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As cheesy as that sounds it makes you think, though in reality I suspect you would be better off with a ship equipped with low observability or cloak technology and transporters...

For any serious operation though I think I would rely more on Armored Shuttles than even the Transporter, it has a place of course but it is easy to knock out.

Combat drop pods aren't really a new thing for SciFi. Halo, Battletech and Warhammer 40k all make use of the idea.

But naturally the pacifistic federation has forgotton how to kick a$$ it seems

They lost Kirk and went downhill from there.

Where's the capital of Earth in the 24th century again?

Explains a lot.

Deepcrush wrote:Combat drop pods aren't really a new thing for SciFi. Halo, Battletech and Warhammer 40k all make use of the idea.

Never mind all that new stuff - Starship Troopers had them back in the 50s.

Aye, the idea of drop pods has been around for ages.

As cheesy as that sounds it makes you think, though in reality I suspect you would be better off with a ship equipped with low observability or cloak technology and transporters...

I wouldn't. Too vulnerable to the thousand and one ways you can jam transporters. Stick with shuttles and your chances of getting the troops on the ground got a lot better. Also, arm the shuttle and it can stick around to support the troops from the air.

Rochey wrote:Aye, the idea of drop pods has been around for ages.

As cheesy as that sounds it makes you think, though in reality I suspect you would be better off with a ship equipped with low observability or cloak technology and transporters...

I wouldn't. Too vulnerable to the thousand and one ways you can jam transporters. Stick with shuttles and your chances of getting the troops on the ground got a lot better. Also, arm the shuttle and it can stick around to support the troops from the air.

What about landers for ground vehicles too?

Starfleet Army should consist of highly trained ground troops SPECIALIZED in ground fighting. Not armed with the standard phaser rifle either, either one that's set on wide beam all the time, or a pulse phaser for rapid fire. Plus, disruptor/phaser resistant body armor to increase survivability.

Mark wrote:Picture it.........A small starship warps into a system and fires what appear to be several dozen torpedos at a planet, then U-turns and warps out. Follow the tors entering the planets atmosphere, glowing hotter and hotter, until at a certain point it breaks away revealing a planetary assault trooper. The NEW Airborne Rangers!!!!

*Has visions of Lt Dolittle surfing into the atmosphere of a planet at the end of Dark Star (a movie you should all try and catch sometime)*

To me, the Cardies were one of the few races with some common sense in their design and tactics.

Captain Seafort wrote:

Deepcrush wrote:Combat drop pods aren't really a new thing for SciFi. Halo, Battletech and Warhammer 40k all make use of the idea.

Never mind all that new stuff - Starship Troopers had them back in the 50s.

Indeed, I forgot about them. My fav has to be the ones from Battletech. A dropship large enough to fit a whole divison on board.

What about landers for ground vehicles too?

That too.

Starfleet Army should consist of highly trained ground troops SPECIALIZED in ground fighting. Not armed with the standard phaser rifle either, either one that's set on wide beam all the time, or a pulse phaser for rapid fire. Plus, disruptor/phaser resistant body armor to increase survivability.

I wouldn't have phasers set for wide beam all the time. What if there are civilians in the area? What if there are allied troops near the enemies' position? What if you're in a situation where accuracy is needed? Not to mention the fact that we've never seen any weapon on wide beam that wasn't on a stun setting, we don't know if the phaser has enough power to do a wide beam kill. And even if it did, it'd eat through the ammo very quickly.

Agreed on all the rest, though.

Rochey wrote:Aye, the idea of drop pods has been around for ages.

As cheesy as that sounds it makes you think, though in reality I suspect you would be better off with a ship equipped with low observability or cloak technology and transporters...

I wouldn't. Too vulnerable to the thousand and one ways you can jam transporters. Stick with shuttles and your chances of getting the troops on the ground got a lot better. Also, arm the shuttle and it can stick around to support the troops from the air.

I agree with you and said the same thing above;

For any serious operation though I think I would rely more on Armored Shuttles than even the Transporter, it has a place of course but it is easy to knock out.

Not to mention the fact that we've never seen any weapon on wide beam that wasn't on a stun setting, we don't know if the phaser has enough power to do a wide beam kill. And even if it did, it'd eat through the ammo very quickly.

Granted we've never SEEN it, but Tuvok DID mention that he had his phaser set to kill and on wide beam (when he was "possessed" by the alien and Chakotay was a "spirit"). That kind of leads one to believe that you COULD do it.