
Just finished my re-read of Outbound Flight, and had the thought - if Car'das is there to show us that Thrawn is smart, is Maris there to show us that Thrawn is... sexy?
Car'das' primary function in the story is for Thrawn to have someone to explain his thoughts processes to so we can see what a genius he is (much like Pellaeon and then Eli Vanto). Most of the scenes with Maris are just her fawning over how cultured and brilliant and fascinating he is and how much she "admires" him, and it makes her partner very jealous. I can't think of a reason for Zahn to spend so much time on this other than that he wants us to know that Thrawn can get it.