The MC80A Home One Type Heavy Star Cruiser, also called the MC80A star cruiser, or the MC80a cruiser, represented a specific version of the MC80 Star Cruiser utilized by both the Alliance to Restore the Republic and later, the New Republic. During the Galactic Civil War, several of these vessels saw action in key engagements, including the battles of Endor and Jakku. Approximately 30 years following the Battle of Endor, the Resistance continued to operate the MC80A Star Cruiser.
A notable example was the Home One itself, a modified variant of the MC80A Star Cruiser that served as the most advanced ship within the Alliance Fleet.
Following Operation Handoff, Mon Mothma made the decision to leave the Imperial Senate in the aftermath of the Ghorman Massacre. She then issued a call for all rebel cells to unite and establish the Alliance to Restore the Republic. A number of ships, Home One among them, answered this call and assembled at Dantooine.
Shortly after, the Telaris rebel stardocks initiated conversion and refitting work on Home One and the Nautilian, both MC80A star cruisers, alongside the MC75 Star Cruiser known as the Profundity. Colonel Anj Zavor from Rebel Fleet Command provided Commander-in-Chief Mon Mothma with an operational update. By 0 BBY, the ships were combat-ready, but held back until the right time to go to war. After the battle of Scarif, which resulted in the death of admiral Raddus and the loss of most of the rebel fleet, including the Profundity, but also the acquisition of the Death Star plans, Gial Ackbar was given the position of leader of the Alliance Fleet and made Home One the new flagship of the fleet.
During the Galactic Civil War, several MC80A cruisers were part of the Mon Cala Mercantile Fleet, which was associated with the Galactic Empire. After stormtroopers murdered King Lee-Char, the fleet and its personnel revolted against the Imperials stationed on their ships. As the fleet attempted to break free, an Imperial blockade composed of six Imperial II-class Star Destroyers stood in their way. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, and Han Solo joined the fleet to provide assistance, as did Gial Ackbar, who brought several squadrons of T-65B X-wing starfighters and BTL-A4 Y-wing assault starfighters. The MC80A cruiser Aurora Flare intentionally collided with Admiral Tyrus Meori's Star Destroyer, creating an opening that allowed the other ships to escape the system and join the Alliance.
Despite the Alliance Fleet acquiring numerous new starships, the Mon Calamari vessels were not yet prepared for combat and still needed significant modifications, including proper weaponry, shielding, and hyperdrives. Queen Trios offered the Mako-Ta Space Docks and Shu-Torun engineers to help retrofit the ships. This turned out to be a trap, as Death Squadron, under the command of Darth Vader, entered the system. The cruisers' hyperdrives were not functional, and the starfighter bay doors were locked due to Trios's betrayal. The Alliance fought to overcome the malfunctions. While the rest of the fleet, including Home One, managed to escape, Jan Dodonna's MC80A cruiser, the Republic, was destroyed.
Following the Empire's discovery and destruction of the main Alliance headquarters on Hoth, Home One became a mobile command center. The cruiser housed many of the Alliance's leading figures, including Mon Mothma and Crix Madine. The planning for the battle of Endor occurred on board. Using the secret hyperspace route known as the Sanctuary Pipeline, Home One led the Rebel fleet, which included at least eight MC80A cruisers such as the Nautilian and Independence, into the Endor system. The fleet engaged the largest Imperial fleet known to exist. Despite being significantly outnumbered, the Alliance fleet successfully destroyed the second Death Star and inflicted heavy losses on the Imperial fleet. However, the Alliance also suffered losses, including the Nautilian.
After the Battle of Endor, the Alliance to Restore the Republic transitioned into the New Republic, and the MC80A star cruisers remained in service with the New Republic Defense Fleet. The MC80A saw action in battles such as Kuat and Kashyyyk. The Battle of Jakku marked the final engagement of the Galactic Civil War, and Home One was among the participating vessels. Admiral Ackbar coordinated the battle alongside other New Republic commanders, including Commodore Kyrsta Agate, General Tyben, and Lieutenant General Brockway. Home One, along with Agate's Starhawk-class battleship Concord, participated in the assault against the Imperial Star Destroyers surrounding the Imperial Super Star Destroyer Ravager, which served as the Imperial command ship. From the bridge of Home One, Ackbar observed as the Concord utilized its powerful tractor beam projector to pull the Ravager down to the surface of Jakku. The battle resulted in a New Republic victory.
In the old Expanded Universe, the designations MC80a and MC80 Home One type Star Cruiser referred to two distinct starship models. However, this distinction was removed in the canon book Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded, which clarified that both designations refer to the same MC80 model.