heodore's days passed slowly as he got used to his new status as a second-string pick for U1. It wasn't an easy process. With their time-tables diverging with team training, extra coaching and 'bonding' activities with his teammates, he really didn't see his friends; Quince, Gamez and Julian much anymore. He also felt like he couldn't quite fit in with his new teammates.

They were all 'passionate' pilots and skilled in their own rights. However, on a personal level, they did not really 'click'. He could only take solace in the idea that the others in first-string didn't have it any easier. Between in-fighting amongst the aristocracy and a stoic leader who doesn't say much, he'd still pick his current team a hundred times over.

Two weeks into the new semester he was summoned to meet with one of his mech-design teachers, Miss Green. With how he had been splitting his attention - and admittedly put more effort in his piloting training, his summon could be anything be good.

"Well, I believe you should have a notion of why you are called to my office." Miss Green said whilst finally looking up from a projection on her desk. A complex model of - what Theodore recognised a new T-100A Hellcat variant - buzzed out of existence as she addressed him.

"Well, I can make an educated guess, m'am." Theodore said meekly

She looked at him, in a way she also looked at the model, studying, observing. As if trying to dissect any flaw in his facial expression. The pressure she exerted was almost equal to a brutal verbal beating by one of his piloting-instructors. Theodore could only try and keep a straight face. Only after a good minute was the tense silence broken by the professor.

"You have no clue, Mr Thompson. That is why you are here." She stated simply. "I can see your doubts and fears, but really you don't know what you're here for." She smiled as she continued "Your fear isn't completely unwarranted. The problem with you smart kids is always the same , you jump to conclusions and extrapolate based on assumptions. And that is unwarranted." She sighed.

"Currently you're a steady performer in my classes. In all of your classes actually. Not at the front of the class, never last. You could be said to be a very average student."

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"Then what am I here for?" Theodore voiced his doubts.

"Because you don't develop as quickly as others. Well, that's not entirely true. Let me put it differently, you're designing technically sound mechs. I hardly worry that you would make errors that lead to malfunction or underperformance. But they lack concept." She swiped over her desk and a new model was projected between them. This time it was a project of Theodore that hovered over the desk.

"You heavily rely on efficient power distribution. You take a medium-sized power reactor and optimize all the limbs, internal architecture and processes and try and reach competitive specs."

"This one-trick-pony won't quite save you in the rest of the curriculum. Your approach leads to less-powerful, average-performing mechs that - I'll give you that - outlast the competition. Different types of mech need a different approach. A knight needs a lot more mechanical strength than a laser-rifle mech. A striker will need vastly higher mobility, higher top speeds and quick acceleration and deceleration. As a mech pilot yourself, I figured that you of all people would see this and adjust your designs accordingly."

"Instead, I've seen you design the same thing over and over again. It's fine to have a speciality. All designers have a single aspect where they excel in. It's a problem however when using this speciality becomes the end-goal of a mech. The design needs a concept. It's about filling the role that you imagine for your mech in the most optimum way. As a businessman, it's about fulfilling the need of your clients - or better said, to fill the gap in the market. And if you're designing a mech that directly competes with other designs, it specs should measure up as well."

"You need to understand the essence of what you are designing. Even if your mech can outlast other mechs, if it can't outrun his enemies, it's a worthless gimmick. Engagements are usually short and intense. Don't average out your performance but aim to design something that excels in a field that complements the archetype that you are designing off from."

'sigh' "I expect better from someone who pilots himself. To be honest, I expect better from all my students. It all starts with what a pilot needs, or wants, in his mech to excel in his duty. You should understand this best. I don't want another bland, uninspired, lacking mech-design delivered in my classes, understand Mr Thompson?" She said sternly.

"Yes M'am!" Theodore nodded. Her rant had given him many insights in mech design in general. And honestly, he could slap himself in the face for his shortcomings. He had been free-wheeling to much and forget such basics about design that he was really a bit ashamed.

"Then surprise me next week, dismissed" Miss Green stated as she gestured for him to take his leave.

'NEXT WEEK!?' 'Sheeeeeeeet'

'I can scrap what I've made, I'll have to start from scratch and design a worthy design by next week.,. I'm so screwed!!' He lamented his faith.

He only recovered as he unwittingly walked by the hangar where he picked his first academy mech was stored. He decisively, following an impulse, made his way inside the compound and pulled up his mech.

"I can take this as a base. As long as I can improve on this, improve on everything that I experience as negatives...." Wheels started turning in his mind as he tried to formulate a plan that allowed him to redesign the black beast in front of him into the perfect for himself. "It could work!" He grinned.

He then powered up the machine as he entered the cockpit. '

'Let's take her for a spin, and get a good feel for her performance! We'll take it from there.'