Grand Moffs close shave with lunacy

BY Features Editor LEE ANARI

There can't be many days when the Grand Moff of an entire sector sees his life fly right before his eyes, but today Grand Moff Treece must have believed that he was nearing the end of his reign as Moff - and also his life.

While taking in the sights and meeting the people of the busy Level Four of the Chancai Trade Centre, and milling about between market bazaar’s, traders and sales beings a commotion began near the hospital ward side of the level, which swiftly broke out into a near riot as inmates held in the institution broke free and ran riot across the halls, accosting a Stormtrooper and stealing his blaster rifle.  Shots were fired towards the starship entry/exit tunnel which runs through every level of the trade centre and several ships were hit, causing no damage.

After their suppression at the hands of Imperial Stormtroopers it was quietly revealed that they were in fact outpatients on a new, experimental drug designed to inhibit violent tendencies in patients - in reality, a calming drug.  Incorrect dosages had been administered and the patients broke free.   One of the sixteen who fled got to within two metres of Treece, swearing revenge for the death of a close female friend.  While appearing embarrassed by the comment and the entire debacle, Treece insisted that he knew nothing of any female

Local noted surgeon Doctor Kerrik told me from his surgery on Level 7 that instances like this had occurred before, many years ago on the planet Clayboss, but further research into the effects of the drug had revealed nothing to be actually wrong with the product.  Satisfied that it had passed all tests the drug was released onto the open market and swiftly became a best seller.   Kerrik qualified his comments by stating that the drug had never been proved to be harmful to any one being, but added "With the proliferation of races mixing through the Mid-Rim and specifically the Setnin Sector I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were to be adverse effects once the drug has entered the fabric of society.  These things are never apparent at the time."

Meanwhile, Treece returned to his quarters on Level 15 to rest and recuperate.  The official line was that he was preparing for a state banquet this evening where he would be entertaining Imperial dignitaries from the Core Worlds.  This reporter suspects that the main course on the table tonight will be sorting out the patients of the Zelon Medical Centre on Level 4.