Nice ideas cut'n'shut. Just one comment:
The recent emergence of the Empire is sort of well established, mostly offscreen but somewhat onscreen as well. When Tarkin and Vader enter the conference room on the Death Star, Tarkin (I think) says he's just heard that the Emperor has dissolved the senate. You're certainly able to reimagine it any way you please, but you might have a hard time getting other people to agree with you on that point in particular.