So the new most powerful position is the person that knows who runs the galaxy and talks to her/him. That person can make up things or sway the ruler.
If you have many people, you now just have an oligarchy.
Once a single war lord controls the “security” of the Emperor, they then wield power and justify all of there actions based on sole access to the Emperor.
1. Very extreme militaristic response that will surely cause many deaths. Clearly unacceptable.
2. Very weak bordering on non-existent response. Clearly unacceptable.
3. What pentagon has already decided to do. Clearly the “only” viable option.