New Republic Trooper

New Republic Troopers were the unsung backbone of the New Republic Defense Force, forming both the New Republic Army and the marine combat units of the Defense Fleet. They were responsible for various defensive and offensive duties in the conflicts following the New Republic's founding in 4 ABY.

## History

Immediately following the formation of the New Republic, the combat personnel of the newly formed Defense Force were equally as scattered and unequal in uniform and equipment as they were weeks before in the Rebel Alliance and in the temporary Alliance of Free Planets. Naturally, one of the first improvements to be made was to better standardize their equipment and training.

The abolition of the New Republic Army in 12 ABY, redistributing responsibility to the New Republic Marines and local Planetary Security Forces significantly lowered the reliance on Republic Troopers, and those who were a part of the Army had the options to transfer to the growing Marine division of the Defense Fleet, enlist in a local Planetary Security Force, or otherwise retire. The reestablishment of the Army in 21 ABY would again see the rise in prevalence of Republic Troopers, including some who chose to reenlist.

In 29 ABY, New Republic troopers were unable to hold back Mandalorian warriors in the latter's Seizure of Coruscant, part of the First Sith-Mandalorian War. They would be present to protect the retreating Republic in their temporary headquarters on Makasa Prime. Republic military personnel would then take part in the Liberation of Coruscant.

In 30 ABY, the small defensive garrisons on various Mid and Outer Rim planets were again insufficient to ward off the Mandalorians in their conquest. Although many put up fights, sometimes with improvised equipment, many more surrendered or went into hiding. When Mandalore and the Sith Empire finally reached Coruscant, New Republic Troopers, as well as the various police forces and Tirannan Industries droids they were fighting alongside, were ultimately no match for the millions of Mandalorian warriors who were forced to land on the planet after escaping their damaged fleet. Many were evacuated, while many more gave their lives to cover the evacuation of civilians and other Republic personnel.

## Equipment

### Weaponry

Originally unorganized, New Republic Troopers made frequent use of commonly available weapons including the BlasTech A-280 and DH-17, or the Imperial issued E-11. For a sidearm, the DL-18 and DL-44 were common choices.

Following BlasTech's introduction of the E-36 series of blasters, those became the standardized, mass issued, weapons. With the eventual reestablishment of the New Republic Army, the E-36 Blaster rifle would become one of the most commonly used models, alongside the E-36s, leaving the E-36c and later the E-36k to Marines and close quarters forces. These would be supplemented by an unidentified light repeating blaster at the fire team level, the F-Web Repeating blaster in fixed positions, and the HH-15 projectile launcher for anti-vehicle use. While every trooper generally carried a couple of grenades, dedicated grenadiers carried a Z50 Grenade launcher.

The growing threat of the Mandalorian Empire and its beskar clad warriors in 29 and 30 ABY led the New Republic to purchase large numbers of Tirannan Industries-produced weapons, especially the D-X1 Disruptor Rifle, the D-2 Disruptor Wide Beam Cannon, and the TI-GRS Mag Pistol to fill rifle, support, and sidearm roles respectively. Following the Evacuation of Coruscant and the Republic's newfound limit on weapon acquisitions, Tirannan Industries' weapons began to almost exclusively be used by New Republic Troopers. In addition to these three weapons, the LX-1 Laser rifle was issued as a marksman rifle; and the TI-GFL Flechette Gun, GRR Rail Rifle, GAP Auto-pistol, and the SA-3 Sonic Wave generator were all included in Republic armories for specific missions. The Z50 continued to be used as it was being replaced by the TI/MDGL-1 Grenade launcher. The TI-GRM Missile Launcher and TI-GRC Team-Operated Rail Cannon found their place as carried and emplaced anti-vehicle weaponry respectively, and the reliable F-Web continued to be used. The assortment of grenade varieties available to the Troopers remained as large and specific as before, but the most common types to be used still were: fragmentation, EMP, and smoke grenades; flashbangs; and various models of thermal detonators, including a code-keyed detonator on the back of every trooper's utility belt.

Keeping it's place and reputation as equally utilitarian and lethal, the aK-raB clip-point vibrodagger was the longest serving individual weapon in New Republic military history. When a less lethal, close range weapon was required, a snap baton could be carried on the utility belt.

### Armor

For most of the New Republic's history, Republic Troopers wore little functional armor over their utilitarian uniforms. Usually just an open-faced helmet, chestplate, and joint padding, the issued armor was designed to preserve mobility while offering protection in the areas most likely to be targeted.

Following the reestablishment of the New Republic Army and, two years later, the unification of the Imperial Remnant and the Sith as the Galactic Sith Empire, the New Republic Defense Force's Military Research Division began work on what it codenamed Project Blue Mantle. The resulting Armored Combat Uniform closely rivaled the Empire's Stormtrooper armor as the Republic became concerned about the growing threat of a war between the two governments.

Featuring a full-coverage helmet, which offered much more than basic protection; an improved protective vest; and lighter weight armor components where possible, when compared to Stormtrooper armor; the ACU was a vast improvement in protection and capabilities for the individual trooper.

### Other

New Republic Troopers had an assortment of gear that could be carried in their utility belt, on their vest, or in an assault pack.

The utility belt typically carried a small medpack, a day's worth of energy rations, and tree ion flares for signaling purposes. 50 feet of high tension wire, along with two grappling hooks with fibercord cables supplied enough cordage that one might need, complemented by up to fifteen nylasteel restraints as needed. A spare, handheld C1 comlink that was hardwired against jamming was standard issue, and could be passed off should the situation demand it. A pair of energy sinks, a combat de-ionizer, an electronic lock scrambler/descrambler, and a resonator to open secure doors were all carried on the belt. Lastly a waterproof physical compass was carried as a backup navigation device, a code cylinder may be carried to access Republic facilities, and a baradium-core code key thermal detonator was carried on the rear of the belt.

The vest could be configured according to several different roles, but the "assault" configuration was by far the most common. This configuration emphasized a general purpose pouch and a medpack in the middle, surrounded on either side by up to four grenade pouches and two sidearm magazine pouches holding two magazines each. The general purpose pouch included, at minimum, a NRDF issued multitool, a small glowrod that could switch between white and red light, and a weapon maintenance tool. The rear of the vest featured a pouch for a 3 liter water bag. The sides of the vest were usually kept free of any pouches, but additional canteens were a common addition. The trooper's aK-raB vibrodagger would typically be carried horizontally on the rear of the vest in a MATCH compatible sheath.

New Republic military doctrine integrated a lightweight, hard-sided assault pack that would be carried into all engagements or, rarely, left close by that typically carried five concentrated rations, water purification tablets, three additional ion flares, an extra 50 feet of high tension wire, ten nylasteel restraints, and a spare medpack. Additionally, it contained a glowrod, a camouflaged personal tent that could be combined with others to form a larger tent, a folding entrenching tool that featured a shovel head and a pick head, and a fusion cutter. A compact mortar, with five fist sized proton bombs, would generally be carried by at least one trooper out of a fire team or, at most, by all members of the fire team other than the designated grenadier. Lastly, the backpack contained integrated communications equipment that could reach ships in orbit and jam other transmissions.