At the beginning of the first episode of Ahsoka, we see a New Republic prison transport ferrying Morgan Elsbeth with plans to meet up with the ship Home One. But before they can do that, Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati infiltrate the transport and free Elsbeth. When Home One finally arrives, Elsbeth is gone.
Ahsoka Tano is then summoned to the ship to meet with New Republic General Hera Syndulla, and the fact that it all takes place aboard this ship is notable – because Home One is one of the most famous ships in Star Wars.
The ship was a Mon Calamari cruiser that played a pivotal role during the Galactic Civil War – starting with the first official gathering of the Alliance to Restore the Republic above the planet Dantooine two years prior to the Battle of Yavin. From there, the ship became one of the main command centers for the nomadic rebellion. This was especially true after the rebels were forced to flee from their base on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back; as the flagship of Admiral Gial Ackbar, the ship was also where Mon Mothma, Leia Organa, and other Rebel leaders were stationed quite frequently as they continued to command the war efforts. The ship’s briefing room was a key strategic location where the Rebel leadership discussed the discovery of a second Death Star, and it was also in the Home One briefing room that Mothma and Ackbar briefed the gathered Rebels about the plans for the Battle of Endor. During the battle, in which the Rebellion launched an attack on the Death Star, Ackbar commanded the assault from aboard Home One.
After the victory at Endor, the Rebellion was soon reorganized into the New Republic. Mothma was appointed the first Chancellor, while Ackbar was named Fleet Admiral, assuming command of the entire New Republic navy. He continued to use Home One as his flagship, commanding a number of battles during the final year of the war – including the Battle of Jakku, which brought the Civil War to an official end.
So all of this is to say that Home One saw action in a number of pivotal battles in the War, and in most of them it was the flagship of the Rebel or New Republic fleets that were assembled. It’s briefing room was also the location of a number of important conversations – and it’s in that same briefing room where Hera and Ahsoka talk about rumors of Thrawn’s return. By this point in the timeline Ackbar was retired, having gone back to Mon Cala, but he would later be pulled out of retirement when Leia Organa formed the Resistance. Though by that time Ackbar would be stationed on other vessels, Home One continued to serve the fight by being part of the Resistance fleet initially.
It’s really cool to see Home One appearing in this series, as it’s connected to so much Star Wars lore and so many notable events. It’s one of the most legendary ships in the entire New Republic fleet, and it’s continuing to serve the fight – this time, it seems, under Hera’s leadership.
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