downpour of lasers The sudden arrival of the shuttle and the man inside it did not bode well The most elite Imperial soldiers and officers on Lothal had been assembled as a welcome party As the TIEs veered off and the shuttle landed AT DP walker pilots and stormtroopers stood at attention in long rows Kallus couldn't locate Academy Commandant Aresko or Taskmaster Grint among the ranks but the Inquisitor was there his pale face impossible to read Minister Tua who was currently leading Lothal's government was also present Kallus noticed a quiver in her usually perfect posture when a thin man in a gray uniform exited the shuttle Grand Moff Tarkin I am honored by your visit to Lothal Tua said the quiver also detectable in her speech Tarkin strode up to her with a squad of black pauldroned troopers His aristocratic nose had the sharp contours of a hawkbat's 8
beak and his eyes lay sunken into his skull which rimmed them in perpetual shadow Though his voice sounded gracious his words were not My visit is hardly an honor Minister I admit I was surprised to learn you were coming Tua fell in step alongside Tarkin as he walked toward the complex Kallus followed with the Inquisitor I too have been surprised by what's been happening on your little backwater world Tarkin said Tua let out a nervous chuckle If you are referring to the insurgents I Tarkin halted and faced her You have had a single simple objective Minister to protect the Empire's industrial interests here interests that are vital to our expansion throughout the Outer Rim But instead of protecting those interests you have allowed a cell of insurgents to flourish right under your nose Am I correct 9
Tua cleared her throat having nothing to say And Agent Kallus Tarkin said turning around have you just stood idly by while this rabble have attacked our men destroyed our property and disrupted our trade Kallus was ashamed to have to report his failure I have exhausted every resource to capture them sir This group has proven quite elusive It's said their leader is a Jedi Tua added Yes let us not forget the sudden appearance of a Jedi as if leaping from the pages of ancient history Tarkin said in mock amusement He shifted his glare to the Inquisitor A shame we don't have someone who specializes in dealing with them Otherwise our problem might be solved The Inquisitor bristled at Tarkin's comment in a rare display of emotion Minister have you ever met a Jedi Tarkin asked 10
No I I actually knew the Jedi Tarkin said Not from the pages of folklore or children's tales but as flesh and blood And do you know what happened to them Well Tua said there were rumors that― They died Tarkin said interrupting her Every last one of them He swept his withering gaze across all So you see this criminal cannot be what he claims to be and I shall prove it Kallus reconsidered his previous doubts Perhaps the Grand Moff's arrival was for the better Perhaps Tarkin could provide the resources Kallus needed to catch these vile insurgents these rebels 11
