Reclaimer Project: G.E.S.T.R.

Project: G.E.S.T.R.
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Description:
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G.E.S.T.R. is an acronym for Gentically Engineered Shock Trooper. A Special Weapons project devised by Reclaimer forces (the declared name for Rebel forces originating on Haven, a Forerunner Shield World,) the project is based off of stolen cloning technology and procedures created by the Office of Naval Intelligence for use in their own project known as Dragons Teeth. The goal was to genetically engineer expendable shock troops for frontline warfare, and prove they can be mass produced. Reclaimer forces augmented the original technology, with samples of Forerunner tech and science.
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Specifics of GESTR Units:
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As a whole, all GESTR units have been genetically engineered to have a series of desired traits. In the original Dragons Teeth project, the Medical Records of existing Spartan-II's was used to help select the desired traits. The genes that granted the original Spartans their exceptional, pre-augmented strength, speed, agility, and reflexes, were all blended together, with no rejection among genes. Grown in a cloning pod, each GESTR takes two days to grow, and in that time training and general tactics are flash transferred into their brains to speed up their combat readiness.
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Strengths:
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Each GESTR is remarkably strong, on par with Spartans outside MJOLNIR armor. They also possess great speed, and are very good at following orders. A flaw in their creation, predominant and unavoidable (if somewhat acceptable) in all units is a genetic mutation, that results from the speed of which they are grown. Bearing similarities to CIPA, the mutation prevents the formation of nerve cells responsible for sensing pain, or temperature variances. This proves ideal, as GESTR's are meant purely as expendable Shock Troops, allowing them to take the full brunt of enemy fire without so much as flinching. Reports from successful tests show that injuries that would normally kill troops from the shock, have no effect on GESTR units. Injuries that result in amputation of limbs do not slow down their advance or commitment to destroy a target. Psychological effects on test troops shows that it can demoralize enemy lines.
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Weaknesses:
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Despite the obvious strengths, there are a number of flaws and weakness among all units.

First: Their insensitivity to pain for example is a double edged sword. While they can continue attacking after sustaining crippling injuries, this also results in them ignoring injuries that will result in their death. Blood loss or injuries to vital areas will still kill them, and they will be oblivious to it.
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Second: Despite knowing tactics, and being flash-trained, they lack independent thought processes. In other words, they cannot formulate the independent thought to use tactics. Each unit, assembled into a five man squad, is assigned a Handler, who serves as the fifth man. The handler gives the orders, and directs GESTR squads. If taken out, GESTR, while not losing their individual threat, will lose the threat of unit cohesion. They will still attack enemy troops however.
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Third: Due to the simple fact that they are, in the end, flash clones, they have a short life span. Within six months of their 'birth,' a GESTR will die due to degradation caused by metabolic instability. Inevitably, they die from various neurological and physiological diseases.