Tech's Helmet: Im finyish go fo Belta
So, a major plot point in Far Past the Ring is the simple fact that the layout and design of Tech's unique trooper helmet was copied, and taken back to the Ring Gate, where Belters have gone absolutely bananas over this fancy and ingenious design.
Belters live their lives in space completely, and having a helmet that is safe, comfortable, and practical, is crucial as life itself. In The Expanse, Belters often slap stickers or write their names on their helmets. I imagine, with more time and wealth, more decorations can take part, and it's a big plot point in the longfic, especially for Tro, pictured below in the bottom right.
Here's the OCs who have taken Tech's helmet design (which is called the 'Tekimang' style.
FYI: Tekimang is the Lang Belta word for an engineer, it literally translates to 'tech-man'! It becomes an ongoing joke that it's Tech's full name, lol.
Front view of the helmets.
Sjael Drummer: A chemical engineer who focuses on creating synthetic and organic sweeteners for human consumption, Sjael’s helmet is covered in elaborate flowers and fruits that she works closely with. You will see strawberries, blueberries, vanilla, and blossoms from potato and carrot plants. They are done in mixed Ojibwe/Rosemaling style, to signify her mixed First Nations and Scandinavian Earther heritage. I also designed it to also signify her archetype as Persephone and Idunn (coincidentally, the name of her Mulan-class gunship), bringers and guardians of life and all things green and growing.
Timon Chapelle: Timon is a firefighter, through and through. His helmet is covered in almost brutalist paintings of flames and ropes, all in reds, oranges, and yellows. The ‘ropes’ on his cheeks are almost Celtic in design, as in some ways, he is a keeper of multiple facets of knowledge as a Belter elder.
Hobbs Chapelle: “If an elementary school kid designed a helmet”. Hobbs is obsessed with animals, especially his two pet cats, and becomes enamored with the idea of Wookiees and other sentient species after meeting clone troopers from the 41st. He not only has his cats' paws on his helmet's front, but a stylist design of Wookiee handprints and claw marks on the ears and visor, made to look like they were painted with mud. The circles on top of the helmet signify his homes of Ganymede, Ceres, and now Medina Station.
Tro Chapelle: A budding artist and high school freshman, Tro’s helmet designs is all over the place, as are her interests. Very much a teen's notebook style, a girl still figuring out her place in the universe. Her helmet's ears have the design of her great-grandmother’s ‘freedom quilt’ from Earth that was destroyed in the Ganymede attack. Her visor has her name in Ojibwe from the Drummer side. The rest of her helmet is covered in various paint jobs to symbolize elements of fire, air, water, and earth–things that she is thrilled to see now that she is on the station.
Side view of the helmets.
Tagging my Belter loving beratnas out there: @skellymom @thecoffeelorian @supremechancellorrex @sued134 @amalthiaph @littlefeatherr @eyecandyeoz @eelfuneral @notavalidusername @sometimes-i-talk-a-lot @rocicrew @perfectlywingedcrusade @autistic-artistech @that-salmonberry-punk @dukeoftheblackstar @freesia-writes @just-shower-thoughts
