Col. Via Sanders is a human soldier and starship captain, and was the commander of the DSC-304 Aurora for several years before its destruction in the final moments of the Fall of Earth. A skilled tactician rivaling the best the other races in the galaxy have to offer, she is considered the de facto superior to the other captains of Earth's fleet, and a close friend of the members of SG-1. Developing an intense personal rivalry with her Der'kal counterpart Vur'naa, Sanders's ship gained a reputation as a vessel which could not be beaten, and even after it was brought down, she remained one of the most well-respected individuals in the Alliance armed forces. Currently, she is serving as captain of the rechristened MBP-305 Aurora, itself named in honor of her original command.