The following day, Seven was alert in his cockpit, carefully observing the activities around the base. As a fly-on-the-wall, he had the advantage of being virtually undetectable in most public areas. Cameras were a common sight, and sometimes there were even microphones. People tended to speak more freely when they believed they were alone, unaware that Seven was silently observing them unless he deliberately revealed himself.
The dynamics and politicking among the different groups on the base intrigued Seven. The largest contingent belonged to Akira Global, who had brought along four pilot advisors. It was an impressive number, considering that most other companies struggled to field even four Gladiators, let alone concentrate them in a single region. The Akira Global representatives appeared highly enthusiastic about acquiring the technology within his mech, which raised concerns for Seven. If they only saw value in the tech and not in him as a pilot, they might have no reason to keep him around. Taking the mech apart to study its secrets could very well be a death sentence for him.
The next significant groups were Nova International and Vision Group. Nova had a long history as an energy conglomerate, dating back even before the war. They were somewhat enigmatic and not particularly talkative. Seven suspected they had a closed network that allowed their augments to communicate silently over short distances. However, Nova treated their pilots well, and there were plenty of intriguing characters among their ranks. For instance, there was Riot, a man who brought liveliness and excitement wherever he went, perhaps a little crazy. Additionally, there was a newcomer named Nagware, and with a name like that, Seven couldn't help but wonder how annoying she might be if grouped with them.
Vision Group, on the other hand, was a relatively new player on the scene. It was formed by smaller European corporations that found themselves surrounded by industry giants. They aimed to make a name for themselves, and their approach was proving to be quite interesting. They had acquired Moonraker's contract from one of their previous organizations. Moonraker was known for his eccentricities but displayed exceptional skill when inside a mech. He claimed to have the ability to see the future, and his uncanny ability to dodge bullets made people seriously consider the validity of his claims.
As for the other pilots from Vision Group, Seven didn't possess much knowledge about them. There was Vortex, a man with black hair and a black mech stationed in the bay across from Seven's own. He could only discern that Vortex's mech appeared lightweight and fast, but further details eluded him. Then there was Lady Faye, a newcomer who seemed to be around twenty years old. Piloting a mech at such a young age indicated her exceptional abilities. Her mech seemed ordinary, with average size, weight, and armament, painted in a vibrant green. Clearly, she was a novice.
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Almost unconsciously, Seven almost shook his head at the thought, but he refrained from doing so since his own mech was currently docked. He couldn't comprehend why most mechs, or 'Gladiators,' had abandoned camouflage. Perhaps it was due to marketing considerations? While modern sensors could render camouflage ineffective, even a white-colored mech like Seven's could blend into a desert backdrop, unlike the conspicuous verdant green chosen by Lady Faye. At least his own mech would fool some infantry soldiers.
Seven's digital musing was interrupted as he caught the tail end of a conversation among Vision Group executives in the hallway near the mess hall. The discussion revolved around the choice of a new name for Seven's mech.
"... Overkill is too aggressive, don't you think? Besides, the gladiator's firepower is not that impressive. I think Archangel would suit him much better. It's already painted white, and he possesses that mysterious otherworldly quality since no one will ever get to see the pilot," suggested one of the Vision execs, idly flicking a stray brown curl over her shoulder while cradling a tablet.
The man standing next to her appeared thoughtful. "I understand your point, but I highly doubt we've seen everything he is capable of. Nevertheless, note it down. I don't object to the name. What do you think, Faye?"
Faye, the redhead a half step behind the pair, replied, "Overkill is good, and it would make quite a statement compared to our current lineup. Archangel is also a solid choice, but it feels like it has bigger shoes to fill, especially from a marketing perspective." She paused, as if struck by a sudden thought. "Do you think we could play off his background or real name? Seven is obviously a codename."
The tall man leading the group snapped his fingers. "Great idea! What do we know about him? Sam?"
A man with blacked-out cybernetic eyes, Sam, responded while his gaze flickered back and forth across screens only visible to him. "His background is blank prior to his entry into the experimental program. According to the information we've been given, there is no mention of a family name or even something as basic as a blood type. The only clue we have about his identity is that they refer to the pilot as a male."
The woman from earlier chimed in excitedly, "And his voice! We can't overlook the impact of his synthetic voice, especially when it comes through speakers."
The conversation faded as the group turned a corner, leaving Seven out of earshot. The next hallway contained only a security camera, lacking any accompanying microphone.
A million thoughts raced through Seven's mind as he pondered the potential paths that lay before him. He was unsure whether he would have any say in the matter. Tomorrow, they might decide to withdraw from the deal entirely, or he could be bought and dismantled. Nevertheless, Seven found solace in the knowledge that it was unlikely a deal would be struck so soon. He wanted to look forward to tomorrow since it would mark his first fight with an audience, and he couldn't help but anticipate what lay ahead.