The Liberty, a MC80 Star Cruiser, played a role in the Alliance Fleet amidst the Galactic Civil War. It lent its name to the Liberty type subclass. During the Battle of Endor, the second Death Star battle station destroyed the Liberty, making it the first Rebel ship to fall.
Before the Galactic Empire subjugated the Mon Calamari homeworld, the Mon Calamari constructed the sister ships Liberty and Justice. Almost two decades later, the Liberty assisted in the liberate of Dac and its shipyards.
Later in the conflict, Operation Skyhook designated the Liberty as the original receiver of the Death Star plans. However, the sudden appearance of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Immortal halted the plan transfer from the Tantive IV. Keyan Farlander and Hamo Blastwell, flying R-22 Spearheads, aided two X-wings from the Liberty in repelling the Imperial forces, enabling both ships to escape while the corvette proceeded to Tatooine.
Shortly after the Battle of Hoth, the Liberty emerged as one of the most active cruisers within the Rebel fleet. Under Admiral [Yamarus]'s command](/article/yamarus), the cruiser and its task force consistently spearheaded raids and "hit and run" operations targeting Imperial installations and warships. Following intelligence regarding a series of attacks on civilian merchants in the Vilonis sector, the Liberty was dispatched to investigate.
Operating independently, it discovered details concerning a series of Imperial experimental starfighters and subsequently shut down the TIE Experimental Project. During this period, Commander Kupalo, an Imperial double-agent, served as the ship's Tactical Officer. Furthermore, the ship played a crucial role in establishing a mutual cargo-retrieval operation with Dunari and eliminating a pirate organization known as the Hurrim.
The Liberty achieved prominence as a Rebel warship during its service in the Airam sector, where, with Rogue Squadron aboard, it contributed to the destruction of the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Vengeance, sustaining substantial damage in the process.
It also participated in the rescue of Imperial defector Commander Zaletta, who was instrumental in acquiring the plans for the second Death Star, and later served as the Liberty's tactical officer.
Ace Azzameen, a Rebel pilot, served aboard the cruiser for a significant portion of the time leading up to the Battle of Endor. Azzameen gained recognition for his involvement in the strike team responsible for capturing the shuttle Tydirium and may have been a member of Lando Calrissian's crew—possibly as a gunner—on the Millennium Falcon during the battle.
Following the discovery of the second Death Star, the Liberty was summoned back to the primary Alliance fleet in preparation for the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY. During the battle, the Liberty was destroyed, becoming infamously known as the first ship to be obliterated by the new Death Star's superlaser.
The Liberty's frequent appearances in video games (such as serving as Azzameen's base of operations) have made it one of the more well-known Mon Calamari Cruisers.
The precise designation and specifications of this vessel remain subjects of debate, as the appearances of Mon Cal Cruisers in books, games, films, and other materials often lack consistency.
The Liberty has become the namesake for a visual classification of Mon Cal Star Cruisers, where any subsequent winged cruiser measuring approximately 1,200 meters in length is categorized as an MC80 Liberty type Star Cruiser.
In Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter: Balance of Power Campaigns, the Liberty is portrayed as a distinct cruiser model and is identified as an MC80a Calamari Cruiser within the game. However, in cutscenes, it is depicted as a Home One type cruiser.