Edge Suit

The Edge Suit (Enhanced Defensive Guardian Exoskeleton) is a combat suit developed predominantly by Richard H. Sinclair to enable him to fight more and more powerful enemies. While it began as a defensive suit meant to allow him to fight anonymously and to take out someone threatening his sister, it evolved through multiple iterations and became one of the most powerful, advanced pieces of technology in the known Galaxy.

## Conception & Initial Design

The Edge Suit initially began as a concept to allow Richard to fight on the same tier as the enemies he hunts. In *"Edge: The Black Hunter"*, a pair of Iharsh-Daraz weapons dealers, Gamerron and Kelmak, took issue with him hunting one of their agents. Considering the size of their illegal operation, they were able to not only threaten Victoria, Richard's sister, but also kill two of the Vanguard protecting her as a show of force. When Richard refused to back down, Gamerron captured him for a one-on-one chat before abandoning him on an asteroid with a distress beacon.

Richard realized he couldn't fight Gamerron and Kelmak the way he was. Instead, he contacted several old friends to find a solution. With Aninay's help, he was able to flash clone himself to create an 'empty', flash-cloned body, which he loaded into a ship and crashed into Sovereign to fake his death. Bandrumano and Kridoria helped finance him under the table, providing funds and materials. Bordra, nearing the end of his life, helped Richard develop the first suits aboard the *Ghost* with Klaara's permission.

## Edge Suit Models

### Edge Suit MK-I

Little more than a bulked-up polyform suit with a unique blend of thyrium and iskindite in its makeup. It formed the template for the Edge Suit, but was not considered a functional test model. Richard repeatedly called it a costume. He was capable of wearing it and it was useful for sizing, but wasn't suited for combat the way he needed it to be. Initially, Bordra misunderstood what Richard was asking for and constructed a twenty-five foot tall mechanical monstrosity that weighed over twelve tons. After reconvening and communicating, the design was pared down to a human-sized model.

### Edge Suit MK-II

Borda and Richard worked closely to develop this model, aiming to make it the first fully functional combat suit. The armor was enhanced, but it was still extremely heavy. As such, it was powered by a single-core fusion node that worked in tandem with some minor servos just to make it mobile. It was also outfitted with a significantly enhanced uplink and communication model for staying in contact with the *Ghost*. Richard was deployed into Lower Namrah to test the suit and was capable of killing a large group of thugs and criminals. While it proved a successful test, the suit also sustained significant damage during its preliminary testing, leading to the creation of a newer model.

### Edge Suit MK-III

After studying how training drones worked, specifically how they created kinetic barriers, Richard was able to convince Bordra to integrate a Type-I Kinetic Barrier Module into the suit. It took quite a bit of engineering, but they succeeded in creating a preliminary energy shield that worked against Psionics and Heil Arts (supplementing the thyrium in the suit which already did this). Bordra also installed Protocol-III Self-Repair Systems in the suit which would dispense nanites to repair damage. He wrote an entire suite of custom firmware for the suit, including an intuitive visual display for Richard. Lastly, this model included reinforced model X-22b Servos in all of the joints, giving the wearer enhanced strength. Richard ultimately used the MK-III to kill Kelmak.

#### Edge Suit MK-III-B "Heavy Edge"

After Kelmak's death, Richard pursued Gamerron to his asteroid base on Dimenis. While he was successful in fighting his way through the base to reach Gamerron, he was unprepared for Gamerron to have heavy weapons and artillery at his disposal. Bordra, having suspected something like this was possible, had been working with his original prototype for the Edge Suit MK-I, giving it up-armored plating and self-repair protocols as well as a slew of on-board weapons. Richard lured Gamerron onto the asteroid's surface where Bordra hard dropped the suit for him. Richard piloted this gargantuan model, which he later referred to as the "Heavy Edge", against Gamerron. While the suit was destroyed in the process and Richard was grievously injured, he was able to kill Gamerron with it.

### Edge Suit MK-V

When the Edge Suit next makes an appearance in *"Double or Nothing".* Richard had, by this point, been working under the Edge moniker exclusively. He was contacted by a Senate representative, Mephilax, to go back to Earth and hunt down a fugitive scientist with ties to his own past. When Richard deployed to Earth, it was in the newest model of Edge Suit - the MK-V. Richard had not just upgraded the suit at this point. He had upgraded himself with a Neural Link implant, allowing him to control some aspects of the suit by thought, as well as a BDI-6 Spinal Implant to improve his bone density. Considering how much time he spent in space, enhanced bone density was something he was concerned with - particularly spending long periods in zero gravity for training purposes. He'd upgraded the suit's power core from a single-core to a dual-core fusion node and relegated the single-core as a backup in case he ran out of power. The suit had also been enhanced with a gel impact layer to aid in force absorption in case of hard strikes or falls. Lastly, it had been outfitted with a subluminal LIDAR scanner.

#### Edge Suit MK-V-B "N-Space Suit"

In *"Highest Stakes"*, Richard had to enter the hostile parallel reality known as N-Space to find Klaara. Unfortunately, even with his enhanced suit, he found himself crystallizing at a rapid rate upon entering. Bordra, nearing the end of his life, arrived to provide backup and scientific support. With his aid, and the aid of a small group of Senate scientists, they were able to develop a prototype "Tonal Core" that would negate the effects of N-Space. Unfortunately, despite Richard wanting to take a team into N-Space, they only had the materials to build one. Richard therefore took the opportunity to add one more implant to his body, the MD-4 Spinal Implant, to improve muscular density and regeneration. He upgraded the suit's kinetic barriers from Type-I to Type-IV as well as swapping his backup core for a second dual-core. With twice the power, he was confident that he could last long enough in N-Space to achieve his mission. To aid him in mobility within the strange parallel reality, he also outfitted the suit with HV-1 Jump Jets on his legs and shoulders.

### Edge Suit MK-VII

Appearing in *"The Singleton"*, the MK-VII is a powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with. Richard had, by this time, gained a JF-3 Cranial Implant to support his joints, tendons and ligaments. This was due in part to his use of Type-III HV Jump Jets in a non-standard configuration on his forearms and ankles, giving him the ability to launch punches with added force. He'd also installed a Model-33b Burst Pack on his upper shoulders, giving him further enhanced mobility and speed. In order to further supplement his own defensive capabilities, he had also improved the kinetic barriers to Type-XI for added stability and lower power drain. He had also installed a Model-22 Protite Injection System for damage recovery in case his suit was breached or he took damage to his body. This new configuration of the suit proved invaluable against Kyyvak'Brelar kan Illyich and even allowed him to fight Liima'Doran kan Mitragan for a short time.

### Edge Suit MK-VIII

Seen in *"Snake Eyes"*, this suit sported massive improvements to the kinetic barriers, upgrading them from Type-XI to Type-XVI, but no other enhancements.

### Edge Suit MK-IX

This suit set the standard for almost every Edge Suit going forward. It is the suit seen in *"For More Than Honor - Part I: The Officer."* The improved, up-armored blend of iskindite-thyrium plating was further supplemented by the addition of a long greatcoat made from reserve nanites. Any damage to the suit would first be repaired by the on-board self-repair protocols before the suit itself would be consumed to repair damage. It also worked as an intimidation tactic, making Edge look imposing and terrifying. His non-standard configuration of jump jets had been upgraded to Type-X HV Jump Jets and his new Model-39a Burst Pack had doubled in force, now sporting two different thrusters on his upper shoulders and lower back.

### Edge Suit MK-X

After the events of the prior book, in *"For More Than Honor - Part II: The Defender"*, Edge upgraded his suit on the *Ghost* when he realized the forces arrayed against him. He shielded his power unit with a lead lining to protect himself from EMP attacks and further improved the kinetic barriers with Model-XXI nodes designed for small starships. These were given an independent single-core fusion node of their own. His main power source was upgraded to a tri-core with a backup dual-core, giving him even more power.

#### Edge Suit MK-X-B "Titan Edge"

Much like the "Heavy Edge" for the MK-III, the "Titan Edge" was a massive, up-armored monstrosity built with the same specifications as the MK-X. Richard deployed in in battle against Liima at the Bladed Altar on Sovereign and barely managed to survive the events that took place there, although the "Titan Edge" was completely destroyed in the process.

### Edge Suit MK-XII

After returning in *"For More Than Honor - Part III: The Avenger"*, Richard completely gave up his old name and decided to become "Edge" entirely. He also went back to the drawing board for the suit, realizing that the MK-X hadn't failed, but wasn't up to the tasks ahead. The servos were completely gutted and removed, being replaced instead by a fibromechanical weave that emulated synthetic muscle. It weighed less and gave him greater overall strength. He also lead-shielded all of the critical components, but especially his shielding modules. The gel impact layer was doubled and enhanced with the newest model to provide optimum support. He scrapped both his Jump Jets and his Burst Pack, replacing them instead with Type-XVI HG Afterburners on his forearms, legs and back with supplementary points on his shoulders and hips. Finally, the old Protite Injection System was ripped out and replaced with the Model-59 for faster recovery. This suit became a game changer, turning the tide against Richard's enemies - namely Araan'Megim kan Mitragan.

### Edge Suit MK-XIV

When faced with fighting the strange, liquid being known as Hazecteh, Edge deployed his newest iteration of armor - the MK-XIV. This one included numerous improvements, mainly to the fusion nodes to give him more power. He operated on not one, but two quad-core fusion nodes with a backup tri-core. His shielding also ran off a dedicated tri-core backup as well. He'd updated the nanite self-repair protocols and firmware across the board to keep the suit running smoothly and once more upgraded the Protite Injection System to Model-66. Lastly, he'd installed an MCD-5 Spinal Implant to improve the effectiveness of the protites.

### Edge Suit MK-XV

After losing multiple times to Hazecteh and pursuing it across the Galaxy, Edge finally acquired something that would forever change the way his suit operated. Acquiring a Kelthos Core--an almost limitless source of power--allowed him to upgrade his suit to new limits. He also pushed his own limits, installing an NF-2 Cranial Implant to improve his nerve functionality and synchronicity to the suit as well as an MCF-7 suit to improve his own neural speeds and cognitive functions. With more power at his disposal in a much smaller package, he stripped out all of the old fusion nodes and integrated the Kelthos Core as a primary, secondary and tertiary source of power. His afterburners were upgraded to Model-XXV HG Afterburners and his armor layers were improved greatly. With as much energy as the suit could produce, he also installed two Picotech modules in the suit to produce nanites and protites on the go - the Model-22N and Model-22P Picotech Production Nodes. With this, he was able to finally confront Hazecteh for the final time.

### Edge Suit MK-XVI

Having hit much of a ceiling with the Kelthos Core, Edge's MK-XVI suit didn't change very much during the Schism, Senate War or the Siege of Earth. He made multiple minor iterations of his suit, building a black-site facility called the Sable Armory, but most of these were completely scrapped as they didn't actually compete with the MK-XVI or were too highly specialized. While he did acquire one of the Ten Sabers of Aruned, the only main improvements during this time were the overall enhancements to the armor layer, nanite protocols and software/firmware.

#### Edge Suit MK-XVI-B "SOCRATES"

SOCRATES suits, which stood for "Self Operational Combat Ready Assault Type Edge Suits", were fully autonomous Edge Suits designed to replace conventional armies. Edge, knowing the odds at stake should the Senate prevail in the Senate War, spent a lot of time at the Sable Armory designing them. The facility itself was overhauled to mass-produce SOCRATES units as well as autonomously build Edge Suits for members of the Gray Syndicate so that he could fight the Senate on an even playing field (despite being outnumbered). They were deployed in swarms during the latter half of the Senate War to combat the Senate's armies. They had numerous advantages over standard soldiers, namely that they could be completely disassembled and then re-assemble themselves at the joints like dolls while maintaining combat effectiveness. While they visibly looked like Mark-XVI suits, they only had the combat power of a MK-XIV.

### Edge Suit "Kelthos Edge"

Three independent times, Edge's armor was completely subsumed by the Kelthos Core, creating a crystalline being capable of immense feats of power. This was considered detrimental to Edge's overall health, but twice allowed him to come back from mortal injuries. The third and final time, he was subsumed so completely that it is widely regarded as the reason he did not return.

### Edge Suit MK-XXV (Unfinished)

Following the events of *"The End of Edge"*, Klaara discovered an unfinished Edge Suit known as the MK-XXV aboard the *Ghost*. This model had supplementary Heil Ion Shielding which was almost impervious when coupled with his existing kinetic barriers. It also sported forearm energy bracers of Heil origin, improved armor and Kelthos Core energy distribution and improved Model-36NP hybrid production nodes for improved protite/nanite functionality. Its greatest achievement, however, would have been the integration of a Model-III Dark Space/Chaos Drive. It was also designed to divert power from the Kelthos Core to a legendary Ion Ryylk (or Ripshield) called the "Aegis of the Winter Dawn". This suit was never fully finished, although it was very close to complete, and was left aboard the *Ghost*. Klaara toyed with the idea of finishing it in memory of Edge, but ultimately abandoned the idea.