Date: Year 24 Day 341 Onboard the Lucrehulk-class Battleship (CIS) Cyclopsis in system Tar Morden (-40, -200).
Late in Year 21, the CIS was rocked by a terrorist attack. Whilst Dain Thurith of the Eclipse Templars publicly took credit for the kidnapping of several ranking members of the Confederacy, as well as the theft of thousands of items, investigations carried out after the attack pointed to a disgruntled citizen who was working within the Confederate government.
The investigation revealed that the Chairman of the government, Siejo Kutol, was the initial target of the raid. However, when the attempt against Chairman Kutol failed, the disgruntled employee targeted his family as well as several ranking members of the government. At the time the Templars demanded a large ransom, including “planets”. During the incident Head of State Taldar Logas reiterated that the Confederacy did not condone acts of piracy, and would not be threatened, even refusing to enter negotiations. After several tense days, Mrs. Kutol and Mr. Plagueis were released without any concessions from the government. The Eclipse Templars were subsequently blacklisted by the government and large bounties were placed on the leadership as well as the disgruntled employee.
Three years after the incident, the Confederacy has undergone many changes and evolved from the collective it once was, but it has never forgotten those who have tried to cause it harm. Recently, a representative of the Antarian Rangers contacted the Confederate government wishing to turn in one of these bounties.
A representative of the Antarian Rangers met with Mr. Kutol, now Magistrate of the South, in the Tanked Toydarian Tavern in Glean Caer on Tar Morden III. Over Drinks, the Ranger spun the tale of the events that lead to the capture of the known criminal. A member of their organization, known only as “an anonymous Jedi”, had encountered the Barabel, Hanzo Thurith, whilst he was attempting to peddle stolen goods from his Colossal Cruiser in orbit of a developing, mid-rim planet. The Jedi Ranger became suspicious of the goods, and a brief background check had confirmed a large bounty on the head of the Barabel. With his suspicions confirmed, planning then was set in motion to set a trap for the criminal.
The Anonymous Jedi Ranger then contacted Mr. Thurith with an offer of employment for a hauling job. Negotiations were short, and Mr. Thurith was provided with a pair of heavy haulers to complete a particular sham job. At first, citing security concerns, Mr. Turith had refused to use the pair of haulers, opting instead to take a personal ship squadded with a freighter. The Jedi Ranger then expressed his displeasure at the negative impact such a method would have on the job’s timeline, and with the aid of a Jedi mind trick, convinced Mr. Thurithto board the vessels. The trap was set and the criminal had walked right into it.
Once Mr. Thurith was underway, the Jedi Ranger monitored his progress using a camera droid hidden in the cockpit. Shortly after takeoff, the Jedi Ranger activated a device he had secretly planted in the freighter, which locked Mr. Thurith out of the controls. Another Ranger was waiting in a nearby ship, and quickly docked to the freighter. Mr. Thurith appeared to be distracted and did not immediately realize what was happening. Blissfully unaware, he sent a comm to his “employer” requesting reinstatement of cockpit privileges. While he was busy in the comms room, the other Ranger had boarded the freighter and seized the controls. When Mr. Thurith finally realized he was in danger, he made a break for the ship’s hanger bay, where he had stashed a speeder. Realizing Mr. Thurith might try to escape, the Rangers opened the hangar bay door from the cockpit controls, allowing the change in air pressure to dispose of the speeder.
While the Ranger was busy dumping Mr. Thurith’s assets out the back of the bulk freighter, Mr. Thurith had again appealed to his “employer” over the comms, requesting backup. At that time, the Rangers informed him that he was being placed under arrest for his association with crimes including kidnapping,and extortion and that he was to be turned over to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Once Mr. Thurith seemed to understand the situation; he reportedly threatened to report them to a “higher power”. Exactly what Mr. Thurith’s religious beliefs remain unclear. Sadly, it appeared that his deity did not hear his plea as Mr. Thurith remained in custody and the Rangers were able to secure the prisoner in one of the freighter’s side rooms.
Once out of atmosphere, the ship had entered hyperspace, jumping to a secure location, before contacting Mr. Kutol and informing him of the mission’s success. Interrogation later revealed that many of the items stolen and extorted from CIS years ago were still aboard Mr. Thurith’s ship, and attempts to reclaim the stolen property are underway.
Per official reports, Magistrate Kutol was more than thrilled with the news, revealing to the Agent that Mr. Thurith was not just another “Templar” bounty, but was actually the previous unnamed disgruntled employee that had personally carried out much of the kidnapping several years ago. Per Kutol, Mr. Thurith was disgruntled over what he had perceived as an injustice, requesting a promotion for very subpar work. He had at that time been encouraged to focus on his assigned mission, which was already months overdue. Rather than take this advice, Mr. Thurith decided to contact the Eclipse Templars and plot the events that unfolded. At the time, he had remained unnamed in all CIS propaganda as the government had not wanted to glorify his acts of terrorism and greed. After two years on the run and no longer welcome in the Templars, Hanzo Thurith is now in custody.
Arrangements were made at that point to escort Mr. Thurith back to Confederate Space for a speedy and surely unbiased trial. As Mr. Thurith had already declared his guilt several years ago, the trial is expected to be short. It is also expected he will be thrown into a cell and his name will never be mentioned again. Bounties on the Templars and all organizations are expected to remain in place.
The CIS would like to thank the Antarian Rangers for their professionalism and flawless execution of one of the most daring captures this galaxy has seen in years. Their tactics, teamwork, and timing make them a force to be reckoned with, and the Confederacy applauds their dedication to justice and their spirit of service.