Operation: Cinder

Operation: Cinder is the codename for the orbital bombardment campaign devised to punish the Dark Empire and later: weaken the Galactic Alliance for the Empire's eventual restoration. This organization is a direct continuation of the Dark Imperial regime under Darth Solipsis and Shannic Wulf once known as the Dark Empire. The Dark Empire was an indirect successor state formed from the surviving New Sith Order and Brotherhood of the Maw in the wake of the Second Great Hyperspace War and the Imperial Remnant led by the late Ignacious Korvan of the Empire. The Dark Empire was openly ran by dark side users, known as the Dark Side Elite, who carried out the will of the Emperor in a manner similar to that of the Emperor's Hands. Among their number - Dark Jedi, fallen Imperial Knights, Dark Side Adepts, and more; gathered to bring glory to the Empire's name. In 900ABY the Dark Empire began the aggressive Operation: Shadowhand, striking deep into the Core Worlds against the Galactic Alliance - sparking the Core Wars. During this conflict, the Emperor would vanish during the Empire's attempted Invasion of Coruscant, leadership fell onto several parties ushering in a complete change of the Empire from within.

The Grand Vizier Shannic Wulf , before continuing the campaign or assuming leadership over the traitorous elements, observed the crumbling state of the changing Empire from behind the scenes. Avoiding confrontation and collateral damage from feuding warlords from within Empire — the Grand Vizier did not stop the mutiny out of revenge, wanting to "cull the weak." She believed that if the Emperor was to disappear or perish unexpectedly then the Empire did not deserve to live beyond him. Likening it to the strategy game of Shah-tezh, in which the role of each game piece was to protect an Imperator. If the Imperator was to fall, then the surviving game pieces had failed and the game was over, as the others did not deserve to carry on. Immediately it was clear which pieces she would protect, and which ones she would allow to devour themselves. Shannic would fall under Alliance custody shortly after, willingly turning herself in.

By 902 ABY, the Empire that the fractured warlords had molded to their design had fallen. Only the loyal elements of the Dark Empire remained, only the forces spared from the total destruction of the traitorous elements.

By 902 ABY, The Messenger began carrying out a Contingency plan that called for the annihilation of the Empire and its enemies. The Contingency also further called for the Empire's rebirth, allowing the loyal from among the Imperial survivors to regroup in the Unknown Regions where they would rebuild the Empire. It was also hoped this rebranded - Operation: Cinder - would spread fear and remind the galaxy that there was only one power which could provide lasting peace.