The Fremond functioned as a spacetug utilized by the Imperial Navy throughout the Imperial Era. During 14 BBY, this ship formed a component of the flotilla connected to the Imperial installation referred to as Sentinel Base. Moff Wilhuff Tarkin commanded this base, which supervised the building of the Imperial battle station that would eventually be known as the Death Star.
Around that time, specifically when a fabricated transmission reported that Rampart Station in close proximity was experiencing an attack from a rebel cell, the Fremond and the frigate called the Salliche were both unoccupied and remained in static orbits above the moon where Sentinel Base was located. After a comm specialist recited a list of the base's ships, Tarkin opted for the Electrum, Sentinel's other available ship, a Venator-class Star Destroyer ready for combat, to respond to the supposed assault.
James Luceno mentioned the Fremond in his 2014 novel, Tarkin.