Since Thrawn still was not certain whether the Rebels would attack Yinchorr or Shili, Thrawn set up an ambush on both, including an Interdictor cruiser at each, with the main portion of the mobile fleet stationed in between. The two planets were, after all, almost next door neighbors on a galactic scale and it would take mere minutes to reach either one from the midpoint position.
However, it appeared that the Rebel spy network was improving. There was no attack on either place. There was no attack elsewhere either. Well, if the Rebels weren't about to fight, it was up to the Imperials to bring the battle to them. Thrawn had some ideas of his own on that subject...in particular, Bilbringi. The Rebels might think they had the planet and its valuable shipyards secure, but there was something they didn't know. Thrawn had left a cloaked battlestation behind. It was originally intended to be used during the previous battle if things had gotten difficult, but there hadn't been time when Thrawn was attacked. Pellaeon hadn't known it was there, and so had not brought it into the battle. I really ought to have told him. Given these annoying seizures, I will have to take him more into my confidence because he will be carrying out my plans if I am incapacitated. Still, the battlestation should be useful. There was also the psychological effect of turning the Rebel's recent victory against them. That would be worth nearly as much as the shipyards themselves.
Thrawn threw himself into planning for the battle, and into planning the series of small attacks elsewhere designed to keep the Rebels offbalance and unwilling to start a major offensive campaign. Pellaeon was often with him, and Thrawn delegated some of his simpler duties onto Pellaeon's shoulders. That left Thrawn free to do more of the thinking and planning he was so good at, and also more time for sleep. While his injuries were now healed, he still did not have his stamina back and could not work for as long without becoming exhausted and brain-befogged.
Another seizure occurred, but it was not a serious one. However, he acceded to medical's suggestion that he get his quarters renovated, adding padded carpets to the floor and rounded corners to any pointed objects. It looked rather silly and most inartistic, but at least if he had a seizure and fell he would be less likely to injure himself.
The Chiss neurologist Thrawn had requested finally arrived from the Empire of the Hand, which entailed another round of questions, medical tests and "lets try you on this medicine and see if it makes you sleepy, and if it prevents seizures in your case". Thrawn spent a lot of time yawning after that, and trying to concentrate on important battle preparations. In one particularly embarrassing instance, he fell asleep while discussing business. Granted, it was discussing supplies and fuel, never the most exciting of subjects, but still... Especially when he woke some three hours later to find a note from Pellaeon saying he'd handled the supplies, and suggesting Thrawn get more rest. They'd better find medications that worked soon, before he had an seizure or fell asleep somewhere it couldn't be hushed up, or the whole galaxy would know about it. The media, the Rebels, and some of the Moffs would really enjoy that. He had spent a lot of time convincing the Rebels that he was invincible, and this knowledge of his physical frailty would not help the illusion hold. What there was left of the illusion, that is, after Bilbringi, Wayland and subsequent events.
The diversionary attacks began. The Rebels found themselves chasing other Rebels on one particular occasion, whereupon they retreated in confusion, only to sort themselves out the following day. Pellaeon asked if Thrawn wanted the Relentless to take the system for the Imperials, but Thrawn refused. There was nothing inherently valuable in the system, and it was not strategically valuable, so there was no point the Imperials spreading themselves thin to capture and hold it. It would fall again in due time, when the Imperials were ready for it.
Meanwhile, the planning for the Bilbringi attack continued.
