Unreviewed TIE Defender

[Muphinz]

"And the TIE Defender jockey is bloodthirsty-"
- Kyle Katarn

• Intent: To create a main 'protagonist' ship for all the ace pilots of the Imperial Reclamation Authority to fly
• Image Source: Ansel Hsiao (I flipped the first image)
• Canon Link: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Primary Source: N/A

• Manufacturer: Imperial Reclamation Authority
• Affiliation: Imperial Reclamation Authority
• Market Status: Closed-Market
• Model: IRA-TIEd Fighter
• Production: Limited
• Material:
  • Titanium
  • Quadanium

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• Classification: Multirole Starfighter
• Length: 9.2m
• Width: 7.7m
• Height: 7.7m
• Armament: High
  • [4] Laser Cannons
  • [2] Ion Cannons
  • [2] Missile Pods
    • [4] Concussion Missiles each
    • [3] Proton Torpedoes each
• Defenses: Average
  • Shielding Systems
    • Primary Molecular Shields
    • Secondary Overlapping Deflector, Particle, Ray, and Ion Shields
  • Warhead & Fighter Countermeasures
    • ECM
    • Flare Launcher
  • Hull
    • Titanium Hull
    • Quadanium Armor Plating
• Squadron Count: Very Low: 4
• Maneuverability Rating: High
• Speed Rating: High
• Hyperdrive: Yes, a 2.0 category hyperdrive

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• All Standard Features

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• N/A

STRENGTHS

• Advanced Imperial Design: The original TIE Defender was considered the pinnacle of Imperial Fighter engineering. While those original systems have long since become outdated by modern technology, the IRA-TIE Defender pairs new technology with an old design to create an intimidating and powerful craft.
• Ease of Use: Like all TIE Fighters the controls are intuitive and easy to learn, making the entry level to pilot this ship fairly low; though the ceiling of mastery is incredibly high.

WEAKNESSES

• Expensive and Complex: The manufacturing of all the specialty components of the Defender (including life support) makes it expensive and difficult to repair, requiring dedicated workshops to disassemble the fighter to fix the complex electronics, wiring, and technological gadgets within.
• Few and Far Between: The mass production of TIE Defenders is a dream for the IRA, but one simply not in the budget. These ships are rare, given out to only the best pilots. Most IRA battlegroups lack even a single TIE Defender.

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The Imperial Fighter Corps. has always effectively been 'survival of the fittest'. Novice pilots are given a classic TIE Fighter, with those who survive graduating to a TIE Bomber or TIE Interceptor respectively. However those pilots who show true promise, the Aces of the Imperial Navy, are given the TIE Defender. This high-tech piece of equipment was specifically designed as both an award for exemplary service but also with added systems in mind to assure these skilled pilots stay alive for as long as possible. Practically every Imperial pilot vies to pilot a Defender, if for nothing else than to have shields, a bit of extra armor, and an actual life support system between them, the enemy, and the vast void of space.

The Defender is a menace on the battlefield, easily able to compete with other high tech options that Imperial enemies' may be able to field. Typically the Defender acts as the wing-command of a squadron of other TIE models, and these squadrons are deployed sparingly. Occasionally an actual squadron of Defenders is called for, and in the hands of skilled pilots these all Defender squadrons are enough of a menace to tip the scales of many battles.