The Shadow Council was an assembly comprised of Imperial warlords and their remnants during the period of the New Republic Era. The Shadow Council's members were secretly coordinating their individual efforts to undermine the New Republic, while maintaining a facade of being disorganized remnant warlords to hide their collective strength.
A new Shadow Council emerged by 9 ABY, drawing inspiration from the original advisory council formed in the final year of the Galactic Civil War to function as the Empire's new clandestine governing body, which dissolved after the Battle of Jakku. It was made up of a minimum of ten delegations, including Moff Gideon, Commandant Brendol Hux, and Captain Gilad Pellaeon. They convened to discuss various issues, such as suppressing Mandalorians who sought to retake Mandalore, advancements in cloning technology, and preparations for Thrawn's return. However, Moff Gideon desired to be the leader, but he would die on Mandalore before he could achieve his aspirations.
Each member of the new Shadow Council was in charge of their own sectors, and they maintained the pretense of operating independently as disorganized warlords to conceal their true capabilities. While Brendol Hux and Gilad Pellaeon were tasked with accumulating vast quantities of resources and equipment for shared use, other members, including Gideon, were to independently gather resources in anticipation of their grand scheme taking shape.
During the New Republic Era, the Shadow Council grew, incorporating new members like Commandant Hux. Navy Captain Gilad Pellaeon also became a member, with his delegation acting as representatives for the forces of Grand Admiral Thrawn, his former commander and the supposed head of the advisory group. Thrawn was nominally the leader of the council, but only Pellaeon could speak to his eventual return. In reality, Thrawn was marooned in another galaxy, making him a leader in name only. However, Pellaeon's claims were accurate, as Thrawn was actively striving to return to the galaxy and ultimately succeeded, with the intention of leading the Empire in a renewed campaign against the New Republic upon his comeback.
Moff Gideon was also a member, as was a warlord holding the rank of Commander, and six additional warlords. Among these warlords was one who believed that numerous citizens remained loyal to the Empire, another who concurred with this view, and three other warlords.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Jakku, the Empire appeared to have fallen apart. With the deaths of Rax, Obdur, and Tashu, the only known survivors included Grand Admiral Rae Sloane, Hux, Grand Moff Randd, and General Hodnar Borrum. Randd managed to escape the destruction of the Ravager and led his own Imperial forces in the Queluhan Nebula. Sloane and Hux took command of the Imperial fleet and officials that regrouped as an regrouped in the Unknown Regions, eventually reforming as the First Order.
Around 9 ABY, the surviving Imperial leaders had formed a new Shadow Council, ostensibly led by Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo "Thrawn," although he had not yet returned to the galaxy from his exile. The council also included delegations from other remnants of the Old Empire, such as Moff [Gideon](/article/gideon], Thrawn's former ally Captain Gilad Pellaeon, Commandant [Brendol Hux](/article/brendol_hux], and at least six other Imperial warlords. During their tenure on the Shadow Council, Hux and Pellaeon amassed substantial resources for their own use. When Gideon deployed his massive squadron of TIE/IN interceptors to obliterate the residence of Bo-Katan Kryze, the former ruler of Mandalore, she realized that the number of starships attacking her home was too large for a single Imperial warlord. Forced to flee before uncovering any answers, she remained unaware that Gideon had orchestrated the attack and was part of a larger alliance of Imperial Remnants.
After the [pirate siege on Nevarro](/article/pirate_siege_on_nevarro], Gideon attended a Shadow Council meeting to discuss the threat the Mandalorians posed to his operations. He requested three Imperial Praetorian Guards, additional TIE/IN interceptors, and more bombers to counter them, which Hux and Pellaeon reluctantly granted upon learning of the Mandalorian's resurgence. During the same meeting, Moff Gideon challenged Captain Pellaeon about Thrawn's absence, sarcastically noting the lack of concrete evidence for the Chiss warlord's "imminent return." Gideon then suggested that the council needed new leadership, hinting at his ambition to take over, gaining the support of at least one of the council members. Moff Gideon also discussed Project Necromancer with Commandant Hux, which was initiated and led by the late Chief Scientist Doctor Royce Hemlock of the Advanced Science Division, who accused him of using Doctor Penn Pershing to further his own cloning experiments on Nevarro. Several council members also voiced concerns about the unequal distribution of military resources, which were primarily controlled by Pellaeon and Hux, and about the excessive caution displayed by the council's leadership. Some members advocated for the Imperial remnants to engage in more hit-and-run raids on hyperspace lanes, while others favored open rebellion against the New Republic.
Ultimately, despite the reinforcements he received from Hux and Pellaeon, Gideon was defeated in the reconquest of Mandalore, resulting in the destruction of Gideon's base and the loss of Gideon and his forces. Nevertheless, the existence of the Shadow Council and the unified nature of the Imperial Remnants remained a secret to the New Republic. While officers General Hera Syndulla and Captain Carson Teva were convinced of a growing Imperial threat, with Teva citing the battle on Mandalore as evidence, Senator Hamato Xiono, a member of the Senate Defense Council, dismissed their concerns and saw no indication of the Imperial Remnants being united. Xiono also pointed to the conflict on Mandalore as proof, believing it demonstrated that Gideon acted independently. However, Syndulla would discover that Thrawn had returned to the galaxy with his forces and the Great Mothers during the escape from Peridea.