Naval Command decided they wanted a whole new elite squad formed for TIE Phantom pilots. To be selected, you had to have been a TIE Interceptor pilot and had to have been a veteran of at least twenty combat missions.
—Obsidian One
Obsidian Squadron was a squadron of elite TIE Phantom pilots in the Imperial Navy that fought for the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War, Operation Shadow Hand, the Imperial Civil War, and the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion. It was made up of eight ace pilots, all veterans of over thirty combat missions. It was part of the Imperial Navy Special Operations Command, a direct response to the many successes enjoyed by the Rebel Navy.
It was a close-knit unit. The eight pilots treated each other almost like brothers, and terms like 'sir' were usually not used, every pilot thought of each other as equals. Obsidian Squadron was one of the most respected units in the Imperial military, and one of the most feared by Rebels. They were known to be emotionless in battle and had incredible precision. They were nicknamed 'black demons' by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence.
History[]
Formation[]
Three squadrons will make up the newly formed Navy Special Operations Command: Obsidian, Saber, and Onyx.
—Moff Council
The Imperial Navy was combating pirates and early Rebel forces as of 1 BBY. The Rebellion's fleet was significant, and hey had multiple fighter squadrons that achieved many victories against the Empire. The Naval Command grew tired of the defeats, and received permission to create the Imperial Navy Special Operations Command, a naval branch of the Galactic Empire Special Operations Command, to combat the Rebel navy on a more direct scale. It was made up of three squadrons: Obsidian Squadron, a unit specializing in using the newly developed TIE Phantom fighters, Saber Squadron, a unit that used the fast and agile TIE/In interceptors, and the Onyx Squadron, which used the also newly developed TIE/D Defender.
The Imperial Navy Special Aerospace Combat Echelon, a unit of special forces pilots, was disbanded and reformed into the Navy Special Operations, and it's pilots were assigned into the three squadrons. Originally, they piloted regular TIE fighters, and were retrained in piloting whatever models their unit used. In total, there were nineteen pilots total (eight in Obsidian, six in Saber, and five in Onyx). Each squadron operated and worked differently, and were used for different specific operations.
The pilots of the Obsidian squadron were given a base on Moorja. The base was composed of three large bunkers, one hangar, and two towers. Large walls surrounded it, and the base had a staff of officers and was guarded by Imperial Navy commandos. It is unknown wether the other squadrons used the base as their headquarters, though it was said in an official statement that it served as the general headquarters for the Navy Special Operations Command.
Craft[]
A TIE Phantom of the Squadron.