Scum Lord Joltz Projects Reign of Crime; Imperial Navy Questions Advanced Starfighters

Assorted pirate starfighters under the banner of the Scum Lord, Stason Joltz

REUSS SYSTEM - while conducting extensive raids on criminal operations in the Parmic Sector, a number of elite formations of TIE/x7 "Defender" starfighters were ambushed by pirates believed to be loyal to the infamous Scum Lord of Junkfort Station, Stason Joltz.

Pirates with allegiance to the Scum Lord of Junkfort Station, Stason Joltz have expanded their piracy and mayhem outside of the distant Tharin sector. In so doing, they attacked several formations of Imperial Navy starfighters, many of which included upgraded models of TIE/x7 "Defenders". The defeat of the elite starfighter formations is said to be a vindication of factions within the Imperial Navy that argue for a stricter adherence to older Imperial Navy doctrine.

"The Imperial Navy has a doctrine of dispensable numerical superiority," one Navy insider told HNN. "Strictly inspired by the New Order laid down by the Emperor, it is the key to military success, from which the Navy must not deviate."

New advanced starfighter craft, which include the TIE/Ad x7, but also other models such as the TIE/Ad v1 and TIE/IT "Punisher", have been innovations on the tried and true TIE/ln starfighter, which provides the Navy with the bulk of its squadron complements. These are the brainchildren of Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin, the Empire's, whose prototypes are being tested in the Parmic sector.

Included among the elite formations were the civilian volunteers from House Benelex, whose formation resembled loosely the 'Special Operations Flights' which had been deployed by Moff Dzon Brennin in the pacification of the Arkanis sector last year. These consisted of a small elite craft working closely with a VT-49 "Decimator" patrol craft.

"The failure of these so-called 'Advanced' starfighters is a sign that we need to cease with these Zaarinist experiments. Questioning the naval doctrine of the New Order is the same as questioning the wisdom of the Emperor Palpatine," the Navy insider asserted.

The Parmic sector is an outlying region of space on the Outer Rim, infamous for its spice smugglers. Last year, Imperial forces quashed Rebel and other criminal activity in the area in an overall successful campaign to isolate the Arkanis sector. It is argued by some that the necessity to reorient the activities of the Imperial Navy towards the siege of the Calamari sector, meant allowing criminal and insurgent elements to revive in these trailing sectors of the Outer Rim.

Imperial Patrol Encounters Rebels and Spice Smugglers in Parmic Sector

TIE/SA craft bringing relief medical supplies to inhabitants of planet Laramus.

LARAMUS SYSTEM - Imperial TIE craft came under rebel attack while attempting to root out criminal activity in the Laramus system of the Parmic Sector today. The incident lends further evidence to collusion between spice smugglers and Rebel Alliance. In their efforts to maintain a choke hold of the denizens on the planet Laramus, the rebellion thwarted Imperial attempts to bring relief medical supplies to the inhabitants of the planet.

While patrolling systems in the Parmic sector, a flight of TIE fighters encountered Advanced Rebel starfighter of the B-wing and E-wing type, and swiftly made them one with the void. The patrolling pilots were ordered to make a closer inspection of the planet. With rebel activity detected in the system, the wing commander of the patrol, operating from the Gladiator-class star destroyer Blixus, inferred that where there is rebel activity there is likely to be criminal activity.

The discovery of rebel and criminal collusion follows a pattern observed in the nearby Arkanis sector, as has been widely reported on HNN.

As the wing commander, Major Firmus Reicht, suspected, the criminal elements showed themselves when the patrol flight flew in for a closer inspection of the planet. The patrol came under attack by starfighter types associated with spice cartels operating in the Arkanis sector and Hutt Space - two M3-A Scyk Interceptors and a single StarViper-class attack platform.

The expertise of the TIE fighter pilots, recently graduated from the naval academy on Prefsbelt IV, proved to once again overcome the resistance to Imperial order.

The planet Laramus being designated as inhabited, the Blixus starfighter command ordered relief medical supplies sent to the planet, understanding that the presence of rebel and spice gangs create shortages of such necessities. Aiming to efficiently drop those supplies near population centers, Maj. Reicht ordered an element of TIE/SA craft to deliver the supplies to the surface with the same patrol flight of TIE fighters providing escort.

True to despicable form, the Rebellion intercepted the relief ships. The TIE/SA pilots lost their lives and their precious cargo to a targeted strike by an A-wing interceptor accompanied by X- and B-wing fighters. Fortunately, the TIE fighters were able to revenge their loss and no rebel fighter craft survived the incident.

Rogue Faction Attacking Imperial Navy Forces Along Llanic Spice Run

Capital-scale Proximity Mine deployed along the Llanic Spice Run in the Spice Terminus system

SPICE TERMINUS SYSTEM - Imperial ships can under fire today from star destroyers in the Outer Rim, after a similar engagement yesterday. The attacking vessels are suspected to be part of a rogue faction with access to Imperial Navy matériel, possibly a wayward regional governor.

The rogue faction appears to be laying proximity mines near the hyperspace jump zone of the Spice Terminus system, possibly in an attempt to reroute trade - contraband and otherwise - in the regional sectors. Such action suggests an attempt to create a local fiefdom, contrary to the regular order of the Imperial regime.

Following successful engagements along the Five Veils Route, which saw the destruction and routing of rebel ships, recon lines consisting of two Gladiator II-class star destroyers encountered rogue flotillas, both consisting of an older Victory I-class star destroyers and a Gladiator-class star destroyer. In both engagements, the loyal star destroyers destroyed the attacking Victory class, and routed the Gladiator-class star destroyer.

Sectors near Spice Terminus

Local moffs - suspects in attempting separatism from the Empire - have been called to account for themselves to the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), operating under the authority of Oversector Outer, based on Eriandu in the Seswenna sector.

Sector moffs possibly engaged in such actions are those of sector surrounding the Reuss and Spice Terminus terminus systems, where the attacks on the recon lines took place. These include the Parmic, Thuris and Torch Nebula sectors, but may also be of the Sujimis, Portmoak, and Cor'ric sectors.

Local moffs are expected to account for themselves post-haste, and the transgressor discovered and put to justice. Should the Imperial Navy come under further attacks, the admiralty in charge of the blockade around the Arkanis sector fears Lord Vader will have to take personal charge of quashing of such treason.

Since the disbanding of the Imperial Senate, the many sectors that make up the Empire have come under the direct rule of regional governors - 'moffs' being the ancient title - in the interest of administrative efficiency. While the Emperor directly selects and appoints moffs to their position, on the Outer Rim alien influences are suspected of testing the loyalties of otherwise fine human beings. HNN analysts, including Benn Gleck, suggest that alien influence, and the distance from the civilizing core worlds, is responsible for undermining the loyal spirit of even the most carefully selected and honorable officers in the Emperor's administrative service.