Private At Utmost Urgency, Find More Test Pilots! Project Executioner pt. 1

[Silver]

Vandelhelm System, Orbit of Vandelhelm....

...Vandehelm Shipwrights Guild, Large Orbital Station
​

Within Hangar Bay B-17 of the Vandelhelm Orbital Station, a single Lambda-Class Shuttle pierced the force field separating the hangar from the void of space and it's elongated wings pivoted upwards before repulsorfields flared to life and brought the shuttle into a hover to the designated landing position. As soon as the shuttle settled down upon the deck, a long boarding ramp descended and from it, a number of stormtroopers of the 16th Stormtrooper Regiment marched at attention with weapons shouldered from the shuttle, then would come to the left and right sides of the shuttle and come to stand at attention. Thirty seconds after the stormtroopers stood in formation, a small number of officers from the Imperial Office of Naval Command descennded the ramp and were soon followed by Imperial Moff Gideon Adelhard - moff of the Epsi Collective. The male in his early thirties stood about six-feet and one inch in a white imperial uniform bearing his rank and clasped with a durasteel belt with black gloves and boots. The male had short-cropped hair of black with a trim beard and moustache - a bit of grey forming in his beard.

Also found within Hangar Bay B-17 currently were twelve stellar vessels, multi-role starfighters, that shared some similarity with the newly-released TIE/IN Interceptor. Unlike the interceptor, the wings and solar panels formed an outwards v-shape rather than an inwards one and this vessel of the TIE family, still in the earliest stages of prototypes, carried with it a single warhead launcher and a class-three hyperdrive. Also different from the other Twin-Ion Engine Models, this particular fighter carried a small pair of shield generators, enough to absorb a few blows from heavy laser cannons. The shield emitters themselves had been an in-house project of the Vandelhelm Shipwrights. These prototypes had just finished their final stages of construction only a few days prior and now, Adelhard had sent the message out to the pilots of the Imperial Navy that he sought test pilots for the newest prototype. He had even heard that some pilots from Storm Squadron were interested. For the moment, Gideon mingled with the naval officers as several engineers arrived through the airlock door on the other size of the spatious hangar to perform preliminary checks.

 

[Jace]

Maxir Palan

"I'm just saying Maxir, you have a habit of making enemies out of your friends," The two men walk side by side down the hall. Any on looker would have been appalled at the casual way Lt. Raon criticized his CO, but Maxir didn't mind. In fact, Roan was one of the few people Maxir found communication came easily with. The younger man had always spoken his mind directly, never leaving any room for interpretation. The highly informal relationship between the two had served then well through the Clone Wars, and they were a formidable team.

Pressing his visor against his eyes, Maxir let out a short sigh. "You're not wrong, but it's just one test flight, how bad could it be?" Raon turned to Maxir "Remember the Flight Inspector on Cartao?" Maxir raised a hand in defiance. "That was NOT my fault, he had no right to make changes to my ship,"

"You mean undo the unapproved modifications you made to the Headhunter," Raon sighed as they reached the entrance to the hanger "All I mean is our job here is to test the fighter as is, and report our findings. So let's not start pulling things off quite yet?" Maxir smiled at his friend's concern "You have my word Raon, we'll do this one by the book,"

As the doors to the hanger opened, all informality dropped from the two men, and the marched in lock step, the perfect image of two naval officers, prepared to care out their mission with the efficiency and professionalism Hunter Squadron had become know for.

 

[Silver]

Alongside Maxir Palan and Lt. Raon were a number of five TIE pilots within the imperial navy's sector defense fleet for the Epsi Collective, along with two pilots sent from the illustrious Storm Squadron. Other pilots were less known, but in total with the Palan and Raon, totaled twelve individuals of the Galactic Empirre's Navy; arriving before the procession consisting of fifty stormtroopers and some of the minds behind the logistics and operations of the navy itself, as well of course, Imperial Moff Gideon Adelhard. As soon as the procession ended, the fifty stormtroopers marched forth and to the far end of the hangar to serve as guards and ensure there was no unexpected and unwanted visitors. As soon as the procession ended, a large black board was brought out, revealing a cut-away blueprint of the TIE/XT.

The Tie Executioner prototype was, like all other Twin Ion Engine Fighters at current, utilizing the set of issue imperial Solar Collectors to power electrical systems and was propelled by an upgraded P-s5.6 Twin Ion Engine from the P-s4 utilized by the TIE/LN. The TIE/XT was also fit with a Class-3 Hyperdrive and Deflector Shield Emitter, a warhead launcher, and six L-s9.3 Laser Cannons with four on the wingtips and two chin-mounted.. It's dimensions were 1.1m longer than the TIE/LN, 2m wider than the TIE/LN, and was only 0.2m taller. However, with the swept out wings, the ship was somewhere between the TIE/LN and new TIE/IN in-terms of maneuverability and was faster than the TIE/LN. At the same time, it was quite evident that the multi-role starfighter would be significantly more expensive than the TIE/LN.

"Welcome, Imperial Pilots. The TIE Executioner Prototype is unlike any imperial twin-ion engine fighter you've flown thusfar. The TIE/XT is intended as both a deterrent against pirates and smaller threats; and as a strike fighter for asymmetrical warfare. Instead of risking a carrier group, a squadron of TIE/XTs will be able to deep strike enemy lines. For today's testing, you will be breaking into two squads of six. I want you to push the Executioner to her limits for the first phase this week. For the second phase, you'll be placed against a number of TIE/LN starfighters that will be controlled remotely. You'll be given personal quarters here on Space Station Lusanya for the duration of this weeklong trial. Finally, you'll be assigned an engineer. Their job is to listen to you and make adjustments based on what you the pilot thinks should be done to push the starfighter further."

 

[Jace]

Maxir studied the blueprints with a trained eye. Deterrent seemed like an understatement to veteran pilot. This much fire power in one fighter was strange for the Empire, but the appeal was immediately apparent, and as a tool for strikes behind enemy lines, the load was more than sufficient. Maxir found himself thinking of various scenarios in which to use the new fighter, before glancing around at the other pilots. While this was not billed as a competition, Maxir had learned quickly that the Imperial Fighter Corp was not like it's predecessor. Pilots were cutthroat, and every gather was seen as a chance to promote ones self through the ranks. Maxir was not interested in promotion, but he was interested in keeping himself and Raon alive, and Imperial competition could turn deadly

 

[Silver]

Fighter Pilots were now allowed to familiarize themselves with the Starfighter they would be flying for the weeklong event, each contained within its own area somewhat sunken into the deck 15mx15m and decorated in every tool an engineer would want. Pilots would also meet with their engineer; for Maxir it was a human male in his early fourties and for Raon it was an iridonian zabraj male in his later twenties. As far as cutthroat pilots attempting to sabotage their rivals, each ‘pit’ also fielded a pair of imperial army troopers fiercely loyal to the Moff and only the Moff.

Giving the pilots thirty minutes to familiarize with Starfighter and Engineers, Gideon Adelhard would then spoke up once more. “Enter your starfighters, the Trials start now. Once you power on systems, head towards the asteroid belt and make your way towards the pre-programmed waypoint. After that, you’re to pass through a series of obstacles to put her through her paces, after which I will personally issue further orders.”

What Adelhard did not tell the Pilots, was that while the obstacle course would not take them into the Belt, the race would…

 

[Jace]

Maxir gave the fighter a once over now that he was closer to it. Satisfied that the craft was ready for flight, the pilot made his way into the cockpit. When he was sure that no one could see him, Maxir removed his visor, quickly sliding on his helmet. "Comms check, do you read me Hunter 7?"

"Affirmative Hunt Leader, loud and clear," Maxir took a moment to familiarize himself with the layout of the cockpit before firing up the engine. Once a quick system check was done, Maxir brought the repulser lift online, and the Executioner rose into the air. Opening the throttle slightly, Maxir maneuvered the fighter out of the hanger and into open space. Once there, Maxir gave the fighter some speed, and began his course toward the waypoint. Even though he had brought the Executioner up to the standard cruising speed of Hunter Squadron, a look at his instruments told the veteran pilot it still had more to give.

Suddenly Maxir's ears were filled with the screech of an ion engine, and the Executioner shook violently as another fight flew passed him, coming far to close for comfort. So, it begins already? Maxir thought as he checked his instruments. No damage to the fighter, just the equivalent of a shoulder check. "Hunter 7, you with me out there?"

"Affirmative Hunt Leader, coming up on your left. Don't let that nerf herder bait you," Maxir laugh softly as Raon pulled up next to him. "Funny, I was going to say the same to you. Hold formation until we hit the waypoint, then we see what this new toy can do. May the best pilot win,"

 

[Silver]

Upon arriving at the charted waypoint, each pilot was then to run the obstacle course with regards to the TIE Executioner’s shakedown run, however upon clearing the course which entirely honest wasn’t some great feat as was more meant to ensure the vessel was in proper working order, the waypoint would be replaced within the starfighter’s computer and on display with a charted course of eleven waypoints bringing them into and through the asteroid belt at a dynamic and aggressive angle. The path seemed to steer pilots clear of larger asteroids and kept to a lane where the starfighter’s deflection shielding would keep the ship from being inflicted with any major damage or worse destroyed, however completion was only tracked by the number of waypoints cleared so particularly daring pilots could shortcut into more dangerous areas of the belt.

“The first three pilots to make it through the course will be awarded with five-thousand imperial credits and will be allowed personal use of my state-of-the-art training facility which mimics real space flight and combat within the TIE/XT.” Spoke Moff Gideon Adelhard over the comms of each pilot as they had completed shakedown and were preparing to tackle the race course. Hoping the awarded prizes would help spark competitions. One thing of note to those who sought to blow their competition away, was that the Executioner’s friendly transponder system was incredibly complex and would not be able to made fire upon another TIE/XT. This was also paired with the anti-tampering system directly attached to weapon systems.