Subdermal Armour

Subdermal armour is a type of lightweight armour that is placed under one's skin; as a cybernetic implant for organics, or an installed part for synthetics. As it is installed under the skin, it can cover the entire body more easily, including the head. It is also undetectable without special equipment, making it ideal for covert operations but more intrusive than other types of armour, and can offer higher levels of protection than dermal armour. It can also integrate with active camouflage systems like Tactical Persona, allowing the wearer to change their identity or effectively render themselves invisible.

The installation process for subdermal armour is highly intrusive. Early versions of the technology essentially required flaying the skin off of implantees, installing the armour, and then replacing the skin again with a special substrate that permitted blood flow; this also resulted in them losing all feeling in their skin, as severed nerves were not reconnected. However, advances in biotechnology in the 22nd century solved this issue, with gene editing allowing the body to reconnect the severed nerves itself; it was perfected in the 23rd century with the advent of nanomorphic surgery. Another modern variant of subdermal armour is the complete replacement of the skin with a synthetic alternative that combines both skin and the underlying armour; this has become popular, as it also makes it more resistant to surface abrasions, and can also offer protection against heat or chemical burns.