[ EU ] Following the destruction of the peaceful planet of Alderaan , Imperial defections to the Rebel Alliance became commonplace . For some , the transition was easy ; for others , to go on fighting would be the ultimate test of their resolve .

`` Rowna, please. The Empire we serve.. I did n't know we would reduce to creating superweapons to destroy planets.'' I told my girlfriend. She was an Imperial Pilot, and I was a Comms Engineer. 
 
 `` Blame the rebels who brought this on themselves, Pyqer. And stop talking like that. It feels like you're a sympathiser.'' 
 
 `` Alderaan was peaceful! They had no weapons to defend themselves! Even if they did, they would n't have stood a chance! And-'' I lowered my voice to hush, `` you know what I heard? The Grand Moff promised the Princess to spare Alderaan if she gave him the information he needed. And when she gave in, he still destroyed the planet.'' 
 
 `` As a show of force! The Empire needs to be taken seriously! Only we can bring order to the galaxy, Pyqer, you know that.'' 
 
 `` Oh, I have no doubt we can. But the Empire rules through fear, and now planetary destruction. This feels.. wrong.'' 
 
 `` Are you questioning the workings of our superiors?'' Rowna asked, her voice cold. I stared at her. She was small and lean, her pilot suit loose on her shoulders. She had her helmet off, which was technically against protocol. But she was high enough rank that this did not matter. Her copper hair, though cut short at the back, was still curly and smooth at her front. 
 
 She was beautiful. 
 
 But at that moment I knew she would not see things the way I saw them. The Empire, though awesome in theory, seemed to be worrying in practice. 
 
 And now with a superweapon of this scale.. 
 
 No. It was wrong. Maybe the Rebels saw the Empire as what it truly was. Maybe I was a sympathiser. And maybe, and this thought came with a shudder, maybe I was going to deflect. And join the rebels, too. 

