TIE/DB (Deluxe Bomber or Diamond Blue)
Manufacturer: independent design
Product Line: TIE series hybrid
Model: custom starfighter
Class: starfighter
Length: 9.2 meters
Maximum Acceleration: 13 MGLT per sec
MGLT: 115
Maximum Speed (atmosphere): 1,340 KM/H
Engines: SFS P-sx7.4 twin ion engines
Hyperdrive: SFS ND9 class 3.0 hyperdrive motivator
Power Plant: SFS I-s3a solar ionization reactor
Shielding: Novaldex deflector shields
Hull: reinforced durasteel alloy with titanium alloy armor
Navigation: SFS N-s6 Navcon
Avionics: SFS F-s5x flight avionics system
Armament: SFS L-s9.3 laser cannons (2), medium laser cannon (1), tractor beam (1), concussion missile launchers (2) with 20 missiles each, multipurpose projectile launchers (2) with either 20 concussion missiles, 15 proton torpedoes, 10 proton rockets, or 5 proton bombs each (standard mission load in Hades Wing is 40 missiles, 10 rockets and 5 bombs).
Crew: 1
Cargo Capacity: 110 kilograms
Consumables: 4 days
Roles: space superiority fighter, long range assault/strike fighter/bomber,
Eras: Rebellion era, New Republic era
Affiliation: Galactic Empire, Imperial Remnant, Hades Wing
When Hades Wing was ordered to turn over their Missile Boats as per Emperor Palpatine's orders they found themselves in need of a new craft that could act as the unit's principle bomber. Rather than turn to a hyperdrive equipped TIE Bomber variant or the Star Wing Assualt Gunboat, Chief Deck Officer Daru Kerrilia took it upon herself to strip down Hades' Missile Boats before turning them over. Using the hull of the TIE Advanced x1 and the TIE Avenger's engines, shields, and powerplant she fused the Missile Boat's missile and ordnance pods to the new starfighter and the TIE/DB was born. Affectionately dubbed the Diamond Blue by Hades in reference to the squadron that fielded it and the ship's blue skinned designer, Chief Kerrilia intended to call the craft the Deluxe Bomber but that title was never used.
The ship maintained and improved upon the firepower of the Missile Boat while decressing in overall size and improving protection. While the new design was slower than both the TIE Avenger and the Missile Boat, it was faster than the Advanced x1 and offered better protection than any of its parent designs. Armament consisted of twin laser cannons mounted beneath the cockpit, the x1's concussion missile launchers were replaced by the Missile Boat's medium laser cannon and beam weapon mounts. The Missile Boat's concussion missile launchers are mounted dorsally on the hull to the left and right of the cockpit while the ordnance launchers are mounted ventrally in the same configuration. Chief Kerrilia used hull plating from the Avenger to make all four launchers flush with the x1 frame and add armor to the rest of the hull which is what gives the design its durability.
Typical ordnance carried by Diamond Blues in service was comrpised of forty concussion missiles, ten proton rockets, and five proton bombs. The craft were capable of dogfighting but Hades Wing typically screened their DBs with their TIE Avengers and Defenders. The DB's usual tactic was to unleash a missile barrage at long range against opposing fighters, and then use the confusion caused by the attack to strike their main objective while the Avengers and Defenders dealt with the disoriented enemy. Because of their heavy armor plating the Diamond Blues were uniquely suited to the assault role. Even if their shields were lost, they were able to take multiple hits from capital grade weaponry. One such incident was recorded in which the Diamond Blue in question recorded three hits from a light turbolaser and still managed to deliver its ordnance and return to base. The secondary role of the DB was bombing of planetary targets, though it did not have an actual bomb chute. The craft was capable of making targeted strikes against ground targets and in the few planetary attacks that Hades conducted the craft's proficiency in this role was repeatedly proven.
Despite essentially being an 'Ugly' design, the TIE/DB was built by one of the best deck crews in the Imperial Fleet at the height of Imperial power and this is evident to the crews and pilots that work with the craft. All of its core components can be easily removed and replaced by equipment found in almost any hangar. Its maintenance accessibility is superb and its frame sits easily in the same cradles used for other Imperial fighter designs. Diamond Squadron pilots boast that their craft can go toe to toe with any other strike or assault starfighter and come out ontop despite its cobbled together beginnings. The only true issue with the Diamond Blue design was parts availability. Given that the Emperor had ordered all Missile Boat frames mothballed, it was difficult at best to acquire replacement parts to build new craft or replace damaged components that were Missile Boat based.
Because of this, many Diamond Blues built later in the wing's service use the multipurpose launchers of the Star Wing Assault Gunboat rather than the Missile Boat's launchers. Given the similarity between the two designs, this has not caused any major issues or hampered performance as warhead capacity remains the same between the two designs. Thankfully when Chief Kerrilia designed the craft she realized the pending scarcity of Missile Boat parts and so aside from the ordnance launchers, all other components can be found within the Imperial inventory or the black market. It was for this reason that the Missile Boat's SLAM booster was not included in the final design because parts for the accelerator would have been almost impossible to find despite the tactical ability that the rapid acceleration of the booster would have added to the hull.
Author's Note: Well since this is basically my baby (I can't believe I used that terminology) I decided to answer the random requests I've gotten for specifications on the Diamond Blue's design. I've also received the occasional question as to the fate of Hades Wing and any possible sequels. I will reiterate this: I am enlisting in the navy and am participating in various projects with other writers and artists at the moment so my ability to work on my own stuff (especially new stuff) is extremely limited. I left the story open ended for the readers' imagination to take flight and I encourage you to come up with your own theories and ideas about what Hades has done since the end of this story. Any possible sequel would take one of two forms, either focusing on Vic'que's actions after Hades' disappearance (shame on you if you thought she was dead). Or involves Hades' movements leading up to and involving Palpatine's return to the galactic stage, a third option of course would be a fusion of these two ideas. For those that are not satisfied by this answer, I am working on the publishable version of Hades Wing and provided that Lucas Arts plays nice you may see a new version of the story on bookstore shelves. If that happens I will of course let you know and no, I will not take down the original as the two stories will be (and already are) different in many ways.