Size: 5.47 meters long Manufacturer: Kuat Systems Engineering Type: Starfighter interceptor Weapon: Two laser cannons, two ion cannons Affiliation: Galatci Empire Associations: R4-K5 Vader, Darth

The transformation of Galactic Republic into Empire was not as violent or sudden as Anakin Skywalker's rebirth as Darth Vader. Many of the adornments and accessories of the Republic remained largely unchanged, from the uniform ranks of the clone troopers to their arsenal of combat hardware tested on the battlefields of the Clone Wars. When Darth Vader emerged from the Imperial rehabilitation center in a new body, his first conveyance was a modified Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor. Its former name of "Jedi starfighter" woefully outdated, the Dark Lord's new ship was simply dubbed a Sith starfighter. Vader, still possessing Anakin's sharp mechanical skills, saw only the technical shortcomings of the black-hued craft. These limitations were further compounded by the fact that Vader could not comfortably fit into the confines of the cramped cockpit. This caused Vader to demand a craft better suited to his needs, a development program that would eventually produced the TIE Advanced x1.