I think the campaign idea that was posted here about the Virus striking 200
years later and the Imperium being still around is an excellent way to get a
"compromise" background that allows the use of the TNE rules while retaining
the star-spanning empire that so many people (myself included) enjoy. You could
even simply have the various factions of the Rebellion retain their territories
while still having the Hivers help form the RC in the Old Expanses, Norris with
the Regency in the Spinward Marches (after ARRIVAL VENGEANCE, something very
much like the Regency would probably have happened anyway) while using the
Virus and vampire fleets etc. to make the spaces in between VERY deadly. If
you wish, Imagine a three way meeting between Lucan's Imperium, the Solomani
Empire and the Reformation Coalition in a Virus-blasted Diaspora sector!
Perhaps someone might care to speculate how a state of affairs like this
might have come about...
Allen