Champion (Bothan Assault Cruiser)

"Rogues. Somebody just sucked Champ shields. Get clear!"

- Colonel Gavin Darklighter, during the fighting over Kalarba

Champion, also referred to as Champ, was a New Republic Bothan Assault Cruiser that operated during the Yuuzhan Vong War. The 850 meters long cruiser was commanded by Brevet Admiral Glie'oleg Kru in 26 ABY. The ship protected a convoy of refugee starships, which fled from the doomed planet Kalarba, as it battled Yuuzhan Vong space forces. The Yuuzhan Vong species used a gravity-manipulating dovin basal to send Kalarba's orbital Hosk Station on a collision course with the planet. After the embattled Champion lost its deflector shields, the Hosk Station impacted Kalarba. The Bothan Assault Cruiser exploded due to damage incurred upon it, and the resulting detonation caught some New Republic starfighters and their pilots within the blast.

Description
Champion was an 850 meter long Bothan Assault Cruiser produced by Bothawui Shipyards. The glossy-hulled cruiser possessed a deflector shield generator, multiple starfighter hangar bays on the starboard side, and a propulsion section containing drive nacelles.

History
"Rogues, more skips coming in at 349 mark 18. They're headed for Champ drive nacelles."

- Pilot Jaina Solo

Operational during the Yuuzhan Vong War, when the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong species invaded the galaxy, Champion was utilized by the New Republic in their defense efforts during the war. Sometimes referred to as Champ by starfighter pilots, Champion was commanded in 26 ABY by Brevet Admiral Glie'oleg Kru. That year, the Bothan Assault Cruiser covered the retreat of throngs of refugee starships that fled the planet Kalarba. On Kalarba, the Yuuzhan Vong had placed a gravity-manipulating dovin basal, which was in the process of bringing Kalarba's orbital Hosk Station down to crash into the world. While the pilots of Rogue Squadron and other squadrons engaged the enemy coral skippers that were swarming Champion and targeting sections like the cruiser's drive nacelles, the Bothan Assualt Cruiser was attacked by a newly arrived Yuuzhan Vong capital ship that was just smaller than a Star Destroyer.

To make matters worse, the deflector shields of Champion were yanked from it by the Yuuzhan Vong forces, and the plasma fired at the cruiser from the enemy capital ship soon damaged Champion enough that its drive blew. Light began to break through from the vessel's interior, via seams that opened in the side of Champion, and the Bothan Assault Cruiser exploded. The resulting blast caught some members of Rogue Squadron in it, with Jedi pilot Jaina Solo having serious magnetic field exposure after she was ejected from her crippled X-wing starfighter, leaving her temporarily blind.

Commanders and crew
The Bothan Assault Cruiser was commanded by Twi'lek Brevet Admiral Glie'oleg Kru, who was new to the post. He was killed when Champion exploded.

Behind the scenes
Champion first appeared in The New Jedi Order Balance Point, which was written by Kathy Tyers and released in 2000. The Bothan Assualt Cruiser later received an entry in 2008's The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.

Appearances

 * Balance Point