Imperial War Machine

[William Jeffers]

So it seems we have been gung ho when it comes to the Alliance and whats going on there. I figure the Imperial military types need some face time also.

This is sorta of a role call / planning thing for the Imperial Fleet and Army. We can get an idea of what we have and who is doing what. Also where does the Imperial armed forces go from here since the galactic civil war is over.

My Imperials:

Moff Joran Greth - Moff of Perinn Sector - Hope to move him to something closer to the Empire/Alliance border soon.

William Jeffers - Imperial Vice Admiral - A do all Imperial Fleet guy.

[R. S. Esalis]

I'm always ready to get the Imperial groove on ^_^


R. S. Esalis
All around conniving and cruel lady-about-town. She's got her agents spread throughout all branches of the military, and so it's not uncommon to see her represented in any shape and form in each branch. She does harbor a particular like (though the feeling is probably not mutual) for the Navy, and has on many occasions used them as 'transport' as well as conscripted entire ships for use in her operations.


Simeon Greth
Joran's brother and a bit of a non-entity at this point in time, but I hope to change that in the near future.


Una Rakesh
One of Esalis' underlings who is often grudgingly paired with Sheldon Esalis.


Colonel Jaff
In charge of one of the 'lost squadrons', Jaff and his men were left behind on Endor by the Empire until the Alliance 'rescued' them. Jaff quietly went into retirement soon after being liberated from Endor, but those old stirrings are once more coming to life and he is finding himself drawn once more back to the Imperial gear.

[Jarvan Trask]

My Imperials:

Jarvan Trask
Sergeant, Imperial Navy Commando. Last seen deployed from the ISD Interminable, but he can really be wherever.


Damien Kantrael
Junior Inquisitor, Project Nightmare (cybernetically enhanced humans). Was last seen overseeing the move of several key Inquisition prisoners from Coruscant to the Maw when the ship, the Charon, was attacked by Rebels and the prisoners freed.


Zachariah Jak'el
Ensign, Shadow Squadron TIE Pilot. Currently taking place in the battle with the Ssi-Ruuk.


Alexia Sturkov
Darksider, Imperial Intelligence working under Atrapes. Not currently assigned anywhere but I'm sure there are plans in the works.

[Bette Davis]

I'm here - shadow squadron

[Park Kraken]

Vladimir Park Kraken - Commanding the ISD Suppressor, going wherever he needs to.

[Park Kraken]

One of the things that should be looked at from a Fleeting perspective are new designs coming into production, like how the Alliance has the New Class. As far as I can tell these are the main new designs coming into production;

Capital Ships:
Adz class Patrol Destroyer - A small Corvette class vessel armed with three laser cannons, three ion cannons, and carrying a complement of six star fighters. Not a very powerful ship but one that would be perfect for the type of threads we're working on.

Star Fighters:
A-9 Vigilance Interceptor - A fast star fighter armed with a powerful laser cannon and a secondary medium laser cannon. Intended to complement the TIE Interceptor and reply to the A-wing.

I-7 Howlrunner - Basically a more aerodynamic version of the TIE Fighter, the Howlrunner possessed superior performance in both space and especially atmosphere, armed with a pair of laser cannons, and also included both deflector shields and an easy learning curve for newly trained pilots.

These are the designs that right off hand come to mind but I'm sure there are more.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Your glorious leader is watching you with pride.

And... still not sure about something that I need to talk to Jen about :p

[Vince]

Rossos Atrapes - Not an Admiral, nor a General, but the leader of the Imperial Knights, Atrapes will (I assume) take command of fleets during military operations for which he is present. I also don't think the Military brass will like this very much; he may have to choke a bitch like Vader used to in order to make sure he is heeded.

Palara Iscandar - Imperial Knight; she wouldn't command like Atrapes would, but smaller picketing engagements would probably be up her alley.

Veskasa Vel Aath - I figure she's been shuffled into the Imperial Intelligence Bureau. She's not quite done with her Inquisitorial Alchemy and beast experiments though, and I'm not sure how her superiors in the ISB would take them. Maybe a thread-worthy introduction to Intelligence?

Commander Valentin Adras - fresh from the campaign(s) against the Ssi-Ruuk, he might be slated for promotion, or maybe not. I would like to write with him more (preferably in Vanguards) before giving him some larger responsibilities.

Also, perhaps we can look into maybe producing some of the formerly Inquisitorial Classes on a wider scale. They had some shiny hardware, perfect hunter-killer stealth platforms.

[Reshmar]

One of the things that should be looked at from a Fleeting perspective are new designs coming into production, like how the Alliance has the New Class. As far as I can tell these are the main new designs coming into production;

Capital Ships:
Adz class Patrol Destroyer - A small Corvette class vessel armed with three laser cannons, three ion cannons, and carrying a complement of six star fighters. Not a very powerful ship but one that would be perfect for the type of threads we're working on.

Star Fighters:
A-9 Vigilance Interceptor - A fast star fighter armed with a powerful laser cannon and a secondary medium laser cannon. Intended to complement the TIE Interceptor and reply to the A-wing.

I-7 Howlrunner - Basically a more aerodynamic version of the TIE Fighter, the Howlrunner possessed superior performance in both space and especially atmosphere, armed with a pair of laser cannons, and also included both deflector shields and an easy learning curve for newly trained pilots.

These are the designs that right off hand come to mind but I'm sure there are more.

DOes the Empire need new ships? dosnt it already have new ships? Havnt they been upgrading for the last 25 years while the Alliance has been using intergalactic sloppy seconds? also the thing with the Empire is they now have more ships then they need. With the Galactic Civil War over They do not need the massive Navy they have built up over the last 25 years. Also, The VIC III and IV and the IMP III are new. The Enforcer now fills a medium starship role. I have a list of Imperial ships I had thought about adding when I added the Alliance ships. some are already there like the Enforcer. some Im working out info on.

Doomgiver-class Assault Destroyer - might have been a one off model?
Procursator-class Star Destroyer - Pocket Star Destroyer I really like.
Adz-class patrol destroyer - for sure as you stated
Enforcer-class picket cruiser - Already added
IPV/4 patrol ship - I have a pic now just looking for more info
Cutlass-class corvette - No pic and not alot of info on it.
Lianna-class corvette - Same as above.
Imperial Hunters - Nice ship but not much info
VT-49 Decimator - cool patrol/support ship
Scimitar assault bomber - of course
A-9 Vigilance interceptor - adding
I-7 Howlrunner - Adding

With the Allegiance and New MK III Imp filling the command and battlecruiser role
The VIC Mk III and Mk IV and the Procursator filling the destroyer role
The Enforcer the cruiser
and a long list of new vette and gunship types, what we need is a new Firgate. Anything the Empire has in this class is old. The Nebulon B is the newest class frigate in the Imperial fleet. Lancers were a flop. The Class II frigate is a good option but it is big and cost around the same as the new Enforcers and has less than half the firepower. A new "Carrack-class" is basically what we need. Maybe Strike Cruisers set up as patrol cruiser is something that would work. Maybe Loronar is selling the Belarus to the Empire also?

[Captain Untouchable]

I don't recall the Adz off the top of my head, but I definitely think adding the A9 and I7 would be smart
In general, I think the Empire needs a push on small craft and Hyperspace capable starfighters. They're already equipped for fleet-on-fleet action: the navy that was enough to secure most of the galaxy is now protecting territory half that size. What they need is mobile ships for cold war skirmishes.

Rendili is one of the key shipyards the Empire still has: I think it would be good to see them stepping up. Victory SDs would be great for this. Rendili's most famous design - Dreadnaughts - however are synonymous with the enemy, especially in their modded Assault Frigate form. Perhaps the Empire needs its own variations...or perhaps some new Imperial-only designs from the likes of Rendili, CEC, etc. They're a good weight class, and it would serve as a reminder that they still own the worlds those ships are from.

Also, Imperial pilots usually rely on superior numbers. Perhaps embracing that by revisiting a design like the Venator - between a VSD and ISD in size, but capable of carrying something like EIGHTEEN squadrons - would help the Empire play that advantage.

The only imps of relevance / that I'd still be willing to play are Ames Falcon Liszt the politician in charge of COMPNOR and the ISB; and maybe Delgado Xaanan who may or may not still be the Corellian Sector Moff. I also have an Imperial Knight, but I don't expect him to do much front line stuff.

EDIT:

In the real Cold War, long range fighter-bombers were a big part of things - hyperspace starfighters covers that. However, another key aspect was submarine warfare. Can we find a Star Wars equivalent of that? Lone Interdictors ambushing convoys? An increase in the use of ships like the Novgorod (lone hunter killer missile corvettes) on both sides?

[Reshmar]

I like the sub idea. Small wolf packs would be cool. like 3 small ships one being an interdictor of sorts. As for fighter carriers. We have Vindicators that can be modified to carry 72. Gladiators which have 36. either one is big enough to gut and make room for 96 or so fighters. I like these Procursator-class (http://www.sw-fans.net/wiki/index.php/Procursator-class_Light_Star_Destroyer) ships they fit in as replacements for Venators. Maybe a fighter carrier built on the same new frame.

CEC has a few newer different gunship models. Maybe a DP37 (http://www.sw-fans.net/wiki/index.php?title=DP37-Class_Heavy_Gunship) like model we can use as a sub like unit.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Shadow pilots being used in a "submarine" or small wolf pack fashion would be cool, by the way. We have more NPCs than PCs at this point, so breaking up the squadron (your most skilled fighter pilots of course) into smaller groups for Cold War assignments might be good?

[Kyran O'Hurn]

My mind isn't fully functional, but it would be interesting to try and figure out a way to do some sort of SW equivalent of the shadow games that went on with subs during the Cold War.

The US and Soviets used to sit their hunter/killer class subs outside of the other sides' Boomer bases just waiting for a missile boat to leave and then it was a cat and mouse game with the Boomer always trying to lose the hunter/killer.

Not sure how to make that SW equivalent while not getting into the idea of stealth tech, but the idea of a bunch of cat and mouse games going on is kinda cool to me.

[Reshmar]

Some sort of New Stealth system would make this all a bit more realistic.

Cloaking is out unless some new cache of stygium crystals is found. But with that brings the headaches of cloaking in general. Is cloaking something we want to deal with? Its very doable as long as you don't use double blind hibridium crystal cloaking devices. Drawbacks such as power requirements no shielding while cloaked offset the advantages of using one. Also the cost of the thing would be an issue.

An advanced Sensor Jamming suite coupled with some sort of light refracting field may be a better way to go. This would make it where you would have to be close to engage. Sensors would be useless unless you had some sort of CGT (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Crystal_gravfield_trap) or other advanced Elint/ESM sensor Suite, or have a jedi on board.

This could be a reason for Jedi to get into the Fleet end of things. Using the Force to track and find ships invisible to everything but close visual contact.

[Captain Untouchable]

Something to consider is that our Starfire missiles aren't the only WMDs available. The Imperials have a lot of superweapon experience, and the Cold War is all about finding as many ways to kill each other as possible. It would be interesting to see Eclipse Star Destroyers popping up as the Empire tries to ensure Navy superiority. We might develop an Interdictor on a Super Star Destroyer scale. We might try to make a cannon that can fire asteroids at planets Starship Troopers style, and pretend it's a natural disaster instead of it being an outright attack. There are fleet-disabling ion cannons like on the Malevolance; Planet Destroyers; bio weapons like the Krytos Virus. We can tamper with Bacta supplies, collapse suns into black holes to ruin hyperspace routes...all sorts. Some schemes may work; some may be stopped by covert Alliance missions; some may force the Alliance into developing their own crackpot schemes; but all will amp up the tension, inch us ever closer to galactic annihilation, and give us way more to write about than just patrols and skirmishes.

EDIT:

Tangent - Droid Fighters might be a good direction for the Empire. Military recruitment is probably down: we could compensate for this by using TIE/d fighters (the design of which I love) as cannon fodder, and turning our meat pilots into more of a fundamentalist elite of fiercely loyal veterans. Living pilots would only fly fancy TIEs like Defenders, Scimitars and Phantoms, or planes with shields like Vigilantes and Howlrunners. Since the Imperials have seen Ssi Ruuk droid fighters in action during Vanguards, that sets a good precedent for them visiting this technology.

We could do something similar with ground forces too: flood the army with conscripts from non-human worlds, prisons and such, and re-emphasise the idea that the Stormtroopers are a fundementalist loyal elite.

So basically... if your uniform is black, you're an elite fascist badass.

[Vince]

I'm thinking we set up a Red October style arc, either for the Rebels or the Imperials (more likely the Imperials). The Inquisitorial ships all are made like hunter killer subs, emphasizing stealth and such.

I do like the idea of having Imperial pilots driving these hunter killers. Maybe have some of the Shadow squadron test drive a new class in a thread? Or have the test drive be the central event to a series of threads where characters discuss what we're discussing now?

Here's what I'm thinking:

Main Event: Hunter/Killer Test Drive

Shadow pilots assigned for mission
Problem they have to fix or solve
Rebel saboteurs?
Imperial saboteurs, disaffected by peace with the Alliance and the seeming decay of the Empire?While watching the test drive

ISB discusses operations and options against the Alliance
Admirals go over new ships and strategiesSide Note: Super Star Destroyer Interdictors = WIN

[Tannis V'larr]

Tannis V'larr, Shadow Squadron leader.

Way back when, I had Tannis design a new class of stealth TIE, the TIE Wraith (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?p=197993#post197993). It uses hibridium cloaking technology, but only to cloak the engine components, freeing the pilot from the double-blind while eliminating the vast majority of the fighter's detectable emissions. That technology could easily be applied on a larger scale.

I also really like the idea of seeing more advanced fighters in the Imperial TIE ranks. It has never made sense to me that the side with vastly superior material and technological resources has such laughably inferior starfighters, and that they treat the lives of their pilots so cheaply. Converting TIE/lns into TIE/ds is a great idea, along with phasing in more expensive but more survivable models that can more easily go toe-to-toe with Rebel starfighters. The TIE Defender (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TIE/D_Defender) remains the king, and I can accept that it's too expensive to dispense to any but the most elite squadrons, but we could potentially see Avengers (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TIE/ad_starfighter), Hunters (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TIE_Hunter), and Aggressors (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TIE_Aggressor) rounding out the starfighter corps.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I wanna fly me a Wraith again.

[Park Kraken]

The Eclipse and Sovereign class Super Star Destroyers already have Gravity Well Projectors in addition to their mini-superlasers.

As far as the whole submarine idea goes, if no one wants to mess around with cloaking technology then the only 'water' really available is hyperspace. Technology to drop out of hyperspace, launch a torpedo volley, then re-enter hyperspace really quickly as an example.

The Empire does already have its own version of a rebuilt Dreadnought, the Saint Tarkin class; http://www.sw-fans.net/wiki/index.php?title=Saint_Tarkin_class_Heavy_Cruisers

[Stela'shlit'nuruodo]

The Chiss have been using Microjump Hyperdrives since before the clone wars. You have to have mapping beacons in place but those are easy. Thing is an interdictor makes it all useless.


I do not know about any more super weapons or WMD's but if we were going to do something like that I would like to stay away from ships like the Eclipse and such if we can. Maybe some down scaled axial weapon on a Allegiance or Praetor. Or something new. A revenge class with an axial weapon would be good. Its big enough to house the power caps and gens where the hanger was and have the weapons itself in between the 2 forward hulls. I like the idea of a ship that can be killed with a weapon that can kill a ship in one shot over a ship that basically cant be killed at least not easily that can destroy a continent. Even something smaller like a Mass Velocity cannon which can be mounted as an axial weapon on a Carrack or Strike cruiser. It wont be a one shot one kill weapon but it would sure make swiss cheese out of anything it comes across. It would also crack a planets shielding like an egg.

I like the sub idea but on a conventional scale where its just a ship hunting another ship. Maybe new stealth tech is used but it is not really needed. Paint a ship black, turn off the lights, mask her Ion trail, and do some localized sensor jamming and you could be within 10 Km and not be seen. Unless a jedi is looking for you.

[William Jeffers]

You wanted a new Imperial Fighter well Here it is.
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g367/Stevendlangley/d40a3c17-e13d-40bb-8b13-800b889abbcb.jpg
I liked the looks of this and have been toying with what to do with it. It would make a good escort fighter for the new Scimitar bombers or maybe a new stealth interceptor. What shall we name it?

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

I do not know about any more super weapons or WMD's but if we were going to do something like that I would like to stay away from ships like the Eclipse and such if we can. Maybe some down scaled axial weapon on a Allegiance or Praetor. Or something new. A revenge class with an axial weapon would be good. Its big enough to house the power caps and gens where the hanger was and have the weapons itself in between the 2 forward hulls. I like the idea of a ship that can be killed with a weapon that can kill a ship in one shot over a ship that basically cant be killed at least not easily that can destroy a continent. Even something smaller like a Mass Velocity cannon which can be mounted as an axial weapon on a Carrack or Strike cruiser. It wont be a one shot one kill weapon but it would sure make swiss cheese out of anything it comes across. It would also crack a planets shielding like an egg.

I heartily agree with shying away from any more superweapons and WMD's. I also really don't like the idea of bringing an Eclipse-class into play. We already have a small number of SSD's, and I think it would cheapen the impact of ships of that size if we introduced more.


I like the sub idea but on a conventional scale where its just a ship hunting another ship. Maybe new stealth tech is used but it is not really needed. Paint a ship black, turn off the lights, mask her Ion trail, and do some localized sensor jamming and you could be within 10 Km and not be seen. Unless a jedi is looking for you.

This I like as well, and it makes a heap of sense to not throw in a bunch of 'chatter'. Sub action is a different kind of tension than say, starfighter action, and I think we should really strive to preserve that cramped, high-tension nail-biting feeling.


One thing that might be interesting, and looking at the talk of how Jedi would be able to see through the attempts at cloaking, would be if we put together the SW equivalent of AWACS with one or two Jedi as a part of the crew. This of course shouldn't be introduced right away, but something that should come about as a result of these stealth ships coming into play. It would provide an interesting way for the Jedi to take part in the Alliance military and slowly begin to take back their mantle as protectors.

[Reshmar]

Also this would not have to be an IMP Thing. Alot of criminal organizations could get their hands on cloaking and stealth tech. The Zann consortium would have a lot of it laying around someplace for whoever to find. Maybe a pirate or hutt or sith or whoever found a Zann frigate with a cloaking device on it. just a thought.

[Kyle Krogen]

I'm sure the cloaking tech would end up on the black market eventually, maybe in crappy, prototype forms that are dysfunctional, but work well enough for the likes of Smugglers, raiders, and other criminal elements to just sit around and wait for freighters to happen by to attack. Also, the use of gravity technology to pull ships out of hyperspace could allow those same criminal types to just yank the ships out of the hyperspace routes.

I don't know if Black Sun would be up for that sort of work, but I'd love to see the big criminal giant getting it's hands dirty. It'd add a nice third element to the Alliance/Empire stand off and perhaps even give them opportunities to work together to stop a common threat to their respective sides of space. I think it could also open up the opportunity for the Alliance or Empire to hire privateers; space pirates they are paying to slip over to enemy space and screw with their trade routes so they can claim no involvement and the cold war stance continues.

[Vince]

I think it could also open up the opportunity for the Alliance or Empire to hire privateers; space pirates they are paying to slip over to enemy space and screw with their trade routes so they can claim no involvement and the cold war stance continues.

I think I know what I'm going to do with Onashi. :dance

[Reshmar]

I do like the Privateer idea. More so for the Empire than the alliance. I am sure both would use them but I could see Imperial worlds or companies or even rich citizens funding a privateer to raid across the border.

I think limited numbers of stygium powered cloaking devices could be scraped up.

hibridium double blind cloaks have their use also. And there are ways around the double blind effect. Tethered sensor drones too small to be made out unless your right up on top of them. They could be deployed like attack subs deploy their arrays. sorta work like periscopes. It would give this a real Sub like detail. I have the perfect idea for a ship to hunt these things down.

[Anne Phoenix]

TIE Slasher for that little fighter? Rapier and Cleaver are other possible names.

Anne here has hired privateers and even refitted their ships during her mini-war against the Empire (and I call it a mini-war because I kind of went Garm-in and didn't do much coordination with the other Alliance members) and after the liberation of the Atravis Sector offered enlistment for full-time Alliance commissions doing pretty much what they did before elsewhere.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Cavalier might be a cool name if you're wanting it to go the escort route.

Quattro would be kinda neato, too ^_-

[Anne Phoenix]

Hmm, TIE Quattro. Sounds pretty cool although not very TIE-ish.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Well, seeing as this new design has the four engines on each wing, I figured it might be fun to give it the Italian word for 'four' (Audi's four-wheel-drive-system notwithstanding). Can't beat Italians for awesome names ;)

[Reshmar]

It is technically not a TIE. It doesn't have the same propulsion system as a TIE. This craft has Fusial Thrust engines like the E-wing and X-wing. This gives it far better performance inside atmospheres. and as good performance in space as Twin Ion Engines.

It has 2 Heavy Laser Cannons mounted on the cockpit pod on the bottom of the lower x foil type wings. pod mounts can be added to the dorsal and ventral sides of all four X foils. making it a truly versatile fighter design which can be loaded out for mission specific profiles. Missile pods, heavy bombs, rocket pods, heavy torpedoed and heavy missiles. Even Sensor pods to recon work. Jammer pods or Elint Pods for electronic warfare.

This doesn't have the punch of the TIE Defenders but it is more advanced and versatile.

[Anne Phoenix]

I just automatically thought 'TIE' when I saw the ball style cockpit lol. Durrrr.

Something that I may've forgotten to mention earlier are the conversion kits I've been fooling around with that give existing TIE Star Fighter models limited shields and missile launchers/w 3 missile magazines. They're little aerodynamic pods that attach to the outer solar panels of the fighters, sort of like the earlier attachment models but more streamlined for atmospheric operations. I've had factory at Kuat producing pre-production models of these in limited squadrons.

[Reshmar]

TIE Quattro Escort Starfighter

Shielded, Heavy Armor, Hyperdrive. Dice on the Mirror.

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g367/Stevendlangley/TIEQuattro.jpg

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

That is one sexy little monster :cool

[Captain Untouchable]

I kinda like the sound of Cavalier. It fits with the Interceptor/Avenger/Defender/Howlrunner theme of "thing that does a verb" names, and I like the idea of the laid back / showy offy definition of cavalier as well. Seems like the sort of thimg arrogant rocket jocks would fly


It might be helpful to have a strong sense of what each Imperial fighter is for. With the Alliance each plane has a clear role, which makes it easy peasy to work out a starfighter compliment. For the Empire though there is a lot of overlap, especially with the new designs. When do you use a Vigilante instead of an Interceptor? When do you use TIE/ds instead of meat pilots, and do droids take up less space (more fighters per squadron)? A clear list of roles and such would be super-useful.

Regarding the WMDs I mentioned earlier, I'm not suggesting that every shop has them, but I think its foolish to say "we have Starfire missiles so we don't need anything else". On Fans, most of our action is Alliance centric. Even when we do a planet liberation omly one or two Imperials are ever able to get involved, and its normally only fleeters. Developing and testing a Krytos virus or a prototype new SSD would need intel and ISD to keep the project secret, politician involvement, military officers to guard facilities, science characters, and opens things for Alliance spies and specops... and that's before the prototype is even built. The EU used superweapons all the time as the plot focus of arcs: we'd be remiss if we wasted the opportunity to do the same. It'll be far more entertaining than an endless string of skirmishes which might get repetitive.

[Anne Phoenix]

I think the I-7 Howlrunner should replace the TIE Fighter in production since it's pretty much the same concept except just a better all around product. A-9 Vigilance has more punch for anti-capital ship assault then a regular TIE Interceptor but is a little more expensive to buy/maintain. I wouldn't say replace the TIE Interceptor but rather complement it in numbers.

The TIE Defender is still the Empire's premier heavy assault star fighter rated for the best of the Empire's pilots. TIE Avenger would be a more widely available star fighter than the Defender and would be used mainly for independent hyperspace missions. TIE Scimitar should be replacing the TIE Bomber for the Empire's primary Bomber.

[Reshmar]

This is kinda what I'm thinking for the future of the Imperial Fighter.


Elite Fighters
TIE Advanced X9 - TIE/D Defender - The Main Elite Heavy Hitter. This is still the best fighter out there. We might look at a MK II version which has already was introduced and discussed a few year back.
Tie Cavalier Multi-role Elite Starfighter - New Stealth Interceptor. Multi Role Configuration. Small, Fast, Maneuverable. With the Engine configuration this thing turns on a single axis well. Mission pods for Advanced Sensors, Jamming and Elint Suite. SLAM Drives, Weapons Pods.
TIE Advanced X6 Avenger - Standard Issue Elite Fighter. This can be a one squadron per SD kinda thing.

Escort Fighter
TIE Quattro Escort Starfighter - A heavily Armored, Shielded, and Armed craft with Hyperdrive, Sensor suite and enhanced Life Support. This could act as a patrol and recon craft in a pinch also. It is tough and hard to kill with a weapons suite like a Defender. Just not as fast or maneuverable.

Bombers
Scimitar Assault Bomber - Standard Bomber. Generally a SD only had 12 bombers on board. It would make sense and be very easy to have these replace all TIE/sa bombers.
XM-1 Novawing Misile Boat - In alot of ways this is every bit as good an assault craft as the Scimitar. With the SLAM drive it is better. Limited production makes these a good choice for Elite Bomber Squadrons.
Xg-1 Star Wing Assault Gunboat - These are already in service and can replace TIE/sa Bombers until Scimitars can be produced in enough numbers.

Standard Fighter Corps Fighter.
I-7 Howlrunner - Shielding but no Hyperdrive. These can slowly replace the TIE/LN fighters as they become more available.
A-9 Vigilance Interceptor - No Shielding or hyperdrive but heavy firepower for an Interceptor. These can slowly replace the TIE/IN interceptors as they come online.

The massive fighter Corp can be upgraded until more A-9's and I-7's can but built

TIE Advanced X5 - These are TIE/IN (interceptors) fighters with hyperdrives and shielding. TIE interceptors are still very useful. Adding a Hyperdrive and shielding would make them a better long range scout and intercept platform. Maybe use them in Pursuit Lines and as a Cheep fighter for The new Stealth Hunter Ships were discussing.

TIE Advanced X2 - These are TIE/LN (line) fighters with hyperdrives and shielding. I do not see many of these being upgraded. I feel a few squadrons who have always used TIE fighters may or maybe for Planetary Fighter Corps to have a long range fighter option.

[Captain Untouchable]

I don't think we should replace anything with these new fighters - certainly not the Howlrunner and the Vigilance.

The beauty of there being a bajillion different TIE designs is that for pilots, they're all very similar. Every single TIE Fighter has a ball cockpit with no life support, so Imperial pilots get used to always flying in a space suit. They get used to having a large field of view in front and below them with no fuselage in the way; they get used to the solar panels getting in the way of their view and making it hard for them to turn laterally in an atmosphere; they get used to the minimal shields, and the fact that they're DPS rather than Tanks. If a TIE pilot survives long enough to become a veteran, you can move them to a squadron with more expensive fighters, and it'll be really easy for them to adapt to the new plane.

The A-9 Vigilance and the I-7 Howlrunner are built on completely different engineering principles. They have a traditional cockpit, and while yes the pilots can see what is beside them (unlike a TIE), the fuselage is obstructing a lot of their view in front and below. They handle much better in atmospheres, but in the case of the Howlrunner especially they're much longer craft, which means that you would fly them differently. These craft have more in common with the Xg-1 Star Wing than they do with a TIE Fighter. Asking a TIE pilot to fly a Howlrunner is like asking someone who has only ever driven an automatic Smart car to drive stick... in a truck.

If you've invested a lot of money to train a pilot at the Academy to fly a particular craft, it would make more logical - and financial - sense if you could keep those pilots flying similar craft their entire career. This is how the military does it in the real world: if you're trained as a helicopter pilot, you don't suddenly switch to fighter jets - you stick with what you're experienced with.

I'd suggest that perhaps at the Academy, future TIE pilots are trained on the TIE/LN and the X2 (use the traditional hexagonal-wing design for noobs and rookies). If they demonstrate an aptitude for dogfighting they can graduate onto the TIE Interceptor, and from there they can advance onto Avengers, Defenders, Hunters, Cavaliers, and what have you; if they're better at trench run style flying they might graduate onto the TIE Aggressor, and ultimately to the Scimitar. Because TIEs stack easily in racks, can be suspended outside of a craft if necessary, and generally take up a lot less room, I would imagine that most Imperial starships (especially Star Destroyers) would continue to carry TIE Fighters of some denomination.

On the other side of the hedge, "traditional cockpit" pilots would probably start out with the I-7 Howlrunner: they get used to the way a ship like that handles, get used to having shields, and so on. If they prove to be skilled enough - and loyal enough to risk their lives for the Empire - they can progress to the unshielded A-9 Vigilance (similar to how the more elite and daring Rebel pilots moved to the A-Wing), while those with ground attack skills end up in Star Wings and Missile Boats. The fact that these planes need "floor space" to park means they aren't such a good choice for Star Destroyers and such (where space is a premium), but their vastly superior atmospheric properties makes them ideal for planetary garrisons.

This also means that the more expensive / harder to get because of the Lianna situation TIE Fighters get reserved for the "proper" military, while planetary garrisons are left with the planes that KDY and Incom are trying to make for cheap.

[Reshmar]

So what about the Fleet wings can use TIE series and Planetary based wings can get the I-7 and A-9. One issue is Scimitar's, and The Quattro's wont rack like most TIE's. They are a lot beefier and larger than eve the TIE/sa bombers. Maybe a Fleet bomber is needed that is more akin to the TIE/sa. I have a TIE Striker I made for the Sovereignty that would be great for a fleet based Bomber. Scimitar's can be Station based or planetary based long ranged bombers. using Hyperdrives to jump in attack then jump out.

[Anne Phoenix]

I've always thought that the brackets could be adjusted with a little work. The Quattro looks like it could be bracketed easily enough with a little adjustment, with the same going for the Scimitar. They might take up a little more room (say 1 Quat/Scim for 1.5 Ln/Int) but that shouldn't be too much of a problem unless you're working with a cramped hangar on a starship.

[Vince]

Am I the only one who hears "TIE Quattro" and immediately thinks of a Star Wars razor?

[Reshmar]

No it crossed my mind too. But after i looked at it the name made sense because of the 4 wing pods so...

[Anne Phoenix]

I could see their service nickname being the TIE Quad.

Heh, TIE Quad Do. :colbert

[Lilaena De'Ville]

There are no Italians in Star Wars. :lol

[R. S. Esalis]

Never said there were; just that Italians have cool names ;)

[Reshmar]

food's not bad either.

[Anne Phoenix]

I think the only two things the Empire really needs in a new design is a dedicated gunship platform and a new generation Venator. I have designs prepared for both. The Venerable class Star Destroyer at 1,000 meters and embarking 25 Squadrons and the Rapier class Gunship at 125 meters carrying a variety of weaponry.

[Reshmar]

We have the Empire-class (http://www.sw-fans.net/wiki/index.php?title=Empire-class_Star_Destroyer) as a carrier. I do not see a need for a ship that carries 2 dozen fighter squadrons

As for a Gunship. I think a standard gunship and a new stealth gunship would be good. For a Stelth/cloking gunship I like this,
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g367/Stevendlangley/stealthgunship.jpg

Lets call it the Rapier Gunship.

EDIT: ok Here is the Cloaking Stealth Version
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g367/Stevendlangley/Stelthgunship.jpg

I think what the Empire needs is something new. The days of the mega large ship which uses Intimidation as its main weapon are gone. The Imperial Star Destroyer was the image of the Empire. It was the Emperors extension of power to the galaxy. As this new Empire arises those ships still have their use. But when someone sees them they will always thing of the New Order and the Emperor. As the Alliance moves on with new ship designs would the Empire not as well. I know why fix something that's not broken. well because it scares the bejevus out of people is why. Having heavy hitters in the fleet is a must. but even the new Mk III design is based on 30 year old tech and designs.

I would like to introduce the Aegis Line. I am sure some of you know the Aegis-class Cruiser. It is all over the internet. I was thinking of expanding the design and line as a whole like the Alliance has done with the their new ships. A modular multirole cruiser with the power of a star destroyer. A big brother to the Strike Cruiser if you will. We could expand the line to include a variety of mission profile specific modular construction. Like the Defender carrier/Majestic heavy cruiser I can see a few variations of this new warship An escort, an Interdictor, a Support Cruiser, an Assault Cruiser, a Carrier. even a Command and control version. Is something new for a new Empire a bad thing? I think this cruiser Line, a 250 meter frigate line and a 125 meter gunship/corvette line. We have the new ENforcer cruiser and the Strike cruiser is still new sorta. expand the Strike cruiser line would be good. The Carrack needs retirement.

That would give us a Capital platform (Aegis), A cruiser platform (Enforcer and Strike), A Frigate Platform (new design), , and 2 corvette Platforms

[Anne Phoenix]

Hmmm, that might actually make sense as far as where we're trying to go in fleet combat. A stealth cruiser that can launch large salvoes of long ranged guided missiles/torpedoes then either engage a cloaking shield or jump into hyperspace. Mount a few turbolasers and lasers for shipboard defense and have a hangar for a squadron or two of starfighters for a screen.

[Reshmar]

We already have a Rapier class gunship. I knew the name sounded good. SO we can revisit it as a multi-role gunship. and we can make a Stalker-class Stealth Gunship.

Edit: Ok tell me what you Think. I took the already createed Rapier class and adapted it some to form the base of the Empires new advanced warship line.

Rapier-class Advanced Gunship (http://www.sw-fans.net/wiki/index.php/Rapier-class_Gunship).

For now this has no Cloaking generator. I want to do a thread about a prototype system on a modified Rapier called the Stalker-class Hunter/killer

[Anne Phoenix]

I did a lot of thinking last night and I'm beginning to reconsider the new Aegis Line or any new Imperial Designs for that matter. We have two new starfighter variants (I-7 and A-9) plus one new Corvette sized/purposed design (Adz) and one fleet tender (Reliance Star Hauler) coming into service around this time period.

We're swimming in designs right now for the Empire, a product of it's old size and variety of planets and corporations that designed ships for service in it. Honestly I think between the Adz and the Assassin the Empire might have an adequate patrol force and I think the Corona Escort Frigate should be kept as well.

What I'd like to do is consolidate the designs we currently have and see what should be kept and what should be discarded and/or mothballed in the blueprints book-keeping. Here are a standard 20 or so Designs that I think currently adequately fill out the roles needed for the Empire and should be kept in production or primary production;

Star Dreadnought Role - Executor-II class
Star Battlecruiser Role - Allegiance class
Destroyer Role -
Imperial-III class (Assault)
Empire class (Carrier)
Doomgiver class (Planetary Assault)
Dominator class (Interdictor)
Heavy Cruiser Role -
Victory-III class (Assault)
Victory-IV class (Patrol)
Saint Tarkin class (Assault)
Immobilizer-418 class (Interdictor)
Medium Cruiser Role -
Belarus (Assault)
Strike (Multi-Purpose)
Light Cruiser Role -
Carrack class
Frigate Role -
Corona class
Imperial-II class (Carrier)
Corvette Role -
Adz class
Assassin class
Gunship Role -
Rapier class
Stalker class
Fleet Tender -
Reliance class

Of the above designs there are several conversion programs in progress, including the upgrading of Mark I and II ISD's to Mark III status, upgrading Mark I and II VSD's to Mark III and IV status, upgrading the Dreadnoughts to Saint Tarkin standard and I think there should be a program to convert the Vindicator class Heavy Cruisers to I-418 Standard as well since Interdictors will be playing a bigger role now.

[Reshmar]

The Corona will make a good Frigate. With it being a KDY ship would the Alliance still be using them?

the Imperial II class Frigate is more of a light cruiser and I can see it taking the Carracks place . in limited numbers. throw in the Corona and the escort/frigate slot is good.

We also have the Enforcer now to work in the Heavy cruiser slot. and Vindicators and Gladiators are still in wide use. Them being upgraded to Enforcer tech level would be good.

I would not put the Vics in this slot they are almost as powerful as the Imperials now. I still would like to throw in the Aegis cruiser because It is more for a technological test bed than anything. It will be the the continuation of the Rapier's tech advances.

The Alliance will have more advanced ships now and I see a lot of Imperial big shots nervous about that. Something KDY, Loronar, and Rendili all take part in developing. KDY can develope the Hull, Loronar the Modular systems, Rendili the drive system. so on so forth.

[Anne Phoenix]

Indeed. But let's keep it as you say test bed for now. Ex-F floating around the fleet. :yum

Also something that could be looked at is ground combat; while I'm not sure about the Alliance, the Empire should have several new mechs entering service around this time with Balmorran arms; SD-8, SD-9, SD-10, and Viper Automatons.

I figure we could break them up into separate groups as follows; SD-8 is a light war droid, SD-9 more medium, SD-10 a Heavy War Droid, while the X-1 Viper is a more rare top of the line automaton, the ground version of the TIE Defender in cost and performance.

[Reshmar]

I am not sure mass deployment of droids would be something the Empire would want. I see them more as an elite Infantry support type of unit. We could put a squad of 4 SD-8's with a XR-85 and embed them in Infantry Companies.

I do not see many Large Planetary battles happening anytime soon. Border skirmishes and riot control will be the battles the Empire has to face now. I picture worlds on the fence having small internal civil wars where the Empire aides one side and the Alliance aides the other. Those would be the largest battles in this new setting. Slamming an XR-85 with SD-8 escorts down on one of these worlds tips the hat in the Imperial favor for sure.

[Captain Untouchable]

I agree that droids in the army probably won't be needed - like Reshmar says, there won't be enough ground battles to justify it.

That does present us with a completely different problem however. Despite the Empire being a pretty fascist organisation, most people choose to join the military: there isn't a huge amount of conscription. People living crappy lives on the Outer Rim or on over-populated Core worlds are still going to see the Imperial military as an escape route. Without large scale battles killing off soldiers left, right, and centre however, the Empire is likely to end up with a lot of soldiers hanging around. That's a problem, because many members of the Imperial military have pretty shitty jobs... and if they can't get promoted into deadman's boots, their careers are going to stagnate for long periods.

Back in the day, the Empire did away with the Senate (as well as a lot of other bureaucracy) and rolled it into the military structure via the Moffs and Grand Moffs. Potentially we could take that a step further, and create new jobs for the Army/Stormtroopers along the way. For example, if we were to "consolidate local law enforcement into the Imperial military hierarchy" (ie. declare martial law), that would provide a lot of jobs for anyone on the Imperial payroll. It would also make it a lot easier to hunt down any Alliance sympathisers, cells of spies and saboteurs lurking on Imperial worlds, and means that we'd be able to strengthen the Empire's military presence everywhere.

I sort of see the Empire as being a hyper-paranoid caricature of Russia in this Cold War scenario, and the idea of them deploying thousands to planets and oh, by the way, we're also sending a load of tanks, SAM batteries, military grade comms equipment, and all sorts of other stuff, "just in case"... that seems right up the Empire's alley.

[Reshmar]

I like the idea of a planet hanging on the edge of choosing Imperial or Alliance. Tensions arise and a civil war breaks out of sorts between Imperial loyalists and Alliance sympathizers. Both have a strong hold in the political and marshal climate on the planet the sides are matched now covert forces from both the Empire and alliance have found their way to the planet.

[Reshmar]

Sometimes I find ship pics that are just so kick ass I have to make up ships for them. This is one of those. Sure we may not need another Imperial Frigate but look at this......

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g367/Stevendlangley/Bau19cruiser3fulltop.jpg

Tell me this dosn't need to be used....

I am thinking a 250 meter frigate
A double Heavy Ion Cannon on the prow.
18 Double Turbolaser turrets
4 Double Ion Cannon turrets
12 Point Defense Double Laser Cannons
12 TIE series fighters

[Anne Phoenix]

I think that might be a little too heavily armed for a 250 meter frigate. Leave the size the same but downgrade the armament a little bit;

1 Dual Long Range Heavy Turbolaser Cannon (Bow Mounted)
22 Dual Heavy Laser Cannons (Scattered around ship)
2 Dual Diamond Boron Missile Launchers (Bow, either side of Turbolaser)
(100) Missiles

Based on what I see on the ship above with the gun turrets and ports. The Laser Cannons are mounted on fast swivel turrets and can be used to engage any manner of target. Four clusters of 3 cannons each (as seen on the picture) have fire link capability for greater firepower concentration on a single target point if needed.

Pure Assault Frigate role. I'm not even sure if it needs a hangar but since it has the size for one maybe a small hangar with as stated either a squadron of TIEs or a half dozen Shuttles/Gunboats.

[Reshmar]

The mounts are way to big to be Heavy Laser Cannons but I agree 18 Double Tlas is a bit much power wise. They could be Light Turbolaser Cannons. The Vindicators and Gladiator Cruisers used them in an anti fighter role when needed, they could pull double duty here also.

I would also Like to have the turrets along the rim to be ions.
1 Dual Long Range Heavy Turbolaser Cannon
18 Rapid Fire Dual Light Turbolaser Cannon Turrets
4 Dual Ion Cannon turrets
2 Dual Diamond Boron Missile Launchers (100 missiles)
12 TIE starfighters
Have them mounted 6 on each side of the Hanger on pivoting mounts so they can all deploy at one time? sorta like the fighters deployed from Babylon 5 if you know what I am talking about. They just turn nose down and drop.


Now it needs a name......

[Anne Phoenix]

I'll throw Brute, Termagant, Brawler, Hegemony, and Voracious out there as some random suggestions.

[Reshmar]

Brawler-class Frigate (http://www.sw-fans.net/wiki/index.php/Brawler-class_Frigate#Known_Ships)

[Anne Phoenix]

I was just thinking how awesome it would be if we could jack the Aramadia class Thrustship design for use as an Interdictor Picket;

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Aramadia-class_thrustship