Jonas Stern Jonas Stern was a humanoid male who was a baron , and who served as a senator and ambassador in the New Republic in the years following the Battle of Endor . While on a diplomatic mission to Sluis Van , Stern was murdered by a Defel agent of Slui - Koronar in an attempt to win favor with the Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn . When Thrawn discovered Koronar ' s part in the murder , he had the Sluissi killed and used the situation to gain an advantage in his negotiations with Stern ' s replacement . Biography . Mission to Sluis Van . Following the fall of the Galactic Empire after the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY , Baron Jonas Stern rose to become a senator in the fledgling New Republic . In 6 ABY , the New Republic embarked on a series of diplomatic missions to encourage worlds to join its cause . Stern , by this point in his seventies , led one such mission to Sluis Van as a special envoy of New Republic Chief of State Mon Mothma . The Sluis Van Shipyards were historically a major supplier of starships for the Empire , but concerns within the Sluissi population about the Empire had led the Sluissi Council to remain neutral in the ongoing Galactic Civil War . Stern ' s delegation , which included the Bothan Borsk Fey ' lya and a number of aides , was well received and given access to a large house in an affluent area for the duration of their stay . However , the situation was soon complicated by the arrival of an Imperial delegation led by Grand Admiral Thrawn , temporarily returning from an extended mission to the Unknown Regions . Thrawn was well aware that the Sluissi would ultimately side with the New Republic , and intended to retrieve a newly completed Star Destroyer from the shipyards , as well as to scout out the system for future strategic purposes . Thrawn ' s true intentions were , however , unknown to Stern , to whom the Imperials appeared as rivals for control of the system . Murder . The negotiations were soon underway and , despite some stormy meetings of the Council and some minor incidents between members of the Imperial and Republic delegations , generally proceeded well until the night the New Republic delegation was due to host a reception for 800 guests at their residence . Stern left much of the preparation work to his aides , who were responsible for organizing catering , music and security for the event . Meanwhile , several hours before the reception was due to start , Stern met with the former Emperor ' s Hand Mara Jade , working under Talon Karrde as an art dealer under the alias Celina Marniss , from whom he bought some valuable artworks , including a Rodian statuette . The ambassador ' s collection of sculptures was put on display for the reception , with the Rodian statuette taking pride of place . The reception started smoothly , with a cordial atmosphere , despite the presence of dignitaries from both sides of the galactic conflict , along with the entire Sluissi Council . Stern ' s art collection , particularly the Rodian statuette , soon attracted the attention of the visiting Imperial commander . Thrawn asked Stern about buying the statuette but the senator was unwilling to part with his new acquisition . Instead , he promised to give Thrawn details on how to contact Celina Marniss . Thrawn did not pursue the matter further and the reception continued late into the night without incident . However , the conversation between the Republic and Imperial dignitaries had been overheard by Slui - Koronar of the pro - Imperial United Party . The Sluissi saw an opportunity to sabotage the New Republic negotiations and gain favor with the Grand Admiral . Later that night , a Defel , hired by Slui - Koronar , infiltrated Stern ' s residence and murdered him in his sleep before stealing the statuette as a gift for Thrawn . Legacy . Stern ' s body was found the following morning . When Mon Mothma was informed of the ambassador ' s death , she instructed Fey ' lya to take over the negotiations until she could dispatch Dogh Staya to take over from Stern . If anybody inquired as to the baron ' s whereabouts , they were to be told that he was merely unwell , while the New Republic conducted an investigation . News of Stern ' s death , however , eventually reached Thrawn , who conducted his own investigation . Thrawn uncovered Koronar ' s involvement in the murder before the New Republic . The Grand Admiral had the Sluissi politician killed , falsifying a holographic recording of the latter murder to implicate Republic personnel , and placing 15 , 000 credits in Stern ' s account , supposedly from Koronar . Upon Staya ' s arrival , Thrawn used his " evidence " to convince the New Republic to let him take delivery of the Star Destroyer in exchange for withdrawing from the negotiations with the Sluissi . Stern ' s death was officially announced as the result of a particularly virulent form of flu , with all parties involved in the negotiations paying tribute to the baron . Personality and traits . Stern was a cultured man who valued poetry and sculpture as highly as his diplomatic work . Over time , he acquired a valuable collection of sculptures that became so important to him that he never traveled without them . Though he appeared outwardly congenial , his short temper soon became apparent if his instructions were not followed to the letter . Behind the scenes . Jonas Stern was created by Philippe Rat and has only appeared in the ambiguously canon roleplaying scenario " " Statue " quo à Sluis Van " , in issue 89 of the French gaming magazine " Casus Belli " . " Casus Belli 89 " featured a single illustration of the character by artist Rolland Barthélémy . The article in which Stern appears features several continuity issues . While it stated that the scenario is set two years after the Battle of Endor , placing it in 6 ABY , other elements seem to contradict this . Trioculus is said to have just become Galactic Emperor , yet " Prophets of the Dark Side " establishes that the character died in 5 ABY . It also depicts Mara Jade working with Talon Karrde in 6 ABY , while " Heir to the Empire " places their association beginning in 8 ABY . These issues could effect the date of Stern ' s death . Furthermore , the appearance of Thrawn at a New Republic reception is at odds with " " , in which the grand admiral does not become known to the New Republic until 9 ABY . This , combined with Fey ' lya , an influential member of the New Republic Provisional Council , as one of Stern ' s delegation , may cast doubt on the canonicity of the scenario .