A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far Far Away...

It is 3,673 BBY, and the shining beacon of liberalism known as the Republic, is now naught but a faint glow. What was once a shout for freedom, is now mute, lest there be any ears to hear it.

After a series of wars, known as the Sith, Mandalorian, and the Jedi Civil War, the Republic is badly battered and needs rest. Fleets are withdrawn to the inner rim, then to the colonies in order to curb a rapidly rising debt. This causes members at the fringe of the Republic to be all but abandoned, either conquered by pirates, rogue units, or outright leaving, due to a lack of confidence. The Republic is unable, and unwilling, to fight to get these planets back.

It had appeared all was lost, but a new man appeared, a great man. A senator from a privileged Coruscanti family named Roderick, was elected Chancellor. His first acts were to centralize the state once more, abolished most semi-memberships, tax-exemption of planets, and reforming the tax code. These were the first step to the Republic recovering, and with the new funds they were able to rebuild the navy. And many planets found themsevles aligning with the Republic once again, their one broken confidence restored.

Roderick was elected to a second term to much praise, the hero of the Republic was now known. He set out to reform the military to be more efficient with a council of generals and admirals, thus reducing the cost of the military. Thus gaining him the praise, and vital loyalty, of his own soldiers and officers. He makes a new controversial office known as "general commissary", a man who'd ensure the political loyalty of his high command instated by Roderick. Narrowly passed, and only because Roderick had never wronged the Republic before.

Then the third term elections come around, Roderick has never been more popular with his people before. It was untraditional for a senator to have more than two terms, but he again, narrowly wins. His third term is relatively peaceful, no new major reforms to the sadness of his subjects who wished to have the golden age become more. While giving a speech to the senate, an explosion rocks the senate-building on Coruscant, killing at least a hundred senators and severely injuring Roderick. Roderick lives, but lost his left leg and would give a speech within an hour of being able to walk again, stating that he can't be on absence while his republic is under attack. More terror attacks in the CoCo district kills tens of thousands, including merchants and foreign dignitaries.

Roderick controversially enacts emergency powers, to the approval of the senate who are mostly young and fearful senators due to the death of the veterans. Roderick begins to pass more reforms much to the praise of his people, the golden age shall continue even in these dark times. The terrorists are soon found, given a show trial, and basically summarily executed. However, Roderick keeps his emergency powers and the true purpose of his reforms are revealed. He has reinstated the office of Moff, planetary/sector governors, thus effectively abolishing local governments. This causes mass protests against his rule and reforms.

At the planet of Cinnagar, the birthplace of past rebellions, is the largest protest. Becoming so burgeoning, that it becomes an uncontrollable riot. Faced with no action, the governor of Cinnagar requests soldiers to put down the riot by force, Roderick reluctantly agrees seeing no other recourse. Soldiers open fire, killing nearly four-thousand people in the process. Similar actions happen upon Corellia and Rendili...

Now with soldiers not obeying orders, they throw themselves in with the rioters and declare an open rebellion. Entire divisions are ripped apart as former comrades find themselves on opposite sides of a fence. There is no Republic, only loyalists who believe in Roderick's great reforms, and the roundheads who wish for a return to democracy.

There is no good, there is no evil, only a Republic in a dark place.