Galactic Civil War In the interest of time, economy of words, and the tradition of the franchise, I will skip a bit of back story. Declaring himself Emperor did not assure ultimate power. It took 15 more years of slowly applying pressure to achieve full control.
By 2 BBY Palpatine had full control, yet throughout that time resistance, and insurrections were an increasingly frequent nuisance. Wilhuff Tarkin sent Imperial Communiqué #001044.92v to the Emperor It was a proposal of rule through military occupation and fear. This was doctrine adopted and in the following weeks the first actions of this Doctrine occurred, they included:
• The Massacre of protesters at Ghorman
• The Destruction of Gus Talon near Corellia
• Imperial internment and re-education of 1000s Alderaanians.
• The "Imperialization" of the Chandrilian Military and occupation of several cities.
• Classifying several races as not sentient and thusly able to be used as forced labor.
• Accelerating the rebuilding, and expanding of the Military1
Along with these Atrocities, even more draconian laws, and control of media were imposed. Finally, the pretense of the Empire being necessary measure for law and order is dropped. From now on drastic measures of quelling uprisings no longer be kept quiet but be publicly disclosed in order to dissuade others from attempting resistance.
These atrocities being made public did not make the victims the examples Tarkin wanted. They were made martyrs by the Propaganda of Mon Mothma's agents. Firstly releasing the declaration sent to Palpatine for public circulation along with holo video of the Ghorman massacre followed by an appeal to join the cause.
“I stand before you not as a politician, but as a believer in the power of the people. The Empire has brought nothing but tyranny and oppression to countless worlds. It's time to rise against this darkness."
She went to speak of liberty, justice, and the values that the Old Republic held dear.
This transmission inspired many worlds to join in the declaration. It also raised the spirits of war weary resistance bands across the galaxy. The Empire’s retribution to this was swift and brutal. Millions were killed, incarcerated or displaced. Yet for all that pain, a new hope was on the horizon. Across the Galaxy, beings knew that the Rebel's were out there coming to shed the yoke of tyranny from the Galaxy. Where these liberators are is very closely guarded secret. Nonetheless scores of volunteers, refugees and defectors flowed towards the outer Rim in search of Rebel contact points on transports or ships liberated from the Empire.2
A year later, the Empire has its hands full putting out the fires that Tarkin’s new doctrine had set, fighting the Separatist Holdouts on remote planets, and maintaining law in order against criminals. The factories and recruiting centers finally had churned out enough units to make a more permanent presence in the vast and remote outer rim.
Meanwhile, the Alliance had prepared the best it could. In race with the massive manufacture base of the Empire they could not afford to wait any longer. The Alliance sat poised to launch their opening moves against the Imperial Forces arriving to create forward bases in the Outer Rim.
Rebel Navy OOB
HQ Fleet:
1 Nebulon-B Frigate
Profundity
At least 3 EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigates
Hydra
Medusa
Gorgon
4 Braha'tok-class gunships
3 Sphyrna-class Hammerhead corvettes
Consonance
Lightmaker
Hyperion
At least 6 CR90 corvettes
Manticore
Griffin
Dragon
Lion
Tiger
Bear
Tantive IV
12 GR-75 medium transports
42 T65-B X-wings
22 BTL-A4 Y-wing assault starfighter/bombers
2 UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support crafts
________________________________________
AshWorlds Fleet:
1 Nebulon-B Frigates
Spirit
50 Z-95’s
12 Z-95 Trainers
25 R-41’s
12 BFF-1 Freighters
8 Ghtroc 820
Corellian Fleet:
6 Dreadnaught Class Cruisers
Harrier
Peregrine
Gunlabird
Jacuna
Nuuswan
Pelikki
36 TIS Zeta 19
1 The Confederacy of Independent systems collapsed 17 years ago fragmenting into pockets of isolated resistance against Coruscant. The war never ended as the Empire fought a series of Military Campaigns against several systems whose worlds resisted. These series of engagements are collectively referred to as the Clone Wars. Resistance has been reduced to brush fire insurgency across the galaxy. While mostly dominant in these conflicts they have not come without casualties over 2 decades of constant combat operations has depleted Corscants Military.
2 The lore of the Ashworlds Campaign tells this story. The best way to experience that story is to play the game. If that cannot be done the stories that spawn from it will be made available here.