Heir to the Empire

Pellaeon reports the movements of Han, Leia, Luke, and Lando to Thrawn, but Thrawn sees through the group’s misdirection. He scrutinizes the evidence before him and divines the plan to keep Leia safe on Kashyyyk and the use of a droid to mimic Leia’s voice.

Pellaeon reports a four-day lead time on Luke’s journey toward Jomark, where Joruus will be waiting. Thrawn instructs Pellaeon on the ships they will need to capture Luke before he reaches Jomark, to make it look like Luke’s capture was due to an accidental run-in rather than a purposeful attack. They do not want Joruus to discover their interference.

As he is leaving, Pellaeon notices one of the art sculptures Thrawn collects; it moves as if it is alive. Thrawn explains that it is from the one culture where his insight into their art gave him no insight into their psyche. He also admits that he destroyed their world.

Luke is awakened from Jedi hibernation by R2-D2’s screeches of worry. They have been pulled from lightspeed by an Imperial ship; Thrawn’s ploy worked, as Luke assumes it was just bad luck that he was pulled out of lightspeed alongside another ship.

Luke uses several maneuvers to try to escape, but Thrawn’s ship captures him in a tractor beam.