The 1980s were an interesting time. When two great superpowers flaunt their weapons at one another, threatening the world with mutual nuclear annihilation. Wars of proxy were fought throughout the globe. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan, utilising their various arms and armaments to invade a nearby country for their own geopolitical aims. Which led to barbaric bloodbath as both sides slaughtered each other. But despite Soviet engineers creating the first unmanned war-machines through the Lenin Program, the Soviet-Afghan war ended in the winter of 85 with the decisive defeat of the soviet army.

Yet despite the proof that a machine can turn on their own creators, or the unstable political climate that led to the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union. The world desired change. When it became clear that humanity cannot rely on the computer to fight in their wars. Inventions like the Amber drone, a UAV, were terminated after what happened in Afghanistan, which eventually led to the international banning on furthering drone and unmanned vehicle technology and research.

Yet when a technology was decided to be left forgotten and untouched, humanity innovated elsewhere. Tech companies like ProTech invested time and resources to improve armour and equipment for modern-day militaries. Eventually replacing kevlar with steel nanofiber mats. Making plates slimmer, lighter, and more durable.

Though as the world found new ways to wage war. The Order would also develop technology of their own. During September 1982. In a shed on the outskirts of Olympia. Two men waited inside to show off the invention Doctor Ivo Kuzmin had created.

Frank Creed, an impatient Englishman leaned back in his chair. ‘Ivo. What is the point of your toy again?’

‘Not a toy, suit. A… armoured suit.’ Ivo responded with a thick Belarusian accent. ‘You saw how it can work. I just need funding so it can become a thing.’

‘It is a good idea in concept, but I doubt it can be executed effectively. For one, we have to make new weapons and ammo for those weapons. Two, they are too complex to repair. And three, it will be too expensive to produce to meet the Order’s needs.’

Ivo shook his head as he waved away Frank’s criticisms. ‘Too much of a pessimist! You taught high schoolers for too long.’

‘I am being realistic, Ivo!’ Frank hissed back. ‘You are making something that might not have a use.’

Ivo chuckled, amused by the whole ordeal as he stubbornly defended his invention. ‘You know, they said the same thing about F-15 in America. Too complex, jack-of-all-trades master of none. But the designers proved them wrong, and now they are discussing about stealth technology because of it. There is value in this invention.’

‘That is different…’

‘No, not different. Similar.’ Ivo interrupted. ‘Besides, I know who to call to get approval.’

‘The representative of the Order Militant?’ Frank sarcastically replied. Frank reasoned that the Order Militant representative would look at Ivo’s creation and point out all of its flaws. It would be soul crushing to watch his friend have their dreams crushed, but at that point, he believed it would be good to have his friend to develop realistic expectations.

‘Order Diplomatics.’ Before Frank could protest against Ivo involving the Order Diplomatics, a bang came from the shed door. ‘Ah, just in time.’

Frank’s eyes widened as Nethanael Gay walked into the building. His stern gaze examined the workshop while he tried to find what Ivo wanted to present to him. His yellow eyes naturally darted to the large object at the far end of the room with a tarp over it. ‘What is a high school teacher doing here?’ Gay asked as he noticed Frank.

Ivo chuckled, ‘he is a good friend. Best gunsmith I know.’

Gay said as he pulled out a cigarette to light. Already unimpressed with Ivo for having an unwanted and disliked companion. ‘Alright, what do you want to show me?’

Ivo smiled with glee while he headed over to the covered invention. Like a schoolboy about to reveal his idea to the entire class. ‘I want to start with thank you for coming here, Representative Gay. Firstly! I want to say that this idea came to me after I read the best Irish sci-fi series.’

‘Let me guess, UnderCurrent?’ Frank interrupted, folding his arms as he realised his friend had got his idea from a well-known 50s epic.

‘Yes!’ Ivo clicked his fingers in Frank’s direction. ‘Brilliant series, love the drama. Way ahead of its time… absolutely phenomenal.’ Ivo chuckled to himself as he remembered a funny detail about the series. ‘Though, one book is written like it was a game where the characters get “stats” and skills. Funny spin-off.’

Gay puffed on his cigarette before turning to Ivo. ‘I am not here for a book review, Ivo. I came here because you want to show me what you are working on. So do me a favour and get to the point.’

Knowing that sharing his interest was not allowed, Ivo approached the large device and pulled the tarp off. Gay raised a brow as he examined the large unfinished mechanical device at the centre. It was a bipedal machine with wires and circuit boards sprawling all of it from every angle. The cockpit was round and smooth, it could only house one person, yet from Gay’s perspective it had no controls to speak of. It only had one leg constructed, a large piece of machinery with a complex joint system. Gay was no engineer, but he concurred that joints between the mechanical man’s joints were the most complex part about the invention from sight alone. From memory, he recognised that Ivo utilised the blueprints from the Lenin Program.

The most distinctive thing about the invention besides its oversized thrusters mounted on the back was its head. It had a beak and about six-optical lenses on it which acted as a pair of eyes for the pilot. Its neck was long, having sheets of flexible metal that protected the vulnerable parts inside. Despite its strange appearance, it gave the pilot the opportunity to look around freely and provide the pilot with a wide visual range.

Frank cringed at the sight of the invention. ‘Yeah, that is what he made.’

‘Yes, the best invention!’ Ivo said, not noticing Frank’s sarcastic remark. ‘I call it The Konpei. The first father of mechs, the first of its kind!’ Ivo giggled as he mumbled to himself in pride. ‘And named after my favourite character.’

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Gay frowned, unsure what to think about the invention. ‘And what is it supposed to do?’

‘Glad you asked.’ Ivo shuffled his way to the table with the mech arm resting on it. ‘When I was reading the series, it talked at times about the design of the mechs, how they are piloted and how they were used. But what inspired me was how they controlled them.’ Ivo reached out from under his work table and pulled out a mechanical sleeve and put it over his entire right arm.

Gay took a few steps back as he noticed the magical crystals on the sleeve. Byproducts of magical waste that crystallised in the material world. Not much was known about the crystals at the time, but it was believed to be a dangerous radioactive pollutant similar to depleted uranium.

‘Jesus, Ivo! How did you even get that stuff?’ Frank shouted out from across the room. Surprised that Ivo even had that material lying around.

‘It is perfectly safe!’ Ivo argued with a smile. ‘I checked. Not dangerous, but very useful.’ He put on a device over his head and switched on the mechanical sleeve. The magical crystals glowed and hummed with power. With a flick of his wrist, the mechanical arm on the table moved in unison. Copying Ivo’s movements with perfect accuracy. He licked his fingers, and the mechanical arm and hand clicked its fingers as well.

It was then Gay realised that Ivo used the crystals to create a neuro-link between the user and the machine. Making his movements its movements. Ivo used the mechanical hand to pick up a ceramic cup meticulously like he understood the strength of his new mechanical hand and could feel the fragile cup between his fingers.

‘You see, this machine can help the Order.’ Ivo continued, ‘with the power of the mind, the pilot can move in the mech like it is their own body! Giving them an edge to fight in any conflict.’

‘In what way?’ Gay asked.

‘The mechs are flexible. They can be in urban environments and provide support to our troops where traditional vehicles will struggle. They can even fight in uneven and unfavourable terrain!’ Ivo smiled to himself. ‘The mech can even provide an edge against giants and large beasts.’

Frank rolled his eyes. ‘But costly and unrealistic. The mech is expensive and it will need its own weapon systems and ammo to make the whole project viable.’

‘You're doubting your friend’s invention?’ Gay pointed out, curious as to why Frank would discredit Ivo so quickly.

‘I am realistic.’ Frank gestured to the joints of the mech. ‘Look at it. If that gets taken out, the pilot is screwed. The joints will be impossible to repair on the field, and I doubt we can even repair them here. It is a good idea, but it is only good in the confines of a fictional story.’

Ivo scoffed, arguing against Frank about the validity of his invention and how mechs can be best viable for the Order in the case of conflict. Pointing out that it would have multiple uses even if it has a few weaknesses of its own. Talking in length about how even the best armoured vehicles had weaknesses that could be exploited but were still viable for the militaries that adopted them.

Frank wasn’t convinced, pointing out that while every vehicle and machine made for war had a weakness. They had a list of benefits that outweigh them. Frank illustrated the structural weak points of his Konpei could be easily taken out and make the machine inoperable. A gimmick that had no use or benefit in a world of tanks and ant-tank equipment.

Gay saw differently. He understood how the mech would only fulfill a niche role in a military context. Yet, unlike the two men who argued about its combative value. Gay recognised how mechs could be used in other roles. The vehicle would serve the Order, but in multiple ways. Be it the construction of new facilities or exploration through the Order Discovery desire to further science. In a combat role, he acknowledged that it could perform well in urban and difficult to access environments with some effectiveness. But he saw potential in the mech being used in space, and places where traditional vehicles would struggle to perform without complications. Like active volcanoes, submerged, and across realms. A fighting machine to dominate the indomitable.

‘… What weapon systems does it have?’ Gay interrupted Frank and Ivo’s bickering. Silencing them with a simple question.

‘Uh… none so far. Why?’ Frank replied.

‘I require a minimum of five to be designed by the end of November. I will sponsor this invention.’ Ivo bubbled, his face glowing with excitement as his invention was about to be recognised. But before he could speak, Gay cut him off. ‘I will do all the talking. I will advertise and show your mech to the council. All I require is a working prototype by December.’

‘December! But this took me a year to…’

Gay raised his hand to shut Ivo up. ‘You went against the chain of command and invited me, someone of a different Order to sponsor you. You also have possession of materials that are both illegal and highly dangerous.’ Gay takes a final puff of his cigarette before putting it out. ‘The consequences are often prison and sanctions. The consequences of it being magical in nature are death. I am not just being merciful, I am being unreasonably charitable to you and your invention. Unless you have anything else to say.’

Ivo paused, terrified that while he had a good rapport with Gay. He understood that Gay was, first and foremost, a Disciplinarian. ‘Yes, will I get any funding and resources to make a functional prototype?’

Gay frowned, insulted that he would be asked for his kindness and mercy to be extended. However, upon eying on what was already completed, he relented. ‘I will personally provide funding and resources, as well as a team.’ Gay announced as he made his way out. Only to stop himself before he left the shed. ‘Failure to meet the deadline will force me to take action. I hope you understand, Doctor Ivo.’ Gay turned to Frank before he left. ‘This goes for you as well, Frank. If he fails, you will also be pulled down with him.’

As soon as Gay was out of earshot, Frank growled at Ivo. ‘I fucking hate you!’

Ivo shrugged while he smiled like he didn’t mind the threat of death. ‘I love you too, my English friend. Come on, we have a prototype to build.’