Ladies, gentlemen and lesser lifeforms of the Imperial Galaxy,

Today, the Imperial Ministry of State has released the following statement:

In an effort to support free enterprise throughout the Empire, the Imperial Government has signed an agreement with Cloud City Mining Corporation.

Cloud City, lead by Lady Gabriella Storm, is now confident in continuing further expansion by peaceful and, more importantly, legal means. In a recent press conference, given at Cloud City HQ in the company of Imperial officials, Lady Storm literally said: "We just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of our business forever."

And, as a matter of fact, we will. Aside from the fact that Cloud City will, of course, operate as a legal enterprise in Imperial space, the Empire sees no further need to exert strict control over Cloud City's mining operations.

Lord Gunther von Esling, Minister of State, made the following comments during a press conference at Coruscant's Imperial Palace: "These recent events merely prove that the Galactic Empire cannot and will not let the rebellion succeed in their intolerable efforts to disrupt civilian and financial life throughout the galaxy . The rebel uprising will be crushed and order restored. Nothing better suits free enterprise than a peaceful galaxy."

We have nothing further to add to the Lady's and his Lordship's comments.