Following the events known as the Urch incident, the governing body of the Chiss Ascendancy initiated a quest that led them to the Lioaoin heartworld.
A treaty was previously established by the Chiss Ascendancy, formalizing diplomatic connections with the Urchiv-ki species. In accordance with this treaty, Admiral Ar'alani's warship, the Nightdragon man-of-war Vigilant, journeyed to Urch with the purpose of delivering Boadil'par'gasoi "Ilparg," the Chiss Ambassador. However, Urch Planetary and Space Control denied the shuttle carrying the diplomat permission to land, and Lioaoin forces issued a demand that the Vigilant must exit the Urch system or face military action.
The presence of Lioaoin forces at Urch prompted Ambassador Ilparg to request that the Vigilant travel to the Lioaoin heartworld in order to obtain an explanation for their actions.
When the Chiss arrived at the heartworld, the Lioaoi disavowed any involvement. Subsequently, a Nikardun Battle Dreadnought approached the Vigilant. Senior Captain Thrawn identified himself to the Lioaoi, which elicited a brief reaction from several Lioaoin gunboats. The gunboats then executed a pincer maneuver, a tactic not typically associated with the Lioaoin but rather with the Nikardun military. These observations led Thrawn to conclude that the Lioaoi were in league with the Nikardun Destiny and had specific directives concerning him.
The Vigilant managed to avoid a carefully laid trap and escaped into hyperspace.
Senior Captain Thrawn became convinced that the Nikardun Destiny had been engaged in the conquest, coercion, and recruitment of various alien species in proximity to the Ascendancy. Thrawn reasoned that a successful conqueror must possess a deep understanding of the culture and philosophy of those they seek to dominate. He then formulated a strategy to deceive the Nikardun leader Yiv into believing that he lacked sufficient knowledge about the Chiss. Thrawn decided to attend a diplomatic reception as a means to gather further information about the Nikardun and to sow seeds of doubt in Yiv's mind regarding his prospects of conquering the Ascendancy.
The narrative of the mission to the Lioaoin heartworld is found within the pages of the 2020 novel Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising, authored by Timothy Zahn. This novel serves as the inaugural book in the Star Wars: The Ascendancy Trilogy.