DROP trooper

"The term D.R.O.P trooper is a double entendre. D.R.O.P stands for Disaster Relief On Position, which refers to their specialization of penetrating defensive lines to flank enemies and generally drop into areas that are otherwise hard to reach, especially on foot. But the acronym DROP also conveniently references their preferred method of entering areas of operation, using drop pods that get shot from satellite cannons to pierce the bubble surrounding Jeslore." - Hitchhiker's guide to Jeslorian militaries.  

The Drop Troopers

The DROP troopers are a recent addition to the military repertoire of the peacemakers. They were specifically founded to deal with the situation on Jeslore, but have proved equally effective at generally deploying from orbit without the need for a gunship. Gunships are always at risk of being shot down when carrying troopers, especially if they have to enter orbit first. DROP troopers circumvent this by essentially being ready for deployment as soon as they hit the ground. DROP troopers generally wear lightweight power armour and carry a variety of guns, this is generally because they are dropped in areas where there are high concentrations of enemy forces. Typically deployed in fire teams of 4-5, these elite soldiers can essentially be inserted directly behind enemy lines ready with no set up required. They are brutally effective at splitting up enemy lines or delivering aid in otherwise fortified areas.   DROP troopers are at their best when dropped directly on top of the enemy. The DROP pod itself functions a lot like a kinetic projectile, destroying fortifications and causing a shockwave that further damages the surroundings. Anyone in range of the landing zone will either be dead because of the impact, or will have been shot when the soldier exits 5 seconds after landing.   Part of DROP trooper training involves learning to cope with the impact of landing and recover in under 2 seconds. DROP troopers are only deployed once they can be dropped from orbit and exit their pod within 5 seconds of landing to make sure enemy forces can't recover and surround the soldier before they are ready to fight.   DROP trooper power armour is well-balanced, offering ample protection against small arms fire, poisonous gasses, and flamethrowers while being light enough to not require 3 generators to move around in at breakneck speeds without power supply running out. DROP trooper armour has 2 generators located on their armpits behind their back. Armour protects the generators and due to the speed DROP troopers move at, actually hitting the generators is easier said than done. DROP trooper armour allows for a jet based double jump, greater mobility and strength, and much like roamer armour has hydraulic impact compensators in the arms which lets them use heavy weaponry, but not URCA ammunition. Their armour also has an energy overshield which further protects the wearer against small arms fire generally used by unprepared defenders.   DROP troopers also get to choose an additional armour augment for their deployment. There are 5 available augments for DROP trooper armour:

• Optic camouflage - A field generator that messes with light and how it reflects, essentially turning the user invisibly to the naked eye and standard motion trackers. Thermal regulators fool thermal vision and make picking up on a DROP trooper far more difficult. Heartbeat sensors, sound detectors, and laser detection systems can still pick up on a DROP trooper armour with optic camouflage active.
• Energy aegis - A forward facing shield that acts as a one way barrier, letting projectiles through from one side but blocking them from the other. The Energy Aegis lasts for about 3 minutes and can not be moved once deployed, and the user needs to maintain line of sight with the aegis as blocking the lens will cause it to stop functioning.
• Chemical injector - A large conspicuous tank of chemicals located on the right shoulder of the armour, containing a sort of drug that disables pain processing for most races while granting an intense adrenaline rush to humans while also healing injuries. The compound is injected by way of a large needle that protrudes out of the right gauntlet on the armour. The needle can also be used as a melee weapon if need be.
• Grapple hook - A small winge on the shoulders and a grapple hook capable of sticking to any surface by way of advanced gravity manipulating technology sticking out of each gauntlet drastically increases the range and mobility of DROP troopers. The grapple hooks can also be used to grab enemies or vehicles.
• Magnet bolts - On the right hand, a magnetic jack which like the grapple hook can latch onto any surface by way of advanced gravity manipulating anchoring technology. On the other hand a magnetic anchor that pulls the jack - and whatever it is attached to - towards the anchor until they meet, after which the projectors disable and the bolts can be fired again. Extremely useful for clearing pathways or moving large enemy units or vehicles.

DROP pods

With the majority of OTS (Orbit to surface) teleporters down and most ways into Jeslore being clogged with specialist units and supply drops, the Galactic Council had to come up with alternative ways of getting boots on the ground on Jeslore. The water bubble surrounding the planet makes standard troop drops impossible without a teleporter link, and submarine space vessel hybrids were known to get attacked by the megafauna living in the bubble itself. So a new method of transportation was developed: DROP pods. DROP pods are a very small space vessel with space for a single soldier. While DROP pods are normally shot from orbits with a relatively normal apparatus, the Mk2 DROP pods for use in Jeslore are twice as sturdy as they have to pierce through a massive body of water and potentially large sea creatures before landing.   Mk2 DROP pods don't just act as troop transport tools, they also effectively function as bullets. They are shot out of large rail guns on satellites at breakneck speeds high enough to pierce through the super predators known to live in the body of water encasing Jeslore. Once through the bubble, the operator inside has to activate specially designed air brakes to drastically slow the descent. With both the standard DROP pod, and the Mk2 with its cutting edge air brake system, landing is anything but gracious nor pleasant as they essentially hit the ground in free fall. It is only by impact compensators on the inside of the DROP pod that the soldier inside is able to survive.   DROP pods are deliberately set to land at least 500 meters away from another, as the landing itself causes a massive shockwave similar to a rocket. It is for this reason DROP pods are often dropped on enemy positions, as they are excellent at breaking buildings and fortifications while safely transporting a soldier. By the time the enemies recover from the blast and realize they are under attack, the DROP trooper has already exited the pod, ready for battle.