Gear

The average galaxy-goer's life is crowded with stuff, most of it designed to distract them from the true conditions of their life and the lives of those around them. This section lists a wide variety of common tools, electronics, and pieces of kit available for sale throughout the worlds.

### CARRYING AND STORAGE

All the tech in the world won’t do a person any good if they can’t get it where it needs to go. The following is a collection of personal carryalls and shipping containers designed for transporting gear in comfort and style.

#### CROSS-BODY BAG

Cross-body bags run the gamut of large personal carryall bags, including messenger bags, engineers’ bags, and computer totes. Worn over the shoulder or slung across the torso by a broad strap, these bags are made from a broad array of textiles and synthleathers and might be weatherproof, reinforced with high-strength zero-G polymer (resin fibers that can only be manufactured in a zero-gravity environment), or RFID-proofed with foil scatterfiber.

While wearing a cross-body bag, your character increases their encumbrance threshold by 3.

#### LOAD-BEARING GEAR

Also known as a tac-vest, load-bearing gear consists of a sturdy, full-torso vest (generally woven from zero-G polymers) covered in snaps, loops, and hooks. It can be worn over body armor or even plasteel carapace.

While wearing load-bearing gear, your character increases their encumbrance threshold by 3.

#### MAL-SEALED SHIPPING CONTAINER

A MAL-sealed container is essentially a cross between an antique steamer trunk and a bank vault. Not much to look at, it is a meter-long, flattened, dull-gray oval encased in a hard polycarbon harness. Its case is a vanasteel-based alloy formed into an electroconductive molecular matrix. In its inert state, the case hinges open like any other container.

However, if a properly modulated current is run through the matrix, the matrix instantly realigns, leaving the contents protected by a seamless, diamond-hard case.

Matrix Alignment Locks are particularly useful because the molecules remain aligned until a second carefully modulated current “unlocks” them. The modulation can be tweaked and the exposure time lengthened, creating a unique, variable-length combination lock. The case stays sealed without any power, and it has no computerized components. Without the proper current frequency, would-be criminals must resort to white-hot plasma cutters or high explosives, which don’t leave much hope of looting the contents inside.

A MAL-sealed container is impervious to most conventional cutting devices. (Your GM has the final say on what can cut through the vanasteel alloy, but it should generally be limited to military-grade explosives or heavy-duty construction or demolition equipment.) The container can hold a number of items with encumbrance values totaling up to 20. If your character uses a computer to randomly generate modulated currents, they should be able to guess the correct “combination” in 1d5 years.

#### MODULAR BACKPACK

Designed for military use, these camouflaged or olive-drab backpacks were quickly adopted by students, runners, revolutionaries, and disenfrancistos, thanks in part to the a military's tendency to sell off the surplus from huge production runs. These bags are so tough, thanks to their buckyweave-fiber construction, that some of the earliest models are still used today (after having cycled through dozens of owners). military modular backpacks have current-activated internal frames that go rigid with a pulse of electricity and give the wearer extra support, and its multiple compartments all have quick-seal flaps that keep items inside safe and dry.

While wearing a modular backpack, your character increases their encumbrance threshold by 5.

#### UTILITY BELT

A common utility belt is part load-bearing gear, part tool belt, and part carryall. Worn low on the hips, this handy item is equipped with a holster or tool bag and a selection of sealable, weatherproof pouches for carrying small, important items close at hand.

While wearing a utility belt, your character increases their encumbrance threshold by 2.

#### CLANDESTINE GEAR

As in any other field, the tools used by criminals, infiltrators, spies, and other shady characters are extremely varied and specialized.

#### DISGUISE KIT

Disguise kits are used by criminals, spies, and investigators to alter their physical appearance. A standard kit includes various wigs, hairpieces, makeup, colored contact lenses, basic camouflage paints, and even prosthetic features.

Advanced kits may contain simple biometric spoofers to get around fingerprint readers, retinal scanners, and even, in some cases, genelocks.

#### INFILTRATOR GOGGLES

These bulky, high-tech goggles combine the utility of smartspecs with various vision-enhancing technologies. Used by criminals and special operatives alike, infiltrator goggles are smartgoggles equipped with a passive night-vision system, supported by thermal imaging and (in some models) microband radar emitters.

While wearing infiltrator goggles, your character removes 2 SETBACK added to their checks due to darkness, smoke, or other forms of concealment.

#### LOCKBREAKER

A lockbreaker is a modular electronic lockpicking device designed to aid in bypassing most types of electronic locks. With the included accessories, a lockbreaker can help criminals open key-card locks, time locks, keypad/combination locks, and other common electronic and computer-controlled systems. Advanced models can even unlock biometric locks.

Lockbreakers allow your character to attempt to open any electronic lock or latch. In addition, when making a Skulduggery check to open an electronic lock or latch while using a lockbreaker, your character adds 2 ADV to the results.

#### LOCKPICK SET

Lockpick sets include a number of specialty tools designed to unlock mechanical locks. Whether commercially produced or homemade, a lockpick set is a must-have for criminals, clandestine agents, and prisec operatives. Getting caught by the police in possession of a set of lockpicks usually calls for some fast talking and the liberal application of a credstick to avoid jail time. Lockpick sets allow your character to attempt to open any mechanical locks or latches. In addition, when making a Skulduggery check to open a mechanical lock or latch while using a lockpick set, your character adds 1 ADV to the results.

#### SNAP-LOCK

Snap-locks are half-meter long strips of zero-G polymer in a rigid molecular lattice. Normally, they’re ruler-straight, but when struck hard against a prisoner’s wrists or ankles, the lattice fractures just long enough for the strap to snap around the appendage before the lattice reforms. The resulting restraint can’t be severed without heavy-duty cutters, making these perfect disposable restraints.

Escaping a snap-lock without heavy cutters requires your character to make a Formidable (PPPPP) Athletics check or Daunting (PPPP) Coordination check.

### COMMS

While most New Angelinos get by with their PAD and a network connection, some individuals require more robust comms options in the course of their daily work.

#### BURST TRANSMITTER

These powerful devices were designed during the Insurrection to send short, encrypted messages from Earth to orbit. They use a narrow-band beam with a smart encryption system that can transmit voice and data to dedicated receivers. During the Lunar Insurrection, they often served as signals-warfare devices to insert viruses and remote commands into both open and secure networks by brute force. More than one group of insurgents found themselves cut off or vented into space by a black-ops radio operator with a burst transmitter.

Since the Insurrection, burst transmitters have found their way into the black market via military surplus brokers, and some shady electronics vendors have begun selling new models with updated software.

When your character attempts to perform the access system action (see page 129) while using a burst transmitter,

they reduce the difficulty of the check by 1, to a minimum of Simple (–).

#### FIELD RADIO

Field radios are heavy-duty, military-grade transceivers used by soldiers to send and receive information on the battlefield. Carried by dedicated radio operators, field radios are still small enough that they and their antenna, their power source, and the other bits of equipment needed to operate their system fit into a lightweight pouch. They feature smart encryption systems and can broadcast anywhere within line of sight of the bearer (including low orbit).

#### PERSONAL COMLINK

Modern-day walkie-talkies, comlinks are small, secure devices used for personal communication. They have a limited range but are unaffected by buildings and other obstacles. Comlinks are cheap and readily available, and they have the added bonus of being largely untraceable (as they only operate with a specified network of comlinks).

Many travellers, especially those in the rougher parts of the galaxy, use them to conduct daily business away from the eyes and ears of the Network.