Defiance/Legends
The Mon Calamari Cruiser Defiance was a MC80 Home One type Star Cruiser and part of the Alliance Fleet during the Galactic Civil War.[1][3]
History
During the Alliance investigation on the Death Star I, and while orbiting Bestine IV, the Independence was approached by the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Immortal which launched squadrons of TIE/sa bombers to destroy it. Most of the Defiance's pilots were away flying other missions but the ship was able to scramble three X-wings and two R-22 Spearheads in its defense. The Rebel pilots, including Keyan Farlander and Breth Gart were able to defend it until the ship was safely in hyperspace.[1]
During the evacuation of Yavin 4, the Alliance High Command requested her presence in order to protect the Rebel ships about to hyperspace away from the Imperial blockade.[source?]
The vessel performed numerous missions, both individually and as part of a battle line. The Defiance was commanded by Admiral Nammo throughout the Galactic Civil War. Her Tactical Officer was Commander Devers, who assumed his position following the capture and brainwashing of his predecessor, Commander Kupalo.[3]
Shortly after the Battle of Hoth, the Defiance was trapped in the Anoat sector with her task group, hunted by Imperial Admiral Garreth Holtz and his Corrupter task force. Defiance was eventually able to escape deep into the Outer Rim Territories, where she and her task force were able to recover from their campaign, this was accomplished thanks in part to pilot Ace Azzameen.[3]
The vessel later participated in the Battle of Endor, and pursued Imperial ships after the victory of the Alliance.[5]
Behind the scenes
A common fan theory held that the Defiance was destroyed in the Battle of Endor by the second Death Star. This theory was based on the fact that there were only three named Home One type cruisers known at that time. Her sister ships, the Independence and the Home One, are known to have survived the battle, leaving the Defiance the one most likely to have been destroyed. However, according to the Defiance card from the Jedi Knights Trading Card Game, the ship survived the battle and pursued Imperial starships afterward.
Additionally, six years after the Battle of Endor, the New Republic built a new type of Mon Calamari cruiser: the MC90 Star Cruiser and the first ship constructed was called the Defiance. This led to the belief that the first Defiance was indeed destroyed and that the second one's name was a tribute to the first. However, in addition to being incorrect, the assumption that the name of the MC90 Defiance is a tribute is not logical if one looks at the real-world sources for these ships—the MC90 Defiance is from 1991/1992 Star Wars: Dark Empire, while the first Defiance is from the 1993 Star Wars: X-Wing game.
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 Defiance replacing the Dreadnought.
Appearances
- Star Wars: X-Wing (First appearance)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
Sources
- X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide
- X-Wing Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide
- Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Death Star II Limited (Card: Defiance) (backup link)
Jedi Knights Trading Card Game – Masters of the Force (Card: Defiance) (Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:ArchiveAccess/JKTCG' not found.)- The Essential Guide to Warfare
- Strongholds of Resistance
- File:Armada.png Star Wars: Armada – Home One Expansion Pack (Card: Defiance)
