Corellian Defense Force

Structure

Among the organizations tasked with protecting the Corellian sector, the Corellian Defense Force stood alongside the Corellian Security Force. The CDF served as a military entity, whereas CorSec operated more as a law enforcement agency. Its headquarters, known as the CDF Headquarters, were located in Coronet City on Corellia, which served as the sector's capital.

The Corellian Defense Force comprised various branches and divisions, with the Space Service and the groundside CDF being the primary components. Additionally, the CDF encompassed the Corellian Home Fleet, responsible for defending the Corellian system, as well as the Corellian militia, Corellian Customs, and Corellian Traffic Control.

The leader of the Corellian sector formally commanded the CDF, initially the Governor-General and later the Five World Prime Minister. The supervision of the Defense Force was typically delegated to either a Minister of War or a Minister of Defense, depending on the structure of Corellian governments. Within the CDF, the highest-ranking officer held the title of Supreme Commander of the Corellian Defense Force, an admiral. These political leaders and high-ranking officers, alongside various staff officers, collectively formed the Corellian High Command.

The CDF, in conjunction with CorSec, had the duty of protecting the crucial Corellian Engineering Corporation shipyards.

Historical Overview

During the three centuries following the dissolution of the Corellian empire, the Diktat of Corellia, also holding the title of Governor-General of the Corellian sector, led the Corellian Defense Force. During this era, the defense force constructed large warships to safeguard the sector from external threats. Similar to other large capital ships utilized in the wealthy Core sectors of the Galactic Republic, these vessels were equipped with a limited-range hyperdrive to prevent involvement in aggressive military actions.

During the Separatist Crisis, when the Military Creation Act was being debated in the Galactic Senate in 24 BBY, Diktat Shyla Merricope and Senator Garm Bel Iblis withdrew the Corellian sector from active participation in the Senate. They also implemented an isolationist policy towards the rest of the galaxy. This policy prohibited the use of Corellian military and security forces in any centralized Republic military, thus preventing the deployment of the Corellian Defense Force during the impending Clone Wars.

Following the Declaration of a New Order in 19 BBY, the Corellian sector became an Imperial client state loyal to Emperor Palpatine. Although the Corellian Diktat retained the title of Governor-General of the Corellian sector, the Imperial Grand Moff of the Corellian sector oversaw his administration, including control of the Corellian Defense Force.

During the Galactic Civil War, the Diktat was obligated to provide elements of the Corellian Defense Force to support Imperial armed forces against the Rebel Alliance. As the war intensified, Corellian military forces were repeatedly dispatched to assist the Empire, leaving the Corellian sector with inadequate defenses. Consequently, piracy surged in the sector. In response, the Corellian Defense Force increasingly outsourced tasks to civilians, such as independent spacers, including military assignments. In 1 ABY, a group of mercenaries allied with local smugglers deployed a surface-to-orbit turbolaser on Corellia. These soldiers used the weapon to target CDF customs vessels during smuggling operations. The Corellian Defense Force eventually located the turbolaser, disguised as an inconspicuous power station, and sent a civilian strike team to eliminate the criminals and destroy the weapon. The CDF preferred to use spacers over regular troops to minimize the risk of the enemies discovering their compromised position. In the same year, a group of smugglers stole a crate of ion beamers from the CDF Mobile Medical Unit 4-077 during a training exercise in the Corellian wilderness. Again, spacers were recruited by the Corellian Defense Force to handle the criminals.

Following the Emperor's death at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, many Imperial loyalists fled the collapsing Empire and sought refuge in the Imperial-friendly Corellian sector. They extensively joined the Space Service of the Corellian Defense Force. In 7 ABY, the Diktat dissolved the prestigious Corellian Security Force and established the Public Safety Service, an Imperialistic security force and political police tasked with safeguarding the Diktat's autocratic regime. Unlike the fairly independent CorSec, the PSS was integrated into the CDF.

Sometime as early as 13 ABY, the Diktat's regime fell. The New Republic subsequently gained control of the Corellian sector and appointed Micamberlecto as Governor-General to govern Corellia and the sector. While the Governor-General became the new commander-in-chief of the Corellian Defense Force, Corellian troops, particularly Imperial and Diktat loyalists, were hesitant to obey a New Republic appointee.

During the First Corellian Insurrection in 18 ABY, most of the ground-based units of the Corellian Defense Force remained loyal to the Governor-General, whereas the CDF Space Service largely betrayed the New Republic. At the onset of the Corellian Insurrection, the majority of the Corellian space forces defected with their vessels, including capital ships, to the Sacorrian Triad. Later, during the takeover of Corellia by Thrackan Sal-Solo's Human League, many CDF troops perished while trying to protect Governor-General Micamberlecto. Meanwhile, the few remaining CDF space forces in the Corellian system had joined Thrackan Sal-Solo. The New Republic eventually defeated the Sacorrian Triad, which was responsible for the conflict, at the Battle of Centerpoint Station. There, the New Republic navy annihilated the Sacorrian fleet, including the treacherous CDF elements.

Near the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War, vessels of the Corellian Defense Force served in the Combined Defense Forces of the New Republic under Corellian General Bel Iblis.

Approximately a decade after the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Galactic Alliance abolished the position of Governor-General to allow Corellians to establish their own political system. Command of the Corellian Defense Force was transferred to the Prime Minister of the Five Worlds, the elected executive of the Corellian system. However, tensions soon arose between the Corellians and the galactic government. Before 40 ABY, a secret fleet of Corellian Dreadnaught was constructed in the Kiris Asteroid Cluster without the Galactic Alliance's approval to augment the existing Defense Forces. When the Second Galactic Civil War finally erupted between the Galactic Alliance and the Five Worlds, the Corellian Defense Force was thrust into battle. During the initial phase of the war, the CDF, particularly the Corellian Home Fleet, was heavily involved as the blockaded Corellia became the conflict's focal point. This period of intense strain led to significant political instability on Corellia, resulting in frequent changes among the Corellian Supreme Commanders. Admiral Vara Karathas was succeeded by Admiral Wedge Antilles, who was later replaced by Admiral Genna Delpin. As the war escalated, other worlds joined Corellia in the conflict, forming the Confederation. Military command of the CDF was then transferred from the Corellian Supreme Commander to the newly appointed Supreme Commander of the Confederation military. Subsequently, Corellian Defense Force elements were deployed throughout the galaxy alongside other Confederation forces to fight against the Galactic Alliance. The CDF participated in the Battle of Hapes, the Battle of Gilatter VIII, the Battle of Kuat, the Battle of Kashyyyk, and the Second Battle of Roche. Ultimately, the Second Galactic Civil War concluded with the death of Darth Caedus in 41 ABY during the Battle of Uroro Station.

Materiel

Members of the Corellian Defense Force wore various types of uniforms and protective gear, including the Type III "Berethron" Personal Modular Armor, the TX-3 combat flight suit, and the Nomad greatcoat. The Corona Footwear Company supplied boots to the CDF.

The Corellian Bloodstripes, a prestigious Corellian award, was bestowed by the Corellian government upon its most heroic citizens, typically members of the Corellian Military.

Vehicles

The CDF utilized a variety of starships, primarily manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. Capital ships included corvettes (such as the CR90 corvette and the CR92a Assassin-class corvette), gunships, frigates (including assault frigates), cruiser, Star Defenders (such as the Strident-class Star Defender), battle cruisers, and dreadnaughts. Smaller vessels included patrol boats (such as the Pocket Patrol Boat) and transports (such as the CR-20 troop carrier). Starfighter models included the Light Attack Fighter Model 250, the Heavy/Light Attack Fighter 500, the CL-1c Lancet interceptor, the X-TIE Fighter, the Corellian attack fighter, and the YT-5100 Shriek-class bomber.

Furthermore, the CDF employed outdated Imperial starship models for decades after the Galactic Civil War, including TIE series fighters, A-9 Vigilance interceptors, A-10 interceptors, I-7 Howlrunners, EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigates, Carrack-class light cruisers, and Victory-class Star Destroyers.