The Galactic Dark Empire is an authoritarian dictatorship which began its reign over most of it's galaxy approximately eight years after the onset of the Clone Wars. It arose to replace a defunct and ineffectual millennia-old senatorial democracy known as the Old Republic which had proven itself incapable of handling the affairs of an entire galaxy. Ruled by the unquestionable and absolute authority of the Emperor, the Empire strives to foster Order above all else and will use any means necessary to maintain it. In keeping with this policy, over the course of it's existence, the Empire has practiced a long standing principle of "Rule by Fear," and when fear has proven ineffectual, brutal force is bluntly applied. The Imperial government has been single-handedly responsible for routine acts of murder, slaughter, and even genocide; its list of atrocities so long and befuddled by propaganda it may remain forever unknown to the people of the galaxy exactly how many worlds have had the Emperor's displeasure visited upon them. In the Empire, the protection of loyal citizens and the destruction of dissenters is the crux from which all forms of Imperial policy flow. Mammaloid life is considered supreme above all others, and although the Emperor tolerates the presence of non-mammaloids in his Great Order--such as insectoids or reptilians--they are second-class citizens suitable for economic exploitation, slavery, or outright extermination as the interests of the government dictate. The underpinnings of the Empire were established gradually through the crumbling of the Old Republic, hailed in those days as a New and efficient Order able to handle the responsibly of true leadership in a power vacuum created by the impotency of the Galactic Senate. The Old Republic was plagued by endless reams of bureaucracy which prevented it's members from taking real action in times of crisis; entire worlds could be turned to cinder, overrun by plagues, or suffer economic downturns that could impoverish an entire species while well-fed bureaucrats debated the finer points of subjects that their own campaign contributors had paid them to discuss. The Empire gained its initial military budget from the Clone Wars, an engineered political secession brought about to scare the complacent members of the Galactic Senate into appreciating the merits of superior firepower. For the first time in centuries, the clever wiles of the Chancellor convinced an overwhelming majority of Senate members to pass a series of laws, such as the Military Creation Act, which eventually paved the way for the government's conversion from a impotent democracy to a merciless dictatorship.

The cement of the deal, however, came as much of a surprise to many. The Supreme Chancellor, who had collected much of the military, economic, and political power of the Republic in his hands and wielding his will for the "good" of the galaxy, was assassinated. This caused somewhat of a crisis, because there was no clear point to where the authority of the Supreme Chancellor would flow. The Jedi Knights stepped in to prevent the power vacuum from tearing the fragile Republic government apart, despite their wan numbers. Many Jedi died during the Clone Wars, but the council remained intact, and a great many in the galaxy considered the Jedi Order the only group unbiased enough by special economic or political interests to speak with any authority during the crisis. More problems were brewing already, however, as the Mon Calamari had begun to brazenly question the actions of the late Supreme Chancellor, who had ordered the orbital bombardment of their colony on Ruisto earlier that year. Jedi Master Yoda, leader of the Jedi Order, appointed himself the Supreme Chancellor's replacement until the immediate threats to the security of the Republic were dealt with. The problems, however, only worsened from that point. It did not become clear until some three years after the Supreme Chancellor's death that the individual who had stepped in to prevent the authority crisis was not the Jedi Master Yoda many thought he was. Instead of setting up an interim government to help bring stability back to the republic, as he had promised, Chancellor Yoda severed his ties with the Jedi Knights and continued on much the same track as his predecessor had done. Many wondered at the new Supreme Chancellor's intentions, but many were too scared or confused to question his action's outright; others advocated blind devotion to the wise old leader. But by the time it became clear to even his most staunchest supporters that the Chancellor had no intentions of ever giving up his power, the Old Republic had ceased to exist. The ex-Jedi Knight declared himself "Holy Emperor" and established the Dark Empire of the Galaxy; at this point, the Senate had surrendered so much power to him that they were helpless to stop his ascent. A Dark Jedi was now on the throne of a new galactic empire and the Jedi Temple was summarily overrun by the Sith. In the following decade, the Emperor increased the military budget, began executing political opponents as traitors, and established his palace on the grounds where the Jedi Temple once stood. Atrocities such as the slagging of Ruisto were summarily forgotten in the ensuing orgy of genocides and massacres, soiling the newly formed Empire with the blood of billions. The Emperor is the supreme authority within the Empire and the galaxy, He alone commands all things and beings. The Emperor directs all Imperial policy and His vision alone determines how the Empire will grow. His wrath is the Empire's wrath. The Regent The Regent is responsible for the administration of the Empire should the Emperor become incapable of doing so Himself. A Regent is either appointed by the Emperor in anticipation of such circumstances or the position is assumed by the most senior Grand Moggy. The Regent exercises all the powers of the Emperor only without the actual title of Emperor. There is no sitting Regent when the Emperor is well. The Director of Imperial Intelligence The Director is in charge of the Ubiqtorate, and is the only one of its members who is officially recognized as such. The Director serves the Empire as head of Imperial Intelligence, and is responsible for all external intelligence, as well as executing internal counterintelligence operations. Any event that could conceivably threaten the security of the Empire theoretically falls under the jurisdiction of Imperial Intelligence, although there is much duplication of function and rivalry between the counterintelligence branch and the ISB. The ISB is more directly interested in the loyalty and political indoctrination of citizens, while Intelligence focuses on counterintelligence efforts of a more traditional nature. The Director answers to the Emperor alone, and is part of the Imperial High Command. The Grand Inquisitor The Grand Inquisitor serves the Emperor as head of the Internal Security Bureau as well as chief investigator and magistrate. The Inquisitors act as investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury in all civil and military courts, as well as functioning as "thought police" and preachers of the Glories of the New Order. The Grand Inquisitor serves the Emperor alone, and is part of the Imperial High Command. Imperial Advisors These serve within the Imperial High Command but normally have no authority to issue orders or commands. They may make recommendations and, depending on the favor shown them by the Emperor, some might do well to consider such recommendations an order. There are advisors for virtually every function of Government imaginable, and is something of a catch-all category for those whose value to the Empire cannot be readily quantified in terms of military power or economic savvy. This category includes the higher levels of the Reformed Order of the Sith, who are largely given free reign to intimidate and influence the actions of Imperial representatives, in the interest of the Emperor, as they see fit. MILITARY GOVERNMENT: NOTE: Military Governors in most cases command the military forces headquartered in their particular area of responsibility, or those attached to that region by a superior. This can vary in accordance with circumstances, the orders of superiors, and the Will of the Emperor. Grand Moggys Responsible for the administration of an entire Region. Grand Moggys are responsible for determining the defenses of their region and coordinating the efforts to bring rebel and neutral planets back under Imperial control within their Region. Moggys Responsible for the administration of an entire Sector. Moggys are responsible for determining the defenses of the sectors that are under Imperial control and coordinating the efforts to bring rebel and neutral planets back under Imperial control within their sector. Prefects Responsible for the administration and defense of individual planetary systems. Prefects answer to the Sector Moggy or the Grand Moggy of the Region. MILITARY HIERARCHY: Naval High Command Collectively the thirteen Grand Admirals serve as the Naval High Command. They are answerable to the Emperor and the Imperial High Command directly. They are responsible for planning major campaigns and expeditionary operations. In addition, the Naval High Command works closely with the Grand Moggys, Moggys and Prefects to ensure that the commercial space lanes are kept free of pirates and other such outlaws. Army High Command Collectively the thirteen Field Marshals serve as the Army High Command. They are answerable to the Emperor and the Imperial High Command directly. They are responsible for planning major campaigns and surface operations. In addition, the Army High Command works closely with the Grand Moggys, Moggys and Prefects to ensure that each planet is properly garrisoned. Stormtrooper Corps The Stormtooper corps exists separately from either Army or Navy. They are attached to the command of both, but their ultimate loyalty is to the Emperor himself. The Royal Guard and most High Protectors are drawn from their elite, and their Commandant serves as the Defender of Coruscant.