In 2067, the first West Tek production model of powered infantry combat armor designated T-45 was rushed to the frontline to defend against the Chinese attackers. The invasion of Alaska in winter of 2066 forced the military and its contractors to cut corners and come up with a stop-gap solution. It further strained Sino-American relations, after the United States refused to share its crude oil reserves with the Asian superpower. Crude, but effective, the design was unveiled to the world in the summer of 2066. The most important achievement of this early stage of research was the development of a fusion cell. While early prototypes were unsuccessful, lessons learned in the process paved the way for future advances in military sciences, construction, and fusion. Mechanized cavalry units provided with them would retain the mobility of a soldier moving on foot while giving them the ability to use heavy weapons with ease. With the resource crisis severely limiting the ability of the United States military to deploy combat vehicles, especially tanks and other types of armor, it began research efforts to create self-powered combat suits in August 2065.
