Living under the flag of the Empire as a civilian

Decades after the Emperor ascended to power and vanquished the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire reigns in its stead. The once stable democracy of the Republic has been replaced by a totalitarian regime, that we are told will ensure our prosperity and security for ages to come.

The reality however, is much darker and far more sinister than many have been led to believe. What began as a promise to end a war and bring peace to a crumbling republic, quickly evolved into a tyrannical galactic power.

In the Core worlds, and much of the Mid Rim, the rule of the Empire was accepted and even welcomed by the elite upper class of citizens. It is here that much of the galaxy’s food supplies,manufacturing facilities, and thus wealth are derived.

These mega conglamarotes and thier investors see in the Empire an opportunity to exchange freedom for profit. In so doing they escaped the worst of the Empire’s over reach, and their worlds remain largely ignored by the Emporer.

On the fringes of the Mid Rim lies Hutt space, which the Emporer has left alone. They serve his purposes when paid, while their criminal activites go largely ignored, unless they hamper the plans of the Empire.

In the farthest reaches of the Mid Rim we find worlds which connect the major trade routes of hyperspace into the fringes of the Outer Rim.

It is on these worlds where many of the galaxy’s poorest reside, and to which much attention has been devoted by the Empire.

Nearly all of the galaxy’s alien species have been discriminated against by the Empire, and their worlds annexed and subjucated for it’s use. Many species like the Wookies have been enslaved across the galaxy, in order to fulfill manual labor for the Empire’s war machine.

Others like the Twi’leks find themselves in the ownership of Moffs and other Imperial leadership, serving as cooks, waiters, and personal attendants in their homes. They by and large are spared the worst of the humilation, so long as their behavior and performance are deemed acceptable.

It may seem then, from first glance that the Empire has favored humanity from its racial bigotry, but nothing could be further from reality.

From the moment that an Imperial star cruiser enters orbit around a planet, life on that world is forever changed. Whatever freedoms it’s citizens once held, will be immediately stripped away by the enforcement of Imperial laws.

Many have learned the hard way, that all that is required is to piss of an Imperial stormtrooper, before they are placed in binders, and charged with some fictitous crime that never existed.

Others have been stopped on the streets, bullied and beaten until they can no longer stand or walk. Others still have their businesses and homes raided, their children left screaming in terror while blasters are pointed in their face.

People have quickly learned that their way of life has ended, as Imperial engineers assemble pre fabricated garrisons on their planet.

Within a matter of weeks, lush thriving worlds find themsleves under the darkened banner of Imperial oppression. Their governments and it’s leaders are now nothing more than puppets on display for the public, with the Empire pulling their strings at will.

Stormtroopers patrol the streets and highways, while AT-STs and tanks are positioned at intersections. TIE fighters howl from overhead, as they carry out combat air patrols.

For some planets, the presence of the Empire is overwhelming, while on other worlds it is an ever present threat looming in the shadows.

Imperial Intelligence agents with the ISB find their way into every strata of galactic society, blending in with the local populace, living under the guise of familiarity.

They build rapport with the locals, establish their own cover, and then use that to gain intelligence. They wait and they watch, looking for those who would breed resistance to the Empire’s presence and rule.

As powerful as the Empire may appear, their fear and hubris leave them hamstrung to the efforts of those who have been pushed too far.

It always begins with one person; one individual who has had enough of being bullied, profiled, and watched by the Empire. They too lie in patience, watching and learning from their enemies.

They begin to take notes, and build their own network of contacts who are like minded. Perhaps not everyone sympathetic to their cause is able or willing to actively oppose such a daunting enemy, but there are always those who are.

They begin by meeting in secret, at random locations and times, passing on information to each other, until one day they find a opportunity of weakness, and exploit it.

It might begin by stealing Imperial communications equipment and weapons, before advancing to more complex hesist and raids.

Soon the Imperial forces find themselves at a disadvantage, as the tables are turned, and they find that they are no longer the predator, but the prey. The initial confusion and shock is replaced by anger, so they take it out on the local populace.

The Empire always makes the innocent suffer, in an effort to motivate those sympathetic to the acts of rebellion to capitulate and betray their cause. Some do, but the wiser do not.

They understand the cost of freedom, and that personal sacrifice is a necessary hinge upon which liberty must swing. It is with these types of people, that the Rebellion finds it’s cause.

As local resistance mounts, there comes a day when the Empire is dealt a mortal wound. Corellian Corvettes and Mon Calamari cruisers drop out of Hyperspace, pummeling the few Star Destroyers that may be in orbit.

They are struck with Ion cannons, overwhelming their systems, and leaving them dead in the cold waters of space.

Their hulls are raked with turbo lasers, until their reactor cores are hit, shattering them into a maniature sun. Meanwhile, down on the surface of the planet, Rebel Alliance fighters begin reclaiming the skies, while chasing TIE fighters to their deaths.

On the ground, the rebels do what they do best; killing the Empire one stromtrooper at a time. With controlled discipline they communicate, move, and shoot together as one.

Moving from house to house, building to building, using every angle and every piece of cover to their advantage. Their losses will be many, but when the day is done, the battle will be won.

In the city square Imperial officers are publicly hanged, and their rule comes to an end. Meanwhile, the Imperial bases are raided by the rebels. Every piece of usable equipment and weapons are taken, and they give the Rebel Alliance a fighting chance to reclaim the galaxy, one world at a time…