Locking the Door

The Christophsis Campaign proved to be a lot more than the military forces of the newly reorganized 109th Brigade bargained for. From the start, the ever-present Church of the Force was a formidable opponent. Though technologically inferior to even a resurgent Empire such as the Imperial Consortium, they used the arena of public opinion to weather and delay Imperial advancement throughout the system.

For they knew that the goal of the Brigade’s assault on their planet had an ambitious and terrifying goal: the reclaiming of the planet’s precious kyber crystal storages. If they were to truly win a battle alone against the Empire, they needed the threat of Rebellion to remain ever at the Imperial’s throats. However, the Church’s reputation and desire for survival was key to their eventual defeat. The 109th’s leadership understood the strategy the Church would use and decided not to follow traditional Imperial policy. 

If the 109th had marched into the cities, burned the Church’s hideouts, and otherwise subjugated the population, then the Church would have a near infinite supply of ammunition they could use to show the population the benefit of their rule rather than the Empire’s. The rebellions would be endless.

However, control needed to be maintained. This was not the New Republic. The Empire does not politely ask for systems to join and hope they will simply because they want to. So the 109th reversed the Church’s trap in a distinctly Imperial fashion. First, they made an example of the Church. By destroying their leadership, routing their armies, and seizing their kyber, the Empire showed the population of Christophsis the futility of fighting the Empire. This, admittedly, did adhere to the typical Imperial “Rule by Fear” philosophy. However, when it came time for the Empire to parade through Christophsis’ broken streets, the tanks never came. The victorious Empire built a Garrison deep within the mountain and demanded a simple tax from the population, nothing more than the Church had. In this way, Christophsis shipping improved, local security (NOT stormtroopers) marched down the streets, and only occasionally did a TIE Fighter fly over Christophsis cities. 

This tactic, a rule by fear without the presence, took the teeth from the remaining Church members. What could they say? “Look! These Imperial dogs destroyed and drove us from our base!” They lost an enormous emotional weapon they could use against the Empire. However, the confiscation of the Kyber Crystals was a remaining weapon the Church could use as they did unite all of Christophsis but the bigger picture remains that rebellions would have to confront the fact that their members would be leaving a decent life under Imperial Control for the destruction and mayhem a rebellion would provide. Without cries of, “Look! These Imperial dogs arrested and tortured your family and friends!”, the rebels lacked one of their most powerful weapons. Rebellion might continue, and they would have to be dealt with, but squeezing Christophsis would only result in the “Rebel Cause” that brought down the Emperor and Governor Tarkin.

If you read this, thanks for indulging my ramblings!