M E A T B A G
Out of Character Details
Image Source: Sideshow Toys - (Original Models.) Image SourceIntent: To create a Battle-Dress Uniform for First Order Soldiers assigned to Planetary Garrisons.
Development Thread: If Required.
Product Information
Manufacturer: First Order Corps of Imperial Engineers, Brandt-Volcata Industries.Model: FOPG-BDU-01
Affiliation: The First Order
Modularity: Yes; Exterior Attachments. ( I.E. Combat Webbing, Tool-kits / Equipment, Enamel Coating [Colour Scheme.])
Production: Mass-Produced.
Material: Reinforced Duraplast, Flex-Armour, Environmentally-sealed Armourweave Bodyglove, Integrated Shockpadding, Military-grade Electronics (Helmet and Body Armour.), Sonic Dissipator/Dampening Overlay, Bio-restorative Underlay, EMP/Ion Resistant Materials, Fire Retardant Textiles.
Technical Specifications
Classification: Multipurpose Battleplate (Hostile Environment.)Weight: 24 KG (Medium Armour.)
Quality: Seven.
- Energy Weapon Resistance: Due to the three-layers of protection offered by the reinforced Duraplast plating, Flex-armour, and the environmentally-sealed Armourweave body glove, the FOPG-BDU-01 provides a significant resistance to energy weapons. Utilizing the density and inherent reflective properties of the Duraplast, combined with the reinforced ceramics and Durasteel (Comprising Flex-Armour) the Combat Armour can safely withstand and disperse a Blaster’s particle bolt. (Provided the discharge was not unleashed from a Medium Laser Cannon or a Disruptor.) With the previously explained capabilities of the Armour’s primary plating, the FOPG-BDU-01 can endure glancing blows from the plasmatic blade of a Lightsabre. Direct applications of the aforementioned energy weapon will encounter momentary resistance before atomizing the molecular bond and sundering the armour plate(s). This resistance does include the ability to withstand projected flame weapons, as the curvature of the plate and it's inherent ablative properties does not allow the ignited propellant to adhere to the surface and will roll across the surface of the trooper.
- Kinetic Weapon Resistance: With the combination of the heavily reinforced Duraplast plating and sections of Flex-armour, the FOPG-BDU-01 offers a substantial projection against the lethal trajectory of various projectile weapons, and safely dispersing its kinetic kick-back over a small portion of the Combat Armour. Though this can defend the wearer from a multitude of slug-based weaponry, varying from archaic Slugthrowers to the significantly death-dealing Vepine Shatterguns, it is unable to safeguard a Soldier from harm. Due to the tenets of Newton’s Law, if struck by a high-powered rifle - the projectile may not penetrate the armour - however the physical energy (If not absorbed by the integrated shock padding.) will leave the Soldier heavily bruised, and/or suffering from internal bleeding around the impact site.
- Sonic Weapon Resistance: As Sonic weaponry had become more commonplace upon the battlefield, having proven its effectiveness in the shadows by various Assassin’s throughout the ages, the FOPG-BDU-01 is the first in a new line of Combat-rated Armour to offer some margin of defense against these deadly weapons. Using both a passive and active system of ‘noise’ cancellation, through the utilization of the integrated cellular padding and the sonic dampening overlay built into the armourweave body glove, the Combat Armour is able to produce a subtle harmonic resonance that would interfere with the pressure wave discharged by Sonic weaponry. While the active negation system doesn’t entirely disperse the alternating periods of compression and rarefaction, the passive negation system is able to absorb the more weakened blast through the cellular design of the Shockpadding.
- Melee/Shrapnel Resistance: Falling back on the materials used in the construction of the Combat-rated Armour, the FOPG-BDU-01 is capable of offering excellent protection from various melee weapons (Ranging from primitive to the more exotic.) as well as an exceptional defense against Shrapnel and Flechette rounds. The caveat to this near-perfect method of defense is entirely dependant on where the Wearer is struck, as Flexibility is a standard requirement in modern battle armour, the joints are more susceptible to damage than the more heavily armoured plating. (Also factored into this typical drawback, is the types of grenades and flechette rounds employed by various Governments throughout the galaxy.) Thus, having learned from the mistakes of the past, Modern day Stormtroopers and Soldiers in service to the First Order - the premiere Imperial power within a Chaotic galaxy - can defend themselves more effectively than their ancient kin against the ravenous natives of Endor, and enemy soldiers that seek to cause them harm.
- E/WAR Resistance (EMP/ION): With a veritable hoard of sensitive electronics and military-grade technology built into the Combat Helmet of the FOPG-BDU-01, this delicate latticework - akin to the Soldier entombed within - required it's own method of protection due to the rising popularity of EMP and Ion-based weaponry across the Galaxy. Thereby acting in accordance to the designer's whim, the entire suit of Combat Armour was outfitted with Anti-Ion mesh and various other resistant materials so that the wearer will experience little to no disruption in the constant feed of tactical data scrolling across their visor. During the testing phases of this model, it was noted that the closer the wearer was to the source of the EMP/Ion discharge (In grenade/explosive form), the less effective these implemented methods were. From a distance, there was a small chance of static rippling across the visor, and from a closer range, it was noted that the display was rendered inoperable and had to be rebooted.
Helmet
- Retractable Faceplate
- Retractable Exterior Visorplate
- Interior Celluar Padding (High Comfort.)
- Visual/Audio Player and Recorder (10 Hours of Content before Datacard needs to be swapped.)
- Annunciator/Vocabulator.
- Sonic/Aural Dampeners.
- Broadband Antenna with Rangefinder.
- Short-range Integrated Commlink with First Order encryption keys.
- Rebreather/Environmental/Oxygen Filtration System.
- Primary Oxygen Supply Tank (Two Hours.)
- Poly-chromatic/ Anti-Flash Visor (Self-Repairing.)
- Holographic HUD (Blink-Command Capable.)
- Multi-Frequency Targeting and Acquisition System.
- Combat Scanner/ Life-Form Scanner/ Sonar Mapper/ Motion Scanner/ Radar.
- Visor Modes: Tactical, Infrared, Low-light/Night, Thermal, Ultra-Violet.
- Anti-Ion Mesh.
- Integrated Floodlight(s) (Concealed/Retractable Solar Ionization Panels.)
Torso
- Backplate-mounted Power Pack with replacement Cells.
- Emergency/Reserve Power pack (Redundant System.)
- Secondary Oxygen Supply Tank (Six Hours.)
- IFF Circuitry and Transponder.
- Environmentally Sealed and Pressurized.
- Anti-Ion Mesh.
- Grenade Bandolier/ Combat Webbing Clips and Mountings.
- Grav Chute/ Jetpack Backplate Mounting.
- Shoulder Sheathe for Combat Vibroblade (Optional.)
- Magnetized Surface(s) for Primary and Secondary Weapons.
Utility Belt
- Field Medical Bag
- Field Rations (One Week's Worth.)
- Multitool.
- Flare Gun (Two Charges.)
- Combat De-Ionizer(s)
- Anti-Security Blade.
- Various Pouches (Containing a multitude of items, including but not limited to, additional plasma cartridges and etc.)
Gauntlet(s)
- Magnetic Adhesion/ High-Traction Grips
- Liquid Cable Launcher
- Dampener Aerosol Projector (Four Charges, Re-loadable Cartridges.)
- Knuckle-plate Vibroblade (Retractable.)
- Anti-Ion Mesh.
- Forearm-mounted Comms/Holo-Projector/Data-streaming Device. (Linked to Helmet's HUD.)
Greaves
- Magnetic Adhesion/ High-Traction Grips.
- Celluar Padded Insoles (High Comfort.)
- Additional Combat Vibroblade Sheathe.
- Reinforced Knee Plating/ Bracing. (Strain reduction when Crouched, or during lengthy periods of Cardio.)
- Knee-plate Dart Launcher (Paralytic Toxin, Four Darts - Re-loadable.)
- Infantry Warplate: Harkening back to the designs of the original, villainous First Order and that of the Galactic Republic’s Clone Trooper’s prior that, the FOPG-BDU-01 is designed to act as a Frontline Infantry Armour - rather than the more environmentally specialized warplate of the Galactic Empire’s Stormtrooper Legions.Thus, while it’s considerably more heavy than it’s predecessors, the Combat Armour is able to withstand a significant amount of external stress before the Unit succumbs to failure. Meaning that the Standard soldier outfitted with this armour is more likely to survive several firefights in quick succession, in comparison to a similar soldier equipped with an equivalent suit of warplate.
- Exposed Thighs: While this portion of the body is still protected by the composite layers of the armourweave bodyglove and the contoured pieces of Flex-Armour, the designer’s believed that section of the suit could be foregone - due to where the FOPG-BDU-01 would be deployed and the prefabricated defenses which were also brought into consideration. As this significantly weakens the suit’s capability to defend against directed energy/kinetic weapons, meaning heavy blaster rifles and armour-penetrating slugs, the weakness is localised to a single region - which would be negated if the Soldier remains behind his prefabricated barrier.
- Training Requirement: Due to the complex nature of the sensitive electronics and technology imbedded within the Combat Helmet and the Armour itself, there is a minor training pre-requisite required to fully operated the suit to it’s fullest potential. With the holographic HUD utilizing blink-commands to filter through the various sensor-modes and tactical sub-systems built into the suit’s combat visor, it isn’t a natural process for the average untrained soldier. Therefore, as it is considered a weakness for troops being rapidly armed, the justification for this drawback is that the enemy will be unable to access any of the Helmet’s technological functionalities. In addition to the complex blink-commands, the FOPG-BDU-01 is on the heavier end of the Medium Armour spectrum, and will require some time for a Soldier to physically adjust to this newfound burden.
Based off an ancient design, due to the easily relatable concept of protection that the Galactic Empire of that bygone era had sought to embody, the FOPG-BDU-01 was intended to rebrand the well-known failures of the past by bringing its iconic aesthetic into the future. Though the records of history had called this variant of the Stormtrooper armour - Shoretroopers - the First Order believed that such an aegis would do well in the hands of their Infantry Regulars and Planetary Guardsmen. Therefore, the combat armour was designed to offer the trained soldier beneath a veritable treasure trove of technological advancements so that they may be better assisted in the line of duty.
Of the entire ensemble, the most important and if not most advanced portion of the whole body armour, was the Helmet. From the exterior, the FOPG-BDU-01 Combat Helm takes a radical departure from the iconic, and if not distinctive design offered forth by the different generations of Stormtrooper Armour. While seemingly basic in appearance, the Helmet provides additional protection for the soldier entombed within by way of external armour plating in the most critical of areas - where an enemy sniper may place their bolt should the soldier get careless. Furthermore, unlike the Helmet’s of the past, this variant can retract its faceplate - offering the Soldier the ability to interact with others, without being labeled as nothing more than a soulless automaton.
Progressing towards the interior and the delicate latticework of circuitry embedded within the reinforced Duraplast and Impact cellular padding, the Helmet provides an onboard and comprehensive tactical suite designed to supplement and assist the trained Soldier in battle. With scrolling feeds of information and targeting locks - for assisting with One’s aim - everything that the Planetary Guardsmen needs to operate effectively, and efficiently on the battlefield is well within his - or her - grasp. Including the integrated Faraday cages that safely absorb and disperse the neutralized Ion energy out of a small heatsink near the back of the helmet.
From there, the entirety of the combat armour is comprised of an armourweave bodyglove composite. Adequately layering the Trooper in a myriad of resistances to ensure that they can survive whatever troubles may come their way. With the final layer being that of the Biorestorative Underlay and the only layer that ever touches the partially bare flesh of the Soldier, the suit can reknit the flesh from any small puncture wounds and penetrations. This addition further augments the Corpsmen ability to save the life of whoever’s struck - rather than rushing towards a dying man and bereft of the ability - or sometimes tools - to pull them back into the light.
Lastly, reinforced plates of Duraplast formed the final piece of this autonomous stratum. They covered every portion of the body, save the thighs - as, by their designer's wishes, it would be a rare sight indeed to see these brave men and women on the Field of Battle and not standing their ground behind the indomitable bastions of the Imperial war machine.
Primary Source: Re-purposed Canon Articles.
