User:Weirdo Guy/Sandbox

=New Sith Wars=

"Peace is a lie."

- The first tenet of the Sith Code

The , also known as the Sith Wars or the Old Wars was a centuries-long galactic conflict between the Jedi Knights and the Sith Lords affiliated with their respective institutions.

The Old Wars
The Old Republic, true to its name, had sustained itself for millennia prior to the New Sith Wars, but it was never totally peaceful. For the past three thousand years, conflict have especially eaten away at the Republic, starting with the Great Hyperspace War. This conflict, fought between the Republic and a race of warriors calling themselves Sith, kicked off the Old Sith Wars, which lasted almost two thousand years. Though primarily fought between the Old Republic and the Old Sith Empire, the Old Sith Empire influenced the rise of other offshoot empires. Later generations do not recognize these individual warlords as Sith, but simply as Dark Jedi.

The Old Sith Wars eventually came to an end with the rise of the Eternal Empire, but the institution suddenly collapsed on itself due to rebellion. The Old Sith Empire died off and the Republic was weakened by decades of total war. This began the Galactic Dark Age, later known as the First Dark Age. The Dark Age lasted for centuries, with the Republic retreating to the Core and the Sith returning to their home deep in Sith space. The Republic essentially ceased to exist and planets became much more independent. Much knowledge of the past was lost during this period.

Republic resurgence
Two hundred years 2000 BBY, the Republic returned in full force. Expansion become a high-priority issue and the politics became very imperialist and bordered on the nationalistic. Though most systems entered peacefully, some resisted. They were easily put down for the most part. It wasn't until the Republic faced off against the Zygerrian Slave Empire, a rising power, that the Republic faced it's first true challenge in millennia. Warhawks in the Republic Senate called for war, citing Zygerrian's use of slavery as a prime industry goes against Republic values. Negative opinion against the Zygerrians ruled the Senate, and sanctions were common, but it wasn't until the destruction of the Republic passenger freighter Voyager that the warhawks gained the majority they needed. War was on the horizon.

The Jedi Order, who had kept to themselves in the past centuries on their sanctuary worlds, chose to officially stay neutral in the conflict. Some Jedi rebelled against the Council's decision, however, and believed the Republic's cause was righteous. For the first time, they became known as the Jedi Knights.

The Zygerrians quickly rallied reluctant allies, including Dathomir and the Hutts, to help defend their industry. Despite this numerical advantage, the Republic launched a successful campaign first in Dathomir space, perhaps the longest and bloodiest of the war, and continued into Zygerria until they marched on the capital world. Zygerria and their allies subsequently surrendered, with Zygerria and Dathomir coming under administrative rule of the Republic.

A republic divided
Despite a victory, the conflict was harsh and bloody, contrast to the easy victories of before, and the gains were minimal. Zygerria's economy was nearing collapse from the war damages and the loss of their primary industry. As Zygerria became more of a burden, the Republic became divided. Some systems, including Corellia, even threatened secession. Many accused the Senate, and more specifically the warhawks, of failing to plan an exit strategy. Because of this error, the chancellor, a warhawk, was voted out of office.

A clandestine slave trade continued in Zygerria as Republic governors were bribed to look the other way, but it never again reached pre-war heights. This helped the Zygerrians recover in the short-term, but there was no long-term economic plan. The original exit plan was to allow the Zygerrians to become their own state under an arms-limitation, but many feared this would legitimize growing secessionist sentiment. Thus, it never passed.