Faust Troopers

Faust Troopers are extensively trained and well equipped assault troops under command of the Errikan Empire. Faust Troopers are the infantry of the line for the Empire, and are the primary participants in all Errikan conflicts.

These highly-disciplined soldiers form the bulk of the Imperial Army, and thus the majority of the Errikan Military. The training that each soldier must go through in the Comitatus is very demanding and brutal, producing hard, diciplined, and loyal soldiers with a thourough experience in all of the elements of combat that they will face; there is an additional emphasis on urban combat.

Training

All potential Faust Troopers go through a very extensive training program before they are ever sent into combat. The details of this training are kept secret.

Equipment

Body

The clothing of the trooper is made up of four layers:

The innermost layer is the BodyGlove, a layer covering the entire body, from throat to the bottom of the feet, designed to maintain body temperature and keep out the elements, as well as secure the second layer. The material is a lightweight and very flexible plastic that is cheaply manufactured en mass by Weapson; it naturally keeps the skin fairly cool. After a while in service, most troopers don’t notice that they are wearing it.

The second layer is the HardArmor. This, at first the Klage I, which has been completely replaced, then the Klage II, all but completely replaced, and now the Klage III, the armors are made up of several simply inter-fitting parts, each part being a specific plate of several thin layers (primarily Stark based metals) designed to fit almost perfectly to the BodyGlove and allow the maximum flexibility and mobility as well as protection.

The first and second layers are standard equipment that do not vary, aside from differences in size, and fit the body like a glove: many troops become used to the feeling of them as if they were just outer layers of their own skin. The third and fourth layers, however, vary greatly depending on the assignment, and generally do not take on the natural feel of ones own flesh.

The third layer is the SoftArmor. It consists of Kevlar like material and other padding designed to dampen enemy attacks. To maintain mobility, this layer is often “thinned down,” decreasing its protection but allowing for far greater mobility and flexibility.

The forth layer is the clothing. Though the look of this clothing varies greatly depending on the environment and other factors, but it is always comprised primarily of a coarse, tough, synthetic material designed not to rip, tear, or soak up water. This layer entirely conceals the underlayers, and has all of the pockets, straps, etc. that the soldier uses to secure his gear (aside from that which is carried in the pack).

The Helmet

The strongest part of the armor system, the helmet is made up of several layers (akin to HardArmor) with an inner layer of padding and insulation. The reinforced helmet contains advanced breathing filters (which act as protection against chemical and biological attacks, as well as toxins) and a communication link for instant communication with other units.

The lenses and the sound dampeners protect the Faust Troopers from sensory overload, such as from flashbang grenades, and contain a voice manipulator for speaking with non-Faust Troopers. This voice manipulator gives the troopers a very mechanical and impersonal sounding voice.

Firearms

AE5 Assault Weapon: This is the standard weapon of the Faust troopers, and is used by all of them under normal circumstances. Known for its aggressive power despite its small size, it is also simple and easy to manufacture and maintain. It is widely renowned as the greatest Errikan technological achievement, even ahead of the main battle tank and the Klage armor systems. It uses the standard Errikan 7.62 x 51 mm rounds (probably depleted uranium). It consists primarily of Stark metal and Grau plastics, making it very lightweight, though the actual mechanics of the weapon are entirely classified. This weapon can be, and usually is, fitted with a bayonet.

Wilson Pistol: The standard pistol of the Errikan military, this weapon is quick and reliable. It is standard equipment for all Faust Troopers as well as most other members of the military, firing quickly and fairly accurately, with a good amount of power and very little maintenance. This weapon operates off standard 9mm ammunition, with a 20 shot clip. Hollow tipped rounds are not uncommon. LE4 Submachine gun: This light weapon is a widespread secondary weapon in the Errikan military. Much of the normal advantage that submachine guns have over primary assault rifles are lost, however, as the Errikan primary assault weapon is very compact and light. Still, this weapon makes up for that with its very lightweight frame, thorough recoil compensators, and very high rate of fire.

Kertech II “K2” Long Rifle: A quality heavy long range weapon, this is one of only two sniper rifles widely used by the Errikan Army. Though it is large and fairly heavy, it is highly durable and has a magnificent range and power. It uses .45 caliber rounds. Though the rifle was originally developed by Franz Kertech, a Derchan socialist, and was a major plague of the Errikan forces during the civil war, it is now manufactured by Weapson. The Emperor had such respect for the man’s weapons that he not only spared Kertech and his family, but the entire city of Derchton.

SE3 Light Rifle: This is the second of the two sniper rifles used by the Imperial Army. The SE3 is a much smaller, lighter weapon than the K2, making it far easier to carry around and conceal, but taking away much of the power that the Kertech weapon has. It uses the 5.56 x 39 mm rounds, the standard lighter rifle rounds of Errikland. This weapon can be fitted with a bayonet.

Kertech III “K3” AP Rifle: The weapon of choice for infantry against armored foes, this rifle is long and bulky, far from the convenience of the AE5. However, it makes up for this with sheer power and very good accuracy for an Armor Piercing Rifle. It uses depleted uranium based rounds for best anti-armor capacity. This rifle was also a creation of Franz Kertech. During the wars in Arterus, this weapon took a far larger position in the war effort, as it was more than capable of piercing the thick armor of the CP, and was mass produced on a very large scale.

TE3 Trench Gun: The main shotgun of Errikland, it is known for packing a serious punch. It is most commonly used when dealing with “savages” and guerrillas. It is twelve gauge, using either buckshot or slugs. It has an effective range of forty meters, and has the capability to fire four rounds a second. This weapon can be fitted with a bayonet.

F-21 “Farburg” Flamethrower: A very powerful unconventional weapon, this gun derives its nickname from the Errikan commander Major Arthur Farburg, who was the first to use this weapon on a large scale, winning him the battle of Red Creek. Most of the information surrounding the mechanics of this weapon is classified. It uses a special fuel called “Feuer I,” which is super pressurized, allowing very large quantities of fuel to fit in a relatively small container, and launched at a highvelocity out of the “mouth” of the weapon, being ignited just behind the opening. Like most everything that the Errikan military uses, it is constructed to be very durable.

Anti-tank Weaponry: Sometimes, the Faust troopers use the various anti-tank weaponry employed by Errikland, though this is fairly rare. Almost always, this is restricted to the Sachwer units. In most cases, the Faust troopers will use the K3, which is powerful enough to disable or destroy light vehicles, and even possibly disable tanks.

Grenades

Faust High Explosive Grenade: The Faust Grenade is the most common grenade in used by the Imperial Army, and are used for both antipersonnel and anti-vehicular purposes. It is known for its extremely high power and the shockwaves that often temporarily disorient “newbs” (troops in training). They are also the number one cause of death for newbs. The outer casing of the grenade is made of plastic that is very cheap to make; the disadvantage to this plastic is that it will generally be almost entirely melted by the explosives going off, leaving nothing to fragment.

Geteilit Fragmentation Grenade: The Geteilit Grenade is the primary Errikan fragmentation grenade. Its use is far less than that of the Faust Grenades due to the fact that it is not as powerful and more expensive, but the fragments of the metal shell that are propelled outward by the explosive going off add “an interesting touch,” assuring that these grenades remain common.

Cost

The extreme costs of training these soldiers (equiping used to be a problem, but the rapid expansion of Weapson and furthered research have reduced costs dramatically) puts a significant dent in the government's budget. This is one of the few actions of the Errikan government that does not demonstrate extreme fiscal conservatism, and is most frequently attacked by political enemies of the Emperor and the NCL. However, these attacks are genrally on the political fringe.