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Name/Model Number: Combat Shield

Alias: "Battleslab"

Race/Product Manufacturer: Izani, both Renegade and Realm of Zaan

Physical Description/Dimensions: A roughly rectangular, large shield. Is about 1.4m tall, about 0.8m wide, and on average about 6cm thick. It is composed with angles, not curves, though it is designed architecturally in a manner similar to that of a curved shield so that impact might be spread. From the front it appears flat, with gently angled sides. It's smooth face is broken by a sort of window near the top, (10cm from top and 10 from sides, is 60cm wide and 20cm tall) and a small rectangular orifice (10cm tall, 20cm wide) in the center, about 0.9m from the bottom. From the back, it is a collection of apparratus and containers. Both the orfice and the window can be covered up by sliding plates, which when not in use rest on the exterior of the shield. There are various disk-shaped attachments blooming like warts on the front, but symmetrical.

Affiliation: Izani, both Renegade and Realm of Zaan

History/Design Features: Has about 3cm of armor plating, followed by 3cm of protected mini-gravitational field generators and assorted apparratus like computers and power cores. Is heavy, too heavy for one man to carry, but the gravitational generators deal with that. They are coordinated by a computer which uses some of them to lighten the load, so that the shield weighs only about 40lbs. Of course, it has a considerable amount of inertia, but this is canceled by the rest of the grav-generators, which accelerate and decelerate the entire platform according to how it's carrier is moving it.

The carrier moves it by means of four handles located on the back of the shield, spaced about 0.64 meters apart in a square. The handles are connected sturdily to the rest of the shield, but have sensors that measure how much force is being exerted on the handles. This force is multiplied automatically by the grav-generators. This has the effect of making the shield relatively light for whoever is carrying it, but still an incredibly tough barrier to any incoming projectiles. (Theoretically, if a bullet hit a handle the grav-generators would help the bullet to move the shield. This almost never happens because of the position of the handle, and even when it does is not likely to actually shift the shield's position, being only one bullet)

The aforementioned orifice, on the inside of the shield, leads to a collection of equipment that is hinged so as to hang down and then fold upwards and lock into position, filling up the hole. The collection of equipment is in fact a gun (of variable type, generally a small-bore rapid-fire short range weapon) with an assortment of sensors and cameras and ammunition racks, backed by armor. This gun has almost no barrel, no stock, and a large magazine. It can be fired from behind the shield (aiming through the glass window) or set to autofire. There are three settings on the relevent sliding switch: Left, which allows the gun to be fired "fully auto" with triggers on the upper 2 handles of the Shield. Position Middle has the gun automatically track and fire at targets, using short bursts and discriminating between enemies and, hopefully, nonenemies. Position Right has the gun fire continuously, strafing up, down, left and right in the cone of fire available, targeting especially enemy combatants but generally just shooting at anything that moves.

The Battleslab does not have a power generator but instead relies on large energy-storage rods, which power the grav-generators and one small shield generator which is oriented to protect against frontal attacks only. When the shield is at rest on the ground, almost no power is needed, when it is being carried, more power is needed, and when it is being jerked around in the heat of battle, a good deal of energy is used up. The energy-storage rods can power the shield at maximum capacity for about 12 hours, which is a lot. It takes only half as much power when the shield is just being carried, and only 1% as much power when on the ground.

Usually the Battleslabs are recharged by portable generators carried by specialists on extended missions and transported on vehicles in full ground wars.

On the back- inside- of the Battleslab, the soldier keeps much of his equipment, such as extra ammo.

The Battleslab is equipped with two sturdy support beams, which connect via a hinge to the thing on the back, about 5cm from the top two corners. These beams are basically long poles (1.4m) which usually are folded down and lie flush with the edge of the Shield, but can be unfolded and extended (they are mildly telescopic) to plant in the ground for support. At the ends of the beams is a sort of drill tip, which is energized as the beams extend (they extend very fast, very forcefully, almost explosively) to melt through whatever matter they encounter. In this manner the struts extend and automatically smash into the ground, digging themselves in. When it is time to move, they reenergize to free themselves, and retract back into a position flush with the Shield.


Weapon(s): Aforementioned rapid-fire gun, which is either a plasma weapon operating on principles similar to that of the Harper Longblaster, or else a solid-slug weapon similar to the DM4. Also, the Combat Shield has a collection (it varies) of disc-shaped weapons mounted on the front. 4-8 Shrapnel Blasters, each 2cm thick with a diameter of 20cm, containing chemical explosives that propel fragmentation pellets in a wide arc forward. 4-12 Smoke Launchers, each 3cm thick with a diameter of 10cm, which blast thick chemical smoke that is laced with particles designed to foil infrared and other sensors. Other attachments have been designed but the two mentioned are the most widely used and are standard equipment.

Defensive Capabilities: 3cm of plating, plus shield generator. Is very tough and usually is used as a form of mobile cover.

Ship/Mode of transport/Propulsion: Carried and wielded effectively by Izani, who can manouver the bulky think quite gracefully with four arms.

Specialty: Main combat weapon of the Izani. Used whenever serious fighting needs to be done, also in heavy storm-in-and-shoot-your-way-out raids.

Strengths: Much better than any armor a man could wear, can provide covering fire while soldier is moving, is good platform for a arsenal of weapons (soldier could theoretically be shooting with his rifle from the side and firing the shrapnel blasters while the automatic gun shoots) is good defense against grenades when in cover. (place between self and grenade, wait for boom) Makes excellent heavy assault weapon.

Weaknesses: Unfortunately only defends one side, leaving one vulnerable to flanking and enveloping attacks (such as flamethrowers, gas) Also is a liablility on stealth missions, (it is hard to crawl with it) and besides that is a bother in narrow hallways and crawlspaces and dense jungles. Is best in wide passageways. Is very expensive; though it is mass-produced it is not exactly something easily discarded. Is not very useful in the hands of non-Izani, both because of skill deficiency and only two hands.

Other: Some very interesting things have been done with these shields. For one thing, they can be programmed to act as parachutes, using their grav-fields to slow descent. In zero-gravity, they can be steered, (with the handles) acting as jetpacks.

General Weaponry:

The Realm of Zaan (and the renegades) use a mixture of weaponry, of which there are basically three categories:

Plasma weaponry, usually found in the form of single-shot high-powered cannons. Plasma weaponry takes a lot of energy but is not constrained by ammunition. Plasma weaponry is innaccurate, but powerful. Even if the shot does not punch through armor, it will most likely melt off a portion of it.

Rail weaponry works by firing a solid slug through an accelerator. Railguns are very accurate (long range) and fairly powerful. Rail weaponry in the Izani military is found all over, from the Bulldog's Railcannon to the the ever-present railturrets to the Titan Gun itself. Rail weaponry takes both power and ammunition, though not as much power as plasma weaponry. Rail weaponry can be outfitted to fire Soul Ammunition. Izani small arms are usually Railguns. The smallest working Railgun is a single-shot pistol.

Chemical weaponry releases chemically stored energy (gunpowder, etc.) to fire a projectile or create a blast. Most Izani explosives fit this category. Small handguns and pistols also make use of this. Chemical weaponry requires little to no power, but is limited by the need for ammunition storage. Chemically fired bullets are more accurate and longer ranged than Plasma but less than Rail weaponry.

Traditionally Izani forces have used chemical Frag grenades, though recently ground forces have been issued plasma grenades which are basically the same, with the following modifiers: More intense blast that has potential to melt and wear down that which it does not penetrate; downside is that it must be charged up before the battle and it will lose energy over time, diminishing effectiveness until, after 12 hours, it is useless. Unused grenades can be recharged.

Izani forces do not have any form of personal power-shield, with the exception of the Battleslab which is limited in that it only protects from the front.

Most Izani small-arms weaponry operates under the principles of Rail or Chemical weaponry, with the notable exception of the Plasma Rifle or "Musket" which shoots single, powerful plasma blasts.

Izani Armor:

The standard flak jacket consists basically of a plate on the chest and a plate on the back, connected and supported by a series of straps and harnesses and pads. It has hooks on the back to attach Combat Shields, and to strap Muskets to.

The plates are strong enough to block small, weak weapons (like pistols) and most shrapnel. Serious guns will find little problem in penetrating it, though with any luck the impact will be lessened enough to minimize damage. Heavier weapons, such as plasma rifles (as employed by the Chryssalids and the Izani) will melt straight through.

Also typically worn: an assortment of kneepads, shoulderpads, weapon holsters, ammo pouches, and a pair of combat boots. The combat boots have sockets on the bottom which attach to the deck of the Corsair APC, so that the men can avoid falling off in the case of sharp turns and acrobatics. By twisting both feet inwards, the connection is broken and the men are free to move about normally.

The standard combat helmet is slightly heavier than the chest-plates, enclosing the upper head including the ears, but leaving the neck and face bare. Built into the helmet is communications equipment, and air-breather masks and/or specialized goggles can be fitted to the helmet. The helmet can be fitted to a sort of wetsuit that allows soldiers to fight in space (no atmosphere) environments.

The plates are made of a lightweight, flexible metal alloy similar to titanium. Though light for metal, they are still heavier than ceramics.