I think the best plot and story for Episode IX would be for the First Order to be going through a civil war due to the power vacuum that was created after the death of Snoke.
A compelling and interesting conflict would be that while the resistance is trying to build a new army, the F0, with significant more forces due to now being the dominant power, is struggling to stay unified because of the imperials who don’t want to follow Hux and Kylo. Both characters are equally hated by imperials and troopers, though for different reasons, and one of the things keeping the FO unified was Hux and Kylo’s melted sugar daddy, but now that he’s dead there is nothing stopping I Civil War because of power struggles.
In the final issue the Poe Dameron comic we see just how against the Imperials are with the idea of Hux being the leader, and they don’t even factor in Kylo as an option. The FO was never an organization united, and I think if JJ Abrams wants to connect this trilogy when it is so disconnected, A great story elements would be showing the realistic consequences of Snoke’s death.
We saw the Republic at war in the prequels, we saw the Sith empire fight the Jedi in the old republic, and we saw galactic civil war in the OT, but we have never seen imperials fight imperials. At least not on the big screen: I think I could be an interesting story for IX.
I’d love this, but what would Hux’s role be? We saw what happened when he stood up to KR, so it seems unlikely he’d be in open revolt. If we see the Assholes of Ren in IX they’ll likely be acting as enforcers to crush not only Hux but any kind of dissent. Under these circumstances I think slowly mounting discontent with Ren’s incompetence and dictatorial style is likelier, with the Stormtroopers hardest hit at the bottom of the military rung. This pressure could culminate in factional war and possibly a Stormtrooper uprising the moment the Supreme Asshat shows weakness. Let soldiers go hungry and fail to convince them there’s any point to their deaths, and they’ll decide you’re the enemy.
I don’t think Hux would be in the opposing side of Kylo, but reluctantly stand with him. Hux and Kylo need each other due to the fact that neither has made any allies within the FO. Both men are hated, and for one to lead, they need the other.
Troopers ranging from the FN Corps and Cardinal didn’t trust Hux, and the final issue of the Poe Dameron comics showed ya how against Hux’s leadership they’d be, as well as not even considering Kylo as a potential leader.
The New FO would be Kylo, Hux, the KOR, and whoever would stay loyal after Kylo’s coup against Snoke. I’d figure that these would be all of the Imperials that followed Kylo and Hux to Crait.
The seceding FO would be everyone who would refuse to follow the current powers that be and would want to take control for themselves. These would be the Imperials that were across the galaxy during TLJ.
Now with any civil war there will be people who don’t like either side, these will probably be the ones that would desert to the Resistance. Those would probably be the Stormtroopers rebelling and Imperials will no other choice.
TechieHux 