Meanwhile, Somewhere in the El'Rood Sector...

Ric the Hutt, Darth Karl, and General Kent took to the galactic playing board once again, giving the Hutts a shot at a trifecta.  Horak the Hutt and Wood the Hutt each had won in the last two weeks.  A LaBan win would put the Hutts in the record books. 

The Rebels put in an excellent show on their first turn, slaying Storm Troopers, but lost most of their advantage in an ill-fated attack on Bespin, which the Hutts easily turned.  The Hutts held their own and Empire came out of the gates with much of the El'Rood Sector under control.

By turn 2, Imperial numbers were down but the El'Rood Sector was theirs.  Alas, repeated efforts by both Hutt and Rebel kept the sector from ever yielding an Imperial bonus.  Starbases accumulated, Rebel battalions proliferated, and Hutts frustrated the Empire with "Money is Power." 

In the end, poor Hutt cards let the Rebels score the first faction card straight.  6 + 7 = 13 legions led to an overwhelming force that crushed Hutt garrisons and allowed the Rebels to pound their way into the El'Rood Sector from Corellia.  Once past Sullust, Eridou fell quickly and with it, the Emperor's final redoubt.  Victory Rebels.