8. First created 25 JAN 2000, Last Modified 20 August 2000  THRAWN--A MATTER OF RANK
UPDATE:  Further research into the Thrawn novels, suggested by Adam Overholtzer, has revealed that the TIE FIGHTER game is more consistent with Thrawn's promotion acc. to Zahn.  In Side Trip, he contradicted how Thrawn was both the 13th Grand Admiral and one of 12--apparently, he replaced thd dead Zaarin.
There seems to be an inconsistency as to what rank Thrawn held at what time.  The ranks given at differentin TIE FIGHTER,and SWAJ and X-wing Comics contradict the chronology of his rise through the ranks acc. to Zahn (who I take as the ultimate authority, being Thrawn's creator).  Also, though GOF:  The Swarm calls him "Captain" and TIE FIGHTR "Vice-Admiral," both show him wearing a Grand Admiral's uniform!  I shall attempt to explain this before the month is out.
NOTE:  I have used excellent Time Tales Dates.  While these may be a little off, they are accurate enough that the Thrawn-related stories are in definitely in the right order.  Initial without-a-doubt dating is given in vague terms, followed by the Time Tales year in parentheses with a link to the appropriate section.
Chronology (Time and Story)                                                                         Rank
Before A New Hope (1 BSW4, acc. to Time Tales)
1.  Dark Forces:  Soldier For The Empire                                                         Captain  
After A New Hope, Before The Empire Strikes Back (1 ASW4 acc. to Time Tales)
2a.  Galaxy of Fear #8:  The Swarm                                                                Captain
2b.  ---Cover Illustration Uniform:                                                                   Grand Admiral    
Before "Command Decision", relationship to above books uncertain
3.  X-wing:  Rogue Squadron
Before "Side Trip", After The Swarm (2 ASW4 acc. to Time Tales)
3.  Star Wars Adv Journal:  "Command Decision" by Zahn:                                Admiral     
Shortly Before The Empire Strikes Back (2 ASW4, acc. to Time Tales)
4.  Tales of the Empire:  "Side Trip" by Zahn:                                                   Grand Admiral
After The Empire Strikes Back (3 ASW4-4 ASW4, acc. to Time Tales 3.4 and 3.5)                                           5.  TIE FIGHTER game and related literature:                                                 
5a.  3 ASW4 (TIME TALES)                                                                         Vice-Admiral
5b.  Throughout:  Graphics Uniform:                                                               Grand Admiral          
5c.  4 ASW4 (TOUR OF DUTY 10, TIME TALES date)                                   Admiral
5d.  4 ASW4 (TOUR OF DUTY 11, TIME TALES date)                                   new Grand Admiral   
NOTE:  I have not listed many refernces in SW Adv Journal and X-wing Comics to Thrawn, references to events after Side Trip, in which he is referred to only as an "Admiral."  However, these are important to my
theories.
Alright, first let me dismiss the cover art of Galaxy of Fear.  Cover art is primarily artistic, to get the buyers' attention, with little detail to such thinks as consistency or relevancy.  For example, Jedi Academy Cover Art:  Daala's plaque is wrong; Bounty Hunter Wars series:  excellently drawn droids, characters, and dewbacks on covers have NOTHING to do with story; Tales from the Empire:  cover art of Slave I and Fett, neither in the anthology; cover art of Tales from the New Republic does not depict anything in the anthology, and incorrectly shows a corvette flying away from the FIRST Death Star (or else an incorrectly drawn SECOND Death Star).  I think there is clear precedent to ignore the GOF:  The Swarm cover.  The book quite clearly depicts him as Captain of the Imperator-class Star Destroyer Vengeance, the same position as in Dark Forces:  Soldier for the Empire.  This is consistent with his rise through the ranks as evident from Zahn's writings.  So, no arguments with Dark Forces and Galaxy of Fear.
Once he gets into the Admiralty, it gets tricky.  In "Command Decision," Thrawn is an Admiral.  By the later "Side Trip," he is a Grand Admiral (i.e., softcover p. 239, among other references).  Note that the entire Galaxy of Fear series is beofre Episode V; that "Side Trip" is before Episode V can be proven by many facts, including:  1)Hal Horn is still alive; 2)at the end of the story, Vader and Thrawn deduce the likelihood of ambushung the Rebels at Derra IV, foreshadowing the Battle of Derra in the ESB radio drama (shortly before the Battle of Hoth).  The seeming discontinuity arises from the TIE FIGHTER game, whichbegins shortly AFTER the Battle of Hoth.  In this game, Thrawn wears a Grand Admiral's uniform the entire time.  However, he is at first referred to as "Vice-Admiral," then is promoted to "Admiral," and later to "Grand Admiral."  This seems beyond reconciliation with written literature.
However, I have attempted (it isn't a perfect theory) to reconcile everything this way:  There is a different between Thrawn's ACTUAL rankand his SUPPOSED rank!  That Thrawn's promotion was known to Vader and others, and yet was a secret, seems to suggest to me that there were thos who knew of his EXISTENCE, but not his high rank as Grand Admiral.  These might have icluded Maarek Stele, etc., and other Thrawn's fleeties.  When they first served under him, the Emperor might have thought it too dangerous to allow the newbies to know "Hey, there is an ALIEN Grand Admiral!"  So the newbies are told, "Hey, this loser's just a Vice-Admiral."  However, after a time, they are all inspired by how great he is and become loyal to him and to keeping him their little secret for victory.  Rather than the Emperor saying, "Hey, I've been lying to you all this time about Thrawn's ranks," he mock-promotes Thrawn for the bootlickers' (n offense, Stele fans) benefit.  The now loyal followers believe he deserves it, of course!  And since none but Thrawn's loyal, experienced bridge crew (who I guess move with him from ship to ship) have ever seen him before, who's to know he's worn a Grand Admiral uniform the ENTIRE time?  OKAY, so this is all conjecture.  But as far as I know...it works
Fleet Admiral Christian Taylor sent this tidbit about the real-life explanation why Thrawn wears a Grand Admiral outift throughout TIE FIGHTER:  "In TIE Fighter...about Thrawn in a Grand Admiral's Uniform in the cut scenes, I believe that was a graphic mistake, where the creators intended on using those scenes later, but were short on time and disk space. According to the Official TIE Fighter Strategy Guide,, Thrawn--before he was promoted--was wearing a Vice Admiral's uniform. This comment was made by Maarek Stele...it was the first time he saw him, which was on the Nebulon-B2 Frigate Fogger. At any rate this does support your theory." 
[Ie, Thrawn, acc. to Zahn a GA, wore a VA uniform around Stele.]
UPDATE NOTE:  At some time before gaining Admiral Rank, XW:  Rogue Squadron p. 161 claims Thrawn held the rank Colonel in a part of a "secret to public eye" divison of the Imperial Starfleet for aliens and women.  This is the misconception, as in Black Fleet Crisis and CCG, that Colonel is a Naval rank.  Colonel ia an army rank=Naval Captain.  Thus, he had not advanced in rank beyond the rank he already held as Captain of the Vengeace.  Whether he still commanded the Vengeance at the time referred to is unknown, since little information about his position is given at all in the background reference (which is that of another character, a human female named [then, in Post-Endor era] Cpt. Iillor, who is said to have served under "Colonel" Thrawn). MAIN!    BACK TO PAGE 2!    BACK TO PAGE 1!