Lit Lord Blackhole

Some questions about Lord Blackhole (Cronal):
-) Some sources state Blackhole survived the Battle of Mindor.
While reading the novel (Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor), however, I got the feeling Cronal died at the end while he was trying to flee. Luke used to Force to kill him.
-) Who was the Imperial Director of Intelligence during the Galactic Civil War? Blackhole or Isard?

You can also use this thread to discuss other thing involving Blackhole.
Do you like the character? Why (not)?
Do you want to see him back in future novels/comics?

 

I remember loving Cronal for both B movie purposes and from a philosophical standpoint. And on lousy days I sometimes think Cronal had things right.
Despite how brilliantly he exited Shadows of Mindor, I'd love to have him back.

 

I loved Blackhole before Blackhole was cool.

And yeah, I'd love to see him back. He's such a great recurring villain. Sort of like a Batman baddie. We need more of those in the EU.

 

Batman baddie, you say?

Blackhole needs to found his own Legion of Doom with Tremayne and Vongerella.

 

That was the subject of my first thread in the JC more than ten years ago.

 

I thought I remembered an old Abel post saying something to the effect that Blackhole was only director for a short period, something like an interim appointment between the Isards.

 

Add the Ubiqtorate to the mix and... so much fun! At least EGtW more or less patched the relationship between the Director of Intelligence and the Ubiqtorate.

 

I remember Abel theorizing that. I like the shadow director theory better, myself. Certainly fits with the whole "dark side theocracy waiting in the shadows" mythology from the great Dark Empire Sourcebook.

And Jay: your theory about post-Endor DE was debunked by the Force Unleashed Campaign Setting.

 

I'll get you some quotes when I get home. I'm sure you'll find a way to work around them.

 

You can always just treat it as another Exar Mothma situation.

 

Ooo yes! Tremayne! I always forget he's still MIA!

And aren't some of the old-timey Mofferencers still kicking around? Excellent evil henchmen!
And I say we add Sunber to the mix. He can be play the Two-Face role.

 

How about:

Blackhole is the shadowy secret ultimate authority of Imperial Intelligence...and of the ISB, and the Inquisitorius, and Naval Intelligence, and a hypothetical Army Intelligence.

Obviously he'd have little involvement in running any of those organisations; only the Ubiqutorate, the Grand Inquisitor, the various Directors and his own staff are aware of his existence. He'd just occasionally pop in to commandeer whatever resources he requires for his or Palpatine's projects, or shut down a particularly inconvenient internal or external threat. A sort of quieter equivalent to Lord Vader's position regarding the armed forces.

It's elevating him to a greater position than the character perhaps warrants, but I think its workable without devaluing any other characters overmuch.

Presumably, Isard overthrows him at some point between Endor and Mindor, possibly usurping his control of the entire security apparatus.

 

Some Imps who are still around:
-) Wrenga Jixton
-) Grand Admiral Grant
-) Demmings
-) Governor Wessel
-) Leonia Tavira
-) Wermis (from the Marvel comics)
-) Captain Brandei
-) Maarek Stele
-)...

What happenend to Ranulf Trommer? He had quite some potential...

 

Good old slimy Pradeux... I loved how EGtW made the Pradeux line an august lineage, and the christening of the ISD Pradeux was a magistral touch.

 

He defected.

 

What if Cronal defected too?.. hiding in plain sight as one of Luke's new Jedi... with a new body, a new alias... like only a true mastermind can?

Come on... did you really believe Kyp Durron lived all his live in the mines of Kessel and then instantly learned how the galaxy worked, how to fly ships, where to find/get what etc.? High force potential to boot and a mysterious crazy old woman as teacher who vanishes as soon as he is established in the order then he tries to split the order in the NJO.. meddles with the Solokids.. vanishes multiple times for a mysterious girlfriend nobody knows.

 

He is in fact ... Saba!

 

I.... hmmm. I... hmm.. Hmmmmmmm.

OK maybe I'd continue reading FOTJ after Kenth's death if that were the case.

 

Woah.... Cronal is Saba and Kenth found out... that's why he had to die!

 

Some questions for me? Awesome! Oh wait... that Cronal... and here I thought I was special

EDIT: Oops, forgot to answer questions. I think its not been 100% explained about Cronals position in Imperial Intelligence. Personally, I always thought his position was a temporary placement for some reason before passing to Isard... possibly an interim post between Isards. However, I do like the idea of a 'shadow director' of Imperial Intelligence.

Meanwhile, at the Legion of Doom!

 

From the Rebellion Era Sourcebook :

As the head of Intelligence, Blackhole had unparalleled access to the galaxy's unfathomable seas of information. He interfered little in the already smoothly running daily functions of Intelligence - few ever noted his addition to their ranks. Instead, he holed himself away in his sanctuary, meditating on the countless data-documents streaming through his office, awaiting dark side visions to act upon.

This seems to support the idea of him being some sort of shadow director. Maybe he did this while Isard acted as the 'real', visible director of Intelligence.