Why?

[Meyer]

Why didn't Emperor, after being reborn, contact Thrawn and tell him abput his return? Did he believe that Thrawn was a traitor?

[Slornie]

Leaving aside the ambiguities surrounding whether it was actually the Emperor reborn or someone else pretending to be him..

When was the reborn Emperor "born" ?  Since his campaign was after Thrawn's, maybe he hadnt been reborn at the time..

If he was around, he was obviously in hiding, presumably gathering forces to re-enter the galactic stage.  But what if he was also in a vulnerable position at the time, rendering it impossible or too risky to communicate with Thrawn.  Or maybe the reborn Emperor did contact Thrawn, which led to his return to the Imperial Fleet from the Unknown Regions (and his subsequent campaign).  Or, maybe he decided not to communicate with Thrawn, trusting in his ability to restore the Empire, at which point he could just jump out and say "thanks Grand Admiral Thrawn, i'll take over now, off you go back to the Unknown Regions".

[Meyer]

well it is a fact that it really was Palpatine who was reborn and not someone pretending to be him. And he was there during Thrawn's campaign because he already gathered a fleet of his own to use in his campaign, fleet including warlords like Harrsk and Teradoc. All those others are plausible but why didn't Emperor give Thrawn all of the Imperial Navy to cammand? With that force Thrawn would have crushed NR in no time. And why didn't Thrawn mention Palpatines return to anyone? not even Mara Jade, ex-Emperor's Hand. That last one is something that would suit Palpatine very well. let Thrawn do the job and send him back to UR.

[Slornie]

How is it fact that it really was Palpatine? Luke says it was, but other people remain unconvinced.

So those other forces were gathered, do we have any idea as to the size or breakdown of that force? For all we know by that stage the warlords had practically destroyed most of the remaining Imperial forces.

If Palpatine had communicated with Thrawn, there is no reason for him to give him more ships.  He knows Thrawn's tactical and strategic ability, and could have decided that no more forces were required, and to retain what forces he had gathered for a subsequent attack.  Or maybe there was a deal that Thrawn would get supplied with more ships/men at different stages of his campaign.

Why would Thrawn announce Palpatine's return to anyone? It had no bearing on his campaign, and would dilute his command authority (and who says that the Imperial forces would have believed him even if he had told them).  Yes, Mara was ex-hand, but her current affiliation was unknown at the time, so it would have been unwise for Thrawn to tell her (if he knew), especially since he was unwilling to tell his own loyal forces.

[Meyer]

once again you counter perfectly. but Thrawn had a need for moer ships from the start of his campaign. why do you think he attacked Sluis Van and wanted the Katana fleet so bad?

And why doesn't anyone of the imperial say it's not Palpatine.? Why do they believe. and it's very official in wookiepedia and everywhere else too.

[Slornie]

Yes, Thrawn did have a need for ships and war material, but as was shown, he also had the ability to acquire those ships for himself (it was just bad fortune that he failed at Sluis Van).

The Imperials are biased, the Emperor was their leader, and naturally they want to believe that he is still leading them.  Therefore they are more gullible (as also shown with the Thrawn scam, they willingly accepted that he was back, even though he was clearly reported dead).

Wookieepedia and "everywhere else" may say that it was the Emperor reborn, but as far as i know that is just conjecture, there is nothing in canon (again, as far as i know) that clearly and irrevocably states that it was Palpatine.

[Corey]

I think it was more of a Dark Horse and Timothy Zahn communication problem than a Thrawn and Palpatine communication problem.

[vadereclipse]

other than the thrawn trilogy, what books did zahn do?

[Corey]

Hand of Thrawn Duology, Allegiance, Survivor's Quest and Outbound Flight.

[vadereclipse]

cool
iis he retired from star wars novels now?

[Meyer]

What makes you doubt that it isn't the real Palpatine, Slornie? Why couldn't he be resurrected? you're the only one I know who claims it isn't Palpatine.

and to vadereclipses question:
"Zahn has expressed an interest in writing more Star Wars novels, though he is not currently signed for anything beyond 2007's Allegiance, and has said that it is possible he is done with Star Wars.

At Celebration III, Zahn said he would like to write a novel set after Legacy of the Force featuring Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, and a teenage Ben.
In response to a fan's question (also at C3) he stated he would be interested in revisiting the character of Thrawn if it involved a new threat that only a clone of the Grand Admiral could solve. The clone would become unsure of himself due to the massive expectations placed upon him. Zahn said at a book signing with the 501st in Philadephia that he would like the Thrawn clone to team up with Ben Skywalker.
In The Force.net podcast he said he would like to write a story about the Hand of Judgment being kidnapped by Thrawn and joining the Empire of the Hand.
He has stated that he's written a story detailing how Baron Soontir Fel leaves Imperial service and joins the Chiss Ascendancy, but it has yet to be published."

[Slornie]

What makes you doubt that it isn't the real Palpatine, Slornie? Why couldn't he be resurrected? you're the only one I know who claims it isn't Palpatine.

Heh, because im cynical, i just dont think it plausible that Palpatine could have been resurrected.  Anyhow, i thought that Palpatine didnt have the knowledge to create life, that secret having been lost when Darth Plagueis died, therefore how could he have managed to resurrect himself?

[vadereclipse]

cool! a thrawn clone who has correct views!
or does Ben become imperial?

[Meyer]

well other sith did survive in shall we say "ghost forms". and they could go inside a person and take control of that perspon. So it's possible and very likely that Palpatine went as a spirit in one of his own clone.

[Slornie]

well other imperials did survive in shall we say "ghost forms". and they could go inside a person and take control of that perspon. So it's possible and very likely that Palpatine went as a spirit in one of his own clone.

By Imperials you actually mean Sith, right?

And you are talking about Exar Kun (who "possessed" Kyp Durron), yes? His "spirit" was anchored to the network of temples on Yavin IV, Palpatine had no such facility available at the time of his death.

As for the clone point, yes i suppose Palpatine could have had a clone of himself hidden away (rather like Thrawn did in the HoT).

[Meyer]

well there are still many things about force unknown. but personally I believe it was palpatine as there is much more support for that than support that it wasn't palpatine. but if you can provide other support than your own cynical nature then I'll rethink it.

[sarcronis]

This is kind of explained on wookiepedia.

While Palpatine was still recovering in his Deep Core stronghold, his former advisors received word (8 ABY) of the arrival, from deep in the Unknown Regions, of the last surviving Grand Admiral. This was the Chiss strategic mastermind Grand Admiral Thrawn, who was armed with a plan he outlined to them that would defeat the New Republic. Heartened by the possibility of wresting back their power from the Rebels, they managed to set aside their differences and grant him overall command of their forces, with an eye toward making him their figurehead emperor once they had a throne back to give him.[11] When Palpatine learned of this, he was genuinely devastated. He had liked Thrawn, as much as he was capable of liking anyone. He had entrusted much to Thrawn's genius, even as he had used that genius for his own ends.[11]

There is no evidence that Palpatine ever took Thrawn into his confidence on his "post-mortem" plans. Not knowing about Palpatine's survival, Thrawn did know that the declared government of the Empire was in danger, and, for his own reasons as much as theirs