Earlier this week during an isolated conference, Crime Lord of Zann Consortium Ximaro Jix addressed rumors about the sudden resignation of John Bourne, The Resistance Director of Intelligence, and the reported deaths of two Black Sun fugitives Markos Arlos and Rennek Cor at the hands of Consortium Byveks.

 

Former Director Bourne a man regarded among the rebellion for his fierce anti-Imperial and anti-Zann Consortium stance, rose to become a New Republic Intelligence agent and later appointed as the Director of Resistance Intelligence.  It was a surprise when Bourne stepped to ahead of Ximaro, explaining that he was planted inside of the New Republic as an agent of Zann. His task was espionage and to exert influence over the government. Zann desired to fuel the fire between rebels and imperials and combat other subversive organizations attempting to exert influence over the New Republic’s decision-making process.

 

Bourne explained that while he was among The Resistance, Ximaro himself assisted John in the founding of The Resistance’s Covert Activities Cadre, Bourne’s clandestine network created to reveal enemies of the rebellion. Bourne noted that while The Resistance and its allies were pursuing Ximaro and Zann, Bourne was fed information by Ximaro to target agents of the Consortium’s various enemies and to report opportunities for assassinations and sabotage. Bourne identified other infiltrators within the rebel groups beyond himself and used them to aid him in various operations for Consortium objectives, including the removal of the New Republic’s rogue, Jasper Merlyn. Jasper was suspected to be a puppet a splinter cell formerly known as GenoHaradan, a group of operatives that have clashed with Zann agents going back several years, under various identities.

 

Following that announcement, Bourne addressed the death of Markos Arlos who sought asylum from Black Sun within Zann Consortium.  Arlos was supplying information on the Imperial Union syndicate along with data files from many other contacts he had maintained; however, the Vurk had become erratic and angry, often threatening associates of Zann and the members he met. He adopted this hostile attitude following his failure to pass the rigorous training regimen that Defilers undergo, known as “Phase Training”. According to Bourne, Markos wore out his welcome threatening to reveal names of fellow Kensushei (Trainees) unless they paid him for his silence. The extortion attempt was met with no words, only pursuit. This resulted in his death by the hands of Bvyek Nat N`ightshade.

 

Rennek Cor, founder of Cor Research and Development (CRDC) was a successful businessman and former member of the Black Sun organization. Cor was loyal to the late Underlord Alexander Von Ismay.  Once the regime changed within Black Sun, Rennek Cor became a marked man; however, he fled and evaded capture by Black Watch, the Intelligence Division of Black Sun. Seth Haze captured him following the 7th Annual Uli Swap Meet. Bourne and Ximaro declined to explain executing Rennek, leading to speculation by those gathered at the conference, but what remains clear is the Consortium’s continued ferocity to those deemed its enemies.

 

Defiler Bourne spoke of more comical matters.  He was asked to discuss the emergence of recent intelligence brought forth by the mercenary group Eclipse Templars and its leader, a rogue Defiler named Dain Thurith. In a detailed report, Dain presented evidence the Mecrosa Conglomerate was acting as a secret supporter of the Consortium. This report has many insiders confused or bemused.  “Dac Kain is the only VIP in our tavern, Scums Hideaway, which is home to organizations under our umbrella like Blackskull Trading, Car`das Smugglers and Nova Blades. One would assume that perhaps we’ve always been open about our dealings with Mecrosa,” Bourne stated, somewhat puzzled by the accusation.

 

When questioned why they revealed Bourne as a long-time infiltrator, Ximaro himself stated, “With the amount of organizations we have compromised, this does not harm the integrity of our operations in any way. Bourne has earned his rest.”

Good day, and welcome to Culture Corner, your source for up-to-date news in the arts, sciences, and society. this is Hylia Fortinet reporting from frozen Pa`hir`al, where just a few days ago the formation of the Xenoarchaeological Institute was announced. Earlier today I sat down with founder and chairman Kaze Zill, to discuss the how's and why's of this foray into the world of science and history.

--------------------------

Hylia Fortinet: Mr. Zill, what prompted you to form the Xenoarchaeological Institute?

Kaze Zill: Stagnation. Our galaxy is embroiled in a near-perpetual cold war, the likes of which have not been seen for millenia. Despite occasional flare-ups, the never ending build-up of materials of war and the sentients nessescary to use them has meant that, in recent decades, less attention has been paid to fields of study not directly related to war efforts. Among these, I feel, is the practice of Xenoarchaeology; that is, the study of primarily nonhuman races and their past. In particular, those species who are no longer members of the galactic community, whether through extinction or isolation.

The galaxy is vast, with millions of planets, many of whom have at one point or another supported entire cultures, knowledge of which is largely lost to us today. Records of such species are often spotty at best, whether through deliberate deletion or simple negligence on the part of record keepers. It is my mission, and the mission of those who share my curiosity for these matters, to learn all that can be learned of these species.

HF: What are you hoping to find?

KZ: Knowledge, primarily. We already have a dedicated team of research analyists combing through archives, looking for hints or mentions of races lost to time. Ideally, we hope to mount expeditions to worlds that we deem to be probable planets of habitation to search in detail for evidence of habitation, and to learn more about that world's culture, inhabitants, customs, technology, and so on.

We are also hoping for tangible, material, results. Museums across the galaxy serve as repositories of phsyical artefacts, and provide a way to engage the public as a whole, to create interest in the past of our galactic community. They also serve as a way to preserve such artefacts, and many, myself included, believe that such artefacts would be more appropriately located in an appropriate enviroment than simply being buried under hundreds or thousands of years of mud and dirt. We cannot learn from things we have yet to discover, after all.

                     

HF: Do you believe that looking backwards in time will help the future of the galaxy?

KZ: Absolutely. Why? Because every race in our galaxy contributes in some way. The Duros are responsible for some of the most detailed and thorough exploration of space. Geonosis is home to some of the most gifted engineers in the galaxy. Thyferrans brought Bacta to our universe as a material that has saved lives beyond counting. Even if they are gone from the galaxy, who knows what advances, cultural or technological, those races may have left behind? Just because a species dies out does not mean they have nothing to teach us.

HF: Do you have a team working with you?

KZ: Indeed. I am fortunate enough to be working alongside some amazingly talented people. Con Semper, who is a renowned cloner and a specialist in Force related artefacts. Areagla Loomis, his wife, is a household name in the animal sciences, we hope that she can assist us with creature remains and the like. Paul Luz will be helping us as well, he's well regarded in academia, particularly for his contributions to the sadly defunct Scholars guild.

HF: And do others share your vision?

KZ: Oh, yes. We've been incredibly lucky that in the past several weeks alone several individuals have been kind enough to lend support, in the form of advice, partnerships, and logistics. I'm very pleased to announce that we will be partnering with the Belloq Tull Memorial Traveling Meliorist Museum and Artifact Collectorium. Mr. Tull shares our passion for knowledge and antiquities, and we hope to showcase some of the artifacts we find in his splendid collection, which we hope will open to the public soon, once the possessed have been exorcised.

HF: The...possessed?

KZ: We would also like to thank miss Sia Vir'uan, who was kind enough to donate to us a space ideal for our own museum, which we hope to have a grand opening for later this year. Miss Vir'uan is also in the process of establishing her own museum ship, but i'm not at liberty to say much about that yet.

HF: I..see. Well Mr. Zill, anything else to tell us today?

KZ: Certainly. We would like to extend an invitation for anyone with any information or desire to help to please contact us, it is only through a keen desire for knowledge that we can truly understand our past, and we welcome any who wish to join us in our efforts to make the galaxy a more informed place.

Thank you.

There has never been a better time to be a Jawa wildlife enthusiast in this galaxy! With the "guns 4 jawa" program arming Jawas to protect themselves against tallfolk and creature aggression, it has never been easier for a Jawa to get the tools they need to hunt creatures in the wild and make a profit doing it. In this issue, we speak with a number of wildlife enthusiasts and other hunters as they share their stories and discuss the recent controversial "Zoo Mania" spreading across the galaxy. Those looking only to get more information on Zoo Mania should jump to roughly the middle of this issue.

As many readers know, there has recently been a massive rise in Jawas entering the hunting scene around the galaxy. One event credited at least partially with this rise is the "Death Hunt" that has been taking place at many of the last few galactic swap meets, a destination for any Jawa off the homeworld to visit. These Death Hunts offer a hefty credit prize for those dedicated hunters who can most quickly kill off a list of targets within the allotted timeframe. Although the event is still frequently dominated by non-Jawas, a number of Jawas have participated in recent years, with some spending much of the swap meet hunting local wildlife rather than engaging in trade and commerce exclusively.

Furthermore, with the aforementioned "guns 4 jawa" program, any Jawa off the homeworld with a convincing excuse can obtain a blaster free of charge by visiting a Jawa Offworld Enterprises representative with available stock. This has seen a notable rise in armed Jawas across the galaxy who often are looking for something to do with their newfound blaster. This easy access to the tools of the trade has enabled many to quickly get into the hunting game, even though the original purpose of this program was to enable recipients to better defend their profits.

Another element credited with this rise in hunting popularity is the change in Jawa norms that has occurred with many leaving behind their homeworld. In the words of one Jawa, "After I left my mama behind for the galaxy at large, I found myself getting in a lot of scuffles with the local tallfolk and not doing the best in them. So me and a few of my friends took a couple of lessons from a pal who used to be in the Jawa liberation force and started practicing with weapons out in the wild, hunting down some wildlife and even some criminals. The tallfolk look at me different now that I can pull my blaster and get off some fire before they can say 'hooded little anklebiter!' I also now have a gnarly necklace made out of nexu toes, and a pair of boots I nicked from a dead bandit."

A truly inspiring tale, and one reflective of why many Jawas spend time hunting creatures: it helps to teach them the skills they need to better defend themselves and their family while sometimes making a hefty profit from the spoils of war.

Another pressing topic to many of these Jawas is that of Zoo Mania. This is a recent phenomenon as the galaxy has seen an abrupt, massive surge in individuals turning up at places where animals are kept, including zoos, ranches, wildlife preserves, and porg farms. We're not entirely clear on why people are suddenly so interested in wildlife, but it seems to have something to do with a number of activist groups that have been using these places as staging grounds to organize like minded individuals, and this could be a prime opportunity for profit. There appear to be four main groups, three of which engage in dangerous and unsustainable hunting practices in order to further their political ends. Sadly, none of these groups are Jawacentric.

All of these activists seem to have the same strange goal, to kill creatures designated as "large" or above and bring some form of proof of the kill back to a representative of their group. Many of these groups do not have the best interest of wildlife or the art of hunting at heart, with popular groups like the so-called "Sport Hunter Guild" and "Tech Lovers" who appear to be attempting to wipe out wildlife populations in order to hinder others. This is a clearly destructive practice, and little better than the dangerous "DNA Bashers" who are intent upon making use of known murderer Alejandro Brotingo's "Twilight Foundation" science labs in order to create a genetically modified creature to release into the wild as an invasive species, inevitably wreaking havoc on the natural order.

We here at Jawa Wildlife Hunters Bimonthly naturally advise supporting the like-minded organization of the "Zoo Keepers Alliance" who are working to prevent poachers and protect the local wildlife populations while engaging in sustainable and responsible hunting. Additionally, in a bold move, the ZKA has pledged to design and distribute the designs for a new anti-poaching and hunting droid in the event that they succeed in protecting the wildlife in a majority of popular hunting destinations, preventing the dastardly plans of the other three "activist" groups. If that isn't a reason to get Jawas onboard, I don't know what it is! Go out to your local zoo, ranch, or wildlife preserve and speak to a ZKA representative today to pledge your support.

While this is a decisive topic for many Jawas, this Zoo Mania has raised questions of sustainable hunting, the role of responsible hunters in limiting poaching, and the overall place of the modern Jawa hunter in protecting wildlife. Many planets suffer from struggling wildlife populations after the human destruction of the local ecosystems and exploitation of the natural environments of wildlife, and while it may be profitable in the short term to hunt as many animals as possible to near extinction, it seems to be a poor long term business model.

One Jawa who appeared to be carrying an excessive number of weapons had the following to say: "Why are we hunting these creatures? They're barely worth chasing. The true game is that of hunting the hunters. I've killed more poachers than I can count, by blaster and by blade. The tallfolk are a crafty target to hunt, often doubling back on their tracks and making use of repulsorlift fitted vehicles that leave near no trace, but that doesn't stop me. We get both their illegitimate spoils of hunting and a sense of justice, forcing these hunters to become the hunted." We're not sure if what this Jawa is doing is legal in most jurisdictions and advise other Jawas to consult with a lawyer before engaging in similar activities, but it sure sounds profitable!

However, the notion of poacher hunting has also been criticized by many Jawas. A significant portion of the Jawas engaged in this say that exclusively hunting down poachers is as shortsighted as the overhunting of many animal species, arguing that if there is to be long term profit in the catching of poachers, then standards must be agreed upon in order to allow the local poacher population to thrive. One Jawa statistician recommended the 100:10:1 ratio for hunting on most planets, recommending the killing of 100 small creatures and 10 large creatures for every "predator" killed, whether that be a poacher or an overly carnivorous species in the local ecosystem. This is claimed to result in peak profits for Jawas on most planets.

Regardless of your stance on sustainable hunting or poachers, Jawa Wildlife Hunters Bimonthly wants you to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors! Support your local wildlife preserves and support your local Jawa hunting association.

Editors note: Jawa Wildlife Hunters Bimonthly is in NO WAY involved in or supportive of Jawa Hunting Quarterly, which is a separate magazine advocating for the illegal hunting of Jawa sentients.

[Contribute to arming Jawas]

An immense Togruta, made even wider by an intentional fish eye lens effect from his holocam recorder, appears on screen to provide a brief announcement.

 

“Today Shili Free Press announces a first of its kind partnership with the Zoo Keepers’ Alliance.  We are proud to become the official broadcasting partner for the Alliance, in order to spread its message of conservation and responsible, sustainable management of the creature populations across the galaxy."

"Recent events such as the devastation of wildlife by all sides in the Hosnian system, on Krmar II, and routinely at the Swap Meets has shown the need for an organization to spread the message about the burden each sentient life bears to protect innocent wildlife and ensure the biodiversity of the galaxy for future generations.

 

In addition to simply broadcasting this important message, Shili Free Press has committed to working with the Zoo Keepers to integrate our advanced technology into their existing systems to enhance creature management. By improving their existing tracking, observation and security systems with the advancements we have made in visual and audio recording and broadcasting abilities, we can improve the safety and security for all sanctuaries and managed wild areas across the galaxy. Our goal is to manage all creature populations in a sustainable and humane equilibrium with the environment and sentient populations in all places, including coordinated and controlled hunting arrangements.

 

So please, help Shili Free Press support the Zoo Keepers Alliance.  Join us in our efforts to control the creature populations by having your local poachers spayed and neutered.  And as always, stay safe out there, no matter which side of the feud you with which you decide to align."

 

 

 

On the bridge of the Victory Star Destroyer "TFF Sylph Savagery" and behind a pedestal stood a tall woman in a white suit. As the feed from the Hologlide J57 cam droid began, words scrolled on the bottom of the screen declaring the speaker as Astrid De LaRouge, Queen of The Faerytail Family.

"Good evening sentients of the Galaxy. Today, I bring you news of the war on Krmar II. The two month long skirmish which is locally known as The Second Battle of Krmar II, between the united forces of the Imperial Union and the joint forces of The New Republic and Duchy of Tolanda, surged again yesterday with the bloody execution of yet another member of the opposition forces.
This isn't the first major loss by the usurpers during this conflict since the capture and enslavement of Corey Vildras (Duke of Tamra, Keeper of the Seal, Chief Cookie Maker, etc. etc.) for war crimes, and the executions of Adin Cole (Margrave of Oshara) and Vellan Mun-Riliin (Royal Corsair and Intelligence member) precede this latest casualty. 

Due to the many casualties on the side of the Duchy, the New Republic dropped over a thousand droids that have created a complete unmanned sensor grid of every Duchy city on the planet, a grid that is strangely impervious to our attacks. Also intelligence reports within the Duchy informed that as of about five days ago the New Republic command had taken any Leadership control in the war away from the Duchy due to their ineptitude, another large blow to the Duchy's vaunted ego.  Unfortunately for the New Republic, it was simply not enough... Today they mourn the loss of one of their own."

The feed the Hologlide J57 cam droid transmitted flashed images of the deceased New Republic Knight, Lieutenant Colonel Freddie Hawkmoon, as well as images of an imperial blockade over the planets surface, a trap laid by Tresario Star Kingdoms very own Ro-nin Lin.

 

 

 

 

"After his capture, Lieutenant Colonel Freddie Hawkmoon of the New Republic was relieved of his lightsaber and was immediately executed by a military commander of Tresario Star Kingdom, Captain Ro-nin Lin, per protocol.  An expertly laid trap by Captain Ro-nin allowed him to subdue his enemy safely and without any casualties or damage to himself. He is certainly entitled to his reward and is to be commended for his success on the battlefield.  

I was able to have the chance to interview Captain Lin after his military achievement and I asked him how he viewed the Union's military cooperation during the Second Battle of Krmar II as well as to how he felt his fellow Tresarians had contributed... 
In response he said: 'It has been two months now since Tresarian Navy troops joined forces alongside Imperial and Faery troops to form a Joint Task Force to evacuate Krmar II citizens as well as to repel the invading hazard. In those two months, the team-work and the high-level cooperation really impressed me. The results we have accomplished this far in the Second Battle of Krmar II clearly speak for themselves. As a Tresarian, I honestly can't imagine any better brothers in arms to fight alongside, so that every Faery, born and raised on Krmar II, can witness the freedom that we so proudly hail in the Kingdom and in the Imperial Union. Thank you.'  Similar sentiments have been echoed by the Imperial commanders as we all work arm in arm during this struggle."

Queen Astrid continued as more images flashed across the screen portraying the lightsaber and battle armor claimed by Ro-nin as trophies from his kill. 

"Reports from internal affairs show that New Republic activity diminished due to the lies fed to them by their supposed ally, The Duchy, that they were gaining the upper hand during the past week of the conflict. However their estimates were far from correct and their mathematical mistake (or purposeful misdirection in order to get someone else to fight the Duchy's battles) more than likely contributed to the capture and execution of Lieutenant Colonel Freddie.  Once a rising star in the New Republic the former Lieutenant Colonel was a Knight of the Republic, receiver of a Promising recruit award in Y18, receiver of a Military Exercise ribbon in Y19, and apprentice to Knight Councilor Gothar Elensar.  This latest death comes at a time where the opposing forces have yet to even complete one third of the work needed in order to threaten Faerytail control of the planet.

In other news, disgruntled Tolandans report that the usurpers plan to downplay the loss of yet another one of their own as only a slight setback despite the enormity of the casualties sustained... Reports state that the New Republic and The Duchy of Tolanda have lost more than twelve thousand troops throughout the duration of this conflict.  The latest count as of a couple days ago was 12,469 confirmed kills that are split between The Faerytail Family, Tresario Star Kingdom, and the Galactic Empire and the numbers rise daily. 

We here at Faerytail would indeed be heartbroken at the loss of even one of our own, and it is indeed hard to imagine that the New Republic wouldn't feel or mourn the loss of one of their valuable Knights of the Republic, much less the thousands that have been slaughtered in this pointless conflict....  A conflict that is not even their own.  Galactic commentators that had previously applauded the Duchy leaving the Galactic Alliance as being a positive thing for the rebels now wonder how desperate the New Republic is for allies to continue to support such an incompetent regime."

The image on the holographic transmission flashes and changes to a different angle of the Faery Queen.

"Whatever the perception is on the amount of damage the New Republic has suffered during this war of foolish pride, the damage done to the Duchy has been termed 'catastrophic'.  Not only has the Duchy lost two of their nobility, one of their military commanders, and the 12,469 troops reports have also surfaced showing the economic and morale damage that will ail the struggling government for years to come.  Everyone knows that democratic control of a planet is directly affected by majority of population support.  Any population that is controlled by a third party already is counted against the population that support the majority.  In the Duchy's ignorance they have spent a reported little over a billion credits to criminals and terrorists to bribe their population to support the Duchy.  We at Faerytail were aware of this and simply tried to raise the prices that the terrorists were selling for in order to further cripple the Duchy economy without changing the amount of work the Duchy needs to accomplish to threaten our control at all. The Duchy cannot expect to buy the loyalty of the masses and expect to attain planetary control without attaining a proper foothold! Reports of famine and bankruptcy all over the Duchy's controlled territory is the result. During this time of the Great Economic Depression the Duchy is experiencing reports have circulated that the Duchy is looking for investors to try and save their collapse, any potential investors are warned against having anything to do with the Duchy following all the theft and broken contracts the Duchy have done in the past couple years."

“Lastly, on a different subject to this current broadcast the Faerytail Family would like to formally rebuke the subpar reporting done by Shili Free Press about the history surrounding the conflict in Krmar.  After the first Battle for Krmar we did our best to report, in an unbiased manner, the circumstances surrounding our involvement. In order to sensationalize the story and to make us appear lesser than we are, the reporters from Shili strayed from facts and unbiased truth to instead offer a biased and slanderous viewpoint that was heavily influenced by the abominable Hellions.  The true story of the history behind the conflicts in Krmar is attached to the end of this report.

Faerytail and the Imperial Union are committed to the safety of our people, prosperity of our alliance, and bringing the galaxy Order.  Together we shall continue to fight against all rabble that threaten the peace.”

History of Krmar II

High Council Ends Infestation

ARGAI, CRONESE MANDATE, TION CLUSTER

Golan II - Port Argolis Security Checkpoint

Marked for immediate release.

Year 18 Day 80 - Today saw the successful end of a five day operation by senior members of the Tion Hegemony High Council, according to a spokessentient from the Office of the Lady Hegemon.

Upon notification that Kray Voh, infamous bounty hunter and proprietor of Ever Light Transportation, was scheduled to arrive in Argai to gather an order for an Athakam MedTech customer, the High Council formulated a plan to capture the Yam`rii.

An arrest warrant was approved by a quorum of the sitting High Councillors on Day 75, as agents swarmed the Argai system, home of Athakam MedTech, to secure the system and wait-out the arrival of the acknowledged criminal.

Once the Yam'rii was in custody deliberation over trial and execution occurred, with immediate execution of Kray Voh being voted as the course of justice. Summary of charges include: attempting to kidnap a Tionese citizen, attempted bounty, operating illegally within Tionese space, offering bounties of top Tion officials, and criminal threatening of the Lady Hegemon.

The affected customer of Athakam MedTech was contacted post-operation by the Rector Superior of Athakam, who authorized a swift refund and arranged transportation for the delivery of the customer’s goods, including the care of a sand panther cub that Mr. Voh had in his possession.

The Tion High Council would like to offer support to any victims of Kray Voh’s schemes. If anyone having hired Ever Light Transportation believes they will have been affected by this apprehension, please contact Fleet Admiral Crislyn Anessa Waryn.

-- END HIGH COUNCIL RELEASE --