The Squall served as a training ground where hopefuls seeking entry into the Emperor's Royal Guard engaged in combat simulations. As their ultimate trial, these candidates battled one another until death in the presence of the Emperor Palpatine.
The Squall's existence was referenced within established Star Wars canon through "The Emperor's Red Guards," a brief narrative featured in the 2023 collection From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi, penned by Gloria Chao. Within the Star Wars Legends timeline, The Squall initially debuted in the first issue of the Star Wars: Crimson Empire comic-book series. This series was created by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley as writers, with illustrations by Paul Gulacy, and it was released by Dark Horse Comics on December 10, 1997.