Despite playing on the side of the Star Wars saga's villain, the game presents Imperial forces as maintainers of peace and order in a tumultuous galaxy. Subsequent expansions focus on Admiral Thrawn's efforts to stop an Imperial traitor the final mission of the second expansion concludes just before the climactic battle at the end of Return of the Jedi. The original game ends with the player preventing a coup against Emperor Palpatine and being personally rewarded during a large ceremony.
In addition to fighting Rebel Alliance forces, the player flies against pirates, combatants in a civil war, and traitorous Imperial forces.
As with X-Wing, the player's character is unnamed in the game however, an included novella and Prima Publishing's strategy guide name the character Maarek Stele and provide a background narrative. The game's plot begins soon after the Empire's victory on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.
