Name: "Aphelion"
Alias(s): "Afternoon Delight," "Courtesan"
Home Port: Atzerri (also licensed, fraudulently, on Brentaal)
Designation: SSP, Independent

Commissioned: 51 BBY
Manufacturer: Corellian Engineering Corporation
Model: Modified Consular-class Space Cruiser
Class: Space Cruiser

Length: 115 Meters
Maximum Acceleration: 2,040 G
Maximum Speed (atmosphere): 900 km/h
Propulsion: 3 Dyne 577 Radial Atomizer Engines
Hyperdrive Rating: Class 0.8 (Backup: 2.0)
Hyperdrive System: GBK-785 Motivator Drive Unit (Backup: Longe Voltrans Tri-Arc CD-3.2)

Navigation: Microaxial LPL-449 Computer System
Flight Control System: Torplex RQ9.X Advanced Flight Control Avionics Package
Sensor Systems: Fabritech ANS-7H Unit w/ Phased Detected Array (PA-9R) and Primary Threat Analysis Grid (PG-7U)

Shielding: Equipped
Armament: 2 RG12 Medium Turbolaser Cannons (ventral mounted, fire linked), 1 Improvised "Ion Bomb" (in cargo hold)
Accuracy: Poor

Complement: None
Escape Craft: Salon Pod, 2 Consular Escape Pods
Current Crew: Aaron Rawls (Captain/Pilot), Norrick Doohan (Mechanic/Engineer)
Accomodation: 12 Passengers
Cargo Capacity: 300 Metric Tons
Consumables: 18 Months

History:
Like many vessels of its class, the Aphelion began its career in service to the Old Republic. Contemporary records (which are, admittedly, incomplete) indicate that it was assigned to the Diplomatic Corps for seven years, from its construction and commissioning in 51 BBY until 44 BBY, when it was pressed into service in the Stark Hyperspace War. It was then transferred to the Judicial Forces, and participated in a number of police actions and regional disputes, among them the Kol Huro Conflict (44 BBY) and the Yinchorri Uprising (33 BBY). The vessel had three respective Captains throughout this period.

The Aphelion was eventually relegated to patrol and escort missions on the Outer Rim when, in 25 BBY, it was requisitioned by Senator Arcel Mosbree for use as his personal transport (primarily shuttling the Senator between Coruscant and Brentaal, on official business). The Senator retired in 22 BBY, and with the sudden commencement of the Clone Wars and the Republic's shortage of vessels, the Aphelion was refitted for combat and again pressed into military service. The ship would see action early in the war, at Commenor, Balmorra, Muunilinst and elsewhere, but it was soon rendered obsolete by the new generation of Republic cruisers, frigates and destroyers.

With one of its engines destroyed, the Aphelion was deemed too expensive to repair; its armaments and amenities were removed, and it sat out the rest of the war on a reserve lot on Ord Radama. There it remained until 15 BBY, when the Empire (which had since replaced the Old Republic) sold many of its derelict, surplus vessels to businesses at discounted prices. Aphelion was 36 years old, rusted and lame, when it was sold to the Cosmohaul Shipping Company for a mere 45,000 credits. The ship was rewired, repainted, and restored; its damaged engine was replaced, its antiquated sensors and navigation systems were updated, and in 14 BBY, it flew under its own power again for the first time in half a decade.

Cosmohaul's fortunes would soon change, however, as much of the shipping industry (which had benefited from the collapse of the Trade Federation) was now driven out of business by organized competition from the likes of Ororo Transportation and Xizor Transport Systems. Cosmohaul declared bankruptcy in 9 BBY and its freighter fleet was seized and auctioned. Aphelion would change hands several times during this period, as various companies went under and passed it along to the next. Eventually, in 2 ABY, it was sold to a group of refugees from the war—pacifists, all of them—who had pooled their money and bought the vessel to fly themselves and their families to the secluded Draenell's Point, where they would establish a settlement.

Aphelion was used by these settlers for transport of supplies (and even crop dusting, briefly) until it eventually fell into disuse. Aaron Rawls came upon the ship on a visit to Draenell's Point in 7 ABY and bought it for 5,000 credits and his boots, on the condition that he would "put her to noble use." Rawls agreed, and immediately after departing the planet began modifying the ship for smuggling. He renovated the ship's cargo hold, expanding it and installing false walls and panels to conceal hidden compartments within. He replaced the nav-computer, rigged several false transponders to fool authorities, gutted the hyperdrive and replaced it with a faster one, and installed a sophisticated cooling system that allows him to push its engines harder and faster than they were ever designed to go.

Rawls has owned the ship for the last 13 years, making him the longest continuous owner with the exception of the Old Republic (and one occasion on which it was impounded by the Corporate Sector, and immediately stolen back). Now, in 20 ABY, he will admit that despite his modifications Aphelion remains "a work in progress"; progress often undone by the battles and maneuvers that Rawls subjects the ship to. Regardless, he has developed an affection for the vessel not only as his home, but in many ways as a companion that he knows will give its best and never betray him.