Star Wars: What If The Empire Won? Exploring Dark Timeline

What if the Star Wars Empire had achieved ultimate victory? The heroes of Star Wars triumphed over the evil Galactic Empire, preventing its resurgence. However, envision a scenario where Emperor Palpatine succeeded, fully realizing his sinister ambitions and reshaping the galaxy under an oppressive regime.

Palpatine's strategic brilliance, surpassing previous Sith Lords, allowed him to conquer the Republic from within, implementing the Sith "Grand Plan" by eradicating the Jedi and imposing a new galactic order. The Rebel Alliance thwarted Palpatine's grander designs for the Star Wars Empire, but what if those plans had come to fruition? Hints of these ambitions are seen in Palpatine's contingency plans and non-canon "What If" stories, such as Star Wars Infinities, where the rebels win later.

Let's delve into an alternate Star Wars timeline where the Star Wars Empire reigned supreme, permanently altering the galaxy's fate. What key events would unfold under Imperial dominance?

The Empire's Crushing Victory at the Battle of Endor

The Battle of Endor represented the galaxy's last beacon of hope. In this alternate reality, that hope is extinguished. The ground team fails to disable the shield generator protecting the Death Star. Consequently, the Rebel fleet is decimated, unable to penetrate the Death Star's defenses.

Luke Skywalker, witnessing his comrades' demise from aboard the Death Star, succumbs to despair. Consumed by anguish, he slays Darth Vader and, with nowhere else to turn, becomes Palpatine's new apprentice. Following the evacuation of Imperial forces, the Death Star obliterates the forest moon of Endor, ensuring the complete annihilation of rebel survivors.

In the years that follow, the Star Wars Empire solidifies its rule. The crushing defeat of the Rebellion eliminates any remaining hope of resistance. The second Death Star destroys worlds that dare to defy the Empire, including Mon Mothma's Chandrila and Admiral Ackbar's Mon Cala. This marks only the beginning of Palpatine's plan to reshape the galaxy.

Palpatine's "Century Plan": Reshaping Galactic Society

Grand Vizier Mas Amedda revealed the full scope of Palpatine's strategy, known as the "Century Plan." This long-term strategy aimed to gradually reshape Imperial society over decades. Key elements of the plan included seizing corporate assets, establishing re-education centers, rewriting galactic history, and restructuring the family unit.

The destruction of the first Death Star temporarily disrupted this plan, but without the Rebellion, Palpatine would restore the Century Plan. Over time, new generations would be indoctrinated into the Imperial ideology. The Death Star and the Final Order fleet would ensure compliance and discourage dissent.

A Thousand Generations of the "Eternal Empire"

The Old Republic and the Jedi Order endured for approximately 25,000 years. What if the Star Wars Empire achieved similar longevity? Many rebels feared the prospect of an "eternity of submission" under Imperial rule. Imperials, like Inspector Thanoth, believed in an "Eternal Empire."

Darth Bane's Rule of Two would prevent infighting among Sith rivals, while unlocking the secrets of immortality would allow Palpatine to rule indefinitely. He might even implement a Rule of One philosophy. The consequences of the dark side's prolonged dominance are unimaginable. Freedom would be a forgotten concept, and suffering would be widespread.

Even the most enduring empires eventually crumble or evolve, but the galaxy would endure millennia of torment before that occurs. How would the galaxy change after such a long period of darkness?

The Jedi & The Republic's Return: A Distant Hope

Given the Jedi and Republic's 25,000-year reign, the dark side could never permanently triumph. Palpatine's Empire lasted only 25 years before its collapse. But how much harder would it be to rebuild the Jedi and Republic after thousands of years of Imperial rule? Every few millennia, a Sith acolyte might discover an ancient Jedi holocron and seek to restore balance.

They would rebuild the Jedi Order and collaborate with those seeking democracy. However, these efforts would likely fail repeatedly. Rebuilding after the Empire's initial defeat was challenging enough; imagine the difficulty after millennia of indoctrination. Ultimately, just as the Jedi and Republic eventually fell, the Star Wars Empire would also fall. Even the Rakatan Infinite Empire couldn't last forever. Darkness can never ultimately prevail, but the alternate reality of an Empire victory remains a fascinating and chilling thought.

Exploring the "what if" scenario of a Star Wars Empire victory offers a chilling glimpse into a galaxy dominated by the dark side. While the Jedi and Republic would eventually return, the path to restoring balance would be fraught with unimaginable challenges.