M.A.X. Armor, Mark 1

The M.A.X. Armor, Mark 1, is a prototype application of revolutionary heuristic techniques developed by Doctor Karl Swensen on the behalf of Krotze Industries. The ultimate idea was to fashion it into the ultimate tool, allowing ordinary humans to work in any environment without concern for their own safety. Unfortunately, Krotze Industries didn't see things that way.

Swensen eventually realized this, and refused to give his second prototype to Fritz Krotze, owner of Krotze Industries. This got him killed, though his daughter was able to make off with his notes about the Mark 2 improvements, the Mark 2 suit itself, and the laboratory it was built in (it was mobile, being placed in three Mack trucks).

Ultimately, however, Krotze Industries managed to sell the technology they did have to various world governments, including the Soviets, who eventually used it in their conquest of Afghanistan. However, it is critical to note that the Mark 1 suit is limited in capability, and it is possible to take it apart with conventional gunfire, if it is concentrated long enough.

The Mark 1 M.A.X. Armor prototype has the following capabilities:

Ability Boost (w): the Mark 1 M.A.X. armor enhances the strength of its pilot at intensity 8, up to a maximum value of 13. Furthermore, it can also boost the agility of the pilot as well, at intensity 2, for a maximum enhanced agility score of 7.

Absorption (s): the Mark 1 M.A.X. armor can absorb electrical energies at intensity 10. It can either use this purloined energy as a secondary backup power source, or wield it as an electrical attack through the armor's gauntlets (at the same intensity).

Automatic Rifle (a): added on by Krotze International, this weapon is mounted in the right wrist of the Mark 1 M.A.X. suit, and can fire to inflict +3 damage with a single shot ( or +4 in a full burst).

Backup Power: the Mark 1 M.A.X. suit is equipped with at least one reserve supply of power, in the event that its main power is lost somehow. This is especially necessary considering where the suit was meant to be used.

Body Armor (s): as a suit of armor, the Mark 1 M.A.X. suit provides its pilot intensity 9 defense against harm. This defense replaces the pilot's standard protection against harm (unless, of course, his is higher than that provided by the M.A.X. suit).

Comm-Link: the Mark 1 M.A.X. suit can communicate with a control center with significant range; the exact limits of its radio transceiver is unknown, but it can pick up and receive transmissions from hundreds of miles distant.

Digging (a): by spinning its lower body rapidly, the Mark 1 M.A.X. suit can tunnel through solid rock, or any other impediment, with intensity 12 ability, but a mere intensity 4 speed (when making sturdy tunnels).

Flight (a): moving via turbo-fan thrusters mounted in the feet of the suit, the Mark 1 M.A.X. armor can achieve intensity 6 flight, which rates in at about 120 miles per hour. This flight doesn't produce fiery exhaust, but does whip up a nice breeze...

Grenade Launcher (i): mounted within the left wrist of the Mark 1 M.A.X. suit, this weapon can fire grenades that will cause an intensity 10 damage to anybody within striking distance of their target. This weapon was added in by Soviet engineers.

Life Support (air) (s): the Mark 1 suit offers its pilot intensity 15 life support, limited to air, in the event that breathable atmosphere should disappear. This supply of air lasts for about one hour, which can come in handy in a pinch.

Sensor Suite (w): the Mark 1 M.A.X. armor is equipped with many types of electronic sensory equipment. The first is an infrared / thermal scanning capability, an ability that functions at intensity 10 (five (5) if it isn't currently dark outside the M.A.X. suit).

The second sensory capability of the Mark 1 suit is its ability to locate a target within its line of sight, and identify it to the pilot (even if the pilot himself couldn't actually see said target). This visual recognition hardware functions at intensity 8.

More importantly, the M.A.X. suit is equiped with an x ray system to view through solid materials, showing what lies beyond as a computerized, false-color image. This power works with intensity 7 effectiveness.