<div align="center">(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bd/Imperial_eagle.jpg)</div><div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Carbon Block;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;">INVALUERIT PER SAEVITAE</span></span></div><br/><hr/><br/>The Galactic Empire is not evil,<em>per se.</em>It does not seek to enslave other peoples, as such, but what it does is seek to survive, at any and all cost.<br/><br/>The Imperial Fleet and Imperial Marines are probably the best equipped, best trained and best led military force anywhere in the universe. This is not a military that doesn't care about casualties. Far from it. Each soldier killed in action is a soldier that must be replaced. The cost to train a soldier, feed him/her, equip him/her and transport him/her into battle is a considerable investment, that needs to be protected in order that it can give an adequate return!<br/><br/>And that attitude about sums up the Empire. It is not so much an evil monstrosity, as an uncaring bureaucracy.<br/><br/>Each world in the empire is allowed to run itself more-or-less as it pleases. Each world will have an Imperial Office somewhere within the capitol city. If there is no capitol city or there are several, the largest city is usually chosen.<br/><br/>Depending upon the strategic importance of the world, it may receive a garrison of marines and/or a naval base. Depending upon the location, social structure, relative importance, size of the population, balance of trade, etc, it may receive other offices besides the token Imperial Presence, such as a trade delegation, a branch of government, a branch of the judiciary, etc...<br/><br/>Worlds that have proved their loyalty are often granted the privilidge of maintaining an armed militia for self defence. The rest of the Empire is dependent upon the Imperial navy and marines for protection against outside threats and internal pirates.<br/><br/>But only certain worlds are governed directly by the Empire. Those worlds, such as Earth, Mars, and several others, that are considered to strategically important to be allowed self determination, also worlds where the Empire has been forced to step in, in order to prevent some major upheaval or some threat to the Empire developing. Home worlds of hostile species that have been co-opted into the Empire, such as Mrinoa, are often governed directly.<br/><br/>Crime and punishment is generally left to the local laws and law enforcement agencies. The one thing the Empire will not allow is the death penalty, however, except within it's own military for crimes such as refusing a direct order while under fire, for which the punishment is summary execution, always has been and always will be...<br/><br/>Local laws and local punishments are usually a lot softer than Imperial ones. The Empire reserves the right to step in to any criminal investigation, take over the trial of any individual case. Equally, local law enforcement have the right to appeal to Imperial justice. If a criminal is deemed to be too dangerous or violent to be dealt with locally, he or she may be handed over to the Empire. All cases of treason are tried by the Empire, as are cases of piracy.<br/><br/>Imperial Justice is harsh. Acquittals under the Imperial system are about one third less likely than under the harshest local system. And a guilty verdict almost always results in transportation to a "planet of exile". Many a criminal, on hearing that their case will be tried by the Empire, has changed a not-guilty plea to guilty, simply to avoid such a fate.<br/><br/>However it is also possible for a prisoner who believes they will not receive a fair trial locally to appeal to the Empire. This is somewhat rare, of course.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Important Note:</strong>The term Empire implies an Emperor. However, no one actually knows whether there is an Emperor or not. Obviously, someone up at the top of the bureaucracy must know, but those people who do are not telling, and they are so far removed from our characters that we will never know one way or the other.<br/><br/>It is a traditional toast before dinner to say "Long Live the Empire", rather than long live the Emperor.