Dark Troopers

Description
The main goal for the dark trooper project was to create the next evolution of the stormtrooper. As such their design was modeled after typical stormtrooper armor and they were built to withstand conditions no ordinary stormtrooper was capable of. To make the dark troopers even more fearsome, the more advanced models packed an arsenal capable of wiping out most armored vehicles, to say nothing of the common soldier.

Squads of the dark troopers were characteristically deployed alongside the standard Imperial stormtroopers and the Imperial Army regulars in battles to add their distinctive advantage. Phase 1 dark troopers were typically left to defend key installations while phase 2 dark troopers used their advanced combat techniques and jetpacks to drop behind enemy lines or outflank enemy positions, contributing to the overall effectiveness of battle maneuvers by creating havoc amongst their foes.

In addition to their standard armament, they could be equipped with a variety of other weapons. Common practice was to outfit them with fragmentation grenades, thermal detonators, or concussion grenades.

All dark troopers wore dark gray armor made of the nearly indestructible metal phrik. In addition to providing superior protection against enemy fire, the armor of the phase 3 was equipped with acceleration compensators to allow a soldier inside to endure the extreme maneuvers the unit was designed to perform.

Dark Trooper Types
Although initially each model of dark trooper was referred to by the phase in their development, the "phase" designation was changed to "type" once the project was resurrected to reflect the different ways each model could be used on the battlefield.

Type 1
The Type 1 dark trooper was at first just a prototype for the dark trooper models that would follow, but its durable design, speed, and relentless, single-minded, approach to slaying its enemies made it a fearsome combatant to face.

Equipped only with a blast shield and a built-in vibrosword, the Type 1 is designed to rush enemy formations and tear them apart. Although they lack projectile weapons of any kind, they are nonetheless highly resistant to blaster fire. Their blast shield is also capable of reflecting blaster fire back at their attacker, albeit without any real accuracy.

When not in combat, Type 1's are often assigned to guard key points and can be a nasty surprise for any intruder, especially in a close combat situation.

Type 2
Type 2 dark troopers are by far the most common type and are considered the main type of dark trooper. They can operate in any kind of environment, even the vacuum of space, and possess advanced A.I. allowing them to work independently or in squads.

These droids are often equipped with the deadly Assault Cannon which is powerful enough to wipe out enemy regiments with ease. They can also make use of most any other weapon that is used by living troops and are not above crushing a soldier with nothing but their hands if that is all that is available.

The Type 2 is highly mobile as each one has a built-in repulsorlift/jet pack which allows it to take the fight to the skies, in space, or to quickly flank an enemy position. They are fearless, efficient, and highly versatile soldiers.

Type 3
Type 3 dark troopers serve a dual purpose. They can be employed on their own or as an exoskeleton for a trooper to command. In both capacities, the Type 3 serves as a kind of field commander for the Type 1's and Type 2's. It has the most advanced A.I. of all the types and is easily the most deadly.

The Type 3 carries a modified version of the assault cannon which allows it unleash an even greater destructive power than the normal model. Protected under each shoulder pad are seeker missile launchers, which will home in on any target. It is also equipped with a repulsorlift/jet pack, although because of its size, it is not as fast or as agile as the Type 2.

The Type 3's large size also limits it from carrying most weapons other than its standard armament, but this is seen as an acceptable sacrifice for its raw power.

In the unlikely event an enemy manages to penetrate its armor and tries to hijack it, the Type 3 can override the controls of the exoskeleton on its own. The armor that surrounds the cockpit serves the dual purpose of protecting the pilot or preventing an enemy who might be trapped inside from doing any significant damage to the droid.

Galactic Civil War
The Dark Trooper Project was originally the brainchild of General Rom Mohc, who strongly advocated the martial virtues of close combat with one's enemy, and thus disagreed with the philosophy that created such superweapons as the Death Star. He operated the dark trooper project from his customized starship, Arc Hammer.

The dark troopers were first used against the Rebel Tak Base in the Battle of Talay, in retaliation for the destruction of the first Death Star. They slaughtered all the Rebels in the base. Concerned about the potential threat of the dark troopers, Mon Mothma tasked Kyle Katarn with the program's destruction. Katarn succeeded in destroying Arc Hammer after killing Mohc. With the death of Mohc and the destruction of Arc Hammer, all research into the dark trooper project, and all research into other battle droid programs, ended. The dark troopers would not see combat again until the project was resurrected by Reng Kasr in 14 BBY.

The Xen'Chi
With the Xen'Chi and Gait attacking the galaxy so soon after the Battle of Corellia, the weakened the military might of the Empire and the New Republic were ill-equipped to handle the new war. With system after system falling to the invaders and their superior numbers, it became clear to Kasr that the Empire could not survive in it's present state.

To address the problem of the Empire's dwindling numbers, Kasr restarted the dark trooper program using the resources of Oremin to begin the initial first step. Oremin scientists updated and improved upon the dark trooper A.I. pioneered during Mohc's day. They also put in several safeguards to keep the dark troopers from falling into the wrong hands.

Perhaps the most complex was designed to keep Gait from taking control of the droids for herself. Any intrusion into the A.I. of the droids would cause a reboot, effectively eliminating any attempt by Gait or a slicer to alter their programming. To keep the droids from stalling during the few seconds needed for the reboot, a secondary A.I., exactly the same as the first, would then take over, allowing the dark troopers to continually frustrate an intruder as they switched back and forth between A.I.'s.

In order to prove the usefulness of his new dark troopers, Kasr picked the conquered world of Mechis III to serve as an example of just what they were capable of...