Timeline of our Galaxy

GREETINGS. I AM MASTER BELM LETH.

THE REST OF THE JEDI COUNCIL REQUESTS I PERFORM A DAUNTING TASK—TO REVISE THE ORDER’S HISTORICAL RECORDS IN LIGHT OF NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THE SITH EMPIRE.

I AM SPECIFICALLY GUIDED TO TRACE BACK THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE EMPIRE AND THE REPUBLIC, THE SITH AND THE JEDI, AND UNCOVER THE ROOTS OF THE STRUGGLE WHICH PLAGUES OUR TIME.

I'VE CHOSEN TO BEGIN WITH THE SINGULAR DEFINING EVENT OF RECENT YEARS—THE UNPRECEDENTED PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SITH EMPIRE AND THE GALACTIC REPUBLIC—THE TREATY OF CORUSCANT.

IT WAS THREE CENTURIES AFTER THE DEATH OF DARTH MALAK AND THE END OF THE JEDI CIVIL WAR THAT THE TRUE SITH EMPIRE FIRST RETURNED FROM DEEP SPACE, ATTACKING THE REPUBLIC AND BEGINNING A WAR UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE GALAXY’S HISTORY.

THE GREAT GALACTIC WAR DRAGGED ON FOR DECADES. HUNDREDS OF JEDI AND SITH WERE SLAIN, AND COUNTLESS STAR SYSTEMS RAVAGED.

DESPITE SEIZING CONTROL OF HALF THE GALAXY, THE SITH EMPEROR GREW IMPATIENT—HE HAD EXPECTED HIS TRIUMPH TO COME QUICKLY.

THE LORDS OF THE EMPEROR’S DARK COUNCIL SURPRISED THE REPUBLIC SENATE WITH AN OFFER OF PEACE—A REPRIEVE THE REPUBLIC COULD NOT AFFORD TO IGNORE.

THE REPUBLIC’S MOST CRITICAL TRADE ROUTE WAS STILL RECOVERING FROM A MANDALORIAN BLOCKADE, WHICH SLOWED THE TRANSPORT OF MILITARY SUPPORT TO THE OUTER RIM AND RAW MATERIALS TO THE CORE WORLDS.

THE JEDI COUNCIL URGED THE SENATE TO CONSIDER THE SITH’S OFFER WITH CAUTION, BUT EVEN THE JEDI HAD TO AGREE—THE WAR WAS UNWINNABLE—PEACE WAS THE ONLY HOPE.

REPUBLIC AND IMPERIAL DIPLOMATS CONVENED ON THE PLANET OF ALDERAAN TO DISCUSS A GALAXY-WIDE CEASE-FIRE…

BUT THE SITH STILL HAD ONE PLAY TO MAKE.

THE IMPERIAL FLEET LAUNCHED A SURPRISE ASSAULT, BOMBARDING THE REPUBLIC CAPITAL OF CORUSCANT FROM ORBIT AND THEN STORMING THE CITY-WORLD’S BOTTOMLESS TOWERS.

WITH CORUSCANT’S DEFENSES INCAPACITATED, THE IMPERIALS ANNIHILATED THE JEDI TEMPLE, CAPTURED THE SENATE TOWER, AND HELD THE ENTIRE PLANET HOSTAGE.

BACK ON ALDERAAN, REPUBLIC DIPLOMATS HAD NO CHOICE. DESPITE UNFAVORABLE TERMS, THE TREATY OF CORUSCANT WAS SIGNED.

JEDI AND REPUBLIC TROOPS BEGAN WITHDRAWING FROM BATTLEFIELDS AROUND THE GALAXY, LEAVING STAR SYSTEMS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND TO BE QUICKLY SWALLOWED UP BY THE SITH EMPIRE.

THE JEDI RETURNED TO CORUSCANT TO FIND THEIR TEMPLE IN RUINS AND IRATE SENATORS BLAMING THE JEDI ORDER FOR ALL THE REPUBLIC’S TROUBLES.

THOUGH STILL COMMITTED TO DEFENDING THE REPUBLIC, THE JEDI RELOCATED TO DANTOOINE—THERE TO REST, MEDITATE, AND SEEK GUIDANCE FROM THE FORCE.

THUS BEGAN AN UNPRECEDENTED STALEMATE—THE JEDI RECONNECTING WITH THEIR ROOTS, THE REPUBLIC NURSING ITS WOUNDS, THE SITH CONSOLIDATING THEIR POWER, AND A GALAXY DIVIDED BETWEEN DARKNESS AND LIGHT.

IN RETROSPECT, THIS OUTCOME WAS INEVITABLE, AND WOULD HAVE COME SOONER WERE IT NOT FOR SOME OF THE REPUBLIC'S LESS SAVORY ALLIES. I WILL ELABORATE ON THIS THEORY SOON.