As a relatively isolated community, CSEIA has constantly striven to strengthen their self-sufficiency and independence. In an attempt to find an alternative to costly imported shield systems, the CSEIA has developed Tungsten Energized Armor.

Energized armor is composed to two separate plates, separated by an insulating material. One of the armor plates holds an enormous electrical charge, while the other acts as a ground. When a penetrator pierces the insulating material, a connection is formed between the charged plate and the grounded plate. This releases the enormous electrical charge through the penetrator, causing it to vaporize instantly. Converted to a heated gas the, penetrator becomes effectively harmless.

Lower capacitor charges can vaporize pre-heated matter, such as explosive shaped charges and certain plasmas. At higher charges, the discharge can also vaporize solids such as projectiles. Unfortunately, energized armor offers little in defense against energy and massless weapons.

In an attempt to compensate for this weakness, CSEIA has began manufacturing energized armor with tungsten composites. Tungsten has a higher melting point than any other non-alloy in existence, as well as robust durability on par with that of depleted uranium. By using tungsten composites, energized armor has a much higher resistance to energy weapons than it would otherwise, as well as a healthier defense against projectiles.

The end result is known as Energized Tungsten Armor. The relatively low cost of tungsten combined with the simplistic design of energized armor results in a cheap and easy to produce defense superior to other lo-tech armors. While not a widespread technology, it is an excellent alternative to more advanced technology such as shield systems or advanced alloys like Durandium.

Written by Strangelove. Approved by Wes on November 12, 2006¹⁾.