Quote Originally Posted by Tukhachevskii View Post
Ditto, although I have great esteem for Admiral Pellaeon (I think he was a Captain under Thrawn, or was he his XO?) especially for saving the Empire. Come to think of it, have you seen the Pellaeon class Star Destoyer (she's real tasty). Personally, I think Thrawn was not only killed off too quickly but outsmarted by an utter fool. Still, chance, uncertainty and fog all have their role to play. And I'm sure even Thrawn's luck had to run out at some point. God, I can't belive how much of a "geek" I am am. Well, I admit it, ok? I'm now offically out of the closet! I don't suppose anyone will take me seriously now (not that they were before of course!)
Thrawn clearly adopted Pellaeon as a protege IMO. Pellaeon's actions in the aftermath of the disastrous rout at Endor proved that he was an Loyalist with no thought of exploiting the situation for himself when the Emperor, as well as his designated successor and much of the Imperial Ruling Council were killed on the Death Star. This in turn actually gained him great respect from the rank and file Imperial troops who wished to take part in a peaceful transfer of power during the Galactic Civil War. However, his relative power as a kingmaker due to his temporary command of the still formidable survivors from the battle of Endor may have prevented the Imperial Civil War from breaking out had he been willing to pledge those forces behind one of the emerging contenders for the Imperial throne.

Some doubt also exist to Gilad Pellaeon's actual rank during the battle of Endor. Zahn clearly states that Pellaeon ordered the retreat as a Ship's XO for the remainder of the imperial fleet after the commanding officer of the ISD Chimarea was killed, however he is established to have achieved his captaincy before the battle of Endor, which doesn't quite gel. Though due to the intentional complexity of the Imperial command hierarchy as well as the size of the Imperial fleet present at Endor, it's possible that he was serving under a Commodore or perhaps a Rear or Vice-Admiral under the overall command of Fleet Admiral Piett.

It is also established that Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik attempted to rally the fleet after the destruction of the flagship ISD Executor aboard his flagship before it was disabled. Whether or not this occurred before or after Pellaeon ordered the retreat from ISD Chimaera.

I felt Thrawn got sort of an anti climatic end too, but the other option would have been for him to survive and... re-establish the Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor.