The Empire has become weak, a pale shadow of its former glory.
For 200-300 years you have colonized entire continents and dominated the world militarily, economically and politically.
However, as a result of corruption from the capital, endless wars and rebellions, and an increasingly obsolescent economic system, the last 100 years has been a terrible 100 years of decline. Almost all of your colonies are gone and now you are a relatively weak nation. However, you still have a proud military tradition and history of imperialism.
The Republic of Truth And Justice is becoming increasingly powerful on the world stage. They want to signal their entry into world affairs by beating someone up. They decide to pick on your Empire and target your last few colonies close to their continent.
The Republic is interested in the resources of your colonies but they spin and create a narrative of Freedom and Independence. They issue a series of absolutely unreasonable ultimatums to you (demanding you give up all remaining colonies immediately, cede all forward military bases to them and pay a large lump sum of “compensation money” to them which they will then ostensibly give to the natives as compensation for your oppression... it’s a ridiculous sum). The terms are unreasonable enough you feel they are only issuing these in the hopes that you’ll decline and give them pretext for war.
As your administration considers the terms, a Republic battleship explodes while docked at your harbor. You are then blamed for the explosion and the deaths of Republic sailors.
The Republic tells you you have five days to accept all terms or they will declare war. Their massive naval force starts moving into position.
...
The balance of forces is as follows:
1. The Republic has several times your total population (counting colonies).
2. The Republic has a navy several times bigger than yours; their warships are more technologically advanced by miles.
3. The Republic has an economy that is several times larger than yours.
4. The Republic has an easier time resupplying the battle fronts. They are closer to your last few colonies than you are to them.
5. Because of the Freedom propaganda of the Republic, they are more popular with the colonial subjects. In fact, it’s expected that a large number of colonial guerilla fighters will move against you should war break out.
6. The Great Nations (international community) is sitting this one out, they prioritize trade with the Republic at all cost.
...
You have two choices.
Option 1: Roll over and give the Republic everything they want to avert war. Your Empire crumbles with a whimper, lives however, are saved.
Option 2: Defend your honor and fight the Republic, knowing you will lose. However, no one messes with the Empire without a fight. This is a matter of pride and honor. You will likely suffer the humiliation of military defeat, but not the humiliation of having never fought.
...
What do you choose? Why?
For me, Option 2. No Empire under my watch goes out without one last fight.
I'd rather take the advantage of crumbling apart altogether.
