Independence
 | |
| Independence | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Class | MC80 Home One Type Star Cruiser |
| Technical specifications | |
| Length | 1200 meters |
| Maximum acceleration | 2,750 G |
| Maximum speed (space) | 60 mglt |
| Engine unit(s) |
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| Hyperdrive rating |
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| Hyperdrive system | TriLuna 400MGS hyperdrive |
| Shielding | 3,840 SBD (+1,920 Backup SBD) |
| Hull | 2128 RU |
| Armament |
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| Complement |
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| Crew |
|
| Minimum crew | 1,230 |
| Passengers | 1,200 troops |
| Cargo capacity | 20,000 metric tons |
| Consumables | 2 years |
| Usage | |
| Role(s) |
|
| Commissioned | 1 BBY |
| Latest sighting | 25 ABY |
| Present for battles/events |
|
| Affiliation | New Republic |
| Known crewmembers |
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| Known commander(s) | Admiral Ackbar |
The Independence was a MC80 Home One type Star Cruiser that, under the command of Admiral Ackbar, acted as the Rebel Alliance Fleet's flagship in the early years of the Galactic Civil War. It acted as a staging ground for several hit and fade attacks against the Galactic Empire and saw action several times against Imperial forces. During this time it also oversaw the training of several promising recruits to the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
The Independence acted as communications control ship for the Alliance Fleet at the Battle of Endor. Six months later it participated in the Battle of Brentaal IV. Almost twenty years later, it would again see action, fighting the Yuuzhan Vong for the New Republic.
Description
Like other Mon Calamari Star Cruisers, the Independence was unique. Originally constructed as a pleasure craft, it had been converted to a warship when the Mon Calamari agreed to help the Alliance to Restore the Republic. The handcrafted ship's outer shell was formed of layers of flattened ribbon-like structural beams, with no right-angles to be found. The elongated hemispheres on the hull took on an organic appearance from a distance. A series of airlocks and hangars were located around the ship, including a large shuttle hangar towards the rear of the ship, near the engine housings. The Independence saw its share of combat and this took a toll on the vessel, leaving streaks of blackened scorch marks on the hull.
Long well-lit corridors ran throughout the ship, with main corridors wide enough to accommodate five people, lined by iris-like doors and sometimes intersected by smaller, tributary hallways. Hallways, like the design of the hull were not straight but curved left and right along their length.
The ship was split into four quadrants, each containing various zones and support services: the bow quadrant, for example, was where most planning and navigation operations took place. Several large concourses around the ship were devoted to supporting the crew. The aft quadrant contained Lucky Lower 13, originally a ballroom which, by the Galactic Civil War, served as a meeting place for many of the crew in the nearby engineering and administrative departments.
One of the lower decks contained the Quarren section which had lower lighting levels than the upper decks, suiting the Quarren inhabitants who were used to the dark depths of the Mon Calamari seas. Crew quarters were often simple: small rooms with a desk, chair, a multi-species toilet, and a cot which came out of the wall at the touch of a button.
The ship's starfighter pilots, choosing to be as close to their ships as possible, made use of a section of the ship aft of amidships. The facilities in this section included a simulation room for training purposes and several briefing rooms for mission planning. The pilots spent so much time in their ready room that they converted it into a lounge. The large room was fitted with holo decks, tables and food dispensers. When the pilots wanted something more elaborate than the snacks provided by the machines, they were able to get food sent over by the kitchen staff rather than going to the mess hall. A makeshift bar had been set up in the corner of the lounge which the senior officers overlooked. The pilots also had access to a holo film room where they could review flight recorder footage from previous missions.
Although primarily used as a warship, the Independence had a variety of facilities to assist with the administration of the Rebellion. Alliance Chief of State Mon Mothma had an office on board and there were several lecture halls located on the ship.
In addition to the mess halls used by the crew, there was also an executive dining room for senior personnel, which had the appearance of something planet-side with fabric-covered tables and fine crockery. The food, too, was above the level enjoyed by most of the crew, with meals prepared individually rather than in large vats.
The Independence also had a Med Deck where doctors and medical droids would treat any injuries sustained by the crew, often with the use of one of the ship's bacta tanks. Medical droids were also capable of conducting psychological evaluations to assess if crew members were fit for duty.
Modifications
Behind the Scenes
The Independence appeared in Star Wars: X-wing as the Rebel flagship, a position held by Home One in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The designers also used imagery from the films as a basis for cut-scenes in the game, giving the Independence the same appearance as Home One. This led to some debate as to whether they were the same ship. In the Q&A section on StarWars.com, it was confirmed that the vessels were two different ships sharing the same design. A promotional image of Home One was also used in Star Wars Customizable Card Game: Death Star II Limited, where both ships have unique cards, to portray Independence as well.
Star Wars: X-wing uses the main concourse on the Independence to allow the player to select which game mode they want, with each door representing a different option. When the player selects a campaign, they are shown transferring to the Defiance from which the missions launch. However, X-wing: The Official Strategy Guide confirms that the player's character, Keyan Farlander, serves on the Independence and all but a handful of missions are launched from the ship.
Issue 99 of Computer Gaming World, released in October 1992, featured a preview of Star Wars: X-wing which described transitions between missions taking place on the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Dreadnought and at a Calamari space port. The Independence and the Defiance appear to take the place of these in the finished game, with the Independence acting in the role of the space port.
It is possible that the Independence also participated in the Battle of Turkana. Ackbar is known to have commanded the ship and was at the battle, however Star Wars: X-wing does not identify any of the ships during the opening cut-scene depicting the battle and The New Essential Chronology only says that Ackbar directed the battle "aboard a Mon Calamari star cruiser."
Due to a limitation in lengths of ship names, the Independence appears in the Star Wars: TIE Fighter mission "Eliminate TIE Defender Factory" as the Independenc, though TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide uses the full name. In the mission the destruction of the Independence is listed as a bonus goal. However, TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide describes its destruction by Maarek Stele. Since the Independence has been depicted by other sources after this event its destruction is presumably non-canon.
