Post by Darth Exolus on Jul 7, 2015 18:08:38 GMT
"Alright. Gather around. There's some crates for you to sit on, so we'll get started as soon as you're comfortable."
Starships were mobilizing. Preparation had begun. In short weeks, the planet Gand would be liberated, and brought into the fold. Both the naval and terrestrial forces would be taking part, thus it behooved the Sith Masters to ensure all new members were trained to fly a starfighter. One such group, with mixed non-Sith pilots had collected aboard the hangar of the Vaiken-class Star Destroyer Sarek. On the vessel's primary flight deck, sat dozens of starfighters, four in particular had been arranged in the center of the deck. A red-skinned man, dressed in a full flightsuit, with a human male, and a curious, gangly amphibian female dressed similarly.
"I'll make introductions short. I'm Commander Narat, head of the Starfighter Corps. Some of you will know me as Darth Exolus. With me are Flight Commander Aidan Ediel of Razor Squadron, and Flight Commander Nae'let of Echo Squadron. As you're all aware, the Gand liberation is in three weeks, so it's our duty to give you all a crash course in starfighter piloting. Who here has flown before?" Exolus asked, noting a smattering of raised hands, "good. Use what you know to help your fellows. You'll see behind me four starfighters. The two at the front you'll likely know."
Exolus paced over to a slim fighter, with distinctive strike foils locked shut. Its nose was long and slender, the vessel painted a dim grey.
"This is the Incom Corporations T-65 X-Wing Starfighter. Widely considered the best all-around spacecraft since its creation. Alliance General Carlist Rieekan was famously quoted on the HoloNet several years ago, making a fitting statement that the T-65 is the 'fighter that killed the Death Star'. Equipped with four laser cannons mounted at the tip of each wing, and two proton torpedo launchers on each side of the nose," he explained, patting the hull of the vessel, before meandering over to the flared-wing fighter with a ball cockpit, "This is the Sienar Fleet Systems TIE/LN Starfighter. Widely considered the most shot down spacecraft by the T-65 since its creation. Its primary weapons are two overcharged tibanna-injected laser cannons, and it can be fitted with warhead launchers as missions demand. The most numerous fighter in the galaxy, it is notoriously unshielded, lightly-armored, and lacks its own hyperdrive.... And today, I'm going to show you how to turn the tables. Commanders?"
Aidan stepped forward first, resting his hand on the red-on-white starfighter in front of the X-Wing.
"Razor Squadron was formed in early 34 ABY in response to the frequency with which we encountered Rogue Squadron in naval combat. We're twelve strong, and have twelve reserve pilots on standby. All of us have had between ten thousand and eighty thousand hours behind the controls of the TIE Defender. We use this craft now. Delba Staryard Designs' G-98 M-Wing Starfighter. Superior to the T-65 in every way. Faster, lighter, more heavily armed. Better armor, better shielding, and superior maneuverability. It is designed to be aerodynamically unstable in atmosphere, and its microthrust system demands the most skilled pilots to operate," Aidan explained, pushing himself off the M-Wing, "but most pilots in the Union lack the years of experience to pilot such a craft, and the M-Wing is a very expensive piece of equipment. You won't be expected to go toe-to-toe with Rogue Squadron, but the fact that many of you are Force-Sensitive marks you as suitable candidates for more advanced tuition. Nae'let?"
The amphibious Rakata stepped forward, flicking her hair behind her long head. She pointed the more spindly-looking TIE in front of the TIE/LN.
"Echo Squadron is the most culturally-diverse starfighter squadron in the Stygian Empire. Like the Razors, we're made of elite pilots, with years of experience. Though where the Razors use the G-98, we use the TIE/HT Starfighter, better known as the TIE Hunter. This is one of the ships we'll have you all fly today. Each of the TIE series features identical control layouts, and many Union starfighters are TIE series models. But before we get you out on a test flight, we're going to quiz you on your starfighter knowledge, to know where we stand. Can anyone tell me the purpose of the Strike Foil System on the X-Wing, M-Wing, and TIE/HT?"
Starships were mobilizing. Preparation had begun. In short weeks, the planet Gand would be liberated, and brought into the fold. Both the naval and terrestrial forces would be taking part, thus it behooved the Sith Masters to ensure all new members were trained to fly a starfighter. One such group, with mixed non-Sith pilots had collected aboard the hangar of the Vaiken-class Star Destroyer Sarek. On the vessel's primary flight deck, sat dozens of starfighters, four in particular had been arranged in the center of the deck. A red-skinned man, dressed in a full flightsuit, with a human male, and a curious, gangly amphibian female dressed similarly.
"I'll make introductions short. I'm Commander Narat, head of the Starfighter Corps. Some of you will know me as Darth Exolus. With me are Flight Commander Aidan Ediel of Razor Squadron, and Flight Commander Nae'let of Echo Squadron. As you're all aware, the Gand liberation is in three weeks, so it's our duty to give you all a crash course in starfighter piloting. Who here has flown before?" Exolus asked, noting a smattering of raised hands, "good. Use what you know to help your fellows. You'll see behind me four starfighters. The two at the front you'll likely know."
Exolus paced over to a slim fighter, with distinctive strike foils locked shut. Its nose was long and slender, the vessel painted a dim grey.
"This is the Incom Corporations T-65 X-Wing Starfighter. Widely considered the best all-around spacecraft since its creation. Alliance General Carlist Rieekan was famously quoted on the HoloNet several years ago, making a fitting statement that the T-65 is the 'fighter that killed the Death Star'. Equipped with four laser cannons mounted at the tip of each wing, and two proton torpedo launchers on each side of the nose," he explained, patting the hull of the vessel, before meandering over to the flared-wing fighter with a ball cockpit, "This is the Sienar Fleet Systems TIE/LN Starfighter. Widely considered the most shot down spacecraft by the T-65 since its creation. Its primary weapons are two overcharged tibanna-injected laser cannons, and it can be fitted with warhead launchers as missions demand. The most numerous fighter in the galaxy, it is notoriously unshielded, lightly-armored, and lacks its own hyperdrive.... And today, I'm going to show you how to turn the tables. Commanders?"
Aidan stepped forward first, resting his hand on the red-on-white starfighter in front of the X-Wing.
"Razor Squadron was formed in early 34 ABY in response to the frequency with which we encountered Rogue Squadron in naval combat. We're twelve strong, and have twelve reserve pilots on standby. All of us have had between ten thousand and eighty thousand hours behind the controls of the TIE Defender. We use this craft now. Delba Staryard Designs' G-98 M-Wing Starfighter. Superior to the T-65 in every way. Faster, lighter, more heavily armed. Better armor, better shielding, and superior maneuverability. It is designed to be aerodynamically unstable in atmosphere, and its microthrust system demands the most skilled pilots to operate," Aidan explained, pushing himself off the M-Wing, "but most pilots in the Union lack the years of experience to pilot such a craft, and the M-Wing is a very expensive piece of equipment. You won't be expected to go toe-to-toe with Rogue Squadron, but the fact that many of you are Force-Sensitive marks you as suitable candidates for more advanced tuition. Nae'let?"
The amphibious Rakata stepped forward, flicking her hair behind her long head. She pointed the more spindly-looking TIE in front of the TIE/LN.
"Echo Squadron is the most culturally-diverse starfighter squadron in the Stygian Empire. Like the Razors, we're made of elite pilots, with years of experience. Though where the Razors use the G-98, we use the TIE/HT Starfighter, better known as the TIE Hunter. This is one of the ships we'll have you all fly today. Each of the TIE series features identical control layouts, and many Union starfighters are TIE series models. But before we get you out on a test flight, we're going to quiz you on your starfighter knowledge, to know where we stand. Can anyone tell me the purpose of the Strike Foil System on the X-Wing, M-Wing, and TIE/HT?"