I wonder if this is a backdoor Episode X. Regardless of what Lucas says at this point, his original plan was for 12. Granted, that plan involved not even seeing the Emperor until episode VII. The one thing I found striking about the sequels in terms of advertising and talking points from Lucasfilm, is that they really didn't emphasize the episode numbers. It was all TFA and not Episode VII: The Force Awakens. I think that was a huge mistake. I guess they could be hedging their bets, but to continue the story from the sequels not make a new trilogy seems to be mistake. Granted, I don't think they really storyboarded out the sequels so who knows what we will get.