This was supposed to be reply for thread about Pilot' support at battlescape, both more logical and probably acceptable.
Few preexisting turrets, may be with some shielding, may be added at transport's cargo doors. For firebird this would mean one turret per side, like in blackhawk heli, for hercules - one turret behind. Still no idea to propose about predator: could it have crew turrets retractable, embedded in transport's bottom and deployed from pilot's console (for game - already deployed in battle begining).
Turret could have mounted heavy laser (maybe twin), rapid-firing (think automatic) grenade/rocket launcher, heavy needler with reduced dispersion, some heavy MG. I remember this already discussed, but that was about turrets, spreaded over battle field.
Some random soldiers should be spawned on turrets as gunners at battle begining. Those, with both hands free, may get precision/speed bonus over those, with one hand busy.
