User:Clonehunter/Workbench2

"Base, this is TK8252. We have eliminated the intruder. Repeat, we have eliminated the intruder. Out."

- TK8252, a field trooper, after Kyle Katarn falls down the chasm

Field stormtroopers were higher ranking stormtroopers with superior field experience and weaponry in the service of the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War. Equipped with E-11 blaster rifles, rail detonators or Imperial Repeater Rifles, they were commonly seen supporting regular stormtrooper riflemen during field operations. They were easily recognized by their yellow, orange, or red pauldrons. After the fall of the Empire, the Dark Jedi Jerec employed dozens of of field troopers during his quest for the Valley of the Jedi, using them as guards for his towers on the moon of Sulon and using them as the primary ground force for his invasion of the planet Ruusan. A number of field troopers were also present on one of his ships, the Sulon Star. Sometime later, field troopers were used en masse during the Battle of Altyr V, when a number of them attacked a New Republic base located on the planet Altyr V during Operation Shadow Hand, while many more were stationed aboard two weapons disguised as asteroids that were bombarding the planet. Field troopers also served alongside regular stormtroopers on the planet of Katraasii, patrolling the streets of the Katraasii Spaceport. Rebel agent and Jedi Kyle Katarn encountered field troopers on numerous occasions, often engaging in skirmishes with the troopers. Katarn encountered field troopers during his quest to defeat Jerec and during the attack on Altyr V.

Origins and Jerec's campaign
Field troopers were a highly skilled extension of the Galactic Empire's Stormtrooper Corps. Boasting better training and equipment specially tailored for field operations, field troopers represented the highest possible rank that a stormtrooper could achieve. After the Battle of Endor during the year 4 ABY, which saw the death of the Imperial leaders Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, the Empire became fragmented. Among the fragments were the forces that rallied under the Dark Jedi and Imperial Inquisitor Jerec. Among these forces were scores of field troopers, who became the backbone of Jerec's army. Initially, many field troopers were assigned to the Government House of the city Barons Hed, located on the moon Sulon, where they guarded the inside of the towers, while the surrounding ground was patrolled by regular stormtroopers and AT-ST walkers, although they were backed up by some field troopers who carried rail detonators. A number of field troopers were also assigned to one of Jerec's cargo vessels, the Sulon Star. While the Sulon Star was docked at Sulon's Fuel City, the place was heavily guarded by field troopers, stormtroopers, Imperial officers, Grave Tuskens, and Trandoshan bounty hunters.



During the year 5 ABY, former Rebel Alliance agent Kyle Katarn returned to his home on Sulon in search of a droid designated 8t88. The droid possessed a map to the fabled Valley of the Jedi, a place of untold power that was also Jerec's ultimate goal. Katarn wanted the map in order to reach the valley and stop Jerec from harnessing the valley's power, as well extract revenge against Jerec, as the Dark Jedi had killed Katarn's father. 8t88 was located in the Government House, under heavy guard as he prepared to disembark to Fuel City. After fighting through the ground forces and a Dark Jedi named Yun, Katarn encountered numerous field troopers as he made his way through the towers. Squads of field troopers began to assemble in the tower's spacious ventilation systems. However, the troopers were unsuccessful in their attempt to stop Katarn, although they bought enough time for 8t88 to escape to Fuel City. 8t88 eventually boarded the Sulon Star, where he was decapitated by Gorc and Pic, two more of Jerec's Dark Jedi henchmen. Meanwhile, Katarn continued fighting Imperial forces in Fuel City, eventually sneaking aboard the Sulon Star. Although the ship's guard compliment was built up primarily of field troopers, they received assistance from various officers and Viper probe droids in slowing down Katarn. However, like on Sulon, the field troopers were unable to kill Katarn, nor stop him from retrieving 8t88's cranial unit and slaying Gorc and Pic. In addition, they were unable to stop the Jedi in training from escaping the cargo ship.

Eventually Jerec's fleet made it to the planet of Ruusan, which housed the Valley of the Jedi. Field troopers were instrumental in the invasion, with large numbers of troopers landing on the planet to set up its defenses, bases, and the excavation of ancient Jedi ruins. During the excavations, a large number of field troopers with orange pauldrons encountered a number of kell dragons who were living in the ruins. Several of the troopers were attacked, killed, and dismembered by the beasts. Field troopers also assisted the Dark Jedi Sariss, Boc Aseca, and Yun in the attack on Fort Nowhere, which was a settlement made up of Sulon refugees. Eventually Katarn, along with his partner Jan Ors, reached Ruusan during his quest for Jerec and the valley. Katarn fought his ways through the Imperial forces, but in the meantime Ors was captured by a squad of field troopers and brought to Jerec. Katarn eventually came across the location where the Sulon Star had been moored, and after a confrontation with Jerec, was thrown aboard the ship via Jerec's mastery of the Force. However, the Force blast was powerful enough to knock the Sulon Star off of the dock, sending it plummeting to the ground below, with much of its crew still on board. As Katarn tried to escape the ship, he encountered several lone field troopers who attempted to shoot him. Katarn escaped the ship, and and Sulon Star and its remaining crew was destroyed when the ship hit the planet's surface. After defeating another one of Jerec's Dark Jedi, Katarn went after Jerec and the captured Ors, encountering further resistance from Field troopers and Imperial Commandos. Despite the heavy resistance, the troopers were ultimately ineffective in stopping Katarn. Katarn eventually rescued Ors and killed Jerec. After the Dark Jedi's death, the remaining Imperials vacated Ruusan.

Altyr V
"Blast him!"

- TK8252, upon spotting Katarn

Five years later, Emperor Palpatine was reborn and instituted Operation Shadow Hand, a series of attacks that targeted bases of the recently formed New Republic. One of these targets was the planet of Altyr V, which housed a small New Republic base. The Empire decided to employ two new weapons for the operation, a pair of space worthy cannons that were disguised as asteroids in order to bypass the base's warning system, as falling asteroids were a common occurrence on the world. However, the base's commander quickly realized the asteroid's true intentions when they began a geosynchronous orbit around the planet and began to bombard their stationary ships. One of the asteroids was large enough to house hangars outfitted with TIE/LN starfighters, various landing crafts, and a large number of field troopers. After bombarding the base, a number of troop transports were sent to Altyr V's surface, loaded with field troopers, scout troopers, and at least two AT-ST walkers. Field troopers began to blast there way through the base's walls and opened fire on the defending forces. Although the New Republic troopers were armed with the same E-11/S blaster rifles the Imperials had, the field troopers also came equipped with Imperial Repeater Rifles and rail detonators. The detonators proved to be very effective against the Republic troopers. The field troopers initiated their attack at the North hangar. However, the Imperials soon encountered Kyle Katarn, who was now a fully trained Jedi. Katarn was assigned to the base when he decided to help the fledgling New Republic. The North hangar became Katarn's first stop.

Katarn recieved a plea from the base's commander to close the hangar's blast door in order to hold off the field trooper's advance. The Jedi obliged, but as the door neared being shut, a TIE/sa bomber flew by and dropped its payload on the door, jamming it and killing any field trooper or defender near the door. The remaining field troopers were defeated by the survivors and Katarn.

The troopers continued to blast their way into the base, and eventually attacked the base's operation center, known as Ops. The attack forced the commander to retreat, leaving an officer in charge. Field troopers, alongside scout troopers, also blasted their way into the base's auxiliary generator room and, after killing the defending troops, turned off half of the base's power. This caused several automatic doors near the room to lock, cutting off another hangar from the rest of the base. This hangar was guarded by only two Republic troopers, who were under attack by at least four field troopers and one AT-ST. Katarn eventually reached Ops, repelled the field troopers, and reactivated the auxiliary generator. At some point during the fighting, a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle landed outside of the base. It was put under the guard of four field troopers and an AT-ST. Katarn killed the two troopers who were guarding the ship's immediate area, and used the shuttle to fly up to the asteroids. Katarn's plan was to use the asteroids cannon to destroy its sister weapon, and then cause his asteroid to self-destruct. As Katarn fought through the defenses, he was pursued by two field troopers armed with rail detonators, TK8252 and his partner. The rail troopers corned Katarn at a cliff drop, and blasted the ground next to him, causing Katarn to fall of the ledge. TK8252 reported that Katarn was killed, believing that the fall could not be survived. However, Katarn did survive and reached the controls for the cannon. He destroyed the other asteroid, and then sabotaged the asteroid he was on, rigging it to self-destruct. Despite heavy resistance from field troopers and commandos, Katarn escaped the asteroid before it was destroyed. Once again, the field troopers were unable to secure a victory against Katarn and his allies. Altyr V was evacuated soon afterwards, due to a large Imperial fleet on the way.

Use at the Katraasii Spaceport
Around the same time of the Battle of Altyr V, the planet of Katraasii was still under the influence of of the Galactic Empire. Its spaceport, while under the guard of stormtroopers, became a haven for criminal activity, and became a regular destination for the Abron Mar, the majordomo for the crime lord Takara, and his cronies. For the most part, the Imperials and Takara's men coexisted without incident. Although the spaceport was primarily guarded by regular stormtroopers, squads of field troopers existed that were used to investigate problem-some individuals. One such individual was Mara Jade, who was hunting Mar on the behalf of Takara's rival, Ka'Pa the Hutt. Jade had been battling Mar's cronies throughout the spaceport, and grabbed the attention of the local Imperials. A hefty platoon of field troopers were eventually dispatched to deal with Jade after she infiltrated the hangar where Mar kept his Z-95 Headhunter and shut the bay doors. Jade survived the field trooper's attack, but fell victim to Mar's men, who rendered her unconscious and took her to Takara's stronghold.

Armor
Field Trooper pauldrons designated the following:


 * Orange- E-11 equipped Field Trooper
 * Yellow - Rail detonator equipped Field Trooper
 * Red - Imperial Repeater Rifle equipped Field Trooper

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith