As the meeting dragged on, Seven's attention began to wander, and he found himself delving into the profiles of the attending pilots. Surprisingly, he couldn't find any information about their real names on the internet. Instead, they all seemed to be known by code names, which he realized were their "Gladiator" names—the names created by the marketing departments for the purpose of promoting mech combat through highlight reels, toys, and t-shirts. He had lost touch with the media while being stuck, as his access was limited to the Calypso network, which primarily featured scientific articles and lacked a wide range of entertainment options. Seven couldn't even remember how many times he had watched “Into the depths of Mars”.
As he scanned the list of pilot names in front of him, such as Machine God, Moonraker, Symphony, and Riot, he wondered what his Gladiator name would be. He noticed that the veterans' profiles were relatively well-documented, but there was scarce information available on the rookie pilots, aside from their sponsor affiliations. Mentally shrugging, he turned his attention back to the meeting, only to realize that someone had called him. He refocused his virtual attention on the auditorium but didn't spot the person who had summoned him. However, he noticed that mission control was trying to reach him, probably to clarify the details of the exercise scheduled for the next day.
. . _ _ _
Steam billowed from the vents as the massive, fifty-meter-tall mechanical war machine displayed its power. The audience clapped politely as the lead engineer's explanation was momentarily overshadowed by the hissing of steam and the sound of sizzling metal. The white mech returned to its ready position, its enormous shoulders shrugging in a strikingly human-like motion.
The design of the mech was a true masterpiece, featuring elegant curves and sharp angles that made it the quintessential representation of futuristic mechs. However, the once-impressive appearance was marred by scuffed and scratched paint, as well as a few dents. Overall, it was in decent condition, but the lack of sufficient funding had left the mech looking weathered.
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Amidst the audience's murmurs, Seven refocused his attention on the lead engineer, who continued, "...with the main guns demonstrated, our pilot will now create some distance before showcasing some of ANX-5527's more destructive weaponry. While we won't reveal its full capabilities today, we want to assure you..."
Seven's interest waned as he distanced himself from the crowd, moving from a relatively close five hundred meters to a safer two kilometers away. There, Seven patiently waited for his cue. The mech crouched down, its shoulders opening up to reveal a barrage of small whirlwind missiles that blanketed the area in front of it. Seven observed the explosions with a cool detachment, noting their effectiveness against ground forces but their lack of stopping power against hardened targets.
With a deliberate motion, Seven arched his back and shrugged his shoulders, causing a pair of cannons to deploy from hidden positions next to the mech's spine. Each barrel extended for increased accuracy and velocity. Taking a moment to brace himself, he fired the cannons simultaneously. While he could fire them individually, even while in motion, it was far more spectacular when both unleashed their devastating power together.
In the distance, an old rusted tank became the unwitting target. A shockwave erupted, kicking up dust from the cracked desert floor as two shells, each the size of the tank itself, hurtled towards it, leaving behind a trail of disturbed air. The tank didn't explode; it simply ceased to exist as the ground violently erupted around it.
Standing tall once again, Seven watched as the cannons retracted, seamlessly hidden beneath overlapping armored panels that comprised most of the mech's midsection. The mech then began striding back toward the gathering of corporate spectators, leaving behind three-toed, raptor-like footprints on the earth. It was as if a colossal beast stood before them, towering two hundred meters high.
Deep in thought, Seven mused that the true strength of his mech lay not solely in its firepower, which was impressive for its weight class but not unheard of in the wider world of mechs. No, its real power lay in its mobility—a testament that was challenging to showcase against immobile targets. He hoped that soon he would have the opportunity to demonstrate what his mech was truly capable of.