Standard issue Frontiersmen nano-armor consists of a breastplate, helmet, and arm and leg sheaths. It is made from a plastic/ceramic hybrid of tremendous strength and resiliency. Beneath its outer layer are millions of egg-shaped nodules designed to first resist impact, and then shatter, releasing the kinetic energy of the blow to their neighbors and so distributing the force as quickly and widely as possible. If breached, the armor reseals its outer skin. It then distributes its remaining mass equally, creating new nano-eggs, thinning their number and thickness to compensate. So while the armor doesn't technically heal itself, no part of it is ever weaker than any other, and it maintains integrity up to its last armor point – though by that stage it has become paper thin.

Heavy armor works on the same principle, but has so many layers of defensive nano that very little damage makes it through. For more information on heavy armor, click here.

Welders can repair any armor, pumping new nanos directly into its structure.