The Galactic Empire’s slow collapse wasn’t noticed until Hari Seldon used his new science of psychohistory to predict the major trends of imperial decay. To prevent a 30,000-year dark age, Seldon established two Foundations at opposite ends of the Milky Way galaxy to knit together, in only a thousand years, a new and better imperium.

Working on the distant planet Terminus, the scientists of the first Foundation—whose story is told in the book Foundation—assembled a huge Encyclopedia Galactica. They also united nearby planetary systems under a faux religion that helped maintain technology, especially nuclear power, that might otherwise be lost. Over the decades, traders continued the work begun by the religion until the Foundation controlled the outer breakaway planets. Inner planets, though, were still controlled by the old Empire. A war between Foundation and Empire was inevitable. 

General Bel Riose of the Galactic Empire visits the ancient mansion of scholar Ducem Barr on the planet Siwenna. Over tea, Riose explains that he’s been stationed out in these far reaches to keep him away from an ambitionless Imperial court that has little stomach for conquest or maintaining its crumbling empire.