User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-5229167-20120702214022/@comment-80.216.219.47-20120706010746

The empire is declining since for all intents and purposes they are a Dominion satellite state.

As evidenced by concerted military actions against imperial citizens but not against Dominion citizens and how the AD's laws trumps imperial laws.

The dominion could also at any time seize or murder any and all imperial citizens including the Emperor, any and all members of the legion etc and there would be nothing the empire could or wouls want do about it.