Metal Lord
- Intent: To provide the Zweihander Union a production line of capable starfighters with a classic twist on old and new.
- Image Source: (x)
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Have Gun Will Travel (x)
- Affiliation: Zweilhander Union (x)
- Model: TIE (x)
- Production: Minor
- Material:
Duralloy (Hull Plating): (x)
Transparisteel (Viewports): (x)
- Classification: Starfighter
- Length: 7 Meters
- Width: 5 Meters
- Height: 5 Meters
- Armament: Average
2x Laser Cannons (Green)
2x Concussion Missile Launchers (5x missiles each) - Defenses: Low
- Squadron Count: Extreme: 24
- Maneuverability Rating: High
Maneuvering Jets: (x) - Speed Rating: High
- Hyperdrive Class: None: 0
- Life Support
- Maneuvering Jets: How it all works together with the fins, allowing it to make turns while keeping its high speeds. (x)
- ST2X Targeting Computer: While slightly aged in todays standards, it is still a prime example of targeting computer technology, allowing the user to keep target locked on and perform complex maneuvers while giving ridicules on where to fire. (x)
- The Swarm!: With their speed and high amount of starfighters in one squadron, they are made to swarm their starfighter enemies and wreck havoc upon their foes.
- No Hyperdrive: It cannot enter hyperspace at any time, it must rely on the carrier that had sent it out and if left behind, they have no choice but to surrender or die.
- Maneuvering Fins are Damaged!: Damaging them impacts greatly on how the starfighter turns. One bad shot will make it only turn in a certain direction and possibly damage the entire piping of maneuvering jets!
- No Ejection System: If the starfighter is damaged, they cannot eject out. They have to climb out in their space suit for rescue or hope they crash land without being horrifically injured or killed. Worse is that if they are about to explode, they cannot just leave with it moving else they be flung out and killed by the G Force movement on their body.
- Useless against Capital Ships: They are not designed for anything larger than a medium sized freighter to attack. They are not equipped with any weaponry that could damage large freighters or higher classification of starship such as corvettes and cruisers.
One could imagine someone got drunk making this starfighter design but in reality, it was quite the opposite. With a small team of engineers, they came up with a unique concept for a starfighter that would hopefully pinpoint some of the more embarrassing problems of the TIE Line of starfighters. The idea was a compact fighter that could easily be stacked in a hanger bay and be launched in unison without much issue. The concept with the wings was similar to designs in the old republic and had since borrowed them, but with new updates.
One of which was that concussion missiles have become more compact, allowing it to partially share the engine compartment with the concussion missile rack though given more armor to support itself in the long run and not explode instantly. The fins were made of duralloy but given maneuvering jets across small lines installed along the wings to ensure they would turn with optimal support while also allowing controls inside it to turn the fins itself manually. However during testing they realized that even a small amount of damage would jam them up, meaning that it would most likely spell the end of the pilot. With that in mind, they decided to increase their chances of survival by installing a ST2X Targeting Computer to the array...but at that point, space was limited so they removed the ejection system inside which, given its light armor, they suspected they be long killed before it was needed.
With the hyperdrive completely ripped out, they all started to wonder on what to do in its replacement given there was now some space involved. They decided in its steed to increase the power to engines with the spare reactor energy along with Life Support...to just make the pilots more comfortable. As they kept building, they realized the deflector shield could not cover the entire starfighter well and even with tinkering, it had issues all over and is considered a weak deflector shield, giving only one or two shots before being turned off to recharge.
Regardless, the ship was christened the TIE/VA which was meant to have the meaning Vassal. It was to be a Vassal, a pilot that would serve the Zweihander Unions best interests while also protecting all that it stands for. With hope, this will soon become a main line model for the Zweihander Union and with it, the starting line for all pilots to prove themselves before moving up the ranks.
