The most cunning and ruthless military leader of the dying Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn, took command of the remnants of the Imperial Fleet and began an offensive against the positions of the New Republic. With the help of a weapon of unimaginable power, once hidden by the Emperor on a distant planet, Thrawn plans to turn the tide of the battle and establish his power in the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian race against time to discover evidence of treason within the Republic Council and a phantom fleet of ships that could bring death to their friends and victory to their enemies. But all these dangers fade when a new Dark Jedi emerges, rising from the ashes of being submerged in past, filled with bitterness... and the desire to bend Luke Skywalker to the dark side of the Force.