[ The flaw in Dustin's logic still remains, and speaking of that galaxy far, far away; ]

Under the Empire's rule, there are no corporate interests that supersede the government's authority, regardless of said corporation's resources. There is also no need to conceal First Contact because there are many systems and more planets already joined in trade. While there are paid assassinations, it is a very risky thing to carry them out on the whistleblower if said whistleblower is already part of the Empire.

[ Part of living under a fascist state means all those systems and planets are tightly controlled. ]