Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Listing Series
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Bonds of the Flesh Part One (Politics of Empire #8) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars Episode V: Empire Strikes Back
28 Sep 2020
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Summary
This story is mainly canon, but set in my long-extant Politics of Empire universe, which has mainly appeared in fanzines and in a few places on the internet over the years. This story begins prior to the attack on Hoth in TESB and concludes on the eve of ROTJ. Some situations and relationships are canon, but some alternate details crop up -- especially the concept that the Emperor Palpatine (*not* named Sheev in my universe) has aged and withered slowly from the passage of time and increased use of Dark Side energies/sorcery as many fans assumed prior to Lucas's transformation of Palpatine in ROTS. During this story, he looks as he does in ROTJ, but this has been a gradual development.
When the story opens, Vader is frantic to find Luke, to form a trinity of Darkness, while Palpatine is considerably more ambivalent. The two Sith have what historians call a romantic friendship that is sometimes fraught with erotic tension but no sexual relationship... Commander Treylan Jenrelm, the dashing head of Imperial Military Intelligence (and Vader partisan), is stationed on Executor, and recently separated from his long-term companion, Civilian Intelligence Director Jon Kalendra. Intrigue and drama ensue.
Series
- Part 1 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Bonds of the Flesh Part Two (Politics of Empire #8) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars Episode V Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi
16 Jun 2025
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Summary
This story is mainly canon, but set in my long-extant Politics of Empire universe, which has mainly appeared in fanzines and a few places on the internet. This story begins prior to the attack on Hoth in TESB and concludes on the eve of ROTJ. Some situations and relationships are canon, but some alternate details crop up -- especially the concept that the Emperor Palpatine has aged and withered slowly from the passage of time and increased use of Dark Side energies/sorcery as many fans assumed prior to Palpatine's ROTS transformation. During this story, he looks as he does in ROTJ, but this has been a gradual development.
When the story opens, Vader is frantic to find Luke, to form a trinity of Darkness, while Palpatine is far more ambivalent. The two Sith have a romantic friendship that is sometimes fraught with erotic tension but no sexual relationship... Commander Treylan Jenrelm, the dashing head of Imperial Military Intelligence (and Vader partisan), is recently separated from his long-term companion, Civilian Intelligence Director Jon Kalendra. Intrigue and drama ensue.
It is best to read Part One before reading this second installment in the long story.
Series
- Part 2 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Balance of Power (Politics of Empire #2) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars
13 Feb 2022
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Summary
This story takes place three years before "Bonds of the Flesh," in progress here. The 1st Death Star will soon be completed. Palpatine is seemingly conflicted about whom he should grant control of the new master weapon. Akim Tarkin, sheltered from Palpatine's occult nature most of the time, is devising the Tarkin Doctrine, and jealous of and disturbed by Palpatine's closeness to Darth Vader, whom Tarkin believes is a dangerous religious fanatic. Vader resents Tarkin and fears what might happen if Tarkin gains control of the space station. The Sith go to Tarkin's home planet for the Winter Festival and some much-needed rest and recreation, when tensions between them explode in ways both foreseeable and surprising.
Note: This was written in the 1990s, when the Prequel Trilogy did not exist, and zine writers began to create our own fanfic universes extrapolating from Original Trilogy material and what few published books, comics, magazines, etc. existed. Thus, like "Bonds of the Flesh" and other tales in my Politics of Empire story arc, "Balance of Power" includes details (proper names, Death Star origins, Vader's late wife, etc.) different from we see in the prequels and other official SW sources created after 1996.
Series
- Part 3 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Acts of Faith (Politics of Empire #3) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy
19 Jun 2025
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Summary
Summary:
This story is a sequel to "Balance of Power," and takes place about two years before "Bonds of the Flesh," in progress here. The 1st Death Star will soon be completed. Palpatine has granted control of the new master weapon to Grand Moff Akim Tarkin, the military governor of the planet Lothyyx. Tarkin is sheltered from Palpatine's occult nature most of the time, and jealous of and disturbed by Palpatine's closeness to Darth Vader, whom Tarkin believes is a dangerous religious fanatic. Lord Vader and the Emperor are nearly assassinated in the Palace, and Interior Minister Emil Atanysov, working with Palace Security, searches for the assassin(s).
Series
- Part 4 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Fate and Glory (Politics of Empire #4) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy
18 Jun 2025
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Summary
Vader and Palpatine's strained relationship is additionally tried by Tarkin's destruction of Alderaan. This was coauthored in 2001 with my writing partner Tahiri, who does not have an account on AO3.
Because this was written long before Rogue One was filmed, Tarkin's other targets (Scarif, Jedha) are not mentioned. They may appear in later stories in this series if useful, however!
Series
- Part 5 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Questions of Loyalty (Politics of Empire #6) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back timeline
20 Jun 2025
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This was authored by my writing partner Tahiri, with my consultation and input. She has no AO3 account, and has given me permission to post her work and our co-created SW fics under my account.
Please read it! It's completely gorgeous, and I will share your comments with her.
Vader's search for Luke Skywalker leads him to new levels of obsession and dread, prompting him to late-night confidences with his friend, the Commander of Military Intelligence, Treylan Jenrelm.
Palpatine is "off-screen" throughout this story, but is very much present in both men's thoughts.
The Executor crew is, for the first time, doubting Vader's judgment and rationality after his officer purge during the events of The Empire Strikes Back.
Series
- Part 6 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Homecoming (Politics of Empire #5) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy
21 Jun 2025
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Summary
After returning to Coruscant in the wake of the first Death Star's destruction, Lord Vader is a changed man. Needing to escape the celebration given in honor of his safe return to the Emperor's side, he has unexpectedly pleasant interactions in the Palace gardens with Governor Tamaris Hardren of Bexor.
Some explicit sexual content, following explicit political discussion and Court intrigues.
Series
- Part 7 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Chains of Command (Politics of Empire #1) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy
12 Aug 2025
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Summary
A spontaneous opportunity to evade political duties for awhile leads to disaster and self-blame for Vader and Palpatine. Stranded on a lifeless world, isolated far from the Core, the Sith must help each other survive, despite the growing tensions and resentments that strain their partnership.
In the meantime, ambitious leaders converge on the Capital, hoping to stake their own claims to the Throne.
This story is co-authored with my writing partner Tahiri, who does not have an AO3 account.
Printed in the SW fanzine I Don’t Care What You Smell #10, May 2005
Authors’ Note: This story takes place approximately 14 years after Anakin Skywalker’s Fall, and about three years before the events of “Balance of Power” and “Acts of Faith," posted here on AO3. In this loosely OT-canon universe, established long prior to the prequel and sequel trilogies, Palpatine looks only late middle-aged at this point in time, and does not resemble the more elderly Chancellor seen in TPM and AOTC (although that is beginning to change), or the monstrous transformation shown in ROTS.
Series
- Part 8 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire
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Tempting Fate (Politics of Empire #7) by HistorianVeronica
Fandoms: Star Wars Original Trilogy
10 Jan 2026
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Summary
This largely action-adventure tale takes place between TESB and ROTJ. A bit of its timeline overlaps with my story "Bonds of the Flesh" (Part One complete and Part Two in progress), both posted here on AO3 (and they do not reference each other, unless something later shows up in "Bonds"). Palpatine and Luke are constantly in Vader's mind throughout this tale, but remain, respectively, on Coruscant and Tatooine while Lord Vader needs several days to deal with unexpected crises in the midst of the planet Trexal's ongoing civil war.
When Vader visits Trexal for a rather ordinary political/diplomatic mission, he has a wholly unexpected and fateful adventure with Princess Leia Organa (whose own heart is with Han Solo, still frozen in carbonite in Jabba's Palace).
As always, dear readers, please understand that this is a lightly re-edited work originally printed in a fanzine more than 25 years ago, when my writing was less mature. I have corrected some grammar, typos, and wordiness, but there may be awkward scenes, clunky dialogues, or small inconsistencies with the other Politics of Empire stories posted here on AO3. Years ago I never imagined the stories all appearing in one place!
Series
- Part 9 of Star Wars: Politics of Empire