Who WAS Grand Admiral Thrawn?

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-03-05 06:50pm

I'm sure this must've been answered some time long before I joined.. but there's so much intrigue into this man's past I want to know dammit!

From what I gather from the Zahn books, GAT was exiled from the Chiss and taken into service of the Empire where he eventually rose to the rank of Grand Admiral and conspired with the Emperor to return to the unknown regions and secretly siphon Imperial material. The reasoning given was because Thrawn knew of great dangers existing out in the unknown and wished to protect his own people and probably the galaxy as a whole.

What I want to know is, did the Emperor know of Thrawn's motives as to why he joined the Empire? If not, then why did the Emperor SECRETLY funnel troops to Thrawn and not blatantly, especially when Thrawn was making huge inroads into the Unkown Regions. Why was the Emperor keeping part of his empire secret from the rest?

As mentioned, the Imperial troops under Thrawn's command in the unknowns made it known that they were working and serving for Thrawn, not the Empire. So does that mean that the Emperor really wasn't looking towards an expansion of the Unknown regions but was hoping that by going into the unknown regions Thrawn could somehow help protect the Core from the dangers?

Maybe all of this is answered in the NJO, but for some reason reading the NJO feels a bit like going to the dentists after the first book.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2003-03-05 08:23pm

If I remember correctly, there were a couple short stories published in the SW Adventure Journals back when West End Games had the licence by Stackpole and Zahn that expanded some of the backstory for Thrawn.
Will try to find them for more details

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-03-05 09:42pm

Thrawn is like Wolverine, in that the mysteriousness of his past is part of what makes him so interesting.

Of course, if Zahn handeled Thrawn's past as well as 'Origin' handeled Wolverines, then... reveal it all, baby!

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2003-03-05 10:59pm

The Chiss and the Unknow Region's where the Emperor's backup plan, if somthing goes wrong then he has somewhere to run(The Conqured Unknow Regions) On somthing to fly(The Luysakana)

He was never a man to not plan ahead

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-06 12:23am

Mr Bean wrote:The Chiss and the Unknow Region's where the Emperor's backup plan, if somthing goes wrong then he has somewhere to run(The Conqured Unknow Regions) On somthing to fly(The Luysakana)

He was never a man to not plan ahead

Hence Byss.