

Returning from the Unknown Regions, Thrawn had taken control of the Galactic Empire and started a new campaign against the New Republic. This man was Mitth'raw'nuruodo, a Chiss better known by his core name, Thrawn. In 9 ABY, however, approximately two years after the capture of Coruscant, reports started to reach the New Republic of a Grand Admiral commanding the Imperial fleet. For a brief time, an uneasy peace existed. However, many of these systems had yet to return representatives to Coruscant, and the New Republic's authority was largely theoretical beyond the major trade routes. Meanwhile, the New Republic occupied a salient along the Celanon Spur from Ord Mantell captured during the post–Zsinj campaigns, and nominally controlled the galaxy south of the Perlemian. Thus, the Empire continued to hold its territories beyond the Hydian Way in the New Territories, while Zsinj's former empire between the Hydian and the Perlemian Trade Route became a region of divided loyalties known as the Borderland Regions. Imperial Space was poorly developed economically, and she was content to let a strategy of economics slowly win over systems.

Consequently, by the end of 8 ABY, Mon Mothma ordered a suspension of New Republic operations in order to rebuild its forces, entrench the government and integrate its territories. Given the scale of the fighting and the Empire's ever-increasing fragmentation, a speedy recovery for either was unlikely any time soon, and fleet sizes on both sides were incredibly finely balanced. With the Kuat shipyards almost completely destroyed by KDY itself, both sides were forced to either capture each other's ships or rely on lesser, overstretched shipyards. During the relentless battles after Zsinj's death, the Empire and the New Republic had both suffered appalling fleet losses. However, the New Republic was not in a much better state. Instead of Academy graduates, Loyalist officers like Captain Gilad Pellaeon had to make do with recruits trained on the job, and were even forced to order conscription raids to press men into service. Additionally, as the Empire lost ground, its sources of crewmen dried up. Rejoice, Captain, for the Empire will rise again." ―Thrawn greets Gilad Pellaeon įollowing the campaigns after Warlord Zsinj's defeat, Imperial Space had been pushed back to a bare quarter of its former territory. You will fill in the details of the rest when I come aboard. I have been away, but now I have returned.

Grand Moff Ardus Kaine ( Pentastar Alignment).Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces/ Grand Admiral Thrawn†.Raid on the Draukyze system (early stages).
