I have just found that there is much interesting stuff about the non-military side of Empire on Wookipedia, excellent Star Wars resource, it seems. It is mostly EU, but what do you think about using it as a background, Ush? Example link: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/COMPNOR
If in your vision of Star Wars Palpatine goes for total control and totalitarian mega-state, it seems that he needs large ideological and bureucratic power bases. If we use Stalin and Hitler as potential inspiration for Palpatine`s methods, they both acted through non-military entities( massive political parties like NSDAP or Communist Party of Soviet union, youth associations like Hilterjugend, SS, SD, GRU/KGB, censors etc.)
Commisar`s story:
Boyar House Esgabath has an ancient and proud history, their warlike traditions standing out even among the Charnellian nobility. They have ruled the cold and harsh world of Erengard for a long time as faithful vassals to the Voivodes of Antonon of House Kuylen. Indeed, when the armies of Antonon marched to war, Castellan of Erengard was often the second in command, and both Houses are connected through marriagies.
It happened in their recent history that Castellan Moireen Esgabath fell in love with Countess Milena, a beautiful and charming though not very prominent noblewoman from Alderaan, but also incredibly willful and stubborn person, and they quickly got marrried. They had two sons: elder, Einar, and younger, Melkor. But as time passed their relationship grew more and more cold, as Countess never liked Erengard and the militaristic lifestyle that was contrary to her love of luxuries. She questioned the traditional, very strict upbringing of her sons, and she suceeded partially, as her husband focused most of his attention on the elder son, and she was allowed to have more influence on Melkor.
Brothers have always detested each other. Einar had a bit of blunt personality, fascinated by warlike history of his ancestors, and always excelled in physical activities, often picking on his younger brother. Einar and his father considered Melkor spoiled by his mother and her parenting ways, quite decadent by the standards of Erengard. Indeed Melkor always preferred subtlety to violence and picked the fondness for luxuries after his mother. He learned early how to manipulate people to defend from his brother`s and sometimes father`s hostility. Countess always took his side, and she didn`t quite notice that her son is growing into a very self-centered and sellfish person, though handsome, intelligent and quite charming if he wanted to.
Melkor has been travelling much, encouraged by his mother who wanted her son to be an open-minded person who doesn`t clinch to past and traditions too much. He noticed the turmoil in the galaxy and always had a very low opinion of democracy, believing most people to be easily mamipulated idiots who don`t really know what they want. But Chancellor Palpatine`s leadership has brought peace and order to the galaxy, and the transformation into Empire was logical move from his point of view. He disagreed with other nobles that Emperor has no right to claim his title without proper heritage, for he always believed himself better than his brother and more worthy of being the next ruler of his world.
Melkor spent only a year on Cassilis, traditional place where Boyar received their education, as he argued with his Zha`r tutors and decided that he can learn more useful things away from it. Instead he studied for some time in newly found Imperial Academy on Coruscant. He started to make useful connections with important people, and even met Grand Moff Tarkin himself, who was interested in Tasker`s Crown, its military might being a posible concern to Empire`s plans.
When young Esgabath reached the age of adulthood, he received the news that his mother died. She claimed that Erengard`s climate never suited her, but for some reason, most likely connected to her great pride, refused to pernamently return to her family in Alderaan. Melkor blamed his father and brother for neglecting her, contributing to this early death.
When he returned to participate in the funeral, he noticed the incredibly beautiful Anaztasia Kuylen, daughter of the Voivode, and immediately became obsessed over her, especially when he heard that she was supposed to marry his brother as arranged by both families. His hatred of his brother re-emerged, as he continued to steal things that Esgabath wanted. He stayed mostly at home for few years, trying to get back into his father`s good graces( with mixed results), but he managed to become Castellan`s representative on Antonon. He also tried to gain followers, and just as his mother earlier gathered those that weren`t exactly satisfied with conservatism and strict adherence to tradition.
Melkor managed to gain the interest of Anaztasia Kuylen, as he used all his charms and convinced her that he is more interesting than his brother. But their affair was short, as Anaztasia decided that she will not dishonor her family.
Furious and bitter that he was rejected becuase of stupid customs, Esgabath hastened his plans, and as a result his coup was far from perfect. He tried to arrange the death of his brother as a hunting accident, but fellow conspirator revealed those plans to Castellan. Melkor was banished in shame and cast out from his House, sentenced to death in case he ever returns. He pleaded Anaztasia to run with him, claiming that he has done everything out of love, but she was disgusted with his actions and rejected him again, saying that all he can for her is to never again appear in front of her eyes.
Promising his revenge to both Houses someday, bitter Melkor run to Coruscant, when he managed to join the New Order. For some reason Tarkin decided to take the renegade as his assistant, and Esbabath proved to be a very capable student, firmly dedicated to New Imperial Order and the ideal of rule of the strongest and most capable. He learned from Tarkin how the will of Emperor should be enforced by any means necessary. After several years of good service, Tarkin recommended him to the Emperor, and he became one of his Commisars. Commisar Esgabath has ambitions to gain great power in Imperial Order, perhaps as much as Tarkin himself, and is not afraid to sacrifice others to achieve his goals. He also gathered considerable wealth and lives a luxurious lifestyle, and his collection of art is quickly growing, through shady means as well.
Commisar`s Ally, Lieutenant Sareitha Adaleas:
Sareitha is a part of new Coruscant Elite. Her father is a firmly pro-Imperial Senator who actually started his career as businessman of shady reputation, gaining entry in the Senate mainly due to Emperor`s popularity at the time that Empire was created. She was always a strong-willed person, and used her father`s influence to enter the Imperial Academy, even though Imperial Military is closed to women as a rule. She managed to pass the Academy with good marks, and after graduation she met Commisar Esbabath at Tarkin`s birthday party. Commisar was very impressed by her looks and personality and agreed to take Sareitha as his Aide and officer in Commisariat, especiallly that her father wanted it as well, and Commisar was happy to gain a new ally in the Senate. They have been working together for last two years and became lovers, though Sareitha had to undersand that this is not fully equal relationship. She is perhaps the only person Esgabath can relax around, though her ambition troubles him, even if so far he doesn`t doubt her loyalty.