RIGsuit critical injury survival module

[Sniblet]

Space is dangerous. That’s good!

But, I think it’s a little absurd how dangerous it is in the year 246X, where every civilization that matters is confidently interstellar-spacefaring. I’m thinking of reavers. If you suffer a significant bleed in space and you’re not like two minutes away from a pressurized environment to deal with it in, your story ends there, unless you’ve got like top of the line space ninja gear. Often even then. Having friends nearby to support you makes no difference.

I’m thinking about that last bit most of all. Incentivizing people not to travel alone.

 

Hardsuits designed for intensive combat or exploration missions - wherever a bleed is expected - are often outfitted with a crisis lockup module, which builds upon the basic RIG function of actively supporting fractures. If the crisis lockup module is toggled on, an external user will be able to operate a manual lever that, if unlocked and quickly cranked (right click your friend, click the button, and give them a few seconds in which they can resist you), massively, uncomfortably tightens the RIG around its wearer, serving as a dumb awkward tourniquet for all injuries. Unfortunately, this swiftly becomes painful enough to remember for the rest of an otherwise boring lifetime, and even if it weren’t, the RIG is made too stiff to move in. It’s quite effective for mitigating bleeding, though.

There are records of this module being maliciously exploited to incapacitate users. The manufacturer recommends toggling the module off if ever this is a serious concern, especially when the user does not expect to face vacuum.

In order to anticipate a variety of hostile conditions, the system must be strictly manual and mechanical. This means the lever function is non-negotiable, and the user, due to a simple issue of angles, cannot operate the lever themself. You’re not exploring space alone, anyway. Are you?

The expected outcome of a crisis lockup trigger is the RIGsuit being cut off of the user. However, in case there was no emergency after all, or for whatever reason you really expect the user to manually remove their RIG for treatment after going through the pain of a lockup, it can be disengaged by simply cranking the lever in reverse.

 

For mostly military applications, an electronic, self-activated, and even optionally automatic variant of the crisis lockup module is available. Since it is susceptible to dramatic failures caused by either exotic environmental conditions (EMP), simple degradation, or remote sabotage, you’re not going to see corporate security or random industrial workers using it. Those who can expect to have outside aid in a crisis would be expected to go manual. You’d have to be, like, anticipating some sort of antagonistic relationship to most of those who might otherwise rescue you. Lone spacers might also carry it, though it’s generally thought of as a means to make a slow, painful death slower and more painful.

Edited February 13 by Sniblet