Flags fluttered violently as the winds blew upon Imperial Square’s mighty monuments. The night contrasted with the intense spotlights focused on the platform, flags and crowds below. Statues of Imperial heroes illuminated and carved into rock gazed down with uncompromising determination upon the gathered multitudes. Murith himself stood atop the platform at the front of the square, surrounded by key officials and officers as he stepped forward towards the Microphone. A handful of camera drones flew up and peered at the Princep, their cameras being refocused and adjusted. Murith then reached out and gripped the podium with both hands. Dressed in full dress uniform with proper rank insignias and honors he was an image straight out of the Imperial propaganda holofeeds of old. He thought to himself, showtime.

“ Comrades, colleagues and citizens. I come before you today to mark a momentous date. Our nation has stood for 354 years. Independent, self sufficient, unbowed and strong. We are a people born out of the broken, chaotic and shattered fragments of the galaxy. We have brought order to a region which had none. We have brought peace to worlds which have never known it. We have put fear into the hearts of slaves and pirates. I must tell you, when I first took on this mantle, I had no idea what to expect. The galaxy was in decline, our nation was in turmoil, its bureaucracy and military seized by internal elements. In the time I have been given I have reforged the sword of the Imperial navy. “

As if to mark his words entire squadrons of TIE Vectors and TIE Demolishers swoop overhead screeching.

“ 5 years ago, we faced the biggest threat to our nation’s survival, an attempted coup. The chaos and terror felt on the day in which our brave security forces managed to restore order I know many of us still remember. But let me tell you this, our enemies within have been shown the resolve of our people and our government. While the rest of the galaxy decays into civil war and petty squabbles, we march forward. My people it is with great pride that I can now tell you that we now have identified the foreign individuals involved with the attempted coup. However I do not wish to name them as they are quite prestigious, honourable and well respected individuals. “

The soldiers and people gathered holler and cry out demanding to know the names. Murith feigned apprehension and responds to their cries.

“ No, no I should not list these peoples names, for we all know that this would be nothing less than a death sentence! They may be foreigners but every sentient creature in this galaxy knows the punishment for treason and betrayal. “

The crowd is at a fever pitch, some attempting to climb over the barriers to reach the Princep, Elite forces form a barrier to prevent them from reaching him however. Then one individual in the crowd cries out

“ DEATH! “ This is followed by thousands of repetitions as the crowd grows ever angrier and more intense.

Murith nods.

“ I hear you! The punishment for treason is death! Do not fear, those individuals will receive their justice in due time. “

Murith then reached into his tunic and pulled out a dataslate, like a proper showman he waved it in front of him so the crowd could make it out.

“ Here! I have a list of every single individual who funded and orchestrated the attempted overthrow of our democracy and our government! Shall I read it? “

The crowd screams.

“ READ THE LIST! READ THE LIST! READ THE LIST! “

Murith then withdrew the list and set it down for him to read.

“ The vile animals implicated in the plot are as follows! The terrorist CIL ZOM! The bloodthirsty war criminal KRIEG VEERS! And finally the slaver TELVUGA ACCO! My colleagues this is only the most well known of this cabal of reformation, corporate and corrupt senatorial power. There are indications all these individuals may have received kickbacks from sentient trafficking operations and pirate syndicates! It is obvious the powers that be in this galaxy do not want the Principate to choose its own destiny and fight against SLAVERY! Fight against Spice! and to wage war on crime and corruption! They are set in their ways, but I warn them all, we do not forget the crimes of terrorists so easily. Perhaps the Sith Union plays a role? All that is obvious to me is that there are those out there who would deny our people peace and ask us to forgive unspeakable crimes in the name of their precious freedoms and liberty. But we know their overtures are just empty promises veiling their black and twisted hearts. They are thieves and murderers. Scum to put it in the nicest possible terms. I promise you all that we will have justice and we will have vengeance for all the lives lost in the war on terror and the war on crime. They will not divide us, they will not kill us. We will survive and my people, we will win! Hail the Galactic Principate and may it continue to reign for another half a millenia! “

The cries and salutes were impossible to ignore as the crowds of Imperials ate up the words of their leader. One of the last of the kind who would stare corruption and decay in the face. Who in their eyes always told it like it was, no platitudes or veil of “civility”. Murith threw both his arms out into the sky and absorbed the raw emotion of the crowd so to speak then saluted them and walked back into the building he had emerged from as another squadron of fighters and a star destroyer flew past, dragging behind them giant banners and flags. Fireworks exploded ringing out in the night.