MAJ Sam Arsio has been assigned as Alpha Squadron's Executive Officer. Congratulations and good luck in your new role!
Round Two saw the forces of the TIE Corps emerge victorious against the pitiful First Order vessels that we engaged. All three theaters of operations saw our brave pilots put the enemy to the sword, although we did yet again take damage to our fleet and whilst no vessels have yet been forced to withdraw from combat operations, we are not far from that eventuality.
This weekend sees us engage in yet another skirmish - our forces have come together in one large formation featuring all three Battlegroups as we do battle with a enemy asteroid research facility and SIX Light Cruisers that are protecting it.
Our missions can be found here: https://tc.emperorshammer.org/competitions.php?id=8073&view=scores&round=3
The combat window opens at 00:01 Saturday UTC and like last weekend runs until 23:59 Sunday UTC.
Happy hunting!
Pilots of the TIE Corps,
Imperial Storm proceeds once more with Round Two!
Our forces, having emerged victorious from the weekends encounter with the First Order are moving ever deeper into enemy territory. Your Battlegroup Commanders have dispatched their orders to the fleet and we have a new round of combat - that commences at 00:01 UTC Wednesday morning and runs through until 23:59 UTC Thursday evening.
You can check the clock at the bottom left of this page to see the current time!
The missions assigned can be found here: https://tc.emperorshammer.org/competitions.php?id=8073&view=scores&round=2
Happy Hunting!
System 45014X/A
A powerful Imperial strike group—anchored by the ISD‑II Challenge and ISD‑II Warrior, with Arquitens cruisers and corvettes drawn from all three Battlegroups—has moved into attack formation against an aging First Order logistics station. The installation was caught mid‑operation, supported only by two Light Cruisers, and is now under direct assault.System 45014X/B
The ISD‑II Grey Wolf and ISD‑II Relentless, flanking the MC‑90 Renegade, have advanced on a First Order shipyard. Their attack is reinforced by a combined fleet from all three Battlegroups:
- BG3: MC‑40 Roost with its escorting frigates and cruisers
- BG2: Interdictor Xanthe supported by frigates and corvettes
- BG1: Interdictor Vertex screened by Arquitens cruisers and corvettes
Enemy defenses consist of a lightly armed shipyard and three Light Cruisers already in the battlespace. Two Maxima‑class Heavy Cruisers are powering up and preparing to leave dock, though the remaining three appear unready for combat.
System 45014X/C
A force led by the ISD‑II Hammer and MC‑80b Torment, accompanied by multiple cruisers, a frigate, and several corvettes, has intercepted a convoy of twelve freighters—likely en route to reinforce the shipyard under attack. The convoy is escorted by three Light Cruisers, which are now engaged.
The dust has settled on the initial round of battles between the Emperor's Hammer and the First Order.
Our forces were busy fighting in three different theaters over the weekend, with the ISD-II Challenge leading a task force in System X-48593/A where the task force was victorious, eliminating a enemy depot protected by a pair of Cruisers. Damage reports are still coming in, but are rumoured to be light with no TC capital ships destroyed, although some will be needing a lick of paint no doubt.
In System X-48593/B (Eisvahn System) the objective was the retrieval of intelligence from an orbital installation’s data core. A large, multi‑Battlegroup force spearheaded by the ISD-II Warrior successfully infiltrated the system, outmaneuvered the defenders, and secured the core. The enemy response was formidable with four Maxima-class Heavy Cruisers, four Light Cruisers, and a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer - all of which were eliminated. While no major TIE Corps vessels were lost, several sustained heavy damage. Full assessments are still incoming.
Finally in System X-48593/C, a group led by the ISD-II Hammer, escorted by the ISD-II Relentless and the MC-80b Torment alongside other vessels came across a enemy patrol. The enemy Heavy Cruiser and it's attendant pair of Light Cruisers were all successfully eliminated with minimal damage to the TIE Corps forces.
The recovered intelligence core has been transferred by shuttle to the SSD Avenger, where technicians under SA Kamjin’s direction have begun decoding its contents. Updates will follow as analysis progresses.
Meanwhile, TIE Corps forces continue their advance into what is believed to be First Order territory. The next engagement window is scheduled for 00:01 Wednesday, April 8th through 23:59 Thursday, April 9th (UTC).
The retirement of GN Aardvark leaves massive shoes to fill in the Kappa CMDR position. In search of the most qualified candidate, a Corps-wide open application process shall be conducted.
To apply, contact AD Alexandre Morgan via email (ossusplayz@gmail.com). An application form will then be provided. All applications must be returned by midnight UTC, April 20th.
All interested pilots are encouraged to apply.
The latest issue of the Dark Voice has been released! Download it here!
In this issue, we have an overview of the Secret Order events for Imperial Storm VIII, selected works from the recent Red Sun Heist 2 competition, recent creative works, and more!
The Dark Voice is a quarterly publication that encompasses a variety of news, art, fiction, and more from membership of the Order. For more information, please review the Dark Voice entry in the Dark Side Compendium.
Please direct all feedback to the Herald's office!
In conjunction with having been awarded the Gold Star of the Empire for his service, it's my distinctly less happy duty to announce the retirement of GN Aardvark to the Reserves. He served well as the Commander of Kappa Squadron and he'll be missed. I hope that he's able to return to active duty somewhere down the line.
At the risk of getting ahead of a formal application process, anyone interested in becoming the next KMDR should contact AD Alexandre Morgan.
From BGCOM/AD Alexandre Morgan:
General Aardvark has served as Kappa Squadron’s CMDR for over five continuous and active years, a longevity that certainly surpasses any modern-era record. During this time he flew over 2,300 Legions of Skirmish, completed over 30 Imperial University courses, participated in countless competitions while running eight of his own, reviewed and debugged dozens of single player simulation missions, and earned every award thinkable, from Flight Rating medals and dozens of each merit medal to nearly every variety of Iron Star, including doubling up on the elusive Platinum Wings.
Throughout his tenure as Kappa CMDR he climbed the ranks, receiving his Commander promotion upon his assumption of the role (within less than a year of his arrival in the fleet) and eventually topping the line rank charts with General in the latter half of 33 ABY.
More important than any personal achievement - and his are many enough to fill an award recommendation five times this long - is the impact that he has had on his squadron, his Battlegroup, and the Corps at large. Having a continuous and stable presence at the helm of a unit is a rare blessing, and when that presence happens to be the sage and level-headed Aardvark, individuals under his care flourish. The Crimson Dragons over the years have been an illustrious unit, containing within its ranks veterans and determined Lieutenants alike, a future BG2COM, and countless familiar names around the Corps, demonstrating that Aardvark’s investment in his pilots and his squadron pays off.
His steady hand and dedicated leadership also shines during the annual Corps-wide competitions, where Kappa Squadron consistently shows up to support the Battlegroup, bringing significant activity and its characteristic hype.
For his consistent and diverse activity, his dedication to commanding Kappa for five years, his managerial success, and his impact on the Corps that will certainly be appreciated for many more years to come, I am proud to recommend that GN Aardvark be awarded the Gold Star of the Empire. Congratulations, General - and thank you for your service.
Following his stepping back to a Flight Member role, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on COL fr0Zen's service as the Commander of Battlegroup II. BGII continued its long history of success under VA fr0Zen's command with strong performance in multiple TIE Corps events, steadfast support of the battlegroup's squadrons and their pilots, and patient management of the occasional but inevitable complications that come with leading a unit at that level. In my own interactions with him, I was always struck by the way that he wanted to find the right solution for everyone involved and not let anyone down. I'd say that he'd succeeded far more often not, even in complex situations where not everything could be the way we wanted them to turn out. If I get a chance to work with him directly again, I'll consider myself lucky and benefit once more from his commitment to duty and his fellow officers.
Noting that his story isn't over yet and his service to the TIE Corps continues, I'm proud to award COL fr0Zen the Gold Star of the Empire for his achievements to date and look forward to seeing more from him in the future.
From Battlegroup II BGCOM AD Alexandre Morgan:
Not many individuals can seamlessly dive from a Flight Leader position to commanding an entire squadron - and right before Raise the Flag, at that. In only her second month as CMDR, MsMayham led the squadron to a fantastic fifth-place finish among all squadrons, and personally finished within the top ten pilots, as well.
During these first two months as CMDR, MsMayham demonstrated a high level of personal activity and cockpit competency, flying over four hundred Legion missions, completing sixteen Imperial University courses, and creating and leading or participating in several squadron morale competition events. For her strong start to the CMDR position, I am proud to recommend MsMayham be promoted to the rank of Major with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities entailed.
Congratulations, MAJ MsMayham!
Due to the change in Battlegroup Command, this promotion is enacted retroactively dated October 31st.
From Firebird Squadron CMDR GN Master:
LCM Tax has been a standout addition to Firebird Squadron since mid‑2025. He didn’t settle for being an active FM , he stepped into the FL role and has continue to ensure the squadron shines brightly.
In the cockpit he’s reliable, sharp, and exactly where you need him. In the squadron he strengthens every operation.
For his performance and leadership, I proudly recommend LCM Tax for promotion to Commander.
Congratulations, CM Tax!
This promotion is enacted retroactively dated January 31st.
Pilots of the TIE Corps,
The first battle of Imperial Storm VIII is upon us!
Moments ago, the combined elements of the TIE Corps Battlegroups began a coordinated strike into territories claimed by this so-called First Order. All of our forces are now committed to battle in three different star systems over the next 48 hours.
The full details can be found in my announcement here: https://tc.emperorshammer.org/showreport.php?id=28191 which includes the initial fiction from SA Kamjin Maverick Lap'lamiz. A detailed breakdown of the battles is also included in the report.
However in short.. you have from 00:01 UTC Saturday until 23:59 UTC Sunday to fly the following 4 FREE missions.
All Legions (PvE/PvP) will also count for our scoring in battle! The tracker can be found here: https://tc.emperorshammer.org/competitions.php?id=8073&view=scores&round=1TIE-F 114: TAC Incident
https://tc.emperorshammer.org/download.php?id=363&type=infoXvT-F 232: Wing Commander's Own 2009 #2: hakkii Station
https://tc.emperorshammer.org/download.php?id=1399&type=infoXWA-F 157: Dempsey: The End of an Era
https://tc.emperorshammer.org/download.php?id=1452&type=infoTFTC-F 10: Imperial Storm VIII: Information Raid
https://tc.emperorshammer.org/download.php?id=1549&type=info
Continuing the planned Tactical Office announcements is that we have added the single player campaigns for both Balance of Power and X-Wing Alliance. You may now submit BSF for these campaigns just like any other single player content. Please do note that Emperor’s Hammer custom missions and patches effect these base games and all flying for these campaigns should only be done on "clean" installations of the games.
To celebrate their addition we are also holding a competition to see who can fly the most of these "new" missions.
Pilots of the TIE Corps,
Imperial Storm VIII launches in just a few hours. This annual campaign once again pits our Battlegroups against a formidable enemy while advancing the wider narrative of the Emperor’s Hammer.
Picking up from the events of 2025, we continue our push through territory held by another Imperial remnant - the so‑called First Order.
Our forces now enter a new phase of the campaign. We’ve moved into a sparsely populated region of space dotted with several star systems. Early reconnaissance places the Eisvahn System directly along our route, presenting an ideal target for an intelligence raid. Two additional systems remain unscouted and may hold inhabited worlds, hostile forces, or nothing at all.
The first battle of this years Imperial Storm VIII begins at 00:01 on Saturday April 4th and runs until 23:59 on Sunday April 5th (GMT, per the TC Database), during which time all activity across Legions of Combat, Legions of Skirmish and performance in a quartet of specified battles (1 each for TIE Fighter, X-Wing vs TIE Fighter, X-Wing Alliance, TIE Fighter Total Conversion - including a fresh mission from COL Jagged Fel III) will dictate how we perform in our mission, our fate is truly in your hands!
Subsequent battles will occur on Wednesday-Thursday and Saturday-Sundays throughout the month.
Prepare your ships, ready your squadrons, and stand by for deployment.
The storm is nearly upon us.
Competition Entry and Guide: Imperial Storm Competition Entry
The Battle Centre with maps, briefings etc as the competition progresses: Imperial Storm Battle Centre
After months of hard work, and a breakneck month of remedial testing, the Tactical Office is pleased to announce that all Emperor’s Hammer Battles and missions for TIE Fighter Total Conversion have now been updated to v1.4!
With this update, all pilots who wish to fly any TFTC missions should have the latest version (v1.4) installed (do not use 1.3.4!). As a reminder, please make sure to install all hot fixes that the TFTC team have posted on their Discord server (if you do not have access to the TFTC Discord server, please contact the Tactical Office for the needed files) and ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT that you always update your hooks before flying!!
We in the Tactical Office have made every effort to make sure these missions are suitable for v1.4, but due to the sheer number of released missions, were not able to test every mission at every difficulty level. If you notice anything in a mission that doesn't seem right, or a mission that is too difficult, please reach out to the Tactical Office. We will address all reported issues as quickly as possible.
I want to also give special recognition to GN Master and AD Locke Setzer for their continued dedication to the Tactical Office and the Emperor’s Hammer’s as a whole for their impressive testing efforts over this last month.
For giving us a first insight into his character through the INPR, SL Anton Vanmel of Tempest Squadron has been promoted to full Lieutenant.
Congratulations, LT Anton Vanmel!
From Kappa Squadron CMDR GN Aardvark:
LT Dumnonius has proven to be a valued member of Kappa Squadron. He frequently participates in SW: Squadrons flight nights and has proven his bravery and skill by earning many Legions for victory in honorable multiplayer combat. Having earned two merit medals and scoring 100% on his TCORE examination, I am pleased to recommend that LT Dumnonius is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Congratulations, LCM Dumnonius!
This promotion is enacted retroactively dated January 31st.
MAJ OL"Davy Jonez has been selected to be the next CMDR of Rho Squadron following COL Alexandre Morgan's promotion to BG2COM. Congratulations and good luck in your new role, MAJ Jonez!
Just in time for Imperial Storm VIII, longtime Rho CMDR and former Reconnaissance Officer AD Alexandre Morgan has been chosen to be the next Commander of Battlegroup II.
One of the primary duties of a BGCOM is supporting the squadrons assigned to the battlegroup and I know that Kappa, Rho, Sin, Spear, and Theta will be in good hands under AD Morgan. Other BGCOM duties include selecting new CMDRs, approving recommendations from the monthly squadron evaluations, and awarding achievement medals from FCHG and combat ratings.
It's an exciting time to be entering a new position as we ramp up the Corps-wide event schedule. Imperial Storm puts a lot of control in the hands of each of the BGCOMs between fleet maneuvers and strategic decision-making. Squadron (Re)Mobilization focuses on the squadrons but there are opportunities for the BGCOMs to set up each squadron for success. AD Morgan also will be leading BGII as the returning champions in Raise the Flag later this year.
Congratulations and good luck in your new role, AD Morgan!
The storm is coming... April 1st
The story so far:
Years ago, Grand Admiral Rapier sensed a dark calling from deep within the Unknown Regions. Conferring with the Grand Master of the Secret Order and the TIE Corps Commander it was decided to send a portion of the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet to seek out the source of this dark presence, and deal with any hostilities along the way.
It was a long and arduous journey, with many foes en route, but just one standard year ago the scouts of the Fleet discovered another, seemingly Imperial, faction within the area of the Chaos of the Unknown Region. This faction, who referred to themselves as the First Order, fielded craft of obvious Imperial extraction, upgraded TIE Fighters and Star Destroyers and the like. But they also were infected by the prideful rot that had consumed the Empire in the latter years. Without discussion, their commander, one Grand Marshal Hoshiko Takeda, had DEMANDED the complete surrender of the Emperor’s Hammer to her authority and claimed the leadership of the Fleet was illegitimate and illegal.
Needless to say, this did not sit well with the Grand Admiral, nor the pilots under his command, so the Emperor's Hammer went to war with the First Order. It started with a month-long campaign in the Gasriese System culminating in the capture of a Fuel Depot above the gas giant Zephyron, HydroStation 77. Grand Marshal Takeda escaped the system before the forces of the Emperor's Hammer took complete control of the system....
The Herald's Office is now accepting submissions for Dark Voice #3!
As always, submissions may include any previously submitted art, fiction, or media that could be published within an newsletter that has not previously been featured in an issue of the Dark Voice. New creations may be included as well, but this is not a requirement!
Submissions should be sent directly to the Herald, via email (locke.f.setzer@gmail.com), Discord (LockeSetzer) or the #herald-inbox channel on the Discord server.
Submissions will be open from now through March 30th, 2026. A Letter of Achievement will be awarded to each member whose submission is accepted for inclusion in the next issue of the Dark Voice.
Please reach out to the Herald with any questions you may have.
Thank you!