Materials Group

Materials Group
Logo The Damascus Materials Testing Facility on Chi Ceti IV.
Organizational information
Leader(s):	VADM Danforth Whitcomb (2551)
Associations:	Office of Naval Intelligence Beta-5 Division
Chronological and political information
Affiliation(s):	Office of Naval Intelligence

Materials Group is a division of Section Three of the Office of Naval Intelligence posing as a government-contracted technology firm, that is responsible for researching, developing, and manufacturing technologically advanced matériel. The Materials Group's most important development has been the design of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor and the powered exoskeletons which preceded it, as well as several specialized variant models.

Overview

Products

Vehicles

• XRP12 Gremlin

Armor

MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN1]

• MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV
  • GRENADIER-class Mjolnir
  • EOD-class Mjolnir
  • EMIL-class Mjolnir
  • EVA-class Mjolnir
  • ISIDOR-class Mjolnir
  • THEODOR-class Mjolnir
  • ULRICH-class Mjolnir
  • WILHELM-class Mjolnir
  • XANTIPPE-class Mjolnir
  • YPSILON-class Mjolnir
  • ZACHARIAS-class Mjolnir
  • ÄRGER-class Mjolnir
• MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark V
  • HAZOP-class Mjolnir
  • RECON-class Mjolnir
  • SCOUT-class Mjolnir
• MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI
  • EOD-class Mjolnir
  • EVA-class Mjolnir
  • MIRAGE-class Mjolnir
  • SCOUT-class Mjolnir
  • RECON-class Mjolnir
  • Project HAYABUSA - Originally an independent powered armor project by the RKD think-tank, a MJOLNIR-compatible HAYABUSA variant was later developed after Materials Group contacted and pooled resources with RKD.
• MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VII - The fourth and most recent major iteration of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN1]. The armor's cost led it to be phased out of production.

MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2] - The second generation of MJOLNIR armor, replacing GEN1 (Mark IV-VII).

• DECIMATOR-class Mjolnir
• EVA-class Mjolnir
• PROTECTOR-class Mjolnir
• SCANNER-class Mjolnir
• SCOUT-class Mjolnir
• SOLDIER-class Mjolnir
• WARRIOR-class Mjolnir

MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN3] - The third generation of MJOLNIR armor, replacing the former two MJOLNIR generations.

• ARMET-class Mjolnir
• CELOX-class Mjolnir
• Mark V Zeta
• Mark VI
• Mark VII
• MENACHITE-class Mjolnir
• SOLDIER-class Mjolnir

Other armor

• ARTAIUS-class Mjolnir - Compatible with GEN2 and GEN3 MJOLNIR.
• LANCER-class Mjolnir
• Mark VI CBRN - Compatible with the OSTEO combat engineering suit.
• Mirage IIC
• SQUIRE-class Mjolnir
• TALON-class flight helmet - Compatible with GEN3 MJOLNIR.

Facilities

Known Materials Group facilities are:

Planet	Location	Facility Name/Facility Role
Chi Ceti IV	Vhalkem	Damascus Materials Testing Facility
Earth	Swanbourne, Australia	WG/Facility 58-32/B5D
Ganymede	Lister, Aigburth	Low/Zero Gravity Testing Facility
KC-59	Orbit	Perihelion Station
Algolis		Weapons Research Facility T12A

History

Insurrection

Main article: Insurrection

During the early years of the Insurrection in the late 25th century, Materials Group developed the X23 Non-Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse Cannon, which was designed to disable weapons of mass destruction before detonation. Though this technology had existed since the 20th century, the X23 was the first truly precise application of the technology. Once Materials Group deemed that the X23 was a viable tool, it was mounted on a transport chassis; this resulted in the creation of the XRP12 Combat Support Vehicle, commonly known as the Gremlin.

Unimpressed with previous attempts at producing powered exoskeletons but requiring a battle suit to complement her Spartan-IIs, Catherine Halsey sought to develop an entirely new battle suit from the ground up. Working with Materials Group, she founded Project: MJOLNIR to achieve this aim, which Halsey felt was the realization of the goals of previous failed power armour and exoskeleton projects. However, MJOLNIR, rather than being a bulky powered exoskeleton, would be a self-contained, nearly form-fitting body suit; it would augment the wearer's physical abilities to superhuman levels, though it would require dangerous genetic modification to function safely. The first production model of MJOLNIR was developed at Materials Group's Damascus Materials Testing Facility on Chi Ceti IV, and was introduced to the recently graduated Spartans on November 27, 2525.

Human-Covenant war

When the Damascus facility was attacked by the Covenant vessel Unrelenting on November 27, 2525, the SPARTAN-IIs were deployed to destroy the ship, resulting in the death of Samuel-034. The Covenant then deployed a science lance to the facility to retrieve any useful technology, though this incursion was seemingly unsuccessful, as Materials Group held the facility throughout the Human-Covenant War. The Damascus facility's staff developed both the EOD and Grenadier variants of the MJOLNIR system.