RNN:Wookiee Chieftain Interview
Wookiee Chieftain Interview
published on Year 18 Day 359
BLACK FOREST DAY REMEMBERANCE…
Seth Wrenstar – KASHYYYK
It’s been twelve years since the Empire ordered the massacre on Kashyyyk that came to be known as the Black Forest Massacre. Row after row the Imperial troopers of Task Force Delta, an elite combat unit within the Galactic Empire’s ranks, marched across the lush forests of Kashyyyk, leaving death in their wake. The resulting casualties were so devastating to the wookiee population that there has never been an accurate count of the losses sustained that day.
It has taken years for the wookiees to rebuild both their population and the infrastructure on Kashyyyk. Fortunately, they have found solidarity in their comrades within the New Republic. In the aftermath of the massacre, multiple organizations within the NR sent relief to the devastated planet. A joint relief effort spearheaded by RepMed, the Juganoth Mining Corporation, and Corellian Transport Services and others, delivered raw materials, much needed medical supplies and food to the surface of Kashyyyk to assist the affected wookiee population in their time of need. Without those much needed supplies, experts speculate that it would have taken decades for the wookiee population to reach the point of stability seen prior to the massacre.
This year during preparations for the commencement ceremony, I was given the rare opportunity to sit down with Chieftain Gwyyywbukk to ask him a few questions about how the massacre has affected the wookiees twelve years after the massacre. The environment was one of emotion and gratitude.
The following is a translation of the interview in basic:
Seth Wrenstar:
"What do you remember from that day?"
Chieftain Gwyyywbukk:
"[I remember that none of us really seemed surprised. We all knew in the back of our minds that something like that was a real possibility. When the shooting started, I remember hearing nothing but blaster fire. I could smell smoke all around me and struggled to think over the sounds of the screams coming from the dead and dying. We immediately thought of the children. We tried to protect them but we just couldn’t save them all. I still dream about it sometimes, the bodies piled up like refuse, our sacred jungles aflame…]"
Seth Wrenstar:
"I am sure this is certainly hard for you to talk about. How do you feel that the wookiee population responded following the events that day?"
Chieftain Gwyyywbukk:
"[In the beginning, we reacted about as well as one would expect. We felt helpless. We wookiees are a strong and proud people, but after our continuous abuse at the hands of the Empire, we were simply too tired to fight them. We realized that as a community, we had to swallow our pride and rely on our allies in the New Republic. Without them, we would not have been able to reorganize and preserve our culture.]"
Seth Wrenstar:
"Do you think it changed the perspective the wookiees have on the Empire or the New Republic at all?"
Chieftain Gwyyywbukk:
"[The wookiees have never had much love for the Empire. We have always known they have evil in their hearts. I for one, never fully understood how deeply rooted that evil was until that day. The aftermath of the massacre did a lot to bring the wookiees even closer into the New Republic fold. While we have always viewed them as an ally, we wookiees take our time in establishing trust. The New Republic earned our trust that day and further cemented it during the Battle of Kashyyyk that followed later.]"
Seth Wrenstar:
"How will you be remembering the fallen on the day of the anniversary? Will you be participating in any community events or will you be keeping to a private gathering?"
Chieftain Gwyyywbukk:
"[As chieftain, I need to be present for my people. I need to be present so that the young ones can hear the truth of that day and so that they can see that our people can rise and overcome anything. Such is the strength of the wookiee.]"
Seth Wrenstar:
"What can young wookiees and other sentients take from this so it never happens again?"
Chieftain Gwyyywbukk:
"[We as a people need to remember that during the pursuit of peace, sometimes it is necessary to fight. We are a peaceful people at heart and do not seek to harm others, but when those that seek to do us harm come to us, we cannot sit idly by. We must teach them how we allowed this to happen and never allow them to forget the reason that they are here today.]"
With the preparations underway, this year’s Black Forest Day is sure to be emotional for everyone involved. Let us take heed of Chieftain Gwyyywbukk’s wisdom and take a moment to reflect on the fallen and offer gratitude to our comrades.
We sadly have to report Junior Correspondent Seth Wrenstar is in coma after attempting to take his own life after holding this interview
