The Acrolian Star Empire reminds me of the Galactic Empire: heavy-handed, well-organized, and driven by a strong military and a charismatic leader.
—Luke Skywalker about Drewika Zirátæ's ASE
The Acrolian Star Empire or the ASE was the government of the planet Acrolis from 23 BBY to roughly 2300 ABY. It was formed a year before the Clone Wars from the old Acrolian Republic, which was a part of the Galactic Republic. Eventually, rising political parties sought to reform and restructure the faltering Acrolian Republic. The Acrolian populace decided to elect intelligence agent Drewika Zirátæ after giving him emergency powers. The new government was to be run by Zirátæ as an emperor, a calling which Ziratae at first refused. Soon afterwards, Drewika consented with the added condition of preserving the Senate as a check on his power. The Empire was expanded during that time, matching the size of the Hapes Consortium. The Empire retained its control during the Galactic Empire's rule, and well into the New Republic. The Empire grew more following the Second Galactic Civil War, during which it gobbled up numerous Galactic Alliance systems following an earlier Alliance attack on Acrolis. Eventually, the ASE, nearly destroyed due to a civil war, was restructured by Jaing Zirátæ II in 432 ABY, who returned the empire to a decent size. In 2300 ABY, the ASE was finally destroyed for good in a civil war between Acrolian factions.
History[]
Founding[]
The Acrolian Star Empire was an idea in the minds of several revolutionary Acrolian senators, who saw the Acrolian Republic as going the way of its ally, the Galactic Republic. Some at the time proposed a complete revamping of the Acrolian Republic, an idea that was presented to the Acrolian Senate but was rejected. The Acrolian populace largely agreed with the revolutionaries. Over time the idea was embraced by certain members of the Senate, and officials began drafting plans for a new governmental structure. However, the majority of the Senators were firm believers in diplomacy and democracy, while the vast majority of the general populace were desirous of a new form of government, in particular, an empire. Many people began looking back to the days of Teloris Zirátæ and the Taung warlords, who led the Acroyali to glory in the early centuries of the Galactic Republic. The people looked to Drewika Zirátæ, a young 21 year old Acrolian intelligence agent and military strategist known through the galaxy for his work as a mercenary general with various armies in the galaxy.
Drewika was selected by government polls as the "preferred candidate" for the position of Emperor. Zirátæ, upon hearing the wishes of his fellow Acrolians, blatantly refused, calling himself a "mere military man" whose qualifications made him suitable for a commission in the military, but not for a political career. However, several months later, he finally changed his mind after seeing the damages inflicted upon his homeworld by a large pirate attack on Acrolis's moon, Magna Luna. Though the attack was repulsed by Acrolis's famous naval forces, the moon was largely sacked and the main leadership on the moon killed in the raid. Though he accepted the position of Supreme Emperor of the Acrolian Star Empire, albeit grudgingly, he continued to voluntarily limit his power, by installing checks on his power. The first of these was intended to appease the largely democratic Senate, which saw the crowning of an emperor as its fatal blow. On the contrary, Drewika kept the Senate intact as a powerful entity, responsible for the politics and law of the Empire, reserving only military powers and rudimentary political ones for the Emperor. In this way, Zirátæ tailored the emperorship for his qualifications as a military leader, and simultaneously brokered a compromise between the imperially- minded populace and the thoroughly democratic Senate.
The Acrolian Star Empire during the Clone Wars.
The Acrolian Star Empire was officially formed in 23 BBY, with Zirátæ's signing of the Imperial Charter of Acrolis, a document which lay down the basic laws and regulations of the Empire, to be expounded upon in later years in the Imperial Constitution. His first move as Emperor and commander-in-chief was to reform the military, particularly the National Guard and Imperial Guard, both of which had become more ceremonial over the years. He established training camps similar to his own alma mater, East Point Military Academy, to retrain these men and recruit new members. The National Guard and its sibling unit, the National Guard Marine Commando unit, became the backbone of the new Imperial Army. In addition, the Acrolian Navy was expanded, with new capital ships, such as the Aggressor-class Star Destroyer, the Keldabe-class battleship, and the Crusader-class corvette, purchased from MandalMotors and other companies.
Several months later, Zirátæ oredered the Senate to ratify a proposition that would recreate the ancient Star Forge over Acrolis, by gathering the floating debris over Rakata Prime, where it was destroyed at the Battle of Rakata Prime. He believed that the Star Forge, a massive space station that could churn out countless capital ships, battle droids, armor, and more, would aid the rise of the ASE, by acting as a mobile command base and production center. Though the idea was decried as being too expensive, the idea was pushed through by Zirátæ, who sent ships out to the far reaches to space to Rakata to gather up the remaining pieces of the Star Forge, which had been floating around for millennia. The actual rebuilding of the super-weapon was done in secret over the hidden ASE stronghold of Varzex, a planet deep in the Vergesso Nebula. The weapon cost a great deal to rebuild, most of which Drewika paid out of pocket. The weapon was completed during the second year of the war, and was moved from Varzex to Arbra. The weapon was set to produce Keldabe battleships for the Imperial fleets during the Clone Wars, and battle droids during the Separatist-Imperial War.
Rise in the Mid Rim[]
With a newly expanded military, the Acrolian Star Empire began a series of aggressive coups on the governments of near-by Mid Rim systems, initiating a brutal takeover of planets that became the Acrolian sector. Drewika led the armies in the field, growing the size of the new empire to roughly that of the Corporate Sector, encompassing former Republic planets like Shadda-Bi Boran and Arbra. While many Republic senators denounced Zirátæ's actions, and called for immediate action, Chancellor Palpatine was wary of isolating Acrolis from the Republic, especially in the Separatist Crisis when any possible support was needed. Thus, the ASE was essentially given free reign of its part of the Mid Rim, provided it remained in support of the Republic.
The Clone Wars[]
With the start of the Clone Wars, the ASE remained a faithful ally of the Republic, sending troops and ships to numerous battles. The ASE sent the famous Acrolian 3rd Fleet under Admiral Gaius Demyus to blockade the world while Republic clones invaded the planet. The 3rd Fleet prevented many Trade Federation Lucrehulk battleships from fleeing with their newly constructed droid armies. The 3rd Fleet was also present at the Defense of Corellia, keeping the CIS fleet at bay while Drewika and the Republic armies invaded the planet.
However, at the beginning of the second year of the war, the Acrolian Senate voted to withdraw support of the Republic, instead remaining neutral in the conflict. The Senate had decided that such a move was necessary, as CIS attacks on the ASE borders had long held up a large part of the navy. Besides, popular polls had shown that most of the Acrolian populace was unhappy about remaining in "another man's war." Drewika, while he had mixed feelings about such a move, addressed the Republic Senate and assured ASE neutrality. The empire soon after began to be
The ASE symbol, 23-21 BBY.
serenaded by the CIS. The ASE ignored these invitations, remaining neutral until the final year of the war, when the CIS launched a surprise attack on the capital world of Acrolis. Though the attack was repulsed, the ASE declared war on the Separatists, sending a large fleet to Coruscant to participate in the Battle of Coruscant. The ASE returned to its sphere of influence soon after, taking faltering CIS planets as it went. When Palpatine established the Galactic Empire, the Star Empire withdrew from the galaxy at large.
Separatist-Imperial War[]
The Acrolian Star Empire was the major player in the Separatist-Imperial War, a conflict that erupted a year after the establishment of the New Order of Palpatine. Zirátæ had received the Emperor's promise to release the Kamino-batch Clone Troopers of the GAR from service, removing them to ASE space for retirement, in exchange for Drewika's service in the Galactic Empire. However, after a year in the Imperial army, Drewika did not see any proof that Palpatine was fulfilling his half of the bargain. He confronted the Emperor directly, but was escorted out. Angered by the Palpatine's treachery, Drewika left the Empire, and expanded his hidden clone "underground railway."
To make it easier for the railroad to work, Drewika revived the faltering CIS, which was desperately holding onto a few Outer Rim planets. Drewika approached the Separatist Senate and was soon thereafter named the Head of State of the CIS. His apprentice and bodyguard, Malus Reven, was named the Supreme Commander of the Droid Armies. The remaining CIS forces were consolidated at the capital of Raxus, augmented by newly created Acrolian battle droids from the Star Forge. The ASE contributed its own fleets and commando units to the CIS cause, though did not officially declare war. After a year of fighting across numerous planets, the CIS and Empire found themselves in a stalemate. This was remedied by the Treaty of Acrolis, which officially discharged the clone armies from Kamino, and guaranteed ASE neutrality and sovereignty from the Galactic Empire, in exchange for Drewika's commission in the Galactic Empire and the dissolution of the CIS. The terms were agreed to, and the ASE remained neutral through the vast majority of the Imperial period.
Imperial Period, 17 BBY - 1 BBY[]
Throughout the next two decades, the ASE largely minded its own business within its own borders. The expansion of the Imperial border was much slower than it had been during the years of the Republic. The ASE military was yet again improved, and large armies of battle droids created in preparation for the next inevitable war. Many Acrolians joined the Empire along with their emperor, fighting nominally for the Empire but secretly doing everything they could to subvert the Galactic Empire and cause strife. Several insurrections on Coruscant during this period were largely the result of Acrolian undercover agents seeking to build up resistance.
Galactic Civil War[]
The Acrolian Star Empire remained nominally aloof from the greater conflict that became the Galactic Civil War, though the government did send supplies and money to the Rebellion leaders. Zirátæ had moved the Rebellion council to the ASE planet of Arbra to protect the key leadership from Imperial assassins. In keeping with the Treaty of Acrolis, the Galactic Empire was not to enter ASE space, which essentially protected the hidden Rebellion base.
The ASE remained neutral throughout the conflict, though its intelligence agents continued to assassinate key Imperial moffs and stir up rebellion on Imperial core worlds. However, six years after the Battle of Yavin, the ASE Senate, in agreement with Drewika, declared war on the Galactic Empire, participating in the First Battle of Coruscant. This was the largest turnout of ASE ships since the Clone Wars, 27 years earlier. The battle was won for the New Republic.
The ASE during the Galactic Civil War
Through the rest of the Galactic Civil War, the ASE and the New Republic, now allied together, crushed the Imperial Remnant in the Outer Rim. The Thrawn campaign cost the ASE fleet much, and casualties ran high. However, Thrawn was eventually defeated, and the ASE, while still allied to the New Republic, withdrew yet again to its own borders. However, its predatory instinct was not dimmed. The ASE conquered a few more Mid Rim systems, using the war as a distraction. For the next six years, the ASE withdrew yet again, destroying Remnant forces wherever they were to be found.
Yuuzhan Vong Invasion[]
During the Yuuzhan Vong War, the ASE looked to itself to repulse the invaders. As it was based in the far Mid Rim and Outer Rim, the Acrolian sector was far enough off the map to not attract attention. However, the regional capital of Arbra was taken by Yuuzhan Vong forces, prompting the Imperial Senate to send a large naval force to retake the world. This navy was sorely beaten, as the Imperial commanders were not prepared for the Vong's use of bio-technology. However, the Senate dispatched its most distinguished commanders, its own emperor, Drewika Zirátæ, and the Empire's best admiral, Gaius Demyus, with the infamous Acrolian 3rd Fleet. The battle over Arbra was violent, and the space around the system was soon littered with ship debris. The battle continued on the ground, which was eventually won by the Empire. However, though the Vong were repulsed with Mandalorian assistance, the Acrolian causalities ran high, and the National Guard lost more than 90 percent of its commando unit. The ASE remained within its own borders for the rest of the war, recovering from its losses and seeking to not attract any more attention from the invaders.
Second Galactic Civil War[]
For the next decade, the ASE largely remained in the outer Mid Rim, taking planets as its leaders saw fit. The Empire was occupied with eradicating the criminal organization Tenloss Syndicate from the Vergesso Asteroids. This required a lengthy offensive, in addition to an inside operation. Drewika himself infiltrated the syndicate, using his training as an intelligence operative to gain influence. He gave information about Tenloss operations and troop movements to ASE commanders, which eventually resulted in the removal of the organization from the Asteroids.
The ASE Senate decided in 38 ABY to withdraw its support of the New Republic, now the Galactic Federation of Free Alliance. The ASE populace felt sympathy for the member planets of the new Confederation, who were viewed as the victims of the GFFA's "big government" approach. Zirátæ represented the interests of the Empire in the GFFA Senate, ordering the Alliance to recognize the Confederation as a "free alliance." However, the Senate refused, prompting the ASE to begin preparations for alliance between itself and the Confederation.
Drewika's flagship, the Merciless, and other ASE ships bomb Commenor during the Scourge of Acrolis.
The Star Empire was caught unawares when Darth Caedus launched a surprise attack on Acrolis. Though the attack was repulsed, the battle had caused much damage to Magna Luna and the planet's surface. Angered by such a bold move, the ASE threw its support behind the Confederation, and began a large offensive against GFFA Mid Rim worlds, including its ally, Naboo. The attacks did much to expand ASE borders, pushing the Empire far into the Alliance. The Senate and Chief of State Cal Omas sought to pacify Drewika's rage by laying the blame on Caedus for the attack. However, the rage of Empire was too great to be stopped. While Corellia and the Confederation focused on the Outer and Mid Rim, the ASE struck at the Core GFFA worlds, walking over Alliance fleets and armies as it marched on towards the capital of Coruscant. Soon thereafter, the ASE allied itself with the Imperial Remnant, which was led by Drewika's old ally and friend Gilad Pellaeon. It was at this point that Luke Skywalker and the Jedi were thrown out of the GFFA by Caedus, forming the Jedi Coalition. Drewika, who loathed the Jedi for their murder of his father, declared war on the Coalition, moving his forces to attack the Temple on Yavin 4, as well as the capital of Fondor. The Remnant continued the attack on the GFFA.
Eventually, the ASE withdrew its support of the Confederation, which was deemed no better than the GFFA, turning the war into a six way conflict between the ASE, the GFFA, the Jedi Coalition, the Hapes Consortium, the Imperial Remnant, and the Confederation. The ASE began a series of infamous attacks on Alliance worlds called the "Scourge of Acrolis." A planet's cities were razed to the ground, its inhabitants gassed or lynched, and its land poisoned. Driven by primal rage for the countless deaths inflicted by Caedus at the war's beginning, the Acrolians slaughtered all they met. They took most of the planets they attacked, paving many and building countless military bases and cities on once beautiful planets. With the Star Forge churning out countless battle droids and starships by the day, the ASE came out of the conflict largely victorious. When the Coalition defeated the GFFA and Confederation, the Star Empire launched an all out attack on Coruscant, burning the Jedi Temple in "Order 66" fashion. The Scourge was finally ended with the unconditional Treaty of Arbra that gave the ASE control of a number of Mid Rim systems. The empire continued to sack GFFA worlds, expanding its size to twice that of the Clone Wars empire.
The ASE after the Treaty of Arbra.
Interim Years[]
Following the end of the Second Galactic Civil War, the ASE returned to its position of aloof neutrality in the galaxy, but it continued to throw its weight around in galactic affairs, particularly in regard to matters of criticism of its size. Eventually, Drewika Zirátæ resigned as the Emperor and his son, Draevus Octavianus Zirátæ, was appointed as his successor. Though the Acrolian populace was sad to see the departure of so great an emperor as Drewika, Draevus led the ASE well for his time. He expanded the borders and retrained the military. Eventually, the ASE was sucked into another galactic conflict with the return of the Galactic Empire.
Sith-Imperial War[]
Some decades after Drewika's passing into the Force, leaving the massive empire in the able hands of his son Draevus Zirátæ, the galaxy erupted into chaos with the onset of the Sith-Imperial War. Draevus was wary of joining with the newly returned Galactic Empire, led by Roan Fel, learning from his father's distrust of Palpatine's empire. The ASE had grown to extreme proportions under Zirátæ's reign, and Draevus had intended to expand the Empire, but the war had halted his plans. He eventually decided to support the Empire, though, as was the case through most of his reign, the Imperial Senate took the opposite stance. The Galactic Alliance's defense of the Yuuzhan Vong was decried by many member worlds of the GFFA, most of whom still nursed bitter memories of the Vong invasion. The ASE populace was in the same camp, demanding an immediate attack on the GFFA. The ASE allied itself with the Fel Empire and provided military aid and troops for the war effort. However, casualties ran high, largely because Draevus lacked much of his father's military genius.
Draevus Zirátæ personally assisted the Empire in the attack on Coruscant, shattering the GFFA and forcing it to surrender. Bearing with him his father's hatred for the Jedi, Draevus led the Imperial attack on Ossus, called the Massacre at Ossus, largely eliminating the Jedi, a task his father had charged him. He returned to Acrolis with the lightsabers of the Jedi he had slaughtered, and dedicated them to his father's memory.
Several days later, the Fel Empire, now in control of much of the galaxy, was dissolved and replaced by the new Sith Empire of Darth Krayt. The change was so abrupt that even the ASE operatives within the Fel Empire were caught unawares. The ASE policy changed overnight, and the Empire began making preparations for an alliance with the Galactic Alliance Remnant and the Fel Empire remnant.
The Second Imperial Civil War[]
The Second Imperial Civil War was a conflict fought between the One Sith, Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire, the Empire-in-exile, the Galactic Alliance Remnant, and the ASE. The ASE supported the Fel Empire and remnant, but did not fight much in the war, apart from sacking any remaining Jedi and Sith it could find. The ASE continued to grow in size, eating up more planets as the war engulfed the galaxy.
The ASE at its largest expanse, 432 ABY.
With the end of the war, the ASE conquered more planets in the Mid Rim, but it began to be seen that the Empire's military was spread thin. With few organic Acrolians left to command so massive an empire, battle droids, a pitiful alternative that looked back to the CIS, were used to control many planets.
Reorganization and Later History[]
In the year 432 BBY, the Empire, now at a size once rivaling that of the Old Republic and with few actual soldiers available to police the Empire, experienced a series of revolts on planets located near the border. These revolts eventually escalated into a massive empire-wide civil war between Imperial forces and freedom fighters who longed for the democracy of bygone days. The Emperor at the time, Galen Zirátæ, retired from the throne for his safety. With only the defunct Imperial Senate to lead, the Imperial army, known for centuries for its efficiency, fled from the freedom fighters. After a massive siege of Acrolis, the ASE was forced to surrender, giving most of its subject planets the freedom they desired. The ASE was shrunk, and reduced to its Clone Wars size. Viewed as the "Dark Ages" of the Empire, it was eventually reorganized several decades later by Galen Zirátæ's son, Jaing Zirátæ II, who reorganized the empire and sought to retake all his father had lost. Though some systems were conquered, the Empire never returned to the size of Drewika and Draevus's empire.
Eventually, in 2300 ABY, the ASE was completely dissolved in a massive civil war between House Zirátæ and its allies and a rival family. Acrolis was sacked, and many Acrolians were slaughtered in the conflict. The remaining Zirátæs fled to Mandalore and restarted their dynasty there. Acrolis was eventually retaken by the Zirátæs, but the Empire was never reformed.
Organization[]
The Acrolian Star Empire was led by an Emperor, started by Drewika Zirátæ, who had complete military but limited political power. As a legislative body, the Imperial Senate of Acrolis was responsible for the making of laws and regulations which governed the Empire. The Senators were elected once every three years to ensure that corruption did not infiltrate the Empire. The Senate was also responsible for the punishing of crimes, as there was no court of justice. The Empire's populace also played a big part in their government, as government polls were extremely critical in determining policy. Only those of Acrolian birth could be considered citizens. All other subjugated people were referred to as the "servant caste," and were treated with contempt by Acrolian officials and soldiers.
The galaxy during 2300 ABY, with the fires of countless ASE planets visible on the Southern part of the galaxy.
Acrolian law was extremely brutal, as reflected Acrolian culture in general, which was justice based. Even those citizens of other governments were punishable under Acrolian law if in the domain of the ASE. It was expected that if you entered the domain of the Empire, you did so at your own risk.
The Acrolian military forces were composed of highly trained officers and devoted Acrolian troops, both Acroyali and Human. The Empire required a certain period of every male Acrolian's life to be spent in the military, mainly in the National Guard. Those in the Imperial Guard or National Guard Marine Commando Unit were full-time soldiers, well-trained and motivated to take on any foe. It was said that the NGMCU was a match even for Jedi Knights in one to one combat.
Astrography[]
The Acrolian Star Empire's size deviated often during its 2,300 year history, starting in the Outer Rim and expanding eventually into the Mid Rim and some parts of the Inner Rim. Some parts of the Empire were lost in small skirmishes, in particular, the planet Zolan, which was owned by the ASE after the Treaty of Arbra, but lost by the time the Empire was reorganized in 432 ABY. After the massive internal civil war that shrunk the Empire, the ASE returned to its pre-Clone Wars state, controlling only Acrolis and few surrounding systems.
Behind the scenes[]
The Acrolian Star Empire derives its name from the Star Trek empire "Romulan Star Empire." Apart from this, there are no other similarities. Its history was supposed to reflect that of the Galactic Republic's in its last years in the transition from republic to empire.
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