Did Thrawn know about the coming Vong invasion?

Near the end of "Vision of the Future" we learn that Thrawn's machinations were designed to unite the galaxy under him to repel a terribly devastating enemy that was to threaten the galaxy in the future.

I had always thought that the great force that Thrawn was planning to defend the galaxy against was the Vong. But we're nearly a dozen books into the NJO and niether Luke nor Mara has realized , "Hey...isn't there a massively armed and prepared installation out there that was designed to repel this specific threat?"

Anyone know if this loose end was dealt with? What exactly happened to the large swath of the unknown regions that Thrawn converted to the Empire? If it wasn't the Vong, what was Thrawn gearing up for? If it was the Vong, why isn't anyone talking about what Luke and Mara found when investigating the Hand of Thrawn?

 

That's exactly what I'd like to know! I've been saying since the beginning that the Chiss would be involved (well, that part has indeed come to pass) and I've always had a sneaking suspicion that the Vong were indeed the big, bad threat out there in the UR.

I still have hope that the issue will be addressed. And I still cling tight to my theory that the *only* way the Vong will ever be defeated is if everyone (the NR, Remnant, Chiss, etc.) all put aside their differences, pool their resources, and make one heck of an alliance. Let's just hope someone *else* realizes this soon!

 

I really don't think so.

 

I just think that Zahn tried to steer the EU that direction, but that DR wasn't buying it. Kinda of an ego trip on Zahn's part if you ask me. But hey, what do I know.

 

Nevertheless good topic. I've been thinking this myself. What exactly was so dangerous in the UR. I think it was my first thread The Unknown Regions 2/18.

 

No, I do not think that Thrawn knew of the Vong invasion.

 

Nosir, I don't like it.

 

Thrawn was more worried by a threat from within the Unknown Regions than by an invasion from without. Those Chiss who have been involved, along with those humans who work closely with them, seem to be a bit surprised by what's going on.

If Thrawn and the Chiss had been so worried about the Vong, they'd already have tactics and technology in place to better deal with the Vong. The tactics that we have seen so far seem to be basic Chiss tactics, though the are good against the Vong. But the fact that Jag's little scouting mission was meant to gain a better understanding of the Vong says that the Chiss had no idea before the invasion began who or what the Vong are.

 

And, according to "Mist Encounter", another short story, Thrawn joined the Empire only to protect his people. Protect them from what, exactly? Other threats in the galaxy.

This actually makes a certain degree of sense IF blue boy knew about the Yuuzhan Vong, or least has an inkling of their presence. IF they had entered through the Unknown Regions, the Yuuzhan Vong would have steam rollered right over the Chiss without so much as a 'by your leave', since by comparison, they're not nearly as advanced as the Empire or the New Republic.

 

I don't think that Thrawn knew about the Vong. [face_shocked]
If he did Jag Fel would have given Wedge all the information that they (the Chiss) had collected. IMHO

 

I seriously doubt that threat was the Vong. Both Jagged and Baron Fel's actions in DJ seem to bear this out. Why the need to scout for information about the Vong if they'd already known about them. A better question to ask is this...

What "other threats" are lurking in the Unknown regions? And another would be...

Would these threats be amenable to an alliance to help turn the Vong back?

We can speculate as to the answers to these questions. One of these threats most likely was the Si-Ruuvi. Is there any doubt that had the Rebel Alliance not intervened at Bakura, the Ssi Ruuvi would have been a very big thorn in both the Empire and Rebel's sides? Another "possible" threat would be a Sith or some simmilar Dark Force user sect. It always struck me a rather stupid for the Sith to be "Only two". Genocide is a very hard act to pull off. The Bothans tried it with the Caamasi and failed. Palpatine tried it with the Jedi and failed. Bane was the only survivor of the Sith? I seriously doubt that. There could possibly even be another faction of the Chiss out there. One that does not believe in the same code the ones we've seen do.. A more aggresive faction.

These are just -some- of the possible threats that could lurk in the Unknown regions. Or in Wild Space for that matter. All of these possibilites would pose a dire enough threat for Thrawn's build-up of forces. Not the Vong though. Or at least it's highly unlikely in my opinion.

 

i haven't read the njo besides vector prome and i only now the thrawn trilogy through the comics, but this thread has sparked my interests!!!!!

very interesting!!!

 

You're telling me that people think the Hand of Thrawn - a military installation wholly incapable of defending against Mara Jade's crashing starfighter would do better against a Vong invasion?!?

The crash of Jade's ship into the installation would be child's play in comparison to the unlimited ways the Vong would be able to abuse the Hand of Thrawn (and Thrawn himself were he in command of it.)

The Hand of Thrawn would be able to repel squat, and that's probably giving it a bit more credit than it's earned based on its past performance.

 

Barf: When you're right, you're right! And you, you're always right!

 

I'm currently re-reading the Thrawn trilogy and I came to a paragraph that seemed interesting. Although I believe that Thrawn had no contact with the YV so far in the NJO series, but it does sound possible that Zahn was leading them in the direction that there should be an alien threat that would upset the GFFA and change it forever.

Here is the paragraph and sounds like a reason why the YV have no homeworld:

"Understood sir", Pellaeon said. "With your permission, I'll get the Chimaera underway." He turned to go--
And paused. Halfway across the room, one of the sculptures had not disappeared with the others. Sitting all alone in it's globe of light, it slowly writhed on it's pedestal like a wave in some bizarre alien ocean. "Yes," Thrawn said from behind him. "That one is indeed real." "it's ...very interesting, "Pellaeon managed. The sculpture was strangely hypnotic.
"Isn't it?" Thrawn agreed, his voice sounding almost wistful. "It was my one failure, out on the Fringes. The one time when understanding a race's art gave me no insight at all into it's psyche. At least not at the time. Now, I believe I'm finally beginning to understand them."
"I'm sure that will prove useful in the future," Pellaeon offered diplomatically.
"I doubt it", Thrawn said, in the same wistful voice. "I wound up destroying their world."
Pellaeon swallowed. "Yes, sir," he said, starting again for the door. He winced only a little as he passed the sculpture.

Could this be one of the YV worlds that Thrawn destroyed out on the Fringe and that gave them a reason to enter the GFFA?

 

It depends on how one thinks Thrawn viewed fringes. His failure could be understanding those strange creatures which seem to populate what would be the UR to Thrawn and the Chiss - the GFFA's "explored regions." The fringes to Thrawn could be the fringe of the Chiss explored region (the GFFA Unexplored Region) and the Chiss Unexplored Region (the GFFA explored region).

His one failure could have been understanding of some non-Chiss humans in the Outer Rim or even just on the Chiss-side of the GFFA UR.

 

And the Chiss, well, they only own 28 systems. And Csilla only has a population of maybe a few billion. [/i}

Actually its over a trillion, as of Gamer 5.

 

Think for a moment. There are 6 billion people on Earth, and some places are MIGHTY crowded. Now, 1 trillion is something more than 150 times that number of people. Unless Csilla is HUGE, or is one big landmass with no oceans and lots of tall buildings, that many people simply wouldn't fit.

 

installation wholly incapable of defending against Mara Jade's crashing starfighter would do better against a Vong invasion?!?

The crash of Jade's ship into the installation would be child's play in comparison to the unlimited ways the Vong would be able to abuse the Hand of Thrawn (and Thrawn himself were he in command of it.)

The Hand of Thrawn would be able to repel squat, and that's probably giving it a bit more credit than it's earned based on its past performance.

Not Zahns finest moment I must admit, but the hanger stood open for Mara to blast her ship in. Remmebr the base is made with strange medal and was hit with some wierd kind of weapon, possibly a Vong cannon? Its not my palce to say, or any of your, its highly likly the chiss will never be seen largly again without Zahn, so pack it up.

 

IATDS-Gamer 5 says trillion, im sure even Genghis would agree that im right.

 

"A threat to the New Republic like the Yuuzhan Vong has long been anticipated. You remember the destruction of the Yevethan Great Purge? There were things in the Unknown Regions that would of made it look insignificant, save we were there and stopped it."
-- Jagged Fel. Dark Tide: Ruin. Page 190.

I sure as hell think so.

 

I really don't think Thrawn knew about them. How would he unless the two forces actually encountered each other? And the invasion path isn't really near the Unknown Regions. Let's say the two forces did meet though, why would the Vong bypass the Chiss (or Thrawn's Phalanx) this whole time if they knew they were the hardest thing in the galaxy to beat? Why save them for last giving the Chiss that much more time to get ready? The Vong's obvious goal was Coruscant, and not Csilla.

 

I don't think Thrawn knew about the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.

 

The Vong also didnt know about the chiss, judging to the remarks in DJ, I had this theory set awile ago.