The MC95E Star Cruiser was a class of Mon Calamari Star Cruiser that was active during the Galactic Civil War between the Galactic Empire and the New Republic, and subsequently during the war between the First Order and the Resistance. At least one MC95E Star Cruiser participated in the Battle of Var-Shaa against the Empire as part of a New Republic Defense Fleet contingent. Decades later, many MC95E Star Cruisers were present on Exegol as part of the Citizens' Fleet that participated in the Battle of Exegol in 35 ABY between the Resistance and the Sith Eternal.
Description[]
Side view of an MC95E Star Cruiser
The MC95E Star Cruiser was a class of Star Cruiser[3] of Mon Calamari design.[1] The MC95E Star Cruiser[3] was flatter than other Mon Calamari models, and was fitted with at least two hangar bays towards the bow of the vessel.[1] It was equipped with a hyperdrive, which gave it the capability of entering hyperspace at lightspeed, and was equipped with engines.[4]
Similar to other Mon Calamari ship designs,[1] the MC95E Star Cruiser[3] had a bulbous hull with differing surface modules, and had several antenna on a dorsal module towards the rear as well as forward-facing antenna at the bow of the ship near an ordnance pod. The ship's bridge was located on the forward command section near the bow of the vessel, and also contained a command tower towards the rear of the vessel. It was armed with several laser cannons[1] with at least several being able to fire forward.[5] The MC95E Star Cruiser[3] could be disabled when struck by powerful Force lightning.[4]
Role[]
As a capital ship, the MC95E Star Cruiser had the ability to participate in naval warfare.[4]
History[]
Galactic Civil War[]
An MC95E Star Cruiser of the New Republic participated in the Battle of Var-Shaa, alongside an MC75 Star Cruiser and an MC80 Star Cruiser.
MC95E Star Cruisers were in service by the time of the New Republic's founding during the Galactic Civil War against the Galactic Empire[5] between 4 ABY and 5 ABY.[6] One MC95E Star Cruiser participated as part of a New Republic Defense Fleet group that included other ships such as an MC75 Star Cruiser, an MC80 Liberty Type Heavy Star Cruiser, an EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate, three CR90 corvettes, and two GR-75 medium transports. The fleet participated in the Battle of Var-Shaa against the Imperial Navy, resulting in the destruction of the Var-Shaa dockyard and the retreat of the surviving Imperial forces.[5]
First Order/Resistance war[]
MC95E Star Cruisers remained in service by the time of the war between[4] the First Order, a military junta that succeeded the fallen Old Galactic Empire, and the Resistance, a paramilitary force with roots to the dissolved Rebel Alliance and the defunct New Republic.[7] In 35 ABY,[8] Alliance and Republic heroes General Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca were dispatched on the Millennium Falcon to rally the citizens of the galaxy in order to reinforce the Resistance, which had traveled to the ancient Sith redoubt world of Exegol in an attempt to defeat the resurgent Sith Eternal, who allied itself with the First Order, and save the galaxy from their rule.[4]
Midship section of the MC95E Star Cruiser.
As the Resistance came close to defeat and suffered heavy losses, an enormous Citizens' Fleet of 14,000 vessels from across the galaxy arrived at Exegol and participated in the Battle of Exegol, including numerous MC95E Star Cruisers. Reinforced, the combined galactic force and the Resistance attacked the Final Order, the Sith Eternal's massive fleet of planet-killing Xyston-class Star Destroyers that numbered above 1,000 ships. As the Jedi Rey and Ben Solo confronted the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious on the surface, Darth Sidious gained Force power from the Force dyad between Rey and Solo, and unleashed a torrent of powerful Force lightning at the galactic fleet, disabling many vessels.[4]
After Rey continued her confrontation, the lightning dissipated and the fleet regained its foothold. Darth Sidious was then eventually disintegrated by his own power after Rey deflected his lightning, finally killing him. The remaining forces of the Sith Eternal on Exegol were destroyed, and the citizens' fleet retreated to Ajan Kloss while an uprising against the First Order took place throughout the galaxy.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
An MC95E Star Cruiser at Exegol.
The MC95E Star Cruiser first appeared in the final installment of the Star Wars saga and the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker.[4] It was first identified in an installment of Star Wars By the Numbers on StarWarsKids.com in 2020.[3] The MC95E Star Cruiser appeared in the CG short "Hunted" as part of the promotional campaign for the 2020 video game Star Wars: Squadrons. In one scene, an MC95 Star Cruiser is shown in place of the MC95E Star Cruiser that appeared in multiple scenes.[5]
Appearances[]
"Hunted" on the official Electronic Arts Star Wars YouTube channel (video) (backup link)- Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker (First appearance)
Sources[]
- Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker home video release — Featurette: "A Final Alliance"
- Every Ship in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy | Star Wars By the Numbers on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (content now obsolete; backup link) (First identified as MC95E Star Cruiser)
- "Starships of the First Order and the Resistance" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy (Picture only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker home video release — Featurette: "A Final Alliance"
- ↑
Star Wars Helmet Collection 39 (Databank A-Z: Kwazel Maw — Sly Moore) states that the MC-series star cruisers are made by Mon Calamari Shipyards
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8
Every Ship in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy | Star Wars By the Numbers on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Hunted" on the official Electronic Arts Star Wars YouTube channel (video) (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Atlas establishes that the New Republic was formed in 4 ABY while the Galactic Civil War ended in 5 ABY. Since the MC95E Star Cruiser was active by the time of the New Republic during the Galactic Civil War, it must have been active during these dates.
- ↑ Before the Awakening
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary dates the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker as taking place one year after the Starkiller Incident, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 34 ABY. Therefore, the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker must take place in 35 ABY.