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Over the forest moon of Endor, in a final assault against the Emperor and his tyrannical regime, the Rebel Alliance battled bravely against overwhelming numbers and the sheer might of the Imperial Empire. Though many lives were sacrificed in this struggle, the Rebel Alliance proved victorious, with the aid of an unlikely ally, and successfully destroyed the Death Star, along with the Emperor’s apprentice, Darth Vader, as well as the Emperor himself. Entire planets broke out in celebration, the Alliance’s promise of freedom finally being realised. Over the coming months, an ongoing campaign, under the command of Admiral Ackbar, to liberate the Core Systems was realised, giving the Rebel Alliance a staging area for their new democratic government, under the banner of the New Republic.

However, Galactic liberation could not be achieved. Unforeseen by the New Republic, support for Imperial controlled worlds grew within them, many violently resisting any attempts by the New Republic to free them from Imperial oppression. To them, the Empire had offered a time of economic prosperity and military security, with the only threat to that security being from the New Republic. All they wanted was to be left in peace. To the New Republic, this resistance was seen as just another form of Imperial manipulation, and so the assaults on Imperial territory continued.

Within the New Republic, questions as to the government’s ability to uphold their promises began to arise. Morale fell greatly, leaving the fate of the New Republic on a knife’s edge. To win the hearts and minds of its citizens, leaders of the New Republic decided that a large victory over the Imperials had to be achieved. The Imperial stronghold of Byss was selected as the target. Not only would a victory there show that the New Republic was capable of defeating the Empire once and for all, but the suspected technology on Byss could turn the war in their favour.

Before being shipped out, Leia Organa Solo addressed the vast number of troops being sent on this mission. She outlined how truly important a victory at Byss was to the survival of the New Republic. However, before she was able to finish her speech, a rifle shot was fired from a nearby building, killing her instantly. Outraged, the New Republic forces apprehended the assassin and killed him, but not before interrogating him. Unexpectedly, it was not as hired killing by the Imperials, but merely a disgruntled citizen of the New Republic who wanted dramatic changes. Though delayed, but with a renewed sense of purpose, the New Republic troops continued their mission to liberate Byss.

Due to bad intelligence, the assault on Byss was a terrible defeat to the New Republic. As the fleet dropped out of hyperspace they were greeted by a truly frightening sight. An Imperial Super Stardestroyer which had been sent to Byss for routine maintenance was directly in the flight path of the New Republic vessels. Though the element of surprise gave the New Republic an edge in the intial stages of the battle, they were inevitably decimated by the incredible force of the Super Stardestroyer. On attempting to flee, Adirmal Ackbar’s capital ship, Home One, was crippled and subsequently destroyed. What little remained of the New Republic limped back to safe territory to deliver the news.

The loss at Byss dealt a near fatal blow to the New Republic. Outraged by the failure of their supposed leaders, the citizens of Coruscant took up arms and an uncontrollable riot erupted. Quickly gaining support, the rioters stormed the political buildings, killing as many as they could find. As a final example of their rebellion against the New Republic, Mon Mothma was executed on the steps of the Senate. Those who were still loyal to the New Republic fled to the nearby planet of Corellia, leaving Coruscant to decay.

Years passed, but the New Republic was never quite able to recover, with questions of the competency of the leaders constantly arising. Coruscant become a dangerous, lawless planet, with neither the New Republic nor the Imperials willing to risk committing men to invading it. Luke Skywalker was able to re-establish a Jedi Academy on the remote planet of Dantooine. Without the valuable artifacts from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, however, what he was able to teach his new pupils was limited to what he himself had learnt. Moreover, financial support from the New Republic for the Jedi Academy dwindled radically as the New Republic had not received its “Guardians” as quickly as it had hoped. Students of the Academy were often taken out while they were significantly inexperienced and forced in combat situations, quelling the small riots that were now a common occurrence within the New Republic. With little choice, Skywalker allowed this; knowing that refusing it would mean the closure of the Jedi Academy all together.

Meanwhile, the numerous failings of the New Republic had rallied support for the Imperial regime within Imperial space. Dark Force Users, previously under the direct command of the late Emperor Palpatine, had been reordered into an elaborate, yet effective, spy network. Learning of the ever weakening New Republic, the Imperial leaders decided now was a fitting time to get revenge for the embarrassment at Endor all those years ago, as well as reclaiming planets they once called their own.

As the Imperial armada dropped out of hyperspace, countless landing craft, loaded with both troops and artillery, launched from the mighty Stardestroyers, headed for the planet’s surface. Day seemed to turn to night as the shadow of the Imperial navy blocked out the sun. Fear struck the hearts of the civilians as the Imperials began their assault on the unsuspecting New Republic...