Agreed, Palpatine would bide his time, build popularity with the people, become a representative in the Federation Council for a planet like he became one for Naboo (preferably Earth or maybe a backwater planet to build his rags to riches image and distance himself from the "corrupt" Feds he will bring down) and get elected by the President (who is probably elected by the Federation Council).Stark wrote:Its important to realise that the Republic was composed of various groups, with various needs and values, and relative independence. Sid manipulated them all, got what he wanted, and largely no one ever noticed what was going on until decades later.
I have never disputed that Palpatine would have problems taking over the Federation, only that he would have spend at least as much effort scheming as taking over the Republic. How is the Federation politically monotonous? What we see is that Earth is politically monotonous, and we only hear of the Federation Council. But we know that individual planets are able to keep their own defense force, and keep their own planetary institutions (or else the Federation would never work, what planet in their right mind would give up political power over their citizens?) The Federation is just as loosely integrated as the Empire. A common interface (LCARS) doesn't mean shit, nor does us not seeing what the Vulcan High Council is up to, we only ever see the Federation Council I believe in ST:IV (or a part of it anyway).The Federation is, by comparison, politically monotonous, already reasonably oppressive, and extremely centralised. Anyone with political clout in the Fed is VERY powerful, given these factors; Sids MO will be effective.
Give me a break, even shuttles can send communications through subspace. Things would be heard, perhaps not specific things but generalities about how Palpatine is occupying another planet and perhaps the occasional lucid transmission. And you are forgetting Palpatine's ascention, which would require massive changes in the way the Federation works. Palpatine can spread this over time to lessen the impact, but governments will notice as they are getting less and less say in the way the Federation is run. And don't give me that terrorist bullshit, the Maquis were supported by Starfleet officers and from VOY Caretaker's intro, many Federation citizens supported the actions of the Maquis. And don't give me this "lack of media" bullshit, Earth is not the Federation and all Federation members would have their own institutions and political bodies like the Prophets, the Vulcan Science Council, etc.The FedGov also controls the ONLY LONG RANGE COMMUNICATION NETWORK IN EXISTENCE, and the Government can HIDE KNOWLEDGE OF PLANETWIDE PLAGUES. So go fuck yourself, Brian; noone would EVER hear anything good about the rebellion, everyone would hate them because they'd be (by necessity) conducting terrorist actions, attacking Fed citizens, etc, and would never drum up legitimacy.
I'm not arguing for an effective rebellion, only that there would be a rebellion. Are you one of the people who believe that the Federation trots into every planet and starts replacing planetary institutions? Individual homeworld planets would have their own political institutions, and if Palpatine started violating their autonomy then grassroots movements would start on those planets. A common interface system like LCARS doesn't mean anything, and I know you are smarter than those rejects who think the Federation brainwashes everybody. The Federation offers something to its non-human members, and by all evidence the Federation is a military alliance against superpowers like the Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians. I'm arguing that one planet has the resources to threaten the Federation Starfleet, and therefore Palpatine would want to have control over those resources, not that these resources would ultimately be successful.There needs to be an organised political opposition to conduct a wide-ranging insurgency; a few captains and rogue planets attacking Starfleet and destroying installations is hardly a grass-roots movement. Indeed, since UP is such a powerful shipyard, and 'one planetzor can threaten the Fedzor', the rogues can't win anyway because Cardassia was a threat. Doesn't that logic suck, BRIAN?
Palpatine's charismatic old man visage will disappear once he violates a planet's sovereignty and lands redstormies looking for those with high midichlorin count. People will resent a foreign power having so much control over their own plantary affairs. Palpatine will rule by fear, and let the message spread HIMSELF that he will destroy any planet that disobeys his edicts. Why would he rule by fear and not covertly? Because that's fucking in character for a Sith to do. Palpatine would not oppose the spread of the message, because he relishes fear, destruction and competition and that is the creed of the Dark Side.If Sid became President (or influenced the President), he could slowly (ref all of SW) move attitudes, politics and industry to a situation where a crisis (started/invited/paid for by him in some other persona) causes him to get additional powers and expand the tools of his control, likely the military and plantary govenors. Noones going to rebel against THAT, you rube, and afterwards its too late, because there's now a NEW military that ISN'T lame 'explorer' SF, would doubtless have better, more warlike and modern ships, more tactically trained officers, be distributed around areas of likely rebellion, and answerable in some way only to him. He might even MOTHBALL existing SF as new builds come online, thus removing any and all military strength for a rebellion.
Again, I have never fucking disputed that he would move slowly, or wait until the right moment. My only beef is for people who think that THE ENTIRE FEDERATION would fall like sheep to worship Palpatine's dick. Not everybody is Earth, and not everybody shares the same misguided ideals that earthers like Picard have. And the untrained Force sensitive purges is one of the reasons why planetary governments would be incensed -- how would you feel if foreign troops started landing and searching the homes of your citizens? Claiming that there would be no outcry at all is absurd, not every planet is like Earth.You're just being anal. He's shown to move slowly, he's shown to work both sides, the rebellion is arguably PART OF HIS FUCKING PLAN in SW, the continued motivation for his control/superweapons/whatever. No untrained Force sensitive would escape the Emperors purges... or did you forget the 'kill all threats to my magic rule of evil' action item on his plan?
Brian
