The designation "Rebel High Command Base" referred to the main headquarters of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. From this location, the Alliance High Command orchestrated the rebellion's operations galaxy-wide against the Galactic Empire.
Serving as the central nervous system for rebel forces, the Rebel High Command Base accommodated both the civilian and military leadership of the Alliance. Alongside their starfleet, it represented one of the two fundamental pillars of the Rebellion. Losing the High Command Base would have been just as devastating as losing the fleet, underlining its critical importance. Mon Mothma directed the war effort from the base, supported by numerous civilian and military staff. The base was a hub of activity, with dozens of starships and messenger droids constantly arriving and departing, disseminating information and executing orders across the galaxy.
Throughout its existence, the Rebel Alliance utilized several bases to house the High Command. Examples include Massassi Base on the moon Yavin 4 and Echo Base on the planet Hoth. Only one base served as the High Command's location at any given time, with the Alliance High Command relocating as needed. At Echo Base, over 1,000 government officials were stationed, along with a similar number of high-ranking military and intelligence officers. Hundreds of support personnel assisted these individuals, and the inclusion of starfighter pilots and infantry brought the base's population to over 4,000 beings. The base contained extensive supplies and equipment, including repair tools for starfighters, infantry weaponry, and communications systems. Medical facilities and machine shops were also present, the latter capable of fabricating a wide array of items, from long-range communicators to microsurgery droids and airspeeders. Echo Base stood out as one of the most fortified Rebel installations. Three starfighter squadrons patrolled the system's outer reaches, while an anti-space ion cannon and a powerful defense shield protected the base itself from orbital bombardment. Furthermore, 1,000 Special Forces troopers provided ground defense, equipped with numerous artillery pieces designed for both anti-vehicle and anti-personnel purposes. A network of trenches, interconnected by underground tunnels, defended the base from all potential attack vectors. Flights of snowspeeders, modified for Hoth's extreme cold, further bolstered the defenses. In the event of a necessary evacuation, six Kleeque-class transports and a small fleet of Gallofree Yards medium transports remained on standby, prepared for departure within an hour.