Editor's Note: The following is a history of LSF's imperial faction, written from the perspective of a former Emperor, Smoke. It is certainly not an impartial history, and its quite a long read, but I find it as accurate as anything else I've seen, and Smoke is as honest as he can be when he mentions that he isn't impartial. It meanders at times, but its truely an insightful look at events within the LSF over the past three years from the imperial perspective. Again, parts of this are written in first person, and that person is Smoke, not me. No parts have been edited from the original copy I unearthed, and as near as I can tell, this history concludes with events around very late 1998 or very early 1999.

~Silverknight, Dec. 2000

LSF Imperial History

It was a new year, early January, Terran year 1998. I had returned to Philadelphia, PA from extended voyaging, and visited a good friend's house, McRat. Grunt was there too; however, I had not the slightest suspicion of what lay before us...

I got to Rat's current home; I hadn't been there before, and expected the unexpected....I entered the disgustingly messy bunker and was both pleased and disgusted to see my friends on a computer, glued to the internet. Perhaps it was because Rat was mudding (such a pathetically primitive activity -- yes!~ -- worse than Zork, even), or just that they were actually taking something seriously, with interest....something tenuous, impersonal, unproven, wild....the internet, dammit....

I quickly learned what was 'up'; about LSF, The Last Starfighter's League, XvT, LucasArts, and the billion other catchphrases which comprise our SW online activities.... I gained the honor of my first melee; against Redneck, as I recall... Having my last simulated flight experience at the controls of a Boeing 737 in Flight Simulator 98, buzzing low-altitude passes THROUGH downtown Chicago, I was more than slightly unprepared for the crisp handling of an MS Sidewinder 3d Pro and an X-Wing with power settings set by Grunt himself... I killed that future Rogue, maybe six times, him only getting me maybe double that (his host, if you wonder), and was hooked.

I got to know the "crewe", on undernet, no less, for there was time before holonet, even... Undernet used to be the LSF home. Some gutless rebels took to personal haunts as well, but Undernet was the Imperials' home. Then some of the internet's finer nasties began to prey upon our fun. I suppose having fun while kicking their asses in XvT has it's merits, but these scum saw none (when LSF did...) and took it upon themselves to mess around with all of us... This apparently culminated in January '98, during which time control of #lsf was lost to the savages. It took some brutal real online warfare to 'hail' an irccop to control the situation, but as in real life, yes, it was so late that we'd already taken up home on a newly discovered holonet, discovered by Baal, of course. LoM, insidious jackass droid, of course beat us to the chanserv... To us, at that time, it was new, as was nickserv, etc... There was no lag, it wasn't an archaic 16 bit server... It was and is one of a kind (or so you're being led to believe) Holonet was good to us, and we've only gotten them nuked a couple times... =b

All along, of course, I started to play the game; I meleed cursed Otto (rebel), and began to learn the ways of the lag... I got to melee his roomie; Aragon, who was so impressed with my skills that he offered me a slot in his new squad; Black Talon... At the time, Stryker was still an absenteeism-landlord Emperor, Ghost was a lowly Wing Commander (heh), and a new round of promotions brought many broad changes around the Empire. Aragon was to be a future wing commander, Ghost to become an admiral. But, Aragon's work and party life took new precedent, however... He was unable to participate any longer, and turned Black Talon over to me. This I took, and put myself to the task of playing (learning) XvT. I got to melee a LOT of the old 'lost' players, JM's, the list of names is seemingly endless, but many fell before I reached Jedi Master myself...

With McRat and Grunt, and the rest of LSF's help, I learned the rest, and flew my squad. BT trained it's first round of pilots, most now still with us, several rather conspicuously, I might add, hehe) And the Empire loomed threateningly to the then Smugglers, Katana, and Corsec factions. The rebels were bitten by a nasty bout of internal strife, which will only be explored later in the chronicles. The (then) current campaign was the (referred to as 'Second') precursor to Rebirth I and II. It was shackled with rampant problems from all sides, and eventually died a slow protracted death. During that time, I led Black Talon in the name of the Empire, and began the Imperial ShipGuide (which led to INSA, which led to shipguide version B, which led to the Imperial Archives, yada dada...) However, I was thirsty for campaign-blood; Kills..., but had been denied. The Empire was layed out across the galaxy, with good combat taking place out by Airaam and Sluis Van, but I joined later and wasn't deployed with the front lines; my hopes were in a task force sent to Mon Calamari, where we were to crush some flimsy wing which was to serve as resistance to us. But, all were denied that rightful pleasure as what I deemed (and others had pointed this out to me a million times over, I add) that SBR ShadowWolf, under-jackass, was 'hrummphing' and stalling and sitting on a collective-ass-stump; alas--no battle scheduled; no combat for Smoke... Instead, I worked for the Empire, whereever I could. The message boards were rife with colorful language, and stories, too... Great plans were being enacted, the evolution of the Empire was underway. There was a share of problems at the time, though.

Stryker had returned to activity, yet the Empire had suffered in his pseudo-absence. He chose to offer the throne to a successor, yet only a few candidates were eligible, less even active... Baal was an obvious front-runner. Already Dark Lord of the Sith, he possessed many other qualifications for the title. Ghost as Admiral, or Fleet Admiral, or something, heh, and was another top seed in the running, yet he possessed a 'laundry list' of complaintants against him, but...

The perennial problem of consistent activity upon the Empire was striking blow after blow--we lost many a member to the temptation of better lives off the internet, new jobs, different schedules, and a host of other many reasons. The Empire was also suffering from a power-void, there was competition for the Throne...several squadrons were consolidating their powers...outside forces were accumulating and foraying into our LSF Imperial 'turf' repeatedly; in short, a lack of consistent, coherent leadership. Yet, similar problems in other factions were wreaking similar harm. Eventually the three smallest all folded into one, Black Sun, with many of the original members being permanently MIA/KIA. The rebels underwent their scizm, know as the reign of ShadowWolf, and eventually, it passed to the era Lightning handed to Sirene, of late.

(this is perhaps the most important idea to understand...)

There's an important point/lesson here: -- this is not an 'LSF problem' --, or a 'faction problem', it's more aptly described a 'human' one; generally, we communicate rather poorly. Add to this the blind, dumb, slow, etc... 'internet', and one can begin to easily realize how any well-laid plan can undergo complete unravelling in such a medium. Simply; with this many people, and so little 'regimentation', it's miraculous we manage to engage in what activities we do. This is opposed to complete mute idleness, but it's not some grand concerto or symphony, either.

What makes LSF 'move', or function, is the efforts of a very FEW people. These few, though many have already come and gone, saw to it that things, despite being utter chaos, yes, utter, had some consistency and direction to them. When some of these people got together, the changes and progress seen was even more apparent. This phantom concept is called and known as 'cooperation'. Enough of principles, it's obvious some things may be called a problem, while others are just how life is...

Back to that time, tho, after the 'Second' campaign finally dies...

It was a viscious time, in XvT, on holonet, the boards... Scandal was utterly rife, however, there was a strong core of activity sustaining it. People began to leave, though. Virtually all of the founding members were gone by the end of the second campaign. Perhaps twenty remained fairly active. The Empire saw it's losses mount, then double, and many were questioning the future we had before us. Ghost was almost fully in power, the time was before he assumed the title of Emperor, as Stryker would hand down upon him, before he was to retire from Imperial Service, and do his 'bangin in rebel craft with the hated Alliance. The time preceding this was late 1997.

The Empire had been born not many months before. Originally, LSF was almost all rebels, who flew rebel craft, and all felt as if they were Luke Skywalker, except there were no Imperials to fly against... It was a nice illusion, but the redundancy left something to be desired. Somehow, thank Lag, the masters of Lag Kung Fu delivered some pilots of exceptional skill to form a group of thoroughly heinous Jedi Master Tie- craft pilots, and they proceeded to kick the Alliance's collective -and- figurative ass. Battles were held, where, typically, 20 rebels would show up, yet only four Imperials met them. The Imperials won. An Empire was born, The first Emperor was known as Temujin, yet his time was not long, and his reign fell to inactivity, and Stryker stepped up, having prior been a deadly pilot and efficient leader (we hope). His reign, too, fell to inactivity; the Empire grew during the time he was present, it evolved, squadrons were formed, Rapier, Archangel, Avenger, Dark Raven. One by one they rose, gathered power, and used it to split alliance craft like flimsy peanuts. The rebels were cast about like seeds to the wind and were likely only saved from utter destruction by the unending efforts of their greatest pilots. Many fought and died so they could survive...

The Empire grew through 1997, then it took a sharp turn.

When I joined, I was in a unique position; RL friend/accomplice of McRat and Grunt; I learned XvT from the inside-out; multiplayer to start, no less. All the LSF "giants" were practically still active and honed in XvT; it was a glorious time to train and achieve my Jedi Master rank (current kill counter = 11K+!!). But, so many of the Empires hard-earned JM's were disappearing... They were present often, but less and less, some reported leaving on the boards, or wherever/whatnot, others simply vanished, and our ranks were deplorably gutted over the span of a month and a half. During this time, I waged war throughout LSF, via the convenient message boards... I boasted as best I could, I taunted some, also, and I remember one particularly "system go bite-me" time when I more or less challenged the (then) powers-that-be to 'saddle' me with a command-burden, as I would not "...~bail out, or run like some (&*#$@), see if you can make me quit (don't plan on it)...". I had made an open challenge, a vow, and I had exceptional help and resources at hand.

Ain't 20/20 hindsight useless? I led well, I suppose, but I discovered the true nature of the beast so many had seemingly been running from... I had been fighting the people who were bailing out, quitting, etc... I saw such potential then (some of which has been realized, I might add) that I defended the very principles, ideas I held. It was all I could use, for the problems I uncovered were both simple and complex. I learned some good lessons from others' mistakes (best way to learn, I might add). Ideas began to crystallize in my mind. MY ideas, things which I had felt before, but somehow never spoke; things which had occurred to me, but I didn't mention... I found a place time and reason to, though. I tried what I could to inundate my new friends with some new 'outside' viewpoint/knowledge; for I was the newcomer, no matter how initiated... An important lesson I picked up, and remind all, is: Don't let any one person, or group of people decide, or make you decide that you're leaving or quitting something, or giving up. It is plain and simple wrong. The obvious exception is the person with a gun to your head...duh!, but for things like the rest of our lives, stopping or quitting something or giving up should be an action preceded by thought, your own...not a reaction to something; make purpose for your actions, don't let it be handed to you, tarnished by a (usually) just-as-wrong influence than your own, very own, person's. Choice; what we choose has a lot to do with how we see things, but choice DOES remain. See things as all bad? Guess what you have to choose from. See something good? So long as it's not a reaction that you're allowing (sometimes forcing) yourself to endure, then there's always something good. Objectively good. All of this does take some effort, and yes, brain power, but what better way to spend such energy?

Back from the aside is the sharp turn, inactivity and some unmanned Tie's gathering dust in darkened hangars--

The problem here, along with inactivity, was so many different people interacting; quite, very quite complicated... Communication was stunted, impossible without premeditated coordination, yet something had to be done. Piled atop this, precursing and sometimes fomenting discordious problems was constant report/complaint/wailing over various LSF-wide offenses (names irrelevant, it happens to this day), such as: refusals of cooperation among any combination of command officers between factions, abusive or degradatory irc, http, etc. behavior, some form of actual retardation where subjects were genuinely stupid beyond the ability to punish, and a litany that only the Creator himself will ever fully get out of me, if ever.

So, LSF, and ~the Empire were attitudinally-challenged.

There was so much cloak-and-dagger, knife-me in-the-back, I hate, you hate, blather, we're so ugly our relatives store us in closets bullshit and crap that it had to be eliminated.

Stryker returned. He told of the future, of the past, and more about he, himself. There was a returned LSF'er around, Lancelot, friend of Grunt, efficient founder of Golden Talon squadron (BSD). He was a potential successor, while an Avenger, before turning away from the Empire... Baal was a potential successor also, yet Ghost was too.... Enmity was ever-prevalent. Imperial security devices intercepted a meeting which took place during this time. Power was present, LSF power, and the dark beast's head was reared. The images recorded of that meeting show faces, practically the thoughts going through their minds. Thoughts of how sickened they were to see how things were actually done in the ugly engineering section of this league. It was messy, there was blood on some people's hands and weapons about. This is a little figurative, but something sick was present. They are unnamed to protect the savage, and guilty, it was apparent that the old order was to remain conducting the league, as the Empire would remain a separate group/order in itself. (No LSF-power, other than Emperor's representation as faction-leader). People cast votes, but the mentioned candidates (there were others, too), and others dropped out one by one, until Ghost remained and assumed the title of supreme Imperial leader.

It wasn't any 'star chamber' or anything, just the way prevailing forces happened to be; albeit non-Imperial...

Shit hit the fan, at that time, there were several people a day quitting the faction, and LSF sometimes, too. More than half blamed Ghost himself, deeply, completely, utterly, almost inexplicably--especially to me, the almost-uninitiated observer... It was eerie, fortunately I had huge amounts of detailed information at my fingertips. I learned why Grunt despised Ghost, who had interfered with Avenger squadron and none other than Rogue Otto. Suffice it to say, as I investigated all the losses, they were either debunked or verified and a heinous trend was rampant. The remaining power (a goodly amount) decided to take matters into their own hands. Several outside groups (outside-LSF) were also watching. LSF had more than one enemy at the time, it's little wonder what good ass-whuppin's handed out return sometimes... I managed to stumble across almost everything in the Empire which was going on; between McRat, Grunt and me, we had anywhere from 2-5 computers, a couple ISP's and easily 24 man hours a day between us to be online, etc...

The first thing which got me rolling was only weeks into my LSF-experience. DLoS was Baal, I think had been since I'd joined. I have no clue what it was... Maybe it was the bout in #sverige, perhaps similar senses of humor; or mebbe just that concordant recognition of genius found throughout the worlds... Baal was 'leaving'; for the first time, as far as I knew... This was a precipitating factor in Ghost becoming Emperor. Remember the meeting that was spied? More than one Emperor candidate was so sickened by what they saw/heard/learned that they dropped out of the running altogether... It's an axis of this whole equation, unpretty, but functional...

Baal leaving was in a bad way; I heard a not unreliable report of him using a hammer on parts or all of his computer. It was indeed heavy shit; with a centering that wound up on Ghost more often than not, no less. After a day or two of being MIA, Baal resurfaced; it was a time of chaos all over LSF. IRC had been moved to holonet; to the best of my knowledge, which was discovered by Baal, and overrun by 4LoM (then Drgn squadron), and #lsf was set up as it is today... Holonet ruled; it wasn't lagged, had security features, and was relatively new, and better, ALL-STARWARS, practically ours... So that was cool, but I freaked a little, sent some truly hot-headed email out (this shit was 'Smokin!) I was unaware and in the real absence of Baal thought a really cool friend was indeed leaving over some personal ~shit.

There were the remaining power-groups within the Empire, all had bad blood somewhere, and perhaps the most powerful readied a long-protracted revolt. It would have worked, but likely wrecked two-thirds of what remained at that time. It was to be an insidious internal-faction campaign of "let's play 'King of the Hill'..." I determined there was a solution; a new form of Emperor, one who was just, and certainly not hated, yet WAS impartial, and interested in Imperial well-being. An Emperor who was a truer sort than had previously been across LSF and the net. The Emperors we had experienced were nebulous, indeed, but their attention was often interrupted, to the detriment of the Empire. We needed an Emperor who was mysterious, yet appeared regularly, as if from nowhere. We needed an Emperor who would lead the Imperial high-commanders, post Emperor-like posts on the message boards, and randomly appear in irc or the zone, to "slaughter a few weaker Jedi, for sport, or a powerful one, as an example"... We needed an Emperor who was CONVINCING! I made it my mission to ensure the Empire wasn't torn any further apart, I made it my mission to ensure the new Emperor did a convincing job. I began to talk to Ghost.

I made it clear to him what he was facing; I'm totally unaware of his side of perception during this. At first he thought I was Grunt bullshitting him, then he thought I was me bullshitting him, then he listened... He had done plenty already which had alienated more than half of the current Empire, the remaining forces were on guard, as they expected the worst from Ghost. These remaining forces told me that they would openly rebel against Ghost, yet I thought of a plan. The convincing Emperor plan. The punchline was that it wasn't Ghost... I gained the necessary 'favor' from the interested parties, I prepared a plan, and executed step one; I informed the remaining Imperial forces of a definite future in the Empire for the next several weeks; one where their fears would not be realized and my plan would unfold. I hatched step two; it involved the favor of Ghent, just so he was aware of what was transpiring. I informed Ghost of his options; join or die. I was impartial, as I hadn't been ticked off by anyone, let alone him. So many people had 'quit', saying that Ghost ruined their entire lives, seemingly. I didn't believe it all, and I even scorned some who blamed another person for their problems, as they had LET shit happen to them; we are not defenseless flowers in this online world, we're free... Step three involved my 'ace' in the hole; Rogue Otto would have made the Emperor I had envisioned. McRat and Grunt agreed; so did Otto; he would remain secret, that was the punchline; noone but me and Rat would know who the Emperor was..... Pretty friggen' mysterious if you ask me (pretty convincing...) Otto was expert enough a pilot to be convincing, and he had the requisite amount of knowledge to function in that role. We would have bought him a clandestine ISP to retain his anonymity with, but the plan was changed. Suffice it to say he had a genuine interest in a strong Empire, for what better to lead his silly Rogue squadron against? He's about as cool as they come, people... heh

At the time, the remaining Imperial naval forces were scant. Avenger squadron boasted four active members, Archangel up to twice that, Rapier maybe that, Dark Raven at first double, but then waned to 5. Black Talon sent new blood out, and Mauler Mithel joined up and started Assailant squadron. Then things took off way for the better... Previously, the remaining Imperials, all were on my ICQ, or in a direct email loop with me. I coordinated and even voter-polled them on various things. I hooked up to every thing/one there was...

Even though things would have progressed nicely, with a "proxy Emperor", and the rest of the brass left intact, Me helping, my allies guiding things, etc... it would have worked, but a different timeline would have been made, and the future would not have unfolded as it did. The change in plans was a dual-natured response made by Ghost, mid-plan. He resisted my punchline, yet stepped up to the challenge I presented and vowed to lead as Emperor, not himself. This was a little complicated for the remaining Imperials to accept. I ensured them that Rat and I could 'remove' any cancerous action performed by Ghost, had he chosen to fly off the handle. He didn't, more than less, and the Empire began its new era. McRat was named to the Grand Admiral's position, and I eventually received the title of Wing Commander.

I took it upon myself to see to the training of all Imperials. Of course, it took an ISD to do his, so the Tyranny took shape and her mighty bongdrives still scream to this day. I had a thorough and excellent shipguide, and a tenacity to be reckoned with. I also was on an eight-month vacation, so time was on my side... (Rat was too, as was Grunt....we had ALL the time on our hands...) I made it a point of getting to know everyone, and regularly talking with them. This was not easy in the slightest. I had to find most of them. Scouring websites and message boards for email addys and icq #'s, I wrote messages and mail endlessly, finding, meeting, learning. I learned who knew who, who was on when, who did what, liked what, hated what, etc... My ICQ list grew like a steriod-ridden vine, and before it was eternally wiped out with a series of low-level H/D formats, contained well over 150 Imperials and various others... I bombarded people with massive emails; cc:'s, bcc:'s, I used the message boards, I talked in irc and icq all the time. I was the eyes and ears and senses of the Empire. What I didn't know, my close friends did. I had Rat and Grunt to answer questions and fill in blanks, I had the loyal remaining Imperials to do bidding, and Ghost to approval-stamp it all. I did it all in the interest of the Empire. I was Imperial, I remind ya, not some asshole...

Raptor wing was my wing, there was a new guy around, a gift left to me by Baal, before he wound up leaving the Empire for a long time. Anvil, some crazy Australian, well, not crazy, but all international people seem 'crazy' to us yanks. He had fire, and brightness, he was an Imperial's Imperial. With his command of Orca squadron, and mine of Black Talon, we filtered the new Imperials, and trained them in the ways of the lag. We made the sacrifices we had to, and conquored the rest. Our network of communication and control stretched across the globe, literally; we had things in marvelous control. New applicants to the Empire were responded to thoroughly and quickly (usually, heh). We 'screened' false/bogus applications also, for there were a great many... There were outside forces seeking to usurp the order that was present. These forces were from outside LSF, outside the Empire, and outside the circle of power which was running things.

I had reached agreement with all the remaining Imperials, including Ghost. His tenure as Emperor was one in which both he and the Empire grew. I was the 'bullshit filter', if you will; that is, I ran as much as I could; I was the go-between between the Emperor and the remainder of the Empire; all worked on paper, all worked in practice. Squads began to grow again, and a new addition to our ranks, Mauler, began the first of many expansion squads; Assailant. There was a good share of insurgency from outside groups during this time, several of which tried to ply their way into the Empire and LSF, all of which met fierce resistance from all factions and were irrevocably crushed and stamped out. This of course kept more than one high-command officer fairly busy...sort of an ongoing form of damage-control.

** the best story is when the LSF rebel, Talon Karred?, saw a guy on the zone named ndj_new_emperor or something like that... This little kid tried to take over the Empire by just saying so, heh heh, and was laughed as far away as possible, but the vermin persisted and tainted our beloved holonet...sooo...... A REBEL, finds him on the zone, and 'assists' him into a t/i melee, and stamps him out like 30-4 or something, making sure the results became Well Known, immediately, and thereafter the little putz never resurfaced again...thank lag!

All along, certain Imperials rose to challenges, paving new paths for the Empire, many, nay the lot of them impressing the collective hell out of the high-command. We all couldn't have been more pleased with the activity and efforts we saw. Well, I complained about activity, and a couple other things, but I was by then Vice Admiral and specifically SUPPOSED to bitch about stuff like that...heh. The Empire had fended off the insurgents, crushing the guilty where they stood, and times were 'good'. I continued to melee, and INSA had been created, thus freeing me from some training time (I'd make the pilot read the damn site, not type it to him piecemeal...) The Imperial squadrons grew all along during this time, and the alliance began to show some panicky signs; those being their members not showing up anymore, arguing among themselves, and seeing their overall skill-level median decline. Also during this time, I expanded my responsibilities; I was indoctrinating new Imperials, seeing to it that they were irc-capable, read the boards, had LSF contacts on ICQ, etc... It was a vast task; keeping track of the numbers alone was difficult. Ghost tricked me into making him a roster; I blasted one over to him, then he says, "I need their icq and emails too" Fool me didn't refuse; oh my what a beyotch; just to get that information on a hundred Imperials in a .txt file was a pain I'll not soon forget; seems its HARD... People's emails change, ICQ's rarely advertised, let alone posted; and the ever-present LSF-comm problem;

As Raptor CO, I made friends all across the Empire; in Europe, The Wild Cards were active as hell. I got to know some of their members pretty well; we established a great working relationship, which was never severed, even when the euro-league 'seal' was created (another story). One of my self-picked duties in the Empire was routing out inactives. The rosters around February/March were gutted with blank slots and pilots I hadn't seen around. I mined their contact information from the remaining sources available, and eventually reached most, if not all of them; putting check marks next to ones who resurfaced. One of them was AR Spider; someone I'd met in January, but who since vanished, then returned. Thinking him in N. America, I was surprised to hear him tell that he was in Norway, and wanted to start a squadron called The Fire Shadows. I was stoked; for look at TFS today....

Our Australasian counterparts were great friends to be made also. At the time, Bolt was Wing CO of Marauder; Anvil was a newbie, and Hund hadn't even melee'd anyone in LSF, yet, LOL!! Baal introduced me to Anvil, who was an astute Imperial, a natural leader, who oversaw the complete growth of Marauder to what it is today. From Raptor XO to Grand Moff he rose through the ranks, always staunchly defending the Empire's interests, and leading the Australasians to advancement after advancement. Lightning squadron was reborn after Bolt had to take leave; Orca squadron has been a fine success for the Empire, continually fueled with new blood from non-stop recruiting efforts. Wraith squadron, formerly The Rough Necks were born, and raised, and now there is word of yet another squadron being organized 'down under'.

All along, it was apparent that Anvil had things well in hand, therefore, from the start of our dealings, it was agreed that he have 'say so' over INTSEC, as he was the person in contact with most of them, regularly. This was a great arrangement, for it allowed them the freedom to grow as they saw fit, also allowing N.America to be stabile, without having to take allowances for a distant sector always. This allowed High Command to be able to rely on INTSEC and Alpha wing separately, freeing up time and resources. Marauder wing grew under Anvil's and Hund's watch; with the help of some go-getting Euro-Imperials, it further flourished.

Back in Alpha wing, things were getting busy, yet the other new friend who had been introduced, Mauler, eventually rose to the rank of Admiral, before he had to take leave for the summer. He was interested in creating a model Imperial squadron, with great care and detail, and succeed he did. Assailant squadron was the first of several expansions squads within the Empire. Prior to Assailant, Ice Wolf squadron joined the Empire, under CO Jix (future Dark Lord of the Sith) and XO Skull (future Beta wing CO). After Assailant, other squads rose, notably Executioner squadron, and several others which are at this time considered failed. Failed due to not continuing along chartered courses. Several were fraught with poor leaders, or other such malfeasance. The climax of this period of misfortune was when the Imperial Message board was wiped out by an uncouthe act of a now-deceased saboteur. Of a humorous note; after a renegade squadron defected from the Empire, they believed themselves to be aboard a stolen Imperial Interdictor-class Star Destroyer, bragging from Byss to Nal Hutta, the punchline was that the craft had never even been built, it was used solely for story purposes, as the renegade commander had insisted... To this day they are hunted by even their own friends, now hiding in some distant corner of a non-descript system located far from civilized beings.

The spring of '98 saw through the great period of growth for the Empire, begun by Mauler and Assailant. Pre-existing squadrons got new recruits to fill their ranks out, and virtually every squad in the Empire was full or near-full at this time. The early-year climax was easily the LSF-TFA war, fought in May. After a solid week of 24/7 battling, LSF held a wide points lead, winning the war from the onset, having never lost an early lead, which was only built upon and subsequently defended. The amount of players on both sides was a great amount. Activity hadn't been better since the 'first' LSF campaign. There was even an eerie cooperation between LSF Imperials and the rebels and BSD... Greater than all was the fun people had. Eventually, after the war, things settled back to the 'normal' pace of incommunication and sloth. Everywhere there were active people, yet coordination was lacking. Most prevalent was the impression that things had shrunk beyond a large level; ie- order existed solely at the squadron level, with a Wing being the largest organized element in LSF. This was due to many many people leaving for the summer; some having lost ethernet (school) connections, others working, or travelling, or just slacking off... The Empire had eventually attained a second wing; Beta wing, having split Alpha wing, and continuing with some 'newer' squadrons.

Executioner squadron had joined Black Talon and Orca in Raptor Wing; I had received the promotion to Vice Admiral, and named my successor, a returned Captain Muddy, BT XO, now Raptor wing CO. Anvil was comfortable as XO and had INTSEC to deal with, and things worked well. Executioner was led by Aeropagitica and Ajax; they helped N.American recruits learn the LSF ropes while BT and the VcA were busy slaying infidels. I was doing a great deal of work for the Empire; processing vast amount of mail and messages; spending long hours on irc, and even more in the training simulators with new recruits. I had completed the first generation INSA site (The Imperial Navy Starfighter Academy) and was underway with the Imperial Archives, which I subsequently finished. Mauler was promoted to Alpha wing CO, as Ghosthunter and I felt it a necessarily-filled position. I had been running things from Raptor for so long I almost forgot I had to keep doing it as Vice Admiral. Needless to say, we needed another person...

Mauler was well-suited to the task, and he took the reins with efficiency, ensuring that the Empire was served first, above anyone who stood before it. Before long, the time came where I was being assailed in RL with time-consuming tasks. It was breaking my LSF-wide concentration, and the current extent of my dealings was vast enough, as it was. I was interested in having an Admiral in place above me, for the purose of taking weight off my shoulders. Again Mauler was ready for this, and he took the opportunity and produced great results with it. Grand Admiral McRat was dangerously AFK during these times. Prior to Mauler's further promotion, Rat had RL voyaged 1500 miles from home for a 'move' of sorts. He had left his online affairs dangerously stangnant. Grunt had perhaps done a similar thing, yet closer, but just as inactive. Ghost was even less active than he had normally been (very, very active). Mauler, however, put lots of time into many areas; his squadron, the game XvT, LSF proper, and much more. However, this began a change in me, Smoke, it made me grow more, and looking back, it's something that shaped me now...

The campaign at this time was Emperor Ghosthunter's Rebirth Campaign. It was mission-oriented, where custom missions were designed and flown by teams (per faction), and storyline was composed to reflect results. It was more than excellent. Things progressed, rebel Sirene (of Rogue squadron) was captured and turned to the dark side. This was not long after Admiral Mauler had to take leave for RL responsibilities in the summer. Things had changed; people left the Empire again, and of course LSF proper, too, from all factions, no less, but the Empire was in it's decline and at the time it didn't appear as 'summer vacation', it appeared like old problems [popped up] again. However, I was adaptable and ready for the change, myself. Through sheer luck and a skilled officer, Sirene pledged undying service to the Emperor and the Empire, and accepted a position which was (by me) deemed a necessity. Rat still had not returned 'in force', Mauler was away, and I was plain tired of juggling everything. Sirene took the office and led. When Mauler had taken the Admiral's position, AR Legend had been given the opportunity to lead Alpha wing. After Mauler had gone for the summer, it was necessary. Both Legend, then Sirene too, efficiently helped the Empire sustain itself, and flourish in more ways than one during a slow summertime, and to this day I am in debt to them.

They allowed me to be able to play XvT more, to relax, not have to bleed trying to get everything to work 'right'. Muddy had to leave for a LONG time, a RL opportunity which he took, and I decided to return to Raptor CO, and Black Talon, to continue INSA, the Archives, and start on more things. I got to do that, but things change anyways....

DLoS Demonspawn stepped down; Emperor Ghosthunter stepped down; then replacement DLoS Jix stepped down. Beta wing staff and Alpha wing XO were like musical chairs for a week or two. Through this, by the loyal Imperial leaders we have today, a new Emperor and an old Dark Lord of the Sith were brought to power. Filling the chasm created by high-losses, stepping up to the Empire, both credibly, and with extensive backing, Emperor Ripper took the throne on Coruscant, to lead the Empire where none had gone before--to Mon Calamari.... Baal had returned, as well, and put in his time, gained the necessary favors and taken the DLoS's spot over. VcA Sirene and Line Capt. Legend and myself kept the rest of the navy operating fluidly enough, and today's Empire began to take shape.

The Empire was steady for a time; losing only to summer inactivity. INTSEC was growing stronger daily, and time was on our side. LSF itself was moving very slowly. Several personelle had left or resigned, almost all from outside the Empire.

Then there came a surprise; VcA Sirene wound up resigning for the chance to lead the rebels, as faction leader. I boiled an email to her, quoting a doomsayer from months previous as having foretold of this 'event'; I brought up contractual elements of the command she was leaving; how former Emperor Ghosthunter had made a clear pact that the Empire was where she was to remain, as taking a High-Command position was not something for those who might 'up and leave'. Looking back at it, it's good that I only sent the email; we talked after, and the Alliance had a new leader, and the Empire a friend in a high-place. Hopefully the familiarity with the Empire that Sirene had gained would further help the new Rebirth Episode II campaign run more smoothly, in depth, and above all more-melee and battles...

There was a downside to things, however; for the VcA's 'chair' was vacant now; as I had originally NOT intended. Fortunately, Line Captain Legend had been doing a detailed-job with Alpha wing, also coordinating with Marauder wing and INTSEC. He saved me more trouble than I care to estimate; but things were still 'high-seas'. As Sirene was leaving, I sent that e-mail **(come on, we got no notice!!!) to her, and the remaining High-Command, Legend included. Now that mail was a little critical, but Legend was 'first in line' for a promotion to High Command, and he was in a position to 'know' what was in that mail. It got under his skin. Around the same time, after having been appointed Grand Admiral for two weeks, I made a command decision. That was to commandeer the fleet, per se, for Rebirth II. This was the 'second' Rebirth campaign; the first had gone a strange route, indeed. Apparently Ghost gained some extensive cooperation from both BSD and the alliance for this. But, LSF XO Vanor, then 'in charge' really tried to take it over, and Ghost simply 'pulled the plug', timed of course with his leaving of the Empire and LSF itself... The second one was modelled on the first, but was Vanor's to see through; yet I wanted to see some kills... I wanted an active role and had not been able to participate with the fleet movement planning and logistics, as I deemed necessary. Therefore, I made an official note of taking proxy over the command; fairly certain that the Wing CO's would pick up the ball and play with me at that point; so sure of this with Marauder wing, that I specifically said that they would be more or less autonomous despite my orders. The reason for this is simple. It's how I've always worked with Marauder wing.

Line Captain Legend on the other hand, took this in combination with a history of things which had irked him. Things not clearly described to myself, but Imperial probes and spy networks determined that much of his frustration (past frustration) had been due to LSF commanders; faction level, and some Imperial HC stuff. More or less he did a great job despite any misgivings on anyone's behalf, but my announcement obviously snapped something. At the SAME time, Baal had one foot out the door, as Alpha was precariously weak at this time. Legend asserted his command to me, and I as gracefully as I could aquiesced to him, again, and things appeared stabile for the time being. I began to advise Legend with reports for rebirth, all elective; just information, tactics, ideas, etc...so he had as much to work with as I could provide. The time soon came when Legend was ready to 'take off', himself, for certain reasons which will not be explored, suffice it to say that one of them was unfounded/wrong. But, obviously pissed, Alpha wing demanded High Command 'put up or shut up', or at least it was seen to that we 'put up', whether or not we were asked.

With a higher office, I reasoned, Alpha CO, Line Captain Legend could better guide the North American sector; the office of Vice Admiral was recently 'departed'. I quickly seized the opportunity to present the Vice Admiral's 'chair' to him, as he was now ready (a bold step formally considering resignation can be....) for it. High Command backed my offer, and from Now, new VcA Legend rightly knew and decided that DR CO Rogue would take over Alpha wing. ICE was handed over Dark Raven command, and Rogue was brought up to speed by Legend; because it was necessary that the new Alpha command needed to be as much a part of things as it always irrecovably had been. Wing CO Rogue met with Grand Moff Anvil on a desolate asteroid far from sensing arrays. They coordinated their wings, again, for the continued scrapping of the Alliance fleet. So today, I post this, put a copy on the Archives, and continue to chronical the Empire's history.

The current 'scheme' of things is unusual, indeed, yet promising, too...

Activity is ebbing to a near-all-time-low for myself, league-wise, me work schedule is kicking my ass more than any JM ever did... The Empire has seen the return of some familiar faces, and some successes all over. The rebel-birth campaign has proven a terrible stalemate with endless infuctions screwing the fun up for everyone twice over. The Empire proudly kicked ass all over, featuring losses only in training squadrons unleashed upon the stumbling alliance, their thirsts for blood and kills winning out in bottom-line fun factor...

There is now a very broad base of members, many old, many new, others from familiar places, some not, hehe. IntSec is a total success, with broad activity and much action in many areas. Both Europe and Australia benefitting along with the Empire as a whole. North American forces are on varied duties, some illicit, others recreational, with some genuinely "AFK"... Archangel squadron is slated for re-unleashing, currently, and several other squadrons have been very active also.

The Black Sun Dominion has re-emerged from a dormant period after the departing of their previous leader, Prince Lucky (voluminous, trueblade, etc...) The rabble Alliance, being led by Sirene and her motley gang of flunkies (including, but not limited to: Vanor (heh), SBR_U_Guessed_It, another SBR, yet another SBR, and possibly, yes, another SBR, and a furry ewok named Endor, who's actually just named Endor after the PILOT who flew very well in the battle, named, Endor....) (He's the ewok who REALLY runs things..... "did I just say something completely Opposite that?" I don't know, time to roll....

- Smoke