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Description
For NationStates; Modeled in DoGa with the occasional custom part made in MetaSequoia and textures from here and there.

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The GhostDragon MkIII is the successor to the GhostDragon and DaiKlaive lines of power armor and the standard armor in use by all Defense Force Marines and available to Starship crews on an ad-hoc basis. It comes in a variety of sizes with some ability to internally adjust though the exceptional protection offered negates more than a centimeter or two. Wearers enter from the back with their arms crossed over their chest; The helmet is fixed in position after entering and does not move except with the torso. Movement is controlled by a hardwired direct neutral interface that over-rides and replaces the individual's normal movements and body sensations with the suit's own. Primary sensors are mounted in the head and over the face but secondary sensors can be found elsewhere in case of damage to the primary. As mentioned, the GhostDragon provides exceptional protection in all environments and under all battlefield conditions. It is also very, very expensive. Knock-offs exist but they do not have many of the suit's systems.

Systems:
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Security System: The GhostDragon simply will not function for someone other than an authorized user. The exception is when the suit is operating under NEENJA (Noninvasive Encephalonic Enhancement Joint Architecture) conditions; The uploaded pilot may take on a passenger but they are unable to connect to the suit's systems unless they are again an authorized user. This will hurt unless the rider relaxes. A lot.

Weapon Systems: Because the arms are not needed by the user, the cavities have been filled with the various bits and pieces of two mounted particle beam rifles and their power systems. While not as flexible as the standard-issue Drone Rifle, they are an extremely viable weapon system against similarly sized combat units. It also mounts several Light Drone Spheres in charging sockets on the shoulders and the forearms. These drones can either act as scouting units or as mounted point-defense units, drawing on the suit's power system for more effective fire. Under combat conditions these will target opposing weapon systems, sensors, and other weak points. Against unarmed or lightly armored infantry they are lethal.

Expert Systems: The GhostDragon MkIII features four Expert systems; Communications, Piloting, Weapons, and the classified Gestalt system. In essence the pilot is responsible for gross instructions - move here, kill that, coordinate with these units - while the Expert Systems handle their various specialties independently. In full war-fighting scenarios the GhostDragon can operate completely independently both in case of pilot incapacitation or after being activated by (again) an authorized user.

Sensors: As mentioned, the GhostDragon mounts the primary sensors (visual, radar, sonar, etc) in the helmet face plate under a semi-transparent black oval. These are as powerful as the pricetag (very expensive) might suggest and are actively tied in to all weapon and pilot systems as well as inter-operate with the Gestalt module for total theatre awareness. Once the system has marked and designated a target - or a particular set of targets - the Weapon(s) System(s) can track and automatically engage that particular set of targets at-will with no particular input from the pilot needed.

Stealth Systems: Optical and sonic camouflage are standard, and the armor has a textured appearance to break up the long lines that might help someone relying on the MkI Eyeball to track it. The optical camouflage system is subject to easy disabling due to (relatively minor) damage as it consists of a thin surface layer. When not under combat conditions, the optical system can also be used to paint the suit however one likes; The default is shown. Schemes range from the garish to the obscene and everywhere in between.

Flight System: The GhostDragon can fly using a built-in system and is very agile but, as has been noted elsewhere, flying troops are called skeet for a reason. For similar reasons GhostDragon pilots are taught to advance on the ground and behind hard cover where possible. They are not the Juggernaught, bitch.

Medical System: While Marines using the Eien ExoCortex Node are becoming more and more common, there are still quite a few who will really feel it when they get an arm or leg blown off (the former somewhat more urgent than the second, due to how the suit is worn). To simplify things, the suit has a decap-o-donut built into the padded neck ring. In case of traumatic bodily injury to the pilot or transported individual (Relax, you idiot) the donut will activate and saw their head off, keeping it alive for eventual re-attachment to a cloned or crafted replacement body. Since the head contains the pilot's most important parts, this is kept conscious for use.

Expensive: Did we mention that it is expensive? All of that packed into a man-sized package costs a lot.

Classified Systems: Enhanced versions of the GhostDragon MkIII exist for the use of the various Special Operations units. All visually resemble the base model and have the standard feature list.

UHCV: Unmanned Humanoid Combat Vehicle; Drone Warriors. While the retired GhostDragon MkII's are typically moved into this role, there are MkIII's in operation as UHCVs as well. The UHCV has been fitted/filled with additional systems that take advantage of the body cavity left by the unneeded pilot. UHCVs are fielded in operations where the risk to a living pilot is so blatantly obvious as to require it. Ship boarding operations, Biologically Hostile battlefields, Metanormal environments, and similar are all good candidates. As any GhostDragon can be technically deployed without a pilot, it is common for canny commanding officers to substitute UHCVs for manned units after establishing their initial suspicions, such as when boarding a seemingly-disabled ship. More than one idiot has been suckered in by the temptation of holding hostages who turn out to be anything but.

Drone Rifle: Also shown is the Drone Rifle that is standard issue along with the GhostDragon. That's right, it's an autonomous drone weapon that can be left to operate and engage on its own. It too is very expensive. It can fly (though not particularly fast) and has a nose-mounted sensor pod that, in conjunction with the barrel, can be used to fire off-bore at a decent angle. Thus it can nearly shoot around corners with only the end of the barrel and the sensor exposed. It is armored - which slows it down - but is an effective counter to the anti-weapon point-defense systems that the GhostDragon mounts.

Description
For NationStates; Modeled in DoGa with the occasional custom part made in MetaSequoia and textures from here and there.

----

The GhostDragon MkIII is the successor to the GhostDragon and DaiKlaive lines of power armor and the standard armor in use by all Defense Force Marines and available to Starship crews on an ad-hoc basis. It comes in a variety of sizes with some ability to internally adjust though the exceptional protection offered negates more than a centimeter or two. Wearers enter from the back with their arms crossed over their chest; The helmet is fixed in position after entering and does not move except with the torso. Movement is controlled by a hardwired direct neutral interface that over-rides and replaces the individual's normal movements and body sensations with the suit's own. Primary sensors are mounted in the head and over the face but secondary sensors can be found elsewhere in case of damage to the primary. As mentioned, the GhostDragon provides exceptional protection in all environments and under all battlefield conditions. It is also very, very expensive. Knock-offs exist but they do not have many of the suit's systems.

Systems:
------------
Security System: The GhostDragon simply will not function for someone other than an authorized user. The exception is when the suit is operating under NEENJA (Noninvasive Encephalonic Enhancement Joint Architecture) conditions; The uploaded pilot may take on a passenger but they are unable to connect to the suit's systems unless they are again an authorized user. This will hurt unless the rider relaxes. A lot.

Weapon Systems: Because the arms are not needed by the user, the cavities have been filled with the various bits and pieces of two mounted particle beam rifles and their power systems. While not as flexible as the standard-issue Drone Rifle, they are an extremely viable weapon system against similarly sized combat units. It also mounts several Light Drone Spheres in charging sockets on the shoulders and the forearms. These drones can either act as scouting units or as mounted point-defense units, drawing on the suit's power system for more effective fire. Under combat conditions these will target opposing weapon systems, sensors, and other weak points. Against unarmed or lightly armored infantry they are lethal.

Expert Systems: The GhostDragon MkIII features four Expert systems; Communications, Piloting, Weapons, and the classified Gestalt system. In essence the pilot is responsible for gross instructions - move here, kill that, coordinate with these units - while the Expert Systems handle their various specialties independently. In full war-fighting scenarios the GhostDragon can operate completely independently both in case of pilot incapacitation or after being activated by (again) an authorized user.

Sensors: As mentioned, the GhostDragon mounts the primary sensors (visual, radar, sonar, etc) in the helmet face plate under a semi-transparent black oval. These are as powerful as the pricetag (very expensive) might suggest and are actively tied in to all weapon and pilot systems as well as inter-operate with the Gestalt module for total theatre awareness. Once the system has marked and designated a target - or a particular set of targets - the Weapon(s) System(s) can track and automatically engage that particular set of targets at-will with no particular input from the pilot needed.

Stealth Systems: Optical and sonic camouflage are standard, and the armor has a textured appearance to break up the long lines that might help someone relying on the MkI Eyeball to track it. The optical camouflage system is subject to easy disabling due to (relatively minor) damage as it consists of a thin surface layer. When not under combat conditions, the optical system can also be used to paint the suit however one likes; The default is shown. Schemes range from the garish to the obscene and everywhere in between.

Flight System: The GhostDragon can fly using a built-in system and is very agile but, as has been noted elsewhere, flying troops are called skeet for a reason. For similar reasons GhostDragon pilots are taught to advance on the ground and behind hard cover where possible. They are not the Juggernaught, bitch.

Medical System: While Marines using the Eien ExoCortex Node are becoming more and more common, there are still quite a few who will really feel it when they get an arm or leg blown off (the former somewhat more urgent than the second, due to how the suit is worn). To simplify things, the suit has a decap-o-donut built into the padded neck ring. In case of traumatic bodily injury to the pilot or transported individual (Relax, you idiot) the donut will activate and saw their head off, keeping it alive for eventual re-attachment to a cloned or crafted replacement body. Since the head contains the pilot's most important parts, this is kept conscious for use.

Expensive: Did we mention that it is expensive? All of that packed into a man-sized package costs a lot.

Classified Systems: Enhanced versions of the GhostDragon MkIII exist for the use of the various Special Operations units. All visually resemble the base model and have the standard feature list.

UHCV: Unmanned Humanoid Combat Vehicle; Drone Warriors. While the retired GhostDragon MkII's are typically moved into this role, there are MkIII's in operation as UHCVs as well. The UHCV has been fitted/filled with additional systems that take advantage of the body cavity left by the unneeded pilot. UHCVs are fielded in operations where the risk to a living pilot is so blatantly obvious as to require it. Ship boarding operations, Biologically Hostile battlefields, Metanormal environments, and similar are all good candidates. As any GhostDragon can be technically deployed without a pilot, it is common for canny commanding officers to substitute UHCVs for manned units after establishing their initial suspicions, such as when boarding a seemingly-disabled ship. More than one idiot has been suckered in by the temptation of holding hostages who turn out to be anything but.

Drone Rifle: Also shown is the Drone Rifle that is standard issue along with the GhostDragon. That's right, it's an autonomous drone weapon that can be left to operate and engage on its own. It too is very expensive. It can fly (though not particularly fast) and has a nose-mounted sensor pod that, in conjunction with the barrel, can be used to fire off-bore at a decent angle. Thus it can nearly shoot around corners with only the end of the barrel and the sensor exposed. It is armored - which slows it down - but is an effective counter to the anti-weapon point-defense systems that the GhostDragon mounts.