CMS Provost

CMS Provost (VHC-368) was an Imperial Vindicator-class cruiser that had, after a moderate service history in the Galactic Empire, had come into the possession of Admiral Dergan Roj's forces around 2 BBY. She had been part of the Proclaimer-batch of Vindicator heavy cruisers built by Sienar Fleet Systems. Roj himself found it incredibly ironic that the Vindicator cruisers were designed by his old arch-rival, Wilhuff Tarkin, yet here was one following his own doctrine.

Unlike Repulse, Roj's flagship, Provost managed to survive the Barrenness Excursions and the Battle of Endor in a repairable state. She was patched back together by SubPro and Lokkai technicians, and deployed into the newly-formed Caspian Navy in 4 ABY. Aside from the carriers, only Provost and Hood represented significant battlewagons for the Union until the hasty development of the Daring-class Battlecruisers.

Provost would spend most of its time as guardian of the Caspian star system, augmented by several other ships to bolster its aging capacities. When an Imperial diplomatic fleet arrived in 8 ABY to conduct commissariat talks with the Crest, Provost acted as the "heavy", coordinated by flagship CMS Typhoon. While Typhoon was further off to maintain observation over all nine Imperial starships present, Provost was placed closer to Caspar inline between the Star Destroyers Emperor Valak and Tyrant. Suddenly, without prior warning, Tyrant opened fire on CMS Ward and obliterated the Caspian warship. While the initial shock was just starting to seep in, some twenty additional Imperial warships jumped in-system, and began to aggressively attack the spread out CDU Third Fleet. Courageously, Provost turned on Tyrant, and attempted to engage. She scored a few solid hits, but nothing could possibly match a Star Destroyer of Tyrant's experience when the Imperial warship was focused directly on its quarry. Three salvos from the veteran of the Galactic Civil War opened gaping holes in Provost's shields, and three salvos more left the heavy cruiser a perforated, drifting hulk.

Roughly a third of her complement survived in the wreck, and after the battle was over, the ship was approached by Imperial rescue and repair crews.