The Tom Veitch Files

47 * This gun needs to be stopped -- at all costs -- [uncertain: Brad?] demonstrates his matter transmitter -- DARK EMPIRE SEQUEL: The Emperor’s Deathmark * To focus a story that has [inserted: many characters and] [struck: too] many possibilities, we make the Emperor the pivot point, from beginning to end. [margin: Blowing up a Rebel troop ship -- 100,000 on board [struck: Open with a planet or city blowing up]] Open several months after Dark Empire II, at the very end of [inserted: “SW Year Ten”] “year six” [inserted: (pub year).] The Galaxy Gun is a huge success for the Empire. It has only been fired three times...and yet planets all over the Galaxy are capitulating to the rule of the Emperor. [margin: Show two things at once: the diplomats arriving to surrender ... and the rage of the Emperor at the incompetence of his people. (Maybe one missile went off course & destroyed an Imperial fleet or shipyard) (supply lines clogged) (Clones all gone ... adepts failing him)] As the ultimate terror weapon, the Galaxy Gun provides Emperor Palpatine with a means of absolute control. * From his spy deep inside the Alliance, the Emperor learns the location of the Rebel Command, on the derelict Nespis VIII space city. He prepares to launch another planet-busting missile with his Galaxy Gun...and finish the Rebel Alliance once and for all. [margin: Will it hit its target?] * We cut to Nespis VIII, which is humming with activity, many ships coming and going [inserted: as the Rebels re-establish their organization.] Han and Chewie are supervising the completion of the restoration of the Millennium Falcon to its former glory. Han didn’t like the modifications that were done on Ganath (in Dark Empire II), and he is happy to see them go. [margin: [uncertain: Brad too,?] disappointed Han didn’t keep the “lightning gun”] [margin: [illegible]]