MC90 Star Cruiser

Combat Designation: Heavy Battle Cruiser Length: 1 250 meters Crew: 5 860 ; 605 gunners Weaponry: - 72 Heavy Turbolasers - 30 Heavy Ion Cannons - 6 Proton Torpedo Launchers (1200 Torpedoes) - 10 Tractor Beams - 20 Cluster Bomb Launchers

After the battle of Endor, the Rebel High Command realized that for their New Republic to prosper, they had to have strong planetary defence fleets. Without this, they would not be able to protect the planets that joined the New Republic. The small capital ships (like corvettes) that they used during the Rebellion could not provide this strong defence, so the Rebel asked the Mon Calamari shipyards to make new, larger Star Cruisers. Thus the MC90 was born. The Mon Cals began planing the MC90 just six months after the battle of Endor, but it would not be ready for five years, just after the fall of Grand Admiral Thrawn. The MC80b, which was an interim ship between the older MC80 design and the MC90, was produced two years after Endor. It proved such as success that the first MC90, the Defiance, began construction. When it was completed, it served as the flagship of Admiral Ackbar, and led several battles including the battle of Calamari (though Ackbar was not present). The next MC90 built by the Calamarian shipyards, the Galactic Voyager, was Ackbar's favorite ship in the New Republic fleet, and he made it his flagship eight years after Endor.

The MC90 is a huge advancement in the Star Cruiser design. Though only slightly larger than the MC80a, the MC90 has many more turbolasers, making it superior to an Imperial Star Destroyer. An enlarged hanger bay makes room for two full wings (72 craft) of starfighters, which matches a Star Destroyer's compliment. The MC90 also has more standardized ship systems than the MC80, and is designed so that other species besides Mon Cals can serve on the ship (the MC80 Cruisers had control panels and viewscreens that were awkward for non-Calamarians). The MC90 is faster than its predecessors, and also has increased shields and maneuverability. The MC90 is also the first major Mon Cal design to be built in shipyards on other planets, including Sluis Van and Hast. Despite this design's success, it has never been a very common warship. Since most New Republic shipyards were captured from the Empire, they are better suited to building more conventional warships, such as the Endurance-class Fleet Carrier and the New Republic Star Destroyer. Nevertheless, the MC90 cruisers have remained important vessels, serving as the flagships of several large New Republic fleets.