The Ark Angel II, previously known as the Ark Angel, represented a heavily modified Bellicose-class heavy lifter in the possession of the renegade archaeologist Doctor Chelli Aphra. Aphra meticulously repaired and upgraded it, incorporating rare starship parts sourced from the Hapes Consortium, alongside components acquired from Kuat Systems Engineering and MandalMotors. During the events of the Battle of Vrogas Vas, the original Ark Angel met its end. Following this conflict, the extensive damage necessitated such a comprehensive reconstruction that Aphra opted to rechristen the vessel as the Ark Angel II. Aphra utilized it to transport both her crew and Luke Skywalker to the location of the Citadel of Ktath'atn.
The Ark Angel's destruction during the Battle of Vrogas Vas, specifically when it was dropped on Commander Karbin resulting in his death, prompted a significant overhaul.
It served as the transport for Doctor Chelli Aphra, 0-0-0 (Triple-Zero), Krrsantan, and BT-1 on their journey from Fulan Ro to Archaeo-Prime, situated within the Cosmatanic Steppes. Korin Aphra, Aphra's father, enlisted her assistance in locating the Ordu Aspectu after information regarding her clandestine find on Booth XII was leaked. Subsequently, the crew, now including Korin Aphra, embarked on a voyage to Yavin IV. While there, under pursuit by Captain Magna Tolvan, they calculated the coordinates of the Fortress of Garn. Following this, they departed to locate it.
Upon arrival at the Fortress of Garn, the group of adventurers began their exploration, all the while closely pursued by Captain Magna Tolvan. 0-0-0 and BT-1 made their way back to the Ark Angel II, neglecting to inform Chelli and Korin Aphra about the presence of Imperials. Chelli and Korin inadvertently awakened Rur, causing the Citadel to crumble. Subsequently, 0-0-0, BT-1, and Black Krrsantan made their escape aboard the Ark Angel II, while Korin and Chelli Aphra fled on Tolvan's Imperial shuttle.
Doctor Aphra touched down on Horox III with the Ark Angel II to convince Luke Skywalker to journey to Ktath'atn and meet the Queen of Ktath'atn. The ship then conveyed 0-0-0, BT-1, Black Krrsantan, Aphra, and Skywalker to Ktath'atn, unbeknownst to Princess Leia Organa.
Later, as they entered the planet, 0-0-0 and BT-1 intercepted Organa, Han Solo, and Sana Starros. Han Solo insisted on piloting to Aphra, supposedly damaging the Ark Angel II.
Following the conflict, Aphra, 0-0-0, BT-1, and Black Krrsantan departed in the Ark Angel, while the others left in the Millennium Falcon.
Weeks later, Doctor Aphra attempted to sell the artificial intelligence crystal known as Eternal Rur aboard the space station Sorca Retreat, using the Ark Angel II to board the station. The auction collapsed, however, when Rur escaped containment and 0-0-0 gained access to the station's weapons, firing upon the guests. Aphra was forced to escape the station, abandoning the Ark Angel II and instead taking the Shadow University's ship. Aphra escaped aboard the ship, returning the artifacts aboard the ship to both the Shadow University and the University of Bar'leth, leaving Shadow University aboard the Ark Angel II.
With Aphra now taking on Vulaada Klam as her ward after the Chase on Milvayne, the two, along with Klam's pet qaberworm Gurtyl, used the Ark Angel II to transport the group to the Slinani Migration Shrine where they made off with the ancient sniper rifle known as the Farkiller. The three left the Shrine aboard the Angel, briefly staying at an Abandoned Spice Mine on the planet Unox to attempt to contact buyers for the Farkiller.
Unfortunately for the group, they were intercepted by the Rebellion, who captured the group and the Ark Angel II with them to Trading Post Sh'ung-tesk. On the trading post, the Rebellion takes the Farkiller from Aphra to use for their superweapon, offering Aphra a position in the Rebellion in exchange for help in building the weapon. Aphra rejects the offer, flying the Ark Angel II off the post and onto Arbiflux along with Klam and Gurtyl to briefly hide out at Lona Aphra's house.
Unfortunately again for the group, their location was discovered by the Empire, who hired mercenaries to take the group out, including Black Krrsantan, who betrayed the mercenary group and helped save Aphra, Klam, and Gurtyl, with the four leaving the planet aboard the Angel. Aboard the Angel, the group met up with Indigo Squadron with Aphra now taking up the Rebellion's offer to work on the superweapon, secretly only doing so as a front to steal back the Farkiller. Before she does so however, she is stopped by her lover, Strike Team Misericorde leader Magna Tolvan. Despite this, Aphra manages to convince Tolvan to let her steal the Farkiller back, knocking Tolvan out and escaping the Rebellion ship with the weapon and Black Krrsantan aboard the Ark Angel II, which was being piloted at the time by Klam, leaving Gurtyl behind to fight off the Rebellion and help their escape.
Aboard the Ark Angel II, Aphra would make an announcement to the Empire via their communication systems that she would be gifting the Farkiller to the Empire as a show of good will, landing the Angel at an Imperial Communication Relay on Usk Minor to do so. From their, Aphra, Klam, and Krrsantan would be picked up in a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle by Minister Pitina Mar-Mas Voor and taken to Coruscant, leaving the Ark Angel II behind.
Shortly after leaving the Ark Angel II behind on Usk Minor, Aphra would imply that the Ark Angel II was destroyed sometime shortly before her search Rings of Vaale and after leaving the ship on Usk Minor.
The Ark Angel III would be named after and succeed the Ark Angel II.
Much like [Chelli Lona Aphra](/article/chelli_lona_aphra]'s conceptualization as the archaeological counterpart to Indiana Jones, the central figure of Lucasfilm Ltd.'s Indiana Jones franchise, the name Ark Angel was inspired by the Ark of the Covenant, the pivotal MacGuffin in the film Raiders of the Lost Ark.