STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

Melkor opens it with anticipation, suspecting this is either from Anastazia or Erengard.

Which will you open first?

Melkor will quickly unwrap the letter, suspecting it is from Anastazia, which should improve his mood.

The envelope is ripped away, revealing a cream-colored letter with gold print. It appears to be hand-written.

Dear Melkor Esgabath,

You are hereby invited to a formal banquet hosted by the Imperial Youth, attendable by invitation only. Please present this letter at the door to the banquet hall of the Imperial Youth Resources to gain entry. Your attendance is highly anticipated.

It is signed 'The Imperial Youth' and lists an address for the location of the banquet.

But it isn't Anaztazia.

Melkor stares at this letter for a moment, shocked that he forgot about his ambitions and recent meeting with Tarkin....

Is he a member of Imperial Youth?

Your ambitions for the Empire were overwhelmed for your ambitions for the throne of Erengard... which would have been a great way to get involved with the Empire!

That is up to you, whether or not you are a member. But this seems more exclusive than just membership.

Hmm..... I would say Melkor either is a member or is interested. Though Tasker Crown loyalty is propably not used to joining such group.

He stares at the letter, wondering what the "highly anticipated" part mean. Could he really impress Tarkin?

And what is in the package?

It's a bomb!

...

Okay, so it's actually just a bunch of data tapes. The Headmaster had all your lectures recorded for you, as you missed many of them.

Nice of him, would he do the same for ordinary student? Melkor will have to study hard to prove himself, then.

You do not think he would, actually. Special treatment, you think. But why? You did not come into contact with him more than once, and that was for Janus to report that you were coming home on reprieve.

Well, that Tarkin visit, could it be it? Of course, Melkor is rolayty and top student, he deserves attention..

Is the party tonight?

Imperial Youth Resources, Banquet Hall

The Imperial Youth Resources Office is an elegant structure on campus, its architecture designed to match that of the Imperial Palace, blended with the designs of the Academy. Nowhere near as awe-inspiringly massive as the Palace, of course, but simply an ode to its grandeur.

It has been one week since you tore open your invitation. In that time you have been studying hard, playing catch-up on your assignments and lectures. Your professors understand the circumstances and do not hold it against you. In fact, you are excelling. Not surprising, of course, for someone so brilliant and noble as yourself...

Janus has kept you informed about the situation on Erengard. Einar is stubbornly resisting Imperial demands that he integrate his forces with the Imperial war machine. Apparently the Kostas of Solstheim, Anaztazia's family, have been trying to convince both sides to some sort of treaty. Meanwhile, Janus has been gathering men...

The guests are arriving to the Imperial Youth banquest, just as you do. No doubt you are wearing your finest attire and accompanied by some gorgeous girl you met in Galactic History lecture.

Melkor indeed has his most elegant suit and now confidently enters the Banquet, determined to use this opportunity as much as possible.

Girl accompanying him is youg twi`lek noble called Selina, who does not have reputation of great student, but is popular for different reasons, her looks not being the least of it.

The banquet hall itself has a long table that stretches down the center of it, solid and spacious so that the bountiful amounts of exotic foods can be strewn across it in various arrangements. High-backed seats are provided for guests as they begin to take their seats.

Selina leaves your arm to go flirt with someone just you reach a timid man checking for invitations.

"Invitation?" he asks.

Melkor looks at the table with interest, but his gaze is focussed and alerted, and he immediately responds to the timid man, handing over the invitation.

"Here it is."

He looks it over.

"Esgabath, is it?" he says.

He directs you to a seat directly next to the end of the table, where tonight's important guest, Grand Moff Tarkin, will be sitting.

Melkor is stunned for a second, seeing what place has been chosen for him. Then he straightens himself and marches towards his designated seat, gracefully as his mother always told him to.

After much chattering and shuffling of people around the table, everyone is seated. As this is a meeting for the Imperial Youth, the majority of the attendees are young men and women from the Imperial Academy. Some are small children accompanied by their parents, the offspring of influential Coruscanti families or high-ranking officials and officers. You may even know who some of them are, with Savoir-Faire.

Droids and servants are walking about with refreshments while the timid man makes sure that everyone is properly seated and telling everyone to begin eating.

"You paid to be here, please enjoy!" he bids you as he walks by.

But you did not pay to be here, you only received the invitation. To be honest, you are not entirely sure what this banquet is even for, Melkor. All these important people...

Well, it is all kind of weird. Melkor will chat to someone sitting next to him to understand more of what is going on.

"Did you not read what this was for when you paid for it?" the man asks. "That's an awful lot of money to be throwing away on something you don't even know about!"

Savoir-Faire says... this man is Moff Garidge, one of the wealthiest men in the Empire! And now that you think about it, all of the other persons that you recognize are from wealthy families.

This must be a fundraiser.