Star Wars - Remission - Setting and Prologue
History of the Galaxy after the Fall of the Empire
Independent Continuity, with bits and pieces of expanded universe lore thrown in where desired.
After the Galactic Civil war brought down the Empire, the New Republic enjoyed over a century of relative peace. However, for reasons no one is able to adequately explain, a sudden burst of infighting would destroy the New Republic, along with its diplomatic and social infrastructure, within weeks. (The Bothans became an endangered species after the fall of the New Republic. Inhabitants of the galaxy are encouraged to make of that what they will.)
Although the fall of the New Republic was economically, politically, and societally devastating, there was very little bloodshed, as far as anyone knows. A century of cultural and technological stagnation would follow, as a sort of grotesque mirror of the New Republic.
There were, of course, various sectors of independent systems still maintained trade and political relations, establishing various factional regions throughout the Galaxy. Eventually, one of these Factions in the Core Worlds would unite and establish what they called the "Golden Republic"
The Golden Republic aims to re-establish the political relationships of the New Republic, while avoiding the same fate. Constituent systems are allowed to create their own guidelines for the appointment of local representation in the G.R. Senate. The Senate itself is convened under the authority of a President, who has a term of 5 years. The president-elect is not allowed to be a current senator. Beyond this, there is very little regulation within G.R. policy. However, all members are required to pledge aid and resources towards the defense and diplomatic efforts of the Golden Republic.
The Senate is gathered in the old governmental districts of Coruscant, as it was (probably) destined to be.
The first person to be elected President of the Golden Republic was an Ithorian named Elyeh Sal. This was unexpected, because although she was born on Corulag, her native planet of Ithor was not (and still is not) a member of the Golden Republic. Nonetheless, her 5 years as president were productive, and her meek, but firm personality proved to be very popular. Under Elyah Sal, the Golden Republic quickly began to flourish and proliferate.
Roy Veers, of Keres (The Empress Teta system), served two terms as President. Under him, the Senate established the Army of the Golden Republic, being a dedicated military force for the protection of the Golden Republic. Also under Veers, the Jedi Order was re-established in the Great Temple.
The third President, Kyle Astor of Fresia, served a relatively unremarkable term. Still, the Republic continued to expand under his leadership.
Naturally, the various quirks of such a loosely controlled democracy have led to a number of difficult situations for the fledgling government. Still, the efforts of the Senate have allowed the Golden Republic to survive and expand for the last thirty years.
Two and a half decades after the Golden Republic was founded, it had already managed to expand to include most of the core worlds. Spirits were high when the 4thPresident-Elect, Hadal of Kuat, stepped up to the podium outside the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He spoke of a bright frontier of galactic civilization. He spoke of the great successes of the first twenty years of the Golden Republic. He spoke of impending efforts to establish beneficial ties well beyond the scope of just the Core Worlds. Hadal would have continued, if he hadn't been cut down by a burst of blaster fire from a nearby rooftop.
Coruscant erupted in confusion, with the military conducting a planet wide search for the assassin, who had somehow managed to sneak into the heavily guarded venue, loudly kill the President of the Golden Republic, and then leave without a trace.
The next day, the elect-runner-up, Rowan Tul (a human from Fresia), was sworn in. He made his way to the central podium of the Senate's Grand Chamber. Tul looked around at the assembled Senators, then to the cameras that circled him, broadcasting to the rest of the Republic. For a moment, it looked as if he was going to speak, but instead, he turned away, only to find himself looking at a screen showing his own broadcast. After a moment, he turned back to his podium.
"I am unprepared to address either the senate or its people today." He began.
"Yesterday, President-Elect Hadal was murdered outside the Great Temple. As of this moment, we have not apprehended his killer, we have no viable suspects, and there are no clear motives for his assassination."
There was a long pause, in which President Tul stared quite intently at the floor in front of him with a very unhappy look. Before he could continue, the door behind him was blown open, throwing him against the podium, and killing his body guard. Out of the dust walked a human male, wearing a uniform in the style of a Galactic Empire officer. He dragged Tul to his feet and held a blaster to his head.
Once he was satisfied that no one was going to try and interrupt him, the aggressor spoke.
"People of the Golden Republic. I am Darth Taedus of the Sith. Within the next minute, Sith warships will come out of hyperspace over Obroa-Skai."
He smiled, revealing a mouth full of teeth which had been sharpened to a point. His voice was smooth, deep, and confident.
"At that time, the Obroa-Skai system, it's citizens, and all of its resources are under the dominion of the Sith Empire. The rest of you are to soon follow. We neither expect nor welcome cooperation from any of you. We will prove to you that our power is superior, and then you will die."
Darth Taedus then gave a mocking salute to President Tul, turned around, and vanished through the remains of the door. Outside, the bodies of security officers, Jedi knights, and civilians littered the corridors of the Senate Chambers. Thus, there was no one to keep Taedus from taking a transport shuttle and escaping back to what was now known to be hostile territory.
Back in the Grand Chamber, President Tul turned back to the podium. "We must stop them." Was all he said. He would remain standing there for quite some time before members of the Jedi Order arrived to help.
For the remainder of Tul's term, the Golden Republic has managed to prevent further incursion of the Sith Empire into their own space. However, the Sith have begun to either assimilate or destroy the various warring factions, granting them a considerable advantage in terms of military power.
Currently, the GR Controls, or is allied with, the majority of the Core Worlds, as well as the Colonies. Diplomatic efforts to expand relations to the mostly independent regions outside of the Inner Rim are ongoing, but are made difficult by the Sith and the Faction Wars occurring throughout the rest of the galaxy.
The Current (5th) President of the Republic is Adi Siilver of Corellia. Few envy her for her position.
The rest of the factions have remained in states of isolation or conflict with one another. It is expected that many of them will fall to the power of the Sith.
Because of the Faction Wars, major repositories of information are typically segregated. Thus, individuals interested in scholarly pursuits must be just as skilled in trade as they are in research.
Technology remains at roughly the same level as in Imperial times.
It is rumored that there was a secretive organization which made significant discoveries and advancements in science and technology that thrived within select isolated communities after the New Republic's collapse. This organization appears to have vanished shortly after the foundation of the Golden Republic, if it ever existed at all.
All periods of time, unless otherwise noted, use Coruscant Galactic Standard Time.
The Map I have used for reference can be found at: http://wrvh.home.xs4all.nl/galaxymap