Immediately after Palpatine's death Grand Vizier Sate Pestage takes control of the Empire. However, he lacked the charisma, Force powers, and terrifying presence that both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader used to keep the Empire together. The Empire soon fragmented and power was devolved to a handful of self appointed warlords throughout the Empire's former territories. The first of these warlords was Admiral Blitzer Harrsk. [spoiler]Palpatine was able to transfer his consciousness into the Force before he died at the battle of Endor. He spent a number of years as a non-corporeal Force entiry until he was finally able to transfer his consciousness into a cloned body of his younger self that he had prepared some years prior - the man knows how to plan ahead.[/spoiler]