Draikan Shock Corp Battalion

Written by LT.Nick

The Shock Corp is a formation within the Draikan army that specializes in assaulting close quarters positions. Formed from veterans who suffer from a particular mental illness known simply as the rage. All of its members are crazed berserkers who take a perverse pride and joy in killing bugs. The rage on its surface resembles PTSD, but upon further examination has several key differences. Like PTSD, it is caused by conditions most often found on the battlefield, and leads to a more unstable mental state. What separates it from PTSD is that while PTSD has a broad array of causes and symptoms, the rage has very specific causes and symptoms. Those afflicted with the rage show little emotion other than despair for what was lost and hatred for those responsible i.e. the bugs. Having the rage is not actually required to be sent to the Shock Corp, but many of its symptoms are, leading to rare occasions where someone without the rage is sent to the Shock Corp.

Composition

Manpower

A Shock corp Battalion consists of 651 soldiers in 4 separate companies. Each company has 165 soldiers in 4 separate platoons. Each platoon has 41 men in 4 separate squads of 10 soldiers.

Equipment

Every shock trooper is equipped with the DMA-MK-IV exosuit. Making the wearer almost invulnerable to small arms fire in addition to reducing combat fatigue. Their helmets have a built-in radios, and smoke filters, with attachment points for a gas mask, and advanced optics. The helmets of shock troopers are adorned with a draikan skull painted on the faceplate, differentiating them from regular army soldiers. It is not uncommon for shock troopers to adorn their armor with pictures, markings, or grisly trophies.

Weaponry

The most common firearm used by the Shock Corp is the trusty alliance standard HAR-27 assault rifle renowned for its high accuracy, reliability and ergonomic desighn. The Shock Corp unlike most other Draikan Army formations doesn't have a standard squad load out. This leads to higher uses of HVAC-15 carbines and ASG-41 shotguns than in normal army units, while the machine-guns and sniper rifles that are common place in other army units are rarely seen. Other ways Shock Corp gear breaks from army standard include; the use machine-pistols, which are rarely used outside the corp, alongside increasing the amount of grenades carried, and use of a wide array of custom/makeshift melee weapons such as swords, axes, spears, war hammers, etc.

Structure

A Shock Corp battalion is technically a supporting battalion in a Draikan Assault Regiment, however they will often act more like independent Units, acting independent of their parent formation, and frequently attached to different units to act as support. A Shock Corp Battalion is lead by regular army officers: one major and 6 captains. All the lower officers are shock troopers like the men they command, albeit ones with lesser cases of the rage.

Tactics

The Shock Corp will try to quickly reach the enemy lines while taking as few casualties as possible. Once they near the bug lines they throw a barrage of grenades before diving bayonets first into bug trenches. Once inside the enemy trenches. They don't worry about holding the ground they take, that's for the wave of regular infantry behind them to worry about. It is not unusual for the Shock Corp to take Grievous losses to win victory. They will not stop until victory is achieved, or are given a direct order to fall back. They don't worry about holding the ground they take, that's for the wave of regular infantry behind them to worry about.

Training

The Shock Corp is formed from veterans of regular Draikan infantry, with the standard 5 1/2 month infantry training. Depending on when they where diagnosed with the rage, a Draikan soldier could have anywhere between a few hours, or a few years of combat experience when they get recruited into the Corp.

History

The United Draikan army only a few years after its creation in 2007 began to realize large numbers of soldiers were suffering from a new form of mental disease. The initial cases were falsely classified as PTSD but as more and more cases emerged, it became clear that it was an entirely different disease. This disease would soon come to be nicknamed the rage. By 2010 high command had decided to create specialized units for those affected by the rage. The initial deployments of these specialized units were largely successful with shock troopers overrunning numerous bug positions and storming what were previously believed to be impenetrable fortifications. However, it was soon realized that when faced with large counter offensives the Shock Corp tended to suffer grizzly casualties. Shock troopers were not equipped to hold positions, and refused to retreat, leading to heavy losses and in some extreme cases leading to the destruction of entire units. In response to these disasters, high command decided to rewrite The Shock Corp's doctrine. From then on all Shock Corp offensives were to be supported by regular army forces, and and high ranking officer in the Shock Corp were to be of the regular army.       Following the tragedies of The Alliance's defeat in the fall Cassiopeia and expulsion from the Perseus Arm, Draikans have been contracting the rage in record numbers. Draikan scientists theorize the large increase in cases is do to heightened feeling of hatred and despair among the Draikan population. With the war now in a stalemate, the bolstered numbers of the Draikan Shock Corp have been of great use delodging bug footholds. Currently, the Shock Corp is 5 million strong, making up 2% of the Draikan army's total strength.

Type

Shock

Founding

2010

Overall training Level

Professional

Assumed Veterancy

Veteran