Galactic Heroes or A Bunch of Thugs?
Year 21 Day 361
Scandal has shocked and horrified many galactic citizens! A “report” (this reporter struggles to call it that) released by Dain Thurith of the Eclipse Templars took credit for a strike on the Confederacy of Independent Systems last week. This resulted in the death of several Confederate Officers. The report seemed confirmed by several missing person broadcasts observed across the Confederate internal holonet.
The release by the Templars laid out several claims, boasting of the efficiency of their raid and claiming billions from a corrupt and dysfunctional government. They also leveled accusations of corruption from within the Confederate leadership as well.
CIS leadership was quick to fire back as Head of State, Taldar Logas, formally addressed the media later that night from the Ardent-class Fast Frigate “Messer” in Endor.
An attached holovid link reveals a Ryn male, sitting at what appeared to be a control panel on the command deck. He appeared slightly worn, but energized with a fire burning behind his eyes.
“Greetings Citizens, sentients and colleagues. I have decided to take some time from the Federation Gala to inform all of you in regards to the truth behind the recent raid on the Confederate Government. Contrary to recent news reports, the recent event was not some well thought out operation by the Eclipse Templars. This was the case of a disgruntled employee taking advantage of his post. This employee, who shall remain nameless, has been with our group for many years, and lets just say he was less than spectacular in performing his job duties. Just last month, I caught him flying a Confederate Modular Taskforce Cruiser to the other side of the galaxy out of what he called boredom. Several members of leadership wanted him arrested, including myself, but a member of the Confederate Board intervened and he was given a second chance.
You may ask why he then betrayed us? This employee was apparently upset that his behavior did not grant him a promotion. After uncovering some ‘discrete’ logs, it was confirmed he met with the leadership of the Eclipse Templars about his feelings of discontent. Instead of contacting the Confederate Government and assisting in clearing up some of these so called discrepancies, the Templars instead decided to take advantage of this employee and use his privileges to unload several crates of generic armory and weaponry. It was not 6 billion credits worth as they claim, merely 80 crates of random junk found laying around.
These items were meaningless, but unfortunately this was not all they had schemed. They also focused on capturing some high ranking individuals. It was confirmed by external sources that Chairman Siejo Kutol was their initial target, but he was found difficult to track. Instead, the disgruntled employee focused on those closest to the Chairman. Allan Kutol, the Chairman’s wife, became the prime target. She was on a humanitarian mission in Zrak, which was focused on delivering modern medications and constructing hospitals for the primitive Heep-Heep clan. Security videos confirmed she was ripped from her bunk at night by a shadowy figure and dragged onboard the Colossus cruiser Apocalypse. Unfortunately, Mrs. Kutol was not alone on this mission, being accompanied by her son, Caellun. The boy was taken onboard the ship as well. Once on the ship, Mrs. Kutol was thrown in cuffs, and dragged into the dungeon. It is unclear how the boy was treated; but this was a severely traumatizing experience for them both. Simultaneously, reports did confirm a similar fate to Sion Plagueis and several other Confederate officers.
The Templars then contacted myself, the Confederate Head of State, to lay out their terms. They were aggressive and threatened to start executing hostages if the government did not comply with their demands of “land”, starting with Mrs. Kutol. When their demands were not immediately met, Templar leadership started killing in cold blood just to ‘prove how serious the situation was.’ These monsters demanded the CIS hand over the lives of billions of Confederate citizens over to their control. The people we have struggled to liberate and defend. People we have pledged to protect.
The Confederacy does not condone acts of piracy, and will not be threatened. As I laid this out to the terrorists, they refused to negotiate with me, as they perceived that I do not so easily give into petulant fools, and began to try to negotiate with other members of leadership. After additional failures to make headway, they returned to me no longer demanding territory, likely looking for anything they could use to claim this operation a success. In the end, most of our friends were released, safely. Save for those they murdered to ‘show how serious they were.’
Let me be clear – The Eclipse Templars are not a group of freedom fighting heroes. They are merely another bunch of criminals looking for the opportunity to take advantage of somebody. These acts were not those of some noble group out to fight corruption, but an organization bent on chaos by any means. The criminal tendencies of the group is not a new thing. Their leader, Alessandro De Caito (AKA Lord Vex), has already tried this before.
The Confederacy of Independent Systems will not tolerate this unprovoked attack on our people and our way of life. Every person associated with ‘The Umbradawn Corporation,’ as they style themselves, blacklisted. A bounty is posted on each, and every one of their heads. Each organization affiliated with them, is blacklisted. Rest assured, blacklisting these incompetent terrorists is the least will do. Future responses will pay them back tenfold, and there will be no safe ground for them to hide.
While we cannot speak for our allies on their future actions, I have been overwhelmed by the support shown by many. We mourn for those murdered, celebrate those returned, and we vow vengeance.”
With that, Mr. Logas ended his statement. However, the press release also included information on bounties placed on all known members of their organization.