Exquisite mentoring-Thrawn is exquisite. Introduction.

"Everyone from Faro on down seemed intent on working together to do their jobs and complete their assigned tasks to the best of their ability. The reason, of course, was obvious: Thrawn. The grand admiral was smart and subtle, but never used his brilliance to show up or humiliate anyone. He demanded results, but never perfection, and had amazing stores of patience for those who were truly working to their fullest ability. He cared about his people, to the point of standing up for them even against the disapproval of powerful men like Lord Vader. [...] It was a pity Thrawn's style of leadership hadn't spread through the rest of the navy. Still, he was certainly having an influence on the younger officers. If he lasted long enough, maybe those lessons would someday become the military standard. If that happened, he suspected, the Empire would stand forever."

I add, as a long time Star Trek (!) fan, that THAT 'Thrawn-leadership style Empire' would look so much like Starfleet.

[In the photo, a wonderful RebelArtEmpire pin (on Etsy)]