[MOC] Jet Trooper (Project Thunderbird)

[socalbricks]

FILE: Project Thunderbird (2071 – 2085)

Developed by Ætheon (a high-profile private military company/"PMC"), Project Thunderbird was the first successful of instance of “jet trooper” (colloquially known as “Jetters”) being deployed into combat. Using cybernetically enhanced pilots (most of which were former US Air Force and Marines), the company was able to find work in conflict zones all over the world.

All jet suits contained an exoskeleton, joy stick controls, and numerous intakes and jets that could be adjusted in real-time for maximum maneuverability. Jet suits varied wildly according the pilot’s rank and personal preferences. Though the suit’s weaponry varied between pilots, the most popular weapons were twin rapid-fire plasma cannons and two pairs of missile launchers.

The most famous Jetter was Ariel Vazquez. Joining the program in 2072 at the age of 25, she displayed immense prowess with the suit and made headlines for her heroics in the Long Beach Excursion (2073), in which [REDACTED] surfaced off the coast of Long Beach, California and attacked the water front. Were it not for the timely intervention of the “Jetters”, the [REDACTED] would’ve wreaked untold destruction on the city proper. Vazquez would also participate in the Battle of Bend (2079), in which the nation states of Cascadia and Greater Idaho fought for control of a newly-discovered (and incredibly valuable) lithium deposit on the outskirts of Bend, Oregon. Being a PMC, Ætheon sided with the highest bidder (in this case, Greater Idaho) and wreaked massive casualties on the Cascadian military with their superior airpower.

Though effective, Project Thunderbird’s heavy and unwieldly jet suits would ultimately be phased out as the technology improved and became more compact. However, it would leave a lasting impact on military combat (even going into the intergalactic age centuries later), with similar technology being deployed by the Royal Cobalt Space Navy (RCSN) in their “Gunzerker” program.

 

Ariel Vazquez

• Birthdate: 04/26/2047
• Hometown: Santa Ana, California, United States
• Height
  • 5’11”/1.80 m (without suit)
  • 6’5”/1.96 m (with suit)
• Weight
  • 155 lbs/70.30 kg (without suit)
  • 82 lbs/37.19 kg (suit)
  • 242 lbs/114.31 kg (with suit)
• Education
  • Mater Dei High School (2062 – 2066)
  • West Point (2066 – 2070)
• Primary Military Specialty: Aerial
• Secondary Military Specialty: Ordinance

Edited December 2, 2021 by socalbricks

[Feuer Zug]

Sweet jetpack and accessories. The equipment repair view is a good touch too.

[Umbra-Manis]

Very well constructed pack, and great framing with the story!

[socalbricks]

@Feuer Zug Thank you so much!

@Umbra-Manis Thanks - I'm glad you like it!