ZOCOM Orca
Unit
Affiliation	ZOCOM
Role	Gunship
Armament	Sonic grenade launchers
Protection	Ceramic armour
Properties
Armor type	Medium
Production
Cost	$1500
Build time	0:11
Produced by	Airfield
Function
Upgrades	Sensor pod Launcher ceramic armour
Abilities	Activate Pulse Scan Launch Sensor pod

Unsatisfied with the Orca Gunship that the majority of GDI employed at the time, ZOCOM had their own model of Orca designed and employed within their squadrons. These ZOCOM Orcas are outfitted with Sonic Grenade launchers, which cause powerful area-of-effect damage. ZOCOM can also upgrade their Orca Gunships with ceramic armour plating, increasing its lifespan substantially. They cost as much as Firehawks however and are mostly used for carpet bombing, as the Orca's sonic grenades are unsuitable for surgical strikes into enemy territory.

Game unitEdit

As the war with Nod seemed to drag on with no end in sight, GDI's ZOCOM branch looked to other, more unconventional means of defeating the Nod forces that seemed to infest every nook and cranny. Thus, the ZOCOM Orca was developed.

Based on the immensely successful Orca strike aircraft of GDI's standard ranks, the ZOCOM Orca has two major alterations: Its rockets launchers were removed and replaced with sonic grenade launchers. Unlike standard rockets, sonic grenades have a decent area of effect and can cause massive and sometimes lethal damage to infantry and ground vehicles.

Its one area of failure, however, is other aircraft. The Mk.II has devastating air-to-ground capability, but lacks the equipment neceassary to engage airborne targets, and so is a preverbial sitting duck when other aircraft are present. Sending them in to distract enemy air units is a viable but expensive proposition; ZOCOM Orcas do not come cheap. Their one strength in such situations is the Ceramic Armor upgrade. This adds an extra layer of hardened armor plating to the existing layer, virtually doubling its survivability. Skilled Commanders protect their Orcas well with followers of mobile AA or, missile-armed, Firehawk escort to protect Orcas from hostile air.

AssessmentEdit

ProsEdit

• Extremely devastating to infantry and ground vehicles
• Just as fast as a standard Orca
• Ceramic Plates make for a durable aircraft
• Several can severely damage an epic unit
• Fires very fast, shrinking the window it is exposed to enemy fire
• Excellent for support and assault roles

ConsEdit

• Very expensive
• Unable to hit fast moving units
• AA units are still a considerable threat
• Unable to engage other aircraft
• Easily destroyed

v·d·e ORCA Aircraft
First Tiberium War ORCA Assault Craft Second Tiberium War Orca Fighter • Orca Bomber • Orca Carryall • Orca Dropship • Orca Transport • Orca Command Third Tiberium War A-15 Orca • Orca Strike Craft • ZOCOM Orca Third Interbellum Orca Mk. IV Ascension Conflict Orca Mk. V Cancelled Tiberium Orca drone

v·d·e Global Defense Initiative Third Tiberium War Arsenal

Units Infantry Rifleman squad • Missile squad • Grenadier squad • Sniper team • Engineer/Combat engineer(ST) • Zone Troopers • Zone Raiders • Commando Vehicles Guardian APC (GDI/ZOCOM)/Mobile Repair Transport (ST) • Wolverine (ST) • CC-6 Pitbull • MBT-6 Predator (GDI/ZOCOM) • Titan (ST) • Slingshot AA hovercraft • Shatterer (GDI)/Zone Shatterer (ZOCOM) • MCV • Surveyor • Harvester (GDI)/Rocket harvester (ZOCOM)/Heavy harvester (ST) • Rig • Behemoth (ST)/Juggernaut Mk. III (GDI) • Mammoth Mk. III • MARV Aircraft A-15 Orca (GDI/ST)/ZOCOM Orca (ZOCOM) • Firehawk • V-35 Ox • Orca Strike Craft • Hammerhead • Ironside • Supersonic fighter Vessels Aircraft carrier • Battleship • Hovercraft Cut content Bull • GDI shipyard   Structures Buildings Construction yard • Power plant • Tiberium refinery • Barracks • War factory • Command post • Airfield • Armory (GDI/ZOCOM) • Tech center • Space command uplink • Crane • Reclamator hub • Combat support airfield Aux. structures Tiberium silo • Watchtower • Guardian cannon • AA Battery • Sonic emitter (GDI/ZOCOM) • Ion cannon control • Battle Base • Tiberium processing plant • Intelligence center Other Pentagon • GDSS Philadelphia   Support Powers & Upgrades Support Powers Orca strike • Radar scan • GDI Airborne • Sharpshooter team • Bloodhounds • Shockwave artillery • Zone Trooper Drop Pods • Ion Cannon • Sonic fence • Supersonic air strike • Orbital strike • Railgun accelerator (ST) • Zone Raider drop (ZOCOM) Upgrades Composite armour (GDI) • Power packs (GDI/ZOCOM) • Scanner packs (GDI/ZOCOM) • Mortar • Stratofighter upgrade • Sensor pods • Advanced turbines • Railgun Upgrade (GDI/ST) • Armour piercing ammunition • Tungsten shells • EMP grenades (GDI/ZOCOM) • Hardpoints (GDI/ST) • Adaptive armour (ST) • Tiberium field suits (ZOCOM) • Ceramic armour (ZOCOM) Items in italics exclusive to Kane's Wrath