Irizi'stal'mustro

Biography

Assignment: Recruit Thrawn

Sometime following the Lioaoin pirate campaign but prior to the Vagaari pirate operations, Zistalmu, then holding the rank of Councilor, received orders to recruit Senior Commander Mitth'raw'nuru, who was at that time a merit adoptive within the Mitth family, into the Irizi family. While Zistalmu understood the reasoning behind the Irizi family's desire to recruit the Commander, he questioned their judgment. He recognized Thrawn's exceptional military strategic capabilities but also acknowledged the potential for political embarrassment that the officer represented. Zistalmu proposed that Thrawn join the Irizi as a Trial-born, which would exempt him from undergoing the Trials. Thrawn later sought advice from his friend Ar'alani regarding the offer. Ultimately, he chose to remain with the Mitth family.

Following Thrawn's discreet rejection of the Irizi family's offer, Zistalmu later met with Councilor Mitth'urf'ianico (Thurfian) at the March of Silence within Convocate Hall. They concurred that Thrawn posed a significant threat to the Chiss Ascendancy's continued existence and agreed to cooperate in efforts to impede his advancement. However, their efforts proved unsuccessful in halting his ascent within the Chiss military structure.

Opposition to Thrawn

After Thrawn's capture of a Nikardun vessel in the Rapacc system, Zistalmu, now holding the position of Syndic, joined Syndic Thurfian in criticizing Thrawn's actions. In a meeting that included Thrawn, Admiral Ar'alani, and Supreme General Ba'kif, the group denounced Thrawn's military engagement in the Rapacc system as unauthorized. Zistalmu specifically voiced his skepticism that a military tribunal had not yet been convened to address the matter. They also maintained that the Nikardun conquests of neighboring territories posed no threat to the Ascendancy.

Following Ar'alani's decision to allow Thrawn to collaborate with the Garwians for reconnaissance purposes concerning the Nikardun on the Vak Combine homeworld of Primea, Zistalmu and Thurfian convened a meeting with Ba'kif and the admiral to express their dissatisfaction. They reiterated their conviction that the Nikardun were of no consequence to the Chiss Ascendancy, as they exhibited no apparent ambitions of conquering Chiss territory. Later in the discussion, Zistalmu suggested that Thrawn be left to his own devices on Primea. However, Ba'kif and Ar'alani insisted on retrieving him using the Vigilant, and their decision prevailed. During their discussion of the retrieval plan, the topic of Che'ri's caregiver arose. Ar'alani had been selected by Che'ri's current caregiver, Mitth'ali'astov (Thalias), who was accompanying Thrawn on his mission, to serve as Che'ri's substitute caregiver. However, Thurfian argued that her responsibilities as admiral detracted from her ability to adequately care for the young sky-walker. As no other caregivers were available, Zistalmu offered his wife (who had previously worked as a caregiver before their marriage) to assume the role until Thalias returned. Despite Ar'alani's objections, Ba'kif agreed to allow Zistalmu's wife to serve as Che'ri's caregiver when the admiral was occupied with her other duties.

Prior to their arrival at Primea, Zistalmu disclosed to Ar'alani that he did not hate Thrawn but, rather, simply opposed the danger he represented to the Ascendancy. Ar'alani requested clarification, but Zistalmu responded that she already understood what he meant, and if she didn't, she was choosing to ignore it. Ar'alani was displeased with this response, but the Vigilant arrived at Primea before she could demand further explanation. Zistalmu observed a Vak patrol craft firing modulated laser fire at the Vigilant. Zistalmu correctly deduced that this was Thrawn. However, as Thrawn's commandeered patrol craft was now being pursued by other Vak patrol ships, Ar'alani, using the pretext that they could not be certain it was Thrawn, decided that it was necessary to begin attacking the other Vak ships to ensure Thrawn's safety. Zistalmu strongly questioned her actions, but before she could engage the Vaks, four Lioaoin ships, summoned by General Yiv the Benevolent, the leader of the Nikardun, appeared behind the Vigilant and immediately opened fire. Ar'alani, recognizing her lack of sufficient firepower, acknowledged the need for a retreat. Zistalmu criticized her for wanting to withdraw when the Vigilant was under attack by an enemy. Thrawn, no longer pursued by the Vaks (who did not want to become involved in the battle), managed to disable the weapons of the outermost Lioaoin ship, providing Ar'alani with enough time to secure Thrawn's patrol craft and evacuate the system.

Following the Nikardun defeat at Thrawn's hands, Zistalmu once again met with Thurfian to discuss Thrawn's recent military achievements. Zistalmu shared that he had recently spoken with representatives of the Xodlak family, who had presented a petition, authored by Xodlak Councilor Xodlak'uvi'vil (Lakuviv), requesting the Irizi's support for the Xodlak family's efforts to regain Ruling Family status. Zistalmu and Thurfian agreed to disseminate credible rumors that the Vagaari had aligned themselves with the Paataatus Hiveborn. Their hope was that Thrawn would be dispatched far from the Ascendancy to investigate these rumors, where he would either perish or commit a significant error. However, this plan failed, as Thrawn successfully defeated a clandestine remnant of the Nikardun at the Paataatus Hiveborn hive-home of Nettehi. In another meeting with Thurfian, Zistalmu proposed that, instead of Thrawn receiving any recognition for defeating any potential Vagaari pirate remnants, the Grayshike be sent to join the Springhawk. Zistalmu explained that the Grayshrike was commanded by a member of the Xodlak family, Senior Captain Xodlak'in'daro (Lakinda), who was allied with the Irizi. He argued that the Xodlak would diminish Thrawn's share of the accolades, and Thurfian accepted this proposal.

Following the Hoxim incident, Zistalmu learned of Senior Captain Xodlak'in'daro's (Lakinda's) difficulties within her Xodlak family. Zistalmu was dispatched to recruit her into the Irizi family as a trial-born. Following a meeting with Lakinda, she accepted the Irizi's offer and was subsequently renamed Irizi'in'daro (Ziinda).