clonecumber | (no subject)

Biggest bucket of ice water moment in 501st?

Straight from my notes: oh holy fuck holy shit they did this on PURPOSE

they = The Empire, of course

this = they got themselves their own skirata

I know it was probably supposed to be SUPER obvious, but I totally fucking missed it, not gonna lie. I just figured it out, and Jez was the big kicker moment, when I connected the dots. When I realized who was really in this room. And, you know. Wow. Empire went hard, didn’t they?

They tried with Cuis and didn’t get the result they wanted, or they sent in Cuis to get a read on the situation and report back how they should proceed forward, and I am BOWLED OVER. This is absolutely the flight risk legion, but it’s a flight risk legion they’re putting effort into trying to hang on to, and aim, and someone, somewhere, got the idea to put together a psychological profile on Kal Skirata, probably from back when things were still the Republic for added creepy factor, to do that? And Melusar is either an incredibly good actor, or they hunted his ass down and he passed that interview with flying colors. Holy shit. Holy SHIT I did not realize the Empire did this deliberately.

they found kal’s eviler twin, guys

Couple red flag moments + commentary because I can’t help myself:

Yes they can, Darman.

oh really? not like that’s not a common oratorical strategy or anything no sir can someone PLEASE give these men a writing class???? Maybe debate at least????? writing to an audience as a concept, maybe?????? darman keeps doing this every time someone vaguely charismatic talks to him I am WORRIED; someone is going to try to sell this man a bridge someday and darman’s going to believe them you mark my words.

I left out all the fear-mongering rhetoric, though I DO have it highlighted, but Melusar absolutely knows how to radicalize and it’s legit terrifying. You can see what his actual job is as soon as you clue in why they picked him and boy is he killing it.

But also...a moment, please, for my “Niner is a manipulative bastard’s worst nightmare” agenda:

he’s just not impressed. like it doesn’t even take him any effort. i love him.