Battle of Geroon
The Vagaari sought to conquer and loot the Geroons, initiating an attack on their homeworld, Geroon. Force Commander Thrawn employed what might be considered one of his signature strategies, the Thrawn Pincer. During the conflict, Thrawn managed to seize the Vagaari ship net, an early iteration of the Gravity well projector, although he sustained injuries in the process.
Background
More than 100 warships from the Vagaari fleet launched an assault on the Geroon homeworld. Despite putting up resistance, the Geroons were significantly outnumbered. Force Commander Thrawn, upon investigating the battle, discovered that the Vagaari had successfully created a functional gravity well projector. Identifying a relatively unguarded projector protected by just three warships, he decided to steal it. His objectives were twofold: to acquire this valuable technology for the Chiss, and to incite the Vagaari to attack the Chiss, thus justifying retaliation. Jorj Car'das and Maris Ferasi, two prisoners from the Republic, accompanied Thrawn aboard the Springhawk.
The attack
Thrawn gave the order for his fighters to execute a hyperspace jump towards the gravity projector, relying on the gravity well to pull them out of hyperspace as they approached. He then instructed them to eliminate enemy fighters and establish a defensive perimeter between the projector and the warships. Once the fighters were cleared, the Springhawk followed. Thrawn then commanded Assault Teams One and Two to board the projector and neutralize the crew operating it, while Chief Engineer Yal'avi'kema and three of his crew members worked to find a method to either disassemble the projector for transport or secure it to their hull. The boarding parties quickly subdued the Vagaari crew and began working on disassembling the projector. Car'das noticed Zero-g plastic bubbles on the ships, and upon closer inspection, they realized that each bubble contained a slave. Despite his awareness of the situation, Thrawn felt powerless to intervene. He ordered his fighters to unleash full missile barrages and shock nets at all three warships, specifically targeting the vessels' bridges and command centers with the shock nets. The gravity projector was then spark-welded to the Springhawk's hull, and they prepared to jump to hyperspace.
However, before they could initiate the jump, a Vagaari attack struck the bridge. The explosion injured Thrawn, throwing him to the ground. Maris and Car'das attempted to apply a sealant patch to a tear in his vacc suit, but it failed to adhere to the material. Maris was then forced to lie on top of him, pressing her stomach against the wound, until two Chiss arrived with a larger sealant patch and carried him away. The Springhawk then successfully jumped into hyperspace.
Aftermath
The Vagaari triumphed over the remaining Geroons, initiating the planet's plunder. The Chiss suffered the loss of two warriors, an event that would later have repercussions as some viewed the raid as an act of outright aggression. Thrawn made a swift recovery at the Crustai base. The gravity well projector's capture would prove significant in future engagements, and the strategies Thrawn honed during this operation contributed to his subsequent victories.