Stellaris Wars: A Nemesis Ironman Saga

[Arithmetician]

Hi! Arithmetician here! I just wrapped up my first full game following the release of the Nemesis expansion ( I had a few false starts before this one), and it was a pretty fun one, so I figured I would share my experience in another AAR.

Like many of my past AARs, this is a Star Wars-themed one, but there are some key differences. Foremost among them, this entire run is on Ironman mode, which is actually the first time I've really done Ironman to any meaningful extent. I managed to find a achievement-compatible mod on the workshop that gives a variety of Star Wars ships (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=906100225). Then, using its code as a guide, I made my own version of it for personal use, overwriting the Imperial shipset instead of the Arthropoid one, and swapping out some of the models with other ones from some other Star Wars mods to better match the aesthetics of the story I wanted to tell.

Additionally, I used a number of other cosmetic mods to further the Star Wars feel of the game, as well as some music, sound effect, and advisor mods. Since strangely namelists CAN'T be modded while still being achievement-compatible, I used the Commonwealth of Man's namelist, as its ship names seemed most evocative of the style that I wanted.

With that out of the way, onward to my nation's build for this campaign.

We will be playing as the Republic Core, the remnants of the now-fallen Old Republic, representing the wealthiest and most influential planets of the core worlds. Coruscant itself was sacked millennia ago, and the destruction was so severe that we are only now returning to the stars.

We will be seeking to diplomatically expand our influence and establish a powerful federation, and our Civic/ethos choices reflect that, with Diplomatic Corp and Xenophile for additional envoys. Once the Galactic Community is established, we will also strive to wield political power there, so Egalitarian and Parliamentary System will generate more Influence for us, which will also help with early expansion. Spiritualist of course represents the influence of the Jedi Order, and gives us a Temple to start with on Coruscant.

As for traits, we started from baseline humans and then modified them for flavor. Adaptive and Nomadic are retained, and Natural Engineers is added (as it seems fitting for those who would build a planet-spanning ecumenopolis). As for negative traits, Decadent and Deviants represent the corruption and fractiousness that could be found in the Republic.

I'll be posting the first "Episode" proper soon. I hope you enjoy reading my AAR!

 

[Arithmetician]

 

[Arithmetician]

Coruscant... the former Queen of the Core, sitting almost at the inner edge of the galactic habitable zone, along what had used to be major trade routes that had spread its influence far and wide, and to the south of the Jimorban Dust Clouds, which had brought great wealth to the early Old Republic with their busy nebula refineries.

That age, of course, was long past.

Coruscant had been sacked at the end of a terrible war almost 2,200 years before, and only now was it truly beginning to recover from the damage, though much of its once great Galactic City still remained in ruins.

No one knew what had become of the enemy that had laid waste to the capital, save that they had mysteriously vanished when on the verge of total victory.

Much of the credit for the Republic's return to the stars must go to Chancellor Tarsus Valorum. An explorer at heart, he wanted to chart the outlying star systems and expand the Republic's borders, and would soon gain a much-deserved reputation as a champion of the people. So as to better provide for them, and invest more in scientific endeavors, the Republic's small navy was disbanded as an unnecessary expenditure, and its vessels repurposed into science ships.

It wasn't long after being exploratory efforts in earnest that Republic scientists discovered evidence of the ancient "First League", a government very much like the Old Republic, but far older. In light of the discovery, some even began to speculate if Coruscant itself could have once been a colony of the First League, though any archaeological sites unfortunately would have been long since paved over by the construction of the Galactic City.

More discoveries were soon made. There was a mysterious structure, dubbed an "L-Gate", orbiting the Ribellan Vortex.

Hidden in the nebula, but a single hyperlane jump away from Coruscant, was a system with two dry, habitable planets, and a temperate continental moon. Further analysis of the system and referencing ancient records revealed that this had once been home to the prosperous colony of Corellia, a major shipbuilding hub of the Old Republic, and the system was renamed accordingly.

Meanwhile, recolonization of another Old Republic colony, Corulag, was proceeding smoothly.

Analysis of alien logs led the Republic to the Mubblar System, home to the fabled Rubricator, though like Coruscant, the planet had fallen into ruin. The planet and its system was renamed Empress Teta, as it too appeared to have once belonged to the Old Republic, before being overtaken by a species of kleptomaniac rats after the downfall of the Old Republic.

First contact was made with the Curators, floating jellyfish-like molluscoids who lived upon a large but lonely space station. It was situated along a strategically important hyperlane chokepoint, so efforts to fortify the system began. A single well-positioned starbase could do far more to protect the Republic against possible future aggressors than a small navy.

Reports came in of a mesmerizing ocean world, the sea of which was in some way alive. The Jedi Knights, members of a monastic order that had long protected and guided the Republic, recognized it as a holy place and their ancestral home, Ahch-To. Eventually, meditating on the mysteries of Ahch-To's sea would lead to insights into Psionic Theory, awakening many to the same powers as the Jedi.

Chancellor Valorum handily won re-election to a second ten-year term, but it was also around this time that factions began to form. Valorum himself headed the Alien Freedom Trust, while Scientist Hassan Ibrahim led the Conclave of the Force. He did not get along well with Scientist Ammar Ishak, who held considerably more materialistic views and led the Council of Scientific Betterment. Scientist Dragomirova founded the Republic's first egalitarian faction, the Liberty Now Network, but some whispered that she was more than a bit eccentric and had few real principles, and would lead any faction if she thought it would bring her influence.

Contact was soon established with the 'Beta Aliens', who were revealed to be the Orbis of Orbis Customer Synergies, a powerful megacorporation, originally specializing in optical implants, before becoming a hyper-communications juggernaut and absorbing most other industries on their home planet of Slephus Prime.

In many ways, Orbisur ideology was opposed to the Republic's own: they were authoritarians and were dismissive of the Force, focusing on the acquisition of material wealth. Nonetheless, they appeared to be friendly, and had even actively aided the process of deciphering their language by sending the Republic a large data transmission early in the First Contact process. Their relays would be most useful for boosting the Republic's HoloNet signals, and so the Republic Core soon thereafter entered into a Commercial Pact with them.

A massive, ruined Matter Decompressor was soon sighted in Orbis space, orbiting the Pathabaan Vortex, just a single jump away from the Orbisur capital, but for now it would remain but a curiosity.

Further to the Galactic north of Coruscant, another L-Gate was discovered. It was still situated in what could broadly be considered the "Outer Core", but given its greater distance from Coruscant, the region was informally dubbed "The Colonies" instead. And nearby the L-Gate, in the Cyteen System, the ruins of an enormous Ring World were found.

The technology to repair the Ring World was far beyond the Republic, but if it could ever be restored, it would serve as an ideal base for virtually endless foundries and industry. The Ringworld would be renamed the "Kuat Ring", and the system's name would eventually be changed to Kuat at well.

Also in the Colonies, a pre-FTL Machine Age civilization was discovered on Salluria IV, the Raxycodium. Chancellor Valorum resolved to reach out to the Raxycodium when possible, and enlighten them so that they could become full members of the Republic.

Valorum narrowly lost re-election to Hassan Ibrahim, who claimed victory due to the powerful support of the Conclave of the Force, but out of respect for the former Chancellor, Ibrahim continued many of his polices. As for Valorum, he became the highly-respected governor of the Coruscant Sector.

Eventually, enough First League artifacts were discovered to pinpoint the location of its former headquarters, Fen Habbanis III. It was nearby Empress Teta, and both of them lay within the Coruscant sector, undeniable proof that it had once bene one of the most highly-developed and prosperous regions of the galaxy.

New contacts were soon made. The Chinorr Combine were another powerful megacorporation based in the Inner Rim, primarily focused on prospecting and heavy industry, though they also had a very strong technological base, significantly ahead of other known star nations. They were considerably more ruthless than the Orbisur, but they were still amenable to mutual trade with the Republic.

Additionally, to the Galactic South, there was the avian Tezekian Coalition, led by a military junta. Relations between the Tezekians and Orbis Customer Synergies quickly soured due to opposing ideologies and border friction, and the Tezekians soon thereafter declared the Orbisur their rivals.

( I forgot to get a screenshot of first contact with the Tezekians, but they have the same portrait as the preset Kilik Cooperative).

The Republic, reforming its government following the rise of several powerful Merchant Guilds within its Senate (Parliamentary System), had shortly beforehand founded a Trade League with the Orbisur, which would lay the foundations for a broader Galactic Republic, with the Republic Core as its leader. However, this would draw the Republic into War against the Tezekian Coalition.

The Ymorz Enlightened Kingdom had also been discovered around this time, also a nation stretching along the Core. As they were considerably more powerful than the Republic, and it could not afford a war with them, envoys were sent to maintain good relations with the hydra-like Ymorz.

While Chancellor Ibrahim had begun building a small fleet for patrolling trade routes, it was utterly inadequate next to the size of the Tezekian navy. As there was no chance of defeating the Tezekians in open battle, the Chancellor instead decided to focus on further fortifying the Anaxes Station with defense platforms and massing what naval forces the Republic had there. As long as Anaxes was defended, the Tezekians could not invade core Republic territory. The Orbisur would be forced to bear the brunt of the Tezekian assault, though the Republic would continue to support its war effort through trade.

While the Republic was continuing to ready its defenses, an archaeological site was discovered on the ocean world of Bestine, in the Colonies. Excavation would eventually reveal the relic known as the Blade of the Huntress, though that would not be until several years later.

Under increasing pressure to accelerate the pace of the Republic's military buildup, Chancellor Ibrahim switched the Republic onto a war economy, relying on trade with Orbis Customer Synergies to supply the consumer goods that the population needed.

Contact was made with two more star nations, located within the Inner Rim, though on in the Galactic East. They were too far away to be immediately diplomatically relevant in the war, and the Republic lacked envoys to spare at the time. While every effort was made to establish positive relations with them, and at first such efforts were successful, this would have lasting repercussions.

Still intensely dissatisfied with the Chancellor's prosecution of the war effort, Scientist Lutendo Azikiwe formed the militaristic Patriotic Vanguard and announced his candidacy for Chancellor in the next election, though it was still years away.

The arrival of the carvaneers of the Numistic Order and the Vengralian Trim offered new economic opportunities for the Republic.

But none of it could stave off inevitable defeat. Fortunately, the Tezekians had simply set out to humiliate Orbis Customer Synergies, so their territorial integrity remained essentially intact. The Republic Core itself had avoided any territorial incursions by the Tezekians, and the Chancellor pointed to this as the success of his strategy, but very few in the Republic were satisfied. While their own government hadn't been forced to sign humiliating terms, their pride had been wounded just as much, if not more than the Orbisur.

They were resolved to ensure that the Republic would never be so vulnerable again.

 

[Arithmetician]

 

[Arithmetician]

In 2232, contact was made with several nations in the Galactic East. It was not a particularly friendly place, home to the slaving Tyznn Empire and Xanid Suzerainty, along with the Tebrid Homlog, machines driven to assimilate all organic species into their collective. To the Republic's dismay, the Ymorz soon signed a defensive pact with the Suzerainty, but diplomats remained hopeful that they could turn the Ymorz to the Republic's way of thinking, given enough time. In any case, the Ymorz were still far too powerful for the Republic to risk anything but positive relations with them.

Later that year, contact was made with the Glebsig Progenitors to the Galactic North, an ancient and unimaginably powerful "fallen" empire. Curiously, they looked identical the Curators. Could the Curators have been an offshoot of the Glebsig, or was it merely a case of convergent evolution at work?

Research into Psionic Theory following the study of Ahch-To's seas bore fruit, and previously latent force-sensitivity began to manifest itself in the Republic's population on a scale never seen before. The Jedi soon found themselves with plenty of new padawans to train.

With militarist sentiment still running high after the Republic's loss in the war against the Tezekians, Lutendo Azikiwe won election to the office of Supreme Chancellor in 2235, and continued to passionately advocate for further militarization to defend against unfriendly star nations. Three years later, these efforts would bear fruit, with the Republic officially amending its Constitution to embrace core militarist tenets. Some worried that the move came at the expense of the Egalitarian foundations of the Republic, especially social programs, though Chancellor Azikiwe argued that the Republic could not afford frivolous expenditures on utopian projects when enemies were at the gates. Nonetheless, in spite of the critic's fears, the Republic maintained a very high standard of civil liberties, which was essentially unchanged in spite of the constitutional change.

More contacts were made. First, there was the genocidal Prikiki-Ti, in the Galactic south.

Then, the enlightenment of the inhabitants of Salluria IV was completed.

"The Raxycodium Union is at your disposal, Chancellor."

Many were dismayed that the Raxycodium had formed a totalitarian regime in spite of the Republic's guidance, but their loyalty could not be denied.

The Jakly Archivists, another Fallen Empire, were soon thereafter discovered to the Galactic West. They lived on a sprawling ecumenopolis, similar to Coruscant in its prime, but vastly more advanced. They seemed a bit miffed when the Glebsig were brought up, but refused to elaborate further, and were generally dismissive of the Republic.

Around this time, the Xanid Suzerainty and the Tebrid Homlog went to war with each other, leading to a slow but steady trickle of refugees making their way to Republic space. But the war was distant, and something else received far more attention in Republic media...

Unusual protests began on Empress Teta, soon coalescing into a new faction led by Sonia Dragomirova, absorbing the membership of her former egalitarian faction. Calling themselves the Manifesti Weave, they began issuing various illogical demands to the government, and generally causing significant unrest throughout the Republic Core.

No one could explain the origins of the Manifesti... but unknown to the Republic, an insidious nemesis lurked in the shadows.

"You have done well, Scientist Dragomirova," the hooded figure in the hologram said in a raspy voice. "I trust you enjoyed the art that I supplied for the Manifesti."

"I have indeed. I am most grateful for your support, Lord Jefferius. I feel the Republic has been losing its way as of late. This will bring much-needed joy to the people."

"And power to yourself. Already, the Manifesti have swelled to become the equal of any other faction."

"You know much, Lord Jefferius. I pray that soon we shall be able to bring the change that the Republic needs."

"Patience, Scienist. Change will come to the Republic, and more than you can realize. I trust you can handle the movement in the meantime."

"Are you going somewhere, Lord Jefferius?"

"There has been a great disturbance in the Force," the hooded figure replied. "As such, there is business that I must conduct elsewhere for some time. But do not fear. I know how to find you should the need arise."

"Yes, Lord Jefferius."

With that, the transmission ended.

(Credit to

https://www.reddit.com/r/Stellaris/comments/mi4j5o

as the original source of Lord "Jeff"'s picture above).

 

[Arithmetician]

Corellia was found to be home to a Dimensional Portal, connecting to the mysterious "Null Void". In addition to providing a small but steady supply of exotic dark matter for research, it lead to the development of the "Null Void Beam", which excelled at dissipating energy shields.

Chancellor Azikiwe made a mutually beneficial deal with the Vengralian Trium, which promised to greatly increase the Republic's trade value and offset the ballooning budget deficit brought about by his expansion of the military. However, he was vigorously attacked over the deal by Scientist Sonia Dragomirova, who charged that he had effectively sold Republic citizens into slavery.

With public opinion turning against Azikiwe and the support of the Manifesti Weave behind her, Dragomirova handily defeated him in the 2245 election.

"Allow me to offer my congratulations on your election, Chancellor Dragomirova."

"Thank you. All is as you predicted, Lord Jefferius."

"It was a small matter. Yet this is but a first step. I foresee the creation of a 'Galactic Community', with the Republic at its core; a Community that shall bring peace, freedom, justice, and security to every corner of the galaxy."

"Such a thing will truly come to pass, Lord Jefferius? It almost sounds too good to be true."

"It shall... if you choose to make it so."

"Then I will bring this Community into reality, Lord Jefferius."

"Goooood...." The hooded figure chuckled. "Continue to explore the outlying star systems, Chancellor, and you shall find others who would join you in establishing this Community."

"We will greet them with open arms."

 

[Arithmetician]

Contact was soon established with the ancient Cydran Continuity. It was decided that it was best to avoid antagonizing such a powerful and erratic ancient empire.

The Cydran were the north to the Colonies, beyond a newly-charted but as of yet unclaimed sector of space, positioned almost as if to serve as a buffer between the Jakly Archivists and the Glebsig Progenitors. Also, in the Gamma Draconis system, between the Republic Core and the Ymorz Englghtened Kingdom, lurked the enormous Tiyanki Matriarch. Like the Fallen Empires, the Republic would leave it well enough alone for the time being.

Ironically, Ammar Ishak would be one of the earliest leaders of the Republic outside of the Jedi to be proven to be Force-sensitive. The materialist leader firmly insisted that his new abilities were merely a scientific phenomena that required greater study, rather than being supernatural.

A large band of marauders was found occupying several large space stations to the Galactic north of Republic space, though thankfully they were too busy fighting Doctrinal Wars against each other most of the time to turn their powerful fleets against the Republic. Nonetheless, their presence cut off a potential avenue for the Republic's expansion.

Contact was made with another Fallen Empire, through communications exchanged with the Republic's southern contacts. The Mirovandians were far more unfriendly than the other Fallen Empires and demanded that all other star nations respect a buffer zone around their space, or be met with extreme prejudice.

The unclaimed sector to the south of the Cydran was discovered to be rich in rare strategic resources, including the newly-discovered Living Metal, so the Republic made plans to lay claim to the sector and colonize its worlds as soon as possible.

More contacts soon came in from the Galactic south. The Wacegi were a slug-like species that lived in symbiosis with a molluscoid species from their tropical homeworld. The slugs granted their molluscoid hosts sufficient intelligence to build a spacefaring civilization, and their hosts granted the slugs bodies capable of using complex tools, but much of the molluscoid's willpower was suboordinated to the slugs possessing them. The slugs were distrustful of outsiders, and regularly directed their hosts to conduct raids on neighboring worlds, seeking to pillage them for resources and slave labor. Fortunately, the slugs' particular biology meant that they were only compatible with their chosen molluscoid hosts and could not possess members of other species.

The Blorg, in spite of their appearance, were far friendlier than the Wacegi - perhaps fanatically so, though they weren't afraid to use their military in pursuit of making the whole galaxy their friends. Yet there was a certain naïveté to the Blorg as well, and they were all too happy to make diplomatic agreements with anyone who approached them.

The map above shows the locations of the Vestige, the Blorg, and Wacegi in the Galactic South, along with the Prikiki-Ti. Also, around this time, the Chinorr Combine formally joined the Galactic Republic as a federal ally of the Republic Core, bringing to bear a powerful economy and a large, technologically advanced fleet that would be an important counterpoint against potential Tezekian aggression. Meanwhile, plans were underway to offer Association Status to the Ymorz, which would be officially accepted two years later.

These contacts soon led to several others. The Scyldari were pacifists from the oceanic planet of Scyldaria, and took care to protect their homeworld's delicate ecosystem. Unfortunately for the Scyldari, their world was just a few hyperlane jumps away from Gish, the home of the genocidal Prikiki-Ti, making conflict between them inevitable.

The Lokken Mechanists occupied a group of star systems bordering the core, directly opposite of the Republic's territory. They had a democratic government, but were even more strongly dedicated to the advancement of the sciences.

Curiously, straddling the boundary between the Inner and Outer Rims, but otherwise in proximity to the Lokken were the Rethellians, who looked identical to the Lokken, but were adapted to much cooler climates. They also shared the Lokken's dedication to the sciences, and were broadly egalitarian in outlook as well, though Rethellian political power was more highly concentrated in a committee composed of their best scientific minds, whereas scientists had more of an advisory, but nonetheless highly influential, role for the Lokken. Perhaps this difference in political organization arose from the fact that the Rethellians were more docile than their Lokken counterparts, and thus more accepting of doing what others told them.

A few more racist members of Lokken society held that the Lokken were clearly the superior of the two, having and aptitude for engineering and quickly picking up new talents that the Rethellians seemed to lack, while others more patronizingly viewed the Rethellians as the Lokken's poorer cousins, yet in their own way wished to bring their peoples together. In any case, while no official records could be found on either side in support of the theory, the galaxy as a whole widely believed that either the Rethellians were a splinter group of the Lokken, or vice versa. Their similarities seemed too strong for it to be mere coincidence.

A few days later, communication was established with the Eruxo Watchers, who bordered the core, inward of Blorg space. They were adamant that none set foot on their outlying Holy Worlds without permission.

Chancellor Dragomirova set forth an ambitious proposal to unite the nations of the galaxy into an overarching "Galactic Community", where matters of galactic importance could be decided on, in the interest of promoting peace, freedom, justice and security throughout the galaxy. The proposal was enthusiastically supported, and the Galactic Community was born.

The formation of the Galactic Community also brought the Republic into contact with the shady Hazbuzan Syndicate, who operated a star-spanning criminal enterprises from the Outer Rim world of Zumaka. They were situated between the Rethellians and the Xanids.

Lastly, the formation of the Community also led to the establishment of contact with the Artisan Troupe, led by Mynach Konning, their Headmaster. Konning quickly established a public friendship with Chancellor Dragomirova, and his work brought significant inspiration to the quirky, artistically-inclined members of the Manifesti Weave. The Chancellor informally appointed Konning as her Special Advisor for Culture and the Arts, and commissioned him to design a number of art monuments, which were soon exhibited on major Republic worlds, including Coruscant, Fen Habbanis, and Empress Teta.

It seemed that a new age had dawned on the galaxy.

But sadly, peace was not to last.

 

[Arithmetician]

Somewhere on Tezek...

"The Republic has grown arrogant," the hooded hologram said to the assembled Tezekian commanders. "They waste their time on frivolities, debating nonsense such as Alluvio-Liberalism, and Personal Autonomy for Munitions. As is according to my design. Now, it is the time to strike."

"What of the Chinorr, Lord Jefferius?" one of the Tezekians asked. "They could open a second front against us."

"The Chinorr Fleet is sizable, but yours is still greater than any the Republic's little band of friends can put together. Wipe out the Chinorr quickly, and the others will fall in turn. They will be no match for you. "

The Tezekian bowed. "As you wish, Lord Jefferius."

And thus, once more, the Republic found itself at war.

 

[Arithmetician]

The combined navy of the Republic and its allies was more of a match for the Tezekians this time, largely thanks to the contributions of the Chinorr, but the enemy still had more ships. Thus, Chancellor Dragomirova decided that it would be best for the Republic Core to focus on fortifying its bastions and then building up its navy from behind the safety of those strongholds, while providing economic support to the Orbisur and Chinorr.

Needless to say, she was savaged by her opponents, who said that she was leaving the Republic's allies to die to save her own skin. Indeed, many thought she was more concerned with securing the Galactic Market nomination and bringing in investments to enrich herself than winning the war.

The Tezekian Navy moved swiftly, occupying system after system, with planetary invasion forces following right behind them. By three years into the war, the Tezekians were on the doorsteps of the Chinorr and Orbisur homewards, and yet the Chancellor still had made no commitment of forces to the front.

However, the Republic's scientists were working on a new weapon that they hoped could turn the tide of the war and serve as an answer to the Tezekian's cruisers, once it could be constructed in sufficient numbers, the Victory-class Star Destroyer. At 900 meters in length, it was the largest warship that the Republic had conceived to date, and armed with three powerful torpedo banks, several smaller laser batteries, and a medium null void beam to take out enemy shields. The warship's shields and armor were subpar compared to the Tezekian's, and considered by some further evidence of the Chancellor's misplaced priorities, but funding would soon be opened up to research superior defensive technologies.

Some purists from the Anaxes War College pointed out that the Victory was properly classified as a Cruiser, rather than a Destroyer, but the name "Star Destroyer" had already stuck, and would go on to be applied to other vessels developed from the Victory.

The Acclamator-class Assault Ship had also been developed concurrently to the Victory. It was smaller than the Victory, coming in at 752 meters, but still was considered a Cruiser. Originally, it had been intended to serve as a next-generation troop transport, but the Acclamator's large cargo space for its size had been hastily converted into hangars. Fighters were needed more to break the Tezekian advance at the moment, and the Acclamator would function as a carrier, bringing them far beyond the starbases that they had been previously confined to. Ground troops could come later.

Chancellor Dragomirova's ambition to bring the Galactic Market Nexus to Coruscant would eventually bear fruit, but not before her term had already expired, and the public remained intensely dissatisfied with her handling of the war effort. Tezekian fleets had occupied the space over both Chiconaph and Slephus, and it seemed that the Republic's allies were on the brink of utter collapse. Lutendo Azikiwe made a spirited bid to win back the Chancellorship, backed by the Militarist faction, who used all of their political capital to back him, confident that the public would yearn for his leadership once more in the midst of a war that had gone extremely poorly thus far. But the Vengralian Scandal still clung to him in the minds of the voters.

Instead, it was Tarsus Valorum who was elected once more to an office that he had not held in thirty-six years, on a platform of rebuilding the Republic's relationships with its allies by fully supporting them, and finding strength in a shared destiny together. He was replaced as Governor of the Coruscant Sector by Rashid Jamshidi, a gifted psychic, albeit one who had never been formally trained as a Jedi, as he been too old when his powers manifested, who was good friends with Azikiwe.

Chancellor Valorum faced an early diplomatic defeat, when the Ymorz decided to end their association with the Galactic Republic, still unconvinced in its worth as a partner after Dragomirova's mismanagement.

However, the sting of that loss was more than offset a few months later, when, acting as a mediator, Valorum helped the Chinorr. and Tezekians negotiate a ceasefire and subsequent peace agreement that would see the Tezekians withdraw from Chinorr and Orbisur space without pressing any claims against them.

While the Tezekian navy had held the upper hand throughout the war, it had become overextended in their admirals' relentless drive toward the Chinorr and Orbisur homeworlds, and its strength depleted in over repeated engagements, with the corporate navies using hit-and-run tactics to attack and destroy weaker Tezekian fleets that became separated from the main advance. The Tezekians had also suffered heavy losses on the ground while occupying Chinorr and Orbisur worlds, and were plagued by persistent insurgencies carried out by those worlds' inhabitants. Even the Tezekian military government had to ultimately bow the pressure of their public, which was exhausted of war, and had no appetite to see the costly occupations continue any longer.

The news of the end of the war was met with spontaneous celebrations across the liberated worlds, and even back on Coruscant, it felt like the dawn of a new, optimistic, and hopeful era.

Yet the shadow cast by the Republic's unseen nemesis hadn't faded in the slightest...

Amid a vast, abandoned, burned-out industrial sector in the ruins of Fen Habbanis, made unstable by a massive crevice cutting across the area, there was the remains of a towering foundry arcology.

It was here that Darth Jefferius had made his home away from home while he covertly carried out the Grand Plan from within the Republic itself. The arcology lacked the creature comforts and artistic beauty of the space station that he normally called home, but it still suited the Dark Lord. There would always be time for redecorating later, but for now it was a cruel and forbidding place... perfect for training his apprentice

"Gooood..." the Dark Lord said, voicing his approval as his apprentice swiftly cut down the hunter-killer droids, reprogrammed drones of Tebridean make, that surrounded her. "Your hatred makes you powerful."

Indeed, he had never seen one so talented. The disturbance in the force that he had felt fifteen years ago had led him to her, on a remote world bordering the Outer Rim.

"My hatred is all I have left, Master," she said as she deactivated her red lightsaber.

"That, and the Grand Plan," the Dark Lord replied. "I took you in, and showed you your destiny as a Sith. Repeat the Code."

"Peace is a lie. There is only Passion.
Through Passion I gain Strength.
Through Strength I gain Power.
Through Power I gain Victory.
Through Victory my chains are Broken.
The Force shall free me."

"Excellent. Of course, the Code bears special meaning for you, who was but a slave when I found you." He cackled wickedly. "Then again, you had already taken the first step toward your own liberation. You had reached out with the Force and crushed your former owner's thorax. You even murdered his entire family, at such a sweet, tender age, but your power lacked focus!"

His apprentice glared at him.

"Yes... I feel your anger," the Dark Lord grotesquely smiled. "But now, it is time for another part of your education. Hostilities have recently ceased between the Tezekian Coalition and the Republic. Tell me: is this development good for the Plan or not?"

"It is good for the Plan," his apprentice said without hesitation. "The Tezekians were never meant to destroy the Republic, merely to frighten its people, and ensure that it continues to develop into a military power."

"And you believe that Valorum will build up the Republic's military? Consider, he was the one who once disbanded their navy during his first term in office."

"He has learned from that mistake; peace is a lie. Only through strength can one find security in this galaxy."

"Would not Azikiwe have been better for the Plan?"

"The end result is still the same; the next Chancellor would oversee a major expansion of the Republic's navy."

"And what of Dragomirova?"

"She has served her purpose, and cannot betray you without exposing her own complicity."

Darth Jefferius laughed. "Very good, my young apprentice."

 

[Arithmetician]

Chancellor Valorum continued to cement his legacy as one of the Republic's greatest chancellors by his government reforms, most notably restoring the Diplomatic Corps to prominence as the Republic continued to expand its influence in the Galactic Community. The Senate also proclaimed that Valorum would be known as the Republic's first Supreme Chancellor, reflecting the increased prominence of the position on the galactic stage, a title that would also be held by all those elected to the office after him.

While Chancellor Dragomirova had been out of power for several years, a number of her administration members stayed on through the Valorum Administration, including Special Advisor Mynach Konning, Headmaster of the Artisan Troupe. In spite of his appearance, the necroid was found by Republic elites to be surprisingly charismatic, and became very well-respected for his artistic and humanitarian work. In doing so, Konning came to hold significant sway even outside of his official capacity. It wasn't unusual to see him meeting with politicians at the opera, or rubbing shoulders with dignitaries at high society functions.

Meanwhile, the Republic was starting to make several breakthroughs in genetics, spurred on by the discovery of an alien box containing several advanced gene modification serums. Although only one could be successfully synthesized before breaking down outside of their container, it increased the average lifespan of humanity by granting it limited ability to regenerate damaged limbs and organs.

Research into Cloning began soon thereafter.

Another landmark of Valorum's Supreme Chancellorship was the formal integration of the Raxycodians of Salluria IV into the Republic Core. Overnight, Salluria IV became the second-most populated world in the Core, accounting for 17.2% of its population, making it a highly wealthy and influential world.

Many of the Raxycodians still had pro-authoritarian leanings, and they were determined to obtain representation for these views in the Senate. With the backing of a sympathetic human scientist, Yuan Zhang, they founded the Authoritarian Coalition. Publicly, they expressed nothing but gratitude for being allowed to join the Republic Core as an equal member state, but they argued that even more powers should be centralized in the office of the Supreme Chancellor, including more direct command over the military. The navy in particular had already increased in size by 74% since the start of Valorum's term, and the Authoritarian Coalition claimed that a single strong leader was better suited to directing such a force than committees of self-interested politicians. Most however, thought that this sounded awfully like a dictatorship, and while the Authoritarian Coalition would invariably win a few seats in the senate, it remained very much a minority faction.

"I have returned, Master," a female voice said, bowing to the tall, dark-robed figure before her.

"Welcome, home, my apprentice," Darth Jefferius replied. "Rise, Darth Vidia."

The Dark Lady of the Sith did as she was bade, and took her place at her Master's side and they stood by a balcony, looking out to the skyline of Fen Habbanis.

"You have done well, Lady Vidia," Darth Jefferius. "With you as my apprentice, we can at last begin to carry out the final stages of the Grand Plan."

"At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi," Darth Vidia said. "At last we shall have our revenge."

"Patience, my apprentice," the Dark Lord replied. "The Jedi must be discredited, and the Republic brought down from within. Only then can our Galactic Imperium, a Sith Empire, rise in its place."

"Of course, my Master," Darth Vidia nodded.

"I have already begun the process of corrupting the Senate and the Republic's institutions with it," Darth Jefferius continued. "But you... you have served me well as an assassin and my instrument, Darth Vidia, but you are destined for far greater things, and now you must join me in infiltrating the Republic's halls of power. Only together can we destroy the Jedi and the Republic."

"I understand, Master," Darth Vidia replied. "We should embroil the Republic in wars without end. Each victory will transform the Republic ever more into our Imperium. Eventually, exhausted by the fighting, they will turn to a hero to bring peace, freedom, justice, and security to the galaxy once more, entrusting them with extraordinary powers. And needless to say, the Jedi will be too few in number to wage these wars for the Republic. They will need an army. Our army. That is your plan, is it not, Master?"

Darth Jefferius felt a trembling in the Force. The Grand Plan had followed much the same basic outline that his apprentice had just described, but, seemingly without realizing it, she had elaborated upon it, adding not one but two diabolical masterstrokes of her own. The Jedi would most surely fall if they followed his apprentice's version of the plan, and even sooner than he had dared hope for.

"Yes," Darth Jefferius lied. "That is the Grand Plan that I have been orchestrating for all of these years. But you must be wary, my apprentice. Let the Jedi sense no hint of your true potential."

"The Dark Side will cloud their vision. They will suspect nothing until it is too late."

 

[Arithmetician]

 

[Arithmetician]

The Orbis and the Chinorr, formerly led astray by materialism, soon came to see the wisdom in listening for the will of the Force, and became increasingly spiritualist as their bonds to the Republic grew ever stronger. Subsequently, it was decided that leadership of the Galactic Republic's federal fleet would be determined by the nation who could triumph over the others in a Psionic Battle, to be held on Coruscant. Somewhat embarrassingly, only the Republic Core would have enough Force-sensitives to actually qualify for the contest, leading it to win by default.

Ongoing wars waged by the genocidal Prikkiki-Ti sent streams of Scyldari and Tebir refugees into Republic space, the latter of which contributed to a diaspora, started by the Xani, which would see the Tebir become the most widely-scattered species in the galaxy.

The initial wave of Scyldari refugees was prompted by the Prikkiki-Ti's capture of the Scyldari homeward of Scyldaria early in the war. and the subsequent purge that began against its population. However, much of the Scyldari government managed to escape the fall of their home, and relocated to establish a government-in-exile on a cold planet in the Rotanev System, located in the Outer Rim. It was a far cry from their temperate, oceanic world, but from here they began to plan a counterattack against the Prikkiki-Ti.

Continuing to expand, the Republic Core began pushing into systems occupied by automated mining drones, notably the Il-Ya System in 2265. This battle also saw the first deployment of the Amoeba Flagella from their Acclamator motherships, which would see widespread service in the Republic Navy for several decades. Many trainers would grow quite close to the Amoebas that they raised.

The battle was also the first major fleet action seen by then Lieutenant Eerabik, who served aboard one of the Acclamators in the battle, a placement she had earned for the high aptitude that she demonstrated at the Republic's Corellian Fleet Academy. At the time of the battle, Eerabik was 24 years old, still far too young for an admiral position, but she quickly established herself to have an unyielding, if belligerent spirit, though thankfully her aggression was directed against the Republic's foes. Soon after the battle, she was recommended to receive command of her own vessel, a Victory-class Star Destroyer, as its Captain.

Surprisingly little was known about the promising Captain Eerabik. What was known was that she was a naturalized Republic citizen of Fen Habbanis, a member of the avian Ozkox species. While the Ozkox appeared to have first evolved on an oceanic world, only a tiny population existed within Republic space, who had come to it as refugees. They had been members of a pre-FTL society that had been invaded by the Tebrid Homolog, and seen their homeworld renamed Robitron by the invaders. Miraculously, the planet had been 'liberated' by another spacefaring nation before the Homolog could cybernetically assimilate its population into their collective... only for their "liberators" to turn out to be the Xanid Suzerainty, who promptly enslaved Robitron's entire population.

Eerabik had been born after the initial conquest of her homeworld, so she had adapted far better to space-age technology and starships than most of her fellow refugees, though the hated Xanid overlords had still tried to restrict the Ozkox's access to advanced technology to the extent possible, to better keep them in a state of ignorance. She was also still a child when a band of her people managed to escape from slavery and make their way to Republic space, but given the haste of the departure, none of the refugees had much in the way of verifiable personal records to bring with them, just rapidly dwindling supplies and the clothes on their back.

Still, they had been welcomed to Republic space, and many in Fen Habbanis' small Ozkox community looked up to Eerabik as the brightest star of a new generation, who might one day reclaim their home, as an equal member world of the Republic.

A new round of colonization began when a multitude of habitable planets were discovered in the Inner Rim, beyond the Ancient Caretakers. The Chergamore System had a world exceptionally rich in minerals, and the Fujeau System offered three bitterly cold but still colonizable worlds.

Chancellor Valorum would also, at long last, begin the massive undertaking of restoring Coruscant's planet-wide city to its former glory.

A strange machine tore open a wormhole in the Empress Teta System, which was soon discovered to lead directly into space controlled by the Jakly Archivists. Some feared that it exposed one of the Republic Core's major urban worlds to invasion, though thankfully the Jakly continued to show little interest in anything that the Republic did for the moment.

After years of fighting, the Scyldari managed to retake their homeworld, while Blorg allies captured the Prikkiki-Ti homeworld of Gish, bringing an end to a war that had cost many lives. However, the Scyldari government would remain in the Rotanev System, considering it far more defensible.

The Tebrid Homolog fell months later.

Two galactic threats had been vanquished, but the Chancellor knew that he couldn't rest on his laurels. Thus, earlier the year before, the Venator-class Star Destroyer had gone into production at the shipyards of Corellia. A carrier first and foremost, yet sturdy enough and sufficiently well-armed to double as a battleship, the Venator was hailed as a top-of-the-line peacekeeping vessel.

Attending the launch ceremony alongside several of the Chancellor's other advisors, a few astute observers couldn't help but notice Artisan Headmaster Mynach Konning's lips curl into small smile. When asked if he had a comment, Konning hailed the Venator as a triumph of functional yet elegant design, and said that the galaxy would be a more peaceful and secure place under their watch.

The need for a powerful fleet was only emphasized as the Xanid Suzerainty formed its own federation with the Hazbuzan Syndicate. Styling itself as the Federal Civilized Worlds, it was anything but, for slavery continued to be rampant on the worlds controlled by the Suzerainty, and the Hazbuzan Syndicate spread criminal enterprises across the galaxy, destabilizing many worlds in the process.

It was also clear that they intended to set themselves up as a counterpoint to the Republic's growing influence. Yet they were on the other side of the galaxy, too far away for either side to wage an effective military campaign against the other. And so they entered into a state of Cold War. Appearances were kept up, and both sides nominally tried to appear cordial to each other, but neither truly trusted the other, and would carefully monitor the other's actions through the use of spy networks.

 

[Arithmetician]

While Valorum had been a very popular and successful Supreme Chancellor, who had led the Republic through an era of prosperity and increased prestige, the Conclave of the Force had also grown in strength during his tenure, and he was narrowly defeated by Hassan Ibrahim, staging his own return to executive power.

Eleven months after Ibrahim's election, research into Gene Banks was finished by Republic scientists. At the urging of his advisors, and foreseeing the need for a large standing forces should conflict break out, Ibrahim awarded contracts to grow clone armies in top-secret facilities, though production would be low at first.

Outside of the Republic, the Galaxy continued to be a violent place. The Assembly of Pelisimus States declared war on the Ymorz Englighted Kingdom, seeking to seize a number of systems along their border. Two years later, the Scyldari Confederacy would declare war on the Wacegi Cabal, seeking to put a stop to their raiding.

In the meantime, Bao Shen, an expert in Voidcraft and Force-Sensitive was hired, soon coming to lead many of the Republic's engineering projects.

Contact with two more primitive civilizations was soon established, the Vhellet of Bapagia II in the Inner Rim, and a subterranean civilization that lived beneath a Republic colony on the moon Bespin Minor. The Vhellet was seen as good candidates for technological enlightenment, which would begin soon after the Republic established a starbase in their system.

Continuing a process that had begun under the second Valorum Administration, executive power became increasingly concentrated in the office of the Supreme Chancellor. With a Senate that was increasingly mired in procedure and corruption, a vigorous executive was often the only way to get anything done in a timely fashion.

With the Republic Core becoming increasingly difficult to manage and bogged down in red tape, Chancellor Ibrahim began an experiment in which the Rothana Sector was granted an unprecedented degree of self-governance. It was still a member of the Republic, but it was thought that such autonomy could spur a much greater rater of economic growth than would be possible within the bureaucracy of the Core.

Chancellor Ibrahim's popularity continued to grow when he stood up to the Jakly Archivist's not-so-subtle attempts to bully the Republic Core. The Jakly did not engage in any immediate acts of retribution, but they made clear that they would not soon forget the slight.

After nearly four years of conflict, the Ymorz ceded nine star systems to the Assembly of Pelisimus States. While open hostilities had come to an end, the Ymorz resented their defeat, and began looking for allies against future Pelisimus aggression. In turn, relations between the Ymorz and the Republic began to improve once again.

Hoping to put an end to such needlessly destructive conquests, the Republic Core proposed the formation of a Galactic Council, to be given increased authority over the Galactic Community in the interest of maintaining the peace. The resolution was strongly supported, though the Wacegi, Xani, Hazbuzi, and Tyznn, all notorious for their sapient rights abuses, refused to support the Council's creation.

However, a problem quickly emerged. The two other star nations who were likely to emerge victorious in Council elections were the Keepers of Ave'Brenn and the Tezekian Coalition. The Tezekians were already known as warmongers, and were bitter rivals of the Republic, and relations with the Keepers of Ave'Brenn had also been deteriorating for some time, to the point that they had barred Republic vessels from traveling through their space.

The Galactic Council, which many had seen as a beacon of hope for the galaxy, had rapidly turned into a recipe for disaster.

"Everything proceeds as we have planned, Master," Darth Vidia said as she strolled along the balcony of Darth Jefferius' hideout on Fen Habbanis.

"Indeed, it does, my apprentice," Darth Jefferius replied. "You have done well. Not only have you remained unnoticed by the Jedi as you slowly gather power for us within the Republic, but the way that you started that war between the Pelisimus and Ymorz on my behalf only further proves your worth."

"Thank you, Master. It is truly a honor to receive such praise from you. Though I cannot help but notice that you have been delegating more and more of the Grand Plan's execution to me recently. Has something else been troubling you?"

"It is hardly something that I would call troubling. Having such a capable apprentice has freed me to have more time for my research than I have had in decades."

"You have not spoken of this before, Master."

"My results are merely preliminary, and I did not want to share them prematurely. But I believe that I may soon be on the verge of a breakthrough. Through the skilled manipulation of midi-chlorians, it may be possible to prolong... or even create life."

"Thus offering a route to immortality," Darth Vidia supplied.

"My strength in the Dark Side is great, yet this body still has its limits. Only by surpassing them can we truly claim victory. Once I have uncovered the secret, I will teach it you, Darth Vidia, and then we shall rule the galaxy together... forever. I could not hope to find an apprentice more skilled than you."

"I look forward to that day... Master."

 

[Arithmetician]

In late 2277, the project to restore Coruscant to its former glory was finally completed, making it once again the shining jewel of the Republic. Around the same time, the Tezekians began to display their previously latent psionic potential.

A few months later, Chancellor Ibrahim established the Bureau of Espionage, to better protect the Republic against the scheming of its rivals.

He went on to win re-election on the basis, based on the strong approval of the Conclave of the Force.

Soon afterward, Bao Shen invented a revolutionary new space superiority fighter for the Republic, the ARC-170. It would largely render the Amoeba Flagella that had long been used on Republic vessels obsolete, and many were sad to see them go, though the Flagella would continue to be used on older vessels, particularly in the federal fleet, for quite some time.

Scientist and ex-Chancellor Dragomirova desperately tried to make herself relevant again, by reinventing herself as the leader of the newly-founded Human Supremacy Vanguard, now shrilly warning that aliens, or as she called them, "xenos" such as Headmaster Konning were not to be trusted, but few took her wild accusations seriously, or as more than mere conspiracy theorist nonsense. She also staunchly opposed the formation of the Galactic Council, and called for its elections to be cancelled.

A mere two months later, the Galactic Council was formally seated anyway, not that she could have done anything to legally affect the outcome at that point.

2282 saw the Republic carry out police action against pirates that had set up a base in the Daarasta System.

Captain Eerabik distinguished herself as she led her Victory-class Star Destroyer against the pirates, and some time after the battle, she was promoted, becoming Admiral Eerabik, as the Republic's fleets were constantly growing, and with it, the need for new admirals.

Seeing one last chance to distinguish herself, Sonia Dragomirova volunteered to lead the expedition into the mysterious L-Cluster when its secrets were unlocked. Some cynics thought that she was allowed to go on the mission because her political opponents were hoping that she would get herself killed.

However, if there was any truth to such a plot, its conspirators were to be sorely disappointed. A mysterious and reclusive, but otherwise friendly civilization calling itself the Dessanu Consonance inhabited the L-Cluster. They welcomed the Republic and offered it free access to the cluster, provided that it refrained from asking too much about Dessanu technology, and stayed out of a certain restricted star system.

There were many who were suspicious of the Dessanu's motives and generosity, especially when they shared the secrets of Living Metal with the Republic, but few wanted to cut off the flow of riches that the Dessanu bestowed upon the Republic.

After twelve yers of war, the Wacegi Cabal surrendered to the Scyldari, and agreed to adopt their form of government, becoming the Wacegi Galactic Polity.

At the same time, the Republic had begun to explore the Outer Rim in earnest, finding several systems rich with strategic resources.

Shu Mao, long-time leader of the Free Thought Committee, died at the age of 124, and was replaced by Scientist Elena Del Grosso. Among others, Del Grosso was supported by Admiral Eerabik, an active member of the Committee's Fen Habbanis chapter.

In early 2287, both the Ymorz Enlightened Kingdom, Blorg Commmonality, and the Lokken Mechanists joined the Galactic Republic in short succession of each other, a tremendous diplomatic coup for Supreme Chancellor Ibrahim. At this point, the Republic almost completely encircled the Galactic Core, save for the Eruxo Watchers and the Tyznn Empire, which, to the frustration of Galactic Cartographers, used the same colors as the Republic Core.

The so-called Federal Civilized Worlds had failed to expand its membership beyond its founding nations, though many had thought that the Tyznn, as fellow slavers, would have been a natural ally for them. Moreover, the Tezekians and Khennet, while individually powerful, had no committed allies of their own. As such, it was undeniably that the Galactic Republic, led by the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic Core, was now the most powerful polity in the galaxy.

Knowing this, it was little surprise that the Ymorz immediately began pushing for a campaign to seize back the territory that it had lost to the Pelisimus. The Supreme Chancellor was privately reluctant about going to war, as it would be the Republic's first war of aggression, and the Assembly was another democracy. He sensed that the Republic would be fundamentally changed by the experience.

However, the Supreme Chancellor decided it was more important to support fellow members of the Republic, and on 2287.04.26, the Galactic Republic declared war against the Assembly of Pelisimus States.

Thus, for the first time, the Republic revealed and assembled its Clone Army on the parade grounds of Coruscant, before they boarded their transports to be deployed to the front.

Mynach Konning stood behind the Chancellor, joined by members of the Admiralty, including Eerabik, now 46, and number of assembled dignitaries, as they watched the Clone Army depart.

The mood on Coruscant was largely jubilant, with the people expecting an easy victory. But the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, whose members had been enlisted as generals in the conflict, did not share their sentiments.

"The shroud of the Dark Side has fallen. Begun, the Clone Wars have."

 

[Arithmetician]

(Sorry for the hiatus. Other things came up and diverted my attention from this for a while. But seeing my AAR be brought up on the forums has given me fresh encouragement to continue. )

The first two years of the war were relatively quiet for the Republic, as the Clone Army and Republic Navy made its way to the front. Most of the initial fighting occurred between the Ymorz and the Pelisimus. However, the passing of Tarsus Valorum brought a somber mood to many in the Republic. As one of the modern Republic's founders, and with a legacy as a great statesman from a more idealistic time, his death was seen as the end of an age.

With the Republic once again at war, public support of militarism was on the rise, leading Lutendo Azikiwe back into power as the Supreme Chancellor, after decades of being outside of executive office.

The first major space battle of the war that the Republic Core was involved in was the battle of Niamba, where Admiral Hiroto Ishii led strike Force Phoenix, consisting of a dozen Venator-class Star Destroyers, and a Victory-class Cruisers and two Nebulon B Frigates as escorts. The enemy fleet consisted of a much larger number of smaller ships, but their battleships and cruisers were armed with deadly Neutron launchers, allowing them to immediately inflict casualties on Strike Force Phoenix and take out several of its escorts.

The enemy ships rapidly closed the distance between them and Strike Force Phoenix, leading to slugging matches between them and the Venators, as they exchanged broadsides as point-blank range. With more powerful weapons and defenses than the smaller ships, the Venators tended to win these engagements, though a number suffered heavy damage when the enemy was able to evade their fire.

However, this bought time for squadrons of Clone pilots, deployed from the Venators, to do their job.

"Enemy capital ships, dead ahead. S-Foils in attack position. We're moving in for our attack run, Admiral."

Barrages of laser canons and proton torpedoes tore through enemy shields, while the Pelisimus battleships, without adequate point defense of their own, and with their Corvettes engaged against the Venators, had trouble targeting the Republic fighters.

Soon, the Republic's Venators and the Pelisimus battleships and cruisers had drawn close enough to each other to begin exchanging their own broadsides. One Pelisimus battleship even tried to ram a Venator.

The opposing capital ships tore into each other as they slugged it out. The Republic's Venators were not as heavily armed as the enemy battleships, with Proton Launchers instead of Neutrons Launchers, though they held their own, and the Republic would quickly reverse-engineer the technology from the wreckage of the Pelisimus ships.

Ultimately, the superior training of the clone pilots, the excellent design of the Venators, and the guidance of Admiral Ishii, a powerful Force-sensitive, allowed the Republic Core to claim a decisive victory, destroying a large majority of the enemy fleet assets in the system. However, Strike Force Phoenix had also lost most of its escorts, and a quarter of its Venators. Nonetheless, it was hailed as the Republic's first major fleet victory against another star nation.

The victory was broadcast over every Holo-Net Transceiver, doing much to bolster public support for the war and bringing a new and widespread sense patriotism to the Republic Core. In turn, the Supreme Chancellor found broad support to initiate a new round of constitutional reforms to better support the war effort.

"Admiral Ishii has won a great victory for us," the cloaked hologram of Darth Jefferius said.

"Yes, my Master," Darth Vidia replied. "The new amendments to the Constitution have strengthened the Republic's military-industrial complex to an unprecedented degree."

"Yes..." Darth Jefferius smiled. "I admit, it is a pity that there will be less time or interest in art, with greater focus being given to the military, but it is a necessary sacrifice to create our Galactic Imperium."

"Indeed, my Master."

"Excellent. I will leave the war in your capable talons, Darth Vidia. Take your fleet, and hunt down the Pelisimus Navy. Win glory for the Republic."

The Dark Lord let out a mocking laugh, one that Darth Vidia softly shared.

"I shall wipe them out," she replied. "All of them."

 

[Arithmetician]

In spite of the victory at Niamba, the war was not an unqualified series of successes for the Republic. Slipping past the Republic Navy, a Pelisimus fleet lay siege to the strategic Inner Rim world of Ydria Prime, along one of the key hyperplanes to access Pelisimus space. In turn, this demanded an immediate effort to break the siege.

Meanwhile, the Republic's Federal Navy was locked in a series of pitched battles with the Pelisimus fleet. While the Federal Navy enjoyed vast numerical superiority in most of its engagements, many of its ships were old, and it lacked significant numbers of Venators, with predominantly smaller ships that easily fell prey to Pelisimus Neutron Launchers.

While relief forces were en route to Ydria Prime, the Republic Core laid siege to the Pelisimus world of Thriving Green, a forge world producing alloys for the enemy war effort.

Clones, led by General Joaquin de la Guardia, and backed up by Jedi Knights, made short work of Thriving Green's defenses, and occupied the planet for the Republic.

Around this time, the Republic also finished uplifting the necroid Vhellet, who formed a megacorporation as a subject nation to the Republic. They immediately found themselves close to the front, but would be loyal supporters of the Republic's war effort.

The Clone Army soon thereafter launched an invasion of the larger and more populous planet of the Ridathi System, the Bureaucratic Center of Pollen Cloud.

After nearly two years of siege, Strike Force Centaur, under the command of Admiral Eerabik and Vice-Admiral Taruusch, arrived to relieve the defenders of Ydria Prime. Taruusch was a Tebir cyborg, but he got along well with Eerabik, as their people had both suffered under the machines of the now-deactivated Homolog.

It was an overwhelming victory, with seven corvettes, fifteen destroyers, five cruisers, and three battleships destroyed on the enemy side, with only seven enemy destroyers surviving. Meanwhile, Eerabik and Taruusch only lost five of their frigates and one Acclamator Assault ship in the battle.

Taking full command of the fleet, Admiral Eerabik led Strike Force Centaur into the Tiyana Vek system, seeking to reclaim it. Yet lurking amid the abundant gas clouds that the Tiyanki grazed upon, there was a much larger enemy fleet than the one they had just defeated at Ydria.

But there would be no turning back.

"Deploy fighters," Eerabik ordered.

"Admiral, this is Wyvern Leader," a pilot comm'd in. "I see enemy fighters coming in."

"Engage," Eerabik ordered.

Beams of light illuminated the nebula, a prelude to the carnage to come.

As the dogfight between Clone and Pelisimus star fighters raged, Eerabik led her personal Star Destroyer into the fray. The ship rocked as lasers impacted against its shields, but they held firm, just like the Admiral's unyielding will.

Following Eerabik's example, the other Venators of Strike Force Centaur brought up the line, unleashing barrages of fire from their main cannons that devastated the smaller Pelisimus ships.

One Venator was destroyed in the advance, along with both of Eerabik's cruisers and three of her escorts, but once again, Strike Force Centaur managed to inflict devastating losses on the Pelisimus. The 53-year old admiral was quickly hailed as the hero of the hour, making her a very popular figure throughout the Republic.

"You have done well, Lady Vidia," Darth Jefferius said over the hologram.

"The Pelisimus are on the run, Lord Jefferius. They will not last much longer now. Victory is at hand."

"Good, good. Though I wonder if you have been too efficient at dealing with their fleets."

"There will be other wars, Master. The Republic's success in this one will breed resentment in its allies when they do not share equally in the spoils. We shall exploit those cracks to embroil the Republic in conflict anew."

"Very well, Lady Vidia. I look forward to seeing them dance on your strings."

The hologram transmission ended.

"Decrepit fool," Darth Vidia sneered at where her 'Master's' image had been. "You will soon see who is the true Dark Lady of the Sith."

 

[Arithmetician]

The Republic Navy, and the Clone Army with it, continued to advance deeper into Pelisimus space. The last major fleet battle of the war took place in the Urrom System, home to Bears Fruit, a heavily-populated tropical world near the Pelisimus core. With the enemy fleet broken after the battle, all that remained was to advance on the enemy capital.

The Republic fleet laid siege to Pelisimus Primus with orbital bombardment, softening up its defenses, and shortly thereafter, the Clone Army descended to take the planet.

The Pelisimus surrendered after the fall of their capital, bringing an end to eight years and eight months of war. Early battles had tested the Republic with significant fleet losses, but its military technology had improved significantly over the course of the war, offering its capital ships greater survivability. The Republic Navy had seen a shift from smaller ships, which were liable to be destroyed in each encounter, to an almost complete focus on Star Destroyers, given how well the Venator had performed over the war. Smaller ships would of course persist in certain fleets, especially the federal navy, for some time, but new ones would not be built in significant numbers.

The Ymorz were the major beneficiary of the the peace treaty, reclaiming most of their previously lost territory and adding several core Pelisimus worlds, but the Republic took control of Pelisimus Primus itself, and the Lokken Mechanists also claimed two planets, connected to the rest of former Pelisimus space by a wormhole. But with so many systems and populated planets lost, the Assembly of Pelisimus States was clearly just a collection of rump states.

While the Pelisimus had long had animosity toward the Ymorz, they had grown to respect the Republic's martial prowess over the course of the war, and too weak to survive on their own in a hostile galaxy any longer, they agreed to become a client state of the Republic.

In a post-war reorganization, following the successful example of the Rothana Development Sector, the Anoat Sector was given increased autonomy as a vassal of the Republic core, allowing it to grow faster.

Two months later, the Interstellar Rethellian League also accepted vassalization by the Republic Core.

By now, it was clear to the Supreme Chancellor that the Republic Core was destined to become the preeminent diplomatic and military power of the galaxy.

Dying at the age of 121, of what was determined to be natural causes, Elena Del Grosso was succeeded by Admiral Eerabik as the leader of the Egalitarian Free Thought Committee. Or rather, Del Grosso was replaced by Senator Eerabik, as the admiral had won election to the Galactic Senate, riding on a wave of popularity following her victories in the Clone War, representing her adopted planet of Fen Habbanis there.

More and more star nations continued to align themselves with the Republic. The Tyznn Empire, while slaving autocrats, opened to diplomatic agreements with the Republic, which were made with the hope of eventually liberalizing their society, and the Scyldari Confederacy joined the Galactic Republic as an equal member state.

However, this was the last straw for the Chinorr, who distrusted the Scyldari due to their relatively friendly relations with the Tezekians, and resented that they had not benefitted more from the spoils of the Clone War. Further citing growing corruption within the Senate, they announced their intention to secede from the Republic, and then declared their holdings to be independent systems.

Chancellor Azikiwe appointed Senator Eerabik to negotiate with the Chinorr Separatists, and see if they could be peacefully brought back into the Republic.

The results were less than promising.

"Senator Eerabik, do you really think it will come to war?" Supreme Chancellor Azikiwe asked, with his right hand man, Governor Jamshidi, by his side.

"Regrettably, my negotiations have been fruitless," Eerabik replied, accompanied by members of the Loyalist Committee, which she also served on. "The Chinorr have dug in their heels, and will accept nothing less than a complete separation from the Republic."

"How did it come to this?" the Supreme Chancellor sighed. "The Chinorr were among our oldest allies."

"With all due respect, Chancellor, you cannot let this Republic that has stood for nearly a hundred years be split in two," Eerabik said firmly. "If the Chinorr are allowed to secede, more star systems will inevitably follow."

"I believe the Senator is correct," Governor Jamshidi said. "We must keep the outlying systems in line, lest our enemies will see weakness, and exploit it."

"That would be the worst case scenario," the Chancellor nodded. "The Navy is not large enough to patrol the entire Outer Rim, and should others break away or attack, we would be stretched dangerously thin."

"We need not apply force across the entire galaxy at once," Jamshidi countered. "We simply need overwhelming military force that can quickly and decisively be brought to bear against any separatists, making the price of rebellion too high for any to consider it."

"I can see why you never joined the Jedi," Eerabik said. "At times, they can be awfully narrow-minded, and while they acted as generals during the Clone War, they lacked any military background themselves. They cannot understand war like the rest of us do, and all too often refuse to use the most effective means of ending the conflict. But as for the problem of policing the Outer Rim, I may be able to offer a solution."

"What is that?" the Chancellor asked.

"Propose the creation of a Galactic Defense Force, to be contributed to by all members of the Community, to both counter the increasing Separatist threat, and provide security against pirates, marauders, or any who might threaten the galaxy as a whole."

"You expect the Senate to support something like that?" Jamshidi asked incredulously. "They prefer to waste their time debating sanctions, or anything but taking decisive action!"

"What if the office of Supreme Chancellor were to be granted emergency custodial powers by the Senate?" Headmaster Konning suggested. "Then, he could cut through that red tape and do what needs to be done."

"But the Senate would see that as an even more radical proposal than mine," Eerabik said sadly. "Yet if there was someone brave enough to introduce such a resolution, they would be the greatest friend to the Republic that it could know in this moment of crisis. Otherwise, our system of government, and democracy itself, could crumble."

"Friend..." a nearby Blorg representative murmured.

 

[Arithmetician]

In spite of ballooning deficits, Supreme Chancellor Azikiwe was re-elected, as his leadership had steered the Republic true during what was now called the First Clone War, and it was hoped that he would do so again, now that the Republic found itself embroiled in the Second Clone War against the Chinorr Separatists. As a public show of solidarity with the brave Clone Troopers on the front, he made a habit of wearing battle armor on formal occasions during the war.

Early in the war, the Chinorr Separatists made an incursion into Ymorz space with a flotilla of cruisers, destroyers, and corvettes, bankrolled by the wealthy Combine, which continued to be represented in the Galactic Senate even as it waged war against most of its members. Only the Xanid Suzerainty and the Hazbuzan Syndicate had positive relations with the Chinorr by that point.

Needless to say, wanton Chinorr aggression could not be tolerated, and so a fleet of Venators was deployed to drive them back.

Engaging the enemy Cruisers, the Venators once again demonstrated their worth, while their ARC-170 wings started making short work of the enemy Corvettes.

The Chinorr Fleet in the system was all but wiped out, rapidly shifting the momentum of the war in the Republic's favor.

The arrival of the federal fleet, now anchored by thirteen Venator-class Star Destroyers, which had replaced losses from the First Clone War, provided a hammer that smashed its way through the Separatist's defenses.

Before long, the invasion of Chicora could begin in earnest.

With the fall of their capital, it was believed that the Second Clone War would come to a quick end.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the galaxy...

"So you're Lord Jefferius' apprentice," the Xani engineer said. "I suppose there are some among your species who can rise above manual labor after all."

"Watch your words carefully," Darth Vidia said, lightly choking the engineer with the Dark Side of the Force to make her point.

"Ugh- my apologies, Lady Vidia!" the engineer gasped.

"That's better," she replied. "Now let us see it."

"Yes, my lady!"

The arthropoid activated a holographic display.

"These are schematics for the Ultimate Weapon that we've been designing for Lord Jefferius." Fear entered the engineer 's voice once again. "If the Republic finds out what we're planning to build, we're doomed."

"You have done well," Darth Vidia replied. "I shall take possession of the plans now. They will be much safer with me."

"And then you'll take them to your master?" the engineer asked.

"No, then you will die."

A barrage of lighting shot from Darth Vidia's talons, causing the Xani engineer to let out tortured cries of agony.

"Who do you think really commissioned the design for the Ultimate Weapon?" Darth Vidia sneered. "That doddering fool is too wrapped up in his own research now to do so. All of this time, you have been designing it for me."

"Please!" the engineer cried.

"But I must kill you," Vidia replied pitilessly. "You are an eyewitness to the project, and its connection to me. But don't worry; the Republic has plenty of capable scientists who will be able to continue your work."

The lightning halted for a moment, leaving the engineer twitching painfully on the floor.

"As my way of thanking you, I may even use the weapon you designed to destroy your homeworld one day, if I feel so inclined," Vidia said, pacing around her victim. "But now... you will die."

The lightning began anew, and continued until the engineer's charred exoskeleton was left unmoving on the floor.

Some time later...

"Is this true, Admiral?" Chancellor Azikiwe asked Eerabik, now back on active duty with the ongoing war.

'Yes, Chancellor," Eerabik replied. Our spies discovered that engineers within the Xanid Suzerainty were secretly designing and planning to construct a weapon with enough firepower to destroy an entire planet. They managed to obtain a copy of the weapon's design schematics from its laboratory, which I have presented to you here. The project appears to have been secretly bankrolled by a number of actors, including the Chinorr, Hazbuzi, Tezekians, and Khennet. They plan to use it to destroy the Republic."

"The Khennet are pacifists," the Chancellor said. "Would they really fund such a terrible weapon?"

"Clearly, their pacifism is just a front, Chancellor," Eerabik replied. "I have already submitted the files proving their involvement for your review."

"Chancellor, we must complete construction of our own version of this weapon before our enemies can!" Governor Jamshidi cut in. "Simply having it would ensure that none would dare attack the Republic, lest they invite their own destruction."

The Chancellor sighed. "I'm getting too old for this sort of thing... but I suppose the two of you are right. I will set aside funding for the project, but it must remain a complete secret!"

"Of course, Chancellor," Eerabik said smoothly. "There is no need for civilian advisors, such as the Headmaster, to know about the project. It is a strictly military matter."

 

[Arithmetician]

Supreme Chancellor Azikiwe died about a month after approving funding for the Colossus Project, also known as "Project Stardust". He was succeeded by Governor Rashid Jamshidi as Supreme Chancellor, who also took over the leadership of the militarist Patriotic Vanguard. As the leader of the Free Thought Committee, Admiral Eerabik graciously congratulated Jamshidi on his victory, and expressed that she looked forward to working with him and bringing the war to a swift end.

Six months later, it was the eve of the pivotal vote on whether or not to appoint a Galactic Custodian, a day that Darth Jefferius had long anticipated. Yet rest was important, even for a Dark Lord of the Sith. And so he settled in to bed aboard the luxurious private station he had built for himself in orbit of Coruscant. Everything was going according to plan. He had even unlocked the secrets of life itself, and begun teaching them to his apprentice, Darth Vidia.

And so Darth Jefferius drifted off peacefully to sleep...

Only to be awoken with a start, suddenly in pain.

An iron grip in the Force held him in place, no matter how hard he struggled to free himself. Looking up from his bed, he saw his apprentice standing over him.

She was that powerful?

"The galaxy stands at the dawn of a new era," Darth Vidia said. "My era. Unfortunately, you will not live to see it, 'Master'."

Jefferius let out an incoherent noise.

"Oh, Jamshidi may become Custodian for a time, but he already acts according to my design. His natural inclinations made that an inevitability. He will help me pave the final steps of the Grand Plan... a Plan that you have contributed less and less to, wrapped up as you were in your vaunted immortality research."

Jefferius tried to lash out as his treacherous apprentice, but it was no use.

"Headmaster Mynach Konning is about to have a fatal stroke," Darth Vidia explained. "I'm pinching off the blood vessels to your brain, oh so delicately... and killing off your Midi-Chlorians, so that you can't manipulate them to sustain your life.. even as I take what little remains of it for my own. It's a shame that the death of such an upstanding citizen will mar such a glorious day for the galaxy, but it can't be helped." She laughed. "Die knowing that you've been my puppet, and that I've been the true Master for years now, with plans in motion that your feeble mind could scarcely dream of."

With a last gasp, Jefferius managed to raise a hand toward his apprentice...

And then he died.

Treachery is the way of the Sith.

The Republic's elites were deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of Headmaster Mynach Konning, who had passed away during his sleep in his private quarters. Yet there was much to celebrate that day as well, with the appointment of the first Galactic Custodian, the Supreme Chancellor himself!

And just three months later, the Separatists of the Chinorr Combine surrendered, and were forced back into the Republic, but this time as a vassal state of the Core, rather than as an equal member.

But all the while, work on Project Stardust feverishly continued in the shadows, racing to develop the Ultimate Weapon before any of the Republic's enemies could....

 

[Arithmetician]