Grand_Admiral_Thrawn

Well, the city closest to me is in 4th place, so I'll just count myself as a Torontonian!

Yup, this is the right section. Welcome .

Well, not to burst your bubble, but at the time the British had just finished the Seven Years War which had their forces spread across the world, they were dealing with uprising in India, they were fighting the first First Anglo-Maratha War, which was draining much of Britiains manpower, they were offering limited support to the Russians in the Russo-Turkish war, and in 1779 the British were fighting against "natives" in the form of the Xhosas in South Africa. I'd say the chances of an entire colony rising up agains what ammounted to around 60,000 troops and winning (with the assitance of the French) were pretty good, especially if you consider that the British were also defending Canada (the US was angry that it didn't join as a colony, so they invaded). Just had to point that out...

The download links are a little below where they talk about DivX. You have to download it from a third-party site like file front, which there should be a link to farther down.

What if Shimi (or however it's spelled) was just a flusey? What if she was like the village pod racer? What if she lied to Qui-Gon? What if she stole a baby? Or, what if it's just like we heard it, what if he really was a creation of the Force? I don't think this question can be answered my friends.

I think we'regetting onto some sensitive turf here people. Try and keep it friendly.

I agree it's a little short. You might also want to have someone check it for grammer, there are a few mistakes. hould be interetesting to read!

Grats my friend. May your journey to 1000 be swift and painless.

That's both odd and unfortunate. To have someone capable of attending school inebreated teaching the students is just sad.

Well, I have it set as my home page, and I'll check the forums each time. I also make sure to stop and check two or three times while I'm at school. I only post when I have something constructive to say though...

While she was adopted she may have considered her adopted mother to be her real mother. She obviousely wouldn't have know her Padmes backstory.

Wow, that's the best fan-made video I've ever seen. I can't wait for more!

Just to point out, the Chimaera was an ISD I and did not serve under Vader. It waas at the Battle of Endor, but it was really under Piett's command.

If you're using a newer video card, ensure that yourdrivers are up-to-date. This is much easier than re-installing the game and might save you some time.

The RotS DVD is set to be released on November 1st, along with Battlefront II.

CGI Tarkin? Where was there a CGI version of him, I only remember the actor playing him in the final scene...

Yes, the basic idea is that the wings of the aircraft will flap. I still can't find the information on it, so I think I'll e-mail the show.

I had meant to post this yesterday, but hte bloody hting kept timing out. Sorry for the long read folks. Because we only have what is written to base our concepts of the Vong on, the writers failings translate as the Vong's. The fact that there were some good writers in the series only strengthens that argument. As for Kre'Fey, I really wasn't impressed with him. I think he was over-played. I think that the Rebel fleet at Sullust was the same that attacked the Death Star. Even if it wasn't, look at who the Rebellion did loose at Endor: Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, Lando, Ackbar, Crix, Wedge and all of Rogue Squadron, as well as the massive number of general crew. I also like to assume that Mon Mothma remained aboard Home One. Very true, but they would be much reduced. With such a large chunk of the upper command structure gone, those lower down in the Rebellion would be thrown into chaos, if only for a short time. Long enough for Imperial agents to take advantage of. This point was, pherhaps, a little over-stated. The Rebellion wouldn't simply fall appart, but in the long run it would have been pushed into the Rim worlds. Unlike the New Republic the Empire was a military regime. They focused on armament and military strenght. For a real-world comparison, the Empire is like the United States, and the New Republic is Canada (I'm not making a political statement here, it's just an example). Enslaving is one thing, but making them fight for you taks more than oppression. The Emperor was very bi gon technology (just look at Mount Tantis), so I think he would have gone to great lengths to get his hands on entechment... erm, tech. Unlike the events in the novel, the Empire would have pushed right into Ssi-Ruuvi space and taken what they wanted. Your knowledge on Thrawn is a little off. Thrawn's exile to the Unkown Regions was a ruse. He was sent there by the Emperor to gather systems to join the Empire and explore. The Empire of the Hand probably wouldn't have come into existance had the Emperor survived. The Empire of the Hand was comprised of all the systems Thrawn was to bring under the banner of the Empire. I think that, had he returned to find the Empire at full strenght, those systems would simply have become part of it. Certainly he would have had his own little network of planets to use as his own, but most Imperials seem to. There is no doubt that the Chiss would have to be assimilated by force, however the Empire would be the victor in the long run. Thrawn would not have rejoined the Chiss. Unlike his banishment from the Empire, his exile from the Chiss was all-too real. Contrary to what recent novels suggest, the Chiss will not compromise their beliefs. As far as technology is concerned, the Empire would be fighting small groups left over from the Rebellion during this time span. That, and they have dedicated researchers working on new and more powerful weapons constantly, and devote massive ammounts of resources to that research. That's why I said he would move away from the Sith Code that we know in order to expand his influence. Perhaps my setup of the Imperial "Welcome Wagon" was overstated. Certainly the Vong would take many of the Rim worlds, but the Empire would have the military might to quash them. The New Republic ws too concerned with diplomacy and winning without exterminating. The Empire would have struck first and struck hard. The chemical agent the New Republic was developing would have been a first defence weapon for the Empire. If that didn't work, just blow them up. It's the Empires ruthlessness that would allow them to prevail quickly (perhaps two or three years). Remember again, you would see two militaristic forces engaging, both of whom would not hesitate to destroy a planet to advance. The Emire would have a force roughly ten times the size of the New Republic. They would have struck first and asked questions later. Their goal would have been to wipe the Vong out. Just look at what Pallaeon was able to do with the remnants of the Imperial fleet. Now imagine what Thrawn or another Grand Admiral would do with a fraction of an Imperial fleet of thousands of ships.

It is their religion that hinders them. It lays out a strict path that they can follow, and deviating from it is not tollerated. Their strategy is always very simple: deploy skips, then batter the enemy to death. There is no fine maneuvering, not tactical thinking. They clearly are limited when it comes to inventive thinking.

Actually, what happened to Elegos is exactly what Thrawn would have needed. Really, the Vong seem as though they have no form of art. It simply wouldn't fit into their culture. It would be a waste of time in their view. From that Thrawn could gain much insight into the mind of the Vong. They seem to operate under an overly-ridgid system. If you can't "invent" new technology, you probably can't come up with a new strategy. They would be an ill-suited race for unconventional attacks and strategies.

Palpatine was counting on Anakin to come in just at that moment, giving him the final bit of "evidence" that the Jedi were trying to take over. I'm more than confident that the Emperor could have squashed Windu. I think it was stated in Episode II that Yoda was the strongest power wise, where Windu was the most skilled with a lightsaber... I might have that backwards.

When comparing the Empire to the Rebellion, it is important to keep in mind the number of ships each had. If we are speculating that the Empire won the Battle of Endor, and thus the Emperor is still in power, the Imperials would have had an unimaginable number of ships at their disposal. Though it pains me to start talking about the Dark Empire series, I think it is till (unfortunately) somewhat relevant. So, the Empire would have had the majority of their ships in the Deep Core. Stop and think about that. We know how massive the Imperial Star Fleet was in the galaxy at large, so imagine of that was only a small fraction of their ships, with all of the really heavy ships being reserved for the Inner and Deep Core systems! When we get to Endor there are two fleets (yes, we all know this). However, we see the Rebel fleet and an Imperial Fleet. The Rebels threw every thing they had at the Empire on that day, whereas the Empire simply placed a fleet there. In Mon Mothma's own words, the Imperial star fleet was "scattered across the galaxy". Unfortunately for the New Republic, their position militarily had not improved by the time the Vong came. They had a relatively small fleet loaded with many recruits as the veterans of the Civil War retired. So, let's turn to the Empire. Running under the assumption that they won at Endor, the Empire still has the Executor, the second Death Star, a whole host of experienced officers, the best the Imperial Navy has to offer, as well as the Emperor and his lackey Darth Vader. We will have to assume that Vader allowed the Emperor to kill Luke, and that Han and Leia were eventually killed or captured. The whole of the Rebel fleet would have been decimated as the Imperial fleet closed in around them. What does this leave us with? An Empire facing a decapitated foe that has only small guerrilla groups spread thinly across the galaxy. Now, let's examine what would have happened in the years to come. The Ssi-Ruuvi would have attacked Balmora shortly after Endor. The Empire would have sent a fleet to deal with the threat. Though the Imperials would take heavy losses, after their inevitable victory they would have gained the entechment technology the Ssi-Ruuk use. In the years to come this would be useful in enslaving alien races that resist the might of the Empire. Species like the Wookies, Bothans and Mon Calamari would be the first to feel the wrath of the Empire, having millions of their people entrenched and used as a new, inexpensive fighting force. After years in the Outer Rim Thrawn would return. Because his "exile" was really fictional he would be folded back into the inner workings of the Imperial Navy, expanding it's strategies and ship technology. In addition to Thrawn there would be the Other Grand Admirals training the next generation of leaders in the Imperial Armed Forces. The Navy's already stringent expectations would heighten the quality of it's men. The Empire of the Hand would also introduce Chiss pilots and warriors to the Empire. After years of military expansion, as well as fighting with the remnant of the Rebellion, the Emperor is finally ruler of the known galaxy. The Noghri have been used to hunt down and exterminate the remaining Rebel cells fighting in the Rim worlds, and the Chiss have been assimilated by the Empire. The war the Chiss have been waging in the Unknown Regions is reinforced by elements of the Empire. The Black Fleet Crisis is averted when the Empire presumptively crushes opposition, and the Hapans are invaded, resulting in the end of their Monarchy. The Empire is installed as the first Emperor of the Hapan Hegemony. During this time the Emperor and Vader have been expanding the number of Sith in the Galaxy. In an attempt to restore the old order, a set of rules governing the Sith are established. These rules eliminate the assassination of a Sith's master. instead a codified set of laws similar to the Jedi Code bring stability to the sith. The Emperor will not fall to the failings of those before him. The number of skilled Force users is still small, to avoid a new rebellion. Some culling is needed to keep idealists from penetrating the Sith academies. Research at the Maw Installation continues, giving the Empire access to new super weapons. Two more Death Stars are constructed, and the Sun Crusher, though never official acknowledged, becomes a valuable tool in the quelling of uprisings. Advances in turbolasers and shielding is made, and hyperdrives become more accurate and reliable. Finally, the Vong arrive only to find that their scouting party has alerted the Empire to their arrival. As the Worldships arrive from their long journey they are immediately attacked. Because of the number of Imperial ships available, and the number of Death Stars, the Vong are outnumbered 3:1. it is by no means a short battle, and for a number of years the Vong are able to hold five sectors in the Outer Rim before being totally eradicated by the Empire. Because Vergere is also killed, knowledge of Zenoma Sekot is kept hidden, though the Emperor keeps a small team of researchers on the subject. Ok, so that's how I imagine things would work based on the rise of the Empire, and the time frame we're working with. I don't think the Vong would have stood a chance against a military government.

Ok, I saw this on the Discovery Channel last night. I can't find it on their website yet, nor can I find any information on it at all, but I'll update it with some facts as I find them. Basically, there is a new form of aircraft in development that will revolutionise... well, lots. It all starts with a researcher working on developing a polymer that, when exposed to electricity, can be manipulated with electrodes placed strategically. What he has come up with is amazing! Basically he developed an extremely light-weight metal (by light-weight I mean like aluminium and titanium) that is not only durable but extremely flexible. In addition, if you place electrodes on it and run electricity through it, the point at which the electrode connects acts as a joint, bending in both directions in turn. So, imagine an aircraft shaped like roughly like a seagull (without a distinct head). If it were made out of this material there would be no moving parts. None. Electrodes in the wings would send electrical currents into the structure causing the whole thing to flap. Combine this with the ability to glide, and you've got one neat aircraft. It's all a little hard to visualize so I'm hoping to find some pictures and technical data.

Hmm, were you anywhere near CSIS or the Ministry of Defence Defender ? I think most of what people see can be easily explained. Somethings might have a logical answer but we simply don't have enough details to allow us to come to that answer

While space is important, I think we should focus on the problems here on Earth before we make problems in space...