Approved Starship TIE/ME Meteor

[FN-999 (restored)]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To update an old TIE design for new customers
• Image Source: Deviantart, image by shoguneagle
• Canon Link: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Primary Source: Deviantart, image by shoguneagle | TIE/MEx Meteor

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Manufacturer: Alge Imperial Shipyards Incorporated
• Affiliation: The Imperial Confederation, The Diarchy
  
  • Imperial Starfighter Corps and Diarchy Fleet ONLY
• Market Status: Closed-Market
• Model: TIE/ME “Meteor"
• Production: Minor
• Material:
  
  • Hull & Engines: Percidium frame and plating, transparisteel viewport, wiring & electric components
  • Wings: Percidium, wiring & electric components
  • Solar Panels: Quadanium steel, wiring & electric components

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Classification: Elite Interceptor / Strike Fighter
• Length: 13.2 meters
• Width: 10.5 meters
• Height: 4.2 meters
• Armament: High
  
  • 4x rapid-fire heavy laser cannons [Starfighter-grade, wing-mounted / 1 per wing]
  • 2x anti-starfighter ion cannons [Starfighter-grade, chin-mounted]
  • 4x missile launchers [Starfighter-grade, mounted on wing superstructure / 1 per wing connector]
    
    • Each launcher is capable of holding 4 of the following:
      
      • Advanced concussion missiles
      • Cruise missiles
      • Proton torpedoes
      • Mag pulse warheads
      • Brilliant missiles
• Defenses: Average
  
  • Deflector shielding
  • Electronic Countermeasures Suite
  • Percidium hull
• Squadron Count: Low [8]
• Maneuverability Rating: Low
• Speed Rating: Very High
• Hyperdrive: Class 1.5

STANDARD FEATURES

• C-3A Mercury Class Communications Suite
• LS-132 Terra Life Support Systems
• A-6 Starfighter Internal Tracking System
• 4 days of standard rations

ADVANCED SYSTEMS

• IE-10 Event Horizon Ion Drives
• Anti-Ion Emission Tracers
• Armament Duplicators

STRENGTHS

• Meteor: The TIE/ME is incredibly fast at sublight speeds and can accelerate to maximum velocity in under eight seconds, making tracking one incredibly difficult in most environments. The Meteor’s astounding speed applies both in space and within planetary atmospheres, where TIE Meteor’s frame can support a top speed of 5,250 km/h.
• Blitz: The TIE/ME's armament is a considerable improvement over that a generic TIE fighter, boasting not only four heavy laser cannons but also two ion cannons and four missile launchers. Its formidable suite of weaponry is ideal for penetrating the shields and thick hulls of bombers as well as punching holes in corvettes and smaller capital ships.
• Independent: In order to support the complex missions often carried out by its veteran pilots, the TIE/ME possesses a hyperdrive and a slightly larger storage chamber for rations compared to more common TIEs, granting it significant autonomy compared to more common TIE variants.

WEAKNESSES

• Unforgiving Speed: Due to its tremendous speed and acceleration, the TIE/ME is extremely sensitive to pilot input. As a result, even slight input on the yoke (control wheel) at top speed can cause the TIE Meteor to respond suddenly and violently, producing G-forces strong enough to knock an inexperienced pilot unconscious.
• Soft Shell: The TIE/ME’s main form of protection is its shield generator, with its hull armor being relatively light, especially on its wings. As is the case with more common TIEs, the TIE Meteor will go down in a burning wreck if its hull is hit a few times.
• Turns Like a Bantha: The hyperdrive, heavy armament, and bulky frame of the TIE/ME make it rather slow at turning, especially at the high speeds in which the TIE/ME excels. Consequently, TIE/ME pilots are warned never to enter a dogfight, as they will almost always be outmaneuvered by dedicated space superiority craft.

DESCRIPTION

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The TIE/ME is the refined version of the earlier TIE/MEx, an elite interceptor developed in the late New Imperial era.

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Compared to its experimental predecessor, the TIE/ME is less maneuverable but far easier to produce and less demanding to maintain. Now fully optimized as an interceptor, the TIE/ME is a formidable starfighter in the hands of a veteran pilot.

Development of the refined Meteor began within days of the first TIE/MEx entering limited production. The few combat deployments of experimental Meteors prior to the collapse of the New Imperial Order demonstrated that few starfighters could match their speed, but dedicated interceptors and advanced ground defenses could both track and engage a Meteor at top speed on equal footing. As a result of these developments, a debate emerged within the Meteor project team, one that would persist even after the fall of the Empire and the team’s cloistering on Borosk. The main controversy involved whether to improve speed at the cost of maneuverability to simply outrun other interceptors or to do the opposite, increasing maneuverability at the cost of speed to transform the Meteor into what would essentially be a TIE Defender variant with lower defense and a higher top speed. By 885 ABY, the former camp had triumphed, resulting in the specifications of the modern, “refined” TIE/ME which would enter limited production two years later in 887 ABY.

The TIE/ME is nearly identical in appearance to the earlier MEx, retaining the majority of its core features. Unlike the TIE/MEx however, the TIE/ME is protected by modern percidium alloy armor, lowering the ME’s weight by 15% compared to the MEx while retaining similar protection for the pilot. Additionally, the TIE/ME has a higher ratio of indigenous components than the TIE/MEx, allowing for faster assembly and making the ME around 20% cheaper than the MEx. On top of lower weight and cost, the refined Meteor also has slightly larger ion engines than its experimental predecessor, boosting its speed.

When it was first produced in 887 ABY, the TIE/ME Meteor was the among the fastest assembly-line starfighters in galactic history, outclassing every preceding TIE in raw speed. As of 902 ABY, the Meteor retains its unofficial title of “fastest TIE” thanks to minor engine improvements and the adoption of percidium alloy.

The Meteor’s terrifying speed is both its sword and its shield. On offense, a Meteor pilot can close the distance between themself and their target within seconds before firing off a devastating burst of cannon and missile fire. On defense, a Meteor pilot diving or accelerating in a straight line can outrun almost any starship in the galaxy, putting enough distance between the Meteor and its pursuer to safely escape into hyperspace.
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[MANIAC]

FN-999 (restored)

Cool sub.

Approved.