TIE Fighter
"No ejector seat, no shields, no problem."
- TIE Pilot Motto
The best Star Wars game EVER MADE.
[edit] The Fighter
"Sienar Systems' basic TIE Fighter—a commodity which, after hydrogen and stupidity, was the most plentiful in the galaxy."
- Corran Horn
The TIE/ln starfighter, simply known as the TIE Fighter, was the standard Imperial starfighter seen in massive numbers throughout most of the Galactic Civil War and afterwards. The TIE fighter craft itself, the mainstay of the Royal Imperial Navy, proved to be an excellent interceptor as its powerful shields and armor could withstand even TIE fighter grade turbolaser fire let alone most rebel crafts laser armaments. Mass-produced by cheap child labour in the eastern rim of the Empire the TIE fighter would find itself in common use throughout the entire empire and tens of thousands of units would take part in almost every important battle the Empire ever fought. Its wing mounted micromissile racks would give birth to the term "itano circus"(named so after Ichirō Itano, one of the special effect artists on the original Star Wars trilogy) due to their common sight in all Star Wars movies where the distinct smoke trails of the missiles swarming forth and destroying countless rebel fighters struck movie goers with awe.
"The aging, outdated craft employed by the Rebels are no match for the power of the TIE, and even the prototype Sienar 8100 X-wing created by the traitors who escaped from Sienar is clearly outclassed."
- Captain David West Reynolds
The TIE/ln, a descendant of the T.I.E. starfighter and the V-wing starfighter, both developed for the Galactic Republic, was manufactured by the partnership Incom/Subpro. In addition to the T.I.E. and V-wing, it was also descended from the TIE starfighter, the first TIE model developed for the Galactic Empire.
The TIE/ln's engine was one of the most precisely manufactured propulsion systems in the galaxy, and with no moving parts, was low-maintenance. Unlike the TIE before it, the TIE/ln sported independent generators for the engine and the weapons. The lack of strong combat shields, excellent hyperdrive and life-support systems, in concert with the advanced engine design, reduced the mass of the fighter and conferred exceptional maneuverability.
Primary armament was a pair of powerful turbolaser cannons. These cannons were relatively powerful, and a well-placed hit on a starfighter or medium transport could damage or destroy it.
TIEs were designed to attack in large numbers, overwhelming the enemy craft. Standard attack squadrons consisted of 120 fighters while full attack wings were made up of six squadrons. The Imperials used so many that they came to be considered symbols of the Empire and its might. They were also very cheap to produce, reflecting the Imperial philosophy of quality over quantity through superior child labour laws.
The side view of a TIE/ln's radiator panels curiously resembles the emblem of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, but it is not clear if the similarity was intentional. The front/rear cross-section of the fighter was designed to be small to make it difficult to hit with blasters, but these side panels proved easy targets for flanking enemy pilots. Due to their distinct shape, TIE/ln came to be referred to occasionally as "eyeballs" by enemy pilots.
[edit] History
"For every thousand TIE fighters you shoot down, one more will take their place." ―Jeff "Ace" Radar
The basic TIE starfighter inspired a number of other Imperial starfighters manufactured by Incom/Subpro, which became collectively known as the TIE series. The TIE Line fighter was one of them, and replaced the original model as the standard fleet fighter in the Empire. While the original TIE had performance parity with heavier-built X-wings, the newer TIE/ln boasted improved engines and more powerful weapons, surpassing contemporary Rebel fighters.
"Who's coming in too fast?" -Luuke Skywalker
TIEs would be used in massive numbers throughout the Galactic Civil War and would be regarded by many as a symbol of the Empire. Some TIEs fell into the hands of the Rebellion, who would sometimes use them to infiltrate Imperial facilities.
It had been intended that the TIE/ln would be replaced by the TIE Interceptor, and indeed Interceptors began to see greater use around the time of the Battle of Endor, but the collapse of the Imperial government into sectionalism precluded this. As the Galactic Empire retreated, more and more factories found themselves behind New Republic lines and ceased production. The New Republic made limited use of captured TIEs, assigning them to sectors where they weren't considered a symbol of the Empire. Their most notable use in New Republic service was at the Battle of Adumar. Captured TIE fighters were also used for deceptive purposes, such as during the Mission on Prefsbelt IV.
By the time the peace treaty was signed, the Empire began to use export starfighters manufactured by other races because they lacked the manufacturing facilities to build new TIE Fighters. Much to the sadness of Imperial pilots who had come to love their little grey "eyeballs" of oppression.
[edit] Behind The Scenes
In official canon, TIE Fighter is not considered to be the best Star Wars game since the protaganist is a member of the Emperor's Navy.
