The Imperial Navy is the sword and shield of the Empire. Whether it is the defense of Imperial Space, an aggressive raid on the enemies of the Emperor, or the handling of a delicate diplomatic situation, the Imperial Navy is ready to handle the job with finesse and power. Serving with distinction, the many fleets which make up the Navy are stationed throughout the Empire, ever ready to leap into action in the defense of Imperial interests. This enormous military machine, fueled by its numerous staff of dedicated officers and loyal pilots, has long been the harbinger of peace and justice throughout the galaxy and will be for a long time to come.
The Imperial Navy is charged with the security of all space throughout the galaxy. These responsibilities include the elimination or deterrence of belligerence by spacegoing factions amongst the galactic citizenry: pirates, the underworld, corporate and guild powers, rebel forces and the navies of untamed sapient species such as the Mon Calamari and the Ssi-Rukh. Knowingly or unknowningly, the presence of the Imperial Starfleet deters incursions by covetous extragalactic barbarians like the Yuzhan Vong.
The Navy also plays important roles in support of the operations of the Imperial Army. It provides the Army with transport between worlds and orbital bombardments against troublesome ground-based enemies of the Empire.
The Imperial Navy is claimed the largest space naval force in the history of the galaxy, with large and small combat starships numbering in countless millions, including at least several dozens of tens of thousands of dreaded star destroyers, and lesser numbers of more powerful star cruisers, star battlecruisers, star battleships and star dreadnoughts.
Since the Old Republic's slide into decay, the Navy has increased in size dramatically. However, it's mission has not changed: to free the system space of member world from hazards to profitable commerce, to assure the safety of member worlds from attack from outside forces, and to bolster the planetary governments in times of crisis. Unfortunately, with the current growing hostility towards the doctrines of the New Order, acomplishing the last task has become much harder.
With the perception that member worlds had of the Republic, the Navy could deal with unrest in a system and be seen as liberators and rescuers by most members. The firepower of the Navy has become formidable enough that any loss of respect has negligable effects on the Navy's effectiveness, but it is not as easy as it once was, and it is perceived that the problem will become increasingly difficult to overcome as time goes on.