Story:The Star Wars MUSH Essential Chronology

The Star Wars MUSH Essential Chronology, or Modern Galactic History (as it is known in-universe), is an attempt to compile Star Wars MUSH's sixteen year history in a narrative format, weaving together the many plot lines, characters, and events in an in-universe perspective to give better understanding of events and to streamline everything under one article (and its subpages) so to make understanding the MUSH's history much easier.

Modern Galactic History: Life in the Post-Endor Galaxy ''by Voren Na'al, archivist emeritus of the Historical Council

with contributions from Arhul Hextrophon, Master Historian of the Republic

Published on Ord Mantell, 16 ABY

Prologue
The death of Emperor Palpatine and the defeat of the Imperial Military at the Battle of Endor promised to usher in a new era for the war-weary galaxy, an era of peace, prosperity, and a New Republic. When news of Palpatine's death reached the galaxy proper, the cry for peace bellowed out in a great uproar. Imperial overlords were overthrown, worlds pledged their allegiance to the New Republic and joined together in overthrowing the defeated Empire. The Empire would last no more than a few months, optimists cried, and peace and freedom would finally reach the weary citizenry. But these were the dreams of disillusioned men. The death of Palpatine would not bring the promised peace and freedom. The galaxy would continue its maddening spiral into total war. The New Republic had been born, but the Empire was not yet ready to relinquish its power. Driven by madmen and demagogues, the Empire would continue its ravenous campaign to crush their usurpers and restore the control of the New Order over the galaxy.

Chapter One
Birth of a New Republic

Within a week of their victory at Endor, the leaders of the Rebel Alliance established the Provisional Council. Led by Mon Mothma and including notable leaders such as Admiral Ackbar, Borsk Fey'lya, and Leia Organa, the Provisional Council's primary goal was to compose the "Declaration of a New Republic," the document that would establish the Republic as a legitimate government in galactic politics. As the politicians went to work on forming the document and winning over new member worlds, the military was hard at work in pushing forward the amazing advantage they achieved at Endor. Most of the military leadership were taken completely by surprise; the victory at Endor was more than what any thought possible. But Ackbar, the Alliance Supreme Commander, was a reasonable being and was wise enough not to declare full victory so soon. He knew that the only way to truly break the Empire's back was to claim the "Jewel of the Galaxy," Imperial Center, the capital of the Empire. The loss of Coruscant would deliver the killing blow to an empire that had already begun to fragment; Alliance spies reported daily to the war council that Imperial commanders were defecting and establishing themselves as rogue warlords. More dire for the Empire, an internal conflict was brewing over who would claim Palpatine's throne. Ackbar had to act fast and strike Coruscant as quick as possible, before the Empire was able to restore internal order and elect a new leader.

The problem for the Alliance was a lack of supply and ships. The battle at Endor had put many ships out of commission or in the repair yards, while some were scrapped completely. The operation called for the speedy repair and restoration of all vessels. Ackbar pulled as many strings as he could to bring in more ships for combat and logistics. The Alliance received a much-welcomed surprise when three worlds along the Perlemian and within close proximity to Coruscant defected to the Alliance, offering whatever they could, from luxury liners to cargo haulers, to supplement the main Alliance fleet. Nevertheless, the Imperial defense fleet at Imperial Center was second-to-none; the Golan battlestations and Imperial Star Destroyers far outnumbered and overpowered the rag-tag Alliance military. Ackbar knew that success lie with the internal conflict brewing within the Empire, the disarray and confusion of its forces, and the poor leadership being exhibited from Imperial Center. Morale was soaring amongst the Alliance ranks and Ackbar knew it would not last for long; four weeks to the day from Endor, he gave the greenlight for Operation Bright Jewel, the invasion of Coruscant.

As for the Empire, however... Within the dark recesses of the Imperial Palace, seat of the Imperial government, the power struggle over the vacant throne was in full-swing. Palpatine had not left any heirs as he never planned to leave his throne. The Imperial Ruling Council, the executive and legislative body of the Empire and led by Palpatine's Grand Vizier, Sate Pestage, saw to seat Pestage on the throne. His primary opposition came from Ysanne Isard, the ambitious Director of Imperial Intelligence, and various military commanders in Imperial High Command. Pestage had managed to win enough confidence from the military to secure a victory over Isard after she attempted a coup against the Ruling Council; she and her allies were rounded up and quickly executed as a show of force. Since Isard had been head of Imperial Intelligence, her coup and the agency's support of it greatly diminished Intelligence's reputation amongst the Imperial elite, leading to the subsequent downsizing of Imperial Intelligence and the greater emphasis placed on COMPNOR and its intelligence-security bureau, the Imperial Security Bureau, in later years.

With Isard out of the way, Pestage's power hold grew stronger. After reports indicated that Imperial Center was the Alliance's next target, he gave Fleet Admiral Sinar Fenes control over the system's defense. But Pestage had overlooked Fenes' ambitions. The snarling Fleet Admiral had his own plans, of which the Ruling Council was eliminated and he was placed at the head of the Empire. Commanding one of the largest operational fleets in the Empire, his dreams were far from mad; when the attack on Imperial Center started, Fenes plan went into action. For one hour the Imperial and Alliance fleets engaged in battle as word of Fenes secret orders made it through the ranks; the ships under his direct command, comprising the Core Defense Fleet, had conspicuously stayed away from intensive fighting. To the surprise of the Alliance, and the Empire, a great portion of the Imperial Fleet vanished into hyperspace. Fenes had betrayed his Empire, sacrificing Imperial Center and the Ruling Council for what he believed to be the upper-hand. He predicted that without his support, the capital would fall and the Ruling Council, including Pestage, would be captured and dealt with by the Alliance. He would let the Alliance keep the capital and force them to deal with the massive load of governing a city-world comprised of hundreds of trillions of sentiments; he would focus on establishing his fiefdom and crafting his own Empire.

Back on Coruscant, fighting was raging and had spread to the skylanes. The Imperial fleet had been all but vanquished before the day was over. The last few loyal remnants had deployed to a safe zone under orders from Pestage, forced to wait for evacuees, of which included Pestage and the Council. The problem for Pestage, however, lie with escaping besieged Coruscant. The Imperial Palace had been laid siege to over night, with Royal Guardsmen forming the bulk of defense. While the Empire had anticipated and prepared for urban warfare with the Alliance, it did not predict the uprising of thousands upon thousands of anti-Imperial citizens. In a repeat of the mass riots that had erupted hours after news of Palpatine's death, partisans rose from their shelters and homes to aid the Alliance in the liberation of Coruscant. The intensity and heroism of the battle was well caught by holonews reporter and his team, taking an image of Alliance Marines planting the Alliance flag atop a rooftop near the old Senate Rotunda. The feed of the image was displayed across Coruscant and seen by many Alliance soldiers, lifting morale and capturing people's hearts.

With the walls closing in on Pestage and his Council, hope came at the last moment; escorted by HIMS Tyrant's Shadow Squadron, assault and transport shuttles commandeered by a CompForce unit, led by one Sergeant Trent Ceska, broke through Alliance front lines and managed to dock with the Imperial Palace. Pestage and the vast majority of the Council boarded the transports and quickly made way for space, where they went to rendezvous with the fleet-in-waiting. By this time Alliance control over Coruscant was becoming more and more certain. Entire sections of city were either under Alliance or partisan control. Three hours after the Council's daring escape, the Imperial Palace fell; every last Royal Guardsmen died in the siege, fighting to the bitter end, refusing to surrender. The toll had been high, but the Alliance achieved victory. Mon Mothma and the Provisional Council arrived on-planet to survey the damage and to issue their proclamation of the birth of the Republic. Entering the secured Senate Rotunda, Mon Mothma spoke before all of Coruscant, her speech covered by the Holonet, and announced total victory. The Republic had been established. Throughout Coruscant and on other Republic worlds, scores of freedom fighters and civilians cheered and celebrated.

With a few days, the Declaration of a New Republic was finalized and issued, setting the foundation for government. The Provisional Council transformed into the New Republic Senate and the Inner Council, comprised of the top figures in the Republic hierarchy. The Republic received further requests for membership from free worlds and the military began a massive reorganization effort to adjust to its new role.

The Empire, opposite to the Republic's astonishing victories, was facing a major crisis; Fenes was not the only commander to break from the Empire. He was joined by many more, including noteworthy Moffs and Grand Admirals. High Command was in shambles and military morale was at an all-time low. The Empire entered a stage known as the Post-Endor Imperial power struggle. The newly declared warlords were not content with sitting upon the territory they had already controlled, and struck out against rival warlords and legitimate Imperial holdings still under Council sovereignty. This power struggle would reduce the Empire's fighting capability and organization severely, limiting the Council from conducting a war against the Republic. Most Republic analysts and politicians saw no need to continue an aggressive war against the Empire; they saw fit to let the Imperials destroy themselves. Why waste credits, soldiers and resources on a campaign that would resolve itself in due time? So the Republic focused on granting new membership and firmly rooting its new government, as the Empire continued to wage war upon itself. This failure of foresight would come back to haunt the Republic in years to come: the Empire, while cornered and wounded, still possessed sharp teeth.