CMC Powered Combat Suit

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The CMC Powered Combat Suit is a terran armored exoskeleton developed by the Cirion Multinational Corporation.^[1] Successive models continue to see widespread use by terran forces in the Koprulu Sector.

Contents 1 Suiting Up 2 Known Models 2.1 Pressurized Power Suit 2.2 Standard Marine Powered Armor 2.2.1 CMC-200 Powered Combat Suit 2.2.2 CMC-300 Powered Combat Suit 2.2.2.1 Command Suit 2.2.3 CMC-400 Powered Combat Suit 2.3 CMC-405 Light Combat Suit 2.4 CMC-660 Heavy Combat Suit 3 Development 4 Trivia 5 References

[edit] Suiting Up

The size and bulk of some types of armor before and during the Great War required frequent training to don efficiently.^[2][3] Depending on a suit's material state and the user's experience it could take three to twenty minutes to suit up.^[2] Constant drills allowed early members of the Sons of Korhal to complete the task in just one minute.^[4]

Easier methods were available after the Brood War, at the latest. Some suits allowed the helmet and surrounding segments to be removed and replaced, allowing a user to simply climb in through the opening.^[5] A more involved method involved the suit being constructed from prefabricated parts around the user, seemingly sealing the user inside.^[6]

[edit] Known Models

The following known CMC models exist;

[edit] Pressurized Power Suit

The Pressurized Power Suit (aka Assault Armor)^[7] was issued some time before the CMC-300 and -400 series became prevalent. Edmund Duke was once issued a Pressurized Power Suit.^[4] These models were effectively replaced by CMC Powered Combat Suits.^[2]

[edit] Standard Marine Powered Armor

Marines are issued various versions of the CMC Powered Armor suit. These suits share the following features:

• Air conditioner (a "backpack" which channels heat away from the body)^[2]

• Immunity to most small arms fire. A Needle Gun can penetrate the suit, however.^[2]

• Salvage System: Should the suit's arm or leg be breached, the suit seals it off in a tourniquet. At least some versions of the suit pump narcotics into the wounded wearer's bloodstream, which can cause the wearer to fall unconscious.^[2]

• Shoulder housed ammunition reloads and sensor arrays.^[2]

• Structural support (supports the user's body, eg. adjusts itself to fit a firing stance).^[2]

• Visor System: Lights flicker on the interior of the visor's rim acting as a basic guide. Green, yellow and presumably red feature, keeping the user informed of the suit's integrity.^[2]

In addition, the suit is compatible with StimPacks, which are able to be installed under the arms. The suits raise the wearer's height by a full foot and can improve a gunner's aim.^[2]

[edit] CMC-200 Powered Combat Suit

The CMC-200 Powered Combat Suit was used in the 25th century. By 2478 is was being phased out by its successor, the CMC-300.^[8] Colonial Militias and law enforcement continued to use the CMC-200. It has the following features:

• Seven day endurance on internal recycling alone. ^[2]

• Basic NBC (nuclear/biological/chemical) shielding.^[2]

• Limited life support.^[2]

[edit] CMC-300 Powered Combat Suit

The CMC-300 Powered Combat Suit is the much improved successor to the CMC-200. It was already in service by 2478^[8] and was standard issue to marines during the Great War.^[9] The CMC-300 masses several hundred pounds and adds a foot to the wearer's height.^[2] Improvements over its predecessor include:

• Advanced NBC shielding.^[9]

• Aural Directional Enhancers: Help clarify the source of external and transmitted sounds.^[10]

• Full life support.^[2]

• Gravity Generator: The suit is compatible with Gravity Generators for use on space platforms.^[4] Grav-boots may provide an alternative though.^[11]

• Enhanced protection, but can still be penetrated by a needle gun.^[2]

• HUD: A Heads-Up Display (HUD) is built into the visor. Its features include infra-red vision,^[3] a "navigation mode" which superimposes a map of surrounding terrain and pinpoints prominent features,^[10] targeting systems^[12] and a data system which, with the appropriate link, can let the user 'jack in' to video and data feeds, the information scrolling across the visor.^[10][8] The visor itself may be lowered/raised^[13] and/or (un)polarized at the user's discretion,^[10] though will automatically (un)polarize based on the intensity of light hitting it.^[8]

• Integrated communication system.^[10]

• Lockdown System: Used to stabilize wounded soldiers and/or prevent a shorted-out suit from misfiring. The disadvantage is that it prevents the user from moving.^[12]

• Mufflers which reduce the amount of noise the suit makes and the user's heat signature.^[2]

• Shoulder and chest mounted illuminators.^[13] The spectrum is determined via voice activation.^[10]

• Structural Support: The amount of support that the suit provides is greatly increased from the CMC-200 model, increasing his/her strength and speed, stamina no longer becoming an issue. The servos enable a wearer to dash up steep slopes and safely land from heights of twenty feet.^[10]

• The C-14 Gauss Rifle may be connected to and powered by the suit.^[10]

Overall, the suit is a marked improvement over its predecessor. However, its extensive servo-systems leave it vulnerable to immobilization should they be disrupted (eg. a Hydralisk scythe plunging into the chest).^[12] The amount of power it consumes is also extensive; the helmet is generally left off outside of combat to conserve energy.^[14]

[edit] Command Suit

The Command Suit is a variant of the CMC-300 and features an enhanced portable comm system. They are worn by ship captains during combat operations.^[2]

[edit] CMC-400 Powered Combat Suit

The CMC-400 Powered Combat Suit is an upgraded version of the CMC-300. In addition to full NBC shielding and life support^[15] it includes an integrated StimPack system.^[9]

The CMC-400 was in service by 2491^[4] but was still considered new eight years later at the beginning of the Great War.^[10]

Based on observations, it appears to be a heavier model and thus provides more protection, albeit without the inclusion (or effective use) of mufflers.^[16] In addition, a more sophisticated, if exposed servo system is used, theoretically allowing the suit greater flexibility.^[6] The visor colour has also changed from black^[13] to gold,^[6] maintaining the in-built HUD of its predecessor,^[15] though is now capable of displaying life support as a percentage and the amount of ammunition in a soldier's equipped weapon, and can even detect motion to some extent.^[17]

[edit] CMC-405 Light Combat Suit

Main article: CMC-405 light combat suit

[edit] CMC-660 Heavy Combat Suit

The CMC-660 Heavy Combat Suit is the standard issue suit of Firebats. Heavier, more durable and far more heat resistant than than its counterpart models,^[18] the Heavy Combat Suit provides additional protection.^[8] Possessing the same features as the CMC-300 model^[10] (albeit with StimPack compatibility), it features special systems to protect its user from the plasma and flame wielded.^[9] Plasma tanks are located on the back, presenting a hazard to the user given the chance of their detonation. The tanks are reinforced with containment fields.^[10]

In terms of armament, the CMC-660 features wrist mounted Perdition Flame Throwers.^[9]

	This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost. The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

After the Brood War, this was expanded to napalm rockets, capable of being guided by the user.^[19][20]

[edit] Development

In the StarCraft beta, terran marines (or marauders as they were then known) and firebats wore pressurized power suits,^[11] but this was dropped for the CMC-series before the final release. The pressurized power suit made a return in the novels.^[4]

[edit] Trivia

“	The marine armor protects you from terran, zerg and protoss alike, but it won't protect you from those nasty smoking habits. (Machinima.com commenting on CMC armor.)	”
- Source

The CMC Powered Combat Suit was voted 9th in the Top 10 Video Game Armor by Machinima.com^[21] and 11th out of the top 13 in a similar feature by Maxim.com.^[22]

[edit] References

Terran Combat Armor
Light	CMC Light Combat Armor · CMC-405 light combat suit · Hostile environment suit
Powered	CMC-200 · CMC-300 · CMC-400 · CMC-660 firebat armor