Who is Talon Karrde from Dark Force Rising and what is their importance?

Talon Karrde is a first class smuggler. He formerly traded in commodities, but his smuggling now includes information. He pilots the shipt called, Wild Karrde. Talon has a bounty on his head, and Thrawn wants him captured because he needs warships. He also believes that Karrde will assist him in amassing the ships. Karrde is later rescued by Mara and Luke.