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|| STAR WARS || Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire || William C. Dietz, Dean Williams || 1997 || Novella || Science Fiction ||
Here comes a little lore about Sullust, and Sulon and what lead to the event that is called: The Massacre of Sulon. Based on the book called Soldier for the Empire and the available lore that can be found in Legends sources. The challenge is that I had to keep in mind that when these books were written, The Phantom Menace weren't out yet, so I had to filter out the prequels when I needed additonal information to fill out some holes that the chapter itself doesn't mention.
If you know my taste in fiction then by now you probably know that I'm fond of fictional dictatorships which is why Palpatine's reign is one of my favorite thing to talk about; and what happened here on Sulon definitely aligning with my area of interests.
Sullust is located in the Outer Rim in the Sullust System and homeworld of the humanoid species called the Sullustans. It has two moons, Umnub and Sulon, and while Sulon - birthplace of Morgan Katarn and Kyle Katarn -, is the main location of the book's first chapter, it also mentions Sullust a lot and its relationship with the Galactic Empire.
Sullust is important because it gives a seat for the the SoroSuub, which is an interplanetary megacorporation what's main profile is mineral processing but having many-many subdivisons ensures they are in many areas that count: weapon producing, droid making, shipmaking, communication, even food distribution and probably many more that is not even mentioned. Basically they have a monopoly over every product they sell. Why is this a bad thing and why dictatorships love corporate monopoly so much?
Let's start with explaining what is capitalism: Capitalism is an economic system where the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development occurs through the accumulation and reinvestment of the profits gained in the free market. This system is based on the competition between the participants and the goal is to gain advantage over your financial opponents. But when you don't have competition, that's when the monopoly situation occurs.
What is monopoly: Monopoly is when you don't have competition and you are the only supplier in the market. You define the prices, you define what information you share about your product, you define what you put into the product to begin with and you decide if you tell the truth about it or not. Your consumers don't have any say in it, because they don't have any choice but buying from you or they don't have it at all. You made sure of that after all.
Why is it a bad thing when a Megacorporation is able to influence politics: Due to the massive profit they gain, they have the money influence people in places with power. They have money to bribe or put their own choosen men in places they need, or bribe politicians to create or adjust laws to their own needs. Politicians and the government itself is becoming a puppet at this point. You don't need an army take over when you are expert in white collar crime.
So when this SoroSuub, this very influental corporation sided with the Empire during the Galactic Civil War, you can imagine what was the result. The Empire gained a solid hold over this planet, over their products and through the products, they gained influence of the very lives of the citizens of Sullust and all this without bloodshed.
Fortunately not everyone is satisfied how this Corporation runs as a government in the name of the Empire's interests. We know there is a Resistance:
This quote says that the Rebels are there on Sullust trying to sabotage the Empire whenever and whatever way they can. But what happens when someone doesn't want to buy the products the SoroSuub wants to offer? When someone rejects the Empire's "goodwill"? This is what we witnessed in the Chapter One of the Soldier for the Empire. The consequences of such resistance.
To be continued in part 2 where I will talk about how the Sullust's Moon, Sulon tried to resist against the pressure of the SoroSuub.
Here comes a little lore about Sullust, and Sulon and what lead to the event that is called: The Massacre of Sulon. Based on the book called Soldier for the Empire and the available lore that can be found in Legends sources. The challenge is that I had to keep in mind that when these books were written, The Phantom Menace weren't out yet, so I had to filter out the prequels when I needed additonal information to fill out some holes that the chapter itself doesn't mention.
If you know my taste in fiction then by now you probably know that I'm fond of fictional dictatorships which is why Palpatine's reign is one of my favorite thing to talk about; and what happened here on Sulon definitely aligning with my area of interests.
THE INFLUENCE OF SOROSUUB
Sullust is located in the Outer Rim in the Sullust System and homeworld of the humanoid species called the Sullustans. It has two moons, Umnub and Sulon, and while Sulon - birthplace of Morgan Katarn and Kyle Katarn -, is the main location of the book's first chapter, it also mentions Sullust a lot and its relationship with the Galactic Empire.
Sullust is important because it gives a seat for the the SoroSuub, which is an interplanetary megacorporation what's main profile is mineral processing but having many-many subdivisons ensures they are in many areas that count: weapon producing, droid making, shipmaking, communication, even food distribution and probably many more that is not even mentioned. Basically they have a monopoly over every product they sell. Why is this a bad thing and why dictatorships love corporate monopoly so much?
Let's start with explaining what is capitalism: Capitalism is an economic system where the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development occurs through the accumulation and reinvestment of the profits gained in the free market. This system is based on the competition between the participants and the goal is to gain advantage over your financial opponents. But when you don't have competition, that's when the monopoly situation occurs.
What is monopoly: Monopoly is when you don't have competition and you are the only supplier in the market. You define the prices, you define what information you share about your product, you define what you put into the product to begin with and you decide if you tell the truth about it or not. Your consumers don't have any say in it, because they don't have any choice but buying from you or they don't have it at all. You made sure of that after all.
Why is it a bad thing when a Megacorporation is able to influence politics: Due to the massive profit they gain, they have the money influence people in places with power. They have money to bribe or put their own choosen men in places they need, or bribe politicians to create or adjust laws to their own needs. Politicians and the government itself is becoming a puppet at this point. You don't need an army take over when you are expert in white collar crime.
So when this SoroSuub, this very influental corporation sided with the Empire during the Galactic Civil War, you can imagine what was the result. The Empire gained a solid hold over this planet, over their products and through the products, they gained influence of the very lives of the citizens of Sullust and all this without bloodshed.
Fortunately not everyone is satisfied how this Corporation runs as a government in the name of the Empire's interests. We know there is a Resistance:
He took a breath of the crisp evening air and paused to watch Sullust rise. Morgan had friends there, many of whom belonged to the Alliance and were working towards the day when the New Order would be destroyed. That was no small task on a planet where the Emperor ruled through the vast SoroSuub Corporation. Still, where there’s a will there’s a way, and they would succeed, Morgan was certain.
This quote says that the Rebels are there on Sullust trying to sabotage the Empire whenever and whatever way they can. But what happens when someone doesn't want to buy the products the SoroSuub wants to offer? When someone rejects the Empire's "goodwill"? This is what we witnessed in the Chapter One of the Soldier for the Empire. The consequences of such resistance.
To be continued in part 2 where I will talk about how the Sullust's Moon, Sulon tried to resist against the pressure of the SoroSuub.
