General Smart has been pulling his hair out over the Rebellion's perpetual shortage of ships. He recently masterminded the theft of several Federation Destroyers from the breaker yards. The ships are so old, however, that it was difficult upgrading them to Gen. Smart's and Donald Chick's exacting standards, and they have had to make do with gross tweaks to the engines and defenses. Nevertheless, the E-41 serves as the backbone of the Rebel fleet.