I have been inactive for the last couple of months but now that I am back, I will be more active and will help get this RP started.
Also: As for FPA leadership during that time, I stumbled upon a good fanon list of Chairmen of the Supreme Council and their brief histories. I found them interesting, so I thought we could maybe use it in our RP, since the FPA does not have much info on its leaders in canon (scroll down towards the bottom of the page, that is where the list begins):
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9498399/21 ... -Fight-ForAnyway, I think that we should set this RP during the reign of either Kornelias I or Maximilian Josef II.
With the latter, it would be very interesting militarily, due to his invasion of the Alliance. Both Alliance and Imperial characters (at least those that pick the military path) should start off with either lower flag ranks of senior officer ranks. We should start off the RP around the time of the coronation of Kornelias, so that we have time to roleplay out some other events and develop our characters a bit, and also have them rise to prominence in both states and thus have them play a bigger role in the following invasion. We could also have our characters be involved in the negotiation attempts before then, which would also provide opportunity for FPA-Imperial character interactions. And, of course, have them hold command positions during the time of the invasion.
Here is an example of what the basic plot could look like if set in Kornelias's time:
Quote:
On [insert date], the wise Maximilian Josef II - a brilliant reformer - had died after a life of reforming the Galactic Empire and improving the lives of its people. Considered to be a great leader, he was beloved by the Imperial people and left big shoes for his successor to fill. His son, Kornelias, has been recently crowned as Kaiser. Kornelias is determined to live up to - or even surpass - his father's reputation. While Maximilian Josef made gains in domestic politics, his successor naturally decides to make his name in foreign policy, by bringing the rebels of the Free Planets Alliance back under Imperial rule, one way or another.
At the same time, in the Alliance, Gilbert Rossa has been leading as the Supreme Council Chairman, the first in several decades who is not from the Progressive Party. Although initially popular, his liberal, pacifistic policies have made many in the FPA believe that he is making the Alliance more vulnerable to Imperial invasion. Opposition to his leadership is increasing, and the Alliance government is in political gridlock as a result, not able to make a decision. Everyone in both the Alliance and the Empire waits, in anticipation, for the new Kaiser's next move.
With the former, since Maximilian Josef II was a domestic reformer, we could have good opportunities for being involved in Imperial politics and FPA-Imperial diplomacy (for example, the Alliance could try to begin relations with the Empire since the Kaiser has more 'liberal' policies, etc). That would also give opportunities for being in court intrigues. For example, we could have some Imperial characters who support Maximilian Josef's reforms and protect him from rival high nobles, while, if they want, some characters instead support reactionary aristocrats in an anti-Kaiser conspiracy (these can be NPCs if no one wants to side with them). The reactionary faction could launch an uprising/coup d'etat attempt to overthrow the Kaiser. Meanwhile, the FPA could secretly become involved and support one side or the other in the conflict, giving chances for FPA-Imperial interactions.
The basic plot during his reign could be something like this:
Quote:
With the death of Friedrich III the Defeated, who disgraced the Galactic Empire due to the shameful defeat at Dagon, he was succeeded as Kaiser by Gustav. However, the sickly new ruler was not fit to hold the throne, and was poisoned a mere hundred days into his reign. Friedrich's second son, Maximilian Josef II, replaces him. With the recent unrest, the upper echelons of the Empire are divided like never before, and the chances of a popular uprising are high. Adding on to his problems is a group of high nobles and military officers that is against the new kaiser's proposed internal reforms, and believe that he needs to be removed from power.
Meanwhile, the Free Planets Alliance intends to take advantage of the Empire's internal problems and secretly prepares to ignite the flames of civil war. The Alliance government has began secretly sponsoring a the faction of high nobles that intend to overthrow the Kaiser, with the intention of spreading unrest in the Empire, and maybe even causing it to collapse. This is the difficult situation that Maximilian Josef II and his supporters have found themselves in, but the new ruler is determined to save the Empire from collapse.
I think we should use the canon information as a 'starting guideline' of sorts, but not let it constrict our plot-making too much. This is, after all, a fan fiction roleplay. We should use canon info to start us off, then have or character plot development take it from there.
Time to go recruiting again, indeed.