Canon

FOTUS-class Mjolnir

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FOTUS
Fotus-Halo5.png
Production overview

Manufacturer(s):

343 Industries[1]

Testing site(s):

434 Combat Readiness Lab[1]
RTC Facility[1]
Willows Complex[1]

Type:

MJOLNIR (GEN2)

Role(s):

Miscellaneous tasks and situations

 

"Tested in the rough and tumble streets of downtown Kirkland, Washington."
— FOTUS armory description

FOTUS-class Mjolnir is a variant of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2] manufactured by 343 Industries.[2]

Overview

Design details

The helmet has a Torque-node component used to distract nearby predators, the base of the node detects levels of gravity-trough scaturiency. The helmet also features extended awareness conduits (ALK-03) which heightens mobility around senior operatives and moving-equipment personnel. The visor has lodged-tracking component 793-VF for improved survivability and maintenance. The chest has 90-RZ java-fuel monitoring software which evaluates current sustainability levels.[1][Note 1]

The armor is built also using the finest locally-sourced materials and loose Forerunner technology,[1][3] with some materials coming from Requiem.[4]

Development history

FOTUS was created by 343 Industries, by merging loose Forerunner technology and base Mjolnir architecture. It was originally forged at the RTC Facility before being transported to the Willows Complex for durability and survivability testing. At a later point it was tested at 434 Combat Readiness Lab where it was tested extensively in Kirkland's overcast and frigid nine-month winter season.[1][Note 1]

Before full production of the armor could start, engineers required that it meet COUGAR-class safety protocols in an effort to protect it against feral branches of wildlife. These protocols were met and FOTUS armor sets were deployed.[1][Note 1]

The FOTUS Torque-node component had proven to represent a breakthrough in replicating Forerunner "baffler" sensor-distortion systems.[3]

Skins

A skin of this armor was part of the Forerunner Hybrid Kit, which is a group of equipment using classified Forerunner technology from Requiem, it was developed for highly experienced Spartan-IV by the Office of Naval Intelligence.[4]

Usage

After being deployed, FOTUS was often used to acquire coffee at a variety of lightly secured sites, during the Kirkland's long seasons of wet, freezing cold weather.[1][Note 1]

FOTUS armor has proven invaluable in Seattle's corporate shadow-wars.[3]

In-game information

Halo 4

Unlock: This armor was a pre-order bonus with the Halo 4 Limited Edition Xbox 360 console.

  • Description: Tested in the rough and tumble streets of downtown Kirkland, Washington.
  • Forearms description: Land of Kirk cougar-safety protocols MUST be followed at all times.
  • Legs description: Received excessively high movement proficiency ratings for coffee runs on rainy days.

MCC descriptions

  • Helmet description: Tested in the rough-and-tumble streets of Kirkland, Washington.
  • Left Shoulder description: Highly resistant to surprise assaults by foam projectiles.
  • Right Shoulder description: Increases Seattle freeze index by a substantial amount.
  • Chest description: Its original factory is gone, but not forgotten.
  • Forearms description: FOTUS vambrace with cougar-safe coating.
  • Legs description: Augments proficiency at quickly acquiring caffeine-infused liquids.

Halo 5: Guardians

Available skins: Chillrose and Synchronize
Default unlock: Ultra Rare REQ card.
Chillrose unlock: Included in the Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition Xbox One console or Legendary REQ card
Synchronize unlock: Legendary REQ card

  • Helmet description: The FOTUS helmet's torque-node extension represents a breakthrough in replicating Forerunner "baffler" sensor-distortion systems.
  • Body description: Hand-crafted from the finest locally-sourced materials and repurposed Forerunner technology, FOTUS-class powered assault armor has proven invaluable in Seattle's corporate shadow-wars.

In Halo 5: Guardians due to the "Body" having a predefined customisation this armor set permanently has the following parts from Halo 4:

  • Body: FOTUS
  • Shoulders: FOTUS
  • Forearms: FOTUS
  • Legs: FOTUS

Trivia

  • In Halo 4, the FOTUS armor is presented as a metafictional joke. The acronym supposedly stands for "Fist of the Unicorn(s)", which was referenced as a band made up of the crew members of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. In the in-game description, the armor is said to have been developed by 343 Industries tested in Kirkland, Washington, which is 343 Industries' hometown. The gauntlets are designed to defend against cougar attacks in the "Land of Kirk", while the FOTUS greaves earned high marks during coffee runs on rainy days. The prominent spike on top of the helmet is a reference to 343 Industries' running unicorn gag. While the FOTUS armor is canon, the armor's descriptions in Halo 4 are very tongue-in-cheek and obviously not meant to be taken seriously.
  • The "corporate shadow-wars" mentioned in Halo 5: Guardians's FOTUS chest may be a reference to the RPG game "Shadowrun", set in a futuristic Seattle run by mega-corporations.
  • The FOTUS body armor is shared with the Deadeye armor in Halo 5: Guardians.
  • The piece descriptions in MCCs armory continue the Halo 4 version's references:

"Surprise assault by foam projectiles" in reference to the time-honored tradition of coders and software workers shooting each other with foam darts to let off steam

The "Seattle Freeze", a widely-held belief in the difficulty of making friends or acquaintances in the Seattle metropolitan area

The original factory being "gone, but not forgotten" in reference to 343 Industries moving from their original building to a new one around the time MCC was rolling out

And callbacks to both Kirkland, cougars, and coffee.

  • Geographically, 343 Industries (and Microsoft itself) is officially located in Redmond, Washington, rather than Kirkland. The distance between them is effectively negligible.

Gallery

Halo 4 skin

Halo 5: Guardians skins

List of appearances

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Fotus throughout this source continues the joke of "acquiring coffee." Therefore, this is not a reliable source. However, as the only source available it should be taken as canon until a more official source gives the Armor its information.

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide - Page 183
  2. ^ Halo 4 - Armory description
  3. ^ a b c Halo 5: Guardians - Armory description
  4. ^ a b Halo 4 - Bonus content marketplace description
  5. ^ Halo Waypoint Forums - Canon Fodder 1-15-15: Just Getting Started (Catalog Answer)