OOC Writer Account
United (Fmr. Royal) Isianthar Infantry Regiment troops wearing the Mark. I Illyia-Class Powered Combat Exoskeleton
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Creating a standard-issue piece of equipment manufactured exclusively for use by the First Order's Eldorai Auxillary Troops, particularly those of the 26th United (Fmr. Royal) Isianthar Infantry Regiment.
- Image Source: Gears of War video game franchise.
- Canon Link: N/A
- Restricted Missions: N/A
- Primary Source: Powersuit, Exoskeleton, Heavy Exoskeleton.
- Manufacturer: Corondex Arms (First Order Contract), First Order Corps of Imperial Engineers (Support & In-house Maintenance).
- Model: Mark. I Illyria-class Powered Combat Exoskeleton.
- Affiliation: First Order, First Order Auxillary.
- Modularity: Yes (Webbing + IR/NIR & UV Lens deployment)
- Production: Limited (First Order Eldorai Civil, Security & Military Personnel)
- Material: Durasteel, Duravlex, Titanium, Flex-Armour, Glasteel, Liquid Crystal.
- Classification: Multipurpose Military Powersuit-Exoskeleton.
- Height: 1.83m, 6'0" (Average)
- Weight: 95kg, 209 .lbs (Average)
- Blasters (Plasma-type weapons): Low
- Kinetic: High
- Plasma Blades/Lightsabres: Very Low
- Sonic: Average
- EMP/ION: Average
- Elemental: Average
Helmet:
- Holographic HUD (Voice & Ocular command capable.)
- Anti-Ion Mesh
- Interior Celluar Padding (High Comfort.)
- Liquid Crystal Display.
- Polychromatic Camera Lenses.
- Visual/Audio Player and Recorder (24 Hours of Content before Datacard needs to be swapped.)
- Annunciator/Vocabulator. (Volume and Pitch output programmable.)
- Sonic Dissipator(s)
- Infrared Laser Rangefinder/Laser Designator/Laser sight/Laser Dazzler (Mounted on the Left-side of helmet.)
- Broadband Antenna
- Long-range Integrated Commlink with First Order Military encryption keys.
- Closed-circuit Rebreather.
- Life Support System (Infinite vital gas supply).
- Motion Scanner 25m Radius.
- Integrated Macrobinoculars 50x magnification.
- Visor Modes: Infrared/Thermal & Ultraviolet.
- Air Conditioning/Climate Control System.
- Helium-Hydrogen Nuclear Fusion Battery (168 Hour PSU MTBF, replaceable).
- Casualty Carry Handle (Upper Back.)
- Ventral forearm mounted vacuum-sealed IM/IV Bacta Injection Ports.
- Anti-Ion Mesh.
- Hermetically Sealed and Pressurised.
- Advanced Bio-Restorative Underlay.
- Backplate-mounted Grenade Bandoleer.
- Combat Webbing Clips and Mountings.
- Breastplate sheath for hooked machete (standard-issue).
- Magnetised strips on backplate & thighs for storing weapon(s).
- Magnetic Adhesion/ High-Traction Grips.
- Magnetisable boots.
- Celluar Padded Insoles (High Comfort.)
- IFF Circuitry and Transponder (Biometrically Linked, Encrypted Telemetry.)
- Joint-locking Capability.
- Reinforced Durasteel Crushgaunts.
- Sonic Dampening Overlay
Utility Equipment:
- First Aid Kit.
- Combat Rations (One Day's Worth.)
- Multitool.
- Grappling Hooks.
- Flare Gun (Two Charges.)
- Anti-Security Blade.
- Sonic Security Resonator.
- Various Pouches. (Containing a multitude of items, including but not limited to, additional plasma cartridges and etc.)
- Electronic Lock Scrambler/Descrambler.
- Secondary, External Communicator (Hardwired to Jamming.)
United Isianthar Infantry Regiment Troops in Action (Left), Rear Armour detail (Right).
'Ambitious' and 'intimidating' are two words easily applied to the Illyria-class Powered Combat Exoskeleton. Developed and manufactured by Corondex Arms in consultation with Governor Isianthar, Eldorai Armour-smiths and the First Order Corps of Imperial Engineers. The Illyria-class Powered Combat Exoskeleton provides good to excellent protection based on the contact point with a threat, where the Exoskeleton really shines is its ability to keep the occupant alive under massive mechanical stress, strain or in the most unforgivable environments with the notable exception of Tundras.
The Illyria-class Powered Combat Exoskeleton is designed specifically to be compatible with Eldorai physiology and so features a dedicated life support system, nuclear fusion battery, water and liquid food induction and waste recycling equipment to ensure that the Soldier inside need rarely remove the Exoskeleton, as many Eldorai reportedly suffer from symptoms of Hyperoxia in foreign atmospheres. The Armour's hydraulics and liquid crystal gel-layer can even 'freeze' in place, locking the joints in position even permitting the wearer to sleep while wearing the Armour. Physical Unit or organisational identification of the wearer is denoted on the armour's breastplate and usually represented as an acronym. There is space for two armbands to be equipped with the armour; one on each arm just above the elbow. Factory paint options are as follows: Olive Green, Cobalt Blue, Matte Black and Crystal White.
The Illyria-class Powered Combat Exoskeleton has a very mechanical and industrial appearance and many non-combatants often mistake wearers for droids, which is not helped by the programmable vocabulator/annunciator which many troops modify to sound more intimidating. The Powered Exoskeleton amplifies the wearer's muscular strength and endurance far beyond what would be considered natural, so while cumbersome and ungainly Eldorai Troops wearing it move will surprising speed if not necessarily grace wielding and controlling the likes of heavy repeating blasters which normally require a dedicated crew with ease essentially turning the wearer into a mobile weapons platform if necessary.
Unfortunately, the Powered Combat Armour is actually vulnerable to the same kind of weapons the wearer will carry. While the Armour covering the Torso and Abdomen is incredibly hardy and very difficult to penetrate, the limbs, helmet and underlying flex-Armour bodysuit are easily penetrated by the modern powerful blaster and verpine rifles issued to professional militaries and purchased by high-end mercenary or private security organisations. Lightsabres likewise melt through the Durasteel armour on contact, while the Illyria-Class Powered Combat Armour can deal out the damage it can also certainly take it.
Power consumption for the Powered Exoskeleton is massive and could only be adequately provided by an extremely powerful Nuclear Fusion Battery that has a projected life of 168 hours, thanks to a durable power supply unit. It uses Hydrogen-Helium for fuel and is extremely volatile as a result. For this reason, it is protected by a Durasteel drum-shaped compartment that is sat horizontally along the small of the armour's back just above the waist. Damage to the Microfusion cell can breach the fuel's containment shield and result in a catastrophic explosion not dissimilar to a Thermal Detonator and completely vaporise the wearer and any objects or personnel in close proximity. Catastrophic Explosions caused by breach of the fuel cell's containment shield were classified during testing.
An on-board life support system is contained within an armoured cowling on the back of the armour. It is connected via the helmet with two tubes, one tube fills the helmet with pure oxygen while the other fills it with diluting substances to mimick the pre-Cataclysm atmosphere of Kaeshana allowing the entombed Eldorai warrior to fight at peak efficiency backed by their often decades of experience in Warfare. The Life support's armoured tomb provides good protection against most energy and ballistic-based weapons, however. It can still be penetrated by high-powered weapons, and given it is quite large the risk of armour decompression and hyperoxia is one the wearers are made aware of during safety briefs.
The Helmet has four different imaging modes; Visible Light, Infrared, Near Infrared and Ultraviolet, which allows the wearer to identify threats and objects of interest not usually visible, targeting is provided by a simple reticule on a colour holographic helmet mounted display, which curiously has text displayed in the Eldorai Alphabet as opposed to Galactic Basic or High Galactic. This was a touch added in by the designers in response to the sometimes limited Galactic Basic literacy exhibited amongst Eldorai troops, as a result from their races' historical isolation and xenophobia. The helmet-mounted display also projects a motion tracker as a two-dimensional aqua coloured sphere which tracks movement around the wearer, displaying First Order IFF contacts as crimson and identified as gold. The helmet's display tracks retina movement of the wearer and allows them to interact with the software, alternatively they can interact with the software via voice prompt.
With security enforcement in mind, the Illyria-class powered exoskeleton has a laser rangefinder and laser pointer constructed and connected on the left side of the helmet. It's also programmed to function as a non-lethal laser dazzler where it sends out a green diode-pumped solid-state laser which has admirable performance in inducing temporary flash blindness, helping subdue hostile troops or domestic criminal offenders if the augmented strength isn't enough. The laser dazzler is also useful in combating the likes of marksmen, assassins and heavy weapon support teams, interestingly the Illyria-class powered exoskeleton is highly resistant to hostile laser dazzlers because of their function as a camera lens that connects to a liquid crystal display, however the lenses can be burnt out or destroyed by incredibly lucky shots. The Helmet's lenses additionally help in dispersing shock-waves emitted by explosives making the armour extremely protective against secondary blast injuries inflicted on armour of smaller cross section and weight. All armour suits come standard-issue with a hooked combat machete that when coupled with the amplified strength provided by the armour becomes a weapon capable of cleaving through unarmoured or lightly armoured targets with gruesome ease.
Strengths:
- Kinetic Damage: Kinetic attacks from typical slugthrowers, sharpnel and other attacks that rely on kinetic energy tend to do negligible damage to the Illyria and its wearer.
- Powersuit: Although cumbersome the powersuit provides the Eldorai soldier wearing it strength multiplied by five, permitting them to achieve physical feats not otherwise possible. Such as wielding repeating blasters or heavy blasters as if they are blaster carbines and overpowering even the fierce Wookie in disarmed fighting.
- Exoskeleton: The Powersuit acts like an exoskeleton for the wearer, enhancing the strength of the wearer and supporting its own weight using principles of Piezoelectricity and hydraulics.
- Crushgaunts: A pair of Durasteel crushgaunts aid the wearer in Industrial activities, controlling the recoil of heavy support weapons with ease or applying preternatural amount of pressure in a grip.
- Life Support: The FO-EPS contains a dedicated life support system creating an atmosphere within the hermetically-sealed armour that mimics the Eldorai's homeworld of Kaeshana, this prevents symptoms of Hyperoxia from developing which is debilitating in combat conditions. It also allows the troops wearing it to operate in hostile environments or vacuum as long as necessary.
- Waste Management: The Powered exoskeleton features a purification system and recycles the wearer's urine, purifying it into drinking water which is introduced into the mouth via a rubber straw inside the helmet.
- Helmet Lenses: Forgoing a traditional visor, the Illyria-class powered exoskeleton features three glasteel lenses which are connected to a liquid crystal display providing an excellent field of vision and significant magnification qualities. Each lens receives data from separate light spectrum. The right most lens is the visible light lens, the left-lower lens provides Infrared and Near-Infrared imaging and the left-upper lens provides ultraviolet imaging.
- Flame Retardant: The armor isn't combustible thanks to a Duravlex layer and permits the wearer to participate in operations with regular Stormtrooper Units, an asset where Eldorai Auxiliary or Security Forces are co-operating with the First Order's professional military.
- Liquid Crystal Gel-Layer: This layer of armor is responsible for the Exoskeleton's mobility, responding to mechanical stress, it supports its own weight and seamlessly mimics the movements of the wearer. It also permits the wearer to free-fall distances upto 460 meters and land without injury. Although it does 'lock' for several minutes, leaving the wearer defenceless and potentially with damaged or broken Hydraulic motors.
Weaknesses:
- Helmet Thickness: The helmet's protective qualities are reduced when compared to the Abdomen or Torso and can be easily penetrated by rifle-sized blasters and verpine shatter gun rounds that manage to score a hit at a perpendicular or sharp angle. Making them particularly vulnerable to sniper attacks or assaults at close range with Heavy Repeating Blasters and Heavy Blaster Rifles.
- Limb Protection: Armor covering the arms and legs is thinner and lighter than on the torso or abdomen, making it liable for increased damage and penetration by rifle-sized blasters and verpine shatter gun rounds.
- Vibroblades: Vibroblades by virtue of their function cut through the Exoskeleton with frightening efficiency, making Vibroblade weapons an extremely effective tool at assaulting wearers of the Exoskeleton at close range.
- Plasma Blade: Plasma Blades and Plasma Torches operate at extremely high temperatures; sufficient enough to melt and cut straight through the Illyria's Durasteel Armour and its Duravlex layer on contact.
- Cumbersome: The sheer size and bulkiness of the armour does make for a cumbersome package, you won't see individuals wearing this armour performing incredible feats of flexibility or acrobatics. Any chance of sneaking up on an opponent is likewise vanished by weighty footsteps.
- Life support machinery: On the back of the cuirass there is a conspicuous slight rounded plate which conceals the armour's life support machinery. If the life support systems are damaged by weapons fire it can not only compromises the onboard life support it also compromises the armour's hermetic atmosphere.
- Nuclear Fusion Battery: Using an onboard nuclear fusion reactor as a powerplant, the armour itself is liable to explode spectacularly if the conspicuous drum-shaped powerpack is breached. Alternatively, damage or a breach can cause the powerpack to fail, where the entire armour becomes a dead-weight on the wearer. With the potential to leave the wearer helpless and immobile.
- Massive Infrared Signature: The Armour's thermal/infrared signature is massive and to most sensors is easily detectable through foliage, behind walls or cover. Making troops wearing it an easily identifiable target and attempting to camouflage virtually useless.
- Force Attacks: Wearers of the Illyria-class powered exoskeleton are just as vulnerable to force-based attacks as anybody else. The absence of a stabiliser mask as seen in other First Order designs means the occupant of the armour is still vulnerable to being influenced by the likes of Mind trick of dominate mind.
- Electricity: Uninterrupted contact with electricity 'tricks' the armour to believe it's under massive mechanical load and paralyses the Armour in response as a defence mechanism.
- Sub-zero Centigrade: Once the ambient temperature falls below zero degrees Celsius the armor becomes noticeably stiff to the wearer, which is a result of the absence of a sufficient heating generator for the hydraulic fluid which loses its 'pump-ability' After falling to and below -14.5 degrees Celsius, the hydraulic fluid is at freezing point at this temperature and will lock the Armour's joints in place. This happens famously on planets like Hoth or in deep space far away from stars or other sources of heat.
- Stun Shots: The 'Stun' setting on Blasters inadvertently tricks the armour to 'think' it is under massive load and forces the liquid crystal 'gel' layer to inhibit movement as a safety precaution. Paralysing the wearer for tens of seconds to minutes at a time. This effect also extends to Ion Blasters.
- Hydraulic Pumps: The Mark. I Illyia-Class Powered Combat Exoskeleton relies on hydraulic pumps for joint rotation and mobility. The Pump's hoses are normally concealed by armour but around the limbs they're easily damaged by hits that penetrate the armour's plates. If the hoses are also penetrated they'll leak hydraulic fluid, steadily robbing the armour of mobility depending on the volume of hydraulic fluid leaving the system.
- Particle beam: Illyria is extremely vulnerable when struck by Particle beam-type blasters, impacts from these weapons penetrate the Armour with frightening ease and will cause catastrophic damage to the system and severe injuries to the wearer.
