Advanced Power Armor

One of the most potent recovered technologies, yet one that has seen relatively little direct use. The Advanced line of power armor is a series of power armor designs intended for the elite soldiers of the dark age. As could be expected of such designs, they are immensely potent and staggeringly expensive. While far beyond the sophistication of imperial era power armor, it is worth noting that there are striking similarities in design philosophy, especially with the earliest patterns of astartes armor.

It seems that the advanced armors was the benchmark of performance used for the first designs of the crusader armors of the Astartes. Nowhere is this link more obvious when looking at the control scheme, Advanced armor uses dozens of high fidelity neural readers scattered throughout the suite, with placement eerily similar to the sockets found in the black carapace. Similar to crusader armor, advanced armor is designed to render its users into juggernauts in battle, able to sweep aside lesser equipped troops en masse. While still too expensive for wide-scale use, many trust officers and a handful of small elite units bear these potent armors into battle.

### Advanced Power Armour Type I: Elite

Elite armor is intended for issue to general infantry and seems to have been the inspiration for MK II crusader armor, with several of the crusader armor's systems seeming to be less effective or efficient versions of the components of the Elite armor. Given just how advanced Elite armor is, that crusader armor comes close to matching it is a testament to the genius of mars, that it is ultimately inferior is a testament to how much mankind has lost. Despite costing less than half as much as a set of crusader plate, elite armor matches it in terms of protection and surpasses it in almost every other way. In addition to formidable protection, Elite armor posses the expected suite of advanced electronics, and advanced hud sensor and comm suite notably beyond trooper armor, in addition to this, it includes a number of repulsors that can be used to lessen the armor's effective weight to nothing, allowing the armor to be dropped from low orbit and hover up walls, with skilled users able to use it to enable shocking feats of speed and agility. It also incorporates integrated drug injectors for medical assistance, something that has in recent years been repurposed for quick administration of potions. Its defining feature is the modular backpack system, that enables mounting one of five specialized modules for specific missions. Each providing a notable benefit, with swapping between them taking no special tools and being done in mere minutes.

* Command pack: This is intended to allow officers greater situational awareness. Incorporating an advanced comms system, it also carries advanced cogitators capable of supporting a more advanced HUD display, allowing the use of one optimized for command and control. Taking full advantage of the neural integration it is able to provide tactical information, and convey complex commands, without impacting an officer's ability to fight themselves
* Jump pack: similar in many ways to Astartes. jump packs, though notably more fuel-efficient. When combined with the repulsor systems, this module turns the elite armor into super mobile jump infantry. Skilled pilots are able to manipulate their momentum to a degree by using the repulsorlifts ability to change their effective weight on the fly, allowing for unbelievable feats of agility.
* Shield system: a simple refractor field generator, the shield system notably increases the elite armors survivability, especially as the field'ss activation threshold can be manually controlled. Enabling a soldier to have it save its energy to deflect attacks capable of breaching the armor. This is something of the default choice, being the module most often taken into the field if the usersares unsure of what foe they will face.
* Stealth pack: projecting a halo sheath around the bearaer, the stealth pack can act as an advanced active camo system, allowing a suite of elite armor equipped with it to render itself nea- invisible while moving slowly. Further, it greatly dampens the armros emissions and cans scatter lesser sensor systems, leaving an armor using this module invisible to most sensors
* Supply pack: the supply pack is a backpack in the truest sense of the word. Simply a large containinger with an integrated repulsor lift to remain weight neutral, it carries enough fuel for the elite armors reactor to keep it functioning for a month of continuous operation, as well as enough munitions rations and spare parts to keep a soldier in top shape for two months.

The elite armor is powered by an advanced compact fusion reactor, and can maintain peak performance for a week of intense combat, and can be quickly and safely refueled, even while under fire, by simply providing its reactor with more hydrogen. When combined with life support systems, and a Stim administrator, it is theoretically possible for an elite armored soldier to continue fighting for months if being resupplied. with one recorded instance of a commander spending over four hundred hours in continuous combat, though the resulting Stimm crash left them comatose for months after.

#### Jotun pattern Elite armor

Similar to most Jotun armors, the Jotun version of the elite carries thicker armor, setting its protection slightly above that offered by astartes plate. It is otherwise used largely in the same manner, as the sheer versatility of the armor allows for easy adaption of a more durable and better-armored soldier. It is notable in that the Jotun version uses a more advanced repulsor, allowing it to achieve similar feats as the base pattern, and has a version of all backpack modules, including a jump module that's been optimized for closing into melee combat.

### Power Armour Type II: Destroyer

A dedicated assault armor, the Destroyer armor is intended for the most intense assaults, bringing to bear staggeringly powerful weapons. This massive armor provides protection sufficient to have a chance of surviving a direct strike from a neutron cannon, and wade through impaler fire without fear, protection further supplemented by an extremely potent inbuilt refractor field. As could be expected, the Destroyer armorer's reactor is staggeringly potent, more than able to power its three weapons and then some. Despite its bulk, this armor suite is surprisingly nimble, owing in large part to built-in repulsor lifts. This enables it to fight just as effectively in open fields as it does in twisting corridors, and many foes of the trust have been briefly surprised at its ability to weightlessly scramble up sheer surfaces.

The Armor typically mounts three heavy weapons, though the overbuilt reactor does enable it to mount Gatling impalres if it's willing to compromise on munition stores. Due to the expense of these armors, most suites will carry expensive weapons such as neutron repeaters or plasma cannons. Two of the weapons are mounted in the armor's arms with a third in a modular turret mount over the armor's shoulder. Typically the hand weapons will be of the same kind, with the turret being swapped out as needed to fit the situation. The armor's Hud and targeting systems are staggeringly advanced, enabling even a moderately skilled user to effectively track and engage multiple targets at once. The armors sensors and communications are somewhat more effective than those of the elite armor, owing primarily to a larger transmitter. Their communications seem somewhat optimized for transmitting through structures, which can be of great use during sieges.

Like most advanced armors, the Destroyer can fight for a full week of high-intensity combat before needing to refuel, though unless armed with energy weapons will often deplete its munitions well before that point.

#### Jotun pattern Destroyer armor

The variant of this armor designed for Jotun truly lives up the name as a destroyer. Carrying three advanced very heavy weapons, it often exceeds the firepower of most medium tanks. Jotun Destroyers most often mount heavy neutron or plasma cannons in the arms, with a shoulder-mounted heavy Gatling impaler, enabling it to shred any foe short of a super heavy it might come across. In addition to the extra firepower, the armor has been thickened somewhat, putting it just barely below the protection offered by terminator plate.

### Advanced Power Armour Type III: Raider

A light suite of highly specialized power armor, raider armor is heavily focused on speed over protection, and is notably less durable than elite armor, offering similar protection to most imperial era suites of mortal power armor. While this is a significant drawback, it can be largely mitigated if the armor is used properly. Raider Armor is built entirely around a high endurance jump pack capable of staggering speeds, to the point where much space is taken up by inertial dampeners to enable its users to survive their own speed. Using repulsor lifts to manipulate its effective weight, and mounting the nozzles in gimbal mounts, a skilled user is capable of hairpin turns and seemingly impossible acceleration.

Unlike most forms of jump armor, raider armor is designed with both strategic and tactical mobility in mind. The use of advanced alloys and cooling systems allows the engine to run at near maximum thrust almost indefinitely. This allows units using this armor to rapidly cross staggering distances. While fairly loud, the armor's emission profile is surprisingly small, being less than most forms of rapid transport, enabling troops with it to evade pursuit with surprising ease. Something a secondary pattern capitalizes on. The Night pattern Raider armor trades a good deal of its protection to incorporate advanced stealth technology, render the swift armor almost impossible to detect. The stealth system is even able to dampen the sound of the jump pack at lower speeds, though the engine's roar becomes audible at high speeds. However, the ability to rapidly reposition under near-complete stealth is invaluable for ambushing hostile forces or performing harassment behind enemy lines. Night pattern armor, however, sacrifices even more protection, and is little more protective than a suite of trooper armor. As could be expected, orbital insertion of raider armor has proven quite simple, however, covert teams have taken this a step further, jettisoning teams in night pattern armor into space on a ballistic trajectory. This has enabled them to penetrate even the most heavily patrolled world, though sadly such missions are often one way. Upon less guarded worlds, raider armor is capable of neigh undetectable reaching low orbit, enabling easy covert extraction.

Raider armor seems to have been somewhat optimized to integrate with cybernetics, having a suite of optional software intended to interface with such implants to provide targeting assistance. While no purpose-built implants have been recovered, a number of common augments have been declared compatible. It is suspected that this feature is intended to allow soldiers to offset the difficulty of accurate fire while moving at the speeds this armor fights at. Fitting for armor intended to fight behind enemy lines, raider armor has a moderately extended battery life, being able to maintain peak performance for ten days of heavy fighting. While it can be refueled in the field, the jump back must be shut down while refilling its hydrogen tanks, preventing on the move refueling.

### Advanced Power Armour Type IV: Recon

By far the least protective suit of advanced armor, recon armor is a dedicated infiltration and reconnaissance armor. The suit's electronics are some of the most advanced known to humanity and are impossibly intuitive and easy to use, taking full advantage of neural connections to augment visual displays. This enables a near preternatural amount of situational awareness. While the armor is little more protective than trooper armor, it is immensely dexterous and swift. The armors inbuilt stealth systems are some of the most advanced humanity is capable of producing in large numbers. Using advanced chameleon fields it is capable of preventing detection across a wide range of wavelengths, as well nearly completely concealing its heat signature. Short of the Eldar races such as the Aldari and Necrons, the suit is almost impossible to detect beyond a handful of meters by even large sensor systems. Its infiltration abilities are further augmented by a silent repulsor, that allows the armor to render itself near weightless. Allowing to move weightless cross any terrain without leaving footprints, as well as hover and ascend sheer surfaces.

In addition to its impressive stealth technology, Recon armor poses an unbelievably effective suite of passive and active sensors. Able to gather staggering amounts of information with a smaller emissions footprint than a typical hoverbike, while at maximum sensor intensity. This is aided by an ingenious tight beam communications system capable of transmitting long ranges while being nearly undetectable. It can further argument this range by deploying cloaked com beacons. These beacons can be daisy chained to allow transmissions to be sent at full power from a kilometer away from the armor, as either a distraction or as a method of transmitting vital intelligence to distant allies with minimal fear of detection. these cloaked transmitters come with a complex chemical self destruct system capable of reducing them to a puddle of rapidly evaporating slime, removing any trace of the scout's presence.

While poorly suited for direct combat, Recon armor equipped units make fantastic infiltrators and assassins, able to strike at the enemy from within their own fortresses far behind the lines. In open battle recon armor equipped teams will often act as snipers and saboteurs, striking and then fading away to create fear and confusion. According to recovered DAoT manuals, the armors inbuilt micro fusion plant is supposed to be able to operate indefinitely, taking in hydrogen from the atmosphere to continuously refuel. this is a slight exaggeration, as under laboratory conditions it seems to cease operations after approximately 80 years, though in most cases it will resume operations after basic maintenance.

#### Jotun pattern Recon armor

A recon armored jotun is almost as stealthy as a similarly equipped human. The armors stealth systems and repulsor rendering the difference in size nearly moot. When this is combined with a Jotun's ability to carry far more gear creates shockingly effective assassins and saboteurs. Jotun sized heavy demolition packs have been known to destroy super heavy units or create significant breaches in even hive gates, and a neutron cannon has been noted as being immensely effective as a snipes rifle due to the difficult to notice beam. As such Jotun infantry equipped with Recon armor tend to be assassins and saboteur's rather than scouts, simply due to being far better at it than their smaller and less well-equipped peers.

### Advanced Power Armour Type V: Ace

Intended as an aid in controlling a vehicle, ace armor incorporates the most advanced suite of neural interfaces and cogitators in any known human power armor. Using dozens of neural probes and remarkably adaptive machine spirits, it is able to act as a neural bridge between a pilot and their vehicle. Enabling full transfer of sensation to the vehicle, dramatically increasing performance and cutting down on reaction time. It is noted that the blending of man and machine is pronounced enough to cause minor mental side effects, with those unused to it sometimes having difficulty readjusting to their normal bodies after prolonged use, or a feeling of invincibility as they come to identify as an armored weapon of war. Fortunately, these issues usually fade, and many units who use this armor have developed a wide array of mild hazing rituals to deflate the arrogance that they may endear.

In terms of protection, ace armor falls between recon and elite armor, providing significant protection to its bearer. In addition to its armor, it has additional effort paid to environmental shielding. More than one enemy of the trust has died, shocked that flooding the interior of a tank with burning promethium or a frag grenade failed to incapacitate its crew. Should a vehicle be knocked out, ace armor is optimized to allow its pilot to evade enemy forces and hook up with their allies. To this end, it incorporates the repulsorlift common to most advanced armors to aid in mobility, as well as a basic jump pack to allow for bursts of speed and rapid traversal of rough terrain. The greatest aid it provides to survivability, however, is in the advanced stealth system, allowing the armor to provide a similar amount of stealth to an elite armor with the stealth pack. While poorly suited for infiltrating heavily guarded locations, it can make finding an evading pilot near impossible. The armor also includes an encrypted long-range transmitter, enabling the pilot to broadcast relatively secure communications at a surprising range.

The armor also incorporates a number of storage modules that can be filled with a wide array of supplies, such as food, com beacons, disassembled heavy rifles, flares, or spare hydrogen cells. At present while guidelines exist, each pilot is allowed to customize their survival loadout, as it is assumed any pilot who earned the right to wear ace armor can be trusted to allocate their storage capacity effectively. Once detached from a vehicle's power feed, A suite of ace armor is able to operate for over two weeks with judicious use of its power-hungry systems, or a week of high-intensity operations.

## Modernised Power Armor

Power armour from the dark age of technology had been recovered centuries ago by this point and as technology has either been recovered or developed more and more features were added or available to make it even more formidable, but these were mostly added to the armour in a rushed method causing it to be more of a hassle to learn and get used to over time creating a bit of inefficiency. With the help of the World Ship and many tech priests and engineers a redesign of every type of powered armour was made with the armour being built from the ground up to incorporate and make use of new technology including those that could not be added previously into older designs. While this does not result in anywhere near an upgrade such as the difference between the basic and advanced designs this will still be a not insignificant increase in capabilities as well as improved ease of use especially with the advanced computing and miniaturisation technologies from the World Ship. (Basic idea is some improvements to all designs of power armour and some reduction in time needed to train with it for a slight increase in cost.) In terms of crunch, it provides an additional 0.5 armor over the base version.

## Micro-Alloy Power Armors

Two years ago Archmagos Tranth finished designing a set of Micro-Alloy Advanced Power Armours. These designs combine are made of an alloy of a range of materials, including Angelsteel, Armoursteel, Muspelheim Ceramite, Silversteel and several others. The end result is a suit of armour notably tougher than even Runed Advanced Power Armour, and around five times the cost of standard Advanced Power Armour. While a bit more pricy than you would like the additional protection should be more than worthwhile for your Jaegers and other elite formations.

## Orichalcum Alloy Power Armors

Archmagos Tranth spent most of a decade working on creating a set of Orichalcum Micro-alloy Power Armour designs. He tells you that due to the nature of Micro-alloys he has been able to take advantage of Orichalcum’s strange properties with only a small amount of Orichalcum in the alloy, greatly reducing the cost of the armour compared to Orichalcum Power Armour. On the downside, the low amount of Orichalcum in the alloy has cut down on how much the armour benefits from the toughness of the material, and it is not massively tougher than standard Micro-Alloy Power Armour while being three times the price.

## Orichalcum Power Armors

Five years ago Archmagos Tranth finished designing his first sets of Orichalcum Power Armours. These armours are insanely tough, with even the Recon variant being as tough as standard Elite Power Armour. They also make use of Orichalcum’s strange properties to redirect the force of impacts to make the armours melee weapon hit far harder and to aid in dodging. Using Orchalcum Power Armour is not easy and it requires a good deal of dedicated effort to master. The main issue with Orchalcum Power Armour is the cost, with you being able to outfit entire squads of Terminators in Advanced Terminator Armour for the price of a single suit of Orichalcum Power Armour, and the price increasing massively as the armour gets bigger.

## Crunch

 Elite
 Jotun Elite
 Destroyer
 Jotun Destroyer
 Raider
 Night pattern Raider
 Recon
 Jotun Recon
 Ace

Micro-Alloys: +2 Armor, increase HP bonus by 50% of current.

Orichalcum Alloy: +3 armor, increase HP bonus by 75% of current, +40 to all rolls, +80% melee damage

Orichalcum: +6 Armor, increase HP bonus by 150% of current, +50 to all rolls, +100% melee damage

Troll Servos: Increase bonus by 10

Modernized increase armor by +0,5