Enhanced Imaging

Developed by the Clans, Enhanced Imaging or EI is an advanced targeting and piloting system for use with humanoid shaped combat vehicles such as BattleMechs, battle armor and ProtoMechs. While offering considerable advantages, as well as serving as the only viable control method for ProtoMechs, EI inflicts serious side effects on the user, including possible mental instability, nerve damage and death. The Enhanced Imaging system combines two separate components, the first of which is an Enhanced Imaging Display. This advanced computer uses sensor data from friendly units in combination with pre-loaded terrain data to essentially create a more detailed "virtual reality" heads-up display. This component can be used by itself to aid in battlefield coordination and piloting, and by 3050 most Clan 'Mechs were equipped with EI Displays.

The second and more dangerous of the EI components are Enhanced Imaging Neural Implants, which only work in conjunction with EI displays. Implanted just beneath the skin and connected to the subject's central nervous system, these implants not only replace the need to wear Neurohelmets but allow a person to access the EI system by thought and communicate with their machine instantaneously for superior reflexes. The drawback to these implants are significant, with those implanted liable to suffer feedback from internal damage to their machines in the form of potentially lethal electrical shocks, along with increasing mental instability which in a matter of years renders them unfit for duty.

History
During the Clan Invasion, forces of the Inner Sphere first encountered warriors with EI implants in large numbers, leading them to believe the system was wide-spread in Clan toumans. In truth, about 5 percent of all Clan warriors choose to receive the implants, a recognition of their dangerous and painful side effects. The fact that EI warriors tend to operate in units together and that the system is more popular among Crusader-minded Clans, such as Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Smoke Jaguar, was responsible for the Inner Sphere's incorrect observations.

In the development of the ProtoMech, Clan Smoke Jaguar used EI technology as a solution to the problems they were having with developing these machines, namely the fact that there was no room for a Gyro or standard Cockpit. The ProtoMech Enhanced-Imaging System works on the same basic principle of allowing the ProtoMech pilot direct neural control, essentially making them feel and control the ProtoMech as if they actually were the machine. This eliminated the need for a mechanical balancing system and meant the cockpit could be much smaller and so fit within the ProtoMech frame. Additionally, the genetically-enhanced brains and circulatory systems of Trueborn aerospace pilots could better withstand the stress of EI usage and stave off some of the negative side effects.

In studying the potential for copying and using EI to build their own ProtoMechs, a number of Inner Sphere scientists discovered that EI implants could have medicinal benefits for people with certain degenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. When fitted with EI implants, volunteers could exert normal control over their bodies, although this effect only lasted for the two to five years until the drawbacks of implant usages took hold. This usage of volunteers, who would receive appropriate compensation, was considered slightly more palatable than the alternative of young children and early teenagers whose bodies were believed to be more resilient to the system's degenerative effects.

Although the Manei Domini developed a system similar to Enhanced Imaging for use in controlling their 'Mechs and vehicles, theirs was based on early DNI research not associated with the development of EI implants.

Enhanced Imaging Display
The Enhanced Imaging Display is a modular Heads-Up Display based on the Star League's Brain Wire program. Forming part of the Clans' Enhanced Imaging system, the EI display is an advanced battle computer which simplifies the warrior's battlefield view with an enhanced virtual reality display. By combining sensor information from surrounding friendly units with preloaded terrain data, the EI display constructs a virtual view of the battlefield which clearly identifies all targets as friendly or hostile and allows technical data on a selected unit to be called up with a simple command. Besides removing the need to look down at cockpit controls and preventing the warrior from being overloaded with unnecessary data, the virtual display also presents a moveable perspective, allowing the warrior to change his point-of-view to observe any area of the battlefield from any angle.

By the time of the Clan Invasion, most Clan BattleMechs were equipped with EI displays, although relatively few warriors had the Enhanced Imaging Neural Implants necessary to take the system to its full potential. While the implants greatly improved on the capabilities of the EI display, they were guaranteed hazardous to the long-term mental stability of the 'Mech pilot or Elemental so equipped.

Neural Implants
Enhanced Imaging Neural Implants formed part of the Clans' Enhanced Imaging system and were useful only when combined with a BattleMech, ProtoMech or Battle Armor equipped with an Enhanced Imaging Display. The implants themselves consisted of electronic sensors, fiber-optic wires and contact points connected to a warrior's central nervous system. Implanted just below the skin they were visible as faintly luminous lines in colors such as red, blue or green. Whether the color of the implants was an aesthetic choice or signified improvements in the technology was not known to the Inner Sphere, although Clan Jade Falcon warriors normally had implants which glowed green.

When used in combination with an EI Display, a Clan warrior with these neural implants was able to assimilate data and react to it reflexively, in a sense "jacking in" to their machine. Commands to the EI display could be issued by thought alone and the instant communication between pilot and machine allowed for superior reaction times. Furthermore, the implants replaced the need for a MechWarrior to wear a Neurohelmet.

The drawbacks to using the implants were quite significant. Since the pilot was directly connected to their machine's internal systems, any damage to them could cause feedback in the form of potentially lethal electrical shocks. Although a mental command could shut off the implants and prevent feedback, this could do nothing for the more serious long-term side effects.

The neural degradation caused by the implants had the effect of gradual mental instability over a warrior's lifetime. Within a year of implantation, most displayed the traits of paranoia and extremely abusive personalities, with some subjects suffering from additional side-effects such as introversion, Transit Disorientation Syndrome or night blindness. Over time, these traits worsen and more serious conditions develop, including amnesia and combat paralysis.

Clan scientists managed to develop drugs and therapy to combat these effects, however this required daily access to a Clan medical facility and at best could only delay the inevitable: within three years most EI warriors were rendered unfit for duty by catatonic insanity. The only permanent way to stop the mental deterioration of a warrior was to completely remove the EI implants, which prevented any further damage but did not cure any of the side-effects already suffered up to that point.

Board game
 In CBT play a unit equipped with EI receives a -1 to Piloting checks; adds a -1 modifier per hex of forest, jungle or smoke terrain it fires through to a minimum of +1; ignores darkness modifiers; and allows an Aimed Shot attack with an additional +2 modifier (total of +5), which changes to a -1 modifier if also equipped with a Targeting Computer or against an Immobile opponent (for a total of +2). If internal damage is suffered the pilot must pass a 2D6 roll or suffer damage equivalent to an internal ammunition explosion.

Specifications (implant)

 * Item: Enhanced Imaging (EI) Neural Implant
 * Equipment Ratings: F/X-X-D/F
 * Cost: 1,500,000
 * Affiliation: Clan
 * Notes: Grafted

Specifications (display)

 * Item: Enhanced Imaging Display
 * Equipment Ratings: F/X-X-D/F
 * Cost: 400,000
 * Affiliation: Clan
 * Mass: 5kg
 * Notes: Interface; Integrates with cockpit systems; +1 to Sensor Operations without EI implants

Role-playing game
 In the RPG, a warrior with EI implants operating a machine with an EI Display gains +1 to Piloting checks, ignore the negative effects of darkness modifiers, and may reduce negative modifiers for shooting through woods, jungle or smoke effects by 1 to a minimum of -1. If an EI-equipped 'Mech or ProtoMech suffers internal damage or a battle armor suit suffers damage which reduces its Tactical Armor value, a BOD+WIL check must be made and - if failed - cause 0E/2D damage which cannot be reduced by personal armor.