Quote:Gentlemen, with your permission, I'd like to use this concept. It's something that I had been thinking of applying to the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST's - they comprise the lion's share of marines that always accompany you in the Halo games) in my project, I just hadn't had a name for it.
My reccomendation for anyone who does go for such a thing is that the ATHENIAN be a power-armor design intended to augment and protect their wearer to the greatest degree possible for an unmodified human - and designed to be produced by the millions.
My thoughts on ATHENIAN is that it would be very similar to MJOLINER armor, only much keyed down so the mere mortals can weild it efectively. It would still have energy shields and be vacuum compatible in a pinch. AI capability and massive reflex/speed boosting would not make the cut, though - merely an appreciable strength and protection boost, plus the addition of being linked directly into a UNSC Battle Network that is managed by an AI like Cortana. Thus, ODST's would be getting real-time inteligence just as the Master Chief did in Halo.
The fact that the Marines don't get pasted the instant something like Hunters or Brutes enter the picture is a nice thought. A squad of good Marines can handle pretty much anything else, including Elites unless they're Gold Rank or higher.
Interesting thought - Manticors could get away with an ATHENIAN variant armor as they already have all the speed, strength, and reflex boosting needed. AI ability is already part of the Manticor package as their own "nervous system" can piggy-back one. The armor would still need to be vacuum compatible, but life support wouldn't be needed. That can be an internal system of the Manticor bodies - an internal oxygen and nutrient supply is kept on hand. Not much is needed since the only biological components to maintain is the brain and a few vital organs (heart, a lung, the smaller lobe of liver, a kidney, a truncated digestive system)... It's a much smaller biological support system than on a normal human body. Usually the Matnicor MRE consistis of only a couple of small energy bars... and that'll probably last a Manticor for a month.
That's something that I'd love myself - being able to get away with eating just a tiny bit now and then. I despise getting hungry all the time and having to find something to eat.
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What!? Were you expecitng something witty?