Chapter 425 - Hammers Of War?

Afton strolls into the Forbidden Zone laboratory to go check on the progress of the Power armour. Mobius and Klein were apparently running tests on the servos, so Afton thought he'd take a look and potentially add his own two cents.

Unfortunately, progress didn't seem to be as far along as he'd hoped... As soon as he stepped into the lab he was greeted by the shrieking of what sounded like a torture session with a rabid animal. Technically he wasn't wrong, just not in the way he'd first thought.​​

Mobius and Klein were both floating next a barebones suit of Power armour as a ghoul that's presumably from Little Yangtze attempts to move. Of course, the suit of armour was restricted by chains to prevent the ghoul from going on a rampage, but that didn't seem necessary with what Afton was looking at.

The ghoul had attempt to move it's arm, but the suit had overextended 'slightly'... The ghouls arm as bent backwards at a 180 degree angle, it's wrist becoming parallel with it's bicep... Yeah, pretty disgusting.

The ghoul, despite Afton's previous assumption that they don't feel pain, was roaring in agony and doing it's best to try and escape the suit.

"Ah, too strong on the servos again Klein? Perhaps I should edit it this time..." Mobius says to his colleague, seemingly unperturbed by the sight before him.

"I WILL DO IT PROPERLY THIS TIME, MOBIUS... THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY RIGHT? THIRD TIME'S A CHARM!" Klein states and Afton only now realises that the Ghoul's other arm was in a similar situation... Plus, he could see blood leaking from one of it's legs too.

Afton walks up with his arms crossed, "You guys alright? This doesn't even seem close to being completed... I expected this to be done a couple days ago, and yet you guys are still on it..."

"Ah, we found the correct strength a while ago, we were just seeing who could get closest to it with our sensors off... What? It gets pretty boring working constantly!" Mobius complains and a vein appears on Afton's forehead.

"So you're telling me you've been playing around for days...?" he asks dangerously.

"OF COURSE NOT! WE WERE JUST TAKING A BREAK! WE ARE CURRENTLY DESIGNING THE HELMET AND DISCUSSING WHAT WE SHOULD PUT INSIDE IT!" Klein exclaims, though Afton wasn't sure whether he intended it or if it was due to his broken voice modulator... Yeah, Afton found it funny to leave it broken.

Afton raises a brow, "Ok... Can you show me that instead of... This." he states, pointing a thumb at the still screaming ghoul.

The scientists nod with their robotic bodies and lead Afton through a couple rooms to to their destination. Once there he spots a helmet that's half constructed. It looks nothing like the Brotherhood of Steel T-51b helmet.

The T-51b helmet is large, unwieldy, and covered in exploitable area's... For example, the tubes that'd provide oxygen in a hostile environment aren't reinforced with anything, making it incredibly vulnerable to damage.

The visors, while being made with reinforced glass are still weak compared to the rest of it... This fact was burned into Afton's mind after what'd happened to his mother... A single .50Mg round and boom, the armour is useless. Despite it's weakness though, the visor still limited the users vision to a drastic degree, making combat much harder than it usually is.

Yeah, Afton really didn't like the Brotherhood of Steel's helmets... The one the scientists had created however was substantially different. Despite it only being half complete he could imagine how it'd look in future.

Instead of the 'bucket-like' shape of the T-51b helmet, it was more angular, the sides of the helmet was extended outwards slightly so the oxygen supply tube was so exposed... Even then, the scientists had obviously reinforced the tubing with Saturnite alloy, making it incredibly durable.

The brow of the helmet was more plated, and came down slightly, forming a tringle between eyes at the bridge of the nose. The eye's of the helmet were round, and provided a smaller target for those seeking to aim them.

Below that seemed to be grill-like air vents, allowing the wearer to breath should the oxygen supply be damage somehow. They were quite small and seemed well armoured, but despite that Afton still dislike them for disrupting the protection of the helm.

Before the scientists are able to say anything, he gestures at the grills, "Can we add further protection to this somehow? It wouldn't do for a bullet to breach through mid combat." he says.

Mobius and Klein look at one another for a moment, "That would be difficult, if we removed them then the wearer could suffocate if some components were damaged..." the former says.

Afton tabs his foot while contemplative, "Would it be possible to add forcefields in-between them then? We could do the same for the eyes as well." he asks.

"Hmm, that doesn't seem like a bad idea..."

"BUT THE FORCE FIELD EMITTERS ARE NOT SMALL ENOUGH FOR THIS YET! THE HELMET WOULD HAVE TO BE TWICE THE SIZE!" Klein says.

Afton shakes his head, "But if we can downsize the Force Field devices then it would be possible, yes?"

...

"I SUPPOSE..."

Afton nods, "Then focus on it. We won't replace the visors reinforced glass though, one lucky EMP and you'd have no eye protection after all. Also, while you're at it, see if you can't add some Force Field emitters into the wrists and hands of the suit..."

Mobius nods his body, "We will try to do that... But, before that, we may need your help with this, we've been arguing about this for hours now..."

Afton raises a brow, "About what?"

"ABOUT WHAT FEATURES THE HELMET SHOULD HAVE!"

"Features?"

"Yes! Features! Like those colourful buttons they used to have on TV remotes!" Mobius chirps.

"You want to put colourful buttons on the armour?" Afton asks with a blank expression.

"Ye-No! I mean useful features, like combat assisted targeting, or enemy indicators... Things of that nature...