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The Clone Wars were a trying time for Anakin Skywalker, as he faced ceaseless
warfare on scattered worlds while struggling to keep his marriage a secret, and
chafing under the restrictions of the Jedi order. He found escape in his childhood
love of flight, and in the simple joy of tinkering with machinery. The end result
of these two passions was a heavily modified starfighter exclusive to the Chosen
One.
Anakin's starfighter began as a standard Delta-7 Aethersprite that he extensively
customized to suit his demanding tastes for speed and control. With four Taim
& Bak laser cannons bracketing each wingtip and a proton torpedo launcher
along the ship's dorsal centerline, the speedy combat vessel had greater firepower
than the standard fighter. Anakin's fighter underwent numerous modifications
in its lifetime, meaning that its performance varied depending on its latest
features or what tricked-out power plant it sported.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was concerned that his Padawan was regarding this special project
as a possession -- something frowned upon by the Jedi order. Jedi Master Saesee
Tiin, a skilled starfighter pilot, encouraged the young man to keep pushing
the fighter's limits, since he hoped to see the improvements pioneered by Skywalker
integrated into the next generation of Jedi starfighter. Despite the Jedi mandate
of severing all ties to his previous life, Anakin raised a few concerned eyebrows
by including a paint scheme similar to the one used in his beloved Podracer.
Since the varied campaigns of the Clone Wars saw atmospheric combat as well
as spaceflight, Anakin incorporated articulated stabilizer foils to assist in
maneuverability. The main vectored thrusters included articulated mounts that
allowed for greater aerial agility. Perhaps his boldest addition was a pair
of TransGalMeg hyperdrive thrusters that gave his starfighter limited hyperspace
capability. |
