staff." Piett answers.
"Salja… was aware of my new position before me? I just found out this morning!" Jyn says.
"I was informed of your new status only hours before you came on board, milady. Your Chief of Staff indicated that she was assigned by the Emperor to prepare Lord Vader's office and quarters for his replacement, and find quarters for several support staff members. She wouldn't tell me anything else. Not even who she worked for." Piett says.
"That sounds like Salja." Jyn says.
"Indeed." Piett says. The admiral stands in silence for a moment.
"You have… something to say, admiral?" Jyn asks.
"It's… concerning your Chief of Staff." Piett answers.
"That's what I thought. If you have a complaint about Salja, I would like to be informed." Jyn says.
"I realize that she is your Chief of Staff and that affords her a high security clearance. However, she has a tendency to… give orders to my crew, despite the fact that she has no legal authority here. An additional person outside of the command structure giving orders…. Interferes with the efficiency of this ship." Piett says.
"I quite agree. I will instruct Salja to refrain from interfering with your duties." Jyn says.
"Thank you, milady." Piett says.
"Is this ship ready to get under way?" Jyn asks.
"Yes, your highness. We will depart Coruscant on your orders." Piett answers.
"Very good. Return us to the outer rim, and resume this ship's previous patrol assignment. Take us to lightspeed as soon as you are ready, admiral." Jyn says.
"Yes, milady." Piett says.
Several minutes later, Jyn enters her personal office aboard the Executor. It is a large, undecorated room, with the only furniture being a desk, and a small holotable behind it. Jyn makes her way to the holotable.
I need to contact HK-47, and inform him of recent developments. If he is on schedule, the he should be en route to his next mission. Jyn thinks.
Jyn presses several buttons on the holotable, and says "HK-47, this is Master. Verification code… Star Forge."
"Statement. HK-47 reporting. Verification code… slaughterhouse." A mechanical male voice says, as a hologram of a skeletal droid appears.
"Code confirmed. HK-47, report status." Jyn says.
"Statement. I am en route to the final target, and estimate that it will take four to six hours to eliminate the meatbag in question." HK-47 says.
"Good. Once that is done, report to me on the Executor." Jyn says.
"Query. The Executor?" HK-47 asks.
"With Lord Vader's… departure, I have been assigned command of all Imperial forces, and will command from the Executor. Of course, I will continue to rely on your skills as I have in the past." Jyn answers.
"Observation. I am pleased that you have chosen to rebuild me." HK-47 says.
"I rebuilt you as soon as I was able. I was in a rebel prison cell for a little over a month. I couldn't do much from there." Jyn says.
"Observation. I was not there to rescue you, or I would have done so." HK-47 says.
"I know. How are your systems?" Jyn asks.
"Answer. I am functioning within established parameters. No errors to report." HK-47 answers.
"Good. Rebuilding you… was not easy, so I'm glad there are no problems." Jyn says.
"Query. What difficulties did you encounter with my reconstruction?" HK-47 asks.
"You were blasted into about twenty pieces. I had to have replacement parts constructed. Due to the age of your design, this took some time." Jyn answers.
"Observation. I understand you have also ordered the construction of ten droids that are duplicates of my design. I must say that this prospect is not entirely pleasing to me. Query. How would you feel if someone made inferior copies of you?" HK-47 asks.
"You do make a good point, HK. However, you have nothing to worry about. The droids were built solely to carry out a special assignment, and there are no plans to replace you." Jyn answers.
The 'special assignment' will happen as soon as the Knights of Ren secure the rhydonium for me. Jyn thinks.
"Observation. Since my reconstruction, I have noticed that you seem to have some sort of secret plan that I am not fully aware of yet. I fail to understand why you did not allow me to accompany you when you eliminated the meatbag known as Vader. I would have been very useful to you in that scenario." HK-47 says.
"Everything… will be explained once you report to me on the Executor." Jyn says.
"Acknowledgement. Understood, master." HK-47 says.
"Good. Now, I had better let you get on with your mission. We will speak again when you report in." Jyn says. She presses a switch on the holotable, and the hologram of HK-47 disappears.
Once HK arrives, I will finally have an ally on this ship. Although… Admiral Piett might be one to watch. He seems to have more common sense that the typical Imperial officer. I'll have to study him further and see if he can be trusted. Jyn thinks.