Arrbi Betna
Marauder
Intent: To create a versatile and practical personal shield for the Mandalorians while adding flavor to their culture.
Development Thread: N/A
Manufacturer: Mandalorian Smiths, clan workshops, homestead mechanics
Model: Dinu'ul (Bringer/Giver of Light - Lit. 'To give light')
Affiliation: Mandalorians, Mandalorian Protectors
Modularity: Yes, the shield can be adjusted in diameter size per user preferences (listed in the submission)
Production: Mass
Material: Durasteel, alusteel, shield emitter and shield generator parts.
Classification: Multipurpose
Weight: 1kg
Quality: 9
Special Features:
- Lightsaber resistant
- Blaster resistant
- Kinetic resistant
- Adjustable diameter
With melee combat quickly becoming the norm throughout the galaxy, the Mandalorians turned to a new take on old technology. The uses of a handheld shield often surpassed those of a general, personal shield in a wider variety of situations. Unfortunately, while Mandalorians do use variants of physical shield, many made of beskar, the problem is that the item often takes up vital space and weight in the standard soldier's kit. Instead, a new take on the item was brought about based on currently existing handheld shields used previously within the Mandalorian clans and abroad.
The concept was a simple shield emitter designed to expand into a circular pattern capable of withstanding most attacks. The emitter is based in a small, cylindrical tube equipped with a lockable trigger and a powerful electromagnet. When activated, the emitter produces a standard deflector shield in a circular pattern from the device that faces towards the enemy. The rear face is a basic electromagnetic barrier projected along with the standard deflector shield. This prevents the user from harming themselves or damaging their equipment when using the shield by providing a barrier between the warrior and the deflector shield while also allowing the warrior to use their free hand to brace the shield from behind when needed or desired.
The shield can be adjusted to each user's preference or fighting style with the minimum diameter of 20cm and the maximum diameter of 99cm. This allows users to wield the shield like a small buckler for parrying and striking or to create a broader shield for use in defending against ranged attacks or in larger melee combat. The shield is powered by a standard power pack and has approximately one hour of standard use before the power supply needs replacing. The power pack is easily replaced by sliding a new power cell into the handle when needed. The handle/emitter can also be held in one hand (in which case the emitter functions as the handle of a center grip shield) or can be attached to a metal gauntlet via the electromagnet featured in the handle/emitter (allowing the shield to function like a forearm shield sans handgrip).
The shield is primarily designed to take the brunt of enemy attacks, but can occasionally deflect blaster bolts from the shield. The energy attacks that impact on the shield are not absorbed, but are dispersed instead. It should be noted that no kinetic impact is nullified and that impact force, unless the attack glances off the shield, is transferred directly to the user.
The drawbacks are simple and straightforward. The power pack is not infinite and lasts for only one hour of standard use. While the shield can be adjusted, this must take place ahead of time as properly calibrating the emitter takes time and fine tuning that are more or less impossible to do in combat. Touching the face of the shield can harm the user if handled carelessly*. Lastly, personal shields that encompass the entire body are incompatible with the Dinu'ul shield as it would cause a feedback overload into the shield's emitter (contact with the handle, not the shield emitted), something that the Dinu'ul circumvents with safety systems that immediately shut the shield off when the emitter itself comes into contact with another shield.
*Some individuals and clans have devised ways of cooking on the shield face of an active shield. For more info, see "Cooking With Mand'alor: A Warrior's Diet on the Go" for more details.
