Aurora

The ***Aurora*** was an MC80 *Liberty* Type Heavy Star Cruiser that served under the Alliance to Restore the Republic during 0 ABY and was under the command of Vice Admiral Aldelspes Gaals, and took part in many raids in Imperial space before the founding of the Rebellion. It served as the flagship of Admiral Gaals' fleet, supported by two CR90s, one Nebulon-B frigate, and the *Resolve*.

The *Aurora* was initially a passenger transport of great luxury for several years until retrofitted with weapons and shielding capable of rivaling the *Imperial*-class Star Destroyer. Initially, it remained hidden in Mon Calamari charted areas of space, where Imperial forces could not locate her. After the Battle of Scarif, Vice Admiral Gaals took command of the ship, attacking Imperial supply lines and destroying weakly defended outposts. He eventually rallied smaller Alliance fleets to his side, ranging from small frigates to corvettes and transports.

Eventually, the *Aurora* was pulled into the Onderon campaign, supporting Alliance efforts in the region through whatever means, and building a force capable of fighting and defeating the planetary defense fleet orbiting the world. it would eventually recruit the Assault Frigate Mark II, the *Resolve*, as part of its fleet, and its naval efforts were supplemented by ground teams of Alliance experts, including the venerable Strike Team 42.

## **Description**

The *Aurora* boasted a total of 1500 meters in length, with 146 weapon systems built across the swept wings and central hull of the ship. Its armament was built specifically to combat the *Imperial* line of Star Destroyers, while also being able to provide an impressive array of starfighters to support the ship as needed. The *Aurora* featured a Class 1 hyperdrive, the standard classification, as well as a backup Class 9 hyperdrive. The *Aurora* also had a uniquely different design of its interior, which was intentionally repurposed to appear more militaristic than the previous luxury line of the ship's past, and making the general designs easier for crew members to work in and technicians to perform repairs as needed. The overall cost of the modifications made to the ship was roughly believed to be 20 million credits, and was one of the most advanced ships in the MC80 *Liberty* line.

## **History**

### **Commissioning and Initial Use**

The *Aurora* was commissioned for use around 9 BBY, and was used as a luxury yacht by the Mon Calamari people. It often times was used to explore regions of space that fascinated the Mon Calamari people around their homeworld of Dac.

### **Early Galactic Civil War**

Following the Declaration of the Rebel Alliance, the *Aurora* was one of the first few ships retrofitted and joined the Rebellion early on. However, it did not join the main Alliance fleet at Yavin IV, and instead was put to use defending Mon Cala, and supporting other Naval operations across several theaters of war. Sometime after the destruction of Alderaan, the *Aurora* came under the command of Gial Ackbar, and was used to help Alderaanian refugees escape from Imperial persecution at the battle at Fostar Haven.

### **Onderon Campaign**

Eventually, the *Aurora* came under the command of Aldelspes Gaals, whom used it initially to raid Imperial convoys and attack weak defensive positions on the Outer Rim. As the war began to heat up around Onderon, the Vice Admiral took his rallied fleet and relocated to support the efforts in the region. The area quickly became a flashpoint, and the *Aurora* joined the efforts to ultimately liberate Onderon from Imperial control, and won minor strategic victories in the region, including the Deep Space Confrontation.

### **Later War**

After the Onderon campaign came to a close, the *Aurora* would eventually be used at pivotal battles, such as the Battle of Endor, the various Invasions of Naboo, and the Battle of Jakku. Its efforts were instrumental during these conflicts, and was rumored to have singlehandedly destroyed three *Imperial II*-class Star Destroyers during the Battle of Endor, and gone toe to toe with the mighty *Allegiance*-class Battlecruiser.

### **Post War Service**

The *Aurora* remained in service for the New Republic years after the Galactic Civil War, remaining under the command of Admiral Gaals throughout his remaining career in service. The *Aurora* was one of the last MC80 *Liberty* Type Cruisers still in service, and remained operation to the beginning of the First Order-Resistance War. It was not confirmed destroyed during the firing of Starkiller Base, leaving many of those aware of its legacy as one of the mightiest ships in the Rebel Alliance to believe it still remains in service.

## **Appearances**

*Star Wars: Age of Rebellion II*

* Episode V: Fate's Confrontation (First appearance)
* Episode VII: Rebel Rally

## **Behind the Scenes**

The *Aurora* was a starship featured in *Star Wars: Squadrons.* For more information on the *Aurora*, refer to the Wookieepedia page for the ***Aurora***.