Chapter 42
"...We can now confirm that due to a local uprising…" "That's right, the Empire has lost control of Carida, one of their most valuable…" "...Has the Empire lost its hold?" "...reports of Jedi involvement in the events on Carida yesterday…" "Carida's usual Empire Day celebration was interrupted by an attack both on and above the planet…" "The Valor, Carida's orbital command station, has fallen to terrorists, along with 10 ISD's on patrol…" "Along with the loss of a planet, the Empire also now loses one of their best training academies as well as hundreds of Imperial military grade vehicles and weapons…"
No matter what channel Vader looked at, they were all talking about the same story. The Empire had suffered a disastrous defeat on Carida, one of their poster planets. All remaining Imperials after the attack had been recalled, as the enemy forces far overpowered them once the rebels had taken control of the heavy weaponry. Now, Vader was sitting in his office, watching Grand Moff Krennic pace back and forth as several dozen different holograms for the news covered the walls, playing overlapping chatter. Finally, Krennic stopped pacing and deduced, "This is not good." Vader scoffed, but Krennic continued. "Something like this, happening on Carida of all places, on Empire Day of all days! Every single channel keeps showing the same image: the Valor wreck, covered in flames, falling to the surface. They're making it out like the entire Empire has fallen!" Just then, the door opened and Luke walked in, saying, "Understand, Governor, when we lose even one leg on our footstool, the entire structure may topple. Yesterday, we lost a very important leg." Vader interrupted then, saying, "But I do not care about Carida. What I care about are the rumors of the Jedi."
Confused, Krennic tried to explain. "Your Majesty, Carida is a very important part of the Empire, housing a training academy and several hundred…" "I do not care, Governor," Vader cut him off. "Our new Naval leader, Supreme Admiral Thrawn, has a program that will deal with them easily enough already in production." He then turned to his apprentice and said, "Now, what of the rumors of Jedi?" Luke took a deep breath and responded, "I believe that they are true, Master. It would take great power to cause destruction on this scale, especially in an Imperial stronghold. Of course, it was more likely two Jedi than twenty, as one news station has been reporting." Nodding sagely, Vader said, "Very well. Question the Imperial survivors from Carida, try to find the identities of these Jedi, and where they may be going. Don't bother to report to me for a few days, I have something important planned for tomorrow that I won't recover from for a while. Instead, gather the Inquisitors and go hunting. Flush out the Jedi." Luke bowed and said, "Yes, Master." He then bowed to Vader and left the room.
Krennic watched him go, then turned back to face Vader. "My Emperor, please, understand that this is a big problem for us. The galaxy thinks that the Empire has been weakened. The news of us losing a planet for the first time in the Empire's existence has already spread to every system! If the entire galaxy rises against us, we're doomed, no matter how many Star Destroyers we bring." Vader raised a hand, and Krennic fell silent. "Let the galaxy think us weak," Vader said. "We will eventually demonstrate our true power. I have been increasing our strength ever since I became Emperor, and soon we will show the galaxy why they should fear us. But for now, we wait. We let our enemies think us vulnerable, and they will come out of hiding. Then, we will finally crush them when they are still convinced that we are 'weak.'"
Finally understanding the plan, Krennic stood and bowed to Vader before leaving the room. Vader stood from his desk and moved to look out the window. As he always had been, he was irritated by the obscuring vision of his helmet's lenses, but calmed himself by thinking about tomorrow. True, he would take time to recover, if indeed he survived at all… No, he would survive. He was determined to survive, even if he needed the Force to sustain him. The surgery would change his entire existence. Of course, he would still wear at least a hood to obscure his face whenever he addressed the Senate, but he would finally have his old face back, which would be sure to unnerve Kenobi when they finally met again. Over five years had done little to calm Vader's burning rage for his old Jedi Master, and he knew that with each passing day, their inevitable next confrontation drew ever closer. Of course, for some reason, Vader almost didn't want their next encounter to be their last. He remembered his promise to Obi-Wan back on Mapuzo so long ago. Now you will suffer, as I have suffered. Now, Vader promised himself, one way or another, Obi-Wan Kenobi would suffer dearly for his sins.