A refit package for the retired M2-2D and M2-4 introduced late YE 41, the Shadow Mindy retains it’s original atmosphere and space traveling capability but provides a dramatic boost in stealth ability at the significant cost of personal protection.

For the entirety of the Mindy series there have always been Xiulurium provided to soldiers to mask the signature of their high-performance powered armor. In general it has alway been a costly, high maintenance upgrade with a fairly limited combat application.

The Shadow Mindy refit package is no simple paint job. Each refit package removes all Zesuaium and Yamataium armor and chain mail. The nano musculature and titanium framework is coated in several layers of a rubbery xiulurium and Yarvex Foam compound and the suit is rebuilt with xiulurium infused titanium alloy plates. Additionally, components in the aether generator and shield generator are replaced with extremely power efficient components that cause a major reduction in the suits power generation and lower the overall defensive rating of the shield by 2 tiers.

The suit can no longer supply power to power hungry weapons and has lost its ability to defend against PA rated weaponry but what it loses in direct combat capabilities it gains in stealth. When energized the xiulurium components and ultra low emission systems makes the suit practically invisible to even subspace radar systems making these refit Mindys capable of advanced intelligence gathering missions that require the utmost secrecy.

The Shadow Mindy was not designed for direct action and heavy combat. It’s lack of power supply and protection make it far less suitable for both ground and space warfare. This refit was designed specifically with espionage in mind. Designed to make it user a virtual ghost, even when standing in front of a radar dish, the suit is intended to bring a careful user past modern detection systems without raising alarms.

The refit is met with very mixed opinions as most see the suit as a death trap, while others are attracted to what is essentially immunity to guided weapons and automated targeting systems. While frontline soldiers often often do not appreciate the idea of paper thin defenses one can occasionally find this package employed by snipers.

This package is most widely used among Star Army Intelligence operatives, and even among the intelligence community it is debated whether the sacrifice is worth the gain. It is a theoretical advantage that has allowed particular operations to become available such as infiltrating enemy fortifications undetected.

The ultralight powered armor is extremely agile and while it can operate indefinitely requires routine

• Class: Ke-M2-i
• Nomenclature: Either converted PA receives a lowercase ‘i’ at the end of their original model number.
  • M2-2D becomes M2-2Di
  • M2-4 becomes M2-4i
• Designers: SARA, Hera Group
• Manufacturer: Ketsurui Fleet Yards
• Fielded by: SAOY, primarily SAINT
• Range: 1 year
• Maintenance Cycle:
  • 6 months used in space
  • 3 months used on planet

Dark and aggressive, a Shadow Mindy is clad entirely in Xiulurium. The outer shell of the converted helmet bears a striking resemblance to the M2-2D leading down into an equally recognizable collar, the size of which can be determined by the owner of the suit. Thin, plates cover the body of black, Xiulurium covered nanomuscle visible between the gaps in the arrangement of its plating, their pattern inspired by the M2-4. The entire suit resembles something more akin to a powered suit as visible, stealth-rated pouches cling to the torso as they would to tactical webbing. Across its surface the small glowing eyes of the holographic projectors managing visible camouflage cast a faint green light, then at the users mental command the suit disappears.

Having been stalled in development for years, it was following the creation of the TARSA brought the attention of SAINT back to the original Mindy 1i project which had lain dormant. A surprise visit from the Assistant Director reinspired the M2-1i project with a twist. Seeing the call for advanced stealth systems return at a time of war immediately after the introduction of the TARSA would be troublesome, especially for such a niche design. The decision was made to refit existing Mindys as needed with a refit package tailor-made to fit the individual soldiers requesting it.

The Shadow Mindy’s stealthy properties are by far its greatest strength. Being able to completely disappear from the view of a subspace radar makes possible many tactics thought to be impossible possible. Deep infiltration into enemy territory and fortifications is possible though naturally would need a user who is sufficient skilled and daring enough to try.

The appalling lack of armor and shielding puts the operator in a precarious position as a human with a stick must now be considered a potential threat.

With vastly reduced weight the Shadow Mindy performs very closely with the M2-2D in term of aerial and ground performance. This changes when it’s stealth systems are active, all flight capabilities are halved when cloaked.

• Ground Speed (Running): 30-45 KPH (~18–~28 MPH)
• Ground Speed (Hovering): 200 kph (124 mph)
• Max. Atmospheric Speed: Mach 1.8 at sea level
• Max. Sublight: 0.45c

Size dimensions will not change from the original form of the suit.

DRv3 Tier: 4, light powered armor.

The Shadow Mindy is unshielded when in stealth mode.

During a refit the sub-components of the original power armor remain unless specifically mentioned that they are removed. This is because a Shadow Mindy is not a new creation, but rather an alteration to an existing M2-2 or M2-4.

The armor plating consists of overlapping titanium honeycombs with openings no larger then the tip of a ball point pen. These plates are immersed in liquid Xiulurium which saturates the entirety of the honeycomb and dries. The plate is then covered in a rubbery Xiulurium-yarvex mixture which is carbonized to form a hardened plate.

With only a Tier 2 damage rating these plates will provide protection against small arms fire, but no more. Each plate will continue providing stealth properties until 75% of the plate is destroyed, at which point the stealth capabilities of the plate will be compromised.

Included in the refit kit are replaceable components and a programming module for the combined field generator that will reduce its output to a level that is interestingly safe to use around unshielded beings. This is important as infiltration missions might require the user to be in close proximity of such unprotected entities.

It should be noted that while the stealth system is active the shield is set to further mask the already low emissions and dampen sound by capturing it within its confines. As it is doing this it is not able to offer protection to the suit.

The Xiulurium of the suit can be painted in Rikupat upon request and a converted suit will retain it’s former holographic camouflage system. Needless to say, this suit redefines the word ‘stealth’ as it can literally disappear without a trace.

The original generator is refit with low output, low emission components which produce only enough power to operate the suit itself. While power can be diverted from the stealth system to accessories doing so compromises the stealth system and even then the power supply would still be scarce leaving the suit vulnerable and underperforming.

A Shadow Mindy will retain its original sensor and communications packages as they are more than sufficient. However, they are tuned to operate discreetly with a program evaluating the effect of operation against its stealth parameters to prevent transmissions from being sent at a time or on a frequency they might be detected. Sensor pings will be less frequent, or even stopped, when the program evaluates the systems operation to be too risky. This safeguard can be disabled or dismissed temporarily by the user at any time.

Operators will be pleased to know that in addition to the removal of armored plating and shielding that the removal of forearm weapons is also included during the refit. Although the forearm weapons do not specifically have to be removed for the armor to be functional, the arms will appear on radar and compromise stealth as the only way they could be used would be to turn off the energized Xiulurium.

In their place are photonic emitters identical to the ones found on the M2-4, though fewer in number as there is only a single emitter on each wrist and another just below each shoulder. Although these are incapable of forming armor they are able to make tools, picking locks, and other small but creative uses under 1 m from the wrist emitters. Operators have noticed that when the combined field is activated these photonic creations tend to ‘pop’ like a small flash-bang grenade with with unnaturally augmented photons lingering within unprepared cameras, optics, and eyes up to 10 meters away. This is a result of only having 1 emitter maintaining the arrangement of the photons and effect only lasts 3-5 seconds depending on distance from the flash but causes no harm to those affected. It should be noted that the wearers helmet is tuned to ‘blink’ when this happens to avoid exposure to its own flash.

Any Mindy accessories can be installed on hardpoints in the same locations as the original suit, however usage of such equipment will cause the stealth system to lose power and become visible to detection equipment. Additionally, any accessories will require twice as long to charge and only one device can be powered at a time. In the case of a refit M2-4 the inbuilt teleporter is still operational, but requires twice as long to recharge unless a charged capacitor is available.

Rizzo created this article on 2019/11/25 15:14.

🚧 This article is a work-in-progress. Is it not currently approved.