10 Star Wars Theories That Make Appalling Sense

The Force Awakens leaves the origins of the First Order frustratingly elusive. Presumably they are the remnants of the Galactic Empire, fighting for a vaguely-stated vengeance against the New Republic. Nowhere are their real workings or motivations spelled out, leaving room for plenty of speculation about who they actually are.

This theory holds that the First Order are a part of the New Republic, controlled in secret by those who rose to fill the power vacuum after the fall of the Galactic Empire. The First Order military are former Imperial officers, soldiers and pilots secretly offered immunity from retribution for the Empire's crimes and put to work doing the Republic's dirty work. The 'Imperial Remnant' idea is just a cover so they can commit ruthless acts without tarnishing the reputation of the New Republic.

As the Republic's secret army, the First Order's main mission is to wipe out the parts of the Galactic Empire that did not accept the Republic's offer. Another use for them is to fight the Resistance, which is a volatile embarrassment to the New Republic and must be kept busy fighting Hux and his men to keep them from interfering in the Republic's business.

And Starkiller Base's attack on the Republic? A classic false flag operation, intended to force public opinion to accept a more militarised, tightly-controlled regime.