Marines (SpecForce)

SpecForce Marines, also known as SpaceOps or simply Marines, were members of the Rebel Alliance SpecForce trained in boarding/counter-boarding operations aboard spacecraft and spaceport assaults.

Characteristics
Marines were trained in hand-to-hand and close-quarters combat under zero-g conditions, along with which weapons to use to avoid damaging a ship's vital systems, how to survive in space and make minor starship repairs. When operating on the defensive within the Alliance Fleet SpaceOps marines were not part of a vessel's general security force but instead stationed at critical locations likely to be targeted by the enemy. However these marines specialized in sabotage and skilled in the tactics necessary to take over enemy vessels. They also had a reputation for being stubborn and reckless, earning them the nickname "vacheads."

Equipment
SpaceOps troops were typically armed with hand weapons such as vibroknives, blaster pistols, carbines, rifles and grenades. A platoon may be equipped with a heavy weapon, such as a light or medium repeating blaster, but these were only employed on starships which could withstand their indiscriminate firepower such as capital ships. They were also one of the few Alliance units with access to armored spacesuits and battle suits.