The Freebird, a Sentinel-class landing craft, was under the command of Imperial Commander Gorrister. This shuttle was assigned to the Vector, which served as the central hub for the confidential Imperial weapons program known as the "Blackwing virus."
During the Blackwing outbreak, the Freebird, stationed on the Vector, offered refuge for Commander Gorrister along with other survivors. Gorrister and his crew were trapped within the shuttle for a period of ten weeks. Due to starvation, they were often compelled to resort to cannibalism and to cast other survivors out of the shuttle towards the ravenous blackwing zombies assailing the hull.
Jareth Sartoris, an Imperial officer, infiltrated the Vector to deactivate the tractor beam that had drawn his escape pod into the Star Destroyer's docking bay. The recoil generated by his use of a stationary X-wing starfighter's blaster cannons resulted in the starfighter colliding with the Freebird. Seeking shelter, he entered the ship, where he encountered Gorrister and the remaining survivors, who provided him with a comprehensive account of the situation. Sartosis murdered Gorrister by forcefully using his head to break open the escape hatch.
The Freebird provided the means of escape for the remaining survivors of the incident: Zahara Cody, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Trig Longo. Sartoris gave his life to enable the others to access the shuttle. Later, the shuttle was sold to Black Hammer pirates located in Gal'fian'deprisi, Galantos.