Shieldman (Steel Lane)

The **Shieldman** is a recruit employing under Steel Lane. A Defender class unit who is obtainable as an N rarity unit. His unit type is a Soldier, meaning he has no special skill of his own, rather, provides passive buffs for either himself or together his team.

The Shieldmen are the most armed units in Steel Lane's company. While not as well-armed like soldiers of Black Tide's or the Old Administration's, they are geared enough to withstand attacks from their enemies.

## Collection Profile

*A defender who protects allies by provoking the enemy.*

*They are common infantry units that utilize riot shields. Recruits with excellent abilities are selected to become Shieldmans.*

*They are trained to hold the frontline against enemy advancement. Although they lack firepower, their titanium-coat riot shields are strong enough to stop the Biter's claws.*

*They are well-trusted in the field for their core principle of never backing down. Their strong fellowship has aroused rumors that many often assemble to eat up all food in the company's snack bar.*

## Equipment

* **Riot Shield:** A standard-issue ballistic shield protects the user from attacks and can be used to bash opponents upfront.
* **Heavy armor:** Shieldmen wear heavy body armor that protects both their upper body and parts below the waist, and arm pads that go up to their elbows.

## Personality

The Shieldman can be described as a loyal and dutiful soldier (most notably, the one who accompanies the player) who gives the best of his abilities to perform any task given. Shieldmen also excel some form of leadership as hinted in some of his dialog. Aspects of this is shown when Shieldmans appear in specific events of the story (example with Sigma: Left Behind Alone and SWAT 4: Unofficial Investigation) whether they are commanders of small forces or serve as head of police officers. They also have a habit of gathering in the cafeteria to eat up all the company's food; most likely due to their physical size and their need to maintain it. One of the Shieldman's tap dialog also admits that he dislikes the food provided by Steel Lane compared to the food provided by Coffin Company.

Because the Shieldman isn't a unique individual character, but a unit of soldiers who take on the position, their personalities may vary depending on their placement in the story's setting whether they be comical like being a fan of HRT Berry (shown in Bomi's final Counter Case), or as cruel individuals operating as rebels in private armies.

## Trivia

* In a Lifetime Contract dialog, he mentions he was once a Rifleman before he became a Shieldman and that his nickname was the "Fast Swallow."
* In another Lifetime dialog he mentions practicing throwing his riot shield but for some reason never returns to his hand. He then wonders if it would work if his shield was more round.
	+ This is likely a reference to Captain America from the *Marvel* universe.
* The Shieldman's portrait is used as the primary appearance for many other soldiers in cut scenes that are affiliated with other factions in the game whether they are for the greater good or as rebels. The same aspects are also applied with his fellow Steel Lane soldiers. It is unknown if these soldiers were previously employed under Steel Lane, or just serve as placeholders for low rank troopers in storylines.
* The Shieldman also has a corrupt variant borrowing appearances from Steel Lane's soldiers.