Timeline 4: The Empire Changes Strategy

BioWare gives us another timeline update this Friday (is it only the fourth one?) in which Jedi Master Gnost-Dural, as voiced by actor Lance Henriksen, explains what led to the rise of the new Mandalore responsible for the blockade and how the Empire was behind it.

Here is the official news:

Jedi Master Gnost-Dural has entered a new holorecord in the Jedi Archive. After a thorough analysis of the evidence, Master Gnost-Dural has discovered that the Mandalorians’ return to the galaxy and alliance with the Sith was no coincidence—it was the result of years of shadowy machinations by the sinister agents of Imperial Intelligence.

BTC 14 – Frustrated by a series of Republic military victories, the Empire began exploring alternative strategies in its drive to conquer the galaxy. Despite the tantalizing offers of Imperial Diplomats, members of the galaxy’s notorious underworld refused to swear allegiance to the Sith Empire. Thus, Imperial Intelligence began laying the groundwork to win the underworld’s loyalty through other means. Infiltrating the gladiatorial arenas of Geonosis, Imperial agents fixed the fights to cultivate the rise of a new Mandalore—an Imperial puppet who would call forth some of the galaxy’s most proud and independent warriors to unknowingly aid in the Empire’s dark designs.

Watch the fourth Timeline holorecord, The Empire Changes Strategy, narrated by actor Lance Henriksen.

You can also download a high resolution version of this video.

Hmmm, definitely seems to make it more likely that there will be some Imperial Intelligence class. What's more, during all if it each time there's a character that seems to represent the imperial intelligence this character looks nothing like an officer. There's one exception, but there it seems more like they're saying "Mandalore is under control of the Empire". And it briefly shows diplomats in imperial uniforms as well. Of course, it could mean anything and nothing, but at least this update does seem to suggest that there might be an Imperial Intelligence class (by that or another name) to 'mirror' the Smuggler.

Here's the full text.

THE ARRIVAL OF IMPERIAL ALLIES INTO THE GREAT WAR WAS A DEVASTATING BLOW FROM WHICH THE REPUBLIC NEVER FULLY RECOVERED.

THIS WAS THE SECOND STEP IN THE SITH EMPEROR’S MASTER PLAN.

RECENT REPUBLIC STRATEGIC INFORMATION REPORTS PROVED THAT THE RISE OF THE MANDALORIANS WAS ORCHESTRATED BY IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE.

WE KNOW EXTREMELY LITTLE ABOUT THIS SHADOWY ORGANIZATION BUT IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVES ARE CLEARLY JUST AS DEADLY AS THEIR SITH SUPERIORS.

THE GALAXY’S CRIMINAL NETWORKS WAVERED ENDLESSLY DURING THE GREAT WAR, DEBATING WHETHER TO BACK THE REPUBLIC OR THE EMPIRE.

ALTHOUGH THE HUTT CARTELS RESENTED THE SITH EMPEROR FOR NOT INCLUDING THEM IN HIS PRE-WAR CONSPIRACY, IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE SOMEHOW BLOCKED THE REPUBLIC’S EFFORTS TO WIN THE HUTTS’ SUPPORT.

SCATTERED AROUND THE GALAXY, MANDALORIAN MERCENARIES AND BOUNTY HUNTERS FACED THE SAME CHOICE AS THE HUTTS. SOME SIGNED ON WITH THE EMPIRE BUT MOST REMAINED INDEPENDENT.

IMPERIAL DIPLOMATS MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO RECRUIT THE GALAXY’S MOST INFAMOUS BOUNTY HUNTERS BUT WERE TURNED DOWN EVERY TIME.

THE EMPIRE BEGAN SHIFTING ITS TACTICS.

MANDALORIAN MERCENARIES AND BOUNTY HUNTERS OFTEN FOUGHT AS GLADIATORS FOR MONEY AND GLORY - A MARK OF HONOR IN MANDALORIAN CULTURE.

IMPERIAL AGENTS USED THIS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE, INFILTRATING THE MOST PROMINENT GLADIATORIAL ARENAS IN THE GALAXY AS MANAGERS, AS SPONSORS, AND EVEN IN SOME CASES AS GLADIATORS THEMSELVES.

THE IMPERIAL AGENTS SINGLED OUT A PROUD YOUNG GLADIATOR TO BE THEIR PAWN.

THIS YOUNG GLADIATOR HAD ALWAYS FARED WELL IN THE ARENA, BUT WITH HIS NEW IMPERIAL ALLIES, HIS RISE WAS ACCELERATED TO UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS.

RIGGING ARENA FIGHTS IS NOT UNHEARD OF BUT IMPERIAL AGENTS BRAZENLY SABOTAGED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND DRUGGED THEIR CHAMPION’S COMPETITION. NONE COULD STAND AGAINST HIM.

THE WHISPERS OF IMPERIAL AGENTS BECAME CHEERS IN THE ARENA… “MANDALORE! MANDALORE!” THE ANCIENT TITLE OF THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR KING WAS THRUST UPON THE YOUNG GLADIATOR. HIS INFAMY GREW, AND WHEN HE CALLED, THE MANDALORIANS RALLIED TO THEIR NEW MASTER.

THE NEW MANDALORE SECRETLY SERVED MASTERS OF HIS OWN, HOWEVER.

IMPERIAL AGENTS PULLED THEIR PUPPET’S STRINGS, AND THE MANDALORIAN ARMY BLOCKADED THE HYDIAN WAY AND CHALLENGED THE JEDI.

THOUGH THE BLOCKADE WAS EVENTUALLY BROKEN, THE STAGE WAS SET FOR THE SACKING OF CORUSCANT AND THE UNEASY TRUCE WHICH NOW PARALYZES THE REPUBLIC.

THE MANDALORIAN-SITH ALLIANCE REMAINS INTACT TO THIS DAY. THAT COULD CHANGE IF THE ORIGINAL RUSE WERE BROUGHT TO LIGHT, BUT THE IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE COVERS ITS TRACKS TOO WELL.

MANDALORE WAS SLAIN RECENTLY, AND HIS KILLER, THE NEW MANDALORE, HAS TAKEN HIS PLACE. WHETHER OR NOT HE’S AN IMPERIAL PUPPET REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT WE MUST WATCH HIM CLOSELY.

IMPERIAL AGENTS’ SUCCESS IN BRINGING THE MANDALORIANS INTO THE WAR WAS THE COUNTER-PLAY TO THE REPUBLIC’S FIRST STRING OF VICTORIES; THE SUBJECT OF MY NEXT REPORT.

Nice update and always a pleasure to hear Mr. Henriksen.