MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor: Difference between revisions
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===MJOLNIR Mark V=== | ===MJOLNIR Mark V=== | ||
[[Image:Chief.jpg|thumb|MJOLNIR Mark V]] | [[Image:Chief.jpg|thumb|MJOLNIR Mark V]] | ||
The Mark IV Assault Armor was replaced by the newer Mark V several weeks prior to the Covenant assault on Reach in 2552. The Mark V was the realization of Dr. Halsey's vision. It has hundreds of minor technical improvements over the Mark IV as well as two major modifications. | |||
The first is that it is powered by a slightly larger fusion pack than the Mark IV. This is due to the fact that the Mark V has an integrated dynamic, self-recharging, sophisticated energy shielding system, built upon captured Covenant technology (similar to those used by Elites, but designed from captured Jackal energy shields) that repels mass objects and energy bursts. While impacts on the shield place a substantial drain on the system's power supply, system energy regenerates quickly once the SPARTAN-II moves away from the barrage. | |||
The difference in the Elite's shields and the human Mark V and Mark VI's is that the Elite's has a blue tint to it whereas the Mark V version has a yellowish cast. The shields can take close to the same amount of damage before failing, leaving the user unprotected. | |||
The second advancement is the addition of a weave of memory-processor super-conducting material, the same material as an AI's core. This gives the suit nearly the same capacity as a ship-borne AI system. This, along with an upgrade to the standard issue neural implant, allows an AI to inhabit the suit of armor and the mind of the Spartan wearing it, greatly enhancing the interface between the suit and the wearer as well as the obvious benefits of having the incredible information processing power of an AI, which is intended to assist the Spartan in real-time by monitoring communication channels, computer relays, and friendly combat updates. | |||
The lethality of this system was demonstrated by SPARTAN-117, also known as "John" or "John-117", when he and the AI Cortana successfully fought their way across a planet-like, artificial ring world called Halo. | |||
===MJOLNIR Mark VI=== | ===MJOLNIR Mark VI=== | ||
Revision as of 20:25, December 10, 2006
The MJOLNIR armor system (pronounced "mih-yohl-nir") is a complex suit of armor designed by Dr. Catherine Halsey of the Office of Naval Intelligence. It features numerous components and features; only highly specialized soldiers can operate it. Origins: Thor, the Norse God of Thunder and Lightning, possessed a powerful weapon, a hammer that was able to control storms and create lightning bolts by throwing it. Its name is Mjölner, which means "lightning".
Armor Versions
MJOLNIR Mark I PROTOTYPE
The Mark I battle armors were bulky exoskeletons that improved strength and stamina of the user's muscles. It had been fitted with a small chain minigun on the top of the shoulder. The Navy's first exoskeleton project. However the armor was impractical for combat, as it needed a power source too large to contain autonomously. The suit required a large cable to run between it and a generator, which hindered movement, thus was never seen in battle. The MJOLNIR battle armor was based on this armor. The Spartan IIs John-117, Samuel-034, and Kelly-087, proved themselves superior to the Mark I without the MJOLNIR, in every respect.[1]
MJOLNIR Mark II PROTOTYPE
The MJOLNIR Mark II battle armor incorporated a much more slimmed-down profile, but still required a direct link to a fusion reactor for power.
MJOLNIR Mark III PROTOTYPE
The next prototype, the Mark III, incorporated a power transmission-receiver so that power could be transmitted to it much like the Orbital Defense Platforms in orbit of major UNSC colonies. This design was quickly rejected for two reasons. The main reason being that the armor still had a limited operational range, as the power generator could not be moved easily. The second reason was that if the generator was destroyed somehow, the users would become trapped in worthless, metal shells.
MJOLNIR Mark IV
The MJOLNIR Mark IV was a radical redesign of the suit taking advantage of many technological leaps. This advanced battle suit was the first to fully integrate with the soldier's body. The suit plugs directly into the soldier's nervous system through a standard issue Neural Interface. The suit's many functions (communications, hydro-static gel levels, environmental systems, etc.) respond to commands issued by the soldier's thoughts.[2]
This is also the first design to successfully utilize the reactive metal liquid crystal as a means of enhancing locomotion. It flawlessly enhances the speed and power of the wearer, a sharp contrast to previous versions which required powered motors to allow the soldiers mobility. Because of this advancement, the design more closely resembles an actual suit of armor, as opposed to a powered exoskeleton. On one level the soldier moves the suit and in return the suit moves the soldier. This allowed for an incredibly compact design when compared to the previous incarnations.[2]
The success of this version was also dependent upon the parallel development of the Spartan-II program, which produced soldiers with the physical prowess required to drive the system. Previous attempts to wear the prototype suit by unaugmented soldiers resulted in their deaths and injury, due to the extreme reactiveness of the system.[2]
The MJOLNIR armor contains an integrated computer system which continuously monitors weapons, biological function, motion (through an intelligent motion-sensing radar). It should be noted that the Mark IV did not have energy shields.[2]
The suit is air-tight, hardened against vacuum, and features air-filtration systems as well as a built-in oxygen supply that can last for up to 90 minutes. The suit's helmet also features a standard UNSC mounted flashlight with its own separate power supply. Concealed side compartments in the upper thigh plates allow the Spartan wearer to holster a sidearm.
The armor plates are specifically designed for combat with the Covenant.[2] It resists the Covenant's plasma-based weaponry extremely well; a SPARTAN soldier wearing this armor can survive approximately three times as much damage from plasma weapons than an ordinary human marine could. The armor also provides basic protection from human ballistic projectiles, although only to a slightly higher degree as regular marine combat armor. The suit itself is practically indestructible and is capable of sustaining tremendous damage and still be able to function, but even though the suit will continue to operate, the human inside can still be injured or killed by a penetrating round or by sufficient plasma impacts to the suit's outer shell.
The suit also has a number of other features, including recoil-compensating actuators, hydrostatic gel (to regulate temperature and dampen impact force), and biofoam injectors. However, the biofoam injectors and medical care systems of the Mark IV must be provided with a direct supply of biofoam, medicines and stimulants from a standard marine first aid kit when the user is injured, as the suit will not hold or generate a supply of medicines and Biofoam, unlike the Mark VI.
The Mark IV Assault armor was fielded from November 27th, 2525[3] to August 29th, 2552.
MJOLNIR Mark V
The Mark IV Assault Armor was replaced by the newer Mark V several weeks prior to the Covenant assault on Reach in 2552. The Mark V was the realization of Dr. Halsey's vision. It has hundreds of minor technical improvements over the Mark IV as well as two major modifications.
The first is that it is powered by a slightly larger fusion pack than the Mark IV. This is due to the fact that the Mark V has an integrated dynamic, self-recharging, sophisticated energy shielding system, built upon captured Covenant technology (similar to those used by Elites, but designed from captured Jackal energy shields) that repels mass objects and energy bursts. While impacts on the shield place a substantial drain on the system's power supply, system energy regenerates quickly once the SPARTAN-II moves away from the barrage.
The difference in the Elite's shields and the human Mark V and Mark VI's is that the Elite's has a blue tint to it whereas the Mark V version has a yellowish cast. The shields can take close to the same amount of damage before failing, leaving the user unprotected.
The second advancement is the addition of a weave of memory-processor super-conducting material, the same material as an AI's core. This gives the suit nearly the same capacity as a ship-borne AI system. This, along with an upgrade to the standard issue neural implant, allows an AI to inhabit the suit of armor and the mind of the Spartan wearing it, greatly enhancing the interface between the suit and the wearer as well as the obvious benefits of having the incredible information processing power of an AI, which is intended to assist the Spartan in real-time by monitoring communication channels, computer relays, and friendly combat updates.
The lethality of this system was demonstrated by SPARTAN-117, also known as "John" or "John-117", when he and the AI Cortana successfully fought their way across a planet-like, artificial ring world called Halo.
MJOLNIR Mark VI
In Halo 2, Master Chief's Mark V suit was replaced by a Mark VI suit. This suit has superior shielding systems. An example being the shields on the soles of the armors feet, it has enough power to absorb the blows of falling from short-to-mid height and slightly longer. It also allows the user to jump higher. Another new feature is a different Heads Up Display, and also apparently (because it is not outright stated) has integrated Biofoam insertors, removing the need for medical packs as a health-replenishing aid that the Chief had to use in Halo: Combat Evolved, since he regains health automatically as his shields recharge. Another new feature of the helmet is that it has binoculars integrated into them, they are primarily used with weapons that don't have scopes, yet their range is only slightly weaker than the Sniper Rifle's low zoom. The only known users of the Mark VI armour are the Master Chief and Maria-062.
The Mark VI sets up the possibility of yet another suit being made. This is interesting because the next type would logically be a Mark VII, which would coincide with the frequent appearances of the number seven.
Armor Components
Marathon Reference
The player in Marathon is speculated to be one of the Mjolnir Mk. IV cyborgs that are referred to in terminals throughout the game.
Trivia
It seems like Bungie likes the Viking mythology, as the word Mjolnir (or Mjölner in Swedish) is the hammerlike weapon that the mighty thunder god Thor uses to make lightning bolts by throwing it. Bungie has also borrowed the name Valhalla.
The CMT mod team modeled and skinned a Pre-H1 MC, based on Halo 1 concept art designs.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5163/sexaaabw1.jpg
Related Links
Sources
- ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 70
- ^ a b c d e Halo: The Fall of Reach, pages 114-117
- ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, 113
