Star Wars A New Hope (Updated Lore)

Prologue

It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire

During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the Death Star, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.

Pursued by the Empire's sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy...

ANOTHER GALAXY, ANOTHER TIME.

    The Old Republic was the Republic of legend, greater than distance or time. No need to note where it was or whence it came, only to know that... it was the Republic.

    Once, under the wise rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the Republic throve and grew. But as often happens when wealth and power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, then appear those evil ones who have greed to match.

    So it was with the Republic at its height. Like the greatest of trees, able to withstand any external attack, the Republic rotted from within though the danger was not visible from outside.

    Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine of Naboo caused himself to be elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic by orchestrating a devastating war between the Republic clone army and a separatists commerce guild. He won the support of the Republic by promising to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic.

    Once secure in office and at the hight of conflict he declared himself Emperor of the Republic and reformed it into the first Galactic Empire. Having exterminated the Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, through treachery and deception the newly declared Emperor now had no one left to oppose him.

    The Imperial governors and bureaucrats prepared to institute a reign of terror among the disheartened worlds of the galaxy. Many used the Imperial forces and the name of the increasingly isolated Emperor to further their own personal ambitions. Darkness covered the galaxy.

    But a small number of systems rebelled at these new outrages. Declaring themselves opposed to the New Empire, they began the great battle to restore the Old Republic.

    From the beginning they were vastly outnumbered by the systems held in thrall by the Emperor. In those first dark days it seemed certain the bright flame of resistance would be extinguished before it could cast the light of new truth across a galaxy of oppressed and beaten peoples...

    Until a spark of hope lights the rebellion afire. In one desperate attempt, rebel operatives scored their first major victory against the Empire...

From the first Saga

Journal of the Whills