The Helmsman, a Praetor II-class Star Battlecruiser, served as the command vessel for Mils Giel at some point during the year leading up to the Battle of Endor.
This vessel was propelled by a trio of enormous engines, supported by two secondary engines positioned above the main structure, and an additional pair of auxiliary engines located on the command section's superstructure. The rear of the ship featured multiple smaller openings, though their function as propulsion systems remains unconfirmed. Unlike some ships, it lacked a visible ventral reactor bulb; instead, its primary reactor was shielded by layers of armor, similar to the Executor-class dreadnought.
This flagship was heavily armed with numerous guns of various sizes; at least 90 cannons were visible. Its robust shields and armor necessitated a significant modification to the firing mechanisms of the four TIE/LN starfighters used by the Flying Bantha Squadron, ensuring their blasts could penetrate deep into the Teezl.
A single hangar aperture was visible on the ship, a triangular indentation on its ventral front. This opening appeared to be only marginally larger than the primary hangar entrance on an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.
A massive transport cage, designed to carry the unusual Teezl creature, was located behind the main bridge at the vessel's stern.
The ship's bridge was positioned at the front of an elevated superstructure, which ran like a spine towards the rear of the vessel, terminating in two auxiliary engines. The bridge occupied a significantly larger area than the standard bridge modules found on most Star Destroyers of that era. Its size allowed Admiral Giel to conduct meetings with a large number of officers.
The battlecruiser's mission involved transporting a Teezl from Valtha Divide to Coruscant, where the creature was intended to coordinate the entire Imperial Navy. The Helmsman was escorted by one of the largest fleets ever assembled by the Empire during its long voyage. This fleet included an accompanying capital ship bearing a similar design.
Despite the presence of numerous warships, the armada failed to prevent an attack from the Rebel Alliance, which resulted in damage to Giel's ship and the demise of the Teezl. Even after being struck by a super-powered shot from a Rebel TIE/LN starfighter, the Helmsman's bridge section remained relatively intact, allowing Giel to maintain communication with his gun crews. He ordered them to fire upon the attacker, but the TIE fighter's speed and maneuverability allowed it to evade the shots and escape.
The Helmsman appears to have drawn inspiration from early concept art for the Executor featured in The Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook.
In its initial appearances, it lacked an official designation, with characters referring to it as "Giel's Flagship." Fans dubbed it a "Super Star Destroyer" due to its apparent size in the comic. The ship's class and name were not officially established until the release of The Essential Guide to Warfare in 2012. Ansel Hsiao, a 3D model artist, also contributed to the ship's design for its depiction in the book.