Chapter 339: Rogue One! The Tyranny of the Galactic Empire! The Rebellion!
At this moment, Li Ang stood before the central control console of the Multiverse Base Headquarters, observing everything through the first-person perspectives of Paul, Chani, and the rest of the advance team.
Soon, after Paul and his team broke through the planet's atmosphere and reached the interior region, Li Ang saw an iconic object from Star Wars.
It was a starship completely clad in white, its hull stretched into a long, triangular silhouette, stacked with pyramid-like superstructure layers.
The entire ship bristled with weapons—turbolaser batteries, tractor beam projectors, heavy ion cannons—you name it.
There was no mistaking it. This was an Imperial-class Star Destroyer from the Star Wars universe, a symbol of the Galactic Empire's immense power.
Now, the Star Destroyer hovered steadily above a city, overlooking the planet's surface like a divine enforcer from the heavens.
"An Imperial Star Destroyer? That must mean the timeline has reached the Galactic Empire era," Li Ang muttered thoughtfully as he stared at the hard-light screen.
If that were the case, then Palpatine had already completed his power grab and established the Empire.
The powerful elite of the Old Republic and the Jedi Order had either submitted or been crushed under Imperial suppression—forced to go into hiding and wait for their chance.
If I could recruit the Jedi Order to serve me, that would be ideal, Li Ang mused inwardly.
Before long, data from other recon drones and AI scouts confirmed it—the current timeline of the Star Wars universe was indeed during the era of the First Galactic Empire.
Founded by Palpatine, the Empire was a brutal regime that ruled through tyranny and force. Countless civilizations across the galaxy grew discontent and began to rise in rebellion.
These forces formed the Rebel Alliance to oppose the Empire. In response, the Empire began constructing superweapons like the Death Star and Starkiller Base, aiming to maintain control through fear.
"So it really is the Empire era. That means we'll need to deal with this Galactic Empire first—then take its place," Li Ang said, his eyes narrowing as he thought of the Death Star's devastating power.
Naturally, that led him to think of another critical material—kyber crystals.
Kyber crystals are unique to the Star Wars universe, capable of focusing and amplifying Force energy, making them essential components in powerful weapons and devices.
From lightsabers to the construction of the Starkiller Base, kyber crystals are indispensable.
If the Megacorp could conquer this galaxy and seize all kyber crystal sources, they could mass-produce elite melee troops armed with lightsabers.
With a clearer picture of their future enemies, Li Ang refocused on the screen to monitor Paul, Chani, and the others as they infiltrated the planet's surface.
Upon seeing the massive Star Destroyer above the city, Pani spoke up through the squad's internal comms channel:
"Paul, what's the plan?"
Paul Atreides, the recon team's commander, had flawlessly executed countless assassinations, ambushes, and reconnaissance missions across the multiverse.
With his vast operational experience, he was naturally the leader of this mission.
After a brief survey, Paul issued his orders:
"You guys investigate other parts of the planet. Chani and I will infiltrate the city below and see if we can uncover any leads."
As a frontline operative, Paul had clearance to access the Megacorp's Star Wars database.
Judging by the presence of the Imperial Star Destroyer, he was fairly certain the timeline was set during the Empire era. But to confirm more details, he had to investigate firsthand.
Guesses and speculation were meaningless without concrete intel.
[Understood!]
With Paul's command, Pani led the other team members to scout different regions of the planet.
Meanwhile, Paul and Chani piloted their transforming ship toward the city beneath the Star Destroyer, preparing to land and investigate.
The city was built on a highland plateau, with natural terrain forming a protective wall around it, giving it the look of a fortified citadel.
Even with their cutting-edge hard-light cloaking system, Paul didn't dare approach directly. Instead, he used the jagged nearby mountains as cover.
They landed on a small hill near the city and proceeded on foot toward the highland citadel.
Fortunately, the alien city was densely populated. The streets bustled with travelers from numerous galactic species.
By mingling with a group of eccentrically dressed aliens, Paul and Chani avoided drawing any suspicion.
Still, to be safe, they each donned a tattered brown cloak to conceal their identities and steer clear of unnecessary trouble.
At that moment, squads of Imperial stormtroopers were patrolling the city's streets.
Clad in their iconic white armor, black gloves, and carrying blaster rifles, they exuded a sense of unwavering loyalty to authoritarian might.
The city's broadcast system suddenly blared:
[Citizens of Jedha City, the Empire is seeking a fugitive freighter pilot. A reward of 1,000 credits will be granted for any useful information!]
The broadcasts echoed nonstop. Stormtroopers patrolled the streets, stopping passersby and demanding identification.
Some even stormed into private homes, determined to root out the fugitive no matter what.
Upon hearing the name Jedha City, both Paul and Li Ang back at HQ recalled its significance.
Jedha City, located in the inner-mid rim of the galaxy, was a relatively prosperous area—though the planet itself was cold and barren.
The reason so many aliens gathered here was because Jedha was a sacred site for exploring the mysteries of the Force. Countless Force believers traveled here for pilgrimage and enlightenment.
It was also one of the key sources of kyber crystals!
"We'll need to stay low," Paul said.
With that, he and Chani expertly avoided the stormtroopers' patrols—after all, they had no identification to show, and getting caught would mean immediate escape protocols.
While slipping through the city, Paul gathered intel from the locals, slowly piecing together a clearer picture of Jedha City's current situation.
Ever since Imperial forces occupied Jedha, they had shut down the temples and looted the kyber crystal reserves.
They recklessly mined the planet, causing severe environmental damage. The citizens had fallen into poverty and famine.
On top of that, the Empire's Jedi purge and control over Force-sensitive pilgrims had fueled a constant stream of resistance.
Though most uprisings were crushed by Imperial force, public resentment had reached a boiling point—pushing the Empire ever closer to collapse.
The fugitive pilot the Empire was after had likely joined the Rebellion, hence the all-out manhunt.
In truth, such excessive effort—including deploying a Star Destroyer—to catch one pilot could only mean one thing:
This person must be in possession of vital intelligence or a crucial item, prompting the Empire to search frantically.
At this point, Li Ang was almost certain which part of the Star Wars timeline they had entered.
This was clearly the plot of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—the tale of heroes banding together under the Rebel Alliance to steal the Death Star plans.
The current period was shortly after the formation of the Empire, while Palpatine's purge of the Jedi was still ongoing.
The good news? Starkiller Base hadn't been built yet.
The bad news? The events of Rogue One were only 34 years before The Force Awakens, meaning the Empire probably already possessed the designs and technology for Starkiller Base.
They just hadn't started construction yet—likely due to insufficient kyber crystals.
Hence, the Empire's frenzied, ruthless hunt across the galaxy for those crystals—even if it meant ecological devastation.
"We're going to need to capture the Death Star's schematics," Li Ang said grimly. "And if possible, we should acquire the Starkiller Base blueprints too."
With that thought, Li Ang immediately transmitted the directive to the frontline command, instructing David Martinez to initiate a mission to seize the Death Star plans.
Although Li Ang had previously drawn a Death Star from the Star Wars universe, he had never had the research team fully analyze or reverse-engineer it.
For one, there was no pressing need. And second, the Death Star offered little practical use to the Megacorp.
But the Starkiller Base, a refined and more advanced version of the Death Star, was an entirely different story.
If they could get the Empire's blueprints, the Megacorp could potentially develop a superior version of their own.
[Understood. I'll issue the orders immediately!]
Upon receiving the command, David relayed the key Rogue One intel and mission objectives to Paul.
If Paul encountered the fugitive pilot during his recon, even better.
Armed with their new objectives, Paul and Chani became even more cautious as they continued moving through the crowd.
Chani, ever perceptive, noticed that several bystanders were carrying hidden weapons. Like them, they were likely evading stormtrooper searches.
They even bumped into each other at times, resulting in some rather awkward encounters.
Just as Chani was about to warn Paul, he placed a firm hand on her arm and calmly said without turning his head,
"Don't say anything. I've already noticed."
Paul had long since picked up on the group of shifty-eyed individuals lurking among the crowd, their weapons poorly concealed and their movements far too conspicuous for a covert operation.
They were clearly part of the Rebellion—likely mistaking the Imperial stormtroopers' presence as an operation to wipe them out—and were now silently preparing to retaliate.
The missing freighter pilot might even be in their custody. But Paul wasn't ready to make contact just yet.
From the look of things, this street was on the verge of erupting in violence. If a fight broke out, anyone caught in the middle—including Paul and Chani—would be swept into the crossfire.
However, if the Rebel fighters failed, Paul could step in at the right moment and lend a hand—winning their trust and giving the Megacorp a prime opportunity to recruit new allies for galactic takeover.
As Paul and Chani quietly readied themselves for combat and waited patiently for hostilities to begin, a voice suddenly sounded from behind them:
"You two. You're not from around here, are you?"
Paul froze and turned around to see a blind man with a staff—his features remarkably resembling Donnie Yen's—standing before them.
Judging by the man's robes, he appeared to be a monk, though the threadbare fabric and weathered appearance made him look more like a beggar.
"Yes, you two," the man continued. "You've been loitering around this sector long enough. Anyone would start getting suspicious."
Chani instinctively reached for the weapon at her back, ready to eliminate the threat before he could expose them.
But before she could act, she spotted another man lurking in the shadows behind the blind monk—aiming a heavy hand-cannon directly at them, clearly prepared to defend his companion.
"No need to be alarmed," the blind man said. "My name is Chirrut Îmwe. I used to be a Guardian of the Kyber Temple. But the temple's gone now... and I've ended up like this."
The Kyber Temple he mentioned was a once-magnificent structure in Jedha City—a sacred site for countless Force believers on pilgrimage.
But when the Empire invaded to seize kyber crystals for their superweapons, they didn't just plunder the crystals. They sealed off the entire temple, cutting off access for all worshippers. Jedha's decline followed swiftly.
Now intrigued, Paul couldn't help but wonder: how had this blind man sensed them roaming around earlier?
Was he just pretending to be blind?
After all, every member of a Megacorp recon unit went through rigorous scent cleansing procedures before deployment—eliminating all unique pheromonal traces that might arouse suspicion.
There was no way this monk could be relying on smell to track them through a bustling street.
Noticing the tension in Chani's face, Paul gestured subtly for her to relax, then gave Chirrut and his partner a polite nod to signal peaceful intentions.
He sensed no hostility from them—just curiosity. But he still wanted to know how Chirrut had managed to spot him.
As the standoff de-escalated, Chirrut stepped closer, leaning on his staff and lowering his voice:
"If I'm not mistaken… you're a Jedi, aren't you?"
Paul Atreides blinked, confused at first, but quickly recovered and calmly replied,
"What makes you say that?"
"I'm something of a Force practitioner," Chirrut said. "I can't wield the Force myself, but I can sense its presence."
"And you… you radiate a powerful Force aura. Only a Jedi would carry such energy."
To Chirrut, Force users were like fireflies in the night—impossible to miss. The stronger the connection, the brighter the glow.
He'd been observing Paul from afar, watching as this "Force beacon" appeared and disappeared, circled back and forth through the streets, clearly trying to avoid detection. His guess was that Paul was with the Rebellion, which emboldened him to approach.
Paul, though composed on the surface, was inwardly stunned.
He knew nothing about the Force. In fact, he'd never trained in any Force-based discipline at all!
Unless… Chirrut had picked up on the spice-enhanced psychic power that Paul developed in the Dune universe.
In truth, the Megacorp had long since confirmed through research that Dune's spice was deeply connected to psionic energy.
According to Li Ang's "Physical Universe–Astral Plane" theory, spice functioned as a bridge to the astral realm—a medium that allowed beings in the physical world to absorb ethereal energy, enhancing the mind and body with supernatural abilities.
Psionics and the Force were remarkably similar in nature—both omnipresent, mysterious energies that defied natural laws.
And Paul Atreides happened to be the Megacorp's most gifted warrior in terms of spice-induced psychic development—his internal energy field was far stronger than his peers.
Watching Paul's first-person view from the control room, the Megacorp's high-ranking officials exchanged surprised glances.
Could it be… that all multiverse realities have this same dual-structure—a physical world paired with an astral dimension? Including the Star Wars universe?
If that were true, then two possibilities emerged:
1. Psionics and the Force are fundamentally similar, differing only in minor traits. That would explain why Chirrut mistook Paul for a Jedi.
2. Psionics and the Force are the same energy, just manifested differently in different universes.
Paul immediately recalled Li Ang's dimensional theory—perhaps the "spice-born psionics" of Dune were simply what this world called the Force.
He couldn't be certain, but one thing was clear: if even someone as sensitive as Chirrut couldn't tell the difference, then most Jedi likely wouldn't either.
That made it much easier for Paul to operate undercover as a Jedi, blending into this galaxy and gathering intelligence on the Empire.
Thinking quickly, Paul leaned into the role and replied naturally:
"I'm no longer a Jedi. The Empire's claws are everywhere. I just want to stay out of trouble."
In the early days of the Galactic Empire, Emperor Palpatine had ruthlessly purged all dissent—including the Jedi Order. Masters, apprentices, any who resisted were executed.
Given such oppressive conditions, casting aside the Jedi identity to live in obscurity made perfect sense.
Paul's seamless lie came from years of experience in undercover operations—he knew how to sell a story.
Chirrut smiled in relief. After so many days, he'd finally found a Jedi.
Ever since the Empire sealed off the temple, Chirrut had joined the Rebellion. Recruiting a powerful Jedi would significantly improve their odds of victory.
"You didn't surrender to the Empire's darkness. You didn't side with the tyrant. That alone proves you still uphold the Jedi spirit," Chirrut said, full of admiration.
He believed this disillusioned Jedi was simply waiting for the right cause. The Rebellion was the answer.
But Paul maintained his composure and politely declined:
"I left my lightsaber behind a long time ago. I've forgotten the Force. I'm just a man now."
"I can't help you."
He knew that being too eager would raise suspicion. It was better to play the reluctant hero.
"The lightsaber can always be picked up again," Chirrut insisted. "As long as the Force is in you, it never dies. You must help us end the darkness."
Chirrut was so desperate not to lose this opportunity that he was ready to follow Paul and plead endlessly.
Paul had anticipated this persistence. Once he judged the act had gone on long enough, he softened and replied,
"Then… what can I do for you now?"
Chirrut lit up with excitement. He lowered his voice and asked Paul to follow him.
He had no idea that Paul was actually a Megacorp operative—and was still thrilled at the prospect of recruiting a Jedi Master for the Rebellion.
Soon, under Chirrut's guidance, Paul and Chani arrived at the ruins of the Kyber Temple in Jedha City.
Once a revered place of worship, it now lay in scorched ruins, destroyed by the Empire's troops.
What had once been a sanctuary for thousands of faithful had been reduced to rubble by the tyrant's hand.
Little wonder, then, that a brokenhearted Chirrut would throw himself into the Rebellion without hesitation.
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