While researching my story structure book on Star Wars, something stuck out to me in the opening line of the title credits. It reads;
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
STAR WARS
Episode IV
A NEW HOPE
It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, and space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.
Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy….
Wait a second. Let’s rewind.
It is a period of civil war.
Civil War.
But if Star Wars is a civil war, taking place inside the Empire’s borders, that should be in contrast to interstate war outside its borders. Star Wars’ central conflict is a civil war, which means other geo-political (or astro-political) entities border the galactic empire!
The evil Galactic Empire has neighbors.
And so did the Republic the Jedi protected. The Star Wars Universe is much bigger than a single galaxy. Our Milky Way Galaxy is part of the Star Wars Universe even if it is far, far away.
Even the name Star Wars is plural! This civil war is just one of many wars.
There are Extra-galactic aliens in the extended Star Wars Universe, but these are only half canon. But I think there is a gold mine of world-building opportunities in the opening few lines of Star Wars. How do the neighbors react to the death of the Emperor? What are their Jedi equivalents? The Force is much bigger than a single galaxy, after all. Was the Death Star designed to deter an intergalactic conflict? Are the other galaxies unified?
Vader tells Luke “With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.” How surprising would it be if the Empire was more afraid of what lurked outside their Galaxy than the rebels inside? What if the Empire needs a Death Star to protect itself? What if other groups looked at the chaos in the Empire and saw an opportunity to attack?
And what other types of war could there be? Here are some options:
- Cold War – political, economic, propaganda, and espionage instead of military action
- Invasion – Military Offensive that aggressively enters to conquer or liberate
- Proxy War – armed conflict instigated on behalf of other parties
- Undeclared War – A military conflict without either side issuing a formal declaration.
- Total War – all civilians and resources become military targets.
Star Wars occurs during a civil war between remnants of the old republic and the current empire. Inspired by Rome’s transition from republic to empire under Julius Caesar in 31 BC, Star Wars combines that political setting with iconography from the World Wars, especially ace pilot combat footage.
But with Rome as an inspiration, there could be many options to keep the Star Wars engine moving! Egyptian Pharaos, Mithradites the Poison King, Successive Emperors, good and bad, Pompey, putting down the pirates in the Mediterranian! You could even have The Republic’s Hannibal resurface like Star Trek’s Khan in Star Punic Wars.
While we will likely never see the multiple Wars in Star Wars play out, I think it is fun to imagine the possibilities.
Daniel N. Blair 