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Jedi starfighter" woefully outdated, the Dark Lord's new ship was simply dubbed a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.