All Forerunners wore personal armor through most of their lives. The armor protected its user both physically and medically, granted them immunity to most diseases, and was one of the reasons for their long lifespans. In emergency situations, the armor could suspend its user until they were rescued, and even provide nourishment for a time.[1] Armor suits specifically designed for combat were known as combat skins.
Description
A suit of personal armor typically had smoothly curved features, and consisted of several ribbon-like sections of torso armor,[2][3] shoulder and arm guards, leg guards and boots.[4] Personal armor typically included a helmet, with its edges curving back from the facial features.[3] Instead of physical armor, the face and the hands were typically covered in a thin, adjustable film of energy.[5]
Forerunner armor was colored according to one's rate and position. Typically, their primary coloration varied from light gray to black, with trim-lines of white and various colors.[3] For example, Council advisors wore black armor with green highlights, while the armor worn by Council security was colored black and red.[6] The armor worn by Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting was primarily colored silver-gray, with white and green trim-lines.[3] The lavishness and overall decoration of Forerunner armor varied between rates; higher rates, such as Builders, wore more ornate armor than Warrior-Servants.[7]
Forerunner ships typically had facilities that could produce a suit of armor at will, using small engineering units, some barely visible, to "grow" the armor around the user.[8] The suits were also adaptable, and could be constructed to fit any other species, including the various species of humans. The appearance of the suit's ancilla would also be modeled according to the user's species.[9]
Capabilities and effects
Forerunner armor suits were also equipped with ancillas, personal artificial intelligence constructs which interfaced directly with the wearer's mind. In addition to their own stores of knowledge, a personal ancilla could connect to a network, such as that of a starship, and provide information for the wearer at will. However, the information one could access was limited based on their position.[3] Mature Forerunners could connect to the vast information store known as the Domain through their armor.[1] Forerunners could also transfer enormous amounts of information to one another through the armor at the touch of each other's fingertips.[10]
While wearing the armor, sleep was not required.[11] Most Forerunner armor was capable of keeping the wearer alive for years without outside influences.[2] If operational, the armor would also preserve the wearer's body after death.[12] Forerunner armor also served as a powered exoskeleton, assisting or enhancing the wearer's movement.[13] Personal armor was sealed against vacuum or the lack of atmosphere.[14] Most if not all Forerunner body armor possessed N-barriers and a system involving lenses to protect the user from harm.[15]
Though the body armor provided the user with certain advantages, it also caused the user to lose sensitivity to the world around them. For example, when Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting decided to remove his body armor on Earth, he found himself exceedingly vulnerable; a simple touch from Chakas caused a strong reaction.
Countermeasures
The Forerunners also developed various countermeasures to be used against personal armor. Small automatons known as armor cracking units were specifically designed to break through armor.[16] Programs known as AI suppressors could deactivate a suit's ancilla, allowing the attacker to take control of the armor itself.[17] Powerful ancillas, such as 05-032 Mendicant Bias, were capable of overriding personal armor and even using it to crush the wearer.[18][13]
Gallery
A male Lifeworker wearing armor typical of his rate.
- Masterbuilder.png
Faber, the Master Builder, in full armor.
The Didact wearing his older suit of armor during the Human-Forerunner War.
The Didact in his most recent armor, with and without his helmet.
A squad of Warrior-Servants clad in battle armor.
Two armored Warriors.
A Promethean warrior in his armor.
Concept art of a Promethean's armor.
Multiple concepts of a Promethean's armor.
List of appearances
- Halo Legends
- Origins (First appearance)
- Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- Soma the Painter (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Cryptum
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Halo 4
Sources
- ^ a b Halo: Cryptum, page 13
- ^ a b Halo: Cryptum, page 71
- ^ a b c d e Halo: Cryptum, page 107
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 18
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 116, 121
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 256
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 81-82
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 106
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 108
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 140
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 32
- ^ Halo: Primordium, page 52
- ^ a b Halo: Primordium, page 218
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 116
- ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "Soma the Painter"
- ^ Halo: Primordium, page 13
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 194
- ^ Halo: Primordium, page 186
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