Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/Taiga Sniper

"Snipers here."

-Taiga Sniper

The Taiga Sniper is the main sniper infantry of the Socialist Union of Voshkod. Planned to be voiced by Jessica Preddy alongside Sheena Bhatessa.

Tactical analysis

 * I Can't Miss: Armed with a state of the art and accurate SV-98, Taiga Snipers are among the some of the deadliest snipers in the world. They are able to efficiently dispatch infantry from long range, although their rifles are slow to reload.
 * Nothing But Trees: Compared to other snipers the Elezen are exceptionally skilled in camouflage. Becoming invisible when stationary and can return to stealth much faster.
 * Hunting lure: In a pinch, the Sniper can take one of her spare coats and fill it with sticks and grass, and when propped up, can make a passable decoy. In theory, this can fool an opponent into firing at the wrong target, leaving the Sniper to retaliate in safety.
 * Shh! I can't be seen!: Unfortunately, the SV-98 rifles are useless against vehicles, and Elezen Snipers have no other weapons to speak of. As such, in the event that a Elezen Sniper runs into a vehicle, she can only hope that she isn't spotted or accidentally run over.

Appearance
Their attire of the Taiga Snipers are based off modern Russian army snipers and as with most of Elezen women in Voshkod military, they bare their midriffs in some degree, unless if it's set on a winter map, they'll cover theirs.

History
"Head or heart? I can do either!"

-...

The Elezens, one of Voshkod's races are rarely known for their stealth or subtlety. It's therefore is something of a surprise that the Voshkod is the source of some of the best snipers in the world. Voshkod High Command can be accused of many things (although not to their faces of course), however, squandering talent is not one of them.

With much of Eorzea still wild and untamed tundra, being able to put a rifle round through a Gobull's skull is often a necessary skill, for men and women of Elezen alike. The shortage of ammunition due to the recent wars has only encouraged locals of these areas to be precise in placing their shots. It seemed only natural that the Voshkod high command should have a relatively small number of highly skilled sharpshooters on hand to take out enemy officers.

That small number of Taiga Snipers, so nicknamed for their origins coming from the forests of Mor Dhona, was put to the test in the latter days of Great Voshkod-Aquilan War. When the Voshkods lost the momentum of their steamroll through 5 continents, and the tides began to turn, snipers came into their own. As the Allied forces began to push back, Snipers aimed to disrupt their movements at every turn. The Second Battle of Duggermain proved pivotal, as Aquilan forces lost man after man to a handful of brave snipers.

In the aftermath of the Great Voshkod-Aquilan War, Voshkod high command decided that snipers had proven their worth and the academy at (insert Eorzea location) was founded. Many a woman has proven to be unusually skilled with the rifle, and as such can choose to be sent to "Sniper School". Here they spend long days and nights learning to use their rifles to the fullest.

It is rumored that the final test involves hitting a vodka bottle at a range of nearly 1,000 meters; a feat made even more impressive by the fact that the soon-to-be sniper must empty the vodka bottle by herself just before the test. Snipers are also trained in the arts of camouflage and are equipped with a backpack full of the latest, and most advanced mock foilage that the Union can produce.

It is said that Voshkod snipers are so inventive in their disguises that the average Marine couldn't tell the difference between a real tree, and a sniper dressed with cardboard, Duckov tape, and some fake branches, even if the Peacekeeper was leaning on them! Of course, it should be noted that sophisticated thermal sensors and well-trained animal noses can reveal a hidden sniper, even if camouflaged. Snipers have also taken to the tactic of using simple decoys to bait enemy sniper fire; while they will not stand up to close observation, it can be hard for an enemy sniper to distinguish between a propped-up coat and a genuine person from several hundred meters away, a fact that has cost many Allied snipers their lives.

The training regimen of snipers makes them more costly to field than most other infantry in the Voshkod's ranks. Additionally, they are not equipped to handle tanks, and most snipers are unable to emulate Alisaie's skill in aiming precisely for vehicle weak spots and vision slits. Nevertheless, their great range, usefulness against infantry, and ability to remain undetected make them a worthy addition to the Red Army.

Thankfully for the enemies of Voshkod, snipers remain relatively few in numbers and were not fully fielded in the last war due to most being on deep infiltration missions to try and kill Guardians top brass. However, increased training uptake has allowed these fearsome sharpshooters to be released to frontline commanders. The only sniper known to be active around the globe was Alisaie, and the academy has posters of her hanging on every wall to inspire the Elezen snipers of tomorrow.

Trivia

 * Like most Elezen women in the Voshkod army, their uniform of the sniper baring midriffs in some degree
 * In Gaiaterra, They're the mix of the Red Alert Paradox Soviet Snipers and COH2 Soviet Scout Snipers

Guardians of the Tacitus

 * Pathfinder (Aquila)
 * Sniper (Alliance)
 * High Elven Sniper Team (ADI)
 * Holotree Sniper (Protectorate)
 * Heavy Sniper (Andora)
 * Harvin Ghillie Team (Empire)
 * Musketeer (Community)

Destroyers of Balthazar

 * Taiga Sniper (Voshkod)
 * Brotherhood Assassin (Brotherhood)
 * Sharpshooter Boys (Horde)
 * Partisan (MLA)
 * Virus (Collective)
 * Floran Guerillas (Encantadia)
 * Extinctor (Scrin)

Neutrals

 * Grundstok Thunderer (Coalition)
 * Hunter Of Tzeentch/Nurgle (Heralds)
 * Wild Hunter (Path of Khorne)
 * Trophy Hunter (Path of Slaanesh)
 * Longbowman (Order)
 * Marksman (Survivors)
 * Centurion (Syndicate)
 * Beam Gunner (Conglomerate)
 * Deadeye (Legion)

Expansion

 * Foxtrot Rangers (ADA)
 * Voidstrider (Bastion)
 * Sniper Creep (Rangers)
 * Crow Gunner (Pirates)
 * Kelran Sniper (Ascalia)
 * Gillie Team (Elona)
 * Ghost (Dominion)
 * Jaeger (Security)
 * Lineman (Ascendency)

DLC

 * Fremen Warrior (Federation)
 * Misty Sniper (Corona)
 * ... (Party)
 * Sprite Striker (Skynet)
 * Usha-Ah
 * Snezhnaya Sniper (Elemental)
 * Scout Trooper (Autocracy)
 * Krait (League)
 * ... (Swarm)
 * Personnel (Confederation)
 * Kingdom Rangers (Kingdom)
 * ... (Goo)
 * Chosen Sniper (Imperium)
 * ... (Dynasty)
 * Ogre Sniper (Warlords)
 * Musketman (Cult)
 * Ardent Sniper (Raiders)
 * Whitemarks (Theocracy)
 * Van Saar Sniper (Insurgents)
 * Fear Killer (Guardians)
 * Bugger (Hierarchy)
 * Hunter (Sundered)
 * Albion Sniper (Concordat)
 * Tauren Sniper (Ecumene)
 * Contingent Marksman (Contingent)
 * Ace (Eden)
 * Provocateur (InGen)
 * Beast Catcher (Hallows)
 * Sharpshooter (Commune)
 * ... (Clique)
 * ... (Lordships)
 * Sharpneedle Bug (Threat)
 * Thief Sniper (Guild)
 * Convoy Lookout (Traders)
 * Sniper Dancer (Entente)
 * Possessed Sniper (Oblivion)
 * Sniper Ja'vo (Corporation)
 * ... (Covenant)
 * Byzantium Marksman (Institute)
 * Eremite Sniper (Eremite)