GZ-0 Gladius Mk.1 Advanced Superiority Fighter

"You can only watch so many TIE fighters explode before you start thinking that maybe the Rebels are onto something."
-  Wulfric Val Sabian, Alignment Test Pilot

The GZ Gladius Mk.1 Advanced Superiority Fighter is a multi-purpose heavy starfighter produced by Project Gladius, a Pentastar Alignment naval R&D program established by Grand Admiral Grant. The fighter was engineered in part by former Incom Designer Fanak Loreon, who was recruited to the Alignment by Moff Kaine personally. The GZ-0 Mk.1 capitalizes on strengths of the T-68b platform, including on-board shielding and astromech integration, while boasting tougher armor (rated 30 ru) and stronger thrusters; in a straight line, the Gladius Mk.1 is capable of reaching 4,500 G. The fighter's fins make it maneuverable in atmosphere, though its vastly different handling in space requires its pilots to undergo extensive training before being combat rated.

Two men sat at a synthfiber table in an office in the towering Municipal Center of Entralla's historic district. While the table was a pleasant enough recreation of real lacquered wood, the rest of the room's atmosphere was stark; the table was surrounded by tomb-like sandstone walls, slanting up towards a vaulted ceiling. The only other people in the room were two robed guards who stood by the chamber's entrance, blaster carbines cradled in their arms and vibroswords at their belts. They stared straight ahead, as though dormant until needed.

Both of the men at the table wore the clean, smart uniforms of high-ranking officers, though one wore white with gold epaulets--Grand Admiral Grant--while Grand Moff Kaine contented himself with muted gray-green. Their manner with each other was familiar, even comfortable. Both observed a projected hologram.
Grand Admiral Grant scanned the report, his dark eyes flicking over details on the readout. He frowned, his most frequented expression.

"Out of all the aces in the sector, this is Zegan's prime recommendation for the Gladius's test pilot program. The woman is a mercenary, she has been flying for years in the VFCZ as a proxy for whichever corporation pays the most."

Grand Moff Kaine paused and steepled his hands on the table in front of him. "But she's the best pilot in the sector. Even her peers say so. The ones she has yet to shoot down."

"She will never sign up, she's no Imperial."

Kaine allowed himself a small, wry smile. "Neither are we," he replied.

Grant's expression was implacable. "As long as our peacekeeping forces march in stormtrooper helmets, you'll have a hard time convincing our citizens of that."

He was right, and Kaine knew it. He didn't mind the directness—he knew Grant well enough to recognize the tone was not from disrespect. The Grand Admiral simply did not mince words. It was a quality that grated on his colleagues, but enhanced his reputation among his superiors, who recognized his talents far eclipsed his table manners.

"Another problem to solve. Regardless, this girl is our best option."

Grant frown deepened as he eyed her alien features. "She is not the type to put on a recruitment vid, is she? Hardly a fitting representation of the Alignment."

He ignored this small-minded jab. He would allow Grant his prejudices, until they got in the way of his reason. "We don't need a poster boy, we need the best fighter jockey available. We have our ways of making sure the best talent works with us. And with the assets of all three corporations now under our control, we can offer a figure she's never seen in her life."

Thanks for looking.