the other (from Children of the Jedi) was officially of of Palpatine's concubines.
Hm? She was one of his Hands? Don't remember that, but I guess I'll take your word for it.
She might have been a brilliant strategist in the pre-Yavin days (she had to have had some skill for Tarkin to look for her in the first place), but she couldn't keep up to date with developments in tactical theory while at Maw Station and as a result every idea she had was analyzed and counters found long before she returned to the front while she never learned about any new strategies developed by other people. This is the reason why every time she fought against people who could shoot back, she lost.
And ya see, that is what I'd have said if I'd read the books anytime semi-recently
In terms of rank, Isard would have been equal (or at worst one rank junior) to Thrawn. She may or may not have slept with the emperor (She admitted that she had loved him, but never said if he took her as a mistress), but whether or not that played a part in getting her father's job after she framed him, you can't keep a job that critical under Vader and Palpatine without being good at it and live.
... Considering the effectiveness of her schemes, 'good at it' kind of goes without saying. Problem is, she, like many Imperials, tends to overestimate her own abilities - she overestimated Krytos, she overestimated Lusankya, she got herself owned by Bel Iblis and Hal Horn in one of the short stories...
A more plausible way for Ranma to go to the Wraiths would be for him to start in the Commandos like Kell did (Ranma might even meet-and beat the crap out of-Vula Nelprin, Kell's old teacher).
... Kell's gonna burst out in tears with that kind of resume.
Some incidents with his unit being chewed up as a result of poor air support might cause Ranma to want to learn piloting so that he could handle that himself.
Hm, good idea.
Of course, that'd end up taking some patience - assuming you don't show that stuff in flashbacks and backstory if at all. He'd still need an appropriate 'problem' in his military career if he joined the original crew, although if he filled in after the Trigit mess then his own psychological uniqueness would work.
Would Ranma address Piggy as P-chan?
Maybe, but on the other hand Piggy wouldn't earn his disrespect as easily as Ryouga did.
Ranma's a fairly good actor - though he isn't as good at lying when he isn't playing a part. Face might find that useful.
Not to mention the built-in disguise.
