Studies and Observations Division Troops

'*A note form the author: Please note that this article is not complete. Do not criticize yet, please. Also, please do not tag NCF. I will finish most of the article tomorrow. I am very tired tonight.*'

The Studies and Observations Division Troops (SODT, as they were called on the battlefield, pronounced letter for letter) were troops that were commissioned by ONI to gather intelligence. ONI would often lend them out to SPECNAVWAR. They had many roles on the battlefield. As troops, they rivaled the ODST, and were inferior to Spartans. Their training was harsh, and their equipment was varying. The troops were the result of Project Epsilon.

Background
ONI created a rival to the Spartan II program, Epsilon. They captured male and female children (Age 6-10) and put them into a training regime. It was not anywhere near that of the Spartan-II program, but it was superior to even that of the ODST.

Epsilon was a project conceived and carried out by ONI in 2532. ONI would kidnap the child they wished to put through the program. They chose the candidate based on background, as well as physical and mental capabilities. They were taken from their families, never to be returned. They had their family name stripped away, kept only in one file kept under lock and key that contained personal information on all candidates.

The troops were put through a harsh and brutal training program. They then were put on live combat with Marines. By the end of their training, at age 18, they were ready for battle. Because the troops were of different ages, there was a graduation held once a year for four years.

The kids were chosen based on ONI's files on all civilians. They were chosen based on a specific gene pool they must match. If all of their health matched, they became candidates. There were 1000 candidates. They were chosen based on eyesight, smell sensitivity, reflexes, bone strength, size, hight, weight, and hearing. To narrow it down, all troops had a coin flipped in their name. If the child was to be chosen, they would get heads. If they weren't, they would get tails. They got 350 kids, exactly.

Weapons
The Epsilon troops used a variety of UNSC weapons. Their favorites were usually quiet, small weapons, but, later, when their use became more common on battles, and less in intel missions, their weapon variety changed, too. Their weapons included the:
 * M7S Submachine Gun
 * M7 Submachine Gun
 * BR55S Battle Rifle
 * BR55HB SR Battle Rifle
 * MA5 Series Individual Combat Weapon System (B,C,K)
 * Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Materiel (SRS99D-S2 AM)
 * Sniper Rifle System 99 Anti-Materiel (SRS99 AM)
 * M6C/SOCOM (Common)
 * M6C (Rare)
 * M6D Personal Defense Weapon System (Common)
 * M6G Personal Defense Weapon System
 * M90 Close Assault Weapon System
 * Rarely:


 * Detached AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun
 * M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle
 * M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon
 * Hard sound rifles

These are just some of the weapons that they use. They use many, many more. Most are prototypes that are not always fully functioning. They are always using new weapons. Most new weapons are just carried with the operators favorites, though. Epsilon troops have access to the entire UNSC arsenal, including older weapons, brand new weapons, explosives, attachments, and electronics.

Some weapons were highly experimental, such as machine pistols, while some were more normal, such as sniper rifles. Either way, SODTs would test them, and give a report on their feelings. They rarely did get large, bulky weapons that would be pointless in their combat scenarios, though. ONI also made sure that all weapons tested would work under conditions required.

Pistols

 * M6C/SOCOM   Liked for accuracy and quietness
 * M6C   Rare and becoming obsolete due to lack of Smart Link
 * M6D Personal Defense Weapon System   Liked for accuracy and stopping power
 * M6G Personal Defense Weapon System   Liked for accuracy and speed

Submachine Guns

 * M7S   Liked for accuracy, magazine size, durability, quietness, and speed
 * M7   Liked for accuracy, magazine size, durability, and speed, as well as weight

Assault Rifles
MA5 Series Individual Combat Weapon System   Liked for ruggedness, stopping power, and accuracy

Battle Rifles
BR55HB SR Battle Rifle   Liked for accuracy, quietness, ruggedness, modularity, and stopping power

Sniper Rifles

 * Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Materiel (SRS99D-S2 AM)   Liked for ruggedness, rate of fire, stopping power, and modularity
 * Sniper Rifle System 99 Anti-Materiel (SRS99 AM)   Liked for ruggedness, rate of fire, stopping power, and modularity
 * Hard Sound Rifle  Liked because it is silent and almost impossible to trace

Rocket Launchers
M41 Surface to Air Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon   Liked for ruggedness, stopping power, accuracy, lock on, and round count

Shotguns
M90 Close Assault Weapon System   Liked for stopping power, round count, and modularity M45 Tactical Shotgun   Liked for reliability, stopping power, and round count

Other

 * Detached AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun
 * M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle (Spartan Laser)   Liked for ruggedness, power, and accuracy
 * BR55S Battle Rifle   Liked for quietness, stopping power, and accuracy