Thurse

Constructed by the SoroSuub Corporation, the Thurse was a Quasar Fire-class cruiser-carrier with a length of 340 meters. Functioning as a cruiser-carrier, the Thurse contained launch bays capable of accommodating a substantial number of starfighters. It carried a complement of X-wing fighters from various squadrons, such as Green, Red, and Blue Squadrons, in addition to TIE Series starfighters. Outfitted with sublight engines and a hyperdrive, this cruiser-carrier was armed with laser batteries and ion cannons, and could also transport a minimum of twelve troopers.

As of 25 ABY during the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Thurse was a part of the New Republic's Defense Fleet, a conflict sparked by the invasion of the galaxy by the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong species. Under the leadership of Captain Mak Jorlen, the cruiser-carrier Thurse was involved in a surprise attack by the New Republic against Yuuzhan Vong forces stationed at the planet Ord Mantell, prompted by intelligence regarding an imminent enemy offensive. Alongside a considerable force, the Quasar Fire-class cruiser concealed itself behind Quatin within Ord Mantell's Bright Jewel system, before engaging the newly arrived Yuuzhan Vong ships in the Battle of Ord Mantell following their emergence into the star system. During the engagement, X-wings and TIE fighters launched from the Thurse made an unsuccessful attempt to kill the massive Yuuzhan Vong Qworlth skaal creature that was assaulting the Jubilee Wheel space station. Despite this setback, New Republic forces achieved their objective, forcing the Yuuzhan Vong fleet to retreat, although the Thurse sustained damage during the battle.

While still undergoing repairs from the Battle of Ord Mantell, the Queen of Empire, a luxury liner being used as a transport for refugees from Ord Mantell, sent out a distress call after being infiltrated by members of the Peace Brigade, an organization allied with the Yuuzhan Vong, within the Bilbringi system. The Thurse responded to this distress signal, as a Yuuzhan Vong frigate had also been detected in proximity to the stricken vessel. Upon arriving in the system, the cruiser-carrier deployed Red and Green Squadrons to protect the Thurse, while Blue Squadron, under the command of Wing Commander Kol Eyttyn, was sent to attack the frigate. In addition, several other starfighter squadrons from the cruiser-carrier were launched into the combat zone. However, despite Blue Squadron's success in overcoming the frigate's coralskipper escort, the frigate began executing brief hyperspace jumps that relocated it unpredictably throughout the battlefield, hindering Blue Squadron's ability to effectively engage the vessel.

As the frigate remained a threat, the freighter Millennium Falcon entered the system. Jorlen, from aboard the Thurse, cautioned the occupants to remain clear of danger, persuading influential New Republic politician Leia Organa Solo and Jedi Master Luke Skywalker to temporarily stay out of the conflict, despite the presence of Organa Solo's husband, Han Solo, on the Queen of Empire. Shortly thereafter, the Peace Brigadiers demanded that the Thurse withdraw, threatening to eject the passengers of the Queen of Empire from the airlocks. Jorlen refused to comply, citing the New Republic's policy against negotiating with pirates.

Soon after, a group of at least a dozen elite New Republic troops were dispatched from the Thurse to board the Queen of Empire in an attempt to neutralize the Peace Brigade members. The cruiser-carrier positioned itself near a planetoid within the Bilbringi system while its complement of fighters engaged the nearby coralskippers. At that moment, the Millennium Falcon began pursuing a Peace Brigade Martial-class shuttle that had departed from the Queen of Empire and was heading towards the Yuuzhan Vong frigate. Despite Jorlen's renewed request for the occupants to stay away, Solo, who was piloting the Millennium Falcon after it had docked with the Queen of Empire, informed Jorlen that he required covering fire from the Thurse after he extracted two significant individuals – the Fosh Vergere and the Yuuzhan Vong defector Elan – from the fleeing shuttle.

After the shuttle was mysteriously immobilized, Solo successfully docked with it and completed his mission. The Thurse then provided cover for the Millennium Falcon's return to the Queen of Empire. When the frigate attempted to pursue the Millennium Falcon, the cruiser-carrier engaged the frigate with its weapons. However, the escaping freighter suddenly altered its course, heading directly towards the Yuuzhan Vong frigate, obstructing some of the Thurse's firing angles on the enemy ship. As Jorlen demanded to know Solo's intentions, the Millennium Falcon changed course again, heading towards the Thurse instead of the frigate, leaving the space between the two warships clear. With unobstructed firing lanes, the Thurse bombarded the frigate with its ion cannons and batteries. Although the remaining coralskippers attempted to make suicide runs on the cruiser-carrier, the fighters were swiftly destroyed. The Thurse's assault compelled the frigate to abandon its pursuit of the Millennium Falcon, and the damaged Yuuzhan Vong vessel retreated into hyperspace, securing victory for the Thurse.

During its encounter with the Yuuzhan Vong frigate in the Bilbringi system, the Thurse was under the command of Captain Mak Jorlen. Jorlen, who personally knew Solo and recognized him as a hero to many within the New Republic, believed that the New Republic stood a chance against the Yuuzhan Vong with Solo fighting alongside them.

The Thurse made its debut in The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial by James Luceno, published in 2000. The cruiser-carrier was later mentioned in several entries within 2008's The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, although it did not receive its own dedicated entry.