Also with the officer on the ship from the Bo-Katan episode. At this point in the timeline, there seems to be a mix within the imperial ranks of officers/troops who have a cult-like belief in the Empire vs. those who are just doing their jobs. During the OT era it was much more homogenized - but it would absolutely make sense for this era to show that there’s a shift. The imperials choosing to stay in line after Endor and Palpatine’s death, along with Operation Cinder and many of the super loyal officers leaving for the unknown regions would be extremists from a relative standpoint.

So you have people like that officer who killed the two pilots and then committed suicide before giving up Gideon’s location, and then these pilots with one saying “I’m not with them” before the other kills him. So what did he mean by “with them”? Are we seeing the beginning of the more cult-like First Order? Or is he talking about a plan that Gideon or Thrawn is putting in place?