Kalran: Tales of the four nations/Vanguard

"Vanguard ready for combat!"

-UCA Vanguard exiting barrack upon arming

The Vanguard is the standard infantry of the UCAAF. Planned to be voiced by Billy Kametz (captain), alongside Kelly Baskin and Yuri Lowenthal.

Tactical analysis

 * Jack of all trades: Small and expensive. The Vanguards represents the UCA elite, but versatile, combat force. Armed with a HMG and RPG that holds anti-tank and surface to air rocket (STAR) rounds. The Vanguard can face any foe without fail, capable of ripping apart infantry at any range with their HMG, though close range is the deadliest, or knocking down vehicles and aircraft with their RPG.
 * 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, at least until they rank up.

Overview
Made of a volunteer militia, men and women. The Vanguard forms the main ground force and backbone of the UCAAF. In peacetime most of them are regular civilians, whether baker, worker, or cook, but when their people are threatened they will arm and armor up to defend their people and their homes. And in war are tasked to destroy and repel enemy forces during combat.

Appearance
Over their plugsuit and assault frame the Vanguard wears full plate armor, normally painted blue with orange highlights with the UCA emblem on their left spaulder while the captains has their left arm armor painted silver, and a helmet based off the USA m1 helmet with a visor and a backpack holding their RPG, ammunitions, and other essentials. Their appearance will also change as they rank up.

Experienced: Their assault frame is upgraded with a small generator on the back of the frame and servos to the joints.

Veteran: A grenade launching gauntlet is now attached to their left forearm and they wear an ammunition backpack.

Heroic: An underslung grenade launcher is attached to their HMG.

Ace: 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 right arm painted silver while their squadmates have their left arm armor painted silver.

History
"Charge sons of Alcradia!"

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

Upon choosing to volunteer the Fenrir, whether men or women, farmers or doctors, are drilled in the basics of shooting and melee for a year, which they can choose the schedule or extend their training. And by the end are given their shotgun, RPG, armor, and assault frame, becoming the pride of the UCA.

Their standard armament are the Bronson .50 cal HMG, 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 Bronson M2 gatling gun and is being issued as fast as it can be manufactured. Firing HEAB (high-explosive airburst) rounds against infantry and aircraft and HAMR (High-explosive Anti-tank Micro-Rockets) 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.

Tactics
One of the best basic infantry, and an unstoppable force as they rank up and gets upgrades. The Vanguard is the embodiment of the phrase "jack of all trades" thank to their ability to handle infantry, armor, and aircraft. While being a heavy unit allows them to tank sniper shots and wade through suppression and their natual regeneration ability means its tough to put a Vanguard squad down. While their HMG, which they wield as an assault rifle, allows them to shred most infantry and vehicles at a good range, while a rocket launcher, armed with both anti-tank and anti-air rounds, means that vehicles and aircraft aren't safe, especially if their in large numbers, and their skill in the longsword makes them deadly duelist. But this comes at the cost of being one of the most expensive infantry of its kind. Second only to the Talon.

The Vanguard also has many upgrades from both the armory and the prototypes lab which bought, mainly the powered armor, making them even tougher and faster then some vehicles, and the railguns, which doubles both the damage and rate of fire of their weapons, will make the Vanguard one of the most powerful infantry and a master of all.

However at their baseline they are masters of none. While they can handle basically everything it comes at a cost. They will lose out to an Ashigaru when it comes to fighting infantry, the Raider and Warrior will handily beat them in melee, Defenders will easily beat them when it comes to defense, the Enforcers easily beats them when it comes to raw damage, Pikemen and Draugr can outlast them, and the Voltigeurs can easily run circles around them.

And the Vanguards are expensive. Meaning that the loss of a squad will set a commander back, especially if their a veteran, means that care must be taken when using them in combat.

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 Exosoldier from act of aggression, 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.
 * Some of the silly mode quotes against a Cult Undead infantry are references in Zombie pop culture, notably Zombieland.
 * Their HMG is based off the browning HMG, BAR rifle, and the assault rifles in doom. With their ace upgrade being a fusion of the OICW, and the chaingun from doom.
 * 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

Alcradia

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

Axio

 * Ashigaru
 * Privateer
 * Guardsmen
 * Raider
 * Combat Militia
 * Enforcer

Askrian

 * Footman
 * Partisan
 * Dervish
 * Grenadier
 * Marauder
 * Draugr