Infinite Stratos (IS)
The IS was originally created for space work, so the pilot is protected by a special shield. Also, the IS has the ability to adjust body functions to keep the pilot in a stable state. It can increase heart rate, pulse, lung capacity, amount of sweat lost, and endorphin's, which are amino acids that the brain releases during times of pain, exercise, or excitement.
Today, even though many countries and enterprises engage in Infinite Stratos research and development, all information related to manufacturing the central component, called the core, has never been released. The cores of the 467 IS that exist today were all personally created by Doctor Shinonono. The IS core is effectively a black box, and no one other than Doctor Shinonono has succeeded in manufacturing one. However, Doctor Shinonono has declined to create more than a certain number. As a result, all countries, organizations and enterprises are forced to do their research, development and training with their allotted number of IS cores. Trading of cores is strictly prohibited by Title 7 of the Alaska Treaty...
Additionally, when someone touches an IS, they receive information on the IS. The information floods into the consciousness of the individual and in a matter of seconds, anything and everything about the IS materializes in front of their eyes: the basic movements of the IS, operation method, capabilities, characteristics, existing equipment, active time limit, movement range, sensitivity, radar search, armor residue, output gauge, and so on...Within these seconds, the individual will understand everything about the IS. The vision is also linked to all sorts of sensors, the numbers and readouts appearing directly in the mind. The individual can the “feel” information about their surroundings through those readouts.
An Infinite Stratos (IS) is a powered exoskeletons, Designed by Tabane Shinonono, they possess technology and combat capabilities far more advanced than any other weapon system, thus threatening to destabilize the world. All IS's have the following features; Passive Inertia Control or PIC. The PIC allows the IS to accomplish extreme agility and mobility unparalleled by any conventional platform. PIC largely absorbs and negates impact shock, thus protecting the pilot and the IS from catastrophic events such as high-speed collision. Hyper Sensor, which wne linked to the pilot, she receive augmented sensory input data from IS's sensor, directly into 5 sensory system in her body. Simply put, when piloting an IS, the pilot's senses such as vision are greatly improved. Using the sensory data input from IS, the pilot gains 360 degree field of view, being able to 'see' directions that are not possible for human body without turning her head. All IS's have shielding that is the primary protection for the IS and the pilot, which is provided through the use of an energy shield that can block both physical and optical weapons. Reapiring of an IS is automatically handled upon receiving damage while in its Closed Form period. Additionally, as the IS is involved in fights, the core of the IS records the data. The resulting data collected would be implemented throughout its component to improve their efficiency, however, the damaged component would be left out of equation.
IS Training Suit
- The IS Training Suit is a suit that looks like an old school swimsuit, each manufacturer adds advanced life protection function and comfort while complying with regulations specified by the school. A vital monitor is built into the intelligence tag at the base of the throat; it is able to constantly check the student’s physiological state and position. This suit is worn by students when equipping most standard-type IS. The holes in the hip region, as well as intentionally cutting off the part where most stresses occur during exercise in the old school swimsuit and dispersing the load, also functions as a ventilator. The sealing part of the leg protector adheres to the skin when the switch of the tag is pressed causing voltage to go through the silicon molecules.
Additionally, the IS Suit will detect the weak electricity on the skin and pass the signals of the user's movements to all the parts of the body before the IS can take action. Also, this suit is really durable, it can completely withstand a mini-caliber gunshot. The IS suit is also able to absorb sweat and the wearer is never effected due to this. All students and IS pilots have these suits that are normally worn under regular clothing.
Features/Characteristics of all IS
- PIC (Passive Inertia Control): Incorporating PIC allows the IS to accomplish extreme agility and mobility unparalleled by any conventional platform. PIC largely absorbs and negates impact shock, thus protecting the pilot and the IS from catastrophic events such as high-speed collision. PIC is also applied to flight assist, and coupled with gravity control technology, makes IS capable of flight and hovering.
- Hyper Sensor: When the pilot is linked to the Hyper Sensor, she receive augmented sensory input data from IS's sensor, directly into 5 sensory system in her body. Simply put, when piloting an IS, the pilot's senses such as vision are greatly improved. Using the sensory data input from IS, the pilot gains 360 degree field of view, being able to 'see' directions that are not possible for human body without turning her head (Such as behind, directly above and below). However, because such improved sensory input is much different from normal human body, the pilot must process the input data into something she could comprehend first. (The speed and efficiency of processing such data decides the effectiveness of IS piloting).
- Shielding: The primary protection for the IS and the pilot provided through the use of an energy shield that can block both physical and optical weapons. The level of protection of an IS shied is sufficient to be impenetrable to most conventional weaponry, but can be penetrated by high-powered IS weaponry. The integrity of the energy shield is maintained unless the IS is depleted of power, but the shield tends to lose its strength when nearing a complete power depletion.
- Battle Damage/Repair: As an IS gains experience during any situation while it is active, (be it normal training or combat, or even a simple checkup) it records data about its every components and proceeds with optimization process. When a IS receives damage, it automatically tries to repair the damage during its Closed Form period. The resulting data collected would be implemented throughout its component to improve their efficiency, but the damaged component would be left out of equation. It is possible to activate a damaged IS (as long as it has power left) but such action - especially entering combat situation with a damaged IS - is highly undesirable, since the IS would try to cope with the given situation only with components that are still operational. Activating a partially damaged IS causes the inoperable components (damaged parts) to stop optimization until it is fully repaired.
Components
- Cores: The Black box of an IS that allows it to function. Because only 467 Cores were created, most of them are shared by the world's governments where only a few IS pilots, who work under certain organizations and large corporations, possess their own personal IS. The reason for having Designated Pilot and Personal IS lies with the very nature of IS itself; possessing self evolving mechanism which is manifested only when IS is kept paired with a pilot for a prolonged time. It is considered illegal to exchange or remove the cores, due to the fact the core is a mixture of an AI and a power source. Of the 467 cores created, 322 are used for actual combat and the remaining 145 are handed over to research facilities and enterprises of various countries.
- Energy Barrier/Absolute Defense: The Absolute Protection is activated by IS itself and not by pilot. If the attack is deemed by the IS as not life-threatening to cause serious injury to its pilot, IS would not activate Absolute Protection ability, even if it results in minor~moderate injury to its pilot. This ability is said to be able to protect the pilot from any kind of attack, but it also has seriously high power consumption, depleting the power of IS with just single activation (In that sense, it is more like pilot safety mechanism rather than combat defense mechanism). In competitions, the pilot is declared to have lost the fight if the shield level hits zero, so as to avoid any injury to the pilots.
- Mandatory Unlock: Although only mentioned once the IS also reacts to extreme damage to the IS its self or its pilot. This is called the “mandatory unlocks”. There is a warning that you are taking too much damage. If this continues the IS will return to its “closed form”. Apparently, it is dangerous for this to happen.
- Preset: The standard weapon/equipment that all IS possess in the beginning, such as swords for melee type, rifles for long range.
- Equalizer: All IS come with a basic weaponry, called Preset, but it also has a number of expansion slots that could be used to field additional equipment, which comes in various forms, such as additional weaponry, thrusters, and augmented armor plates. These Equalizers need to be installed into IS first, not an easy feat to accomplish, since every IS core is unique and each of them has its individuality, (one might say personality) it is possible for a IS to reject installation of certain Equalizer.
- The Equalizers could be assembled into package type for an IS, designed to fulfill a specific task, as long as there are enough expansion slots left. (A bombardment package would consist of something like following sets of Equalizers: Long-range cannon + Stabilizer device + Augmented armor plate). An Equalizer Package tends to be designed for a specific IS, since components such as additional thrusters or armor plates would have to fit the IS. (For the same reason, hand-held weapon type Equalizers tend to be more compatible with other IS).
- Advantage: Equalizers that are attached to IS (such as thrusters or armor plates) are called up simultaneously with IS, but hand-held weapon type could be called up while in activation. In this manner, the pilot doesn't have to worry about carrying numerous equipment during activation. She just needs to call up the weapon that is needed at any given time. Also, Equalizers allow for enhanced combat ability by allowing the IS pilot more options and versatility while in battle, provided training is undergone to learn the mechanics of the pilot's various Equalizers.
- Disadvantage: Equalizer, just like an IS in closed form, is called up by pilot's thought process. It is possible to call up by announcing the name of Equalizer, (or IS) but this is only because the announcing act helps the pilot to concentrate her thought (which is the actual command). The 'announcing' way is considered as a method for inexperienced pilot who has difficulty with call-up just with mental command. Also, verbally announcing the Equalizer or IS basically ends up warning the opponents, and verbal announcement takes rather long time compared to the time required by experienced pilot to mentally command call-up, which takes fraction of seconds. Since Equalizer is materialization of installed data within the IS (This is same for all IS) even if it is damaged or destroyed during combat, it is not truly 'gone,' but it does require maintenance or restoration just like damaged IS, and is rendered ineffective or inoperable during those period.
Forms of IS
The following talks about the different forms an IS will take:
- Inactive Form - The form all IS take when there are no pilots. In this case, IS retains the physical manifestation of its components even when inactivated, and call-up just activates IS without any significant visible change. Described by Ichika to be kneeling like a samurai before its Lord. All Training IS are in this state since the fitting process is rendered useless due to multiple users.
- Closed Form - The form the IS takes when not being used. It takes on different shapes for different users, mostly accessories like ring, earrings, necklaces, etc. for girls, and a gauntlet/bulky bracelet for Ichika.
- Default Setting - The form it takes when it is being used for the first time. The IS have the basics like flight capabilities, shielded barrier and its related weapon, but the power exhibited is very low, thus it is not recommended to be used immediately in a fight. Once the IS has finished configuring all the settings for the user, it will take the next form.
- 1st Shift - The form taken after the IS has finished configuring the settings. This is the stage that most users would have for Personal IS. Here they gained full usage of the weaponry given, like the Yukihara from its default metal blade to the energy blade.
- 2nd Shift - An upgrade from the 1st Shift. This is apparently a rare case for an IS to go into a second form, as there are not many cases of IS unit evolving to 2nd Shift. In 2nd Shift, the IS undergoes a dramatic transformation, altering its appearance and gaining new abilities, in particular, the One Off Ability, which is unique to that particular unit.
