Since the start of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, Captain Lawson has been trying to keep the Galactic Empire away from his investigation into Maul’s criminal operations. He’s made it clear to his droid partner Two-Boots that getting the Empire involved would spell trouble for the city planet of Janix. It’s one of the few places in the galaxy flying under Emperor Palpatine’s radar. And Lawson wants to keep it that way as he’s seen the Empire “destroy lives.”
Unfortunately, all of Lawson’s efforts to protect Janix from the Empire and Maul go to waste in episode 4, Pride and Vengeance. Lawson deactivated Two-Boots to keep him from getting in touch with the Empire. While he’s out conducting a raid in an attempt to capture Maul, Two-Boots reactivates himself and calls the Imperials. Not only did Lawson fail to arrest Maul and his mercenaries, but now he’ll have to deal with an imperial occupation.
It seems like Two-Boots made a smart decision since Lawson is clearly out of his league when it comes to Maul. But by doing the right thing, Two-Boots may have done more harm than good.
The Empire is a Virus
To understand how screwed Janix and its citizens are right now, you need to think of the Empire as a virus.
It arrives on a planet under the pretense of “curing” a local infection, in this case, Maul’s growing crime syndicate. It presents itself as the medicine. But once they arrive, they never leave.
Janix’s Tactical Defense Force will either be dismantled or absorbed into the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB). Because Lawson delayed reporting his investigation to the Empire, the ISB will likely investigate him and Chief Klyce. In the Empire’s view, a local official who refuses to report the presence of a criminal or a former Sith Lord is just as guilty as the fugitives themselves.
Right now, Janix is something rare in the early days of Palpatine’s rule. It has its own defense force, its own laws, and an identity unique to itself. It’s a Mid Rim world that, for the longest time, has remained untouched by the Galactic Empire. And it’s in danger of becoming another occupied territory answering to Coruscant. Just look at what the Empire did to Lothal or Ferrix or any planet that made the mistake of letting the Empire through the door.
Catching One Criminal Means Punishing Everyone
When Lawson says the Empire will “destroy lives,” he is not speaking in vague terms. He has seen what happens when Imperial forces arrive to “solve” a local problem. The Empire is known for holding entire populations responsible for any criminal or rebel activity taking place in their world. They will use Maul’s presence in Janix as an excuse to impose curfews, or mass arrest civilians regardless of whether they’re criminals or not.
They don’t care for nuance or patience. They arrive with Stormtroopers and Inquisitors. They believe an entire city should stand trial for the wrongdoings of one individual. The distinction between a criminal and an innocent bystander doesn’t matter to Imperial investigators.
The Lesser of Two Evils
The tragedy of the situation is that Two-Boots isn’t wrong about Maul being more than Janix can handle. The former Sith Lord is dangerous, ruthless. The city would benefit from the Empire’s resources and manpower to take Maul down, but it comes at a terrible cost. Lawson’s methods weren’t perfect but it really is in Janix’s best interest to try to rein in the Shadow Collective on their own terms. The city can recover from Maul’s machinations but it won’t survive the Empire.
Two-Boots did what he was built to do. And in doing so, he may have done more damage to Janix than Maul ever could.
Lawson knew that but he’s just one man going up against forces bigger than him.
