The REEF worked on a design of power armor for fire support for the lighter power armors the REEF operates and on of the early idea was a modified Glitter boy. Many of the features were relatively easy to decide but there were several different variations on weapon systems before the one on the Defender were decided. One of the most popular was to have grenade launchers on forearms much like the Super SAMAS but that was dropped favor of having more mini-missile launchers. Another was to have the vibro claws of the super SAMAS but that was so dropped in favor of the power armor carrying a powerful vibro sword.

In field tests, this design has been proven very capable. While primarily designed for fire support, the armor can defeat almost all power armor types and against the new Coalition Glitter Boy Killers, this design can probably fight from three to four of them before being overwhelmed.

In physical appearance, the armor looks like a USA-G10 with the helmet redesigned to look like that of a knight, a much redesigned cannon, and missile launchers in various places in the body of the Power Armor. The REEF has all of its Glitter Boys coated with a thin plating of a non reflective material and are normally painted in either greys or camouflage.

The Defender Glitter Boy is much heavier armed than the standard USA-G10 that is the most common glitter boy design found on Rifts Earth and has many different weapon systems. The central weapon system weapon system is the PB-20 from the USA-G14 Space Glitter Boy. It is mounted on the shoulder like the USA-G14 as well and leaves the Glitter Boys arms free. The backup laser has been upgraded to a more powerful laser that allows for three round burst and is variable frequency. The armor also carries a hand held Shemerrian rail gun as a secondary weapon and for use against targets that are impervious to energy. The armor carries a large number of mini-missiles, a total of 56 mini-missiles. The armor carries four in each shoulder, twelve around each lower arm, six on the outside of each upper leg, and six on the outside of the lower leg. The armor has a large two handed vibro sword for situations that call for melee combat.

Other features that have been added to the design to make it more effective. The armor does not have the recoil suppression system and instead can carry various special backpacks including a jet pack or a medium range missile launching system. The armor has a super heavy Naruni force field for defense. The armor of the Defender is far different than a standard Glitter Boy. It keeps the high protection value and laser resistance of the standard armor but is designed as a series of sandwiched layers that each layers reflects at a different frequency meaning that a variable frequency laser needs to keep being reset to different frequencies. The defender has an 80% part compatibility with the Standard USA-G10.

Model Type: REEF-PA04 "Defender" Glitter Boy
Class: Laser Resistant Armored Infantry Personnel Assault Unit
Crew: One.

M.D.C. by Location:

	PB-20 Particle Beam Cannon (Right Shoulder):	175
	[1] Shemerrian Rail Gun (1):	90
	[1] Shoulder Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	100 each
	[1] Forearm Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	200 each
	[1] Upper Leg Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	150 each
	[1] Lower Leg Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	150 each
	[2] Head:	290
	[1] Hands (2):	100 each
	Arms (2):	270 each
	Legs (2):	450 each
	[3] Main Body:	770
	Reinforced Pilot's Compartment:	110
	Backpacks Systems (Two Different Designs):	225 each.
	[4] Force Field (N-50 Robot):	320

Notes:
[1] These locations are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a "called shot," but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[2] Note that the Head is -3 in addition to normal called shot penalties to hit. Destroying the head will expose the pilot's head, leaving only the pilot's body armor helmet as its only protection. Note: The head is a small and difficult target to hit. Thus, it can only be hit when a character makes a called shot and even then the attacker is -3 to strike.
[3] Depleting the Main Body MDC will shut the Glitter Boy down making it useless.. Note: All Power Armor locations are laser resistant. Each layer of armor is 100 MDC. A variable laser weapon must be reset every 100 MDC or it will only do half damage. If a laser does enough damage to damage the next layer, it will only do half damage to the next layer if set to do full damage to the layer above.
[4] The force field will stop energy attacks and fast moving objects. Slow moving objects can pas through. It Regenerates 1 MDC per melee unless overloaded and then cannot be activated for 12 hours if overloaded. The force field pulls its power off of the power plant.

Speed:
Running: 60 mph (96 km) Maximum. Does not need to plant to fire main cannon so can be continually in motion.
Leaping: the powerful robot legs can leap up to 12 feet (3.6 m) high or across without the use of jet thrusters. Add 10 feet (3 m) with a running start. With Flight Pack attached, the Defender can jump 120 feet (36.6 m) up or across.
Flight: With the addition of the Flight Backpack, the Defender can fly at up to 60 mph (96 km). Maximum altitude is limited to 300 feet (91.4 m). Without Flight backpack, armor cannot fly.
Flying Range: The nuclear power supply gives the Defender decades of life but the jet rockets get hot and need to cool after a maximum of 2 hours of continuous flight.
Underwater Capabilities: It can also walk along the bottom of the sea at about 25% of its normal running speed. Using the flight pack, the Defender Glitter Boy can travel on the surface of water at 17.3 mph ( 27.8 km/15 knots), underwater at 11.5 mph (18.5 km/10 knots) or fly above the water surface an normal speeds.
Maximum Ocean Depth: 2000 feet (610 m).

Statistical Data:
Height: 10 feet, 8 inches (3.25 m) not including particle beam
Width: 4 feet, 4 inches (1.3 m)
Length: 3 feet 6 inches (1.1 m) without backpack for main body. 4 feet 2 inches (1.27 m) with Backpack for main body
Weight: 2605 lbs (1182 kg/ 1.3 tons) fully loaded.
Physical Strength: Equal to Robotic P.S. 30.
Cargo: Minimal storage space; a foot compartment and storage for a rifle, pistol, survival knife, and first aid kit.
Power System: Nuclear Fusion, average energy life is 25 years
Black Market Cost: Not for sale, if available would probably cost around 40 million credits

Weapon Systems:

1. PB-20 Rapid Acceleration Particle Beam Cannon: Unlike the original Boom Gun, this weapon does not require use of the right arm to fire/stabilize it. The Particle Beam Cannon requires huge amounts of power and has a limited payload. Because of the limited payload, the REEF version carry a more powerful laser as a backup weapon. The backup laser is a copy of the TX-41 mounted in place of the light laser. The weapon has 12 different possible frequencies to counter laser resistant armor. Number 7 counters USA-10 Glitter boy and all other setting are designed to counter other laser resistant materials. Other than the laser being replaced, this is the weapon pictured on the Glitter Boy on the cover of "Mutants in Orbit". Weapon has an Integral laser targeting system.
   Weight: 660 lbs (117 kg)
   Mega-Damage: Particle Beam: 4D6x10 per blast. Variable Frequency Laser: 3D6 for one pulse , 1D6x10 for three pulse burst. (Each costs 1 attack)
   Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-6)
   Maximum Effective Range: Particle Beam: 11,000 feet (about 2 miles/ 3.2 km) Variable Frequency Laser: 4,000 feet (1,200 m).
   Payload: Particle Beam: 20 blasts in a capacitor. The capacitor regenerates 1 shot per minute. Variable Frequency Laser: Effectively unlimited.
2. Shemerrian Rail Gun: It is an additional weapon system that supplements the ion cannons when they run low on shots and for targets that are impervious to energy. Silver rounds are sometimes used for special targets. Weapon has an integral laser targeting system
   Weight: 128 lbs (57.6 kg), belt: 30 lbs (13.6 kg)
   Mega-Damage: 2D6x10 per round
   Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-6) fired as aimed or Wild
   Effective Range: 6000 ft (1,828 m)
   Payload: 220 rounds per belt. Can also use 12 Round magazines
3. Defender Mini-Missile Launching Packs: Similar in many ways to those carried on the Striker SAMAS. Four launcher are located on either side in the upper chest/shoulder of the armor. Each forearm has twelve more launchers. On the outside of both the upper and lower leg are six mini missile launchers. Normally several of the mini-missiles carried will be concussion mini-missiles.
   Missile Type: Any mini-missile can be used. Most common issue is 24 Armor Piercing, 24 Plasma, and 8 Concussion mini missiles
   Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Range: Varies with missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 12.
   Payload: 56 total.
4. Two Handed Vibro Sword: On the back of the power armor on the left of the backpack is a special 8 foot (2.4 meter) high density vibro sword. This weapon give the power armor a powerful melee weapon.
   Weight: 120 lbs (54.5 kg)
   Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 per slash.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-6) fired as aimed.
   Effective Range: Hand to hand only
   Payload: Draws off of power armors power supply and is effectively unlimited
5. Backpacks: The most commonly used backpack is the flight backpack but medium range missile launcher backpack is also available when needed. Backpack is attacked or detached by a set of powered locking mechanisms. This means that the backpack can be dropped instantly if necessary (such as the pack is badly damaged) and with the assistance of another power armor, the backpacks can be attached in two and a half minutes (10 melees). Some Elite pilots can lay down to attack the jet pack without assistance and then can use thrusters to stand power armor up.
   1. Flight Backpack: While the Defender Glitter Boy is slower in flight than most power armors with this Jet pack, it still greatly increases the power armors mobility. This jet pack is commonly used to clear obstacles or to avoid minefields and traps
      Weight: 400 lbs (181.6)
      Flight: With the addition of the Flight Backpack, the Defender can fly at up to 60 mph (96 km). Maximum altitude is limited to 300 feet (91.4 m).
      Flying Range: The nuclear power supply gives the Defender decades of life but the jet rockets get hot and need to cool after a maximum of 2 hours of continuous flight.
   2. Medium Range Missile Backpack: This backpack give the Defender Glitter boy a very long range weapon system. This system has no flight capabilities but has four medium range missile. Normally the most powerful warheads are used and are normally smarm missiles. The launcher itself is fairly inexpensive and is designed to be able to be discarded
      Missile Type: Any medium range missile can be used.
      Mega-Damage: Varies with missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Range: Varies with missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, or 4.
      Payload: 4 total.
6. Energy Rifles or Rail Guns: The Defender Glitter Boy does not have a standard issue hand weapon besides the Shemerrian rail gun. Any other rail gun or human sized rifle can be used by the Katana SAMAS and can fire most large rifles (TX-41 Rifle for example) as one handed weapons.
7. Hand to Hand Combat: Rather than use a weapon, the power armor can engage in mega damage hand to hand combat. See Power Armor Combat for details.
   Combat Bonuses: Same as a USA-G10, +1 on initiative, +1 to parry and dodge, and +3 to roll with punch, fall, and impact. All bonuses are in addition to normal power armor training.

Sensors & Special Equipment:
The Defender Glitter Boy has all standard sensors of a power armor plus the following extra systems (Standard Systems on the USA-G10)

• Thermo Imager: A special heat sensor that allows the infrared radiation of warm objects to be converted into a visible image. Enable the Pilot to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke. Range: 2,000 ft (610 m).
• Infrared and Ultraviolet Optics: The optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye. The infrared beam enables the pilot to see in the dark and to see other infrared beams. The ultraviolet system enables the pilot to see into the ultraviolet spectrum of light and is mostly used to detect the light beams of ultraviolet detection systems. Note: The infrared light beam can be seen by anybody who has infrared optics, and the beam can be tracked to its source. Smoke impairs the beam making it impossible to see.
• Advanced Laser Targeting: The power has special laser targeting systems built onto both the Particle Beam Cannon and the Shemerrian Rail gun. This gives the pilot a +2 bones with both the Particle Beam and the Shemerrian Rail gun.

[ Naruni TM, Shemarrian TM, and Coalition TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]
[ Robotech® is a registered trademark owned and licensed by Harmony Gold USA, Inc. ]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 1998, Kitsune. All rights reserved.