Kalran: Tales of the four nations/Vanguard

"Vanguards ready!"

-UCA Vanguard exiting barrack upon arming

The Vanguard is the standard infantry of the UCAAF. Planned to be voiced by Billy Kametz (default) or Kelly Baskin (alternate).

Tactical analysis

 * Jack of all trades: Small and expensive. The Vanguards represents the UCA elite, but versatile, combat force. Armed with a semi-automatic heavy shotgun and RPG that holds anti-tank and surface to air rocket (STAR) rounds. The Vanguard can face any foe without fail, either knocking down scores of light armored infantry at medium range or charging through hails of gunfire to blow apart stronger foes at close range.
 * Pitching a strike: And against infantry behind cover or in a garrison the Vanguard can throw grenades to blow them apart, which are also magnetized to also stick onto targeted vehicles, and while it cant kill a tank the concussive blast, combine with the Vanguards training, means that the crew are briefly stunned upon the grenades detonation, or even suffering a critical damage
 * Digging in: Another tool in the Vanguards arsenal is an entrenching tool which allows them to dig a foxhole, or even destroy it if needed, to defend themselves and two other squads while making them immune to getting crushed, just be wary that weapons specializing in killing garrison are particularly effective and an abandoned foxhole can be used by an enemy
 * Master of none: But due to their training Vanguard are expensive and, combined with their initial rank, means that they actually start out weaker compared to their foes, and their lack of focus means that they will lose to units specializing against aircraft, infantry, or tanks

Overview
Draft from young men and women. The Vanguard forms the backbone of the UCAAF, tasked to to take and defend territory and can face down nearly anything with their versatile weaponry and armour.

The Vanguard's outfit consist of full plate armour, normally painted blue with orange highlights, and the UCA emblem on their left spaulder, over their plugsuit and assault frame with a helmet based off the USA m1 helmet with a visor and a backpack holding their RPG, ammunitions, and other essentials. And armed with a shotgun, RPG, and bastard sword. All made of steel.

Upon reaching ace rank their assault frame is upgraded with a small generator on the back of the frame and servos to the joints and their pack becomes smaller, due to switching its RPG ammo to smaller grenades, and squad now wears a sleeveless trenchcoat, with the squad leader (just a random unit) will have the sleeve of their left arm painted silver. Once the stimpack upgrade is purchased all Vanguard will now have a red vial attached to the bicep of their frame. And once powered armor upgrade is purchased unit gains more armor and their visor is changed to a gas mask.

History
"Charge sons of Alcradia!"

-Captain Alex of the 4th rifles division rallying his troops into battle

Upon being drafted the Fenrir, whether men or women, farmers or doctors, are drilled in the basics of shooting and melee for four years, which can be shorten if they choose to volunteer, after about a year of training, as Servicemen. And by the end are given their shotgun, RPG, armor, and assault frame, becoming the pride of the UCA.

Their standard armament are the Cardin 8 shotgun, RPG, frag grenades, bastard sword, full plate armor, assault frame, and surface to air rocket (STAR) rounds which fires a rocket that explodes in a hail of shrapnel upon reaching a designated altitude. While this makes their infantry better armed and armored compared to the equivalents it also means their more expensive.

Recently the UCA have begun to manufacture the Cardin-8B gatling shotgun and is being issued as fast as it can be manufactured. Firing HEAB rounds against infantry and aircraft and HAMR rounds for vehicles and tanks, and the mk4 prototype "finn" power frame, a set of servos, with a generator, placed onto the assault frame that increases the strength and decrease fatigue on the soldier. But limited number of such weapons and frame, and the nightmare to maintain it after battle, means that their issue has been limited to veterans.

Rank upgrades
Experienced: Unit gains increased armor and health and double grenades radius

Veteran: Unit gains increased range and vision and grenade ability now fires further, explodes immediately, and deals more damage

Heroic: Units every third attack now launches a grenade that damage and debuffs units attack and movement speed in a radius and grenade ability now stuns surviving infantry and vehicles and deals damage to machine/undead units

Ace: Unit now fire while moving, melee attacks now deal triple damage, and weaponry is replaced, granting a major boost to rate of fire, damage, and aoe

Trivia

 * The unit is a fusion of the rifle squad from C&C 3, the Peacekeeper from red alert 3, the riflemen squad from company of heroes 1 and 2, and the rangers from C&C generals.
 * Their silly mode quotes are basically the unit turning into the loud fps player stereotype.
 * Some of it's silly mode quotes are based of Miracle of Sound song: Shooter Guy.
 * Their shotgun is based off the ww1 trench gun and the shotguns from doom and doom eternal. While their ace weaponry is a fusion of the aa12, with frag rounds, the OICW, and the gatling shotguns from doom eternal and Wolfenstein.
 * The armor they wear, especially once they get their ace upgrade, is based off the riot gear from fallout new vegas.

Arkalion

 * Legionnaire
 * Defender
 * Voltigeur
 * Warrior
 * Guardian
 * Ascendant soldier

Alcradia

 * Vanguard
 * Lancer
 * Trooper
 * Huntress
 * Talon
 * Sword

Axio

 * Ashigaru
 * Privateer
 * Spear militia
 * Raider
 * Rebel
 * Riot trooper

Askrian

 * Footman
 * Partisan
 * Dervish
 * Stormtrooper
 * Mercenary
 * Grunt