The Empire isn't Evil... but they're Still Pretty Bad
14 Oct 2020KZ Kawasaki
This is a transcript of a video message.Hi Son,
Hope school is going well. I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit these past couple of weeks - I've been working hard on some faction business which should clear up soon.
I wanted to let you know that I have not been involved or participated in any of the recent combat calls for independent pilots in the Empire-related conflicts. However, this is no longer because of the adamantly anti-Empire stance that your mother and I instilled upon you since you were very little. If I still believed that, I would have gone to fight against the Empire in any way possible. No, my view changed after I rescued Imperial Citizens from those burning stations. I want you to hear this from me, so you can make your own decisions about the Empire, and not just listen to your mother and I.
That experience on those burning stations humanized the Empire for me. They were no longer a totally "Evil" Empire which stood on the necks of those below them. No, these are real humans with lives much like our own. You are free to read the message about these rescues which I wrote to your mother and made public.
Having met and spoken to Imperial Citizens, done business with the Empire, and visited the Imperial home of Achenar, I can honestly say I was wrong to hate them so deeply. I have learned more about the Empire in the past few weeks than I did over many years of reading at our home: Slaves do have their dignity, unlike some of the poorest in the Federation; One of the Empire's rising stars, Aisling Duval, is an abolitionist; and both money and influence still make the galaxy turn in the Empire. Those prior opinions of mine, and what has been passed on to you, was never based on any first-hand experience with the Empire. In many respects the Empire is indistinguishable from the Alliance or the Federation.
While I still disagree with the hereditary nature and oligarchy of the Empire, I am also concerned that the NMLA have no real plan to create stability, only instability. Therefore, I cannot easily choose a side in this conflict. Unfortunately, your mother is of a completely different opinion.
I do not know where she is and have had only minimal contact with her. Whether you do too or not, please consider what I have said above. When you have a break, it would be my pleasure to take you to Achenar to see for yourself - we'll take the Orca I recently acquired and travel in style. This is not my attempt to change your mind. I only want to offer you the opportunity to see and experience the galaxy personally - something which, until now, I could only do through a small window on a space station.
Love, Dad