At one time, the Calamarians were led by then Council Leader Ackbar, and were subjugated by the Empire, aided by a treacherous Quarren. The Imperials devastated the planet and began to enslave the Calamarians. Many Calamarians were taken off the planet, including Ackbar who was given to then Moff Tarkin. The Empire itself was thrown off the planet when the inhabitants rose up and rebelled, using any weapons that they had onhand.

Ackbar's story continues after this, however, as Tarkin began to use him as his assistant. It was during the course of this slavery that Ackbar picked up his knowledge of naval tactics. His rescue finally came at the hands of an attempted assasination of Tarkin by the Rebellion. Seeing his naval accumen, Mon Mothma quickly put him in charge of the navy. He added to that navy with the Calamari Starcruisers put together by his own people and helped lead the Fleet to victory at Endor.

Currently, Ackbar is engrossed in the task of putting together the New Republic. He finds his past experience on the Calamarian council useful, but is still rather inadept at the political side.