REPORTING OFFICER: Rear Admiral Hav Antiel, Commodore
DATE SUBMITTED: 4 November 2018

3AM. Kappa Squadron's quarters. One floor above the makeshift garage.

Most pilots on the Star Destroyer Warrior are sleeping at this point. “I had been asleep,” thought General Dunta Polo, fists clenched as he tossed in his bunk, “until Antiel started up on his ‘pet project’ again. The endless clanging. The god-awful noise. Who does he think he is? The guy finds a flash-welder and he thinks he’s Raith Sienar. I swear, one more ‘clang’ and I’m going to do something about it…”

*****

Rear Admiral Hav Antiel nervously flattened the front of his tunic as he waited for the shuttle’s landing platform to lower. An impressive contingent of the Warrior’s complement of officers, stormtroopers, pilots, and droids stood in formation to greet the TIE Corps’ Strategic Operations Officer, Admiral Plif, who had arrived from the Star Destroyer Challenge for what the admiral had called a “Commodore inspection.”

As the SOO exited his shuttle, a warm sense of relief washed over Antiel. Despite his medals, lightsaber, and gilded admiral’s uniform, Plif exuded friendliness. Antiel snapped to attention. “Admiral, what an honor to welcome you back to the Warrior.”

“Thanks, Hav,” Plif nodded. “I wasn’t expecting all of this,” he added, gesturing to the ranks of assembled personnel.

“It’s my first inspection, sir,” said Antiel.

Plif shook his head and laughed under his breath. “I don’t have a lot of time, Hav. Can you show me what you’ve been working on under Kappa’s quarters?”

Antiel felt his cheeks turn red.

“Uh, yes, certainly, Plif.”

*****

The two admirals stood outside the closed door of the stormtrooper-barracks-turned-garage. Antiel knocked a distinct seven-note rhythm on the thick durasteel door.

“Green Acres,” he said sheepishly. The door *whooshed* open.

Inside, dim lighting cast the unmistakable shape of a TIE-series ship in an orange haze.

“There she is,” said Antiel.

“Hmmm…” said Plif as he moved closer. “Do you have better lighting?”

“Uh, yes, of course,” said Antiel. He stumbled over a spanner as he moved toward the light panel. With a click, he illuminated the room in a medical white light. The ship, now almost fully assembled, took up most of the room.

Plif studied the craft for a moment. “What is it?”

“Come on, Plif,” Antiel laughed. “Don’t you know your TIE history?”

“I do,” said Plif. “But this…”

He folded his arms and took a step back.

“I looks like TIE Advanced x1, somewhat.”

“Exactly!” said Antiel.

“Isn’t it a little wide?” asked Plif.

“I don’t think so,” said Antiel defensively. “We followed the best available plans.”

“The wings… are they supposed to be that short?”

“We used TIE bomber wings. Some sources say Lord Vader used those on his personal craft.”

Plif walked closer to the ship. The trademark octagonal viewscreen had not been installed, and the admiral craned his neck to look inside of the unfinished cockpit. He ran a hand around the edge of the fuselage, shaking his head.

“Hav, you’re not planning to fly this thing, are you?”

“Of course,” Antiel rubbed his chin. “Of course I am! Haven’t you always dreamed about flying Vader’s TIE fighter?”

Plif sighed. Frowning, he looked at Antiel. The Warrior Commodore looked like a child who had brought home a lost puppy.

“Hav, you have the greatest modern starfighters at your command. TIE Defenders, Missile Boats.”

“I know,” said Antiel. “And those are great. Really great! But this, this is history.” He looked past Plif to the squat, misshapen craft he had spent months building.

“I can’t let you fly this ship, Hav,” said Plif. “It’s too risky. You’re a good pilot and a fine Commodore. I’m OK with you flying missions in TIE Corps craft, but this kit build… It hasn’t been tested.”

Antiel sighed. He felt a chill run from his shoulders to his fingertips. “Of course, Plif,” he said, biting his lip. “You’re right. It’s been a fun project, but I’ll let it go.”

“Good. Glad to hear it,” said Plif.

The admirals stepped out of the barracks and started back toward the hangar.

“So how’d you hear about my project, anyway?” Antiel asked.

“There are some light sleepers in Kappa Squadron," Plif laughed. "By the way, when you asked me about ‘secret areas of the ship,’ I had no idea you had this in mind.”

Hav laughed, looking back at his half-built ship as the barrack doors closed behind them.

Now what? Antiel thought...

Welcome to this week's Warrior report. The first October eval has reached my desk. Thank you COL Earnim Branet for your prompt completion of the Sin MSE. I'd like to see Kappa and Theta's MSEs soon, CMDRs. You know that I like to reward our hard-working pilots.

I've noticed a trend in the latest TC reports: an abundance of fiction. I'm thrilled with this development. I've enjoyed reading about AD Pete Mitchell's early days in the TC and COL Earnim Branet's "New Empire." I'm nearing the end of my own "Project Nunja" arc, but I think fiction is going to remain in my reports for the near future.

Although I had to miss this week's MP Night, it looks like the habit is catching on as more pilots join in every week. If you're available Thursday nights/early Friday mornings (depending on your location), then I recommend you join us for some fun flying. We're focusing on PvE scenarios, and AD Plif has put together some challenging yet entertaining conflicts. I'll never forget where I was when CPT Rando decided to take out a friendly cap ship "just because."

October's Escort Flight competitions are over, and I'm proud to say that we have some new pilots joining the fray. October also marks the first time in several months where both competitions have four winners. Congrats, pilots! Medals have been recommended to our Top Four, and we already have Warriors on the Kill Boards for November. That's what I like to see, pilots. The Trivia Grand Tour continues this week with more screenshots from Star Wars films. Is it just me, or are the screenshot trivia weeks a little more fun?

This week, the following intrepid Warriors earned competition medals and merit awards.

• CPT Rando - IS-SW (x9)
• COL Earnim Branet - IS-SW (x4)
• GN Mark Schueler - IS-SW
• CPT Rando - IS-BW (x3)
• MAJ Aldaric - IS-BW
• GN Mark Schueler - IS-BW
• GN Mark Schueler - IS-SR
• GN Pickled Yoda - IS-SR
• MAJ Keth Aalith - IS-BR
• RA Hav Antiel - IS-BR (x2)

A full list of active competitions is available on http://tc.emperorshammer.org/competitions.php?id=current

• Escort Flights - Fly enough SP and MP to finish in the top four for the Wing/Ship each month, earn awards! (Competition IDs 2972 and 2973)

29 Strong (even) - http://tc.emperorshammer.org/roster.php?type=ship&id=16&all=1

What I've been up to since my last report:

• Recovering from a nasty cold
• Flying XWA with the Plif, Miles, and Rando
• Witnessing Rando wield a TIE/sa bomber with authority against anything that moves
• Project Nunya Looks just like a TIE Advanced x1 if you ask me...

Remember, the only way forward is through.

RA Hav Antiel
COM/RA Hav Antiel/ISDII Warrior
GS/SSx5/BSx6/PCx5/ISMx9/IS-8GW-13SW-24BW-2GR-10SR-37BR/MoI/LoC-Rx2/LoS-CS-Rx2/MoC-3doc-3poc-3goc-3soc-26boc/CoLx2/CoB/LoAx9/OV-4E [CNTR] [Trainee] [Beginner] {IWATS-BFM-CA- CBX-COE-CTW-HIST-ITS-MCBS-SC-SFW-SM/4-STM-TT-WIKI-XWAC}
Commodore of the TIE Corps Flagship