Kinetic Barrier

Kinetic barriers are a moderately powerful field which has two distinct forms among the Taeski. The first is as a wrist-mounted shield. This form, when activated, can protect the wearer from harm for a short time so long as he or she remains crouched down behind the shield. This is the weaker of the two variants, but still reasonably strong.

The second type of barrier is deployable - emerging from a small, square box and creating a curved wall to protect the user. This barrier is at least twice as powerful as its more portable cousins, but still has its weaknesses.

Both types of barrier function by displacing forward momentum to the sides. Doing so slows the oncoming object enough to where it simply falls to the ground. However, the barrier is still generated by an electronic device, meaning the use of an EMP against a kinetic barrier is extremely effective. The shield will drop immediately, and targets behind it will be struck by the shockwave as well. Other methods for felling a kinetic barrier, provided there are no EMPs to be found, include shelling it with heavy weapons such as rockets or simply drowning it in bullets. Sustained fire can weaken the barriers, eventually causing them to buckle and collapse, but this method drains ammunition reserves.

There are certain types of weapons, however, that ignore kinetic barriers. Certain models of Erythian weapons, particuarly plasma weapons, pass through a barrier with ease. Fendian weapons lack a solid projectile, firing compressed sound waves instead, and will not be hindered. Elorskran neurocannons, which fire a compressed ray of hard light generated by the user's natural bioelectricity, will immediately destroy even the most robust of kinetic barriers as well. Lastly, any of the upper echelon of Alintean sniper rifles, such as the ANU-Class, can penetrate the barrier while still leaving it intact.