Mecha

Mecha's are earths version of the advanced weapon system brought to them by the Orath, invented and designed by the Daria and produced by the International Alliance Specialized Weapon Wing .   At the current date, there have been six generations of mecha developed on earth. Generations are designated by significant changes in frame design. This typically came with the advancement of the collider reactor, the compact partictle accelerator power source of the mecha or the transition further into antigravity engine over earth pre-existing propulsion systems. Mecha are humanoid shaped, typically single pilot craft, capable of fighting in the vacuum of space.  

1st Generation

The first-generation of mecha were mass produced units and identical. For flight and maneuverability, they were equipped with jet engines, a small array of antigravity engines and maneuvering jets. There were three types of equipment load outs: long-range artillery, medium-range versatile, close-range dog fight.  

2nd Generation

In the second-generation of mecha, specific frames were designed to better accommodated certain uses and load outs. All load outs were still designed to be compatible with all mecha, but certain kits were better utilized by different frames. Load outs were also more a case of chosen equipment rather than standardized packages. A variety of weapon in each range were being developed as well as additional tools or attachments, like ordinance pods, back up batteries, plantable explosives, etc.  

3rd Generation

In the third-generation frames further diversified with frames design for more specialized task or situations. More heavily armored units were designed alongside faster and even more maneuverable units. It is this third generation where the speed of mecha began to consistently out class the speed of Patena fighter craft as major advancement was made in anti-gravity engines and most traditional earth propulsion systems were removed from the designs entirely. The last significant change in the 3rd generation was the production of specialized mecha for Aces and Flight Commanders. Grim, Draco Cardinal are examples of these specialized frames.  

4th Generation

The 4th generation IAWSS mecha were made up of a very limited number of specialize units made for a handful of Aces. There were no mass production 4th generation mecha during the war. Post war the The Union, Junk Guilds, and Europa Alliance produce many mecha that had spec more in line with IAWSS's 4th gen mecha. Most post war factory made mecha are consider 4th generation. 4th generation mecha utilized the max output of the standard collider reactor and had a notable increase in operation time, top speeds, maneuverability, base line armor, and a focus on in atmosphere operation.

5th Generation

There are very few fifth-generation mecha currently. 5th generation mecha take advantage in a massive advancement in collider reactor technology made possible by the introduction of rare elements from the ice comet Ships. This advancement removed the artificial limitation that was preventing the utilization of 100 % current antigravity technology at the mecha's scale. These new reactors produce enough power and sustain them for a long enough period of time that was now viable to continue research other element of mecha technology that had been stalled by limited power output available at the mecha's scale. Currently only the Union and Junk Guilds have the resources to develop 5th generation units with the junk guild being able to produce unit at five times the rate as the Union.

6th Generation

Currently there is only one sixth-generation mecha, Radiant developed by Grappleand Allison having discovered advance collider reactor years earlier than the Union and Junk Guilds they were able to design the other systems to take advantage of the massive increase in output. This advancement included the first ever shields on a mecha, the most advance anti-gravity maneuvering system ever designed, omni Enviromental ordinance, and short-range energy-based projectile weapons.