PD-04TR-S CUIRASSIER

Originally conceived as the Humanist Alliance’s answer to the Territorial Arms Black Mamba, the Cuirasseir began its life at the HAPF’s White Rock facility in the spring of TN1920. In the post-War of the Alliance rearmament period, several Black Mambas were procured by the Humanist Alliance after repeated reports of how well the unit performed. While the Black Mamba suffered from a number of design deficiencies, most notably the fatally weak armor on the back, Humanist preceptors found that the Black Mamba to be a solidly engineered Gear. The retro engineering of the Black Mamba was called the Xiphos project and was initiated as part of the secretive long term defense protocols.

OACS-01M/AQ WASSERJÄGER

HACS-01HG-FS Black Bear

A common misconception among Terranovans is that Utopian armies are composed entirely of armigers and N-KIDUs. This is false because for most of Utopian history the APE suit was used for piloted combat walkers. The APE is more than power armor but does not use a traditional seated cockpit like modern walkers. Instead, the pilot is housed in the central body compartment and their arms and legs extend slightly into the APE. This design is a direct descendant of worker suits during the Concordat era and similar designs are seen on Eden. Despite their near ancient design, APEs are still a common sight among the forces sent from Utopia to Terra Nova.

This period of conflict was used by the Shepherds as a chance to reorganize and better prepare for further aggression from Earth. Unit organization was changed with a heavier emphasis on sustainment elements. Mobile bases that could be used by company sized units were developed to allow smaller forces more strategic freedom from supply hubs. Airborne and orbital assets were expanded, and new satellites and warships were commissioned to create an early warning system against new threats. Defected 7th fleet personnel were tasked with drafting and quantifying CEF combat doctrine, and Shepherds line units were rotated through rigorous drills and training to learn the ins and outs of this style of warfare. Allied forces underwent similar training to operate alongside the Shepherds’ units as auxiliaries, although this training fell short of integrating the forces involved. New developments, techniques and attempts at coordination were used to combat the CEF forces still on the planet and those allied to them, ensuring that anything adopted was battle tested.

OACS-05M/STL Green Mamba

The aftermath of the War of the Alliance resulted in many new projects and initiatives in the AST. One major area of development was dedicated stealth gear, of which the south was lacking compared to the north. This produced the Chameleon and Snakeye Black Mamba which are both high end models. Demand for stealth units quickly outstripped production capacity and allotted funding as the many elite and special operations units of the AST wanted these new models to fill their ranks. Territorial Arms, seeing a potential niche in a new market, created the Green Mamba which saw its first major combat debut in the Interpolar War.