DuracellEnergizer said:

CWBorne said:

Trying to figure out a bit of an issue as part of me really wants the Imperial armed forces to have existed for some time, but I don't want the Clone Wars to involve Republic vs. Empire in any way. I guess part of me's wondering if the Imperial aspect existing as part of the Republic but not really overtaking everything till Palpatine's later days could work.

I think it could work. I'm going in that direction myself, with the Republic reforming into a far more militant Empire mid-way through the Clone Wars but not really becoming a fully despotic entity until Palpatine's rise to power decades later.

In my tentative Prequel Trilogy, Episode II ends with the creation of the "Imperial Fleet" and the "de facto" formation of the Galactic Empire. In Episode III, the Empire shows its true color and becomes the evil totalitarian, dark side-ruled galactic power we all love to hate!