Pioneers

Pioneers are the Engineers of the Joint Strike Force.

Overview[]

Sometimes just being a ordinary member of the J.S.F. isn't enough. When a typical J.S.F. recruit wants to go one step further, he or she becomes a Pioneer. Just like J.S.F. Ghosts, Pioneers come from every branch of the U.S. military as well as numerous intelligence agencies and private organizations. Pioneers can quickly and effectively deploy an array of advanced weaponry and other devices that may give their battalion a valuable edge in battle. However, their tools are less advanced as those employed by the Enforcer Corps, and in a straight firefight against enemy riflemen, they are at a severe disadvantage.

Tech Commentary[]

Pioneers are essentially a blending of traditional battlefield engineers and heavy infantry. They can provide an extra punch on the battlefield to help give infantry a fighting chance against vehicles and gunships. However, to be effective in these roles, Pioneers must be in cover. They can also plant area defense systems, remove enemy area denial weapons, and even fortify captured Uplinks by calling in air-dropped Sentry Drones. A good commander will have to keep his or her Pioneers well-protected as they have little chance of coming out on top in a firefight with enemy riflemen.

J.S.F. Pioneers can be equipped with the APE-1A2, a revolutionary new exoskeleton developed specifically for the J.S.F. by a private U.S. military contractor. The APE-1A2 allows its user to carry triple his or her body weight. When using the exoskeleton, carrying their primary weapon, the AT5CQ rocket launcher, is no longer a burden. For extreme firepower Pioneers can become support gunners by pairing their exoskeletons with a devastating Man-Portable microgun M268 SAW that fires the same 6.8mm rounds as the SCAR A1. The combination of high firepower, armor, and exoskeletons can turn a single Pioneer into a walking gun turret.

Exoskeletons were first employed by the U.S. Air Force for heavy lifting in 2012, as they were too loud and cumbersome for combat. In 2015, the U.S. successfully developed nuclear fuel cells that could run an exoskeleton for 5000 hours before their reactant needed replacing. By 2020, the Joint Strike Force were equipped with the Assault Powered Exoskeleton 1 Advanced 2 (APE-1A2), making the J.S.F. the first combat unit to use powered exoskeletons.

Weapons[]

SCAR A1 - Assault Rifle
SCAR A1C (In concept art and mentioned on the game's website, but absent from the game)
XM9 (Cut)
M268 SAW - Man-Portable Microgun
AT5CQ - Rocket Launcher

Pioneer Upgrades[]

Attack

Range finder: Increases attack range - Cost: 100,000CR
Squad Automatic Weapon: Unlocks special attack: Burst of SAW fire - Cost: 300,000CR
Target Acquisition Sight: Improves accuracy - Cost: 900,000CR

Defense

Officer Training: Increases hit points - Cost: 100,000CR
Tactical Armor: Increases hit points - Cost: 300,000CR

Mobility

Command Network: Improves uplink capture and upgrade speed - Cost: 100,000CR

Ability

Sentry: Deploys drones to guard an uplink - Cost: 100,000CR
Hornet Area Denial Mine: Allows deployment of minefields - Cost: 300,000CR
Netfires: Upgrades minefields to be effective against both ground and air units - Cost: 900,000CR.
Trap Detector: Enemy minefields within line of sight can be spotted - Cost: 1,200,000CR
Combat Support: Restores allied shielding - Cost: 1,500,000CR