Zsinj

Zsinj—a Human male born on Fondor before the Clone Wars that ravaged the galaxy from 22 BBY to 19 BBY—did not have a given name, adhering to his father's ancient Fondorian tradition. He was the son of a shipyard mechanic, who imparted some technical skills to his youngling. However, Zsinj chose to follow in the footsteps of his more famous mother, Mme. Maarisa Zsinj. She was a native of Chandrila and an admiral in the Republic Outland Regions Security Force during the waning years of the Galactic Republic, popularly known as the "Ace of the Spacelanes." She inspired her young son to join the Naval Academy at Prefsbelt IV as soon as he reached the minimum age for enrollment.

The younger Zsinj did not particularly distinguish himself among his peers. In fact, his instructors and classmates at the academy found him rather unremarkable. Yet, he demonstrated remarkable technological insight and significant potential as a tactician. Despite his instructors' suggestions to consider a career in support services, Zsinj insisted on his "destiny to become a great warrior" and graduated in the top third of his class.

After serving capably under his mother during the Clone Wars, the surge of chauvinism accompanying the founding of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY propelled the young Zsinj up the ranks, while his mother was assigned to less critical roles. When Mme. Zsinj's Venator-class Star Destroyer, Retaliation, was slated for decommissioning, her son volunteered to take command to return the vessel to port. However, Mme. Zsinj refused these orders, publicly denouncing the Empire as corrupt. As the "Ace of the Spacelanes" turned to piracy, becoming an enemy of the Empire, the Empire turned to the one who knew her best to hunt her down: her own son.

Zsinj was granted command of the Victory I-class Star Destroyer Iron Fist, an aging ship nearing retirement, to hunt down and destroy the Retaliation and Mme. Maarisa Zsinj. Setting aside his emotions, young Zsinj waged a fierce and ultimately successful campaign, killing his own mother. The elder Zsinj was stripped of her rank retroactively and erased from Imperial records. The younger Zsinj was granted the inaugural title of Warlord of the Empire. By 8 ABY, Zsinj's early life had been so thoroughly obscured that even the New Republic Intelligence Service could not gather significant details prior to his military career.

Zsinj's campaign against his mother marked the beginning of his pattern of absurdist thinking and a reported disdain for everything that hailed from his mother's homeworld of Chandrila. He also began a pattern of innovation, and of efficient use of resources. During his early career, he developed a tactic of retreating inside an asteroid field when faced with a superior starfighter force, waiting for the pursuers to move in using the asteroids as cover, and then blowing up the asteroids to smaller pieces with turbolaser blasts, with the resulting debris clouds being extremely effective in destroying, damaging and/or forcing the attackers to abort their attack. This tactic was later adapted into a training simulation by the New Republic. It was also during this time that Zsinj would meet his future right-hand man, Melvar.

Years prior to the Battle of Yavin, which later marked the zero point in the New Republic's calibration of the galactic calendar, the Iron Fist was assigned to patrol the area in the Quelii sector around the planet Dathomir. Dathomir was a backwater world, where the Imperial garrison was still equipped with broken-down A5 Juggernauts and even basic supply shipments were irregular, but the Empire built a prison complex on the planet for political dissidents and intellectuals. Emperor Palpatine eventually realized that the Force-sensitive Dathomiri Nightsisters were too much of a threat to be allowed off-planet. To eliminate this threat, Zsinj attacked the prison from orbit, destroying every spaceworthy craft. Although this stranded all the Imperial personnel on the planet along with the Nightsisters, Palpatine applauded Zsinj's actions, promoted Zsinj to admiral, and gave him command of the newest Executor-class Star Dreadnought, Brawl. The Victory-class Star Destroyer was sent to the Unknown Regions under Thrawn.

With the Brawl under his command, Zsinj became the heart of Imperial authority, especially in what was now the Oversector Quelii, carrying with him the respect and allegiance of both the military and the public. Now he held the ranks of Grand Moff and High Admiral of Crimson Command—a fleet of a hundred refitted Victory-class Star Destroyers plated with red havod alloy hulls. In this lofty position, one of Zsinj's duties was to continue to conquer the Drackmarians and control the Rimward stretch of the Hydian Way super-hyperroute. To that end, the Quelii Sector Fleet was the single largest in the Imperial Navy. Even as he gained power and prestige, Zsinj maintained a public persona that belied his genius. With his portly figure and piratical moustache, he put his enemies off guard before destroying them.

Following the Imperial defeat at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, the Empire began to fracture and core elements of Imperial power were brought under the control of the Imperial Ruling Council. Zsinj quietly broke away from the Empire with the forces under his command, renaming the Star Dreadnought Brawl to Iron Fist in honor of his first command and making it the centerpiece of his military forces, setting up headquarters on the planet Serenno, and ruthlessly dealing with any Rebel threat within his holdings. However, Zsinj's breakout from central authority was not entirely evident, and the Ruling Council's advisers could find no fault with his tactics at first because he loudly proclaimed loyalty to the true Empire, having learned a hard lesson from the downfall of his mother. Instead of trying to seize more power and territory by force, Zsinj worked to strengthen his power base made up of a litany of officials in the military, administration, and even the Imperial Ruling Council, a series of powerful allies that he had been cultivating since the Emperor chose him over two decades prior.

Zsinj sent emissaries to the Alliance of Free Planets and later the fledgling New Republic, causing them to initially leave him alone as they focused on nibbling at the Imperial forces based on Coruscant, although Mon Calamari forces did harass his borders somewhat in 4 ABY before shifting to a more defensive posture. During this time, a growing rivalry began to develop between Zsinj and warlord Treuten Teradoc, whose own pocket Empire, the Greater Maldrood, bordered Zsinj's territory to the south. Throughout the following years, the two engaged in a series of border skirmishes—of all his fellow warlords, Teradoc was the one for whom Zsinj had the greatest antipathy. Beyond those conflicts, however, Zsinj coexisted peacefully with the Ciutric Hegemony and the loyalist Empire, and had only occasional minor conflicts with Grand Moff Ardus Kaine's Pentastar Alignment.

In the earliest days after the death of the Emperor, many warlords found it difficult to maintain the respect of their subjects. With most true stormtroopers remaining loyal to the Imperial Ruling Council, some warlords chose to equip regular infantry with stormtrooper armor. Zsinj took a different route, choosing instead to form his own elite military force. Assembled and led by General Melvar, the Raptors combined aspects of the stormtroopers and the Emperor's Royal Guard, and they were loyal only to Zsinj. Zsinj's industrial complex created or purchased unique equipment for the Raptors, like Incom Y-4 "Raptor" transports and TIE Raptors. Known for both covert and public actions, the Raptors defended Zsinj's holdings, protected his allies, and terrified his enemies. Zsinj made overtures, both friendly and aggressive, to planets spread throughout the galaxy. He also made efforts to recruit Imperial officers into his forces, focusing especially on those with an Intelligence background.

Many joined him, like the pirate queen Leonia Tavira, the ex-Inquisitor Lanu Pasiq, and the Hutt economist Teubbo. Others, like Sair Yonka, remained loyal to Coruscant. A few persistently rejected Zsinj's attempts at both bullying and bribery, like Zel Johans and his 112th Repulsorlift Armor Regiment. Through his subordinates Zsinj operated like a rebel force unto himself. Outside of his official borders, his cells controlled territories of varying size, from entire planets down to individual companies. Using a variety of aliases like "Cortle Steeze" and "Lord Houghten Ween," Zsinj built up a support network independent from his military force. Having consolidated his forces, Zsinj took over the Tion Hegemony, extended his protection to the Corporate Sector, and annexed some territory along the Hydian Way abandoned by Ardus Kaine, extending his Empire as far as to Bogden in the Inner Rim.

During this time, Zsinj built his Dathomir shipyards, started mining operations on Dathomir's fourth moon, and initiated some of his many special projects. One of the first of his plots to bear fruit was Project Chubar. Zsinj took control of Binring Biomedical Product, a company based on the Corporate Sector world of Saffalore. There, ex-Imperial scientist Tuzin Gast and his subordinates used genetic and chemical therapy to increase the intellect and Human-like qualities of non-human species such as Gamorreans, Ewoks, and Talz. Zsinj personally captured samples for the project. Gast eventually chose to commit suicide in his laboratory with a small explosive device, and the most notable success of this project, an enhanced Gamorrean subject named Gamma-9104, was allowed to escape. Gamma-9104 later took the name Voort saBinring and went on to join the New Republic Defense Fleet. Despite this setback, Project Chubar continued on Saffalore and in a secondary laboratory aboard the Iron Fist.

In the year 4 ABY, Llon Banjeer, a cohort of Zsinj, procured military resources from the D'Asta family, who were also allies. Subsequently, Banjeer launched an assault on the New Republic's secret Hast Shipyards. This offensive served to divert the New Republic's focus from their planned dual offensive against Zsinj and Teradoc for a certain duration. During 5 ABY, Zsinj effectively thwarted Admiral Kalback of the Mon Calamari Republic's endeavor to establish a presence on the Hydian Way at Corsin. The Iron Fist overwhelmed Kalback, compelling a retreat, which then forced the New Republic to re-prioritize their efforts toward neutralizing the enigmatic Lord Shadowspawn. By 6 ABY, Admiral Ragab, another Mon Calamari officer, launched a renewed initiative to advance along the Hydian Way. The aim was to sever some of Coruscant's support lines from the Pentastar Alignment and the New Territories. Nevertheless, Zsinj's Raptors achieved a crucial triumph at Paqualis III, thereby halting Ragab's progression. Viewing both his Imperial and New Republic adversaries as weak, and fueled by his unyielding hubris, Zsinj eventually deemed his position secure enough to directly confront the New Republic.

While Ysanne Isard, the Director of Imperial Intelligence, held command over the main body of the Empire, Zsinj maintained a respectful distance from her domain. Isard, in turn, harbored the belief that Zsinj was intimidated by her. However, as the New Republic advanced towards their conquest of Coruscant, Zsinj's ambition drove him to test their mettle.

Following the New Republic's capture of Borleias in 6 ABY, Zsinj dispatched a small contingent to probe the Pyria system. A modified Dwarf Star-class freighter, christened Vengeance Derra IV in accordance with New Republic naming conventions, entered Borleias' orbit and exploited a clandestine vulnerability in the New Republic's identification protocols to fabricate a legitimate ID. Only the intuition of Rogue Squadron pilot Corran Horn enabled the New Republic forces to obliterate the freighter's TIE fighters and TIE Bombers, and compel the freighter's withdrawal from the system. The New Republic retaliated by deploying Rogue Squadron on a counter-offensive against the Vengeance Derra IV while it was in orbit around Mrisst. Rogue Squadron inflicted severe damage on the Vengeance Derra IV, crippled another transport allied with Zsinj, and eliminated a squadron of TIE fighters.

Zsinj's pride forbade him from allowing this challenge to pass unanswered. The New Republic's retaliatory action triggered a series of swift, intermittent attacks against the Republic by Zsinj's forces. Zsinj inflicted significant damage to the New Republic base situated on Noquivzor, mistakenly believing he was targeting Rogue Squadron. This prompted the New Republic to expedite their timeline for the capture of Coruscant. Amidst the ensuing Krytos virus crisis, Zsinj endeavored to steal bacta from the New Republic. Rogue Squadron, along with General Horton Salm's Defender Wing, recaptured a consignment of bacta from a space station under Zsinj's control, which was orbiting Yag'Dhul.

Subsequently, Zsinj acted on intelligence provided by Isard to ambush a bacta convoy located in the Graveyard within the Alderaan system. Termagant, one of Zsinj's Strike-class cruisers, annihilated a fabricated Rogue Squadron that Isard's agent Kirtan Loor had intended to employ to incite public animosity towards the New Republic. The real Rogue Squadron destroyed the Termagant, but not before Zsinj prepared a HoloNet broadcast to Coruscant, falsely claiming that he had destroyed the convoy and Rogue Squadron for humanitarian reasons. Zsinj asserted that the bacta had been deliberately contaminated by New Republic operatives to eliminate the alien population on Coruscant, and implored the populace to support him. Although this HoloNet broadcast was disseminated globally, it was unfortunately aired almost twelve hours after an official announcement confirming the survival of Rogue Squadron. Zsinj was once again made to appear foolish, but the attack led the New Republic Provisional Council to make the difficult choice to dedicate forces to hunting Zsinj.

The fall of Coruscant and Isard's presumed death prompted numerous previously loyal Imperial officers and warships to rally under Zsinj's banner, including Admiral Apwar Trigit and his Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Implacable. Zsinj also initiated new special projects and recruited several former agents from Isard's Imperial Intelligence network—such as Captain Zurel Darillian, who had lost his wife in the catastrophe caused by the launch of Isard's ship Lusankya from beneath Coruscant's surface in 7 ABY.

Zsinj assimilated the territories of numerous smaller warlords, including Terrinald Screed, whom he executed, and Nigel Nivers. Operating from Rancor Base on Dathomir, Zsinj became increasingly ambitious, even attacking the New Republic fortress world of New Alderaan.

With Isard removed from the equation, the New Republic was able to dedicate a significant force, under the command of General Han Solo, to pursue Zsinj. The deployment of this "Solo Command" specifically for the purpose of hunting Zsinj would later be recognized as one of the most notable demonstrations of the New Republic Defense Force's adaptability. Following his successful liberation of Thyferra, Rogue Leader Wedge Antilles and his unit were assigned to this force. Rogue Squadron was stationed aboard the Mon Remonda, and Antilles established a new X-wing unit, subsequently known as Wraith Squadron, to counter Zsinj's tactics with their own innovative strategies.

Zsinj granted his subordinates a certain degree of autonomy in their conflict against the New Republic. Admiral Trigit instructed Gara Petothel to implant deceptive intelligence into New Republic databanks, enabling a small force under his command to destroy Talon Squadron within the Gravan system. Then, in contrast to Isard, he extracted his agent rather than eliminating her. This action, along with the underlying rationale, garnered Zsinj's approval. Zsinj and Trigit also initiated Project Morrt, which enabled Trigit to locate and nearly annihilate the New Republic forces on Folor. Only a creative decoy maneuver by the Wraiths, who mocked Zsinj's subordinate by adopting the comical designations of "Dinner Squadron" and "Silly Squadron," allowed the New Republic to evacuate the base. An empion mine, deployed in the Xobome system as part of this project, posed a threat to Wraith Squadron's destruction. Unfortunately for Zsinj, they managed to utilize another inventive tactic to outwit Trigit. They captured the modified corvette Night Caller, killing the ship's captain, Zurel Darillian, in the process. The squadron then embarked on a mission to gather intelligence on Zsinj and eliminate Trigit.

By impersonating Darillian, Wraith Garik "Face" Loran successfully deceived both Trigit and Zsinj long enough to destroy the Implacable in the Battle of Ession. The Wraiths discovered that the 181st Imperial Fighter Group under Soontir Fel was ostensibly serving Zsinj. In reality, the "181st" were merely imposters led by actor Tetran Cowall. They also amassed significant amounts of data regarding Zsinj's clandestine support network—for which agents like Darillian were secretly functioning as overseers and intermediaries—and attacked much of that network along the way. The fact that Zsinj was negotiating for the services of pirate forces presented the Wraiths with a new avenue of opportunity in their fight against Zsinj.

Zsinj ascertained the identity of the squadron that had so effectively deceived him and resolved to target them specifically. An assassination attempt against the Wraiths on Coruscant itself provided the New Republic with insight into the extent of his infiltration within their sphere of influence. Acting upon recommendations from Wraith Squadron personnel, the New Republic Fleet permitted the squadron to establish themselves as a pirate band and harass the planet of Halmad in order to attract Zsinj's attention. Lara Notsil, whom they believed to be an orphan from Aldivy, joined the squadron in this operation. In reality, Notsil was actually Gara Petothel, who initially joined the Wraiths with the intention of assisting Zsinj and joining his faction.

Zsinj did take note of the actions of the Hawk-bat Independent Space Force, and after bringing the Iron Fist into direct conflict with them over Halmad, he invited the "Hawk-bats" to meet him aboard his flagship. Zsinj staged a performance for the Hawk-bats, intending to mislead them regarding his personality and the discipline of those under his command while he gathered intelligence about the pirates. Zsinj's interest was piqued by analysis of the Hawk-bats' combat communications, which had been filtered by communication system modifications performed on their TIE interceptors by Castin Donn. The intercepted signals led Zsinj to believe that an Ewok was flying with the Hawk-bats. During dinner with Zsinj, "General Kargin" of the Hawk-bats—in reality, Garik Loran—spun a tale about his "most ferocious pilot", Kettch. This story vexed Zsinj, as it caused him to doubt the security of Project Chubar.

The meeting concluded with Zsinj requesting that General Kargin execute a captured infiltrator—Castin Donn. Donn had been captured while attempting to infiltrate restricted areas of the Iron Fist—a mission which Antilles had already disapproved. One of the Hawk-bats, "Seku"—a role assumed by Dia Passik—agreed to execute the prisoner as a private commission for Zsinj. Being an expert in body language, Passik believed that Donn had already been killed and that Zsinj's people had installed a pump in Donn's chest to simulate breathing as a test for the Hawk-bats, so she acted before any of her fellow pilots could do anything rash. After Donn's death, the Hawk-bats departed the Iron Fist without incident, and Zsinj was left with little doubt about their veracity. Soon afterward, Zsinj demanded an inquiry into the Saffalore facility and initiated experiments on a real Ewok, Kolot, to determine the plausibility of Kettch's existence.

Concurrently, Myn Donos, the sole surviving member of Talon Squadron, escorted Gara Petothel to a meeting in New Oldtown on Aldivy. Zsinj had received her request to join his forces, and dispatched one of his officers, Captain Todrin Rossik, to make contact with Petothel through the real Lara's brother, Tavin Notsil. Petothel, who had been having second thoughts about joining Zsinj, resisted Rossik's plan. Donos killed Tavin Notsil from his sniper position, and Petothel killed Rossik. Petothel and Donos returned to the Wraiths, and Zsinj was left confused about Petothel's intentions. Even without Petothel's aid, however, Zsinj soon embarked on one of his most audacious operations.

During the meeting with the Hawk-bats aboard the Iron Fist, Zsinj provided the Wraiths with data on a large-scale attack on "an orbital refueling and trade station" for which he was contracting numerous private space forces. The information from Zsinj showed that the facility was defended by a large New Republic force, and implied that the facility orbited Coruscant, although the Wraiths were uncertain what could be in orbit over Coruscant that would merit the risk of a raid. However, the information about New Republic forces was a ruse on Zsinj's part to guard against betrayal by his pirate allies. Analysis of the battle plan by Petothel, the Wraiths' acting computer specialist, revealed the fact that the raid was not on a New Republic facility at all. The attack was against the space facilities of Kuat Drive Yards.

Zsinj had learned that KDY, still allied with the Empire, was very close to commissioning a new Executor-class Star Dreadnought, Razor's Kiss. The Empire was about to gain a ship that could challenge Zsinj's own flagship, and Zsinj badly wanted the Razor's Kiss for himself. He found the weaknesses in the construction facility's security by helping a colonel in the ship's complement to set up a smuggling operation. The plan for capturing the Razor's Kiss was twofold: a boarding party would seize the ship's bridge while Zsinj's space forces, including the pirates, provided a distraction for Kuat's defense fleet.

The plan worked flawlessly until the Wraiths initiated several acts of sabotage. The Razor's Kiss left the Kuat system under Zsinj's command, but Shalla Nelprin had uploaded a program into the ship's computers which would transmit the vessel's coordinates to the waiting New Republic fleet. Nelprin also stole a senior officer's hyperdrive-equipped TIE interceptor and landed on the hull of the Razor's Kiss. At the same time, Voort saBinring crash-landed his interceptor on the Iron Fist. Zsinj's right-hand man, General Melvar, paid the pirates, and the Iron Fist went to rendezvous with the Razor's Kiss.

As soon as the Razor's Kiss dropped out of hyperspace, it began broadcasting its location. The Mon Remonda was waiting and Solo positioned his fleet to intercept. Zsinj was stunned, but he steeled himself for a fight and vowed to destroy Solo. This was not to be, however, as the Wraiths' saboteurs made their moves. Nelprin destroyed the bridge deflector shields of the Razor's Kiss, and the New Republic fleet pounded the undermanned and poorly-defended ship. Zsinj moved to protect his prize, and launched swarms of TIEs. The Razor's Kiss lost its bridge during the fight, and Trooper Gatterweld, an Imperial loyalist, decided it would be better for Zsinj to own the ship than to let it be destroyed and attempted to save the ship using the auxiliary bridge. It appeared as if Zsinj would once again turn defeat into victory, but then saBinring reactivated his crashed fighter and attacked the Iron Fist's own shield generators, forcing Zsinj to retreat as the Razor's Kiss exploded.

The loss of the Razor's Kiss disturbed Zsinj more than he expected. Solo had used Zsinj's own ambition against him, and turned his desire to protect his new possession into a means to hurt him severely. Zsinj resolved not to be as predictable, and began some of his most ambitious plots yet. Project Minefield, an offshoot of Project Chubar, brainwashed a significant number of non-human members of the New Republic government and fleet, Project Funeral involved the placement and activation of these operatives, and Project Blunted Razor involved the collection of as much of the Razor's Kiss debris as possible and transporting it to Rancor Base, where the remains were used to create the Second Death, a crude vessel resembling the Iron Fist's remains.

By executing carefully calculated Raptor raids, Zsinj led Solo into a trap. At the Battle of Levian Two, Zsinj brought in a fleet larger than Solo thought possible. Neither side took major losses, but Solo was forced to reevaluate his course of action. With Solo's approval, the supply officers of Wraith and Rogue Squadrons located a decoy to use as bait for Zsinj. Meanwhile, Wraith Squadron set out to infiltrate Binring Biomedical and investigate its connection to Zsinj, unaware it was a trap.

After learning the truth about Voort saBinring and Kettch, Zsinj consolidated the Saffalore laboratory into the secondary lab aboard the Iron Fist. He then called the heads of the Saffalore facility to the Iron Fist. Novin Bress and Tuzin Gast's niece Edda Gast were brought before the warlord to report on possible lost specimens. Bress was forced to admit the possibility that specimens were unaccounted for in the aftermath of Tuzin Gast's suicide. Edda Gast remained calm during the meeting, and when Zsinj presented the doctors with a pair of pistols as if inviting them to commit suicide, Gast instead executed Bress. This caused Zsinj to declare her both blameless, for obeying her superiors' orders as best she was able from the limited information they passed on to her, and not stupid, for not killing herself on his implied command. Zsinj then put her in charge of trapping the Wraiths.

Captain Radaf Netbers was dispatched by Zsinj to bolster Gast and Binring's security personnel in the effort to transform the Binring facility into an ambush site. Regrettably for Zsinj, the Wraiths' continued employment of unconventional strategies enabled them to eliminate Netbers and abscond with Doctor Gast in their grasp. Enraged, Zsinj erupted in fury, virtually demolishing his own office aboard the Iron Fist. Cognizant of Gast's self-serving allegiance, he formulated plans for her termination. Furthermore, he expedited the timeline for Project Funeral.

Project Funeral represented a highly ambitious undertaking. Through the rapid brainwashing of non-humans, coupled with the placement of agents poised to activate their programming via unique code phrases, Zsinj aimed to achieve a dual objective: directly inflicting harm upon the New Republic through the assassination of key figures and the destruction of its assets, and subtly exacerbating discord between Humans and non-humans. Swiftly, Zsinj managed to instigate widespread chaos throughout the New Republic. Shortly before the Saffalore operation, Jart Eyan, a Twi'lek, was activated to launch an assault on Admiral Gial Ackbar. Subsequent to Saffalore, and following Zsinj's decision to accelerate the project, a series of additional attacks unfolded in rapid succession. Tolokai, a Gotal aide to Mon Mothma, came perilously close to assassinating the Chief of State. Two more Gotal soldiers mounted attacks on a barracks and a holotheater. Galey, a support staffer aboard the Mon Remonda who had been suborned by Zsinj's operatives, triggered the brainwashing of the Twi'leks Tal'dira and Nuro Tualin using their designated code phrases just prior to the Battle of Jussafet Four, and then personally attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to murder Edda Gast.

Tualin, serving as a pilot within Polearm Squadron, directed fire upon the Mon Remonda utilizing his A-wing, and would have successfully obliterated the bridge were it not for the premonitory actions of Force-sensitive pilot Tyria Sarkin. Tal'dira, a pilot attached to Rogue Squadron, sought to assassinate Antilles, but Corran Horn, another Force-sensitive individual, sensed the impending assault and neutralized the Twi'lek before he could inflict harm upon Antilles. Despite the actions undertaken by the brainwashed Twi'leks, Solo's fleet emerged victorious at Jussafet. Zsinj's attacking forces were repelled, the Raptors stationed on the ground were annihilated, several Raptor craft were seized, and the New Republic's endeavor to defend Jussafet Four, a world formerly under Imperial control, captured the attention of Imperial Admiral Teren Rogriss.

Rogriss then requested an emissary from Solo's fleet, leading Solo to dispatch Loran to the Star Destroyer Agonizer. Rogriss and Loran recognized that despite their differing allegiances, they shared a common adversary in Zsinj. They forged an informal agreement to exchange intelligence, and Loran discovered that the fighter unit ostensibly commanded by Baron Fel was not the authentic Imperial 181st, as the true unit remained in service to the loyalist Empire. Upon Loran's return to the Mon Remonda, Solo unilaterally accepted Rogriss' offer, neglecting to consult with Fleet Command.

Project Funeral was progressing precisely in accordance with Zsinj's design. The actions perpetrated by the brainwashed Gotals and Twi'leks engendered suspicion towards their respective species, and the precautionary measures implemented by the New Republic authorities, deemed necessary, fostered tension between minority species and the Human majority. In response, Antilles convened a planning session involving the Wraiths and Rogues, during which they discerned Zsinj's schemes and formulated countermeasures. They subsequently transmitted their findings to General Airen Cracken, who allocated resources to assess the validity of Antilles' report. The Wraiths' predictions materialized, and the New Republic Intelligence Service successfully thwarted an attempt by Rostat Manr, a Sullustan pilot, to crash the cruise liner Nebula Queen. Given that they achieved this by utilizing Nurm, one of Manr's Sullustan subordinates, as an intermediary, further animosity between Humans and aliens was averted. NRI also intercepted a comparable Bothan endeavor to trigger a computer-induced explosion at a power plant. In effect, Project Funeral was concluded.

Having observed Zsinj guiding Solo's fleet into traps, Antilles opted to employ even more unconventional tactics to entice Zsinj. A YT-1300 light freighter, meticulously modified to resemble the Millennium Falcon and cleverly christened the "Millennium Falsehood," was dispatched to Kidriff 5 to project the illusion that Solo himself was instigating rebellion. The deception unfolded as intended, yet a misjudgment on Captain Loran's part resulted in Petothel's escape from the Wraiths. Petothel sought refuge with Zsinj aboard the Iron Fist, but her allegiance remained with the Wraiths. She initiated a scheme to disseminate misleading intelligence and incapacitate the Iron Fist.

Based on their assessment of Petothel's character, Antilles and the Wraiths resolved to persist with the Millennium Falsehood strategy. With Rogriss' task force operating on one flank of Zsinj's territory and Solo's fleet maneuvering on the other, Zsinj's adversaries incrementally encroached upon his domain. Within a week, Zsinj had sustained losses amounting to millions of credits, representing eight percent of his revenue. Worlds, such as Vispil, renounced Zsinj's authority, culminating in the loss of the Carrack-class light cruiser Counterpunch to planetary defense forces. Zsinj was disheartened. Even General Melvar expressed concern, noting that Zsinj was exhibiting a level of pessimism unprecedented in his experience. Collaboratively, the warlord and his general devised a strategy to stem Zsinj's ongoing losses and restore his waning confidence.

In a bid to salvage his empire, Zsinj delineated a five-step plan to Melvar. His objectives encompassed maintaining control of the Iron Fist, preserving as much of his support infrastructure as feasible, eliminating General Solo, retreating to Rancor Base to reconstitute his fleet, and ultimately, formulating his next grand design for galactic dominion.

To realize these objectives, he heeded the counsel of the ostensibly loyal Petothel. She intimated that Solo was likely to be found on worlds with established ties to Alderaan, commencing with Comkin V. During the engagement between Zsinj's forces and the Millennium Falsehood, Petothel covertly transmitted a message to the Wraiths, disclosing her scheme to misdirect Zsinj. Petothel informed them that she had designated Vahaba as the next probable target in her briefing for Zsinj. The skirmish at Comkin resulted in minimal casualties on either side, as neither party committed the entirety of their fleet. Zsinj's own long-standing doctrine precluded him from engaging in battle on a terrain selected by the enemy, while Solo surmised that Zsinj was apprehensive.

Prior to the Millennium Falsehood's arrival at Vahaba, Solo instructed Captain Loran to contact their Imperial collaborator, Rogriss. Following a brief exchange of verbal sparring, Loran secured Rogriss' agreement to loan an Interdictor to Solo's fleet. As the Iron Fist stealthily entered the Vahaba system, the Interdictor Stellar Web activated its gravity well projectors. Zsinj was entrapped until he could either disable or destroy the Stellar Web, thereby concentrating his fleet's efforts on facilitating the Iron Fist's escape. When the Stellar Web was compelled to reverse its gravity generators to avert the impending collision with the crippled Victory-class Star Destroyer Serpent's Smile, Zsinj executed a jump to hyperspace, presuming himself to be secure.

Believing that Petothel was under adequate surveillance, Zsinj remained oblivious to her droid-assisted sabotage. Tonin, Petothel's R2 unit, had commandeered an army of MSE-6 mouse droids to attain limited control over the Iron Fist. Prior to departing the Vahaba system, Tonin expunged the Selaggis system from the Star Dreadnought's primary databank and subtly altered its course to steer the ship towards that destination. Subsequently, Tonin instructed his diminutive droid soldiers to target the Iron Fist's hyperdrive. Petothel transmitted a HoloNet communication to apprise the Mon Remonda of the Iron Fist's incapacitation.

Zsinj recognized that the moment had arrived to enact his escape plan. He summoned as much of his fleet as he could muster, along with any pirate allies who could arrive in time. He also called upon the Second Death for its intended purpose. Given that the connection between Wraith Squadron and the Hawk-bat pirates remained concealed from him, Zsinj failed to realize that summoning the pirates served as the decisive factor in Solo's decision to engage him.

The Battle of Selaggis was brief. Zsinj managed to deploy his third battle group and launched all of the Iron Fist's fighters, with the exception of the ersatz 181st and experimental units. Concealing himself within the asteroid belt of Selaggis VI, Zsinj employed a tactic he had pioneered on the original Iron Fist to assault Solo's fighter groups by detonating asteroids, transforming them into flak. Only through heeding Myn Donos' keenly honed danger sense were the majority of New Republic fighters able to thwart Zsinj's ambush. Simultaneously, Petothel evacuated the Iron Fist in her X-wing, accompanied by the majority of the Project Chubar subjects aboard a Sentinel-class landing craft piloted by Kolot, the genuine Ewok pilot.

Zsinj's spirits were waning once more. His adversaries were anticipating his every move. Unbeknownst to him, Petothel's sabotage had caused his own ship to transmit detailed tactical data to the enemy. However, Zsinj's mood improved upon his chief engineer announcing the restoration of hyperdrive capability. Consequently, Zsinj dispatched the counterfeit Baron Fel and his squadron to provide cover for the Iron Fist's retreat.

The "181st" opted to engage the Mon Remonda's fighters above the remnants of the colony situated on Selaggis VI's moon, Selcaron. The New Republic forces were compelled to attempt to safeguard any colonists who might have survived Zsinj's assault on the colony five months prior. Zsinj's fighters successfully diverted the fighters under Antilles' command, but Solo's primary warships continued their relentless pursuit of the Iron Fist. Zsinj initiated his maneuver to escape.

The decoy vessel Second Death deployed its Nightcloak and prepared to shield the Iron Fist's departure. Concurrently, Voort saBinring bisected Zsinj's diversionary fighter force by jamming their communications—each fighter within the mock 181st possessed a droid companion. Zsinj employed rigged asteroids to impede the pursuing Mon Remonda and deployed the experimental TIE Raptors. After pursuing "Baron Fel" to the surface of Selaggis' moon, Antilles discovered that the leader of the false 181st was, in fact, Cowall, impersonating Fel to distract Antilles. Petothel shielded Antilles from a Raptor attack before executing her own withdrawal from the battle, which was nearing its conclusion.

While retreating from a losing engagement severely wounded Zsinj's ego, the Iron Fist transitioned into the concealment afforded by the Second Death's Nightcloak. They successfully executed a jump to hyperspace as the Second Death detonated—reverting to the debris that constituted the majority of its mass. To external observers, it appeared as though the Iron Fist had self-destructed due to a malfunctioning hyperdrive.

However, the Iron Fist remained intact and escaped to space controlled by Zsinj. Zsinj initiated a hypercomm call to Han Solo from the cockpit of a Lambda-class shuttle, during which the two commanders exchanged acerbic remarks. Solo proposed that Zsinj kiss Chewbacca, prompting Zsinj to unleash a torrent of colorful expletives in multiple languages for nearly a full minute, including a Rodese phrase Solo recognized as mocking his familial background. Solo experienced a sense of relief as the conversation concluded, unaware that Zsinj had returned to the Iron Fist. While Solo believed he had achieved victory, the contest was not yet resolved.

Upon his return to Coruscant, Solo learned that the woman he loved was contemplating a political union with Isolder of the Hapes Consortium to fortify the New Republic. Solo, aware that he possessed nothing to offer Princess Leia Organa to rival Isolder's immense wealth, resolved to secure her a gift in a manner uniquely his own—a high-stakes sabacc game. Solo triumphed, winning the planet Dathomir from the Drackmarian warlord Omogg, and presented the planet to Organa as a replacement for New Alderaan, which Zsinj had previously targeted.

Unfortunately for Solo, Omogg had deceived him—Dathomir resided within the heart of Zsinj's territory. Although the truth was not immediately apparent, Omogg had deliberately lured Solo to Zsinj's location to eliminate Zsinj's presence from what had once been Drackmarian space. In his characteristic fashion, Solo relinquished his commission, abducted Organa, and transported her to his newly acquired planet. Unbeknownst to Solo, his impulsiveness was poised to thrust him back into conflict with his nemesis.

Upon Solo's arrival at Dathomir, he promptly identified Zsinj's shipyard—and the assembled fleet there detected Solo. Solo's attempt to disguise the Millennium Falcon as one of Zsinj's Incom Y-4s proved fleeting, but he managed to launch concussion missiles into an unshielded frigate. The Millennium Falcon rode the ruined frigate into Dathomir's atmosphere, where a surprise awaited: the Witches of Dathomir.

Luke Skywalker, a Jedi Knight, pursued Solo aboard Isolder's Battle Dragon, Song of War. They reached Dathomir only to witness the Millennium Falcon's crash landing. Isolder and Skywalker followed them, only to be captured by a Force Witch. Skywalker soon reunited with Solo and the princess, but in the skies above Dathomir, Zsinj's forces braced for an impending assault and, having learned of Solo's presence, General Melvar initiated negotiations with the Nightsisters for custody of Solo.

As the Rebel intruders endeavored to escape the planet, Zsinj deployed the Orbital Nightcloak to intimidate the planet's inhabitants into submission. Zsinj directly contacted Gethzerion, the leader of the Nightsisters, to demand Solo's transfer. The Nightsister captured Solo, and Melvar dispatched two shuttles to the surface to claim him—an armed one for himself and Solo, and an unarmed one for the Nightsisters to depart the planet. In an act of treachery unforeseen by Zsinj, Gethzerion slew Melvar and commandeered the armed shuttle. Unluckily for the Nightsisters' plans, Skywalker drew more deeply on the Force than he ever had before in order to combat them. He orchestrated an attack to liberate Solo, and then, alongside Solo, pursued the Nightsisters' shuttle into the Dathomir sky in the Millennium Falcon. Emboldened, Skywalker employed his Force-enhanced abilities to assist Zsinj's forces in destroying the Nightsisters before engaging the Nightcloak.

Zsinj deployed hundreds of starfighters to intercept the Millennium Falcon, but he was unable to prevent Skywalker from deactivating his planet-killing satellites. Upon realizing that the Iron Fist was within range, Solo reclaimed the helm of the Millennium Falcon. Slipping beneath the Iron Fist's shields, Solo established a priority communication directly with Zsinj. The final words Zsinj ever heard were Solo instructing him to kiss his Wookiee. With his last two concussion missiles, Solo obliterated the bridge of the Star Dreadnought. Zsinj met his end in 8 ABY, during what would later be commemorated as the Battle of Dathomir.

With Zsinj's passing, the Hapan fleet advanced into Dathomir space, decimating the shipyard and capturing or destroying a substantial portion of the late warlord's vessels. The planet was liberated from Zsinj, the Nightsisters were eradicated, and Solo transferred legal ownership of Dathomir to the witches. The grateful world of Dathomir promptly acceded to the New Republic. Shortly thereafter, Organa married Solo. This wedding proved successful, unlike their aborted attempt to wed in 5 ABY. Isolder espoused Teneniel Djo, a native of Dathomir, but owing to internal Hapan political dynamics, the Consortium only committed to a limited alliance with the New Republic.

Although his reign spanned a mere four years, Zsinj's death reverberated widely. The most formidable threat to the New Republic was neutralized, but Zsinj's demise also afforded the Empire the opportunity to refocus its attention on the New Republic. Compounding matters, Zsinj's forces remained active, yet lacked direction. Numerous Raptor commandos independently perpetrated terrorist acts against the New Republic or aligned themselves with hardline Imperial factions, such as Ennix Devian's Kaarenth Dissension. While the western region of Zsinj's holdings was annexed by the loyalist Empire, the majority of Zsinj's Empire fell to the New Republic, and it was only after Zsinj's death that the New Republic was finally able to take Kuat in mid-8 ABY, after previous failed attempts in 4 ABY and 7 ABY.

A significant portion of Zsinj's fleet was claimed by a host of independent warlords, most notably Teradoc, who awaited Zsinj's demise in 8 ABY before proclaiming himself "High Admiral of the Mid Rim," and promptly moved to seize the worlds along the Gordian Reach, only to find himself embroiled in a three-way war against New Republic's Admiral Ackbar and Imperial Admiral Rogriss. Ultimately, Teradoc suffered a decisive defeat and was compelled to flee to the Deep Core, establishing a new regime there, the foundation of which rested upon the remnants of Zsinj's former Crimson Command.

Eventually, Captain Baden Lathe of the New Republic Intelligence Service compiled classified security files on the deceased warlord and his activities. Zsinj received his own dedicated entry in NRI Security File: 8881:6127.213.

Zsinj, an overweight, balding human male with brown and gray hair, possessed a cunning nature, firmly believing that deception constituted his most potent weapon. Adopting a somewhat farcical outward appearance, he eventually donned the white uniform of a Grand Admiral, a rank he had never rightfully attained, which, in conjunction with his corpulence and handlebar moustache, lent an air of incongruity to his overall presentation. Furthermore, he was known to engage in theatrical displays, such as consuming non-alcoholic beverages and then feigning intoxication to gauge the reactions of those around him.

As a consequence of his numerous deceptions, some perceived him as uncouth and piratical, others regarded him as a psychopath, while a select few dismissed him as a buffoon. Strategically, Zsinj sought to prevent anyone from forming an accurate impression of his personality, but his diverse personas also served to alleviate the boredom of the hyperintelligent admiral.

Few individuals truly knew Zsinj, with Melvar, his second-in-command, possessing the most intimate knowledge of his character. Zsinj felt at ease discussing his various deceptions in Melvar's presence, allowing Melvar to witness the genuine emotional responses concealed behind his public facade. Despite his brilliance and calculated nature, Zsinj occasionally acted to appease his own sense of pride, as evidenced by his retaliatory actions against the New Republic following their punitive strike against Mrisst. Zsinj was capable of committing brutal and inhumane acts, particularly against non-humans, as demonstrated by his special projects, such as Project Chubar and Project Funeral. He also exhibited a degree of volatility, prone to violent outbursts, the severity of which his associate Melvar could sometimes anticipate. Zsinj adhered to a ruthless martial philosophy, willingly making substantial sacrifices, often at the expense of his subjugated worlds, to secure ultimate victory.

Zsinj possessed impressive technical expertise, so much so that his instructors at the Imperial Academy attempted to steer him towards a support-oriented career path. New Republic Intelligence suspected he had undergone technical training during his younger years, but, as was common with many aspects of his early life, NRI was unable to confirm this suspicion. Zsinj exhibited considerable proficiency in general computer usage, astrogation, and the engineering of both starships and starfighters, along with the operation of capital ships and transports. His Raptors were equipped with cutting-edge vehicles and armor, and Zsinj himself conceived the design for their TIE/rpt starfighters.

Furthermore, Zsinj was a masterful tactician. He originated several combat maneuvers that would later be incorporated into the curricula of various military academies, such as employing asteroids as a form of natural flak cover. He also demonstrated exceptional organizational and management capabilities, evidenced by his establishment of an entirely new military organization, the Raptors, and his capacity to maintain a fleet comprising numerous disparate ex-Imperial components. In close-quarters combat, he was adept at both melee engagements and ranged combat. Zsinj displayed skill with a variety of blasters and vibroweapons, and even possessed some aptitude with longbows and thrown weaponry. He was also capable of riding large animals.

Beyond his military and technical prowess, Zsinj was skilled in negotiation and persuasion, and possessed knowledge of bureaucratic procedures and legal matters. Zsinj also had the business sense to operate a clandestine financial network spanning New Republic and Imperial territories, in addition to his own domain. The New Republic remained completely oblivious to this until Wraith Squadron undertook a mission targeting one of Zsinj's subordinates. He leveraged the protection afforded by his military forces as an enticement for planetary governors to secretly provide him with resources, as he did on planets such as Viamarr 4, Ession and Xartun. His covert business operations subsidized his publicly known military forces. He maintained these financial holdings under various aliases, including "Cortle Steeze," "Houghten Ween," and "Oan Pakkerd."

Zsinj was fluent in multiple languages other than Basic, including Huttese, Mon Calamarian, and Rodese. Han Solo recorded Zsinj's last message to the Mon Remonda to have it interpreted by a 3PO unit. It was determined that Zsinj utilized nearly sixty different languages during his brief, minute-long outburst.

According to Zsinj's New Republic Intelligence file, he was unable to convincingly fabricate stories despite years of practice; however, his interactions with Wraith Squadron directly contradicted this assessment, as he successfully executed several elaborate deceptions that involved direct contact with New Republic personnel.

As both an Imperial officer and subsequently a warlord, Zsinj wore an Imperial Navy uniform. Although he frequently donned the white uniform of a Grand Admiral, despite never having officially attained that rank, he was also observed wearing the standard green uniform on occasion. He typically carried a blaster pistol—which he once employed to destroy his own office furniture during a fit of rage—and also carried a comlink and code cylinder. He was also known to possess a scepter. As the warlord presiding over his own empire, Zsinj commanded a substantial fleet, but generally preferred to issue commands from his flagship, the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Iron Fist.

The character of Warlord Zsinj was initially conceived as the adversary for Han Solo in The Courtship of Princess Leia, a 1994 novel penned by Dave Wolverton, although his character was not extensively detailed. He subsequently functioned as a secondary antagonist in the initial four installments of the X-Wing series, authored by Michael A. Stackpole and published from January 1996 to February 1997. Given that he never made a direct appearance, his character remained largely undeveloped.

His history and the structure of his empire were elaborated upon in the West End Games sourcebook titled Cracken's Threat Dossier, released in July 1997. Zsinj's profile in this sourcebook portrayed him as a cunning adversary for players of Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, but it provided limited insight into the personality that would later be revealed. Readers gained a more comprehensive understanding of Zsinj's character in the subsequent three books of the X-Wing series, published from February 1998 to February 1999, which chronicled the exploits of Wraith Squadron. Author Aaron Allston transformed Zsinj into a more complex character, who employed deception and theatricality to obscure his true nature from his adversaries.

Before his passing in 2014, author Aaron Allston maintained a "Frequently Asked Questions" page, where he shared some of his reflections on writing for Star Wars, including insights into the character of Zsinj and his interactions with Han Solo. Allston noted that the culminating battle for the Razor's Kiss in X-Wing: Iron Fist drew inspiration, in part, from the historical Battle of Midway. Allston believed Zsinj's situation mirrored that of the Imperial Japanese Navy, in that his forces were superior, but he was unable to effectively deploy his full strength against his intended targets due to unfavorable conditions.

Allston also clarified that a perceived contradiction between Solo Command and The Courtship of Princess Leia was, in fact, not an error. In The Courtship of Princess Leia, Solo informs Leia Organa and Prince Isolder that he contacted Zsinj to boast about destroying the Iron Fist and instructed Zsinj to "kiss my Wookiee!" However, in Solo Command, it is Zsinj who initiates the call, and Solo's response is a much less forceful, "maybe I could let you kiss my Wookiee." Allston explained this discrepancy by suggesting that Solo was under considerable duress during the campaign and was simply struggling to recall the details with perfect accuracy.

The eighty-third issue of The Official Star Wars Fact File, released around July 2003, explicitly accused Zsinj of "delusional self-aggrandizement," but more authoritative sources do not corroborate this claim. The most recent source, the 2013 StarWars.com blog "The Imperial Warlords: Despoilers of an Empire" by Abel G. Peña and Daniel Wallace, merely suggests that his mind took an "absurdist turn."

The Wraith Squadron novels and the text of Cracken's Threat Dossier specifically describe Zsinj as wearing a Grand Admiral's uniform, but prior to the publication of The Essential Atlas, none of the available images definitively depicted him in the white uniform associated with that rank, nor was he ever shown wearing the epaulets typically worn with that uniform.

The earliest illustration, featured in Cracken's Threat Dossier, portrayed Zsinj in a dark uniform lacking epaulets and displaying a 3-by-2 rank plaque, despite the text specifying that he wore a Grand Admiral's uniform. According to earlier guides such as the Imperial Sourcebook, this type of rank plaque is generally associated with a Captain or Commander. However, the Imperial Sourcebook also indicated that such plaques are typically worn in conjunction with code cylinders, which Zsinj was not depicted with. The same rank insignia appeared in The Essential Chronology, but the color of his uniform tunic was not as clearly defined.

The two more recent sources, The New Essential Guide to Characters and The New Essential Chronology, unambiguously depicted a green uniform, featuring a previously unseen rank plaque that resembled those worn by Moffs or Grand Moffs, but again without code cylinders. Further complicating matters, the Rebellion Era Sourcebook attributes at least one code cylinder to Zsinj as a warlord following the Battle of Endor. Given that Zsinj's initial appearance in The Courtship of Princess Leia did not specify the color of his uniform or the design of his rank plaque, and his profile in The New Essential Guide to Characters, published after the Wraith Squadron novels, made no mention of his adopting the white uniform, it is challenging to chronologically arrange any of his artistic depictions or to draw definitive conclusions regarding his rank insignia.

Zsinj's actual rank prior to rejecting the authority of the regime on Coruscant was also ambiguous before its clarification in The Essential Atlas. He was identified as an "Admiral" in Cracken's Threat Dossier, while Wraith Squadron referred to him as "a onetime Imperial admiral." However, in a brief line of dialogue in The Courtship of Princess Leia, Han Solo alludes to "Zsinj or some other Grand Moff," potentially linking Zsinj to that political position. It was established, however, that he commanded the Quelii Sector Fleet, and no separate Grand Moff of the oversector was ever identified.

These ambiguities were ultimately resolved with the publication of The Essential Atlas in 2009, which confirmed Zsinj's position as Grand Moff of the Quelii Oversector and depicted him in a uniform that incorporated elements from all previous visual and textual portrayals: a white Grand Admiral uniform complete with epaulets, the unique rank plaque previously depicted in The New Essential Guide to Characters and The New Essential Chronology, and code cylinders, which are not typically depicted on Grand Admirals. His subsequent depiction in 2012's The Essential Guide to Warfare adheres to this design.