Rematching

"The Nine Ruling Families are like any other families. Blood and merit create siblings and cousins and ranking distants. Some are released, others are rematched, others are born to trial. The same as any other family."

―Aide Chaf'ees'aklaio, to Dean Jinzler

Rematching was a process by which Chiss individuals belonging to one Chiss family transferred to another family. In some cases, an individual could be released to their original family. The Ruling Families selected merit adoptives in a manner analogously to how the Defense Hierarchy selected senior officers to join their ranks. Every Chiss warrior adopted a probationary rank of merit adoptive that would be lost at the end of one's military service if that person did not gain the rank of Trial-born first by being "born to trial." The Trial-born were given the opportunity of being permanently matched to the Family. In some cases, a Trial-born could be granted the rank of a ranking distant. Trial-borns could have a hearing at a family stronghold to renounce their family rank.

History

"Thrawn, you can't continue to push the lines this way. Peaceful watchfulness is the Chiss way, and the Nine Ruling Families won't stand by forever while you ignore basic military doctrine. More to the point, the Eighth Family has made it clear that they'll release you before they permit your actions to damage their standing."
"We were both born as commoners. I can live that way again if I have to. But I'll do what I can to assure that the Eighth Family doesn't release or rematch you on my account."
"I'm not worried about my own position. I'm trying to keep my brother from throwing away a fine and honorable career for nothing."

―Thrass and Thrawn

Force Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo (pictured) has repeatedly threatened his status as a Trial-born within the Eighth Ruling Family.

Following the Battle of Geroon, Syndic Mitth'ras'safis, core name "Thrass," of the Eighth Ruling Family warned his brother, Force Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo, core name "Thrawn," of the Chiss Expansionary Fleet that the Eighth Family would release him to his original family before his actions could damage their standing within the Ruling Families. Ignoring Thrass' warning, Thrawn reminded him that they were both born as commoners and that he could live that way again. He promised his brother that he would do what he could so his actions wouldn't damage Thrass' position within the Eighth Ruling Family.

In the aftermath of the battle for the colony ship Outbound Flight, Thrawn was escorted to the Fifth Ruling Family flagship Chaf Exalted. Aboard the ship's conference room, Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano, core name "Formbi," of the Fifth Ruling Family threatened to revoke Thrawn's family rank in the Eighth Family. Thrawn knew that the Eighth Ruling Family would insist on a hearing at an Eighth Family stronghold and believed that the alien technology that he captured would keep him in the Family. Formbi believed that Thrawn meant the Outbound Flight, but in fact, Thrawn referred to the Vagaari gravity well projector, on which Thrawn corrected him.

In 22 ABY, Aide Chaf'ees'aklaio, core name "Feesa," of the Fifth Ruling Family explained to Dean Jinzler how Chiss families were set up. Feesa described how the individuals could be rematched or released from their family.

Behind the scenes

Rematching was first mentioned in the 2004 novel Survivor's Quest, written by Timothy Zahn.

Appearances

• Outbound Flight (and unabridged audiobook) (Mentioned only)
• Survivor's Quest (and unabridged audiobook) (First mentioned, in book)