Solar Communes
29-12-2007, 07:32
5th of February of 2168
The time when the Confed military was nothing but a handful of almost 50 years old orbital fighters and of soldiers with equally obsolete weapons, vehicles, ships and airplanes is gone. Its population was on a steady growth as the modernized First Fleet was just finished as most shipyards were busy building space-flight exclusive ships while factories at Gliese 581d surface refitted their old orbital fighters to stand up to 3g and have increased power output and operational range. The 3 different mankinds would specialize into certain roles. The space humans would become the main starship pilots due to their increased familiarity with zero-g environments and increased reflexes, the average homo sapiens would become the Space Special Forces and pilots for armored vehicles, atmospheric fighters and ships, while the sturdy "giants" from Gliese 581d would become the gross of surface-based infantry forces. They forces divided as the following
Army
The Confederation of Solar Communes has an army mostly made of genetically modified humans to adapt to high gravity environments as infantry(except for low gravity conflicts) and of "normal" human beings as pilots simply due to the cost implications of adapting many of those vessels besides only transport ones to taller human beings. The Army has only two main divisions: the Guard Solar of infantry and the Squads Mobils of armored fighting and support vehicles. Rather than the existence of hierarchies, there are two forms of organization: through elected leaders and also through a very peculiar tactical maneuver: when unity is more important than unpredictability, all forces of the Army take advantage of their brain-computer interfaces to temporarily sacrifice their individual selves to create Hive Mind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_mind_%28science_fiction%29#List_of_non-hive_group_minds) Commands by merging all the sentiences of the members of a squad into One single artificial consciousness controlling and commanding all their bodies. This process can also be operated by all other Military Forces.
Guard Solar
The Guard Solar(English: "Solar Guard") is the grouping of all infantry forces of Solar Communes which function is primarily defensive. Due to several technical, economical and tactical reasons, the use of complete powered armor infantry with direct brain-computer interfaces for control of artificial limbs was dismissed, but on the other hand the exotic sonic and electron beam weapons have a significant presence as well. They are usually divided into the following classifications:
Ballistic-explosive Forces
Ballistic-explosive forces receive their classification name because they use either ballistic or explosive weapons. They are the regular forces of the Solar Guard.
General Infantry (http://hungrysparrow.deviantart.com/art/City-Sentry-57012489): The bulk of the Solar Guard, each general infantry is equipped with the new and much larger, electrothermal-chemical technology based, G19 Assault Rifle, which uses caseless 8.7x68mm rounds and has a muzzle velocity of 2,000 m/s and capable of firing much precisely 3-rounds bursts at an estimated 3,000 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire, with a full-auto of 650 rounds per minute and equipped with a pair of hydromagnetic arm supports to give reduce its recoil, which can be considered as a very partial power armor. GIs are protected by Type VIII man-portable electromagnetic reactive ballistic armor which has a lightweight fusion containment unit backpack to power it, which can stop any firearm of inferior or similar firepower to their own and can be improved with a NBC module which cover the entire body and gives it an air-conditioning portable system. Finally they are also equipped with 3 high explosive dual purpose nanite grenades and with a LG55 55mm grenade launcher attachment to their rifles. Number in standardized squad: 16
Anti Power Armor infantry: They use similar equipment to standard infantry, with the exception they are equipped with a semi-automatic 1.77 cal L22 PIC(Powered Infantry Cannon), a 1.2 meters long 45x220mm anti-materiel and service handcannon with a muzzle velocity of 2,000 m/s achieved through portable electro-thermal ignition technology, capable of firing armor piercing fin stabilized discarded sabot rounds and quintuple-tandem HEDP cold launched rockets with limited armor piercing capabilities against light armored vehicles and robots. They are trained to remain as stealthy as possible in their course to intercept troops wearing power armor or snipers, under the limitations of their lengthy weapon and partial power armor, and also are equipped with hydromagnetic arm support actuators which make carrying such gun seem to demand the same effort of carrying a submachinegun and help significantly with recoil management. Should ever they encounter enemies with superior protection against sonic weaponry, they could also replace the Sonic Snipers. Number in each squad: 4.
Missile Infantry (http://tn1-5.pv.deviantart.com/fs6/150/i/2005/057/8/8/imperial_guard_kasirkin____by_Linkgcn64.png) The GEM MK-14 guided-missile launcher is the cutting edge of man portable infrared/third party radar assisted missile launchers with both surface and surface-to-air capabilities, having space for a load of two consecutive missiles with a special mechanized auto-loading sensor and robotic arm system, which in turn reduces reloading time and increases the rate of fire. It fires fire-and-forget 165mm cold-launched guided missiles loaded with a high-density depleted uranium casing over its highly compressed load of tenfold tandem charge explosives, both also equipped with ECCM. It is theorized to be able to pierce any rear and most lateral armors of tanks, all known low-altitude atmospheric aircrafts and all power armors developed in the next 50 years. Another version of such missiles is armed with significant amounts of white phosphorous instead, intended to be used for anti-infantry roles instead. Also, they have hydromagnetic arm supports as most Solar Communes troops and the same protection of General Infantry. Number in each squad: 4, 2 equipped with WP missiles and 2 equipped with aircraft/tank destroyer missiles.
Machinegun Infantry (http://www.gamersnet.nl/images/demos/ground_control.jpg): Using a .650 AM165 16.5x130mm heavy machinegun with hydromagnetic arm support, these men and women are essential source of suppression and support fire and can slaughter tactically incompetent infantry forces easily, while their weapons can be loaded with APFSDS, or with the APGPSB(Armor Piercing Gyrojet Propelled Smart Bullet). Number in each squad: 4
Cybernetic Forces
Cybernetic forces are either humans which have replaced some of their limbs or mechanically enhanced them through artificial means or entirely automated humanoid robots with Weak Artificial Intelligences.
Artillery Bio-Mechanic infantry: Known as "One-man's artilleries", they are equipped with LM90 90mm artillery PICs equipped with both HVEAIC(High Velocity Explosive Anti-Infantry Charge) and APFSDS(Armor Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Shell) forms of ammunition, and with an operational range of 1,500 meters, artillery infantry forces are usually equipped with a complete power armor due to tactical requirements, and their Powered Infantry Cannons are also capable of direct fire for emergency situations. They are also the infantry forces with the highest amount of members with cybernetic implants and a haven for transhumanist ideas in the military. Number per squad: 4, 2 with HVEAIC and 2 with APFSDS ammo.
RHCL-1 "Second Man" Humanoid Combat Robot (http://the-switcher.deviantart.com/art/Terminator-101-32968990): A "Second Man" is an experimental unit capable of assuming the position of any human infantry and a few of them can be found in some squads as General Infantry, Machinegunners or other functions. They have the capabilities of the best human athletes coupled with a tireless endurance which allow them to run at 36 kilometers per hour for many hours. However their production costs are still higher than the costs of training, equipping and maintaining a human soldier which has blocked them from replacing completely human beings in infantry forces. Also they have a limited Artificial Intelligence and without a human commander remotely operating a squad of them, they would be barely able to survive in the battlefield. According to convenience in PSYOPS they can be deployed either with our without human hair, skin and eyeball covers. Ratio: 1 for each 100 human soldiers
Sonic Forces
Sonic forces are usually specialized units, all equipped with several types of sonic weapons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_weapon), where a few of them can bypass certain types of walls when hitting targets. Finally, should it be discovered a form to resonate all known forms of tank armors, sonic weaponry might also be applied to anti-tank Armored Fighting Vehicles. Their primary drawback is similar to the drawback of currently existing electromagnetic propelled guns: they lack the same rate of "fire" of automatic ballistic weaponry and only operate at semi-automatic mode. Future plans might replace their sonic weaponry with man portable electron beam guns.
Sonic Sniper Infantry (http://sebadorn.deviantart.com/art/Future-Warrior-Colored-54953650): Equipped with a fusion containment unit-powered USR1750 Ultrason Amplificacion por Emicion Estimulad of Reverb(UAEER, pronounced as "Waer" and translated as "Ultrasound Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Reverberation" - UASER) beam, this weapon is the ultimate one-man kill technology in Solar Communes military, thanks to its capability of generating an invisible beam of focused ultrasound capable of liquifying living tissue, the sonic sniper infantry goal is to eliminate important targets from enemy forces, using covert action and stealth. Many spacemen belong to its division in low gravity areas due to their superior accuracy in comparison to normal or giant human beings. It is not known whether its sound waves can bypass power armor and kill the soldier inside it or not. Quantity per squad: 2 snipers
Sonic Assault Infantry (http://duffield03.deviantart.com/art/Imperial-Guard-Infantryman-55984862): Sonic Assault Infantry is a stealthy special force where each member is equipped with either an AVA60 Advanced Vortex Ring Gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_Ring_Gun) with a 60 meters effective range for close quarters combat or door-breaching, with a DSR40 Resonator Sonic Gun capable to get many types of buildings and structures to resonate and crumble using powerful low frequency sound waves, or with a SR750 SASER(Sound Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Reverberation) beam for medium range combat. They are trained in unconventional military tactics, specially "hit and run" strikes. Quantity per squad: 2 SASER beam gun wielders, 1 AVR gun wielder and 1 RS gun wielder
Mixed Forces
Mixed forces use both the conventional ballistics and explosives weaponry and the sonic weaponry in their ranks, they are usually selections of the best of several forces to join other special forces.
Blackguards (http://home.comcast.net/~stevosteam/BlackOps.jpg): The most traditional and old special forces in Solar Communes, the Blackguards date back from the early years of Third Spanish States in the 2020s while their name came from anarchist militias named Black Guards who fought until death against the coming of Soviet totalitarianism, and though much have changed, they still remain similar in function. Specialists in recon, intelligence gathering and also trained as fireteams, they are considered the most flexible and skilled force of the Solar Guard. They are divided into 4-man squads or fireteams, which in combat are divided into the Grenadier/Leader, equipped with a G19 with a LG55 grenade launcher attached, the Sharpshooter, equipped with a SR750 SASER, the Machinegunner, equipped with a AM165 HMG and the Auxiliary gunner, equipped with a APR45 Portable Infantry Cannon and carrying extra ammunition.
Logistics
The technological progress will never remove the always needed medics, supply chains and alike from an Army.
Infantry Support: Medics, logistic assistants and many others in the backstage of the battlefield compose the Infantry Support. For each soldier there is roughly one support individual providing anything from feeding to transport of ammo and healthcare. They also use Type VIII armors and have P87AP 8.7mm long-range armor-piercing caseless pistols for personal defense, which are standard equipment for non combat military members.
Squads Mobils
The Mobile Squads are composed by all the armored vehicles from the Solar Communes Army. Many of those are continual improvements over original designs dating back from Third Spanish States. Also, they still use biofuel combustion engines rather than fusion engines due to a better power per engine weight ratio. Also important to notice is that the given weights here are for a 1g environment and in metric tons, though all those designs can be adapted to function in worlds with different gravities. Finally it's important to mention that the use of light reflective or refractive materials to manufacture armor is commonplace.
ST120-RA Sino MK-18 Stealth Main Battle Tank (http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/6/62/180px-TS007.jpg): The Sino MK-18 is the latest version of a tank concept which dates back from the early 21st century and has passed through many versions which proved its worth in combat. Unlike its previous versions, the Sino MK-18 is operated remotely when not controlled by its Weak AI to reduce even more its height, weight, keep an even lower profile and become entirely NBC-capable, and it, with its flat turret included, has only a 2 meters height, while gun inclination is entirely handled by its advanced suspension system. With these features it has made scout vehicles obsolete as well because it can also be used as the ground equivalent of a spy plane.
Using a 35mm penetrator fired from a L40 120mm gauss cannon it can destroy many existing AFVs with a single shot, its rate of fire is of 40 rounds per minute. While it's complemented by an independent AI/Remotely operated weapons system with an AM87 8.7mm General Purpose Machinegun mounted at either the left or right of the turret to cover its front, rear and respective flanks. Finally it also has an improved smoke discharger.
It weighs only 40 tons, giving it excellent mobility which allows it to outmaneuver heavily armored but slower Main Battle Tanks and it is also equipped with the Panopticon Active Protection System, capable of intercepting artillery, missiles, rockets, mortars and grenades with tested roughly 90% chance of success(Chances decreased by 10% for each additional incoming threat, so if ten missiles/rockets/shells/grenades/mortars were fired simultaneously against it it wouldn't be able to intercept all of them) . It's armored(considering kinetic energy) with 3,000mm RHAe of cutting edge electromagnetic reactive armor at the turret front, which allows it to stand many known cannons, its glacis on the other hand has about 4,000mm RHAe, while its sides(both of hull and turret) are enoughly armored against most known autocannons, all infantry heavy machineguns and anti-materiel rifles, with about 1200mm RHAe and its rear and top armored well enough against GPMGs and mortars with about 1000mm RHAe. Finally its sensor and electronic systems allow it to fire with accuracy against targets it has a direct line of sight with. It's intended for hit an run strikes and ambushes mainly and can reach up to 100 kilometers per hour on-road and up to 80 kilometers per hour off-road. Crew: None; Ammo loadout: 40 120mm APECFSDS(Armor Piercing Electrically Charged Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) rounds, 10 ECCS(Electrically Charged Canister Shot) rounds, 4,000 8.7mm FMJ rounds, 40 smoke discharges. Quantity per squad: 10
IFV70-2A Ax Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The Ax is originated from the old Hacha Heavy IFV, though having lighter weight and increased protection to answer the technological changes of 130 years of progress. It is a lengthy vehicle designed to transport up to 10 troops like its previous incarnations and equipped with a complete NBC protection system.
It's equipped with two twin L60 70mm autocannons which fire their rounds using electrothermal-chemical technology(reaching the muzzle velocity of 2,000 m/s) and sequential fire technology, which makes them work as a single weapon system with the double rate of fire of a single autocannon, which is this case gives its 800 rounds per minute ROF, and they also can elevate to 70º to be used against Close-support aircrafts and theorized hovercrafts. As a complement to its anti-infantry and anti-LAV capability it has a coaxial AM87 8.7mm GPMG, two LG80 80mm grenade launcher equipped with both high-explosive dual purpose and white-phosphorous grenades with an automatic target aiming module, which allows the secondary gunner/crew leader to simply indicate targets, order the launchers to fire and remain focused primarily on giving tactical lead.
It weighs about 25 tons without its modular armor which can be applied on the field(adding roughly 8 tons to it), it's also very maneuverable and agile and like the Sino, have low infrared, visual and radar signatures, also it can be airlifted by heavy transport airplanes without its armor. Its modular reactive armor can endure(against kinetic energy) as a 2,500mm RHAe penetration against the hull glacis, 1,800 RHAe against the turret front, 1,000 RHAe against the sides(both hull and turret) and 600 RHAe against the rear or top. It also has a Panopticon Active Protection System and its sensors and electronic systems, besides aiming the grenade launcher, also recreate the outside environment through 5 cameras located at front, sides, rear and coaxial with the turret. It can reach up to 80km/h off-road and up to 105km/h on-road Crew: 1 driver and 2 gunners; Ammo Loadout: 2,100 70mm APFSDS rounds, 2,800 8.7mm rounds, 40 80mm WP grenades, 40 80mm HE grenades; Quantity per squad: 38
HT130-C Casc Heavy Assault Main Battle Tank (http://static2.filefront.com/images/bafqzsswku.jpg)
Another offspring of much older models, the Casc main role is to break through enemy lines with the combined arms support of infantry and other armored fighting vehicles. It's a heavy tank, weighing about 70 tons, but still mobile enough for main battle tank functions thanks to its powerful 2700hp biofuel engine. Also due to its size and heavy armor it has a permanent engineer-mechanic among its crew which can support the gunners as well. It's quite tall having about 3 meters of height due to its both turret systems, and its length is of about 10.4 meters, and that not considering its height when its primary 132mm gun is elevated to a 45 degrees angle to give indirect fire support to dedicated artillery platforms.
Using a L50 132mm electromagnetically propelled gauss gun, it is designed to destroy most known tanks, and its 30 rounds per minute rate of fire gives it an edge in combat as well. Coaxial with it lies a 16.5mm heavy machinegun. Above the main turret system, another independent and smaller secondary turret system exists with a L40 60mm autocannon and a coaxial 8.7mm general purpose machinegun which can incline up enough to intercept close air support aircrafts. On each of the four corners of the main turret lie one small remotely operated weapons system with a 80mm grenade launcher and those four launchers can be operated simultaneously to hit a single target. Finally, behind the main turret lies another remotely operated weapons system, with a GEIFM MK-14 165mm barrel-based guided indirect fire missile launcher which can complement its anti-tank and limited artillery capabilities.
This titanic tank is protected by the best reactive armor developed in Solar Communes, though the majority of its protection is focused on the turret front and hull glacis, which have, against kinetic energy, about 7000mm and 8500mm RHAe respectively. However its top has only 2500mm RHAe, and its sides are limited to 1,650mm RHAe while its most vulnerable rear has 1000mm RHAe. Finally it has three integrated Panopticon active protection systems to increase its chances against much larger barrages of indirect fire, though maneuvering regularly is proved to be a superior method to dodge indirect fire, specially when coupled with the APS capabilities. It has one of the best sensor systems available, with besides 4 all around cameras 2 coaxial cameras with each of the 2 turrets and can receive feed from several external sources as well to allow its crew to hit targets precisely through both direct and indirect fire. It can reach up to 55km/h off-road and 75 km/h on-road. However, due to its expensive maintenance costs, its participation has been limited. Crew: 1 driver, 3 gunners, 1 mechanic/auxiliary gunner; Ammo loadout: 34 132mm APECFSDS rounds, 6 132mm ECCS rounds, 2,400 16.5mm rounds, 2,100 60mm APFSDS rounds, 2,800 8.7mm rounds, 16 smoke grenades, 72 80mm HE grenades, 72 80mm WP grenades, 30 165mm guided indirect fire missiles;Quantity per squad: 2.
MMEV-165 Freesky Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle and DR-165 Resupply Vehicle
Originated from a vehicle of similar name, the Freesky is both Solar Communes mobile command, primary rocket artillery and low-altitude anti-air vehicle designed after the 21st century idea of the modernization of the ADATS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Defense_Anti-Tank_System), and is up to date to latest 22nd second standards. It's a quite lightweight combat vehicle at only 18 tons and naturally agile as well. Its horizontal dimensions are equivalent to those of a M113 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113), and its height is of 2.53m with its turret included.
Its 12 tubes with 12 165mm tandem charge ADATS missiles can fire them up to a target at an altitude of 11,000m or against a ground target up to 15,000m of distance, while its twin sequential fire ETC technology L60 60mm autocannons can be used both against ground and low altitude air targets according to its operational needs during a battle with an accumulated rate of fire of 800 rounds per minute.
Protection-wise it only has enough non energetic reactive armor to stand against infantry weapons around and autocannons fire at the front, having equal protection of 650 RHAe at sides, rear and top, 1000 RHAe at the turret front and 1,200 RHAe at the hull glacis. Also it has one Panopticon active protection system. Besides having the equivalent sensor systems to a Sino Stealth Tank, with a camera coaxial with the twin autocannons besides the all-around cameras, it also is equipped with indirect fire calculation systems and with an advanced pulse doppler radar with a range of 45 kilometers. It can reach up to 80km off-road and 115 km on-road. Crew: 1 driver, 1 gunner, 1 system operator, 1 resupply vehicle remote controller; Ammo Loadout: 12 165mm ADATS missiles, 2,400 60mm APFSDS rounds.Quantity per squad: 11
Its dedicated resupply vehicle uses the same chassis, but instead is an unmanned vehicle which is remotely controlled by a crew member inside the Freesky to increase its space for ammunition storage, it also has the same mobility and is equipped with a trio of independent robotic arms where two of them reload simultaneously the missile tubes from the Freesky by taking the missiles from a stored compartment accessed through an opened transversal hatch on it while the other arm reloads its 60mm autocannons through large change magazines behind its turret. With their support the Freesky can reach a fire rate of 30 missiles per minute. They are also equipped with a remotely operated or AI controlled 8.7mm GPMG weapon system.
Crew: None; Ammo Loadout/Storage: 5,600 8.7mm rounds, 72 165mm ADATS missiles, 4,800 60mm APFSDS rounds;
Quantity per squad: 11
CA135-3A Oso MK-8 Self-Propelled Artillery (http://media.pc.ign.com/media/012/012690/img_1325227.html) and DR135-3A Fish Resupply Vehicle
The Oso is one of the most unchanged designs from the early days of the Third Commune, which has been at most retrofitted with better weapon systems, materials, electronics and armor and which dimensions remain very close to its original late 2020s version, having a width of 3.10m, a length of 7.30m and a height of 2.65m. However a significant change was made which have reduced even more the still existing gap between rocket and cannon artillery since Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact technology: the implementation of a triple-barreled artillery system using smaller 135mm electromagnetically propelled rounds rather than the single barreled 155mm ETC propelled system of the past thanks to new engineering technologies. It weighs about 37 tons.
It's triple-barreled turret of gauss guns has an effective range of 80 kilometers, participates substantially of its weight and operates through rotary action and MRSI technology, allowing it to fire salvos of 9 rounds to impact simultaneously, each being fired half a second after the previous round was fired, while it can fire 4 salvos in a minute, giving it an impressive rate of fire of 36 rounds per minute which can be sustained for more than one or two minutes when it is supported by an unmanned resupply vehicle.
Its protection is actually the same of a Freesky, and maneuvering is also recommended to avoid counter-artillery fire. Its sensor systems are as advanced as those of the Ax Heavy Assault MBT, allowing it to target enemies with high accuracy. It can reach up to 65km/h off-road and 85 km/h on-road.
Crew:1 driver, 1 system operator and 1 Fish remote operator;Ammo loadout:36 135mm self-propelled artillery rounds, 36 135mm air-burst artillery rounds. Quantity per squad: 4
Its dedicated resupply vehicle follows similar design philosophies of the DR-165 Freedom, being also remotely operated by a crew member of the Oso and completely unmanned. The only main difference is that rather than using robotic arms, both vehicles have attachments and the Oso has a rear loading chamber while the Fish has a frontal supplying chamber. Those chambers are then attached and then the reloading process is initiated. It can reload as many rounds per minute as those which are fired, ensuring the Oso can maintain a continuous rate of fire until the stored ammunitions in the Fish are depleted. It also is equipped with a 16.5mm heavy machinegun turret either remotely or AI operated for defense.Crew: None;Ammo Loadout/Supply: 4,800 16.5mm rounds, 180 self-propelled 135mm artillery rounds and 180 air-burst 135mm artillery rounds;Quantity per squad: 4.
SLMP7000 Surface Launch Mobile Platform
The SLMP7000 is a heavy mobile, long-range interception armored platform based on a large truck which carries the also bunker-launched S-700 surface to air missiles or SP-700 surface to orbit missiles, it is supported by 2 large dedicated resupply vehicles with 12 extra SAMs and 12 extra SOMs and either equipped with or close to a 4,000 km range advanced multi-frequency radar station. It can hit targets up to 7,000km range and is capable of destroying stealth aircrafts, ICBMs, cruise missiles and tactical nukes, including those with a range of 5,000km and speed of up to 50 kilometers per second, it can basically cover the entire stratosphere of an Earth-like planet as well with its 150km maximum height while surface to orbit missiles can hit targets near a planet orbit, as expected, it is covered all around with reactive armor by about 600 RHAe against kinetic energy and can reach speeds of up to 70km/h on-road and 50km/h off-road.Crew: 1 driver, 1 radar operator and 1 weapons system operator;Ammo loadout: 2 S-7000 surface to air missiles, 2 S-7000 surface to orbit missiles; Quantity per squad: 1
Besides those vehicles, there is a large variety of much more numberful non-combat capable armored supply transports and troop transports against most infantry ballistic weapons and about 4 logistics support non-combat individuals for each existing vehicle.
The time when the Confed military was nothing but a handful of almost 50 years old orbital fighters and of soldiers with equally obsolete weapons, vehicles, ships and airplanes is gone. Its population was on a steady growth as the modernized First Fleet was just finished as most shipyards were busy building space-flight exclusive ships while factories at Gliese 581d surface refitted their old orbital fighters to stand up to 3g and have increased power output and operational range. The 3 different mankinds would specialize into certain roles. The space humans would become the main starship pilots due to their increased familiarity with zero-g environments and increased reflexes, the average homo sapiens would become the Space Special Forces and pilots for armored vehicles, atmospheric fighters and ships, while the sturdy "giants" from Gliese 581d would become the gross of surface-based infantry forces. They forces divided as the following
Army
The Confederation of Solar Communes has an army mostly made of genetically modified humans to adapt to high gravity environments as infantry(except for low gravity conflicts) and of "normal" human beings as pilots simply due to the cost implications of adapting many of those vessels besides only transport ones to taller human beings. The Army has only two main divisions: the Guard Solar of infantry and the Squads Mobils of armored fighting and support vehicles. Rather than the existence of hierarchies, there are two forms of organization: through elected leaders and also through a very peculiar tactical maneuver: when unity is more important than unpredictability, all forces of the Army take advantage of their brain-computer interfaces to temporarily sacrifice their individual selves to create Hive Mind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_mind_%28science_fiction%29#List_of_non-hive_group_minds) Commands by merging all the sentiences of the members of a squad into One single artificial consciousness controlling and commanding all their bodies. This process can also be operated by all other Military Forces.
Guard Solar
The Guard Solar(English: "Solar Guard") is the grouping of all infantry forces of Solar Communes which function is primarily defensive. Due to several technical, economical and tactical reasons, the use of complete powered armor infantry with direct brain-computer interfaces for control of artificial limbs was dismissed, but on the other hand the exotic sonic and electron beam weapons have a significant presence as well. They are usually divided into the following classifications:
Ballistic-explosive Forces
Ballistic-explosive forces receive their classification name because they use either ballistic or explosive weapons. They are the regular forces of the Solar Guard.
General Infantry (http://hungrysparrow.deviantart.com/art/City-Sentry-57012489): The bulk of the Solar Guard, each general infantry is equipped with the new and much larger, electrothermal-chemical technology based, G19 Assault Rifle, which uses caseless 8.7x68mm rounds and has a muzzle velocity of 2,000 m/s and capable of firing much precisely 3-rounds bursts at an estimated 3,000 rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire, with a full-auto of 650 rounds per minute and equipped with a pair of hydromagnetic arm supports to give reduce its recoil, which can be considered as a very partial power armor. GIs are protected by Type VIII man-portable electromagnetic reactive ballistic armor which has a lightweight fusion containment unit backpack to power it, which can stop any firearm of inferior or similar firepower to their own and can be improved with a NBC module which cover the entire body and gives it an air-conditioning portable system. Finally they are also equipped with 3 high explosive dual purpose nanite grenades and with a LG55 55mm grenade launcher attachment to their rifles. Number in standardized squad: 16
Anti Power Armor infantry: They use similar equipment to standard infantry, with the exception they are equipped with a semi-automatic 1.77 cal L22 PIC(Powered Infantry Cannon), a 1.2 meters long 45x220mm anti-materiel and service handcannon with a muzzle velocity of 2,000 m/s achieved through portable electro-thermal ignition technology, capable of firing armor piercing fin stabilized discarded sabot rounds and quintuple-tandem HEDP cold launched rockets with limited armor piercing capabilities against light armored vehicles and robots. They are trained to remain as stealthy as possible in their course to intercept troops wearing power armor or snipers, under the limitations of their lengthy weapon and partial power armor, and also are equipped with hydromagnetic arm support actuators which make carrying such gun seem to demand the same effort of carrying a submachinegun and help significantly with recoil management. Should ever they encounter enemies with superior protection against sonic weaponry, they could also replace the Sonic Snipers. Number in each squad: 4.
Missile Infantry (http://tn1-5.pv.deviantart.com/fs6/150/i/2005/057/8/8/imperial_guard_kasirkin____by_Linkgcn64.png) The GEM MK-14 guided-missile launcher is the cutting edge of man portable infrared/third party radar assisted missile launchers with both surface and surface-to-air capabilities, having space for a load of two consecutive missiles with a special mechanized auto-loading sensor and robotic arm system, which in turn reduces reloading time and increases the rate of fire. It fires fire-and-forget 165mm cold-launched guided missiles loaded with a high-density depleted uranium casing over its highly compressed load of tenfold tandem charge explosives, both also equipped with ECCM. It is theorized to be able to pierce any rear and most lateral armors of tanks, all known low-altitude atmospheric aircrafts and all power armors developed in the next 50 years. Another version of such missiles is armed with significant amounts of white phosphorous instead, intended to be used for anti-infantry roles instead. Also, they have hydromagnetic arm supports as most Solar Communes troops and the same protection of General Infantry. Number in each squad: 4, 2 equipped with WP missiles and 2 equipped with aircraft/tank destroyer missiles.
Machinegun Infantry (http://www.gamersnet.nl/images/demos/ground_control.jpg): Using a .650 AM165 16.5x130mm heavy machinegun with hydromagnetic arm support, these men and women are essential source of suppression and support fire and can slaughter tactically incompetent infantry forces easily, while their weapons can be loaded with APFSDS, or with the APGPSB(Armor Piercing Gyrojet Propelled Smart Bullet). Number in each squad: 4
Cybernetic Forces
Cybernetic forces are either humans which have replaced some of their limbs or mechanically enhanced them through artificial means or entirely automated humanoid robots with Weak Artificial Intelligences.
Artillery Bio-Mechanic infantry: Known as "One-man's artilleries", they are equipped with LM90 90mm artillery PICs equipped with both HVEAIC(High Velocity Explosive Anti-Infantry Charge) and APFSDS(Armor Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Shell) forms of ammunition, and with an operational range of 1,500 meters, artillery infantry forces are usually equipped with a complete power armor due to tactical requirements, and their Powered Infantry Cannons are also capable of direct fire for emergency situations. They are also the infantry forces with the highest amount of members with cybernetic implants and a haven for transhumanist ideas in the military. Number per squad: 4, 2 with HVEAIC and 2 with APFSDS ammo.
RHCL-1 "Second Man" Humanoid Combat Robot (http://the-switcher.deviantart.com/art/Terminator-101-32968990): A "Second Man" is an experimental unit capable of assuming the position of any human infantry and a few of them can be found in some squads as General Infantry, Machinegunners or other functions. They have the capabilities of the best human athletes coupled with a tireless endurance which allow them to run at 36 kilometers per hour for many hours. However their production costs are still higher than the costs of training, equipping and maintaining a human soldier which has blocked them from replacing completely human beings in infantry forces. Also they have a limited Artificial Intelligence and without a human commander remotely operating a squad of them, they would be barely able to survive in the battlefield. According to convenience in PSYOPS they can be deployed either with our without human hair, skin and eyeball covers. Ratio: 1 for each 100 human soldiers
Sonic Forces
Sonic forces are usually specialized units, all equipped with several types of sonic weapons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_weapon), where a few of them can bypass certain types of walls when hitting targets. Finally, should it be discovered a form to resonate all known forms of tank armors, sonic weaponry might also be applied to anti-tank Armored Fighting Vehicles. Their primary drawback is similar to the drawback of currently existing electromagnetic propelled guns: they lack the same rate of "fire" of automatic ballistic weaponry and only operate at semi-automatic mode. Future plans might replace their sonic weaponry with man portable electron beam guns.
Sonic Sniper Infantry (http://sebadorn.deviantart.com/art/Future-Warrior-Colored-54953650): Equipped with a fusion containment unit-powered USR1750 Ultrason Amplificacion por Emicion Estimulad of Reverb(UAEER, pronounced as "Waer" and translated as "Ultrasound Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Reverberation" - UASER) beam, this weapon is the ultimate one-man kill technology in Solar Communes military, thanks to its capability of generating an invisible beam of focused ultrasound capable of liquifying living tissue, the sonic sniper infantry goal is to eliminate important targets from enemy forces, using covert action and stealth. Many spacemen belong to its division in low gravity areas due to their superior accuracy in comparison to normal or giant human beings. It is not known whether its sound waves can bypass power armor and kill the soldier inside it or not. Quantity per squad: 2 snipers
Sonic Assault Infantry (http://duffield03.deviantart.com/art/Imperial-Guard-Infantryman-55984862): Sonic Assault Infantry is a stealthy special force where each member is equipped with either an AVA60 Advanced Vortex Ring Gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_Ring_Gun) with a 60 meters effective range for close quarters combat or door-breaching, with a DSR40 Resonator Sonic Gun capable to get many types of buildings and structures to resonate and crumble using powerful low frequency sound waves, or with a SR750 SASER(Sound Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Reverberation) beam for medium range combat. They are trained in unconventional military tactics, specially "hit and run" strikes. Quantity per squad: 2 SASER beam gun wielders, 1 AVR gun wielder and 1 RS gun wielder
Mixed Forces
Mixed forces use both the conventional ballistics and explosives weaponry and the sonic weaponry in their ranks, they are usually selections of the best of several forces to join other special forces.
Blackguards (http://home.comcast.net/~stevosteam/BlackOps.jpg): The most traditional and old special forces in Solar Communes, the Blackguards date back from the early years of Third Spanish States in the 2020s while their name came from anarchist militias named Black Guards who fought until death against the coming of Soviet totalitarianism, and though much have changed, they still remain similar in function. Specialists in recon, intelligence gathering and also trained as fireteams, they are considered the most flexible and skilled force of the Solar Guard. They are divided into 4-man squads or fireteams, which in combat are divided into the Grenadier/Leader, equipped with a G19 with a LG55 grenade launcher attached, the Sharpshooter, equipped with a SR750 SASER, the Machinegunner, equipped with a AM165 HMG and the Auxiliary gunner, equipped with a APR45 Portable Infantry Cannon and carrying extra ammunition.
Logistics
The technological progress will never remove the always needed medics, supply chains and alike from an Army.
Infantry Support: Medics, logistic assistants and many others in the backstage of the battlefield compose the Infantry Support. For each soldier there is roughly one support individual providing anything from feeding to transport of ammo and healthcare. They also use Type VIII armors and have P87AP 8.7mm long-range armor-piercing caseless pistols for personal defense, which are standard equipment for non combat military members.
Squads Mobils
The Mobile Squads are composed by all the armored vehicles from the Solar Communes Army. Many of those are continual improvements over original designs dating back from Third Spanish States. Also, they still use biofuel combustion engines rather than fusion engines due to a better power per engine weight ratio. Also important to notice is that the given weights here are for a 1g environment and in metric tons, though all those designs can be adapted to function in worlds with different gravities. Finally it's important to mention that the use of light reflective or refractive materials to manufacture armor is commonplace.
ST120-RA Sino MK-18 Stealth Main Battle Tank (http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/6/62/180px-TS007.jpg): The Sino MK-18 is the latest version of a tank concept which dates back from the early 21st century and has passed through many versions which proved its worth in combat. Unlike its previous versions, the Sino MK-18 is operated remotely when not controlled by its Weak AI to reduce even more its height, weight, keep an even lower profile and become entirely NBC-capable, and it, with its flat turret included, has only a 2 meters height, while gun inclination is entirely handled by its advanced suspension system. With these features it has made scout vehicles obsolete as well because it can also be used as the ground equivalent of a spy plane.
Using a 35mm penetrator fired from a L40 120mm gauss cannon it can destroy many existing AFVs with a single shot, its rate of fire is of 40 rounds per minute. While it's complemented by an independent AI/Remotely operated weapons system with an AM87 8.7mm General Purpose Machinegun mounted at either the left or right of the turret to cover its front, rear and respective flanks. Finally it also has an improved smoke discharger.
It weighs only 40 tons, giving it excellent mobility which allows it to outmaneuver heavily armored but slower Main Battle Tanks and it is also equipped with the Panopticon Active Protection System, capable of intercepting artillery, missiles, rockets, mortars and grenades with tested roughly 90% chance of success(Chances decreased by 10% for each additional incoming threat, so if ten missiles/rockets/shells/grenades/mortars were fired simultaneously against it it wouldn't be able to intercept all of them) . It's armored(considering kinetic energy) with 3,000mm RHAe of cutting edge electromagnetic reactive armor at the turret front, which allows it to stand many known cannons, its glacis on the other hand has about 4,000mm RHAe, while its sides(both of hull and turret) are enoughly armored against most known autocannons, all infantry heavy machineguns and anti-materiel rifles, with about 1200mm RHAe and its rear and top armored well enough against GPMGs and mortars with about 1000mm RHAe. Finally its sensor and electronic systems allow it to fire with accuracy against targets it has a direct line of sight with. It's intended for hit an run strikes and ambushes mainly and can reach up to 100 kilometers per hour on-road and up to 80 kilometers per hour off-road. Crew: None; Ammo loadout: 40 120mm APECFSDS(Armor Piercing Electrically Charged Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) rounds, 10 ECCS(Electrically Charged Canister Shot) rounds, 4,000 8.7mm FMJ rounds, 40 smoke discharges. Quantity per squad: 10
IFV70-2A Ax Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The Ax is originated from the old Hacha Heavy IFV, though having lighter weight and increased protection to answer the technological changes of 130 years of progress. It is a lengthy vehicle designed to transport up to 10 troops like its previous incarnations and equipped with a complete NBC protection system.
It's equipped with two twin L60 70mm autocannons which fire their rounds using electrothermal-chemical technology(reaching the muzzle velocity of 2,000 m/s) and sequential fire technology, which makes them work as a single weapon system with the double rate of fire of a single autocannon, which is this case gives its 800 rounds per minute ROF, and they also can elevate to 70º to be used against Close-support aircrafts and theorized hovercrafts. As a complement to its anti-infantry and anti-LAV capability it has a coaxial AM87 8.7mm GPMG, two LG80 80mm grenade launcher equipped with both high-explosive dual purpose and white-phosphorous grenades with an automatic target aiming module, which allows the secondary gunner/crew leader to simply indicate targets, order the launchers to fire and remain focused primarily on giving tactical lead.
It weighs about 25 tons without its modular armor which can be applied on the field(adding roughly 8 tons to it), it's also very maneuverable and agile and like the Sino, have low infrared, visual and radar signatures, also it can be airlifted by heavy transport airplanes without its armor. Its modular reactive armor can endure(against kinetic energy) as a 2,500mm RHAe penetration against the hull glacis, 1,800 RHAe against the turret front, 1,000 RHAe against the sides(both hull and turret) and 600 RHAe against the rear or top. It also has a Panopticon Active Protection System and its sensors and electronic systems, besides aiming the grenade launcher, also recreate the outside environment through 5 cameras located at front, sides, rear and coaxial with the turret. It can reach up to 80km/h off-road and up to 105km/h on-road Crew: 1 driver and 2 gunners; Ammo Loadout: 2,100 70mm APFSDS rounds, 2,800 8.7mm rounds, 40 80mm WP grenades, 40 80mm HE grenades; Quantity per squad: 38
HT130-C Casc Heavy Assault Main Battle Tank (http://static2.filefront.com/images/bafqzsswku.jpg)
Another offspring of much older models, the Casc main role is to break through enemy lines with the combined arms support of infantry and other armored fighting vehicles. It's a heavy tank, weighing about 70 tons, but still mobile enough for main battle tank functions thanks to its powerful 2700hp biofuel engine. Also due to its size and heavy armor it has a permanent engineer-mechanic among its crew which can support the gunners as well. It's quite tall having about 3 meters of height due to its both turret systems, and its length is of about 10.4 meters, and that not considering its height when its primary 132mm gun is elevated to a 45 degrees angle to give indirect fire support to dedicated artillery platforms.
Using a L50 132mm electromagnetically propelled gauss gun, it is designed to destroy most known tanks, and its 30 rounds per minute rate of fire gives it an edge in combat as well. Coaxial with it lies a 16.5mm heavy machinegun. Above the main turret system, another independent and smaller secondary turret system exists with a L40 60mm autocannon and a coaxial 8.7mm general purpose machinegun which can incline up enough to intercept close air support aircrafts. On each of the four corners of the main turret lie one small remotely operated weapons system with a 80mm grenade launcher and those four launchers can be operated simultaneously to hit a single target. Finally, behind the main turret lies another remotely operated weapons system, with a GEIFM MK-14 165mm barrel-based guided indirect fire missile launcher which can complement its anti-tank and limited artillery capabilities.
This titanic tank is protected by the best reactive armor developed in Solar Communes, though the majority of its protection is focused on the turret front and hull glacis, which have, against kinetic energy, about 7000mm and 8500mm RHAe respectively. However its top has only 2500mm RHAe, and its sides are limited to 1,650mm RHAe while its most vulnerable rear has 1000mm RHAe. Finally it has three integrated Panopticon active protection systems to increase its chances against much larger barrages of indirect fire, though maneuvering regularly is proved to be a superior method to dodge indirect fire, specially when coupled with the APS capabilities. It has one of the best sensor systems available, with besides 4 all around cameras 2 coaxial cameras with each of the 2 turrets and can receive feed from several external sources as well to allow its crew to hit targets precisely through both direct and indirect fire. It can reach up to 55km/h off-road and 75 km/h on-road. However, due to its expensive maintenance costs, its participation has been limited. Crew: 1 driver, 3 gunners, 1 mechanic/auxiliary gunner; Ammo loadout: 34 132mm APECFSDS rounds, 6 132mm ECCS rounds, 2,400 16.5mm rounds, 2,100 60mm APFSDS rounds, 2,800 8.7mm rounds, 16 smoke grenades, 72 80mm HE grenades, 72 80mm WP grenades, 30 165mm guided indirect fire missiles;Quantity per squad: 2.
MMEV-165 Freesky Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle and DR-165 Resupply Vehicle
Originated from a vehicle of similar name, the Freesky is both Solar Communes mobile command, primary rocket artillery and low-altitude anti-air vehicle designed after the 21st century idea of the modernization of the ADATS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Defense_Anti-Tank_System), and is up to date to latest 22nd second standards. It's a quite lightweight combat vehicle at only 18 tons and naturally agile as well. Its horizontal dimensions are equivalent to those of a M113 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113), and its height is of 2.53m with its turret included.
Its 12 tubes with 12 165mm tandem charge ADATS missiles can fire them up to a target at an altitude of 11,000m or against a ground target up to 15,000m of distance, while its twin sequential fire ETC technology L60 60mm autocannons can be used both against ground and low altitude air targets according to its operational needs during a battle with an accumulated rate of fire of 800 rounds per minute.
Protection-wise it only has enough non energetic reactive armor to stand against infantry weapons around and autocannons fire at the front, having equal protection of 650 RHAe at sides, rear and top, 1000 RHAe at the turret front and 1,200 RHAe at the hull glacis. Also it has one Panopticon active protection system. Besides having the equivalent sensor systems to a Sino Stealth Tank, with a camera coaxial with the twin autocannons besides the all-around cameras, it also is equipped with indirect fire calculation systems and with an advanced pulse doppler radar with a range of 45 kilometers. It can reach up to 80km off-road and 115 km on-road. Crew: 1 driver, 1 gunner, 1 system operator, 1 resupply vehicle remote controller; Ammo Loadout: 12 165mm ADATS missiles, 2,400 60mm APFSDS rounds.Quantity per squad: 11
Its dedicated resupply vehicle uses the same chassis, but instead is an unmanned vehicle which is remotely controlled by a crew member inside the Freesky to increase its space for ammunition storage, it also has the same mobility and is equipped with a trio of independent robotic arms where two of them reload simultaneously the missile tubes from the Freesky by taking the missiles from a stored compartment accessed through an opened transversal hatch on it while the other arm reloads its 60mm autocannons through large change magazines behind its turret. With their support the Freesky can reach a fire rate of 30 missiles per minute. They are also equipped with a remotely operated or AI controlled 8.7mm GPMG weapon system.
Crew: None; Ammo Loadout/Storage: 5,600 8.7mm rounds, 72 165mm ADATS missiles, 4,800 60mm APFSDS rounds;
Quantity per squad: 11
CA135-3A Oso MK-8 Self-Propelled Artillery (http://media.pc.ign.com/media/012/012690/img_1325227.html) and DR135-3A Fish Resupply Vehicle
The Oso is one of the most unchanged designs from the early days of the Third Commune, which has been at most retrofitted with better weapon systems, materials, electronics and armor and which dimensions remain very close to its original late 2020s version, having a width of 3.10m, a length of 7.30m and a height of 2.65m. However a significant change was made which have reduced even more the still existing gap between rocket and cannon artillery since Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact technology: the implementation of a triple-barreled artillery system using smaller 135mm electromagnetically propelled rounds rather than the single barreled 155mm ETC propelled system of the past thanks to new engineering technologies. It weighs about 37 tons.
It's triple-barreled turret of gauss guns has an effective range of 80 kilometers, participates substantially of its weight and operates through rotary action and MRSI technology, allowing it to fire salvos of 9 rounds to impact simultaneously, each being fired half a second after the previous round was fired, while it can fire 4 salvos in a minute, giving it an impressive rate of fire of 36 rounds per minute which can be sustained for more than one or two minutes when it is supported by an unmanned resupply vehicle.
Its protection is actually the same of a Freesky, and maneuvering is also recommended to avoid counter-artillery fire. Its sensor systems are as advanced as those of the Ax Heavy Assault MBT, allowing it to target enemies with high accuracy. It can reach up to 65km/h off-road and 85 km/h on-road.
Crew:1 driver, 1 system operator and 1 Fish remote operator;Ammo loadout:36 135mm self-propelled artillery rounds, 36 135mm air-burst artillery rounds. Quantity per squad: 4
Its dedicated resupply vehicle follows similar design philosophies of the DR-165 Freedom, being also remotely operated by a crew member of the Oso and completely unmanned. The only main difference is that rather than using robotic arms, both vehicles have attachments and the Oso has a rear loading chamber while the Fish has a frontal supplying chamber. Those chambers are then attached and then the reloading process is initiated. It can reload as many rounds per minute as those which are fired, ensuring the Oso can maintain a continuous rate of fire until the stored ammunitions in the Fish are depleted. It also is equipped with a 16.5mm heavy machinegun turret either remotely or AI operated for defense.Crew: None;Ammo Loadout/Supply: 4,800 16.5mm rounds, 180 self-propelled 135mm artillery rounds and 180 air-burst 135mm artillery rounds;Quantity per squad: 4.
SLMP7000 Surface Launch Mobile Platform
The SLMP7000 is a heavy mobile, long-range interception armored platform based on a large truck which carries the also bunker-launched S-700 surface to air missiles or SP-700 surface to orbit missiles, it is supported by 2 large dedicated resupply vehicles with 12 extra SAMs and 12 extra SOMs and either equipped with or close to a 4,000 km range advanced multi-frequency radar station. It can hit targets up to 7,000km range and is capable of destroying stealth aircrafts, ICBMs, cruise missiles and tactical nukes, including those with a range of 5,000km and speed of up to 50 kilometers per second, it can basically cover the entire stratosphere of an Earth-like planet as well with its 150km maximum height while surface to orbit missiles can hit targets near a planet orbit, as expected, it is covered all around with reactive armor by about 600 RHAe against kinetic energy and can reach speeds of up to 70km/h on-road and 50km/h off-road.Crew: 1 driver, 1 radar operator and 1 weapons system operator;Ammo loadout: 2 S-7000 surface to air missiles, 2 S-7000 surface to orbit missiles; Quantity per squad: 1
Besides those vehicles, there is a large variety of much more numberful non-combat capable armored supply transports and troop transports against most infantry ballistic weapons and about 4 logistics support non-combat individuals for each existing vehicle.