Truppen Generations
Truppen Model Series and Production Dates
Clockwise from bottom left - Northern Alliance (NA) Human Infantry, NA Human Infantry, Truppen T.Mk.1, Truppen T.Mk.8, Truppen T.Mk.3, Truppen T.Mk.5.
The Phase One Cyborg
T.Mk.I (Mark 1)
Revised Aparatic Design Completed in 2629.
Heavily modified Biological Host with variable implants according to mission type. A limited number of variants.
Production Dates 2634-2650.
Mark 1 Truppen
The men and women who became the original Truppen did not do so voluntarily. The Aparatic Enhancement Project subjects had consented to be part of the Aparatic Makers’ heretical experiments to enhance and extend life. But when the Northern Alliance Chancellor Mant learned about the work being done at the Emperius Moon facility, he ordered his duplicitous lieutenant, Reginald Forrest, to mount a Northern Alliance military expedition to locate and seize the complex and force the Aparatic monks and their subjects into the service of the Ammanian regime. The Maker scientists were coerced to make their subjects super soldiers for the Northern Alliance. But the volunteers refused to cooperate. They wanted to enhance life, not take it. To overcome their reluctance, Northern Alliance technicians created 'Command Programming,’ a method of absolute control via keywords that activated neural implants. Later, when Mark I production was formalized, military volunteers reduced the need for command programming. It was installed, nonetheless, because Mark I Truppen soldiers were notoriously emotional and subject to episodes of intense rage. Command programming was considered a failsafe switch.
T.Mk.II (Mark 2)
Designed 2639.
Modified Biological Host with extensive cybernetic and cyborg implants, limbs, etc. Multiple variants.
Production Dates 2640-2661.
Mark 2 Truppen Blueprint
The Mark 2 was somewhat human in appearance but even more formidable than their predecessor model. Brain function was altered in this model to lessen the need for failsafe command programming. It had the effect of decreasing emotional response and alleviating the rage issues of the earlier model.
The Phase Two Cyborg
T.Mk.III (Mark 3)
Designed 2642.
Cybernetic Host with a modified biological face, brain, and nervous system. Multiple variants.
Production Dates 2644-2663.
Mark 3 Truppen
The Mark 3 Truppen were codenamed Frankenstein by Terran Intelligence. Terran troops called them 'Franks.' From a distance, they were grotesque. Up close, they were a freak show.
The Frankenstein-like face was human but stretched across the cyborg’s angled metal skull like a bad facelift. There was a visor that could be lowered for protection, much like a medieval knight. Depending on the production run, there were random sections of muscle and flesh on the body. The brain and spinal nerve structures were present. Heightened sensory capacity was maintained in this model, but the pain receptors were eliminated. This made the model more resilient but less nimble.
Mark 3's were autonomous but subject to command programming. The transition to a cybernetic chassis revealed significant neural and cognition issues. Mark 3s were more susceptible to episodes of rage and non-compliance. Command programming was considered essential for these models, limiting their use as autonomous units. A human command element for Mark 3 detachments was standard practice.
The Cybernetic
T.Mk.IV (Mark 4)
Designed 2645.
Cybernetic Host with a biological brain. Multiple variants.
Production Dates 2648-2670.
The Mark 4 was a huge leap forward in Truppen technology. The chassis was fully cybernetic, with only the brain as a biological feature of the model. It was encased in a protective helm that would keep the brain alive, although not active if the headpiece were severed from the chassis. So long as the headpiece was intact, the brain could theoretically live on forever, or at least until the headpiece degraded due to adverse environmental conditions. Command programming was abandoned in this model after it was learned that the enemy had discovered the secret of command programming and successfully deactivated a Truppen detachment.
T.Mk.V (Mark 5)
Designed 2660.
Fully Cybernetic. Solid state brain. Only the subject’s consciousness remained. Multiple variants.
Production Dates 2661-2673.
Mark 5 Truppen
T.Mk.VI (Mark 6)
Designed 2662.
Fully Cybernetic. Solid state brain. Only the subject’s consciousness remained. Multiple variants.
Production Dates 2664-2673.
Mark 6 Truppen
Mark 5-6 models were the same Truppen model with different cosmetic and weapon configurations. The Mark 5 was an all-around infantry and orbital jump trooper. The Mark 6 variant was intended for ABVAN assault detachments and deep space combat teams.
These models did not have any biological components. The ability to place the consciousness of a sentient being in a solid-state brain was the most closely guarded secret of the Northern Alliance, and it was lost with the Fall of the NA in 2673. After that point, Truppen could only be constructed using Mark 4 or other experimental techniques.
Limited Production Models (Mark 7-9)
Truppen Heavy Infantry
T.Mk.VII (Mark 7)
Designed 2667
Fully Cybernetic. Biological brain with solid state supplementation. The subject’s consciousness remained. Multiple variants.
Limited Production Run 2669-2671
T.Mk.VIII (Mark 8)
Designed 2670
Fully Cybernetic. Biological brain with solid state supplementation. The subject’s consciousness remained. Multiple variants.
Limited Production Run 2672-2673
The Mark 7 and 8 were heavy infantry intended as ABVAN shock troops. They were also used in the anti-metatank role. They were cheaper to build because they did not use solid-state brain technology. Their performance in the 2nd consular War was out of proportion to their numbers. They were feared by Terran and Reittian troops alike, who nicknamed them 'Grinders.'
T.Mk.IX (Mark 9)
Designed 2671
Fully Cybernetic. Solid State Brain. Only the subject’s consciousness remained. Multiple variants.
Limited Production Run 2672 -2673
An extremely limited number of Mark 9s were built at the end of the war. They were ultra-heavy infantry and extremely expensive to produce. Less than 4,000 ever saw service.
Other Non-Series Programs (XT.Mk#)
Multiple design dates 2640-2673
Various partial to fully cybernetic experimental models.
Prototype Only production runs.
Mk3 Truppen 001
Non-Series Truppen were the experimental toys of NA scientists and their sponsors. There were variants of each experimental model. The variations were mission and task-specific based on NA specifications. Most never saw combat. Some experiments were notorious failures, while some were a nasty surprise for the unsuspecting Terran soldiers they encountered.
