The birth of the Empire have been felt throughout the galaxy. Even as the new Emperor consolidates his power, his mysterious apprentice, Darth Vader, has been sent to crush labor disputes, track down lost Star Destroyers, and vanquish foes who survived the recently ended Clone Wars. Meanwhile, the imperial public-relations machine has arranged for a series of unifying spectacles, the latest of which will involve a gathering of of the first graduating class of Imperial cadets. Coruscant has become the destination for young men from the galaxy's finest academies. It is an exciting time: a festival atmosphere... the calm before a storm...