[audio/video]

[therewillbeorder]

I'm not going to waste time asking if there is a way off this backwater planet, it doesn't seem as if anyone has managed something so basic thus far. I don't understand why the natives of this planet seem to be proud of themselves as if this planet is something special despite being so primitive.

But it seems as I am stuck here for the foreseeable future so tell me what this planet has to offer, I'm curious to know.

[When he's done writing he switched to video but all that can be seen is a sheet with neatly written, very premise, Aurebesh symbols written on it-

'I'm sure some of you can read this. What is the last thing you recall before arriving here?'

No one seemed to know about Starkiller and the Hosnian System but he had to make sure and know who else was on this backwater planet. He held the paper there for a few moments before finally cutting the feed.]

Comments

[bespin]

[ Lando smiles. He sees through his gambit with the practiced ease of an experienced gambler. ]

You think you can trick me into spilling my secrets by telling me you destroyed the Rebel Alliance? [ Whether his claims are true or not, Lando doesn't want to think about right now. ] I never said I was a Rebel. I never told you anything about who I am or what side of this war I fall on.

[therewillbeorder]

Well, if you are a loyal Imperial citizen, you will be relieved to know that those who brought chaos and instability to the galaxy were disposed of properly. They won't be back.

[It's so tempting to brag about the Hosnian System but he wants to savor it, wait until just the right moment.]

But, as you said you haven't told me anything that specific so I may very well be wrong about who you are.

[bespin]

And if I'm just one of the millions who tries to go about his daily life, regardless of what the Empire or the Rebellion are up to? Suppose it doesn't much matter to me who disposed of who.

[ That's only partially true. The Empire infected everything they touched, even out on the Outer Rim. No one's lives were unaffected, even though Lando tried for years to remain that way. ]

[therewillbeorder]

No one gets the luxury of being neutral.

[Hux couldn't imagine a life away from the Empire, away from war. He couldn't understand not being involved.]

You have to look up eventually and notice what is happening around you.

[bespin]

Plenty of people make good livings keeping their heads down.

[ But he wouldn't expect an Imperial to understand that. ]

[therewillbeorder]

I highly doubt that.

[bespin]

You haven't been to many places on the Outer Rim, I'd guess.

[therewillbeorder]

That would be a terrible guess-I spent most of my life in the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions.

[bespin]

And yet you somehow missed that the average man is just trying to make his way through life, one day at a time, regardless of whoever holds power in the Core Systems?

[therewillbeorder]

And you missed the fact that many systems were glad not to be neglected or exploited anymore as they had been under the Republic. But time for me to make a guess of my own- I'm going to guess you're a smuggler or some other criminal who is upset that Empire didn't show you the same leniency that the Republic did.

Yes, such an injustice.

[bespin]

Guess away. I won't stop you.

[ He won't confirm or deny his guess either, though he's closer to right than not. Time was Lando was a smuggler, under the thumb of the Empire. His smuggling days are behind him, now, though. He's trying to be legit, to fight for what's right and to stop the Empire from suffocating the galaxy with their iron grip of "control."

If there's anything Lando is, however, he's a gambler. Which means his face remains calm, impassive, without a tell. ]

Whoever or whatever you think I am, it's clear you're about as in touch with the needs of the average citizen as a rabid bantha. Typical Imperial.

[therewillbeorder]

And you would prefer the days when the Republic would let warlords like the Hutts to control the Outer Rim? Yes, I can tell you're very in touch with people as well, I'm impressed.

But it doesn't matter, the Empire won and the Rebellion is over. I suppose you will have to make peace with the fact that criminals like you won't be given free reign as the Republic allowed.

[bespin]

Better a Hutt than an Emperor. A Hutt can be bargained with.

[ He's finally come out and declared his allegiance, then. There's no going back now, but he's still not going to play all his cards. ]

We'll see who wins in the end. History isn't over yet.

[therewillbeorder]

You mean bought off? Bribed? I'm not surprised the Republic fell as hard as it did- it was festering.

The history of the Republic and the Rebel Alliance is finished. That I made certain of.

[bespin]

Ah, but you see, the thing about Rebels? They never know when to quit. As long as there's an Empire, there will be people who are willing to rise up against it.

[therewillbeorder]

For that to be true, there has to be rebels left.

It's really hard to fight back when your entire rebellion was destroyed all at once. If it's any consolation, at least it was a specular sight seen around the galaxy.

[bespin]

A sight that I'm sure will inspire more people to rise up to the cause.

[therewillbeorder]

And they'll meet the same fate. Fear is a very effective motivation.