ArmorPlated

Breaking Point

@vietmykeHey, Raptors are their own dropships. Even if their armor is comparable to a Scout's they'll still be solid on the ground. They'll also probably own the stars with their maneuverability. Mobility is king now, and Raptors have the most out of all the FAW models.

Aside from that, if you want something heavier, you have the option to take a Warrior or Gunner.

Breaking Point

@vietmykeAhh, so it detaches into a handheld. I'm guessing you want that "bare barrels" look?

and yeah, round size slimming down is good when space is a premium, and space is always premium, so everyone's probably packing some amount of tungsten.

I was talking more about how FAWs probably mess with the value and viability of air superiority when sighting/lock-on ranges of ground forces triple and mobility skyrockets. Tanks will probably stick around since they can pack bigger guns, but they're probably going to be paired with or follow behind FAWs.

EDIT: realization: With longer sight ranges, longer weapon ranges and better computing technology, aircraft would be much easier to predict, and thus shoot. Air is no longer king because all front line armor is packing some measure of AA capability. doesn't matter if one FAW alone is particularly good with shooting aircraft, all of them can and stand a good chance of landing a hit.

Breaking Point

@vietmyke 20mm does seem to be on the heavier side of general purpose, but it's just big enough to squeeze in AMS viability. need to crunch some numbers on head size to see what kind of space AWs have for guns.

GAU-8 is an absolute beast. Warthog besthog. Though, if your Raptor Custom has something that big, where does it go when it converts to walker form? does it unclip and act like a handheld weapon? does it replace an arm like Airmech's Warthog?

One problem with just flat increases to round size is that the power increase isn't linear. 3 50mm rounds won't come close to a single 150mm. I'd say 100mm is about as big as any unmounted FAW weapon can ever hope to be. and round size would depend on a weapon's role.
spray'n'pray? 35mm.
controlled burst? 40-50mm.
marksman? 55-65mm.
anything over would edge into sniper/Anti-Vehicle territory based on space-combat against opposed fleets. This is all for slug-thrower rifles though.

Mobility is king. Tanks are common because they're efficient at carrying big loads and putting big slugs down range, but air superiority is more important. with a tank that walks upright and stands at 17m like the Scout, you go from around 5km view range to the horizon, all the way to 14.7km. 3x longer sight lines and high maneuverability on the ground makes you a bigger threat and less threatened because you can see them coming, and threaten them sooner. also maximum traverse is better on a mech than a tank.

Maybe AWs are equally durable, maybe more, can't really tell yet.

Breaking Point

@Krayzikk

Posted Alexander to Characters section with two modifications.

1) Added the thermal-blade that all/most FAWs are supposed to carry. bog standard, but equipment is equipment.

2) added an addendum to Weaknesses to address the potential for needed sheet change without the need to retcon or rewrite history: "Due to the I08's use of nonstandard equipment, loadout may change or diminish due to irreparable damage to nonstandard systems, unexpected wear-and-tear or depletion of nonstandard munitions."

Now that that's done, any players want to try to pin down barrel sizes so we have a guide to go by if we want a boomstick or a peashooter?

I'll start off with some data.

7.62mm = AK47 rounds. no good against armor, shreds infantry.

20mm is the size of the ammo used on some Infantry Fighting Vehicles. too small to do substantial damage to tanks unless you're hitting them in a weak spot or at an advantageous angle.

30mm is the size used by the GAU-8, the gigantic rotary cannon strapped to the A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog".

105mm = M1 Abrams cannon. A tank cannon, enough said.

150mm = cannon size really only used on naval ships.

Breaking Point

Alexander Owens

Name: Alexander Owens

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession/Rank: Enlisted as Federation Reserve-Pilot. Assigned long-term as Hitchens-Belmont I.T.S. Test Pilot #3 at their North-American Branch.

Appearance: Standing at 5'11", Alex possesses what can be described as a lean, wiry build, only avoiding being labeled scrawny thanks to his military training and continued exercise. He keeps his dark brown hair short enough to avoid any need to maintain it, and to keep it out of his eyes while piloting. Though he looks perpetually tired , he keeps his posture in check and maintains an air of discipline, and he keeps himself clean-shaven regardless of all else.

His one most notable feature is the fact that his left arm is a prosthetic facsimile, sporting a segmented flesh-toned plastic casing and grip surfaces. The design is the same civilian-adapted prosthetics supplied to Federation veterans after service, and can successfully avoid notice without direct scrutiny. If Alex is caught mid-maintenance, and the arm has been removed, moderate scarring can be observed around the embedded connector reaching halfway across his left pectoral on the front, and fully across his left shoulderblade.

Personality: Alex is a calm, collected introvert that prefers silent company over total solitude. He hates surprises, and greatly prefers to plan events in his days, though he doesn't dislike downtime by any means, and will often spend said downtime reading or surfing the Exonet with his back to a wall. He is slow to share about himself, going so far as to keep his preferred music and reading a closely guarded secret. Hidden from everyone is the ethically barren belief that "us or them" is a facet of life, and it is in this belief he finds a willingness to do terrible things to protect his family, his home and his friends, and himself. He has trouble sleeping restfully.

Skills: Trained to handle and utilize the new Hitchens-Belmont "Intel Network" equipment line, and it's current FAW interface. Additionally, Alexander has an understanding of Astronomy and Cartography, thanks to his consistent exposure to situations that make use of them. Outside of military training, he has taken to clay sculpting and painting as a hobby, though he isn't any good with paint on canvas.

Weakness: Alexander Stresses easily and has difficulties unwinding, resulting in his being high-strung. He has no combat experience beyond Federation training and controlled live-fire test runs against drone-tanks. Physically, Alexander lacks much of the physical strength of an Earth-born enlistee, and scored poorly during physical training, only landing in the Reserves thanks to his above-average piloting proficiency and the lack of viable personnel willing to forego the honors of being an active-service Arsenal Walker pilot. At this time his physical aptitude likely sits at the absolute bare-minimum requirement for active service.

History: Alexander Owens was Born November 12th, 62 CE in Lunar City Tycho to Mary and Roger Owens. Alex grew up as the son of two hydroponics technicians for the first six years of his life on the moon before the fears of a Union first-strike on Tycho drove them to move Earthside. The Lunar-to-surface shuttle experienced an equipment failure during landing which prevented it's forward landing gear from deploying. The shuttle managed a crash landing, but the abrupt stop caused by the emergency parachute deployment combined with the whiplash on deployment was enough to break young Alexander's left arm as he slammed into the restraints. Medical examination post-rescue revealed that Alex's skeletal density had been underdeveloped enough to present a great risk during a crash, but was not severe enough to warrant additional care on the moon. With his body barely adapting to Earth's gravity and his arm broken, it was determined that the only fully safe option would be to amputate the ruined arm in order to prepare him for a prosthetic.

Alexander's life on Earth was a peaceful one. Though marred early on by injury, he bounced back as children often do and developed a healthy interest in nature. His life was consumed by school and the precious handful of friendships he had built. Through the years he did his best to keep up with his classmates, and with the support of his friends, his parents and his physician, Alex was eventually deemed ready to receive his prosthetic arm. At thirteen, he began mastering use of both arms again, as well as subconsciously trying to understand why he'd lost it in the first place. As the years rolled on and Alexander entered highschool, he watched his friends get wrapped up in the drama of teenage life and romance. Just as he struggled to improve himself, he struggled to soothe the troubles between his friends. Even as he kept his group of friends from fragmenting or fading away, he started noticing more and more of the news was dedicated to Arc Union and it's ongoing troubles with the Federation. He juggled responsibilities and interests, playing wingman for friends, digging into the Arc Union troubles, looking towards the future. By the end of his education, he was hit by the existential terror of inevitable, inescapable war and the pain of knowing that this same fear had indirectly taken his arm from him. As Alexander sat among friends and classmates celebrating their graduation in his sleepy little home town, he realized what he needed to do.

Upon enlisting Alexander Owen found himself fighting to stay afloat as countless enlistees washed out around him. Every waking hour of his life was dedicated to improving what he could, whenever he could. He was immediately found to be inadequate for all branches of infantry, and his qualifications for any sort of officer position were dubious at best. He focused exclusively on the naval and FAW divisions, honing his operational skills in simulators at every opening, and studying the endless supply of tactical manuals written by previous generations of pilots. Though he trained hard and learned the how to operate an aerospace-fighter, Alex's body failed him. He could not handle the forces every aerospace pilot faced. His final option to participate on the front line, the Arsenal Walker Corps., was made clear to him. With his future looming over him, Alexander pushed himself as hard as his body would allow, practiced as long as he was awake and met his future head-on. He tied for the lowest pilot slot amongst his peers. Because of his arm, he was dragged into last place, and it was treated as the tie-breaker. Though his aptitude was good, his body had again held him back, and the truth hit him like a train. He knew that he would wash out, or be relegated to a support role. depression threatened to overwhelm him for all of a week before he was summoned back to the Arsenal Walker Corps. Though limited by his body, his value had been noticed by the instructors, and the brass decided that they would let nothing go to waste. He was offered an alternative path. Alexander Owens would be assigned to a Reserve role, a position often handed to veteran pilots who refused to let age or injury push them back into civilian life. In return, he would operate under the Federation's command as a guinea-pig for classified FAW experimentation. He would say nothing of his position, what he did, or who he knew. If he were to serve the Federation well, and found himself physically suitable to function as a FAW pilot, he would be moved into active service, though his testing position would continue until such a time as he was needed.

Equipment: personal uplink (encrypted), red-faced Analogue wristwatch, Prosthetic Maintenance/Repair-kit, Pilot 9mm PDW.

HBT-I08 "NightOwl"

Arsenal Walker:

Base Model: FAW-007 Warrior

Designation: HBT-I08, Callsign "NightOwl"

Appearance:

Hider

Artist Link if you're into ArmoredCore-style mechs

With most of it's non-essential internals trimmed, the I08 possesses a more slim profile compared to the FAW-007's, and has adopted a closed-armor design for it's head optics. Due to it's nature as a testbed for equipment development, it sports the generic white-and-yellow color scheme of Hitchens-Belmont I.T.S.. Now that it has reached Horizon and received it's new sensor array, most of the rear attachment points have been claimed by a bulbous sensor pack clamped over the reactor, visible even in it's forward profile. An antenna rises from directly behind the head, while a hardened geodesic dome rests behind the left shoulder.

Armaments:

HB-FSP-022 "Spotlight" : A dense sensor/transmitter array adopting components from modern AWACS and Naval Frigates, adapted to function both planetside and in space. With the FS-022, FAW squads can operate farther from carrier groups or planetary bases without being sensor-blind and intel-poor. Additional functions include counter-ECM, full-squad data relay and deep-scan features, the latter of the three allowing penetration of cover to locate hidden objects or hostiles during active use.

HB-AWCSB-004 "Blacklight" : An ECM suite designed to pair with the HB-FS-022 in order to disrupt the use of enemy data-gathering systems like LIDAR, Radar and radio communication by overwhelming sensors with junk signals, mimicing different radar/LIDAR reflections and masking itself, and others within the umbrella, from passive sensors.

HB-ASDD(G)-172 "HIVE" : A removable pod for semi-disposable UAVs, sporting advanced self-piloting algorithms, minimal Radar profile and low-sound rotors. Each drone can be pre-programmed to silently seek out a predetermined target, silently track and follow a visual target, relay video feed upon receiving a signal, accept remote control, and can accept complex commands for covert operations. Each drone-dock can load up to ten UAVs, but can only receive video feed from up to four at once due to signal crowding. The HIVE itself can be removed and remotely operate apart from an AW, able to operate autonomously for up to a month before maintenance is needed.
[[10x HIVE UAVs]]

HB-ASDD(S)-039 "NEST" : Similar to the ASDD(G) "HIVE" Series, the (S) series supports drones that operate in space. Carrying up to ten drones, the NEST operates in much the same way as it's atmospheric cousin, though it's drones operate using RCS jets, they are equipped with an adapted navigational algorithm made for space, and can simultaneously operate two drones. The NEST is similarly able to operate away from an AW, and can operate for up to a month before retrieval.
[[6x NEST Drones]]

2x FedArm 20mm "AEGIS" : CIWS batteries, mounted in the I08's head. designed for use against light armor and infantry targets as well as anti-missile support. Each battery carries up to 800 rounds separated into 200 round drums of varying ammo type.
2x((400Rnd. 20mm HE / 400Rnd. 20mm AMS))

Variable-slot Equipment:

FedArm "FAWMAR" 60mm semi-automatic Assault-Rifle: A Federation-standard primary FAW weapon designed to function similarly to a Dedicated Marksman Rifle. 20 Rnd. magazine. optimal range: 550m @ 1.0G. Maximum ammunition storage capacity: 4 spare magazines, type variable.

2x FedArm Deployable Explosive Tactical Payload: commonly referred to as "FAW grenades", the DETP is a large mass of stabilized plastic explosive wired to a programmable electronic trigger assembly. Said assembly is able to transmit and receive radio signals, set itself on a programmed timer, and even enable a short-range proximity trigger based on old flak technology if deployed properly.

Federation Ballistics L4S Thermal Blade: A FAW-CQC staple, offering maneuverability, armor penetration and zero frills. Sheathe is mounted on the I08's left thigh, as the back has no open mounting points.

Weakness: With the majority of it's internal weapon-support systems stripped and a portion of it's armor replaced with ablatives, the HBT-I08 lacks the staying power of a fully armed FAW-007, unable to survive continuous fire or maintain suppressive fire. Additionally, the paired Intel Network Modules' demand for power at full function is enormous, forcing the pilot to trade full mobility to keep all systems active and risk taking fire, or remain fully mobile while risking falling through on it's purpose of supporting their allies. Finally, with the function and role of the Paired Network Module, the I08's active sensor mode unavoidably draws attention while active, and nothing short of a nuclear detonation could mask it's use. In short, the I08 must rely on it's allies, as taking it into direct conflict alone against an organized military force is suicide.

Due to the I08's use of nonstandard equipment, loadout may change or diminish due to irreparable damage to nonstandard systems, unexpected wear-and-tear or depletion of nonstandard munitions.

Pilot(s): Biometrically-locked to Test Pilot #3, Alexander Owens.

Breaking Point

@Krayzikk

Of all the things on there, the drones are dead-last in importance. If I have to drop them, I'll do so in a heartbeat. camera-drones were just a less-dangerous way of peeking around corners or going for a bird's-eye-view.

planet-side drone pod carries ten, fields five at a time.

space drone pod carries six drones, fields two.

As for ground combat being easier on a pilot, I know. Most of the ongoing Walker use might be planet-side, but if everyone and their mother expects war with Arc Union, the harder of the two locales is going to be what the Federation will measure by, right? If you're prepping for war, why bother putting resources into training pilots if you won't be able to use 'em? Alex is a bottom-of-the-barrel pilot, but only because the barrel is small.

edit: plus, it's more fun to watch a character struggle to stay afloat than to cruise by like it's nothing, isn't it?

edit 2, electric boogaloo: if Alex needs a more significant weakness, I can dial up the "stress" bit and start making him panic when things go south/when surprised.

Breaking Point

@vietmykeI think one thing contributing to the weirdness is the fact that the only mentioned weapon is the FAW-022 Gunner's shoulder mounted 150mm Railguns, so it's all anyone has to compare against.

I think the only thing I got wrong on those 20mms was the ammo pool. probably need to cut it down to 100-150 Rnd. per internal magazine...

As for making a CS, there's more info back on the Interest Check about the mech chassis the Federation has, and the lore to build from.

Breaking Point

Anyone else get the feeling that the barrel sizes and weapon ranges on all our sheets seem like they're all over the place?

Breaking Point

Alexander Owens

Name: Alexander Owens

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession/Rank: Enlisted as Federation Reserve-Pilot. Assigned long-term as Hitchens-Belmont I.T.S. Test Pilot #3 at their North-American Branch.

Appearance: Standing at 5'11", Alex possesses what can be described as a lean, wiry build, only avoiding being labeled scrawny thanks to his military training and continued exercise. He keeps his dark brown hair short enough to avoid any need to maintain it, and to keep it out of his eyes while piloting. Though he looks perpetually tired , he keeps his posture in check and maintains an air of discipline, and he keeps himself clean-shaven regardless of all else.

His one most notable feature is the fact that his left arm is a prosthetic facsimile, sporting a segmented flesh-toned plastic casing and grip surfaces. The design is the same civilian-adapted prosthetics supplied to Federation veterans after service, and can successfully avoid notice without direct scrutiny. If Alex is caught mid-maintenance, and the arm has been removed, moderate scarring can be observed around the embedded connector reaching halfway across his left pectoral on the front, and fully across his left shoulderblade.

Personality: Alex is a calm, collected introvert that prefers silent company over total solitude. He hates surprises, and greatly prefers to plan events in his days, though he doesn't dislike downtime by any means, and will often spend said downtime reading or surfing the Exonet with his back to a wall. He is slow to share about himself, going so far as to keep his preferred music and reading a closely guarded secret. Hidden from everyone is the ethically barren belief that "us or them" is a facet of life, and it is in this belief he finds a willingness to do terrible things to protect his family, his home and his friends, and himself. He has trouble sleeping restfully.

Skills: Trained to handle and utilize the new Hitchens-Belmont "Intel Network" equipment line, and it's current FAW interface. Additionally, Alexander has an understanding of Astronomy and Cartography, thanks to his consistent exposure to situations that make use of them. Outside of military training, he has taken to clay sculpting and painting as a hobby, though he isn't any good with paint on canvas.

Weakness: Alexander Stresses easily and has difficulties unwinding, resulting in his being high-strung. He has no combat experience beyond Federation training and controlled live-fire test runs against drone-tanks. Physically, Alexander lacks much of the physical strength of an Earth-born enlistee, and scored poorly during physical training, only landing in the Reserves thanks to his above-average piloting proficiency and the lack of viable personnel willing to forego the honors of being an active-service Arsenal Walker pilot. At this time his physical aptitude likely sits at the absolute bare-minimum requirement for active service.

History: Alexander Owens was Born November 12th, 62 CE in Lunar City Tycho to Mary and Roger Owens. Alex grew up as the son of two hydroponics technicians for the first six years of his life on the moon before the fears of a Union first-strike on Tycho drove them to move Earthside. The Lunar-to-surface shuttle experienced an equipment failure during landing which prevented it's forward landing gear from deploying. The shuttle managed a crash landing, but the abrupt stop caused by the emergency parachute deployment combined with the whiplash on deployment was enough to break young Alexander's left arm as he slammed into the restraints. Medical examination post-rescue revealed that Alex's skeletal density had been underdeveloped enough to present a great risk during a crash, but was not severe enough to warrant additional care on the moon. With his body barely adapting to Earth's gravity and his arm broken, it was determined that the only fully safe option would be to amputate the ruined arm in order to prepare him for a prosthetic.

Alexander's life on Earth was a peaceful one. Though marred early on by injury, he bounced back as children often do and developed a healthy interest in nature. His life was consumed by school and the precious handful of friendships he had built. Through the years he did his best to keep up with his classmates, and with the support of his friends, his parents and his physician, Alex was eventually deemed ready to receive his prosthetic arm. At thirteen, he began mastering use of both arms again, as well as subconsciously trying to understand why he'd lost it in the first place. As the years rolled on and Alexander entered highschool, he watched his friends get wrapped up in the drama of teenage life and romance. Just as he struggled to improve himself, he struggled to soothe the troubles between his friends. Even as he kept his group of friends from fragmenting or fading away, he started noticing more and more of the news was dedicated to Arc Union and it's ongoing troubles with the Federation. He juggled responsibilities and interests, playing wingman for friends, digging into the Arc Union troubles, looking towards the future. By the end of his education, he was hit by the existential terror of inevitable, inescapable war and the pain of knowing that this same fear had indirectly taken his arm from him. As Alexander sat among friends and classmates celebrating their graduation in his sleepy little home town, he realized what he needed to do.

Upon enlisting Alexander Owen found himself fighting to stay afloat as countless enlistees washed out around him. Every waking hour of his life was dedicated to improving what he could, whenever he could. He was immediately found to be inadequate for all branches of infantry, and his qualifications for any sort of officer position were dubious at best. He focused exclusively on the naval and FAW divisions, honing his operational skills in simulators at every opening, and studying the endless supply of tactical manuals written by previous generations of pilots. Though he trained hard and learned the how to operate an aerospace-fighter, Alex's body failed him. He could not handle the forces every aerospace pilot faced. His final option to participate on the front line, the Arsenal Walker Corps., was made clear to him. With his future looming over him, Alexander pushed himself as hard as his body would allow, practiced as long as he was awake and met his future head-on. He tied for the lowest pilot slot amongst his peers. Because of his arm, he was dragged into last place, and it was treated as the tie-breaker. Though his aptitude was good, his body had again held him back, and the truth hit him like a train. He knew that he would wash out, or be relegated to a support role. depression threatened to overwhelm him for all of a week before he was summoned back to the Arsenal Walker Corps. Though limited by his body, his value had been noticed by the instructors, and the brass decided that they would let nothing go to waste. He was offered an alternative path. Alexander Owens would be assigned to a Reserve role, a position often handed to veteran pilots who refused to let age or injury push them back into civilian life. In return, he would operate under the Federation's command as a guinea-pig for classified FAW experimentation. He would say nothing of his position, what he did, or who he knew. If he were to serve the Federation well, and found himself physically suitable to function as a FAW pilot, he would be moved into active service, though his testing position would continue until such a time as he was needed.

Equipment: personal uplink (encrypted), red-faced Analogue wristwatch, Prosthetic Maintenance/Repair-kit, Pilot 9mm PDW.

HBT-I08 "NightOwl"

Arsenal Walker:

Base Model: FAW-007 Warrior

Designation: HBT-I08, Callsign "NightOwl"

Appearance:

Hider

Artist Link if you're into ArmoredCore-style mechs

With most of it's non-essential internals trimmed, the I08 possesses a more slim profile compared to the FAW-007's, and has adopted a closed-armor design for it's head optics. Due to it's nature as a testbed for equipment development, it sports the generic white-and-yellow color scheme of Hitchens-Belmont I.T.S.. Now that it has reached Horizon and received it's new sensor array, most of the rear attachment points have been claimed by a bulbous sensor pack clamped over the reactor, visible even in it's forward profile. An antenna rises from directly behind the head, while a hardened geodesic dome rests behind the left shoulder and it's CIWS batteries.

Armaments:

HB-FSP-022 "Spotlight" : A dense sensor/transmitter array adopting components from modern AWACS and Naval Frigates, adapted to function both planetside and in space. With the FS-022, FAW squads can operate farther from carrier groups or planetary bases without being sensor-blind and intel-poor. Additional functions include counter-ECM, full-squad data relay and deep-scan features, the latter of the three allowing penetration of cover to locate hidden objects or hostiles during active use.

HB-AWCSB-004 "Blacklight" : An ECM suite designed to pair with the HB-FS-022 in order to disrupt the use of enemy data-gathering systems like LIDAR, Radar and radio communication by overwhelming sensors with junk signals, mimicing different radar/LIDAR reflections and masking itself, and others within the umbrella, from passive sensors.

HB-ASDD(G)-172 "HIVE" : A removable pod for semi-disposable UAVs, sporting advanced self-piloting algorithms, minimal Radar profile and low-sound rotors. Each drone can be pre-programmed to silently seek out a predetermined target, silently track and follow a visual target, relay video feed upon receiving a signal, accept remote control, and can accept complex commands for covert operations. Each drone-dock can load up to ten UAVs, but can only receive video feed from up to four at once due to signal crowding. The HIVE itself can be removed and remotely operate apart from an AW, able to operate autonomously for up to a month before maintenance is needed.
[[10x HIVE UAVs]]

HB-ASDD(S)-039 "NEST" : Similar to the ASDD(G) "HIVE" Series, the (S) series supports drones that operate in space. Carrying up to ten drones, the NEST operates in much the same way as it's atmospheric cousin, though it's drones operate using RCS jets, they are equipped with an adapted navigational algorithm made for space, and can simultaneously operate two drones. The NEST is similarly able to operate away from an AW, and can operate for up to a month before retrieval.
[[6x NEST Drones]]

2x FedArm 20mm "AEGIS" : CIWS batteries, mounted on the right shoulder. designed for use against light armor and infantry targets as well as anti-missile support. Each battery carries up to 1200 rounds separated into 400 round drums of varying ammo type.

Variable-slot Equipment:

FedArm "FAWMAR" 75mm semi-automatic Assault-Rifle: A Federation-standard primary FAW weapon designed to function similarly to a Dedicated Marksman Rifle. 20 Rnd. magazine. optimal range: 550m @ 1.0G. Maximum ammunition storage capacity: 4 spare magazines, type variable.

2x FedArm Deployable Explosive Tactical Payload: commonly referred to as "FAW grenades", the DETP is a large mass of stabilized plastic explosive wired to a programmable electronic trigger assembly. Said assembly is able to transmit and receive radio signals, set itself on a programmed timer, and even enable a short-range proximity trigger based on old flak technology if deployed properly.

Weakness: With the majority of it's internal weapon-support systems stripped and a portion of it's armor replaced with ablatives, the HBT-I08 lacks the staying power of a fully armed FAW-007, unable to survive continuous fire or maintain suppressive fire. Additionally, the paired Intel Network Modules' demand for power at full function is enormous, forcing the pilot to trade full mobility to keep all systems active and risk taking fire, or remain fully mobile while risking falling through on it's purpose of supporting their allies. Finally, with the function and role of the Paired Network Module, the I08's active sensor mode unavoidably draws attention while active, and nothing short of a nuclear detonation could mask it's use. In short, the I08 must rely on it's allies, as taking it into direct conflict alone against an organized military force is suicide.
Pilot(s): Biometrically-locked to Test Pilot #3, Alexander Owens.

(man this took a while.)

So, current list of arms manufacturers are:

Norik
Tajcorp (Supplemental Armor)
General Engineering (Supplemental Weapon modules)
Kreuller Weapons Systems (Heavy weapon modules, FAW Specialized weapons)
Federation Ballistics (FAW Melee weapons)
United Armaments (FAW weapons)
Robco (FAW weapons)
Pratt Corp (Heavy? FAW weapons)

Athol
Rheimetall(?) (Heavy FAW Weapons)
Bushmaster(?) (FAW Weapons)
GDOTS(?) (Supplemental Weapon/Utility modules)

ArmorPlated
Federation Armaments "FedArm" (FAW weapons, Supplemental Weapon/Utility Modules)
Hitchens-Belmont (Sensors, Electronic Warfare systems)

Breaking Point

So is the Characters section for approved CS only, or are we supposed to keep all CS Posts there?

scratch that, opening post had a little more to it than a copy/paste from the interest check.

Also, if anyone wants to come up with some common companies/locations/organizations, I'm down to churn out a few decent-sounding names.