Alienizer wrote: Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:04 am
"They want to be the “good” Imperials", but they are not?
It depends on the comparison. Compared to Palpatine's era, the United Moffs are clearly the “good” ones. Compared to the Remnant Empire, the largest post-Palpatine Imperial faction, life is certainly more pleasant for most citizens. But they are similarly authoritarian. Compared to the third Imperial faction, the Central Galactic Empire. I'd rather live in the latter.
@Support Just in case you or Michael are interested, this is the setting for my Star Wars AU:
After the Emperor's death, a chaotic time reigned for about 10 years. The Empire broke apart, various factions split from the Empire and/or competed for power within the Empire and beyond. Various Imperial military leaders attempted to fill the power vacuum in the Empire, preferably as successors to the Emperor. Most of these admirals/generals tried to unite what was left of the Empire by launching attacks on the New Republic, the so-called "revenge campaigns". However, all of these campaigns failed, usually with the death of the commander who claimed leadership of the Empire for the campaign in question. As these generals were usually supported by the most fanatical supporters of the empire, from 14 ABY onwards it was mainly pragmatists and idealists who took up leading positions in the imperial factions.
Thus, the view spread that the eternal fighting had to end before everything was senselessly destroyed. This led to the "Galactic Treaties" in 14 ABY, the peace treaties between the (New) Galactic Republic on the one hand and the three so-called Imperial Diadochi Empires, the largest Imperial factions, on the other. The treaties concluded between the Diadochi Empires are also included. The "Galactic Treaties" established a difficult peace system between the Republic and the Imperial remnants. In the initial phase, this peace was more akin to a Cold War, but in military terms it kept the peace. In the short and medium term, however, it also consolidated the division of the galaxy into four major powers:
1. The (New) Galactic Republic is a parliamentary federal republic in which the individual planets enjoy great internal autonomy. The Republic controls most of the Core Worlds as well as the galactic territories east of the Galactic Core, representing approximately 35% of the Galactic Empire at its largest extent.
2. The Galactic Empire, usually referred to as the Remnant Empire by the Republic, although it continues to call itself the Empire, has over the years moved away from the absolutist, authoritarian rule of Emperor Palpatine towards a more democratically legitimized presidential system of rule, although still authoritarian. The right to vote is dependent on service to the Empire. Only those who are serving or have served in the military have full civil rights and may vote. However, a strong centralized system prevails, giving the individual worlds only as much autonomy as is necessary to govern an interstellar empire.
The Remnant Empire mainly controls territories north of the Galactic Core, corresponding to about 25% of the old Galactic Empire.
3. The United Imperial Moffs (UIM) control territories south of the Galactic Core, southwest of the Republic. Originally a purely defensive alliance of various Moffs in the southern part of the Empire, who seceded from the Empire because they did not want to participate in the "revenge campaigns". The defense alliance was intended to protect the territories of the various Moffs against the Empire, the Republic and competitors. Over the years, the bonds between the territories of the Moffs became closer and closer, and it developed into a federation of semi-autonomous dominions. Like most Imperial remnants, the UIM is ruled in an authoritarian manner. However, a hereditary monarchy, as introduced by various other independent Imperial Remnants, could not be established in any UIM territory. The UIM could best be described as an authoritarian parliamentary federation. The UIM could also be described as a more democratic version of the Remnant Empire. The Council of Moffs, the parliament of the UIM, is democratically legitimized, but is authoritarian in its powers. In the areas in which the Council has authority, its powers are extremely far-reaching and are not limited by any other institution. The territory of the UIM covers about 12% of the old Galactic Empire.
4. The Central Galactic Empire (CGE) is, as the name suggests, located in the Galactic Core. Relying on the special environmental conditions of the Core, which make hyperspace travel extremely difficult and make the Galactic Core a natural fortress, the CGE broke away from the Empire very early, at the time of the first "Revenge Campaign" in 5 ABY. As this area was already relatively isolated from the rest of the Empire during the Emperor's reign, nobody noticed this at first. However, due to the isolation and the difficult living conditions, a mixture of imperial, authoritarian and democratic, parliamentary elements developed very early on. The CGE's political system is similar to that of the UIM, but is more democratic. The CGE could best be described as a centralized version of the Galactic Republic. The territory of the CGE covers about 4% of the old Galactic Empire.
These four great powers thus control 76% of the Galactic Empire from the time before the Battle of Yavin.
The remaining areas of the galaxy are divided into the territories of local races or former moffs and governors who have declared themselves independent and sovereign. Most former moffs and governors rule their territories with an iron hand as warlords and spend most of their time fighting amongst themselves in an attempt to amass enough power to be on a par with the four great powers.