The Ambush on Trogan represents an offensive maneuver executed by the Imperial forces. This assault targeted a gathering of prominent smuggler leaders during the period of the Thrawn campaign, ultimately leading to the creation of the Smugglers' Alliance.
Following an accidental encounter with fellow smuggler Samuel Tomas Gillespee within the Chazwa system, Talon Karrde orchestrated a meeting involving the most influential smugglers on the planet Trogan. Karrde's intention was to persuade these smugglers to aid the New Republic in locating the facilities where Thrawn's clones were being cultivated.
The assembly took place at Whistler's Whirlpool Tapcafe, with attendees including Brasck, Par'tah, Ellor, Dravis, Mazzic, Lishma, Gillespee, Niles Ferrier, and others. Despite his best efforts, Talon Karrde was unable to sway the opinions of the majority. Most of the smugglers preferred to maintain a neutral stance in the war and continue their dealings with both factions.
Grand Admiral Thrawn possessed knowledge of the meeting but chose not to intervene directly, as he believed that an overt Imperial action could potentially turn the smugglers against him. He instructed the commander of the local garrison, Lieutenant Kosk, to refrain from attacking the gathering. However, Niles Ferrier, motivated by a desire to impress the Grand Admiral by capturing Karrde and Gillespee, successfully convinced the lieutenant to launch an assault on the meeting.
Kosk and his troops faced a swift and decisive defeat in a brief exchange of fire with the skilled smugglers and mercenaries, resulting in the death of the Gotal Lishma during the conflict.
The Imperial ambush served as a catalyst, persuading the smugglers to align with Talon Karrde's cause. They resolved to convene again on Hijarna, where the Smugglers' Alliance was eventually established.
Mazzic and Ellor, driven by a desire for retribution against the Empire, orchestrated a raid on the Bilbringi Shipyards to avenge Lishma's death. This operation led to the destruction of an almost-completed Star Destroyer.
Upon discovering the attack, Grand Admiral Thrawn was enraged, even though he had ordered that the smugglers' meeting participants be left undisturbed. Thrawn had Ferrier brought aboard the Chimaera, and nearly had the ship thief executed for his involvement in the assault.
Thrawn attempted to convince the smugglers that he was not responsible for the attack, and had tried to frame Karrde as having organized the attack. He was unsuccessful as Niles Ferrier bungled the framing of Karrde, which led to the other smugglers discovering that Ferrier was Thrawn's agent and had organized the ambush.