Imperial Shadow Troopers

''"Shadow Troopers! Switch to EMP grenades!" ''-A GIA Sargeant

Imperial Shadow troopers were a variant of Elite Stormtrooper in the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps. They were trained for high risk, special operations missions, deep in enemy territory. Often times, they were sent in ahead of a main invasion front in order to weaken the enemy by assassinating commanders, or sabotaging gun and shield emplacements. They saw a great deal of action in both the second Sith-Imperial war, and Montrosh invasion. They saw light combat during the GIA-Imperial war.

Creation and Training
Imperial Shadow troopers, were brought into action shortly before the battle of Manaan in 17 ADK. Stormtroopers that showed a higher degree of skill with sniper rifles, and at under cover or special operations missions were often recruited to the Shadow trooper division. They were trained for combat in high risk environments, and expected to be able to operate both in and out of armour. Individual training was also an important aspect of their training, so they could operate as solo assassins, as well as in small groups. They underwent rigourous hand to hand training, both unarmed, and utilizing foot long vibrodaggers, capable of cutting through plastoid armours. Shadow troopers also were trained to fight behind enemy lines, without being detected. In the event that they were discovered, they were trained to scatter, and could survive on their own until they could safely slip away, or until support arrived.

Equipment
"Black armour? That's something new" - Adar Vask

Shadow troopers were distinguished by their black armour and light blue helmet visors, and the cloaking technology built into their armour. The cloaking technology allowed them to vanish in nearly any environment, and keep them invisible for almost an unlimited amount of time. The cloaking devices were built into the armour, making it impossible for enemy units to use the technology, should they capture a trooper or steal their armour.

They used everything from vibro daggers to sniper rifles, making them ideal assassins. E-21 blaster carbines used by Shadow troopers were equipped with sound suppressors, at the cost of shot capacity. Shadar sniper rifles, were also suppressed, although instead of being an energy weapon, they fired high velocity titanium-alloy metal beads, that could rip through a targets skull in a fraction of a second. In addition to the blasters, shadow troopers used twelve inch long Asarin vibro daggers in close combat, which  was designed to cut through light armour, and thick flesh.

Strategems
When working in units, Shadow troopers preferred to do as much damage to enemy before fading away by using their cloaking devices. When in sabotage roles, troopers would infliltrate factories, defensive emplacements, and shield generators, and utilize thermal detonators, severely weakening a planets' defences in the face of an imminent imperial invasion. Their exstensive reconnisance training also allowed them to infiltrate local populace and groups in order to get reliable information. Infiltration, followed by sabotage, which allowed them to sow confusion among enemy units before commencing an attack. Enemy officers and leaders were often assassinated, either by sniper rifle, or undercover.