E-frame

E-frames or Exo-Frames were multi-purpose mecha-like artificial powered exoskeletons featured in the 1993-1995 animated television series "Exosquad". Their size and functionality varied greatly - from ultralight infantry body armor to peaceful terraforming machines to monstrous amphibian heavy assault models.

Origins

Exo-Frames were created by the humans of the "Exosquad Universe" in their effort to terraform and colonize Venus and Mars and to protect themselves from any possible aggression from outside of the Solar System. They can be thus divided into two main categories - peaceful and military models, but since the series primarily described the Neosapien War that followed the Second Neosapien Revolt, nearly all E-frames shown in the series were battle machines. Another distinction is that between human (Terran) and Neosapien E-frames.

Originally, all E-frames were humanoid exoskeletons (hence the name) but after several decades of extensive development, non-humanoid "E-frames" vehicles based on the same technologies have been introduced. Basically, by the time of the Second Neosapien Revolt, all machines steered directly by one or two pilots were considered "Exo-Frames", regardless of their type, purpose or design: walkers, tanks, space fighters, bulldozers, etc.

A common feature of all E-frames is a sophisticated neural interface that backups "normal", manual steering: each pilot had to undergo surgical implantation of a "cyber socket" to the back of one's neck that allowed direct control over the E-frame via a "cyber jack". Since the brain patterns of humans and Neosapiens are slightly different, E-frame interface has to be reconfigured depending on the race of the pilot. All E-frames are powered by "fusion packs". Civilian fusion packs generate much less power than military ones, while the latter are (if intelligently applied) a potentially devastating explosive.

After Professor Algernon joined the Exofleet, some of his inventions were implemented into the Able Squad's E-frames, making them truly unique (so-called "Algernon Upgrade").

Terran E-frames

To this category belong all E-frames used by the Exofleet, as well as their allies - the Pirate Clans (although they only had space fighters before the alliance) and the Homeworlds Resistance. In fact, many of the E-frames used by the Pirate Clans clearly were modified Neosapien E-frames, since the Pirates managed to capture a plenty of them during the battle to free Jonas Simbacca who had been kidnapped by the Neosapien General Typhonus.

* "Falcon" Aerial Attack E-frame #AA-500. Designed specifically for atmospheric combat, "Falcons" were often considered the best E-frames in the entire Exofleet because of their impressive maneuverability and weaponry. Many exosquad leaders including Lt. / Wing Cmdr. J.T. Marsh (as well as Eve Hanley, the second leader of the "Earth Resistance Force") made "Falcon" their E-frame of choice. Marsh's personal "Algernon Upgrade" was a devastating "Solar Pulse Cannon", a wide-area energy attack capable of evaporating anything hundreds of meters ahead, including solid rock.

* "Wraith" Spy / Logistics Field Communications E-frame #SLR-345. The most fragile and complex E-frame of the Exofleet, the "Wraith" was an integral element of any exosquad because of its powerful communication and surveillance systems. It requires a lot of skill and training to master #SLR-345, so if it wasn't for Alec DeLeon's abilities, the "Able Squad" would have been blind and deaf. DeLeon's "Algernon Upgrades" were an "Electronic Disruption Field Generator" and an "Advanced Flight Recorder", a device capable of blending pilot's mind with the E-frame navigation computer and even storing the pilot's personality.

* Reconnaissance E-frame #TB-024. Less durable and smaller compared with most E-frames, #TB-024 has often been considered an oversized Jumptroop armor suit. Lt. Nara Burns used one of these after her promotion to the leader of the Able Squad.

* Rapid Assault E-frame #RA-678. One of the few two-seat E-frames in the Exofleet, this frame was optimized for ground combat and equipped with an impressive weaponry and battlefield surveillance devices. "Lt. Nara Burns" and Marsala shared one of these before Burns' promotion. Their "Algernon Upgrade" was a cloaking device (normally, it is impossible to mount one on an object that small).

* High Speed Stealth E-frame #RA-643. Most of this E-frame's armor and firepower was sacrificed in order to make it as aerodynamic, light and speedy as possible but despite its obvious atmospheric design, this model has been mostly used in the outer space. Probably because of its low production price, #RA-643 was by far the most common combat E-frame in the Neosapien Fleet. General Typhonus was especially fond of wielding one of these.

* Neofighter Space E-frame #EL-909. A standard issue of space and atmosphere only Neosapien E-frame, #EL-909 was Neosapien counterpart to #CR-001. Garrison Commander Thrax was famous for piloting a Neofighter of bright red color (similar to the "Red Baron" Manfred von Richthofen) that made it an excellent target for Exofleet fighters. However, due to Thrax's exceptional piloting skills, he has never been shot down.

* Troop Transport E-frame #AL-002. A huge battle machine of roughly the same size as #AA-569 and #RA-678, this E-frame was not only capable of transporting a number of ground troops in a special compartment, but also could be converted into a mobile battlefield command post. Livanus, the Chief of Earth Security, and General Draconis' final clone were among the most famous pilots of this frame.

* Neosapien Hovertank. The hovertanks were designed especially for ground combat on Earth immediately after the reconquest of Venus. Armored with up to six inches of Plasteel armor in some places, and with redundant systems, they were hard for anything with less power than an E-Frame to take down. In the counter-invasion of Earth, several tanks were seized by members of the North American Resistance when they attacked their production facility in Detroit, and were used to advance on "Phaeton City" (formerly, Chicago). They were intercepted by a column of Neosapien tanks at a cloverleaf interchange in Battle Creek, Michigan, where they engaged in a protracted tank battle on and around the freeway until the Exofleet wiped out the Neosapien forces with an orbital bombardment.

* Neosapien Security E-frame. These E-frames were not very often seen in the series, since it primarily focused on the war, while Security E-frames were rather clumsy and too weak for actual combat. They were most likely designed to deal with minor threats and not with other E-frames. Human resistance, however, has managed to make a fully functional battle E-frame out of it, that later became known as #DW-240.

External links

* [http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~pdanner/exo/techfile/index.html E-frame tech data at Patrick Danner's Exosquad page]