Alliance to Restore the Republic

I've been making Star Wars-themed cards and collected them in an album with transparant sleeves. This is my favorite. Most of them are made-up except Rooster Trace from Outlaws.

At the end of Episode IX of the Star Wars Saga, the Resistance triumphed over the First Order and the Final Order at the Battle of Exegol, restoring freedom to planets throughout the Galaxy. But this ending was far from the only possible outcome (from an in-universe standpoint). In this post, I will explore seven other possible endings, how they could have happened, and if they would have been good for the people of the Galaxy.

Ending One: Liberty Lives

• Summary: The 1000 generation Galactic Republic breezes through the Clone Wars, defeating the Separatist menace and maintaining its democratic founding ideals.

• How it could happen: The most obvious reason that this ending didn’t happen was Palpatine. However, he can’t be taken out of the equation before the Battle of Coruscant, for reasons I will explain on the next ending. Anyways, having Palpatine die in the office duel with Mace Windu should be sufficient. Or just keel over from a random heart attack while he is telling the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise.

• Would it be good for the people of the Galaxy?: It would avoid 24 years of an oppressive dictatorship, two more galactic wars, and several needlessly destroyed planets. I think it goes without saying that this ending would be an improvement over the one that actually happened. But how much of an improvement would it be? That mostly depends on whether or not the Republic manages to fix the problems that caused the Clone Wars to happen in the first place such as Senate corruption, corporate overreach, and lack of good leadership. Palpatine was the main cause of these issues, but they won’t just magically vanish with his death as some people believe they would.

Ending Two: Confederate Conquest

• Summary: Count Dooku’s Confederacy of Independent Systems decisively triumphs over the Galactic Republic, and establishes a New Galactic Order under the Separatist ideology. The Galaxy becomes dominated by corporate entities where Greed is Good and Credits are King.

• How it could happen: For this ending, the main reason it didn’t happen is once again Palpatine. His control over Dooku was the reason that the Separatists held back and intentionally lost several key battles throughout the Clone Wars. Most importantly among these battles was the Battle of Coruscant. Rescinding Palpatine’s control over Dooku (either through Palpatine dying or through Dooku choosing to betray him) at any point before the Battle of Coruscant should be sufficient to make this ending happen. The Droid Army had an enormous number of battle droids and combat vehicles just lying around unused throughout the war. If the Confederacy of Independent Systems had chosen to fight the war in earnest, it would have crushed the Republic like a bug. However, getting rid of Palpatine after Coruscant would not result in this. The death of Dooku and the loss of such a massive number of warships meant that their chance for a full victory had evaporated after the battle.

• Would it be good for the people of the Galaxy?: Unless you’re a billionaire capitalist, definitely not. A Separatist Galaxy would be a playground for the rich, where government positions could be literally purchased, and the vast, vast majority of people would barely have enough to survive. The natural environments of countless planets would get casually ravaged for the sake of profit, rendering them lifeless husks of rock.

Ending Three: A Republic Divided

• Summary: After many years of fighting, the Republic and the Separatists sign a peace treaty marking the end of the Clone Wars, and recognizing both the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems as legitimate entities.

• How it could happen: War weariness of the population (both military and civilian) is an often overlooked factor in how long a war can last. With the scope and scale of the Clone Wars, I would estimate that it would take between four and eight years for the populations of both sides to reach the point where a peace treaty must be signed. For the war to last this long, both Palpatine and a large chunk of the Droid Army/Separatist Fleet would have to be removed before the Battle of Coruscant.

• Would it be good for the people of the Galaxy?: Possibly. It is unlikely that the Republic and the Separatists will immediately become allies after the end of the Clone Wars. A series of proxy wars will probably break out in the areas of space not directly controlled by either side, similar to the Cold War in real life. Hutt Space, the Unknown Regions and other areas could all become new, indirect battlegrounds for the two superstates. So in short, this ending would result in peace for many, but war for a few.

Ending Four: Long Live The Empire

• Summary: Managing to defeat the Rebel Alliance, the Galactic Empire stays strong and intact. After a few generations, nobody is left to remember the days before the regime took power, and the people of the Galaxy accept their place as servants of the Empire.

• How it could happen: There are a lot of ways that this could have occurred. Having the Rebels lose at the battles of Yavin or Endor are the most obvious. Having Han Solo not arrive (or just arrive too late) at Yavin would do it, as would having the Rebel strike team not finding or befriending the Ewoks at Endor.

• Would it be good for the people of the Galaxy?: No. If I even have to explain this one to you, you are what is called a Fascist.

Ending Five: The Legends Ending

• Summary: After the Galactic Civil War, the Rebel Alliance restores the Republic, but the Empire continues to exist as a legitimate state with its own territory. After teaming up to fight off many threats over the years, they reach a mutual understanding and agree to coexist peacefully, and the New Republic becomes the Galactic Alliance while the Imperial Remnant State becomes the Fel Empire.

• How it could happen: It did happen (in Legends).

• Would it be good for the people of the Galaxy?: While freedom for everyday people becomes more widespread in both the Galactic Alliance and the Fel Empire, it comes at the cost of many more deadly conflicts such as the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion, the Second Galactic Civil War, and the whole debacle with Abeloth. So in the short term no, but in the long term yes. And of course there is the slight complication of the rise of Darth Krayt’s Empire in the far future.

Ending Six: Empire Eradicated

• Summary: Getting past its initial issues, the New Republic averts the rise of the First Order and the disenfranchisement of Outer Rim worlds. It remains the sole galactic power with undisputed hegemony.

• How it could happen: The biggest mistake that the New Republic made was trying to immediately turn into a completely civilian government. If it had taken more time to ensure that the Imperial threat had been dealt with, the First Order could have been hunted down and the Final Order could have been nipped at the bud before it had the chance to really get off the ground.

• Would it be good for the people of the Galaxy?: Prevention of the First Order-Resistance War would be a good thing obviously, but what exactly would the New Republic do with its uncontested rule? Probably not much. Sure, people would not be oppressed like they would under the Empire, but from what we have seen, the New Republic was pretty selective about helping out planets, and the standard of living would probably only go up marginally for the ordinary people. And with this version of the New Republic being a more militaristic regime, who’s to say that it wouldn’t take on some other aspects of the Empire it fought to destroy? I think that it could easily evolve into a society not unlike the one depicted in the novel Starship Troopers, a type of military democracy where voting is a privilege reserved for military personnel.

Ending Seven: Somehow, The Empire Returned

• Summary: Steamrolling over both the New Republic and the Resistance, the First Order goes on to create the Second Galactic Empire, with Palpatine emerging from his hiding place on Exegol to become Emperor once more.

• How it could happen: All that would really be necessary for this ending is for the Resistance to lose the Battle of Starkiller Base and get wiped on along with D’Qar.

• Would it be good for the people of the Galaxy?: This outcome would basically just be Empire winning at Yavin/Endor but worse. The only real difference is that it happens thirty years later in the timeline, and would involve yet another destructive war occurring.

Anyways, those were my thoughts on how things could have gone differently for the Star Wars Galaxy. All of the scenarios I covered here were relatively tame in comparison to some of the crazier possible endings (like an Imperial Civil War or the Jedi taking over and forming a theocracy), so if people want to see me talk about my thoughts other, more out-there ways things could have gone, just say so!

So far in Bad Batch, Senator Riyo Chuchi of Pantora was trying to help the Clonetroopers who were starting to be decommissioned by the Galactic Empire. She is indeed an idealist despite being in the Imperial Senate and wanted to help the Clones who helped served the Republic.

The senator should’ve realized that the Clones were tools by Palpatine/Darth Sidious to further the war and one day destroy the Jedi. Chuchi really should be part of the group of idealist allies involving Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Padmé Amidala during the Clone Wars series concerning about the war and the the corruption of the Galactic Republic. She definitely could’ve been part of the Delegation of 2,000 as well. More importantly, she could’ve also be one of the key founders or seeds of the Alliance to Restore the Republic and fill Amidala’s spot as one of the key leaders after her death.

Senator Chuchi might indeed possess the ideals with Organa, Mothma, and Amidala involving dark times in the Clone Wars. Just like to see her be with them more during secret meetings. There might be a reason why she wasn’t seen much during the formation of the Rebel Alliance. Wonder how much of a Rebel she can be.