Zsinj's Empire

Following the demise of Emperor Palpatine, Zsinj's Empire emerged when Zsinj effectively rejected the authority of the Imperial Ruling Council, thereby establishing himself as an independent warlord. In the chaos that immediately followed the Battle of Endor, Zsinj outwardly maintained allegiance to the main Empire—a lesson seemingly drawn from the flamboyant disavowal his proud mother, an Imperial fleet commander, had issued before her defection, which led to her subsequent pursuit by her own son.

After establishing Serenno as his capital, Zsinj began to emphasize his title as Warlord of the Empire, symbolically renaming his Super Star Destroyer Iron Fist after his former vessel, and consolidating control over the Quelii Oversector with remarkable efficiency and brutality. Initially, the Ruling Council's advisors were supportive of his methods, which obscured the true extent of his departure from central command.

While Zsinj was quick to deal with local rebel groups, he also dispatched envoys to the Alliance of Free Planets. This group would later become the New Republic, and the diplomatic connections the warlord forged allowed the self-proclaimed successor to the Old Republic to focus its efforts on defeating the Imperial government located on Coruscant.

Zsinj's diplomatic interactions with other factions involved in the Imperial Civil War were inconsistent. He engaged in conflicts with Treuten Teradoc's Greater Maldrood and Ardus Kaine's Pentastar Alignment, while maintaining peaceful coexistence with the Ciutric Hegemony and the loyalist Galactic Empire (where the warlord still had allies like Admiral Llon Banjeer).

Zsinj actively recruited Imperial officers into his service, with a particular focus on those who had a background in Intelligence. He also built an extensive support infrastructure independent from his military. Having solidified his power base, the warlord then seized control of the Tion Hegemony, extended his protection to the Corporate Sector, and annexed sections of territory along the Hydian Way that had been abandoned by Ardus Kaine, thus expanding his empire as far as Bogden within the Inner Rim.

During this period, Dathomir rose to prominence as a key world within Zsinj's Empire: the warlord constructed the orbital facility known as Rancor Base, initiated mining operations on Dathomir's fourth moon, and launched numerous special projects.

Between 5 and 6 ABY, tensions between Zsinj's Empire and the New Republic escalated. Mon Calamari admirals Kalback and Ragab attempted to establish a presence on the Hydian Way, but Zsinj's forces repelled them. Although the New Republic had plans to attack Zsinj as early as 4 ABY, these plans were delayed, first by the Battle of the Hast Shipyards against the loyalist Empire, and later by the rise of Lord Shadowspawn. Viewing both the Imperial and New Republic factions as inferior, Zsinj eventually felt confident enough to openly challenge the New Republic. Operating from Rancor Base, Zsinj became increasingly ambitious, even attacking New Republic colonies such as New Alderaan and Selacron.

Following the fall of Coruscant, former members of the Coruscant Imperial government, including individuals from Ysanne Isard's Imperial Intelligence, joined Zsinj's Empire. At the zenith of his power, Zsinj controlled a vast area of the galaxy, absorbing the territories of rivals like Grand Moff Nigel Nivers and Admiral Terrinald Screed (whom he had executed), and challenging the authority of both the New Republic and the Empire.

Ultimately, the conflict with the New Republic proved devastating for Zsinj's Empire. Zsinj himself was "hunted" by the Solo Fleet, which forced him to retreat after a brief alliance with the Galactic Empire's forces under Admiral Teren Rogriss, crippling his illegal financial network and defeating his military in a series of battles.

The warlord met his end at Rancor Base on Dathomir, killed by Han Solo during a major battle involving the Hapes Consortium and the Dathomiri Singing Mountain Clan.

Zsinj's demise allowed the Galactic Empire to refocus its attention on the New Republic. Control of the warlord's former territories became a point of contention between Admiral Gial Ackbar of the New Republic, Admiral Teren Rogriss of the loyalist Empire, and Teradoc of the Greater Maldrood, with Ackbar ultimately gaining the upper hand. Although Zsinj's forces remained active, they lacked leadership. Much of his fleet was taken by various independent warlords, most notably Teradoc.

Zsinj's Empire primarily utilized older Imperial vehicles as the mainstay of its fleet. Imperial-class Star Destroyers were a common sight in Zsinj's battles. During the Battle of Talasea, Zsinj's forces deployed an EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate and a CR90 corvette. Other vessels in service included Victory-class Star Destroyers, Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers, Lancer-class frigates, Carrack-class cruisers, and Quasar Fire-class bulk cruisers. Zsinj's Empire also possessed more specialized military assets, such as orbital nightcloaks and Zsinj's flagship, the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Iron Fist.

Zsinj's forces predominantly used standard Imperial TIE Series starfighters such as TIE/LN starfighters, TIE/IN interceptors, and TIE/sa bombers. However, Rancor Base also designed a unique TIE variant specific to Zsinj's forces, known as the TIE Raptor. While not as fast as a TIE Interceptor, this fighter possessed the maneuverability of an A-wing and was heavily armed, featuring four laser cannons and two concussion missile tubes. Some prototypes were even equipped with shields. Additionally, several Victory Star Destroyers stationed at Dathomir were equipped with Z-95 Headhunter fighters, which were deployed in the battle against Isolder's Battle Dragon.

While Zsinj commanded a portion of the Stormtrooper Corps, the absence of Imperial Academies or cloning facilities led to a decline in the number of stormtroopers. Unlike other warlords who opted to equip regular Imperial Army Troopers with stormtrooper armor, Zsinj pursued a different strategy. He established the Raptors, a special-forces unit tasked with enforcing his authority throughout his expanding territory. These troops were arguably more loyal to Zsinj than the stormtroopers had been to Emperor Palpatine and his designated successors, and they were widely regarded as the most recognizable symbol of the warlord's power.

• Within the Inner Rim [2] Bogden system Comkin system

• Within the Expansion Region [2] Jazbina system Kidriff system Ploo sector

• Within the Mid Rim [2] Null system

• Within the Outer Rim Territories [2]

• Within Wild Space [2] Farana sector Trianii Space