Post by Darth Exolus on Apr 27, 2015 0:43:47 GMT
Stygian Infantry Command, special Operations & Navy
Headquartered at CITADEL Base on the planet Codia, SICON serves the Stygian Empire and her allies in times of crisis. Operated by the Imperial War Cabinet, Grand Moff Avellian Regus is credited with the foundation of this elite, private force. The Cabiner assigns regimented task forces at the request of the Imperial Sovereigns, typically for high-risk engagements. In wartime, SICOn is attached to the Star Dreadnaught Salvation, and is primarily funded by Corellian investors. Equipped with cutting-edge hardware, and trained to lethality, SICON is expected to deliver quick and concise response to threats across the Great Stygian region.
Operational History.
Founded in late 33 ABY by the then-Governor Avellian Regus, the Stygian Infantry Command, special Operations & Navy was the solution to a pressing wartime problem. The prominent figures of the Stygian Clans serving the Obsidian Union were reliant on Union forces in combat. With no home forces to call upon, Regus created, for the Sith Lord Darth Exolus, a small group of elite soldiers to test the viability of SICON. Once the task force had a proven track record, Regus was granted permission to proceed with a fierce recruitment campaign, drafting dozens of the most seasoned Stygian Militiamen into a grueling training regime. Granted the use of an abandoned Union diamond mine on Codia, Regus and Lord Exolus established CITADEL Base.
From its early days ins 34 ABY, SICON met with unexpected success, drawing in hundreds of willing men and women across the Stygian Caldera. With more soldiers than they could train, Regus was forced to conscript many of Exolus' officers as drill instructors. At the end of the year, Regus' steadfastness paid off, producing several thousand able troopers for the war effort. By mid 35 ABY, SICON experienced a second surge in numbers and training. A small group of dissatisfied Death Watch Supercommandos joined SICON, bringing with them their Mandalorian expertise, and the ruthless, no-nonsense attitude of the Death Watch. It was the last few months of the year that proved to solidify SICON's future. Secured by Corellian backers, and a dozen Rakatan scientists, Regus created Stygian Arms, an armor/weaponstech company serving the Stygian Militia, and SICON exclusively. By year's end, SICON had secured the use of the vessel Salvation, a Mandator III-class Star Dreadaught, transforming into a Mobile Infantry, ready to serve the newly-founded Stygian Empire whenever, and wherever it was needed.
For his constant pursuit of perfection, and outstanding loyalty, Regus was made one of the first Grand Moffs, and given captaincy of his own Vaiken-class Star Destroyer, along with the Imperial Sun medal.
Structure & Regime.
A primary concern for SICON, from day one, was the adaptability of its soldiers - both in combat, and out. To this extent, SICON soldiers, regardless of their specialized training, are taught a wide variety of skills. In comparison to a Union Stellar Marine, who may possess rudimentary knowledge of mechanics and field dressing, a standardized SICON Private will be trained to competence. Despite this, SICON's specific divisions are not interchangeable, and in general terms a specific division is preferred for specific tasks. Ultimately, SICON soldiers are a malleable band of men and women, though are generally divided into two distinct groups; Terrestrial Assault & Stellar Assault.
Terrestrial Assault - At its simplest, these are ground forces, consisting of the Armed Forces, Air Force & Armored Division. Terrestrial Assault soldiers can, in a pinch serve in naval engagements, just as Stellar Assault soldiers can on the ground.
[1] AX1-L Light Infantry Corps - "CENTURION" Division - C.O - Lieutenant-Commander Karina "Kari" L. Solomon (Armed Forces)
"Go anywhere, fight anywhere."
The most numerous, but by no means the most basic division, AX1 are SICON's primary assault group, and often the first sent into combat zones. Focused on their lethal application of Shock & Awe tactics, Centurions will deploy into enemy lines, and overwhelm them with superior force. Normally a tactic of attrition reserved for much larger armies, the high-end hardware sported by SICON allow the Centurions to engage the enemy in this way, and have a proven track record close to 100% success.
[2] AX2-H Heavy Infantry Corps - "CRUSADER" Division - C.O - Lieutenant-Commander Jacen N. Vaelen (Armored Division)
"Thermite-ier than the saber."
AX2 Division are, as their title suggests, a heavy infantry. Lugging heavier weapons, and boasting heavier armor, they are affectionately nicknamed "Hutties". A Crusader regiment is normally tasked with siege-breaking, hefting massive reinforced durasteel riot shields into combat. Favoring an old Korunnai tactic with a modern twist, Crusaders will often stand shoulder-to-shoulder, forming a tight phalanx, allowing other divisions to fall in safely behind them. AX2 soldiers also receive cybernetic enhancements to their upper skeletal structure to allow them to safely operate heavy blast cannons, and their large shields without risk of strain or injury.
[3] AX3-S Riflemen Corps - "PURGE" Division - C.O - Commander Malkovai "Mal" R. Solomon (Armed Forces)
"Quiet, Quick, Clean."
Consummate professionals, the riflemen and women of AX3 live very much by their motto. Filling a dual-purpose, in no small part thanks to their keen observational skills; Purge soldiers act as long-range marksmen and scouts, capable of strategic reconnaissance, as well as high-priority target elimination. Befitting their distance from their intended enemies, AX3's trade the bulky armor plating for more comfortable wears. Their weapon loadout is notedly wider than that of an AX1.
[4] AX4-A Armored Corps - "HAMMER" Division - C.O - Captain Isak R. N. Tarkus (Armored Division)
"Knock, Knock."
Though trained in live-fire combat, AX4 Division are unquestionably at home behind the controls of assault vehicles. Capable of manning walkers, wheeled vehicles, and gun platforms, AX4 are relied upon for both siege assault and anti-armor. Their signature vehicles are the Clone Wars-era All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer, and the Stygian Armsworks' COBRA Ion Tank.
[5] AX5-A Air Assault Corps - "LONGSWORD" Division - C.O - Wing Commander Alec C. Venkos (Air Force)
"We Deliver."
Gunship and combat airspeeder pilots, Longswords fill a niche that is not typically taken up by starfighter squadrons - Air-to-ground. When not dropping armored regiments or soldiers into combat, AX5's will command atmospheric fighter craft and drone fighters for use in bombing runs, air support, and long-range logistics. It is the key purpose of many AX5s to keep fresh tactical updates streaming from orbit to the ground force's AICOs.
Stellar Assault - Distinct from their counterparts, Stellar Assault consists of the Starfighter Corps, the Marine Corps, and the Naval Corps. These men and women are trained to the best of their skills in operating atarfighters, starships, and ship-based foot combat.
[1] BX1-S Starfighter Corps - "KNIGHT" Division - C.O - Flight Commander Aidan D. Eidel (Starfighter Corps)
"Putting the rogue element in their place."
Perhaps the most infamous group of individals, BX1 is also the second-smallest division, consisting of nine elite fighters squadrons (Razor, Echo, Hornet, Hammerhead, Viper, Ghost, Bandit, Sabre and Hawk). Recognized across the galaxy by their most noteworthy twelve - the Razors, BX1 operate in space, fulfilling the three-pronged role of fighter, interceptor and bomber. With the most advanced starfighters at their disposal, BX1 are more than a match for their Alliance counterparts.
[2] BX2-M Marine Corps - "PRAETOR" Division - C.O - Major-General For Vizsla (Marine Corps)
"We're the desperate measures."
Comprised of SICON's brightest and best, the BX2 Marines represent Grand Moff Regus' greatest military achievement. Regus proudly states that a single Praetor Marine can hold his or her own against a platoon of Alliance soldiers. Attesting his claims to the advanced hardware and weaponry sported by the Praetors, his claims have not been unfounded to date.
[3] BX3-N Naval Corpsmen - "STELLAR" Division - C.O - Captain Silas Gavorn (Naval Corps)
"A ship by any other name."
The Naval Corps is a catch-all term for the six starships and their crew that make up the stellar flotilla of SICON. Operating chiefly from the dreadnaught Salvation and the cruisers Titanic and Leviathan, BX3 division encompasses the naval gunners, to the officers of every vessel.
[4] BX4-M Supercommandos - "ARANAR" Division - C.O - Mandalore the Merciless Te Adenn Mand'alor - A'kkar Vorad (Marine Corps)
"Jatnese be te jatnese"
Hailing from various Mandalorian Clans allied with Death Watch, the Aranar are the fifty men and women who train the SICON soldiers from the ground up, instilling in them Mandalorian camaraderie. Disillusioned by both the bloodthirsty nature of the Death Watch, and the current police-state mentality of the Mandalorian Protectors, the Aranar joined SICON at the suggestion of former Protector For Vizsla. The Aranar amended and restored the Canons of Honor, and have since lived by them. Giving them new purpose, is a Taung hailing from the planet Rhand, styling himself as another claimant to the title of Mandalore.
All-Purpose Powered Assault Harness
A robust, full-body power armor, the All-Purpose Powered Assault Harness is arguably the most important piece of SICON hardware. The standard APAH, is composed of thirty-eight individual armor pieces that interlock via mechanized bolts. These parts are constructed from hardened durasteel sheets layered atop one another via a molecular press. The result is increased flexibility, decreased stress, and reduced weight. The outermost layer consists of a durasteel-ceramic composite, which is then treated with an energy-dispersing resin, giving it outstanding protection from most small arms fire, and is nigh-impenetrable to all but the highest caliber solid-state weapons. The innermost layers are sandwiched between four additional durasteel sheets, and are filled with hydrostatic foam, absorbing kinetic damage, preventing soldiers from being grievously wounded by falls, or from telekinetic Force Powers. Worn underneath, is a an armorweave mesh bodysuit, able to regulate temperature, and also feature micro hardpoints for assembling the armor pieces together quickly. Due to the hazardous nature of assignments, the suits are capable of locking down their environmental seals, protecting their occupiers, and providing them with clean air.
Regardless of variation, all APAH suits feature a universal optics package - the Adaptive Intelligence Combat Optics (AICO). Fitted between two polarizing layers of reinforced transparisteel, the AICO is a miniature heads-up display, featuring dozens of useful pieces of firmware and software. Capable of a broad visual scope, the AICO can see in most wavelengths of light, including EMV, Night, Heat, Infrared and Rontgen. It is linked via wireless, to an on-board computer, regulated by "dumb" A.Is, that process terabytes of information in real-time, and can relay tactical updates, topography, and live satellite/surveillance feeds to a holoprojector. Rank is not usually displayed on the armor, as it is denoted by holoprojection via the AICO.
In order to meet the vast power demands for such advanced armor, each APAH is powered by the fusion-pack sized variant of the VIPER-R reactor, providing the suits with superior k-joint energy dispersion. This allows a typical grunt the lifting capacity of roughly two and a half tons. Certain variants of the APAH interface with an implanted chip, that boosts the reaction times of the soldiers that wear them, though cybernetic augmentations are typically required in order to utilize the suits without fear of injury. The look of the APAH represents a design aesthetic between the Cold War era Resolute Protectors, and the Galactic Civil War Imperial Stormtroopers. With more aggressive lines, the overall appearance of the APAH is intended to intimidate foes, while retaining a cost-effective universal design.
CITADEL Base
The primary garrison base for the Stygian Infantry Command, special Operations and Navy (SICON), CITADEL Base is located on the northern polar region of the planet Codia. Constructed inside a disused Republic diamond mine, Citadel serves a dual purpose - That of a permanent regiment station for SICON troopers, and as a secure research and development facility, where all new kit is field tested. Covering a fifteen mile radius of rough, hilly terrain, the mine in which the base is built, is located inside a plot of raised land, and extends two miles underground via reconstructed mine shafts. The base border is protected by a network of sensor relays, while security around the base proper is carefully hidden, but is by no means light.
Divided into six levels, each with a specific purpose relative to the depth and security of Citadel, it is accessible by shuttle, or all-terrain vehicles.
Level AUREK - Base Exterior - The main building contains a reception, and minor administration offices, with access to a small landing pad which accepts official visitors. The main foyer leads to an extended catwalk which allows entry into the base proper. Outside the main building are two large towers, housing the assembly and generators for the Hadron defense cannons, capable of crippling an orbiting warship.
Level BESH - Secure Checkpoint - Though technically on the same elevation as Level AUREK, Level BESH is the last stop before the two mile descent into the bowels of Citadel Base. With tight security, and dozens of feet of solid rock, visitors are encouraged not to bring weapons to this point. Armed escorts coordinate between the upper checkpoint, and lower checkpoint to ensure no foul play.
Sublevel BESH - Turbolift corral - A series of four turbolift shafts, spaced evenly apart. Constructed from reinforced, surge-proofed durasteel, these turbolifts are designed to ensure safe, and speed egress to the lower levels. In the unlikely event of espionage of potential sabotage, the lifts are programmed to respond to a unique code, accessed by physical keys from two security personnel simultaneously. Due to the nature of SICON's experimental technology, every precaution is taken to ensure it remains within Union hands.
Level CRESH - Barracks & Armory - The live-in security team residence, and barracks for visiting soldiers. Designed for comfort, and maximum space, the barracks are adjacent to the armory/fire hall. They are placed a flight of stairs above Level DORN, where the more sensitive materials are stored. Security at this point, is understandably high, with door guards and constant weapons checs.
Level DORN - Research Labs & Secure Storage - A massive, cavernous complex, the Research & Development Labs are housed alongside a secure storage facility. Operated by both Stygian technicians and Rakatan Fabricators, it is here that SICON creates their new technologies for use in combat. Based chiefly on advanced, Gree-derived Rakatan designs, most products coming from the labs are specifically utilized in combat. The Rakata work closely with the technicians to redevelop and reverse-engineer the lost technology that built the Star Forge. Their most notable creation, is the VIPER (Variable Istotope Photon-Energized Reactor) generator. A complex battery using either high istotopes of Palladium (Pd-107) or llerium (Il-105/Istotope-5) to create a self-sustaining high-energy reaction which meets the huge power demands normally filled by elaborate devices that channel and focus Force energy.
The storage facilities house the various prototypes that are either retired, or in safe lockdown for further development and testing. Indexed relative to their importance, they are all sealed in a hangar-sized warehouse with robust security failsafes.
Level ESK - Network & Power Generator Access - The information hub/thinktank, where theoretical research is carried out. It is here that dozens of scientific minds reverse-engineer Rakatan blueprints, reproduced from salvaged technology, such as ancient Rakatan Datacrons. Stored in a hub of servers, no one official has complete access to the grid, and the staff live in the facility, reducing the chances of espionage. From the network, the engineering staff may access the base's generators, a single, massive VIPER generator, supplemented by traditional low-power fusion reactors as backups.
Current Projects.
All-Terrain Autonomous Exosuit (AT-AE) "Warframes"
The flagship project of SICON's armsworks, the All-Terrain Autonomous Exosuit represents a dramatic departure from the Kuat line of mechanized armor. Nicknamed the "Warframe" on the basis that each AT-AE is more 'worn' than 'operated', this new product is intended to blur the line between infantry and vehicle. Like most SICON projects, the Warframe is intended to be widely modular, able to accept mission-specific armament, with the ability to be re-outfitted in the field, as per strategem shifts.
Initially a think tank, the AT-AE was created, simply to prove the technology exists for a more effective walker unit. Taken seriously as the threat of Alliance counterattack rises, the past few months have seen a radical refit of the proof-of-concept models, as well as the introduction of the first production models. Each Warframe is powered by the new VIPER-R Core, which is capable of meeting the AT-AE's tremendous power demand. Befitting their modular nature, no Warframe has fixed, permenant weaponry. Instead, each unit is equipped with several hardpoints, to which standard warhead launchers, and many small-scale ship weaponry may be linked via universal sockets. It is therefore not uncommon to see, for example, an AT-AE heft mortar launchers, and blaster cannons from a starfighter, into combat.
RH-MU1/1A "Anvil"
The original Warframe, and the testbed for many of the improvements future AT-AEs would possess. A four-month testing period resulted in the first combat-ready AT-AE, the RH-MU1/1A. Given the nickname the "Anvil" due to the distinctive shape of its cockpit, the Anvil was mostly considered an unsung hero, as its power draws were immense. Now, with the arrival of new power cores, the Anvil has produly taken its place as a "heavy" AT-AE, standing slightly taller than an AT-PT.
DE-AU2/1M "Mantis"
Using what was learned from the Anvil, the Mantis was made smaller, lighter, and sleeker than its cousin. The Mantis exists as three prototype designs, intended as 'wearable walkers'. Each clock in at roughly eight feet in height, and can be manipulated by limb controls from the control dock. With the addition of standard repulsorlifts, the Mantis is capable of temporary flight, greatly increasing its mobility.
PX-SU3/1T "Tempest"
Smaller still than the Mantis from which is was derived, the Tempest is a mere seven feet tall, and can easily be operated by a vehicular expert. Outfitted with thrusters, and improvements across the board, the Tempest can perform sustained flight, and carry a myriad of weaponry onto the field. Due to the outrageous costs of each unit, currently only a squad of five Tempests are in existence.
Ultra-High Energy Hadron Particle Accelerator (UHEHPA) "Hadron Cannon".
An experimental assault weapon, the Hadron Cannon fires ultra-high energy protons suspended in dense streams of ion particles, accelerated to near lightspeed by a hypermatter accelerator. Functionally similar to a mass-driver, a shot from a Hadron produces incredibly high rates of kinetic energy (roughly the equivalent of a small fissile bomb, producing up to sixty Terajoule of kinetic energy in-atmosphere) but relatively low light-based energy. The force of the proton blast is enough to rupture most unshielded military-grade hull plating, while its ionic output is enough to violently overload all but high-end deflectors shields. The weapon's projected target yield shows that it is capable of outright crippling an Imperial II-class Star Destroyer with a single, full-power shot. The costs of operating and maintaining both a Hadron, and its intended power supply are prohibitively expensive, exceeding that of an annual running cost of an Imperial II based on Illerium costs alone.
Currently, only two full-scale Hadron Cannons exist in a functional state - Both located at CITADEL Base. Numerous small-scale Hadrons have been developed for exclusive use with the Recalcitrant-class Star Destroy, a small, 450m cruiser intended to punch through enemy support lines, and cripple point-defense vessels.
VIPER (Variable Istotope Photon-Energized Reactor) Multi-Isotope Radio-Decay System.
A new, efficient generator that produces considerable power output relative to its fuel source, the VIPER is of Rakatan origins, based on their machines that utilized Force energy as a fuel source. Reverse-engineered to accept high isotopes of Palladium, such as Pd-103, 105 and 107, as well as the more potent, but expensive Illerium isotope, Il-105, better known as Isotope-5. The isotopes are subjected to an artificially-accelerated beta radio decay, using a standard electrical discharge. The reaction produces incredibly high-energy electrons and deadly levels of self-contained gamma radiation. Able to be constructed in various sizes relative to the device which it powers, the VIPER can be found in a standard fusion pack, up to a large-scale generator.
Composed of a solid Palladium-Illerate core, the VIPER features many components found in a lightsaber, and operates under somewhat similar principles, featuring electromagnetic coil rings, magnetic field generators, and a series of electrical nodes. Though not the intended purpose of the VIPER, it can be fixed to a hyperdrive's field guide, in place of a standard hypermatter annihilator. By producing such high levels of gamma radiation necessary for hyperspace travel, a modified VIPER (featuring the Force energy collector) can achieve a 0.4 lightspeed rating, matched only by Sekotan bioships. The VIPER currently is issued in three models - the ship-rated DSD-1 reactor, the DSD-R small-scale battery, and the personal-sized DSD-1B core.
Working mechanics of the VIPER;
Using external power, Pd-103 is ionized by an electric arc, and accelerated to high velocity in the outer ring. Pd-107 in the inner core starts to emit high-energy electrons as it decays to Ag-107. The electrons escape the core and are directed by magnetic fields into the outer ring. Lack of electrons creates a net positive charge in the core, which slows further emission (preventing run-away decay) until the electrons can be externally replenished via a superconducting loop, similar to those found in a lightsaber. In the outer ring, the high-energy free electrons collide with high-energy Pd-103 ions. This causes instantaneous electron capture and gamma ray emission. The gamma rays are deflected inward towards the core, thus catalyzing further electron emission and producing a self-sustaining reaction. Note that the reaction is self-sustaining, but very slow while the reactor is idle.
The electron flow from the inner core to the outer core creates an electric potential difference. When a circuit is created through the cell's electrical nodes, the outer ring has an excess of electrons and the inner core has a shortage of electrons. This creates current. The electrical current through an external node relieves the electrostatic charge accumulations that initially slow the reactions. The less power the reactor draws, the slower the reactor produces radioactive decay, and the more power the reactor draws, the faster the reactions are catalyzed. In this way the power output automatically throttles according to demand. The Palladium slowly converts to Rh-103 and Ag-107, and the reactor eventually runs out of power when the Palladium core is fully consumed, though this process can take years.
The electron flow from the inner core to the outer core creates an electric potential difference. When a circuit is created through the cell's electrical nodes, the outer ring has an excess of electrons and the inner core has a shortage of electrons. This creates current. The electrical current through an external node relieves the electrostatic charge accumulations that initially slow the reactions. The less power the reactor draws, the slower the reactor produces radioactive decay, and the more power the reactor draws, the faster the reactions are catalyzed. In this way the power output automatically throttles according to demand. The Palladium slowly converts to Rh-103 and Ag-107, and the reactor eventually runs out of power when the Palladium core is fully consumed, though this process can take years.
Fleet Composition
Mandator III-class Star Dreadnaught
Salvation
Recalcitrant-class Star Destroyer
Anadight
Veltraa-class Cruiser
Leviathan
Titanic
Behemoth
Goliath
Colossus
Vaiken-class Star Destroyer
Korriban
Ziost
Malachor V
Khar Delba
New Bethrezen
Salvation
Recalcitrant-class Star Destroyer
Anadight
Veltraa-class Cruiser
Leviathan
Titanic
Behemoth
Goliath
Colossus
Vaiken-class Star Destroyer
Korriban
Ziost
Malachor V
Khar Delba
New Bethrezen