Prologue
This story takes place five hundred generations after the Mule made his bid for galactic domination. Many events have occurred, and yet the Second Empire still holds onto the galaxy. That is not to say, however, that the leadership has remained steady.
After the phycologists of the Second Foundation took over the role of galactic rulers, they reigned for two thousand years. During that time, the art of communication without words became widespread. The science was prosperous, and many new technological advances were made. During this time, however, many unforeseen events took place, due in the large part to the extreme technology that was developed. With great new weapons, Admiral Von Kaaar lead an attack against the galactic capital, Terminus, and conquered the scientific and political centre of the Empire. Soon even the Second Foundationers found themselves unable to prevent and internal collapse of the Empire, and Von Kaaar became the ruler of the galaxy.
Under him was formed a new dictatorship. The Military Union was formed and after Von Kaaar seized control of the galaxy, the Second Foundationers were brutally eliminated by the government. The people were oppressed and all males more than 18 and less than 40 years of age were forced to aid in the destruction of psychology. Despite their mental abilities, the psychologists were able to control only a number of people before the numbers of their foes overwhelmed them.
Long years passed with Von Kaaar as ruler, and when he finally died, via assassination, there was an official galactic holiday to celebrate that day henceforth. The assumed eliminated Second Foundationers turned out to be preserved through a small group of psychologists that had survived and donned the title "the Keepers". They went about secretly altering others in a mad attempt to restore the significance of the Seldon plan, placing the galaxy back on track in order to maintain order.
The Keepers, however, were never able to reassume command of the galaxy. Though the Military Union died with its founder, the results were enough to affect even ten generations later. The High Admirals of the Union found themselves caught up in a mad grab for power in the wake of the Union's fall. Admiral Forlurn, the former second-in-command to Kaaar was the first to take on the Empire, but without well-trained military strategists he soon found that the others were too much to handle. The Empire fell into a stage of anarchy, precisely as the Keepers had feared.
The one who finally managed to end the turmoil was the scientist, Keit Mannin. He became well known for his strategies, and yet he was the first leader for a thousand years to have a pacifistic view on his role as leader of the galaxy. He was able to reunite the squabbling groups lead by the Admirals' decedents.
The Plan was at risk, once again, but the Keepers managed to once again place the galaxy back on track.
After this point the following years were peaceful. For a good period of time, the Keepers were able once again to predict the course of events accurately. Always were physical scientists the rulers of the galaxy,