The Urban Special Unit
After the capture of Coruscant, the New Republic found itself spending vast amounts of time and effort uprooting Imperial commands from urban areas. In addition, criminal organizations that had prospered under corrupt Imperial rules, and counter-revolutionary groups supported by the Empire also posed problems that neither the regular army or the planetary police were capable of dealing with. In addition, hostage rescues and covert operations in Imperial held worlds were also being badly blundered by those individuals that were assigned to those tasks. To solve that problem, the Urban Special Unit was formed.

No more than one half of one percent of the New Republic military in numbers, the USU was formed from veterans of the Rebellion, Ex-ISB agents, assorted former criminals, as well as some of the cream of the New Republic's military crop. Highly trained in their specific roles, the USU has one of the highest training attrition rates in the New Republic military, as many of those that though of themselves as hard cases wash out of the USU. Once a soldier makes it through the initial training and testing period, they are given crash courses in all areas of Urban combat. Any failure is immediately washed out back into the regular army, as the USU takes on missions where the slightest mistake can have catastrophic consequences, from dead diplomats to wiped out city blocks.

If a soldier makes it past through the training and initiation, they are given fairly large amounts of expensive equipment and put on assignment. Generally speaking no USU team (6 man unit) has more than one rookie at a time, with soldiers rotating out usually only through promotions or casualties. However, USU teams are by nature close knit groups, and any major personality conflicts are often solved by the removal of one of the personalities in conflict. The USU is officially part of the regular Army, and no USU warrior holds a rank of less than Captain in the NR army. The head of the USU is currently it's founder, Lieutenant General Rayburn R. Hoem.

Minimum requirements for USU members:
All attributes at least 2D+1
Dexterity: 3D

Blaster 7D                                    Brawling Parry 4D
Dodge 6D                                    Grenade 5D
Melee Combat 5D                        Melee Parry 4D
Missile Weapons 5D                    Vehicle Blasters 5D
Intimidation 4D                             Streetwise 4D
Willpower 5D

Communications 4D                     Repulsorlift Operations 4D

Command 5D                               Con 4D
Investigation 6D                           Hide 6D+2
Search 6D                                    Sneak 6D+2

Brawling 5D                                  Climbing 5D
Jumping 5D                                  Stamina 4D

Blaster Repair 4D                         Demolition 5D
First Aid 5D+2                              Security 5D


In addition to these skills, a potential USU member is required to have at least one additional skill of 7D or above that has a practical military application.

Typical USU veteran (rookies tend to start with little above minimum requirements):
Dexterity: 4D
 

Blaster 8D, Brawling Parry 4D+1, Dodge 7D, Grenade 6D, Melee Combat 5D+1, Melee Parry 5D, Missile Weapons 6D, Vehicle Blasters 6D


Knowledge: 2D+1

Intimidation 6D
Streetwise 6D+1
Willpower 6D
Mechanical: 2D+1
Communications 5D
Repulsorlift Operations 5D+2
Sensors 6D
Perception: 3D+2
Command 5D
Con 6D
Investigation 6D+1
Hide 7D+2
Search 7D
Sneak 8D
Strength: 3D+1
Brawling 6D
Climbing 6D+1
Jumping 6D+1
Stamina 5D
Technical: 2D+1
Blaster Repair 6D
Demolition 6D+1
First Aid 7D+2
Security 6D+1
Move: Varies, usually at least one level above racial minimum.
Force points: Varies, seldom more than 10
Dark Side Points: Varies, never more than 5
Character points: Varies, typically 5-20

Equipment:                                                                Credits: 1,000
USU Battle Armor
Trobos Inc. Macrobinoculars (+12% to ranges, +2D to body strength)
3 kg detonite
3 detonators
mini vidcam
datapad
5 rifle powerpacks
3 pistol powerpacks

Weapons:
200 charge Thrasher repeater chain
TRK T-90 carbine
Thrasher Repeating Blaster
T-55 Sniper
1 Blaster Rifle w/Grenade Launcher
2 Blaster Pistols
1 Heavy Blaster Pistol
4 fragmentation Grenades
4 Smoke Grenades
2 Kth' stilettos (knives, with +1 to damage)
2 Vibroblades
1 Garrote

Model: Thamlon Mechanics USU Special 92
Damage Resistance: 2D+1 physical, 2D energy
Cost: 2,700 credits.
Equipped with:

Jet pack
Grappling hook and cord
Fusion microsaw
Helmet equipped with:
Macrobinoculars
Sonar imaging system
Image enhancement computer
Military comlink


Designed and produced exclusively by the Thamlon Mechanics, a high-end military equipment corporation, the armor is made out of light-weight high quality materials. With padded joints and boot soles, this unmarked dark blue armor grants a +2 bonus to sneak and hide rolls. As the armor is quite thin it can be worn underneath bulky street clothing, though the helmet is usually left behind when that is done. 1