In a way, the First Order is what the Empire was always accusing the Rebel Alliance of being a comparatively small terrorist organization fighting for a departed past, spreading disorder throughout the Galaxy.
Even run of the mill mooks are given melee combat training on the off chance one of them should encounter a Jedi. Badass Army: While the total standing forces in their military are minuscule compared to the original Empire, they pack serious firepower in their battles and they don't screw around about defending or capturing critical resources.Hux is smart enough to realize that the argument is over at that point. But when Kylo really wants something (such as BB-8), he subtly reminds Hux that he's a telekinetic martial arts master with a lightsaber while Hux is a Non-Action Guy within arm's reach. Asskicking Equals Authority: To an extent as Kylo and Hux are of approximately equal rank in the First Order, even though Kylo isn't a part of the First Order's normal chain of command the way Hux is, and the two are constantly jockeying for position and Snoke's approval.All There in the Manual: What the First Order is, what they represent, their relationship to the Galactic Empire is, and so on is found primarily in the supplementary material - whereas viewers who stick to the movies are naturally just left to assume that they're what's left of the Empire, only bigger and badder in spite of having fewer resources to work with.Tellingly, the First Order collapses almost immediately after the second death of Emperor Palpatine. Even Kylo Ren, who was corrupted by Snoke and the First Order, treats many of the First Order members (such as Snoke and Hux) with little to no respect. Even some of their own members are known to engage in in-fighting or have defected from them. 0% Approval Rating: Due to them being the remnants of the Galactic Empire, corrupting Ben Solo, and using a Death Star like weapon to slaughter a whole star system, everyone has a good reason to hate the First Order.Then, out of nowhere, a mysterious message is heard across the known galaxy, claiming to be the thought-to-be-dead Emperor Palpatine, announcing his return, revealing plans to turn the First Order into a new empire known as the Final Order, and creating a galaxy where rebellion is impossible, under threat of planetary destruction. In the aftermath of the cataclysm, most of the Republic-controlled systems immediately capitulate to the demands of the First Order and disband their remaining military forces while others decide to abandon the rest of the galaxy to protect themselves, leaving Leia's Resistance to be decimated by the First Order in the Battle of Crait.Ī year after the Resistance's defeat, they solidified their control over most of the populated systems but lacking the fleet and manpower to completely take control of the most important systems causes their advance to stall. In 34 ABY, the First Order officially declares war on the New Republic by destroying the entire Hosnian System, which housed their current capital and most of their fleet, with the superweapon named Starkiller Base.