Three Hours Before the Rebellion, Imperial Center, Imperial Intelligence Bureau
Imperial Intelligence Department, Lieutenant General Intelligence Officer—Wullf Yularen.
This veteran, who had lived through nearly the entire span from the Clone Wars at the end of the Galactic Republic to the founding of the Empire, stood before a massive holographic projection, studying the rapidly scrolling screens and the vast quantities of data and footage displayed upon them.
Undercurrents had recently been stirring within Imperial Center, and the Imperial Intelligence Bureau had noticed them. Unusual movements of security forces, unregistered ships smuggling their way in, and frequent secret communications between senior officials and Core Worlds nobles all pointed to an approaching storm.
Yet the Imperial Intelligence Bureau was under immense pressure as well. Ever since Isanne Isard had successfully eliminated her father and taken his place as the new Director of Imperial Intelligence Bureau, the Empire's intelligence services had been undergoing restructuring.
The Imperial Intelligence Bureau had previously been under Blackhole's command, and Blackhole had also been the leader of the Imperial Inquisitorius. As such, the bureau had been deeply tied to the forces of the Dark Followers. Much of its work had been handled by the Imperial Inquisitorius, and it had to be said that while those Imperial Inquisitors were extreme, mad, and bloodthirsty, they had also been remarkably efficient.
But now, with Blackhole's departure, Hydra's death in battle, and Latinal Tobin's death amid the Tagge family's internal conflict, the Imperial Inquisitorius's power had crumbled. Thus, in the subsequent reshuffling of power, Palpatine chose to place his trust in Isanne Isard. The forces of the Dark Theocracy were completely purged from the Intelligence Bureau, and the traditional faction regained control.
But then, in order to suppress the resentment of the Core Worlds nobles following the Tagge family's internal conflict, Palpatine