Comm Trooper

Communications officers, or Comguys, are Syndicate troops with computer training. Unlike the rest of Muro's troops ( Strikers and Tankers ) or the Ninja, they do not display color differentiation. They will sometimes wear goggles or tabi boots/greaves, as well as additional chest armor straps. They communicate using a radio device mounted in their right shoulderplate.

Alarm consoles and ambushes

In CHAPTER 01 . TRIAL RUN, a comguy runs to an alarm console when hit. In CHAPTER 02 . ENGINES OF EVIL and CHAPTER 05 . HOT PURSUIT, they start running as soon as they see Konoko. In CHAPTER 05 . HOT PURSUIT, an ambushed comguy with a VDG pistol guards a door-unlocking console. In CHAPTER 10 . CAT AND MOUSE, an ambushed comguy guards a hidden hypo spray.

Muro's right-hand comguy

a.k.a. Kojiro (fan-given name)

Wears goggles. Drives away with Muro ( CHAPTER 03 . PUZZLE PIECES outro ), volunteers to kill Konoko, is asked to monitor her instead ( reveals the results of that monitoring in CHAPTER 05 . HOT PURSUIT outro ). After Muro deduces Shinatama's existence and role, is told to "tell Barabas to retrieve [her]". Coordinates Barabas's raid on the TCTF HQ ( CHAPTER 06 . COUNTERATTACK ), resulting in the kidnapping of Shinatama.

Possibly he is also the comguy who accompanies Muro at the Atmospheric Conversion Center, both during Shinatama's torture ( CHAPTER 07 . A FRIEND IN NEED ) and during Muro's escape ( CHAPTER 08 . AN INNOCENT LIFE ) - however, at this point he does not speak or wear the same distinctive goggles as earlier. (It is also worth noting that Konoko can confront and kill several goggle-wearing Comguys during the game.)

From then on, Muro is not encountered (for real, that is) until the final battle, where he is only accompanied by Furies and Elites - although there is the STURMANDERUNG console and the (goggle-less) comguy guarding it.

Taunts and fighting style

None of the comguys faced ingame have ninja skills (despite the tabi boots and greaves); some of the comguys, however, are only seen in cutscenes. The fighting style is the same as that of all generic males, favoring leg sweeps and dodging. Apart from the simple punches and kicks, the comguys have a "super punch" technique, which unlike their generic counterparts has fancy particles and a "Static Fist!" voiceover. They don't have a crowd-clearing move (although the unused "Radio Saber!" voiceover suggests they might have had one at some point) and they hardly ever use their throwing skills. The basic taunt is "You're weak!", and a rare easter egg variant is "OK, OK, don't frog blast the vent core..." (the comguys were voiced by Doug Zartman, who also voiced the BOBs in Marathon)

Added value

One theory is that the comguys are affiliated with Mukade and the Ninja rather than with Muro and his Strikers. Thus they are expert hackers and/or assassins, and a technocratic elite, perhaps in the best position for Daodan Chrysalis implantation, along with a few "pets" of Muro's. Apart from their obvious supposed role among the Strikers, they coordinate the Ninja (a network of cooperative androids) on the battle field. Prominent comguys can act as Muro's confidents and advisors, not clearly working for Muro or Mukade. In the odd case that Mukade should "die", the comguys can provide a timely succession.