THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Grand Admiral Thrawn and Darth Vader team up against a threat to the  Empire in this thrilling novel from bestselling author Timothy Zahn.
 
"I have sensed a disturbance in the Force."
Ominous  words under any circumstances, but all the more so when uttered by  Emperor Palpatine. On Batuu, at the edges of the Unknown Regions, a  threat to the Empire is taking root-its existence little more than a  glimmer, its consequences as yet unknowable. But it is troubling enough  to the Imperial leader to warrant investigation by his most powerful  agents- ruthless enforcer Lord Darth Vader and brilliant strategist  Grand Admiral Thrawn. Fierce rivals for the emperor's favor, and  outspoken adversaries on Imperial affairs-including the Death Star  project-the formidable pair seem unlikely partners for such a crucial  mission. But the Emperor knows it's not the first time Vader and Thrawn  have joined forces. And there's more behind his royal command than  either man suspects.
In what seems like a lifetime ago, General  Anakin Skywalker of the Galactic Republic, and Commander  Mitth'raw'nuruodo, officer of the Chiss Ascendancy, crossed paths for  the first time. One on a desperate personal quest, the other with  motives unknown . . . and undisclosed. But facing a gauntlet of dangers  on a far-flung world, they forged an uneasy alliance-neither remotely  aware of what their futures held in store.
Now, thrust together  once more, they find themselves bound again for the planet where they  once fought side by side. There they will be doubly challenged-by a test  of their allegiance to the Empire . . . and an enemy that threatens  even their combined might.