Part 10.2: Innovation, POV: Andrew’s Logs

Day 18, Voice Log #157 

Woke up at 3:57am after collapsing sometime around the latter half of the pm stages. Yesterday was my second encounter with the Zankoku Empire. The battle had taught me this much: that I need more weaponry, some amount of defense but a minor amount and most importantly overall, that most of my teammates are mildly incompetent. I understand they aren't pros and just started doing stuff like this within less than a month ago, but they have to learn quickly or they will die and much worse… civilian lives will die. I'll just have to do everything myself I guess. So I also need to be more versatile. 

In any case, I want to improve my gear for the rest of the am and once pm starts, I want to be able to test some products. 

The metal plating idea that I use for my suit currently is solid and functional. Though there are some flaws like having thick bulky sheets of metal covering my body adds too much weight and mobility is limited so I have to force the metal plates to move with magic.

 An idea I had in a previous log is to break up the big metal plates into a bunch of smaller sheets that are easily curved and folded to allow more movement and also be manipulated easier. I'll log once more when something interesting happens. 

Day 18, Voice Log #158

It is currently 6:34am and I have completed an armor concept for my legs. I made tons of metal sheets that are shaped into wide V's and layered on top of each other similar to how a Japanese Samurai would forge their armor. On just my left leg I have thirty-two different sheets, so the biggest issue is obviously the amount of time it takes to equip all these plates which might be negligible if I use magic, though that'd require me to practice more magic instead of just using the grapplers... 

Anyway! The metal is also thinner which makes it easier to move, but I had to switch to an overall tougher alloy so that the estimated protection level is the same as the previous prototype. This alloy is more expensive though, which is not a problem for me since Quinn is fitting the bill for everything I'm doing. 

Oh and one more thing, couple to a few minutes ago. The Ice and Earth possessors have shown up and started training early, note to self: keep the door closed more often at this hour. 

Day 18, Voice Log #159 

Time is 9:42am I have completed 128 sheets of metal to be attached to myself, 32 for each limb. The issue is that they are connected by tiny latches and that require too much magic power or time to just put on armor… It might be possible to solve this issue by using tiny magnets to hold in everything but that would also be 128 magnets so I might have to use a combination of them. The point of all these sheets is that I can easily manipulate them in combat for more versatility. 

[creak]

Hey, who are ya talkin' to?

Leave!

C'mon man I just heard talking in there and you're just staring at your computer and talking at nothing. 

Just get out!

[Slam!]

Hahhh, that was the Earth possessor interrupting the log. Anyway, I also need to update the software in my custom mask to support recording logs and reading my vitals when in action. Though that requires some sensors to be put into my suit. I'll shelve these ideas of armor for now and design prototypes later. Now I want to work on weapons. 

A shorter range weapon is needed, so maybe a machete is enough with the sheath in my trench coat. The short range weapon doesn't need to be super impressive, but I do want pistols to have tucked on my belt into two holsters. I'll do some research on models that could be acceptable with free blueprints I can take and build off of. 

Actually I'll test out the new armor in combination with the rest of my suit right now. I need to step out for some fresh air anyway.

Day 18, Voice Log #160 

It has not been long, only 4 minutes. But, I realized the armor for my arms is redundant because I'm already wearing a trench coat that protects me plenty. I removed all the sheets of metal on my arms and now will be melting them down and reforging into better chest-pieces than my current one. I can now try out the new suit

Day 18, Voice Log #161

It is 1:42pm, I've just finished the first practical test with the new armor, and let me just say first: This pretzel I took off of a cart near the MET art museum is good. Next point, the mobility of the suit is much easier. My legs can stretch much better plus I tested pulling them off and throwing them with the help of magic, they throw well but my accuracy in using magic is say… lacking. I would like to improve the initial velocity of my wires when I shoot them out of my grapplers. Oh well, I'll head back and then start the mold on that machete. Afterwards I'll feel much more comfortable on the next Zankoku attack… whenever that'll be.