Prologue....If the OLD REPUBLIC is to be restored, we must avoid the same mistakes that led to its destruction.
The rise of the Old Republic is sort of a mirror image of its fall. It came out of a collection of mini-Empires ruled by barbaric men, like XIM THE DESPOT, and became the first galaxy-wide government. It is no coincidence that the Jedi arose at the same time, and most historians believe that the first Jedi helped to give the Republic its form. Correspondingly, when the Republic fell, it disintegrated into separate dominions again, each ruled by men who were, if not as tyrannical as Xim, then just as greedy for power. Likewise, the fall of the Republic went hand in hand with the end of the Jedi Order, as if one could not survive without the other.
The first thing to realize is that when any bureaucracy becomes too large and cumbersome, cracks in the system will appear which can be exploited by the beings who notice them. In the beginning, a number of powerful corporate leaders and greedy senators managed to amass great personal wealth at the expense of the Republic.
These conspicuously corrupt schemes were easily exposed, but the kind of legal changes which could have prevented a reoccurrence did not come. The Senate bears a great shame in this, for many senators’ protected personal interests instead of working together for justice. Once the opportunities became obvious, various nobles, senators and congressmen decided that they too were above the law and proceeded to create their own dominions. When they came into conflict, the result was a growing disorder that spread fear everywhere.
The greatest betrayal of the Republic by the Senate was the election of Senator Palpatine to the Chancellorship. In the midst of chaos, they needed a strong leader but could not agree on one. Palpatine situated himself in the political middle ground to appeal to a divided Senate. He seemed able to deal with the civil unrest, the crime, the succession of worlds which sparked the Clone War and the social injustice. He was going to restart the government and restore order. He used his power to create an oppressive New Order instead.
Palpatine had decided that the Old Republic was not worth saving. It had to be replaced with an Empire, with himself as an absolute ruler. In the beginning, the Senate could have stopped him, but only a few suspected his motives. Through endless manipulations and feverish effort, Palpatine worked to secure his future. He was able to cultivate his own popular image. He obtained the sworn loyalty of the Army of the Republic, using the ‘threat’ of outside invasion to build up the army and navy. He won over the giant corporations with promise of profit. It was too late for the Senate to intervene. With the Senate helpless and the Jedi Knights gone, Palpatine’s other enemies crumbled.
The New Order is only concerned with subjugating planetary governments to the Emperor’s will. The first systems to rebel against it were violently repressed, but they became martyrs to inspire others. Although the Alliance to Restore the Republic has just begun, it will grow. Formerly isolated resistance groups are organizing into this new Alliance which cannot be so easily crushed. Time is the Emperor’s enemy. Someday, the Empire will fall....
“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes...”-Princess Leia Organa, Alderaan
STAR WARS: EPISODE V
A small shuttle flies toward the surface of Coruscant. When it lands, three figures move out.
They quickly move from building to building, hoping to avoid detection. They move faster and
faster until they finally arrive at their target: The Emperor Palpatine Galactic Prison. Their mission is one of rescue and they must try to do it as quickly as possible.
Viceroy BAIL ORGANA sits in a cell in the prison. He has been there for three months. Bail has not yet heard that his daughter has turned to the Dark Side of the Force.
A large explosion can be heard inside the prison. The prison is being fired on from a small gun turret on a nearby building. Another shot hits Bail’s cell giving him an escape route. Bail is ambushed by masked men, the same ones who came from the shuttle. One of them reveals himself to be USSEJ BAC, leader of the Bendu Knights. Ussej and Bail run to the roof, while the two other Bendu fight off the Lettow.
On the roof, Ussej and Bail hijack a small speeder. They quickly move out into the Coruscant traffic. A small hatch opens on the side of the prison. A speeder quickly chases after the rebels. The speeder pilot is STARKILLER, the leader of the Lettow Guards.
Starkiller chases Ussej and Bail throughout Coruscant. They maneuver through many buildings. Before Starkiller can finally catch up, Ussej takes out a blaster and hits a large power coupling which causes Starkiller to stop. Ussej flies the speeder to a small landing pad away from the city. They board an Alliance freighter and move back into space. The freighter jumps into hyperspace.
Starkiller flies his speeder back to the prison. When he arrives, he learns that one of the Bendu Knights has been killed while the other is now in custody. DARTH VADER, Dark Lord of the Sith, arrives at the prison with LEIA SKYWALKER, Vader’s apprentice and daughter of Anakin Skywalker. He questions the guards as to what happened. He and Leia leave while Starkiller continues to interrogate the Bendu.
The Alliance freighter drops out of hyperspace in a remote sector of the galaxy. The freighter docks with the Old Republic Knight, a large Alliance starship. Bail is greeted by MON MOTHMA, CRIX MADINE and JAR JAR BINKS. They welcome him aboard and then head for the bridge. On the way, Bail asks to see Leia. Sadly, Mon Mothma informs him that Leia was captured by the Sith and has fallen to the Dark Side of the Force. Bail is stunned. He slumps against the wall and falls to the floor. Mon Mothma comforts him. He leaves the group to find his quarters so he can rest.
Darth Vader arrives at the Imperial Palace. He heads for the Throne Room and finds DARTH SIDIOUS, publicly known as EMPEROR PALPATINE, there waiting for him. Vader informs Palpatine of what has happened at the prison. Palpatine is not pleased at this turn of events. He orders Vader to go to the Anoat system to check on the progress of the Death Star Super Weapon. Palpatine orders him to go, and then tells him to order Starkiller to begin his assault on the rebels of Naboo.
Bail sits at a desk in his quarters on board the Old Republic Knight. Mon Mothma enters the room and they talk. She tells him of the Bendu Knights and how they helped the Alliance on Endor. She asks him if there are any Jedi Knights left that could possibly help them. Bail thinks for a moment of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda, but tells Mon Mothma that there are no Jedi Knights left. She responds with a plea for more help and Bail tells her that in time there will be others to help them.
Darth Vader, Leia and Starkiller are onboard a gunship headed for the Military Staging Area on Coruscant. They discuss the way the now titled Galactic Civil War is going and how Leia can help against the Alliance. Starkiller, speaking frankly, relays his distrust in Leia because of her connections to the Alliance. But, Vader and the Emperor feel that her experience with the Alliance makes her the perfect person to help lead the fight. The gunship lands in the staging area. Starkiller leads his troops to a small Imperial Cruiser. The cruiser lifts off, and behind in dozens more do the same. Vader and Leia board a small Imperial Shuttle. All of the ships head into orbit. Starkiller’s task force meets up with a group of Star Destroyers and they jump into hyperspace. The Imperial Shuttle docks with the newly finished Super Star Destroyer, the Executer. The Executer jumps into hyperspace, headed for the Anoat System.
On board Starkiller’s ship, he goes over the plans with the Imperial Commanders. Starkiller tells them that he will be going down to the surface first to check things out. He orders them to stay out of detection range of the planet until he gives the signal. The Imperial Commanders salute and then head back to their stations. Starkiller boards his starfighter and then blasts into hyperspace.
Bail steps onto the bridge of the Old Republic Knight. He asks for any information that they might have on Leia’s whereabouts. Madine tells him that Imperial transmissions indicate that Darth Vader and “his apprentice” where headed for the Anoat System to check on the progress of “the weapon”. Bail asks Madine what this “weapon” is. Madine explains that they believe it is an armored battle station, codenamed the “Death Star”, that is the size of a small moon with enough firepower to destroy an entire planet. Bail admits that he had heard slight rumors in the Senate but never really thought anything of them. Madine also reveals that Alliance intelligence believes that the first of many of these “Death Stars” are almost complete. Bail nervously nods and then leaves the bridge.
The Executer drops out of hyperspace near Andros IV, the sixth planet of the Anoat System. The ship moves to the far side of the planet, revealing the Death Star prototype! A small shuttle drops from the docking bay of the Executer. On board the shuttle, two Imperial pilots head towards the station with Vader and Leia in the main hold. Leia walks to the cockpit and is amazed at the size of the station.
The shuttle docks on the Death Star and GRAND MOFF TARKIN rushes in to greet them. He admits that their arrival is a surprise but he is happy to have them on board to check on the progress, which is moving at an incredibly fast rate. Vader asks to be shown to the bridge and to have Leia shown to comfortable quarters to rest and meditate.
Starkiller’s starship jumps out of hyperspace and he heads for the surface of Naboo. He lands in a remote section of the lake country where no one can find him. Under the cover of darkness, he swims across a lake and enters into a large house near the shore. He enters the house locks all the windows and doors. He contacts COMMANDER SACHS and tells him that this house will be their base of operations in which they will locate and destroy the rebels.
On board the Death Star, Vader continues his Sith Teachings with Leia. They spar with non-lethal lightsabers in a dimly lit room. The test is to see which person can be the first to administer three hits on their opponent. Leia is the first, and she bows before Darth Vader. He tells her to kneel down on the floor. He tells her that the teachings of the Sith are not an easy thing to learn, and only a select few have ever fully grasped the nature of the Dark Side. Vader tells her that she is one of those few. He formally dubs her as DARTH SECRETUS, Sith Apprentice. Vader tells her that the time to strike against Darth Sidious shall come. But, until that time they must continue to do his bidding and not let him know that Leia is a Sith.
On the Old Republic Knight, Bail slips into the docking bay and finds the Tantive IV sitting there. He calls for Captain Antilles to come to him. On the bridge, Mon Mothma and General Madine are discussing battle plans for a strike they wish to mount against the Empire. Suddenly, an officer runs in and tells them that Bail and Antilles are preparing to leave on board the Tantive IV. Mon Mothma calls him on the communicator and pleads with him to say. He tells her that there is something that he must do and disconnects the transmission. The Tantive IV leaves the docking bay and blasts off into space. Madine worries about why Bail is leaving, and Mon Mothma tells him that he is probably trying to find Leia. Mon Mothma orders the ship to Alderaan so that they can protect Queen Organa from any danger this turn of events may bring. Madine protests, stating that if the Empire was to follow them to Alderaan it would put the entire planet in jeopardy.
Darth Vader contacts Emperor Palpatine and tells him that the final stages of the Death Star construction are moving at an incredibly fast rate. Palpatine is pleased. He asks to have it tested soon, but Vader feels that the crew should be given more time to learn all that they can about the station. Palpatine disagrees and orders an immediate test of the Death Star Super Laser. Vader asks where to test it, and Palpatine tells him that the planet, which must be of considerable importance, is up to him and Tarkin.
The Tantive IV flies through space at a very rapid rate. Bail continues to scan the area for any sign of the Death Star. Antilles picks up a signature in the Anoat System that he believes is large enough to be the Death Star. He plots the new course and they speed up towards the Anoat System. Bail is worried about what might happen to the ship, but Antilles is confident that they can get out before anything bad happens.
Back on Naboo, Starkiller’s task force has located a small, secret Alliance stronghold. He gets out his commlink and orders an immediate Air Strike Force to come and meet them there. Starkiller and his troops head out and engage the Alliance soldiers. Starkiller slices many of them down, and then orders a group of Lettow Warriors to follow him into the base. Inside, they encounter light resistance. They can hear multiple TIE Fighters fly overhead. They plant small thermal charges throughout the base and then run out. The TIE Fighters have destroyed most of the resistance and the Empire has lost only a few troops. The base explodes behind them, erupting into flames. Starkiller orders a large strike force, under his command, to head for the capitol city of Theed. He has one objective in mind: capturing QUEEN ARCADIA.
The Old Republic Knight has arrived in orbit around Alderaan. General Madine and his men have secured the capitol city of Aldera. General Madine heads for the Alderaan Throne and finds QUEEN BREHA ORGANA. He takes her and prepares to move her to a secure location. Ussej Bac and a legion of Bendu Knights arrive in the city and they swear themselves to protecting Queen Organa. Madine sends a few troops with them and the heads back to the Old Republic Knight.
The Tantive IV drops out of hyperspace and is now right near the Death Star. Bail and Antilles are shocked at the size of the battle station.
On board the Death Star, Tarkin orders a gunner to send a warning shot across the ships nose. Vader comes to the bridge and is told that an Alderaanian vessel has just dropped out of hyperspace. He senses that it is Bail Organa looking for his daughter. Lady Secretes comes to bridge, but Vader tells her to stay out of this affair. She backs away, but stays just outside of the room.
The Tantive IV receives a message that unless they leave the system, they will be fired upon. They move closer, and the Death Star sends out a squadron of TIE Fighters. The Tantive IV appears to hold them off at first, but eventually they realize that the ship is no match. They retreat into hyperspace and head follow the Old Republic Knight’s signal.
On board the Death Star, Tarkin orders an immediate trace of their hyperspace route. Vader tells Tarkin that he has found the perfect target for a test of the Death Star: Alderaan!
Starkiller’s Task Force slips past security in Theed. They make their way up the large cliff next to the waterfall directly behind the palace.
In the Theed Throne Room, Queen Arcadia is informed of the destruction of the Alliance
Outpost. She relays her worries about the Empire taking Theed, but she is cut off by the sounds
of blaster fire and explosions outside of the palace. They look out the window and they see the Imperial forces shooting down the Naboo Security Force. The queens royal guards attempt to take her to a secure location, but when the door to the Throne Room opens Starkiller stands before them. He ignites his lightsaber and cuts down the queen’s protectors. He takes her hostage and then takes her down to the battlefield. He tells his troops to secure the area and to take total control of the planet. He signals one of his Imperial Commanders to take Queen Arcadia to a secure location and to post a legion of Lettow Warriors to guard her.
The Old Republic Knight receives a signal from Bail Organa telling them that the Death Star is on a direct course for Alderaan and that the fleet should arrive there immediately. Mon Mothma contacts the fleet and they immediately make the jump into hyperspace.
On Naboo, Starkiller contacts Emperor Palpatine and tells him that the planet is secure and Queen Arcadia has been captured. Palpatine is quite pleased. He tells Starkiller of the assault that is about to take place on Alderaan. Starkiller is eager to hear how quickly it takes the Empire to destroy the Alderaan, thus destroying the Alliance once and for all.
The Alliance fleet arrives at Alderaan. They create a perimeter around the planet. Ussej contacts Mon Mothma and tells her that the Queen has been taken to a secure location. Mon Mothma pleads with him to get Queen Organa off of the planet because the Death Star will be there in a matter of minutes. The Tantive IV drops out of hyperspace and docks with the Old Republic Knight. Bail runs to the bridge to prepare for the oncoming battle.
On the surface, Ussej is rushing with the rest of the Bendu Knights to get the queen to a ship. They can see the large figure of the Death Star drop out of hyperspace near the planet.
The Alliance cruisers begin to fire upon the Death Star. On board the Old Republic Knight, General Madine orders all available Alliance fighters to converge on the Death Star. He hopes that the fighters can do enough damage to the Superlaser to force the Empire into retreat.
The Death Star releases TIE Fighters to combat the Alliance fighters. The Alliance fighters begin to fire on the large, spherical laser-area.
On board the Death Star, Secretes is given just one final test of loyalty: she must give the order to fire the laser onto Alderaan. She gives the order without even thinking twice about it. The gunners begin to charge the laser. Tarkin tells them that, because this is just a prototype, it will take a few moments before the laser if fully charged.
The Alliance fighters begin firing their largest torpedoes at the laser. The Alliance cruisers also begin to fire on the laser. One of the fighters’ wings is blown off and it starts spinning right towards the station. The laser begins to charge and a green glow overtakes the area.
Inside the cockpit of the out of control fighter, the pilot contacts the Old Republic Knight. He tells them that if he is going to die then he is going to make his death mean something. He manages to maneuver his fighter directly in-line with the laser. The fighter crashes directly into the hole of the laser junction. There is a very large explosion that comes from the inside of the station. Half of the station is blown off.
The bridge of the Old Republic Knight bursts into cheers at the site of the explosion. They receive a transmission from Tarkin. He tells them that Alderaan’s time is almost up and that they will return. Madine just laughs at him and disconnects the transmission. Ussej Bac and Queen Organa come to the bridge of the ship. The queen congratulates them and thanks Mon Mothma for saving the planet. Bail escorts his wife to their quarters.
On Alderaan, the Bendu secure the area and make sure that there are no Imperials on the planet. There is minor-damage to the cities from fallen debris and only minor injuries to the people.
The Death Star has limped back to the Anoat system. Vader contacts Emperor Palpatine and tells him what has happened. Palpatine is incredibly disappointed and tells Vader that when he gets back he will be punished. He orders Secretes, whom he still believes to just simply be Leia Skywalker, to continue scanning Alliance networks in hopes of finding a new weakness.
The Alliance fleet has moved to the Sullust System. They’re now preparing a new assault on the Empire. They hope that the next battle will be the turning point of the war.
On Naboo, Starkiller is informed of the Empire’s loss at Alderaan. This upsets him very much. He hopes that Naboo will be the turning point for this war, for he wants to be the one who is responsible for the destruction of the Alliance.
The Tantive IV lands at the Aldera Palace on Alderaan. Bail and Breha walk onto the balcony. Bail promises her that he will find Leia and bring her safely back into their arms. They move to the edge of the balcony and watch the bright sunrise shimmer onto the large lakes in the distance.
The Saga Continues....
