Star Wars Theory Reveals Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Most Devastating Strategy Against The New Republic

A new Star Wars theory suggests that Grand Admiral Thrawn may use a devastating strategy against the New Republic. Having made his live-action debut in Ahsoka played by Lars Mikkelsen, Thrawn has finally made his way back to the known galaxy far, far away. Having been exiled to another galaxy for over 10 years, Thrawn has now become the Star Wars franchise’s next big villain. To that end, he may use a recently revealed Palpatine contingency to crush the New Republic which replaced the Empire after Return of the Jedi.

While Thrawn was away, the second Death Star was destroyed along with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, as seen in Return of the Jedi. The Grand Admiral also missed out on Palpatine’s posthumous contingency known as Operation: Cinder as well as the Battle of Jakku which officially ended the Empire, survived only by shattered factions known as the Imperial Remnant hiding out in the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions of space. Keeping that in mind, Thrawn may use an unused element of Operation: Cinder in a bid to restore the Empire now that he’s back.

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Palpatine Prepared A Contingency For The Event Of His Death

Operation: Cinder

Known as Operation: Cinder, messenger droids were sent to various Imperial leaders bearing Palpatine’s final order to be carried out in the event of his death. These orders contained a range of various and devastating bombardment campaigns, bringing about Palpatine’s revenge against his enemies as well as those who might have sought to claim power in the wake of his demise. As such, even worlds loyal to the Empire such as Troithe and Vardos were targeted. Naboo was also attacked, seeing how it was Palpatine’s original home world.

Although it seemed as though Palpatine’s Great Contingency was purely revenge-based, it’s also been implied that worlds were specifically targeted in an attempt to erase the existence of his observatories, keeping his secrets and artifacts from the Jedi should he ever fall. This included the world known as Jakku which contained one of his most prized observatories which was also capable of destroying both the Imperial and Rebellion fleets that had both converged on the world as the definitive battle that led to the New Republic’s ultimate victory (as the observatory failed to trigger as seen in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy.

There’s Evidence Palpatine Planned The Destruction Of Coruscant

Protocol 23 Teases Coruscant’s Intended Demise

Considering its status as the Imperial throne world and home to the Jedi Temple built over a dark side shrine, it’s surprising that Coruscant was spared during Operation: Cinder. Likewise, it’s recently been revealed that Palpatine had Protocol 23, an entire infrastructure allowing him to destroy entire sections of the city at will. With the entire ecumenopolis essentially rigged to blow during the original trilogy, it follows that it was likely a part of the Great Contingency planned for Coruscant. However, it went without being enacted, likely due to the Battle of Jakku happening before Operation: Cinder was fully completed (as confirmed in Alexander Freed’s novel Victory’s Price).

Protocol 23 is a fairly new addition to the Star Wars canon, introduced in Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco’s Darth Vader #40 set in between the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. While there’s still more that could be revealed, it’s not yet known if the New Republic was aware of the secret danger below Coruscant’s skyscrapers and if the explosive infrastructure was ever deactivated/dismantled before the decision was made to make the city-world the galactic center for the New Republic government, just as it was for the Empire and Republic that preceded it.

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The New Republic Based Itself On Coruscant After Return Of The Jedi – A Big Mistake

Does Thrawn Know About Protocol 23?

As seen in The Mandalorian season 3 and Ahsoka, the New Republic has firmly established itself on Coruscant in the years that followed Return of the Jedi. While one would hope that Protocol 23 was known about and disclosed to the New Republic’s leader during the Empire’s surrender, it’s possible that it was instead kept as a dark secret. To that end, it would mean that the New Republic is essentially working to bring peace and freedom back to the galaxy while sitting on a giant bomb, one that could perhaps be triggered in the near future of the New Republic timeline.

While pure conjecture, Thrawn may be aware of Protocol 23 and its destructive capabilities. After all, he was a high-ranking Imperial leader who was uniquely favored by Palpatine himself. Darth Vader #40 confirms that those in the Emperor’s inner circle knew the dark orders, so it follows officers with high enough clearance were aware as well. If that’s indeed the case, blowing up the galactic center of the New Republic would be a huge and devastating way for Thrawn to announce his return while establishing himself as a very formidable threat.

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The Destruction Of Coruscant Would Finally Explain A Sequel Trilogy Decision

Hosnian Prime Can Finally Make Sense

Grand Admiral Thrawn potentially destroying Coruscant would also make sense given the status of the New Republic in the sequel trilogy of Star Wars films. As seen in The Force Awakens, the New Republic is instead based on Hosnian Prime. However, it’s never been fully explained why a relocation occurred in the first place, other than director J.J Abrams creating this similar city-world after Lucasfilm determined that the First Order couldn’t destroy Coruscant with Starkiller Base.

As a result, Thrawn destroying Coruscant in the years preceding The Force Awakens could very well be the reason why the New Republic was forced to move. While it’s simply a theory, it’s one based on canonical evidence. It would also be an incredibly compelling and dark way to establish Grand Admiral Thrawn as a major Star Wars big bad during the New Republic timeline while also creating some very high stakes for the upcoming Mandalorian movie coming from Dave Filoni.