Ansion (GNS) - Representatives from the Galactic Empire and Galactic Bank gathered today at the bank’s newly-completed Churnis sector corporate headquarters for a ceremony to commemorate the formal transfer of governmental responsibility to the bank’s Board of Directors. Attendees were treated to a rare personal appearance by elusive Galactic Bank CEO, Mikel von Bianchi, as well as representatives of the Galactic Empire, the former stewards of the sector.

Lord Protector von Bianchi provided a brief history to the reporters gathered at the Ansion Governor’s Palace for the handover. “The Churnis sector, now styled in official documents as the Churnis Protectorate, began its recent galactic history with a period of rapid growth yet instability under the mismanagement of The Mercenary Guild. Unfortunately, this led to a dichotomy of both extreme poverty for workers employed in multiple backbreaking jobs and extreme wealth for those who took advantage of the fertile new territory for industrial and commercial development.”

The treaty between the bank and the Galactic Empire followed months of negotiations, culminating in what sources claim to be the most expensive real estate purchase in galactic history. The treaty ensures that the economic prosperity which Churnis has experienced over the past several years, continues at a rapid pace far into the future. The opportunities presented by the treaty and faith in a brighter future for the sector were made clear by the attendance at the official reception of Churnis’ dignitaries, representatives from industrial groups, workers’ unions, and citizen interest organizations.

“These formerly disparate groups came together during the period of Imperial rule to better the lives of every citizen of the Churnis sector,” stated Lord Bianchi, before he continued to extol the bright future that lay ahead. “Under the Empire’s rule, Galactic Bank invested tens of billions of credits in the sector economy; creating what many see as a corporate haven within the Core,” seemingly referring to the Corporate Sector in the Outer Rim. The Corporate Sector was once a plutocratic industrial and economic powerhouse despite its remote location in the far rim. Its dwindling government, the Corporate Sector Authority, struggles to maintain economic capacity while the Empire also lays claim to the sector.

“Churnis will continue to see the level of unparalleled financial outlays that only Galactic Bank can provide.These will benefit not only our investors, but the people of the Ansion, Dbari, and Malari systems as well. Galactic Bank has already seen skyrocketing profits from these systems as essential government services have been streamlined,” informed Lord Bianchi. The transition from bureaucratic to corporate control has brought increased morale, decreased crime, and a massive influx of jobs to the region, including in the well-paying fields of construction, production of starships and items essential to daily life, and the material extraction and transportation industries.

Galactic Bank leadership also stressed the safety and security of the sector will be taken seriously and will continue unabated. “While the Imperial military is an effective deterrent to any hostile force, they are not the only solution to the need for the people to be safe,” Lord Bianchi stated, indicating that corporate security forces will maintain a healthy presence in the sector, conducting patrols of the major hyperlanes and cities. Galactic Bank has long been known as a prominent producer of one of the most effective combat fighters in the galaxy, the BTL-S3 Y-Wing, and has made it clear that these fearsome starships will be put to use against any hostile powers or roving bandits that wish to challenge the security of the citizens of Churnis.

Before returning inside the Governor’s Palace to continue the work of managing the sector, Lord Bianchi summarized: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Emperor Seele for the honor of governing such a prosperous portion of the galaxy, and for the chance to invest in the future of the Churnis sector and its people. This is the start of a very bright period of opportunity for the sector, and all of us at Galactic Bank look forward to a healthy period of growth and productivity.”