Several mission types cause a small battle.
Its specialty is 'corruption': it can conquer planets traditionally, but also gain bonuses from enemy-controlled worlds by having its infiltrators conduct any of several kinds of missions such as bribery, sabotage or piracy.
The Consortium has a full-fledged campaign that is set in the background of the original film trilogy. The Zann Consortium is a new faction, neither good or evil, but willing to go to any lengths for a profit. Pirates had previously been present in the game, but as a type of moderately-armed 'speed bump' to progression in the war between Empire and Rebellion. Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption adds the organized crime syndicate the Zann Consortium as a third faction.
A screenshot of the Galactic map during gameplay (playing as the Zann Consortium) showing multiple planets under an effect of corruption
