MAX Armor, Mark 1

The original, Mark 1 MAX Armor is a prototype application of revolutionary heuristic techniques, developed by Doctor Karl Swensen on the behalf of Krotze International. The idea was to fashion MAX into the ultimate tool, allowing ordinary humans to work in any environment without concern for their own safety. Unfortunately, Krotze International didn't see things that way.

Swensen eventually realized this, and refused to give his Mark 2 prototype to Fritz Krotze, the owner of Krotze International. This decision got him killed, though Karl's daughter was able to make off with his notes about the Mark 2 improvements, the Mark 2 suit itself, and the laboratory it was built in (being mobile, what with it being hidden within three tractor trailers).

Ultimately, however, Krotze International managed to sell the MAX technology it did have, the Mark 1, to various world governments - including the Soviets, who eventually used it in their conquest of Afghanistan. However, it is critical to note that the Mark 1 suit is limited in capability, and it is possible to take it apart with conventional gunfire, if it is concentrated long enough.

The Mark 1 MAX Armor prototype has the following capabilities:

Ability Enhancement: its primary purpose, the MAX armor greatly expands the physical capabilities of its operator. While occupying the Mark 1 suit, its pilot benefits from the following, considerable ability score enhancements:

Armor Endurance: though effective enough in battle, the Mark 1 MAX suit wasn't initially designed for it. As such, it only has an Armor Endurance rating equal to the Body Armor rank that it provides its pilot (in other words, Good (10)).

If the armor takes damage, it must pass an Armor Endurance FEAT roll versus the intensity of the damage taken, or some of its systems may be compromised. If so, attempt another FEAT for each system affected by the specific attack to see what keeps working... and what fails.

Automatic Rifle: Krotze International's first addition to MAX technology, this right wrist-mounted weapon can be fired to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage in a single, semi-automatic burst, or Excellent (20) Shooting damage in a fully automatic hail of lead.

Body Armor: even the original, Mark 1 MAX armor is highly resistant to damage, providing Good (10) ranked armor to its current occupant. In other words, MAX provides its pilot the following resistances to the various attack forms:

Gd 10 / Pr 4 / Sh 0 / Sh 0 / Sh 0

Energy Absorption / Electricity: thanks to various storage batteries scattered throughout its structure, the Mark 1 MAX suit can absorb electrical attacks directed at it. It thus has the energy absorption power, where electricity is concerned, at Remarkable (30) rank.

Purloined energy can be used to power the Mark 1's various systems if necessary, or it can be wielded in an electrical attack through the armor's gauntlets, an assault that can have up to 30 points of absorbed energy behind it (inflicting like Stunning Energy damage).

Environmental Independence: the MAX armor is equipped with at least a one hour, Feeble (2) ranked air supply for the pilot, since it has been designed to work in any terrestrial environment, such as underwater, high up in the atmosphere, or possibly even underground.

Grenade Launcher: this left wrist-mounted launcher can fire grenades capable of inflicting deadly, Remarkable (30) Edged Attack (fragmentary) damage with each hit. This particular weapon was added into the Mark 1 MAX suit by Soviet engineers - or at least, at their request.

Radio Transceiver: the Mark 1 MAX suit can communicate with a control center with significant range. While its exact limits are unknown, the MAX suit can transmit and receive radio signals halfway around the globe; consider this Amazing (50) in scope.

Sensor Suite: greatly augmenting the situational awareness of the MAX armor's pilot, this suite of sensors provides him or her numerous additional capabilities to perceive their environment. MAX's sensor suite has the following, Excellent (20) ranked sensors:

* Image Recognition Technology: incredibly powerful for their time, the computers within the Mark 1 MAX suit have the ability to identify specific targets based on their appearance alone, doing so as long as they're within half a mile of the armor.

* Thermal Scans: the Mark 1 MAX armor doesn't allow the pilot to actually see infrared heat sources, but it does have the ability to track them. It can detect infrared signatures within a half mile of its location, and display them via false-color imagery.

* Transparent Vision: the Mark 1 MAX armor uses an x-ray system to peer right through solid materials, showing what lies beyond as a computerized, false-color image. Using the MAX suit's transparent vision, its pilot may peer through up to twenty yards of opaque matter.

Super Digging: by spinning its lower body rapidly, the Mark 1 MAX suit can tunnel through solid rock, or any other impediment, with Incredible (40) ability. It has an overall top speed underground of Good (10), however (60 miles per hour).

Turbo-Fan Thrusters: these foot-mounted, pneumatic lift mechanisms allow the Mark 1 armor to fly at up to Good (10) air speed, which is approximately 120 miles per hour. They have no fiery exhaust, but can be used as a Good (10) intensity Force attack in a pinch.

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