The S-Mart 49er was created as a pet project of S-Mart design engineers during the spring of 116PA, for S-Mart's commercial line of civilian power armor suits. It's purpose, from the outset of design, was purely mining, and was intended to bolster the regional mining industry by leaps and bounds. Designed with a heavy duty chassis, a bit of extra armor to protect from falling debris, and a variety of specialized tools and sensors has made the 49er unparalleled as a mining impliment. In the hands of an experienced power armor pilot, it becomes a superhuman miner capable of throwing a hundred times as much stone as one unsuited miner, with the added capabilities of prospecting for the valuable mineral deposits. Once the prototype was tested, discovering a large deposit of tungsten in the process, it was approved for mass production. The name settled upon for this new design of civilian power armor remains one of great question to just about everyone in the post apocalypse world of RIFTS - "What the heck is a fourty-niner?!" (The name of course referring to the California gold rush of 1849.)
Since that time, 422 suits have so far rolled off of the production lines in Desert Star, and in that time it has revolutionized the mining industry of the entire region. Mining corporations are purchasing dozens of the suit, and either training their miners as prospectors/miners, or hiring retired N.O.M.A.D. power armor operatives and training them as prospectors to operate them. Silvereno has jumped on the band wagon as well, and accounts for fully 1/4 of the 49er sales thus far. Several of Wa-Daisho's mining firms are looking hard at the possibility of acquiring 49ers for their own use as well.
There is only one group of people that is seriously discouraged by the appearance of the 49er, and that is the men and women who underwent bionic conversion purely for the purpose of mining. These suits are better equipped for the task and perform it better than they can, without the saccrifice of one's humanity to use them. Many of these Mining Borgs have put in YEARS of service to wealthy landholders to earn their conversion - and now these suits are made available.
Model Type: 49er-A.
Class: Mining Power Armor.
Crew: 1.
M.D.C. by Location:
*Head - 95.
*Head Lamp - 5.
Arms (2) - 95 each.
*Climbing Claws (4 sets) - 10 each.
Legs (2) - 195 each.
Heavy Tools Bin - 40.
*Mattock - 80.
**Main Body - 300.
* These are small and difficult targets to hit, thus a penalty of -3 to strike will result in any actions taken against the designated areas.
** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body shuts the armor down completely, making it useless.
Performance:
Running Speed: 43 mph maximum. Note that the act of running does tire out it's operator, but at 10% the usual fatigue rate.
Leaping: The powerful robot legs can leap 10' high or across.
Statistical Data:
Height: 8'.
Length: 4'.
Width: 5'.
Weight: 703 Lb. fully loaded, including the tools carried in the storage bins.
Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. of 35.
Cargo: The 49er incorporates a number of storage bins in the construction of it's body. In the right and left upper legs are small bins for storage of six flares in each, for use in the forearm mounted flare gun. In the chest of the armor is a light tools bin, that contains a number of fine and/or fragile tools used in prospecting including a quartet of grease pens, a pair of florescent pens, a dozen glow sticks, a spool of wire, wire cutters, twenty different drill bits, an assortment of chissels, a quartet of differing sizes of brushes, a pad of steel wool, an assortment of dremmel heads, a dremmel tool, a laser distancer, four wooden stakes, and a few other odds and ends. At the waist of the power armor is a wrap around bin that contains a handful of heavier tools including; a large drill, a few different hammers, a pry bar, a universal power wrench, a hatchet, a large utility knife, a medium bin for mineral samples, and a space in the back for explosives - not included with the suit. The right thigh of the armor also has a small mounting bracket for the suit's pick axe to be mounted on when not in use.
Power System: Nuclear, average energy life of 5 years.
Market Cost: 1.1 million credits for a fully loaded S-Mart 49er, sans any demolitions equipment. Typically comes in florescent yellow with arctic orange stripes on the biceps and calves of the armor, but purchasers may paint them whatever color they so desire. A few weeks in the mines and they all look a dirty grimy brown anyway!
Weapon Systems: While the 49er is not designed for combat, it is not unusual to encounter dangerous creatures in mine shafts when returning to work after a night's rest at a base camp, or in newly discovered caves. Thus the 49er does have some systems that could be useful in fighting off dangerous creatures - at least long enough to effect an escape and call for help.
1. Republican Durable Materials Mattock: This is a mercury-titanium molded pick axe with flat blades set at right angles, intended for digging and chipping through stone. This durable tool is also useful as a prying tool to pry large rocks/boulders out of their place. In the alternative the Mattock may be used as a close combat weapon.
Primary Purpose: Mining.
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Mega-Damage: +2D6 M.D.
2. Climbing Claws: The knuckles of the power armor's hands and the toes of the power armor are outfitted with short retractable blades intended to give the 49er some added climbing abilities. In the alternative the durable tungsten-uranium blades may be used to increase hand to hand combat damage if necessary.
Primary Purpose: Climbing.
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Mega-Damage: +1D6 M.D.
3. Laser Drill: This right forearm mounted device is a specially calibrated wide barreled telescoping laser meant to focus a laser beam to burn a hole through material only to a certain depth, and only as wide as necessary. When installed, the operator can control how wide the beam is to be, via use of the dialating internal lense coverings up to a maximum of 3" in diameter. He can further control how deep the hole is meant to be drilled, by programming the laser to only fire in short blasts, or in one long blast as necessary. (This drill is closely related to the laser drill pylons that help support a Glitterboy when firing it's main weapon.
Primary Purpose: Drilling.
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Mega-Damage: 1D6 M.D. to 4D6 M.D.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the users combined hand to hand attacks.
Maximum Effective Range: 3'.
Payload: Effectively unlimited, thanks to the nuclear power supply.
4. Laser Torch: Mounted next to the laser drill, is this conventional laser torch. It's use on the 49er is mostly meant for making precision cuts to aid in the task of removing valuable ores or precious stones. In the alternative this may be used as a close range laser weapon to defend the suit with.
Primary Purpose: Precision cutting.
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Mega-Damage: See RIFTS Main Book pg. 224, as it is virtually identical to the Wilk's Portable Laser Torch.
Rate of Fire: See RIFTS Main Book pg. 224, as it is virtually identical to the Wilk's Portable Laser Torch.
Maximum Effective Range: See RIFTS Main Book pg. 224, as it is virtually identical to the Wilk's Portable Laser Torch.
Payload: Effectively unlimited, thanks to the nuclear power supply.
5. Plasma Torch: Mounted in the left forearm, is this plasma torch. Plasma torches burn hotter than laser torches and tend to vaporize more material as a result, thus this device sees use primarily in clearing away useless rock to get to ores or precious stones beyond them. In the alternative it may be used as a close range defensive weapon.
Primary Purpose: Stone removal.
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Mega-Damage: 1D6 M.D., 2D6 M.D., 4D6 M.D., and 1D4x10+8 M.D.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the users combined hand to hand attacks.
Maximum Effective Range: 8'.
Payload: Effectively unlimited, thanks to the nuclear power supply.
6. Sonic Pulse Cutter: Mounted in the left forearm, next to the plasma torch is this useful device. While the laser torch is used for precision cutting, and the plasma torch is used for more rough cutting vaporizing stone as it goes, the sonic pulse cutter is the rough tool used when getting close to the desired materials, but not close enough to warrant use of the laser. Certain types of rock, such as granite, also react better to the use of sonic pulses than they do to plasma. Furthermore the sonic pulse cutter is useful when operating around hazardous materials - sonic waves will not detonate deadly methane gas the way that plasma will, and will not vaporize materials that could be poisonous if breathed in by non-protected miners. While this device has a short range, like so many other systems, this can potentially be a useful weapon if defending oneself.
Primary Purpose: Stone removal.
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Mega-Damage: 2D6 M.D.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the users combined hand to hand attacks.
Maximum Effective Range: 5'.
Payload: Effectively unlimited, thanks to the nuclear power supply.
7. Systems of Note: This unit incorporates all the usual environmental features found in power armor including environmental protection, environmental control, air filtration, an independant 10 hour supply of air, heat and radiation shielding. Note however that this suit does NOT incorporate a radar system. Despite this one omitted system, commonly found on other suits, this is where the 49er really begins to shine, as this suit carries an incredible assortment of sensors and devices that make it the ideal mining platform.
1. H.U.D. Wideband Interface: This system is one of the most common systems used throughout post-cataclysm Earth in power armor. Instead of relying upon human vision it operates using a wide angle lense camera to take in the scene. Built into the helmet it often sits directly in front of the pilot's face, concealed behind a curved LCD screen. With this model a full one hundred and twenty degree field of vision is attained AND it has no ill effects on the power armor operative. This system provides full integration of all systems in a comprehensive H.U.D. (Heads Up Display). Unlike the common systems found elsewhere, this type is joined with a more advanced targeting computer that allows up to two weapons to be trained on a target at once. The audio level in the H.U.D. Wideband Interface is advanced beyond normal human hearing, becoming only slightly less sensitive than the cybernetic amplified hearing.
2. Anti-Dazzle Protection: This is essentially nothing more than a polarized film on the sensors that react to the ambient light. Thus if a bright flash occurs in the face of the 49er, the lense turns nearly black for an instant, and then quickly changes back to normal - protecting the operator from being dazzled. This is perfect for operating the laser torch or plasma torch, as it prevents the user from being blinded by the sudden flash of light.
3. Infrared Optics: This system allows the user to see the heat emanating from an object. It can be set to be white hot or black hot, depending on operating status. If setting up demolitions or using one of the torches black hot would be best to avoid being blinded. While in passive mode, white hot would be best, so as things like body heat would better stand out. The range of this system is 2,000'.
4. Nightvision Optics: This system uses the ambient light from starlight, moonlight and similar to allow a sort of green-tinged vision beyond normal visual ranges for a human. The range of this system is 2,000'. When the headlamp is not in use or disabled, this is an ideal system to use - provided that a dim light source is still available.
5. Macrovision Optics: These optics are essentially like a microscope, capable of magnifying objects hundreds of times, from a distance of 6'. This is a useful system for analyzing ores and minerals.
6. Telescopic Optics: These are exactly as they sound, telescopic optics that enhance the image of far away objects. At a range of 6,000' an object appears only 100' away, as an example. The range of this system is 6,000' effectively - but it can enhance the image of objects further away yet still, they just are not quite so well detailed. This is an excellent system for examining rock formations, caves, fissures, and similar from a distance, while in the prospecting mode.
7. Thermal Imaging Optics: This is very similar to the Infrared Optics in the sense that it detects heat, but unlike the imprecise nature of the infrared optics, this measures the heat signature precisely displaying them in colorful shades of reds, yellows, greens and blues with various degrees of heat. The thermal imaging optics are also far more sensitive than the infrared optics, actually allowing them to see heat through walls of structures at certain distances. The range of this system is 2,000', but it can only see heat through an obstacle such as a brick wall from 100'. This is useful for seeing warmer or cooler air temperatures while underground, revealing which branches might lead further underground, and which would lead outward. It also is a handy system for revealing adjacent chambers. A final useful feature of this optic system is that it assists in locating buried miners.
8. Ultrasound Transducer System: This system is located next to the visor on the left side, and is designed to use ultrasound technology to evaluate an object in extreme detail. Through the use of ultrasound it can evaluate the proximity of differing substances beyond a layer of rock, evaluate the structural integrity of an object - searching for cracks and various weakpoints, and if applicable determine the rate of flow of fluids beneath the surface of a boundary of rock, and the pressure levels exerted by subsurface fluids. Standing up against a rock face and using this system, it can see up to 6' through solid rock.
9. Alpha Particle & X-Ray Spectrometer: This system is located next to the visor on the right side, and uses alpha particles from decaying radioactive materials and x-rays to analyze the composition of rocks. This system is excellent for identifying all manner of materials found while mining. The maximum range of this system though is only 3', so any rock analyzed must be held close to the faceplate.
10. Scintillation Counter: This is an ultrasensitive version of a geiger counter, only more accurate, and is capable of evaluating readings and giving a read out of the likely cause of the radiation. This system is located in the back of the suit, and has no real range - it detects ambient radioactivity in the atmosphere.
11. Hygrometer Sensor: This is an atmospheric humidity sensor that can detect the amount of moisture that is ambient in the air around the suit. It is useful for revealing subterranian water sources before they are accidentally broken into - flooding the mine, as moisture begins to seep long before the actual cavern is ever broken into. It is sensitive enough to lead a suit directly to the direction of the source of the water.
12. Environmental Multisensor: This is essentially a super souped up gas detector, that can detect all manners of gasses in the ambient atmosphere. This is especially useful in mining where subterranian pockets of methane, carbon monoxide, and various other gasses may be encountered. While the operator of power armor has little to fear of such gasses, those around him not so well equipped do, and this gives him time to warn them. In the case of combustible gasses this warns the operator that he cannot create any sparks or use any systems that would create heat.
13. Vibration Sensor: This head mounted laser, above the head lamp, is designed to focus on rock walls of the mine to check for any kind of vibrations that may be indicative of a collapse, gas eruption, or of some sort of earthquake. The range of the laser is 250'.
14. Magnetic Anomaly Detector: Located in the chin of the power armor suit, this sensor is extremely useful in prospecting as it will literally direct the power armor operator to the direction of large quantities of metal ores. Range for this system is 300'.
14. Military Radio: This is the same radio equipment, bolt for bolt, microchip for microchip, as the system found on the USA-G10 Glitterboy. The broadcast range is a modest 50 miles. By resetting the radio transmitter inside the armor to an elevated position, however, the same transmitter can achieve a fairly consistent 500 mile range using atmospheric bounce. Atmospheric anomalys can extend this range still further or can completely disable the radio system within a set radius, it just depends on the circumstances. That having been said, all radios are effectively useless underground.
15. I.F.F. Transponder System: This system transmits data such as alpha-numeric designation code, course, mission, base of operations, and company, via radio signal, to other similarly equipped mining camps, vehicles, and power armor suits that have been programmed with the correct access codes. A note towards the safety of I.F.F. - is that the codes are very difficult to break. As the 49er is strictly a commercial variety, all 49er I.F.F. Transponder Systems are programmed as civilian models, which allows N.O.M.A.D. Military types to automatically read their signals. In turn all that the civilian type would read about a N.O.M.A.D. Military type is; "MILITARY, HEADING XXX, ALT XXX, SPD XXX". This system is handy to use as a distress beacon if stranded or lost.
16. Improvements Available: The 49er's basic layout is fairly tapped out in terms of development, though some room does remain for modifications to aid the suit in it's performance. Remaining system requirement slots are as follows, the first number is internal, second is external. Head 2.5/25, Left Arm 0/25, Right Arm 0/20, Left Leg 20/35, Right Leg 20/20, and Main Body 35/15.
8. Hand to Hand Combat Abilities: In addition to Power Armor Basic or Elite pilot training, the 49er enjoys the following bonuses;
+2 to strike with ranged weapon systems.
Punch: 1D6 M.D.
Power Punch: 2D6 M.D.
Kick: 1D6 M.D.
Leap Kick: 2D6 M.D.
Body Flip/Throw: 1D6+3 M.D.
Body Block/Tackle: 1D6+3 M.D.
