Imperial Blitzkrieg

The Imperial Blitzkrieg was a campaign intiated in the early months of 14 ABY, orchestrated by Danik Kreldin. By the end of the campaign, the Empire had conquered dozens of new sectors, nearly doubling the size of the Empire and pushing the New Republic into small areas of the galaxy.

The Blitzkrieg began with the Imperial virus, developed in Imperial labs under the supervision of Kreldin. The plan was for the virus to be spread throughout the galaxy, with the Empire developing a cure mid-way through the crisis and using it as a means to cajole several Republic systems into joining the Empire, or abandoning the Republic, in return for the cure.

The plot was put into play when the Privateers led by Captain Jacob released the virus under the guise of a pirate attack in a New Republic transport vessel over Mon Calamari. The vessel was rescued by New Republic officials and brought down to the water planet, where the virus spread rapidly throughout the population, into trade ships, and from there, to many more planets.

All the major governments were affected, and it was the Empire that developed the cure first, although they had it in storage for some months now. It was Bothawui to first join the Empire in return for the virus, soon followed by several more systems. At Kreldin's behest, the Empire adopted a policy of salutory neglect on these newly acquired systems, to decrease dissent while keeping them under Imperial supervision.

Soon, the crisis was averted, but as it ended the Empire began phase two. Using Caspar's refusal to join the Empire, the Empire began to move Task Force Hammer, led by Kreldin, againt the Union. The New Republic was worried by a possible invasion of Caspar, and thus prepared their Navy to defend the planet at all costs. Hammer struck at Mikassa, temporarily taking over the system and forcing both the New Republic and the Union to redeploy fleets to reclaim Mikassa.

The real plan, however, was to draw Republic forces away from their own planets. While the Republic quickly tried to defend Caspar neutrality, the Empire invaded Chandrila (Battle of Chandrila) and quickly annexed the system, the space battle lasting no longer than a few hours. Corellia followed a few days afterwards, in the Second Battle of Corellia, a virtually bloodless space engagement. Bespin was retaken not too long after, and Caspar was annexed by the Empire, its president (now Moff), Tracer, accepting the Imperial terms.

A state of emergency existed within the Republic; Coruscant, its capital, had been fully surrounded on all sides, Mon Calamari cut off from the main trade routes, and its citizenry in upheveal, demanding action. The Empire, however, was not yet finished. Two strikes were made at Mon Calamari, in the Second Battle of Mon Calamari, divertying Republic attention to the military heart of the Republic. The real target, however, was Sullust, which was invaded by the combined efforts of Task Forces Hammer and Anvil, in the long Second Battle of Sullust.

The space battle over Sullust saw the hijacking of the Republic-class Star Destroyer Templar in mid-combat in a daring assault led by Danik Kreldin, and the rest of the defense fleet was soon routed. Sullust was blockaded, thus ending the Imperial Blitzkrieg, but the Second Battle of Sullust would last a few months longer, as the ground portion of the campaign was delayed to allow the Empire to free up resources for other campaigns throughout the galaxy.

Overall, the Imperial Blitzkrieg was the Empire's most significant successes since the liberation of Coruscant in 9 ABY. The Blitzkrieg fragmented the Republic further, encircled the Republic capital, and doubled the size of the Empire and boosted morale like never before. The destruction done to the Empire during the Imperial Civil War was reverted, setting the Empire on a path to ultimate victory.