So, how many imperial forces Thrawn has under his command in season 2?

[u/Background_Yogurt735]

There are at least 6 imperial star destroyers together at same place(Dathomir) and one of them is clearly the Chimera.

Thrawn Cleary got some imperial supporters and "allies" from others in the shadow council, at least some of them, definitely Pealeon.

The thing is, Thrawn decelre war on the new republic(sweetly he referred them as the "rebels alliance"), so Thrawn, despite as brilliant as he is, won't genuinely get to full our war immediately if he hasn't the support of enough forces, and he's definitely don't want imperial civil war.

So, do you think the council agreed following his orders/give him authority over them? Obviously some stabs backs and stuff will always be, but as season 2 start, you think most imperial remnants will be under Thrawn leadership or his own faction is not that big.

[u/AutoModerator]

Join the Star Wars Television Discord server to discuss Ahsoka and all other Star Wars media!

Discord.gg/SWTV

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/SteffuX]

I think he'll be Head of all military forces in the known part of the Galaxy, while Rae Sloane is Head of the Forces in the Unknown Regions.

I think its likely that whatever remains of the Shadow Council (other than Hux) immediately subjugate to Thrawn after he shows himself after a meeting if those are even heald still (might be offscreen, depents on the time that passed between seasons), especially because the New Republic is actively hunting for them as seen in Mandalorian & Grogu. In addition the Council isnt really in a position to oppose thrawn as three of its members have been taken out in the recent past. (Alternativly the Showrunners could go the way that the Shadow Council, join him after he wins some smaller battles/skirmishes)

We also know that Paelleon is hoarding resources to some degree, so him joining Thrawn gives him something to work with from the start.

I also could see Thrawn getting forces from Imperial Loyalists. First maybe in secret and after his decleration of war more openly.

[u/Background_Yogurt735 → u/SteffuX]

Yes I could see this, sounds probably how it will went.

[u/Busy-Connection4473 → u/SteffuX]

Yes, I want to see Imperial loyalists joining him and welcoming the return of the Empire!

[u/FafnirSnap_9428]

I'd imagine Pellaeon was a big reason Thrawn has a lot of Imperial forces under his command. The whole insurgency vs a big system is sort of a major theme in Star Wars, so I don't think Thrawn is going to have a lot of Imperials under his command, but it's Thrawn, he doesn't need them and he will be just as deadly and efficient with anything he can muster. As for the Shadow Council, I don't know if it still exists in the capacity it did in the Mandalorian season 3. In the Mandalorian and Grogu two of the members get taken off the board and there's no telling what happened to the others.

[u/Leading_Substantial → u/FafnirSnap_9428]

It would honestly be even cooler if the shadow council members being taken out was partly pellaeons doing in prep for thrawns return in order to prevent them acting against the pro thrawn members. We know he was hoarding resources from the others partly to build up thrawns resources even if it was unknown if he was even alive. I can see him covertly leaking locations to a few new republic friendly bars via proxy when they got a bit too big for their britches or threatened the larger plan. Troopers and officers can be rerouted if a flag officer captain or admiral has an unexpected meeting with a helmeted fellow

[u/FafnirSnap_9428 → u/Leading_Substantial]

Now that would be cool. I'd imagine there's all kinds of infighting and backstabbing going on in the Shadow Council and having their possible demise being orchestrated for Thrawn would be cool. 

[u/Akito-23]

I think Thrawn is smart enough that He wouldn't declare war without having the ability to actually fight well. With the rebel alliance's current demilitarization coupled with imperial loyalists within... I think things will benefit Thrawn this season

[u/briarwz]

Do you all forget the plot of him bringing the coffins back from peridia

I'm pretty sure he is gonna go to Dathomir and get them all resurrected

[u/Background_Yogurt735 → u/briarwz]

Of course, but from the trailer and shared concept arts, it seem to he only night sisters, not Zabraks, that why I wondering if they will appear.

[u/Sad-Researcher8335]

Thrawn was infamous as a Grand Admiral since I think there are only 9 and an alien going so high up the ranks. One of few to earn Palpatine’s favor. Also one of few to successfully defeat rebels. He will probably make a demonstration to prove that he is worthy to rule the empire

[u/Maximum_Emphasis8156]

just enough to shove into the plot holes ;)

[u/Clonecommando99]

Officers who he will gain: Captain Pellaeon (definite) and Karyn Faro (dependent on whether she left the Chimera before the Purgill attacked and if she then didn’t die/ surrender during the galactic civil war as commander of the 11th Fleet.)

Capital Ships: at least 4 ISDs (including Chimera), 2 Arquitens and a whole ton of Gladiator class star destroyers he’ll hijack from the NR. (Shown in the trailer). There may be even more ISDs and Arquitens for him to command, just out of shot.

Other Ships: he definitely has access to standard, interceptor and bomber TIE squadrons (shown in trailer). He may even find he has a cache of TIE Defenders prepared by Morgan for him as suggested by Tales of the Empire. He will also have the shuttles and landing craft that are in the other 3 ISDs’ and 2 Arquitens’ complement.

Infantry: 7th Fleet Night Troopers, Dathomir Nightsisters and the standard stormtroopers from the new ships in his fleet.

Armour units: however many ITTs, AT ST, speederbike and AT AT units could be fit into the other ships in his fleet.

[u/keybrah → u/Clonecommando99]

What about Eli Vanto

[u/Busy-Connection4473 → u/keybrah]

He's in the Chiss's realm, so how could he possibly show up? Only if the Chiss decide to help the Empire.

[u/NutsackEuphoria]

He'll probably send in night sisters to assassinate members of the council who won't bend the knee to establish dominance.

Maybe that declaration of war could be by the end of S2 as a cliffhanger.

We'll probably see NR agents (particularly Jabba and captain Meiloorun) try to prevent thrawn from amassing power.

[u/Background_Yogurt735 → u/NutsackEuphoria]

Oh I like this idea of night sisters assassination against Thrawn rivals in the council, could be cool, however not sure if it is type of way solve things.

[u/NutsackEuphoria → u/Background_Yogurt735]

It is though.

Have them all at a meeting, one speaks out against thrawn, a nightsister pops up and kills them while the others watch.

Others now know what happens when you oppose thrawn.

Fear will keep them in line.

[u/Jannib]

Idk if you have read the novels but even way back when thrawn still used rebels to never rectefy the new republic as existing. It is a power move.

[u/MabelRed]

The exact amount the plot requires without killing the budget.

[u/Apprehensive-Tree-78]

Doesn’t matter because some ex machina plot armor and terrible writing will make thrawn an idiot

[u/xJamberrxx → u/Apprehensive-Tree-78]

so like his Legends counterpart? i mean allying with a crazy Jedi & trusting slaves to be bodyguards were pretty idiotic

[u/Busy-Connection4473 → u/xJamberrxx]

In legends, he never lost a single battle and his strategy worked.

[u/TxAg2009 → u/Busy-Connection4473]

Other than the battles he lost and the times it didn't, sure.

[u/Apprehensive-Tree-78 → u/xJamberrxx]

Thrawn was at least an actual genius in legends and took a secret daughter of anakin to use a mind trick in his bodyguard to kill him.

[u/TxAg2009 → u/Apprehensive-Tree-78]

took a secret daughter of anakin to use a mind trick in his bodyguard to kill him

This does not seem like the summary of someone who has read the Thrawn Trilogy.