The Outbound Flight Project—Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth’s plan to discover new planets and species in the Unknown Regions—has been approved. However, Darth Sidious knows that the project could lead to the downfall of the entire Republic if the ship carrying C’baoth and his followers happens across a mysterious threat he has long sensed in the far reaches of space. When Sidious’ operatives discover Thrawn and the Chiss Ascendency directly in the ship’s path, a deal must be struck to stop C’baoth at any cost.

Zahn delivers another powerful chapter of Thrawn’s story in this novel that depicts one of his earliest confrontations with the Republic. Not only does it flesh out details of the Chiss Ascendency, but it also sets the stage for the eventual arrival of what lurks in the Unknown Regions.