OzoneSherrif, that's really interesting about Zahn's idea of the Emperor being elevated to power by the military elite.... sort of like if Hitler were an evil wizard. (Hitler's turn as Chancellor came about largely due to the consent of the German military and political leaders, who hoped to control him and use him as a figurehead in their efforts to undermine Weimar democracy and reestablish authoritarian rule.)
Of course, such a backstory is incompatible with the Prequels' vision of Palpatine already being Supreme Chancellor for years and years.... but of course, Lucas' two, originally conflicting, versions of the Emperor--the Nixonian bureaucrat repeatedly elected to office in violation of term limits, and the Sith sorcerer who was a dark counterpart of Ben Kenobi--fully merged only during the PT.