User:Delta-269/Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle Mark II

The Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle Mark II, also referred to as a Human Entry Vehicle 2 or HEV2, is a small pod used by the United Nations Space Command to deploy an individual from high orbit to the ground.

HEV2 usage is popularly associated with the men of the elite UNSC Marine Corps Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, although any UNSC soldier can use them, due to increases in safety measures.

Doctrine
In use for nearly three decades, SOEIVs allowed for the rapid deployment of ground assault troops near or right onto an objective. Their smaller profiles made them more difficult to destroy by defensive fire than conventional dropships. The large number of pods dropped at once also increased the probability of some of the attack force surviving to the land. Each pod bore the name of the soldier inside; amongst other things this identification could be used to identify the unfortunate occupant of a destroyed pod.

The HEV2 was developed in 2560, and was put into full production in May of 2565. They had many safety improvements, allowing 100% survivability, excluding risks of enemy anti-air defenses.

Re-entry
An HEV2 is very different than the original HEV. It slightly resembles a somewhat bullet, and is made of Titanium-A, Lead Foil, and a ceramic skin. The skin burns away during atmospheric reentry, protecting the rest of the pod and its occupant from the worst of the considerable heat. The Lead Foil is there to keep the Armor from ripping away and to replace the ceramic skin once it burns away. However, even with this ablation it is not unknown for passengers to be killed when tolerances are exceeded.

The HEV2 has an ingenious and very simple design - the soldier loaded on-board is encased in a small cockpit, and is protected by four plates which completely cover the vehicle's exterior. After the vehicle enters atmosphere, the plates extend into what is similar to a blooming flower and slow down the HEV's descent. Afters this stage, retro-rockets, similar to the ones on the original HEV model, are activated, slowing the pod just before landing. HEV2's are capable of smashing through almost any surface during re-entry, including buildings.

Capacity
The vehicle contains weapons, ammunition, rations and a radio, and can be used as a shelter if need be. It is also possible to store a light vehicle such as a Mongoose inside the HEV2, or a Shiva-class nuclear missile. The HEV2 has two radio frequencies, a command frequency, that goes only between the platoon leader and his second in command, and a regular, stationed troop frequency between all pods.

Differences from HEV

 * Bullet shape instead of teardrop
 * Increased survivability
 * Different drag-chute design
 * Can land on any side and still be escaped