The War for the Republic

WIP

   "The War for the Republic" is the name given to a series of campaigns of the Second Galactic Civil War following the collapse of the New Republic in Year 21. It lasted from Day 16 to Day 229 and spanned the entirety of the former New Republic territory, as well as sectors previously controlled by The Resistance and the Jedi Order. 

The Chaos Erupts (Day 3 - Day 16)

On Day 3 of Year 21, Galen Darksol succeeded Jin Solas as the 15th Chief of State of the New Republic. Darksol was a highly decorated civil servant, serving seven terms as a Republic senator, a diplomat, and as CEO of the Incom Corporation. He defeated fellow senator and celebrated businessman Robby Rae in a landslide election, garnering 75% of the popular vote. Upon his election, the newly-minted Chief of State vowed to increase national morale, expand the economy, and build stronger alliances as the government found its way as an independent state. The New Republic had withdrawn from the Galactic Alliance on Day 74 of the previous year. The optimism and excitement came to a sudden and shocking halt on Day 16 when sentients all over the galaxy saw a broadcast by the ruler of the Galactic Empire, Emperor Seele, that claimed Chief of State Darksol had unconditionally surrendered on behalf of the New Republic, thereby dissolving the Republic and signaling the end of the war with the Empire. The broadcast explained that Darksol had finally realized the corruption and futility of the Republic and had decided to concede for the good of his citizens, though other sources would later argue that he had been bribed, blackmailed, or had been an Imperial agent for most of his career. These accusations have never been proven and Darksol disappeared from the public eye soon after his surrender. The galaxy was in shock, while many Republic citizens believed the announcement to be a hoax and hoped their Chief of Staff would soon emerge to put the rumors to rest. Instead, reports soon surfaced that the CEO's of all New Republic nationalized companies had been replaced by Imperial Union officials, and the planetary shield systems of most New Republic worlds were deactivated by those Darksol had recently appointed or were otherwise controlled by Imperial Union sympathizers. As Imperial fleets mobilized to blockade Republic systems, it became increasingly clear that the New Republic had fallen. Republic worlds were gripped by pandemonium, the streets filled with protesters and riots, and nearly every urban center in the New Republic was soon engulfed in chaos. The holonet filled with rumors, conspiracies, cries for help, and promises of assistance. Broadcasts from groups as dissident as the Jedi Order and the anti-human group Sanctuary Prime attempted to inspire hope and rally sentients against Imperial incursion.

The New Reality (Day 17 - Day 110)

After nearly a standard month of uncertainty and strife, the new reality of a galaxy without the New Republic began to take shape. On Day 30, the Imperial 1st Legion officially wrested control of Republica from the local forces still loyal to the former government. Emperor Seele arrived at the capitol to address the Republic senate and announce that the senate and government of the New Republic had been officially dissolved. The announcement was met with applause, as the only senators that remained on Republica were those open to cooperating with the new regime. Widespread riots and resentment continued to seethe but were unable to prevail against the Imperial forces.

The scene looked different across other former-Republic systems, however. Acts of defiance blossomed after a broadcast by High Admiral Josh Jericho, former Chief of Military Operations, assured the Republic citizens that large elements of the Republic armed forces had evaded capture and were preparing to fight. In the ensuing weeks, forces organized in the nearby Terr'skiar sector under the protection of the Triumvirate Coalition and fortified the sector as a base of operations. Soon, the riots and protests grew in ferocity as former Republic reserve units banded together into guerilla groups, assisted by advisors and material support from The Resistance. The fighting was not constrained to the former New Republic sectors, either. On Day 44, Grizzik Lo-Lo leader of the Sanctuary Prime group, narrowly survived an assassination attempt while passing through Tion Hegemony space, a recognized neutral party to the war. On Day 82, former Chief of State Orion Chran announced that the surviving military and political elements of the New Republic had been reorganized into the Rebel Alliance, a group he would lead as their Supreme Commander.

Two months after Darksol's surrender, the Galactic Empire announced its plans for its newly-claimed territory. The Empire would be assuming direct control of the Csilla, Ehosiq, Sluis, Danjar, Mayagil, Garis, Brema, Grumani, Quess, Savareen, Arkanis, Grohl, and Abrion sectors. Grand Moff Inwe Ventidius, head of the newly-formed Office of Imperial Integration, and Grand Moff Nikolaus Ephranor, Governor of Empire's Amber Region, would work together to transition these territories into the Empire. The Zoraster, Trax, Mytaranor, Ghost Nebula, and Marasa Nebula sectors would be administrated by the Imperial Union member state The Faerytail Family, out of respect for the sectors' cultural sensibilities. This announcement soon followed by an increase in Imperial Union forces across the named sectors. System defense stations that had not been sabotaged soon came under Imperial control. On worlds where rebel movements were contained or defeated, transitional governments began to take shape.

Fanning the Flames (Day 111 - Day 149)

The early months following the Republic's collapse saw the Imperial Union forces score several relatively easy victories. The fledgling Rebel Alliance was still organizing and many Galactic Alliance governments were hesitant to divert aid to the former-Republic sectors, fearing the Imperial Union might attempt to invade or destabilize their homeworlds, too. Local rebel cells like the "Arkanis United" and "Free Grohl Now" movements showed promise in resisting Imperial rule, but the Empire's strict censorship of the holonet made organizing difficult for those who wished to spread their message. The Resistance agents embedded with these citizen militias reported that the Imperial forces were stretched thin in many systems, but without a united front, safe supply lines, and coordinated assault on land and in space these weaknesses would be difficult to exploit. Unless the rebels could find a way to go on the offensive, the local cells could face extinction in a matter of weeks or months.

By Day 127, the picture had begun to change. The Resistance forces had managed to eliminate the Imperial presence from the Abrion sector as a result of Operation Lit Beacon, inflicting heavy casualties in the Imperial 7th, 12th, 13th brigades and the 5th, 7th, and 12th naval groups. The Operation had started on Day 111 after Imperial forces had abandoned the ocean world of Kamino, offering the rebels a chance to strike. Imperial Union battle lines continued to hold across other sectors. The Mandalorian mercenary group Gav Technical Services had organized The Unity Protocol, a mutual defense pact for governments and corporations in the South-East region of the galaxy, fearing further Imperial incursion. The Rebel Alliance, the Hyporian Commonwealth, LodeCorp Mining, Mando’ade, and Stryker Military Services were signatories. This was the beginning of a coalition known as "The Rebellion" which would form the backbone of the opposition to the Imperial Union, coupled with the existing Galactic Alliance. Further cracks in the Imperial Union's front became visible two standard days later on Day 129, when the Empire withdrew its forces from Tattooine. Imperial sources stated that the reason for the withdraw was that the planet proved no strategic value, but the Rebel Alliance claimed it was further evidence of the success of rebel opposition that was forcing the Empire to reinforce its positions by abandoning others. Jawa Offworld Enterprises, an ethnic advocacy group, soon claimed the planet as their own.

After The Resistance's decisive victory in Abrion, rumors began circulating that the Imperial Union would soon begin a campaign through Resistance and Jedi Order holdings in the galaxy's northern region. With Resistance and Jedi Forces dispersed throughout the distant former-Republics territories in the Mid Rim, their Outer Rim systems could only offer token resistance if invaded, and could be easily overwhelmed. On Day 130, The Guardians of the Whills a religious movement based on the Resistance world of Camden began planet-wide evacuations to offer the willing and vulnerable an escape from the coming destruction. They also evacuated sacred texts and relics from their Temple of Kyber. The rumors were verified on Day 139 when fleets from Black Sun and the Tresario Star Kingdom arrived in Cejansij, Camden, and Antmuel systems to being their assault. Defensive stations were quickly overwhelmed and planetary defense fleets were destroyed or captured in a matter of days as the Tresarian fleets secured the Auril, Halla, and Tennutta sectors, and the Black Sun forces captured the Morshdine and Chopani sectors. Destruction was widespread, with the sacred world of Camden being the only exception. After Black Sun blockaded the planet, Keeper of the Whills Gothar Elensar made contact with Commander Vitale Cirpani and negotiated the peaceful surrender of the planet on the condition that the Temple of Kyber would be protected from destruction and the Guardians in it would be allowed to leave. In a solemn ceremony on Day 143, custody of the temple was turned over to the Maurari Blackguard, a religious group within the Black Sun organization. The Imperial Union would continue their assault for another five standard days, with the Ardoxia and Colavas being among the last to fall after fierce opposition. Finally, on Day 148, Ossus, home of the headquarters of the Jedi Order surrendered, ending the campaign. When Tresarian forces reached the surface of the planet, they found very few Jedi, leading them to believe much of the Order had previously evacuated. On Day 140, the Faerytale Family, announced that they have seen an end to the widespread fighting in the former-Republic sectors they had been granted: Trax, Mytaranor, and the Ghost Nebula. Representatives of the Family allowed members of the media to tour infrastructure projects and touted evidence of supposed mistreatment of the Wookies on Kashyyyk. Another homeworld, Trandosha, was turned over to the Tresario Star Kingdom and the governorship of Alto Rexar, a Trandoshan and former monarch of the Kingdom.

While the Imperial Union continued their siege of Galactic Alliance territories in the Outer Rim, coalitions of Rebellion and Galactic Alliance members launched their own major offensives. On Day 140, warships from the Jedi Order led a daring raid on the Imperial capital of Coruscant. They were joined by elements from The Invid Order, Sanctuary Prime, and the fearsome mercenary force The Wraiths. The raid lasted a few hours and was intended to coincide with uprisings on the surface. While some rioting did occur, the widespread rebellion failed to materialize and the raiding parties withdrew. Most historians dismiss the military value of this raid and liken it to propaganda, but it represents the first attempt to strike back at the Empire and signals the resolve the Rebellion coalition, several members of which were either neutral or reluctant to attack the Empire directly before. The next day, on Day 141, fleets comprised of elements from the former New Republic military launched a simultaneous offensive across many systems in the Sluis sector. Over one hundred days had passed since High Admiral Josh Jericho and Supreme Commander of the Rebel Alliance Orion Chran had announced they were assembling fleets to retake Republic territory, leading many question the Rebels' military capacity. The appearance of these fleets demonstrated the collective might of the former-Republic armed forces and their allies. Believing this attack to be a feint or a quick raid, Imperial defenders pulled their ships back to defend the sector's famous shipyards from destruction. This miscalculation allowed Rebel forces to gain footholds in many sectors and capture some systems entirely. Days later on Day 144, The Resistance led a coalition of Jedi Order, Invid Order, Rogue Squadron, and Triumvirate Coalition fleets to assault the Tythe system and began a swift campaign to retake the entire Savareen sector.

Despite the growing counter offensives, the Galactic Empire continued to court allies of its own as it administered its newly claimed sectors. At a press conference on Day 147, representatives of Emperor Seele announced that administration of the Churnis sector would be turned over to the Galactic Bank and the Chiss Ascendency would be given control of their home system, Csilla. Churnis had been a protectorate of the Empire since Year 14, when Emperor Ndengin assumed control of the sector after its previous government, The Mercenary Guild collapsed. The Galactic Bank, run by former Imperial official Mikal von Bianchi, had invested heavily in the region since then, and this move further cemented the relationship between the bank and the Empire. Many speculated that the Empire was eager to ensure the bank's funding of their costly efforts to subdue and rebuild the former New Republic. Likewise, the transfer of power at Csilla to the native Chiss was the result of a quiet proxy war where the Empire aided the Ascendency to oust the Republic government that had held out in the remote system. Aaprt from strengthening the relationship with the Ascendency, Couruscant also used the occasion to tout how unfairly the New Republic had treated the Chiss peoples, in a publicity move similar to Faerytale's reports about the Wookies on Kashyyyk, garnering public sentiment.

The Glowing Embers (Day 150 - Day 229)

With much of the galaxy frightened and wearied by the escalating violence, neutral power blocks gained strength. On Day 150, the Trade Federation finalized an agreement with the Matuki Dragons, to cede control of Takodana to the mercenary group after the two powers had cooperated to secure the planet following its recent discovery. The Trade Federation, the largest neutral government in the galaxy, had established the Galactic Concordiate, a coalition of nuetral governemnts that comprised one of the largest alliances in the galaxy in Year 14. In Year 19 it had authored The Endor Pact, a mutual defense treaty for neutral governments and large corporations in the galactic South-East. With the Imperial Union and Galactic Alliance increasing their hostilities, the Federation and her allies continued the relatively peaceful exploration and settlement of the Western Reaches. On Day 161, the 2nd Treaty of Forsetti recognized the Confederacy of Independent Systems as a member of the Galactic Concordiate, furthering the block's power and influence.

On the front lines of the conflict, momentum seemed to slow for both sides. On the same day the 2nd Treaty of Forsetti was signed, The Rebel Alliance fended off two vicious offensives by Imperial forces in the Xagobah and Engebo systems over three standard days. Their own offensives through the Danjar and Mayagil systems slowed to a halt as reinforcements became scarce and both sides had become well entrenched. Neither side showed signs of much progress as casulaties continued to mount for the next standard month. Taking advantage of the battle weariness, the feared Eidola Pirate crime syndicate invaded the planet Bes IV. Rogue Squadron scrambled to assemble a large enough force from its multiple fronts to defend its planet while keeping up pressure on the Imperial Union. The battle to fend off the pirate attack took eleven standard days- the same amount of time it had taken both Alliance and Union forces to capture entire systems and sectors in the early days of the struggle. Criminal groups continued to exploit the crisis and deal blows to both sides. On Day 199, Jett Blackheart revealed himself to be a Zann Consoritum agent when he captured Imperial Governor Serena Moon who had governed the Empire's Ruby Region. The mass confusion demoralized Imperial citizens, and allowed Blackheart and Zann infiltrators to raid nearby warehouses for weapons and equipment. Adding to the chaos, Blackheart released the names of twenty-two Imperial agents who were undercover in twelve foreign governments and corporations, both neutral and rebel. This shocking revelation spread suspicion and distrust among both warring parties, crippling the war effort.

On Day 214, Emperor Seele and the Galactic Empire took steps that would begin to bring this chapter of chaos and destruction to a close. The Empire signed two important treaties, the Treaty of Rachuk with the Krath Empire and The Treaty of Kliap with the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The treaties recognized the neutral status of both the CIS and the Krath, and established peaceful diplomatic relationships between them and the Empire. The treaties also facilitated a transfer of territory as well, namely Marasa Nebula was given ot the Krath in exchange for the Rachuk sector. The Empire also facilitated a deal whereby Black Sun would transfer the Morshdine and Ehosiq sectors to the Confederacy in return for the Confederacy recognizing the Black Sun claims to the Dynali sector and surrendering the Kliap sector the Empire. These treaties effectively consolidated their holdings closer to the Core and Inner Rim regions where they would be more easily defended while giving up their more distant territories that were growing increasingly difficult to control. This theory was confirmed on Day 229 when orders were given for all Imperial Union personnel to withdraw from the Abrion, Brema, Garis, Grumani, and Quess sectors, ending Imperial claims to those regions and cedeing them to the rebels and their allies.