After the completion of the first Death Star, the MC80 Home One-type Star Cruiser Independence was carrying members of the Alliance High Command, including Mon Mothma, to the Rebel base on Yavin 4 to coordinate the Alliance's defense against the major Imperial offensive that was expected to begin. While in the Bestine system, it came under attack from the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Immortal.
Following the arrival of the Immortal and its starfighter complement, the Rebel pilots of the Independence, including Captain Keyan Farlander, were scrambled to defend the ship.
The Imperial force consisted of TIE Bombers, splitting up and attacking the cruiser from three different directions, while Assault Gunboats engaged the defending starfighters. Two of the Imperial bomber groups, Beta and Gamma Squadrons were quickly engaged by a pair of Blue Squadron R-22 Spearheads and Red Squadron X-wings, respectively. The third, Alpha Squadron, made it through and began firing proton torpedoes at the Independence. The defending starfighters were engaged with the Gunboats but eventually broke away and were able to help the Independences gunners destroy the surviving bombers.
During the battle, Captain Farlander was confronted by the dark side of the Force, forcing him to lower the shields of his X-wing. Farlander was able to resist, reactivating his shields and resuming his defense of the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser.
Replacing two lost R-22s with a second wave, the Independence reached its jump point escaped to hyperspace with its shields down but with only minimal hull damage. The remaining Rebel starfighters continued their dogfight with nearby Imperial ships before following the cruiser.
By the time the Independence arrived during the night shift at Yavin 4, work had already begun to repair the damage, which was mostly confined to the shield coils and some electronics.
After witnessing the destruction of her homeworld and escaping from Imperial custody, Princess Leia Organa arrived on Yavin 4 with the Death Star plans. The Alliance's analysis of the plans indicated that their best hope of defeating it lay in their starfighters, rather than their larger ships. Shortly after, the Death Star followed the Princess to the Yavin system and the Independences pilots and starfighters, transferred to the Yavin Base, assisted in the resulting battle.
- X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia