In the wake of Grand Admiral Thrawn's campaign, the New Republic dispatched a task force to the Borderland Regions to calm the fears of the recently invaded systems. The Hope, under the command of Captain Arboga, served with the task force alongside at least two other Mon Calamari Star Cruisers. When Imperial forces ambushed them by following a homing beacon hidden aboard the Core Courier Service Class 720 freighter Messenger, the Hope led the defense against a Carrack-class light cruiser.
Although the illustration of the Hope included in "Retreat from Coruscant" depicts the ship as an MC80 Liberty type Star Cruiser, its entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia identifies it as an MC80a Star Cruiser.
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia