Projected Energy Shield

A projected energy shield is the blanket-term used to identify any device that creates a shield from a projected energy cell. Projected energy shields are primarily used in combat, and are often attached to armored vehicles, since ballistic object can pass through from the inside, but not the outside.

Classifications
There are two ways that manufacturers and scientists classify projected energy shields.

Energy Type
There are three types of energy that can power a projected energy shield; plasma, proton, and hardlight. Plasma energy shields are the cheaper of the three, and produce a transparent blue, white, or purple surface that glows quite brightly, depending on it's power. Plasma energy shields cannot (under any circumstances) recharge, and require a new plasma cell after it has shut off. Proton energy shields are similar, but glow a fainter orange or red, and can recharge if they are shut off for a short period of time. Finally, hardlight shields are the most recent and expensive invention in energy shield technology. They glow a brilliant white-blue and are almost impossible to breach through standard means. However, their power source must be recharged very often, or be connected to a ginormous power source, often not fit for portable use.

Power Grade
To describe the amount of collective stopping power and durability that an energy shield has, manufacturers assign their products a power grade. There are four power grades, from 1 to 4.
 * Power Grade 1: The energy shield is quite flimsy and will not protect you from a flurry of deadly blows, and is essentially a high-tech Kevlar vest.
 * Power Grade 2: The energy shield has decent endurance, but is a far cry from blocking an explosive round.
 * Power Grade 3: The energy shield is fit for military use, and can take a beating.
 * Power Grade 4: The energy shield cannot be broken through standard means.