BETRAYAL WITHIN THE EMPIRE
Written and submitted by Bryan Kimes

(Amazing.....) Supreme Advisor Pestage thought.( That a man like Governor Tarkin could lose a planet-destroying space station, survive and still not be punished.)
"Tell me Governor Tarkin, how did you survive the Death Star?" Pestage asked.
"Simple." Tarkin answered. "When I got word that the Rebels posed a threat, I declined the request for my evacuation, but really escaped with General Tagge and Chief Bast." He said. "Thus sparing myself from an unneeded death."
"Ah." Pestage said. "What do you plan to do now?"
"The Emperor has reserved a place for me in his Inner Cabal, because he says I can help improve the Next Death Star." Tarkin said.
"The what?!" Pestage gasped.
Even as Palpatine's Supreme Advisor, he had not been informed of the second Death Star.
"You heard me." Tarkin said seriously. "I plan to get rid of the exhaust port, and replace it with an inner core." "Now, If you will pardon me, Supreme Advisor I must meet with the Emperor."
"Of course, Governor." Pestage said.

"Welcome Tarkin." The Emperor said. "Or should I say, Advisor Tarkin."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Tarkin said.
"I trust you have made the changes to the Death Star blueprints?" The Emperor asked.
"Yes." Tarkin answered.
"Show me." Palpatine ordered.
"Of course." Tarkin said. "I think that the exhaust port should be replaced with an Inner Core." Also, I think that instead of a fleet of TIEs, we should replace the defense with a Deflector Shield. Finally we should make it look incomplete."
"Is that all?" Palpatine asked.
"Yes, Highness" Tarkin answered.
"Good, I'll take this into consideration." Palpatine said.
"Oh, and Highness?" Tarkin asked.
"Yes?" He answered.
"If you want my opinion, I think it is Supreme Advisor Pestages' fault at the Death Star." Tarkin said.
"How so?"
"Well, Pestage is your Supreme Advisor, and I would have thought he would have noticed the exhaust port weakness. It is my suggestion that he be impeached."
Palpatine thought for a moment.
"You are right Advisor Tarkin, he shall be impeached and you shall take his place as Supreme Advisor ."
"Thank you Highness." Tarkin said.
(Your end is near Highness and now is just my beginning.) Tarkin thought happily.

"Traitor!" Pestage screamed as the red-armored Royal Gaurds carried him away.
Before anyone could see, Tarkin flashed Pestage an evil smile."You overlooked the weakness in the Death Star and caused a great number of troops, pilots, and officers to die!" It is you who is the traitor, Pestage!"
Without another word the Royal Gaurds and Pestage were gone.
"Get me off Corucant Immediately." Tarkin said to his aide.
"Of course." his aide said. "You are to be at the spaceport in ten minutes to board the Imperial Star Destroyer Honor."
"Who is it's captain?" Tarkin asked.
"Captain Leetin." the aide answered.
"First officer?" Tarkin asked.
"Commander Piett." the aide answered again
Tarkin left.

"Ah, Supreme Advisor I am honered to have you aboard." Leetin said.
"As am I." Piett Agreed.
"It is good to see young people in the Empire." Tarkin said, gesturing towards Piett.
"Thank you, sir" Piett said. (There's something about him I can't put my finger on.) Piett thought.
"What course shall we be setting?" Leetin asked.
"Set one for the Kaut Drive Yards. I plan to test this new Human Replica Droid." Tarkin said.
"Shall I escort you to your quarters?" Piett asked Tarkin.
"Yes."
When they arrived, Tarkin said, "Thank you, Commander." Tarkin said and then closed his door, but before Piett could leave, he overheard Tarkin talking to himself:
"Those fools, they don't even know I plan to disguise that Human Replica Droid as a Royal Gaurd and have it asassanate Palpatine."
Piett was shocked, after years of service and being made the first Grand Moff, Tarkin was turning on Palpatine!
Piett wasn't going to tell the captain, no, he had to do something about this himself.

When Honor arrived at Kaut, Piett feared the worst.
"The Human Replica Droid has been programed to follow your orders Supreme Advisor Tarkin." Leetin said.
"Excellent." Tarkin said.
Leetin activated the Droid.
"What is your command, Supreme Advisor?" it said in a trooper-like voice.
"Excellent, most excellent. Tarkin said. "Now we shall return to Corucant to test it in front of the Emperor."

Aboard the Honor Piett informed Leetin of Tarkin's plan.
"Do you have proof?" Leetin asked.
"I think so, sir follow me.
They arrived at Tarkin's room as he was giving the droid the order:
"I will disguise you as a Royal Gaurd and you are to kill the Emperor, so that I may take his place, is this unerstood?"
"Yes Master." the droid said.
As the conversation was being recorded by Leetin, stormtroopers charged in.
"Supreme Advisor Tarkin," Piett said, "you are under Imperial arrest."
Then the droid attacked Piett.Piett grabbed its arm and pushed it to the floor, took out his laser pistol
and shot it in the head.
"No!!!!" Tarkin screamed as his plan was ruined.
Then the stormtroopers carried him away.

On Corucant Piett was presented to the Emperor.
"Are you the one who saved me from death?" Palpatine asked Piett.
"Yes Highness." Piett answered.
"I thank you.....What is your rank?"
"Commander, Sir."
"I promote you to Captain Piett and you are to be tranfered to Death Squadron."
(Lord Vaders Star Destroyer Fleet? Wow!)
"Thank you, Sir." Piett managed.
"Oh snd another thing, Tarkin has been setenced to death, and Pestage is Supreme Advisor again."
"That is good to know, Highness." Piett said.
(But I will make Tarkin's changes on the second Death Star!)