Name: Subdermal Reinforced Tissue Mesh, more commonly known as Musclewire Description: "So it'll make me stronger?" "Technically no." I looked at the grid mesh sleeves of some glassy, jelly-like material the augmenter kept in a pair of plastic tubs. "... Then what do they do?" "Human musculature is much stronger than it permits itself. Were a human to use their full strength they would tear their very tissue apart. That's what the mesh prevents. It reinforces the tissue while precision electrodes permit minute control of muscle impulses to allow maximum muscle contraction at will." "... Cool…" Typically taking the form of a semi-translucent mesh of carbon nanotubes and electrodes, suspended in a bio-compatible jelly. This mesh is wrapped around and pressed into the musculature of an organic user, fusing with individual muscle fibres and ligaments. Several variants exist for different organic species in order to easily interface with their unique biochemistries and muscular anatomy. Abilities: + Enhanced Musculature: By reinforcing a user's musculature and permitting precise control of their muscles, the user is able to push their ordinary muscles much further than normally possible. + Explosive Control: Musclewire allows fine control and application of the users explosive strength, allowing them to move their limbs considerably faster. Conditional Abilities: + Strength Dependent: The increase in strength offered by musclewire is highly dependent on the innate strength of the user. A user can for instance expect to see a roughly 20-50% increase in how much they can lift depending on how much of their body is clad in musclewire. + Self-regenerating: The mesh is suspended in a self-regenerating membrane that is able to heal itself if the mesh is damaged. The rate of this self-regeneration is about on par with ordinary wound regeneration. + Cheap: Musclewire is considerably cheaper to produce and obtain than conventional bionics. + EMP-proof: Musclewire is a very simple augment and insulated by the organic body, making it effectively EMP-proof. Limitations: - Biological: Ultimately, musclewire is limited by biology, and as such cannot surpass it. Bionic and mechanical limbs designed for combat can easily supersede the strength and speed offered by musclewire. - Taxing: Due to the main controlling process being careful application of electronic signals and release of adrenaline and epinephrine, a user's muscles get very exhausted very quickly. Once the effects of adrenaline settle, a user will feel tired and sore after exerting themselves to a point where the musclewire kicks in. The severity is dependent on duration and intensity of use and can lead to excessive- or in extreme cases chronic- muscle pain. - Damaged: Although the mesh can heal from minor injuries in much the same way the body will, excessive or repeated damage will destroy the mesh, necessitating its replacement. The mesh however never ceases functioning, and if significant portions of the mesh are missing or damaged, its use can lead to severe internal damage, such as torn muscles, damaged ligaments and internal bleeding. Conditional limitations: - Traumatic: The installation of musclewire can best be described as traumatic on the body, requiring highly invasive surgery to implant. Significant time must be spent recovering after installation. There is also a period of acclimatization to the increased strength and speed. How does it work: In most organic species muscles are naturally prevented from contracting at full strength in most circumstances. This is due to most organic muscles being strong enough to tear themselves apart. Though the body is able to regulate this through the release of adrenaline and epinephrine, this control is largely a subconscious process as a fight or flight response. Musclewire puts the control of this process into the metaphorical (and in many cases literal) hands of the user. The structure of musclewire is remarkably simple. A lattice of reinforcing carbon nanotubes and a series of electrodes, clad in a thin membrane made of a biocompatible, self regenerating jelly. This mesh is placed above the desired muscle, just below the subcutaneous tissue. An incision is made on the portion of skin immediately above the area to be augmented, and the skin is peeled back to expose the muscle. The mesh is implanted over the area and pulled taught, allowing the mesh to interface directly with the individual muscle fibres. The skin is then placed back over the muscle (or replaced with a synthetic replica). Blood vessels are then allowed to heal through the biocompatible jelly, with the membrane essentially forming another layer of subdermal, synthetic tissue. A brain implant is also installed to permit direct interfacing with the musclewire. The result is a considerable effective increase of the user's strength and speed, as the muscle can flex and maintain form with more force and explosively contract with greater speed. As muscles are not individual structures but rather a collective system, a few enhanced muscles will only give limited yield. In order to gain maximum effect from the augment, a significant portion of the body must be enhanced. For instance, in order to gain the most of your lifting capacity you not only need to enhance your arm muscles, but also your core and back muscles, as well as potentially your legs. Although the musclewire does provide some additional strength to the user on account of it hardening and reinforcing their innate musculature, most of the additional strength is actually inherent to the user. That means the stronger the user is the more effective the implant will be. While it does not prevent muscle tearing entirely (as some is still necessary for the user to be able to build/maintain their strength) the augment greatly reduces the rate at which this happens when the muscles are at complete exertion. In addition, through careful application of electric signals, the implant can precisely apply adrenaline and epinephrine, allowing the user greatly heightened control of their muscles while also stimulating muscle growth. Flavor text: As a cheap alternative to full bionic replacements, musclewire sees extensive use amongst the scum of the galaxy. Gang members, pirates, smugglers and a notable quotient of economists make extensive use of the augment in order to bolster their own strength. Attainability: (Open) Tags: [Industrial] Category: Prosthetics
