The Mech Touch

as an intricate dance between competing mech designers.
Every company employs spies who are often put to work in keeping tabs on their most important competitors. ”

”There are a lot of mech companies in the Republic and even more in the galaxy.
It ’s impossible to keep tabs on them all. ”

”That is true, but there are always a number of mech designers who form a more direct threat to the market shares of your products.
For example, right now you are in the process of designing a super-medium space knight with the professor.
What if right after you publish the design, the entire mech community immediately turns against it? You can ’t rule out the possibility that a competitor got wind of your design and laid the groundwork for an overwhelmingly negative reaction from the public. ”

Such a possibility would be ruinous for the prospects of his design.
Ves widened his eyes as he started to consider if spies had somehow managed to worm their way into the LMC and caught wind of the joint design project.

While SASS did a decent job in providing allround security, Ves wasn ’t reassured that they were equipped to stop the most determined spies.

Hearing about the many ways in which his enemies and competitors could ruin the success of his mech design, Ves began to consider his response in the event of a coordinated action.

In times like these, Ves could sorely use a spy by his side.
He recalled his plan to set up a shadow force under his control.
He just needed to recruit a reliable spy to take charge, which was nearly impossible in his eyes.

To Ves, there was no such thing as a trustworthy spy!

Interacting with intelligence operatives such as Calabast or Leland made that abundantly clear.
The rules they abide by was so far removed from the norm that they wouldn ’t hesitate to stab their mothers in the back if they could get ahead in some way!

Ves tired of talking about spies.
Instead of worrying about something which he had little means to deal with other than to intensify his security arrangements, he would rather focus on his original purpose.

A few days passed by until the transport vessel bearing the prototype finally arrived at the testing facility.
Ves personally supervised the inspections on the mech to make sure it hadn ’t incurred any damage of tampering during the transportation process.

Fortunately, aside from coming under the influence of cosmic radiation, everything appeared to be in order.

The first prototype of the Aurora Titan design was ready for testing!

The testing facility employed their own test pilots, and the one responsible for testing defensive mechs had already studied the documentation on the Aurora Titan.

Ves in fact wrote most of the documentation himself.
He provided a fairly detailed instruction manual which elaborated extensively on the uses of the Aurora Titan ’s two gimmicks.

Even so, Ves did not expect any mech pilot to get the hang of the polarizing module and the alien crystals instantly.
This was why he decided to meet the test pilot just before she was about to enter the cockpit of the mech for the very first time.

”So you ’re the test pilot, right? ”

The short woman garbed in a piloting suit nodded.
”Correct, Mr.
Larkinson.
I have fifteen years of experience in test piloting various space knights and striker mechs.
I ’m also proficient in test piloting heavy mechs. ”

Ves felt relieved that the test pilot already possessed an abundant amount of experience in testing different mechs.

”Do you understand the features of the Aurora Titan? ”

”Somewhat.
While I have never worked with a polarizing module before, I know the theory.
I have already tried out mechs that makes use of a polarizing module in the simulators.
I think I can get the hang of its use in a couple of days. ”

Ves quizzed the test pilot some more and found to his satisfaction that she was well prepared to put the prototype to its paces.

The test pilot also took the opportunity to ask her own questions.

”The documentation states that the Aurora Titan is oriented towards defense.
How much does offense play a role? ”

”Not that much.
Don ’t strain the mech over its limits when you perform offensive maneuvers. ”

”It ’s my job to push the mech to its limits, sir.
Even if your mech isn ’t designed to launch attacks, we ’ll be testing its offensive capabilities if only to see how bad it is at offense. ”

Ves did not expect good results from those tests.
The Aurora Titan was way too heavy and immobile to launch any attacks on its own.

After Ves and the test pilot finished speaking to each other, the station manager invited Ves and Ketis to a monitor center.

A large row of terminals and projections greeted them as they entered the monitoring center.
Various specialists and technicians manned the terminals in preparation for the latest test.

Once the test pilot settled into the brand-new cockpit of the prototype, she activated the mech for the first time.
With the press of a button, the entire cockpit lit up in radiant splendor.

All the systems that came online caused a small hum to emanate from the Aurora Titan.
Several lights lit up and its compacted wings already started to unfold a little.

The Aurora Titan activated successfully!

”It ’s a success! The prototype is online and operating according to normal parameters! ”

Ves already knew that the prototype wouldn ’t stutter upon activation.
He possessed way too much confidence in his own work to fear any setbacks.

Instead, he turned his attention to the telemetry related to the test pilot.
What he wanted to know was what the test pilot experienced when she interfaced with the prototype.
Had she already come under the influence of the prototype ’s X-Factor?

Eventually, Ves decided to patch into the communication channel and ask the pilot directly.

”What do you feel? ”

”It ’s..
big. ” She uttered.
”The mech is very expansive.
I am feeling some urges that I have never felt when I test piloted other mechs. ”

That sounded interesting.

”Can you describe your urges? ”

”It ’s faint, but… I feel as if I ’m piloting the embodiment of an exobeast instead of a mech! ”

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