It's been almost a year since The Force Awakens and the reaction, although generally positive with critics, has been mixed amonst Star Wars fans - those who are fans of the movies have complained that TFA was just a remake of A New Hope, while fans of the Expanded Universe complain about all the things that don't make sense, like the Galactic Empire being defeated in one year rather than fifteen and the First Order being able to build bigger Star Destroyers and a weapon that trumps the Death Star with presumably fewer resources.
So now I put it to you - how would you have done Episode 7? Let's hear some synopses for the gap between Return of the Jedi and your Episode 7 and a synopsis for your Ep 7. Here's my take:
Post-RotJ events:
With the death of Darth Vader and the Emperor, the Rebel Alliance proclaimed themselves the New Republic and appealed to the systems of the galaxy to join them in reinstating democracy. With the head of the Imperial hierarchy cut off, many Imperial governors sympathetic to the rebels crossed the floor and pledged their systems and forces to the New Republic. The Inquisitorius, being the only force-users of the Empire, saw themselves as the rightful heirs to the Imperial throne and force-choked their way into power. They sent their most powerful Inquisitors to each remaining loyal system as political enforcers, preventing the Empire from splintering and any further defections. The New Republic sued for peace, but to no avail, the Empire swiftly began attacking the turncoat systems. The galaxy was split into two and war was back on the agenda for both sides.
Luke Skywalker began reforming the Jedi Order and was staunchly against involving the Jedi in the war, believing that their involvement in the Clone Wars was a critical part of their downfall. The Jedi resumed their role as ambassadors and negotiators, however, they benefited from the war effort as new systems meant new force-sensitive citizens to recruit. As the war dragged on, more Jedi were recruited from former Imperial worlds and more Jedi found their homeworlds being taken by the Empire. This caused a stir amongst the Order, with many Jedi arguing that as opponents to the dark side, they should fight the Inquisitors just as Luke himself fought Vader and the Emperor. They needn't be frontline soldiers like in the Clone Wars, they would cooperate with the Republic military to launch surgical strikes targeting the Inquisitors only - with them gone, the Imperials could then be free to surrender. Luke agreed to the proposition, and appealing to Leia, now a member of the Republic Senate, the Jedi formed their strike teams.
In cooperation with intelligence services and special forces, the Jedi performed their strike missions and were successful in killing many Inquisitors. The systems under their control either freely defected to the New Republic or fought on until surrendering. The tide of the war turned, and the remaining Inquisitors were driven into hiding. Twenty years after the fall of the Emperor, what remained of the Empire crumbled and came under Republic control. The Jedi disbanded their strike teams and peace returned to the galaxy.
Episode 7:
Luke Skywalker is on a mission to Mandalore where a flashpoint is developing over territory disputes between the Mandalorians and neighbouring planets. However, he is ambushed by Inquisitors and captured by them. The Grand Inquisitor takes Luke to the Inquisitorial hideout in the Unknown Regions and begins interrogating him, seeking to learn the locations of Jedi training facilities.
Leia senses that something is wrong with Luke and goes to talk to the Jedi council. They reveal that they have felt a disturbance in the force, and they believe agents of the dark side are responsible. Her son, Ben Solo, volunteers to go on a mission to find him. Leia is then called to attend a Senate meeting immediately: the Mandalorians have launched invasions into the disputed territories.
Han Solo is put in charge of the task-force being sent to repel the Mandalorians, while Ben, R2-D2, and a team of Jedi set out in the Millennium Falcon to investigate the disappearance of Luke. While Han's fleet engages the Mandalorians in space, the Jedi make their way to Mandalore. There, they board the space station where Luke was due for the negotiations and R2 accesses the station's ship logs. They learn that a ship of an imperial design was docked at the station and its hyperspace point of origin was in the Unknown Regions. The Jedi return to the Falcon and fight Mandalorian interceptors before jumping to hyperspace.
Luke has so far resisted all interrogation. The Grand Inquisitor decides to use another method of coercion - he reveals a weapon he has been building since the destruction of the second Death Star, a starship that has a superlaser almost as powerful. He says that the only target they intend to use it on is Jedi training facilities, but unless Luke reveals their locations, they will use it on political targets. Luke must choose, either the Jedi or the Republic, which will fall first. When Luke still refuses to relent, the Inquisitor arranges for them to be taken aboard the ship.
Han's fleet is losing the battle with the Mandalorians. Mandalorian commandos manage to board the Republic ships and begin taking them down from the inside. Han finds his capital ship boarded by a team of commandos led by the Mand'alor himself, Boba Fett. Han, Chewie, and the Republic troopers manage to fight off the Mandalorians and force Boba Fett to escape the ship before they cause too much damage. With the battle lost, Han orders all surviving forces to retreat.
The Jedi emerge in the Unknown Regions - there they find the Inquisitorial super-weapon. They can sense Luke's presence aboard the ship and move towards it, looking for an access point. They land the Millenium Falcon on the ship, but just as they do, it prepares to jump to hyperspace. Ben has R2 work out the hyperspace coordinates, and R2 reveals it is on course for the Republic capital. The Jedi send a warning to the Republic before disembarking to find Luke.
As the remnants of Han's fleet arrives at the Republic capital, so too does the Inquisitors' superweapon. Han immediately rallies the Republic forces to attack it. Meanwhile, the Jedi fight their way through Mandalorians aboard the ship. They run into Luke being escorted by the Grand Inquisitor who engages the Jedi while Ben frees Luke from his shackles. As the Grand Inquisitor kills a number of Jedi, Luke and Ben engage him and manage to take the upper hand. The Republic forces deal heavy damage to the ship and are on the verge of destroying it. The Grand Inquisitor escapes, and Luke and Ben return to the Falcon to make their own escape. Luke, Ben, Han, Chewie and R2 meet Leia and C3PO to celebrate Luke's safe return and the threat of the superweapon gone. However, Luke and Han point out that it's too early to celebrate - the Inquisitors have returned and the Mandalorians are on the rise.
The Grand Inquisitor arrives at Mandalore and meets with Boba Fett. The Grand Inquisitor congratulates him on his successful establishment of a new Mandalorian empire, and reminds him that part of their deal was to allow the Inquisitors safe haven on Mandalore. Boba Fett agrees, but reminds the Grand Inquisitor not to get involved in his affairs - the Mandalorians will take down the Republic, the Inquisitorius will take down the Jedi.
And that's it. What do you think? What would you do?
Topic: How would YOU have done Episode 7 and the lead up to it? (Read 5651 times)