Somewhat unrelatedly, I think we should start formulating a list of things we're sending to the Sword with the next shipment, besides another gaggle of sods.
My plans for Anton's contributions so far include:
3 Plasma Stake weapons - Battlesuit sized, with two autoloaders for optional installation, plus ammo. The crew might have some spare battlesuits to test these with if the base assault goes well.
1 MkIII-A prototype. I'm unwilling to let go the idea of a specialized atmospheric/aquatic mobility suit, so Anton will probably just swap a MkIII's rockets for ducted fans and airfoils, fit it with a generator, and give it the programming from the MACS project. It might not find permanent use in the ARM special forces on the Sword, which frequently have to go into airless environments, but any planetary forces might make good use of them if the test goes well.
Hopefully, a High Energy Blast Cannon prototype - yes, I'm already coming up with names for the critically unstable prototype technology that's as likely to melt the user as it is the enemy.
Do we have any discrete plans for personal armor prototypes using the new materials, or are we just upgrading existing suits with them?
This is a good idea. It'll help to decide what we need to finalize. I don't think it belongs on the Hephaestus page, but putting it on the wiki would probably be a good plan.
As for Saint's stuff, I think it's just the Heavy robotic body, which is the lightened Battlesuit design. It might be overkill to send three of them though. I'll let Radio/PW/the council decide, when it's time.
We'll probably want to finalize a new light armor using the sharkmist, and a medium armor to replace Milnoplate. IF our tech isn't automatically updated, at least. Someone definitely needs to update battlesuits to use sleeves.
Also, ARESTEVE's two prototypes.
Lastly, we might be able to reduce the cost of some old equipment (or make it slightly better) if we use that frictionless material in stuff. Exoskeletons would like it, as would any kinetic ranged weapon with a barrel.
@Nik (MCP.II)
Finalizing a MCP with the medical systems would be a good plan, but I dislike Pyro's idea of armoring it. I used to think it was a good idea, but it's bad for people who might want medical systems for cheap, and for robots who would want the armor but not the medical stuff. Just seperating the two seems best.
I'd like you guys to use a construction crew sometime soon (there is one available today!) to build a Hammer cannon in parts, to ship to Q'baja. And make sure it gets its own transport, in case the transports arrive at the sword after she ftl jumps. Also, load some cryopods on the ship, so we can take our new science crews back with us. And include instructions (IKEA style).
Done, at least the part where we're building a hammer.
Was gonna design a few 'suits' (like the civic longcoat) using these once mission ends. Mostly a matter of deciding how much to use, price and weight. Balancing exercise really, not a lot of designing to do anymore. Feel free to beat me to the punch to ensure we have them before next mission batch.
I'll probably do it if it needs to be done. Currently, I'm figuring the sharkmist armor should replace the Civic defender's longcoat, and hexsand should replace milnoplate (which should become a standard item). Battlesuits would get a layer of sharkmist, atop four layers of hexsand, possibly with variation of the hexsand's resistance like the normal BS.
Do you agree?