AHC/WI: Achaemenid Empire Falls Apart

So after the ascension of Darius I to the Achaemenid throne, he faced a plethora of rebellions from across the empire. Rebellions sprung up in Elam, Babylon, Sagartia, and Margiana, in addition to Vahyazdata pretending to be the murdered Bardiya. Babylonia actually revolted twice in this period, and Elam (Susiana) 3 times. The rebellions were not exactly completely simultaneous however and Darius, despite not having the largest of armies at his disposal, managed to deal with them one by one.

The challenge here is to have these rebellions lead to the collapse of the Achaemenid Persian empire. How can this be done and what would its implications be?
 
If Babylonia revolts, I can see Persia being reduced to the classic 'Greater Iran' sans Babylonia and the Caucasus. The eastern steppes IMO were always ethnically Persian or at least easy to control and Elam I imagine is too valuable and also too close to Persis and Media to be able to keep independence.

Oddly, I wonder if invaders would have a more difficult time fighting Persia since it would be reduced to rather defensible mountains, deserts, and steppes; as well as being more ethnically tied-together and not worry on numerous subject peoples.
 
The rebellions were not exactly completely simultaneous however and Darius, despite not having the largest of armies at his disposal, managed to deal with them one by one.
If I remember correctly (and I really mean it) Darius had the core of the imperial army, crack troops. That was the best fighting machine of the region.
These guys were extremely mobile and actually invincible.
I do not remember but something like a dozen victories on the battlefield during two months on a territory of a thousand miles or something like that.

As for "one by one"...
You see the idea of the Persian Empire was that the peoples inside the Empire hated each other even more than they hated the Persian Achaemenides.
So I am afraid the "rebels" could not ally with each other, no central command or mutual support was possible.

I mean if ALL the territories of the Empire rebelled simultaneously Darius might deal with them one by one.
As long as the Persians are invincible on the battlefield it doesn't not matter.

I really cannot find a POD to break Achaemenid Empire. If Darius is killed by a stray arrow... Well, the army will select another wise and brave Achaemenid to lead them in battle.
Hm, there is a PoD - a meteorite strikes and destroys elite troops of Darius.
 
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