Kovacs sat in the dim light of his workstation, fatigue pressing down on him after hours of refining the Grant’s modular design. But there was something he’d been wanting to look over—a personal itch he couldn’t shake. Pulling up his data sheet from the system, he stared at the screen as his stats and skills loaded in sharp lines and numbers. It was a digital portrait of himself, a mirror reflecting his capabilities and limitations with unflinching accuracy.
He read through the essential information first, a sense of curiosity and self-reflection mingling as he examined the summary of his skills and traits. The sheet was a precise catalog of his strengths and weaknesses, each line a measure of his aptitude and potential.
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Data Sheet: Kowal Zeidis Kovacs**
Age: 19
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 173 lbs
Race: Human
Allegiance: None
Attributes
- Power (Strength): 13
- Endurance: 14
- Agility (Dexterity): 10
- Precision: 15
- Vitality (Constitution): 11
- Resilience: 13
- Reasoning (Intelligence): 15
- Knowledge: 15
- Perception (Wisdom): 13
- Insight: 12
- Persuasion (Charisma): 11
- Presence: 11
- Imagination (Creativity/Inspiration): 12
- Artistry: 12
Skills
- Mechanical Repair: 19
- Diagnostics: 21
- Welding and Fabrication: 15
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD): 26
- Safety Protocols: 19
- Preventative Maintenance: 17
- Field Repairs: 16
- Power Systems: 23
- Environmental Systems: 18
- Software Integration: 10
- Mechanical Engineering: 18
- Electrical Engineering: 20
- Robotics: 18
- Physics and Thermodynamics: 9
- Aesthetics: 25
- Computer Programming: 12
- Jury Rigging: 5
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Kovacs felt a mix of pride and frustration as he examined each section. His Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Aesthetics skills stood out as his highest-rated abilities, with scores of 26 and 25, respectively. He was undeniably strong in the creative and technical aspects of mech design. But as his eyes trailed down, he couldn’t help but notice the glaring weaknesses. His **Physics and Thermodynamics** score was a meager 9, a limitation he’d struggled with initially. He also saw his **Jury Rigging** score—a dismal 5. Kovacs sighed, the number reminding him just how much he relied on careful planning over quick, adaptive solutions. In the field, he knew that could be a liability.
More than the skills, though, his combat readiness stood out—or, instead, the lack thereof. The system hadn’t even given him a combat rating; he had no recorded experience with battlefield tactics or actual mech piloting. It was clear that he was a designer through and through, but when it came to fighting… he was untested. His strength, agility, and resilience were average, with nothing that would set him apart in a live combat scenario.
You might know how to build these machines, but can you handle them on the field? He thought, a feeling of inadequacy gnawing at him.
Kovacs clenched his fists, feeling a sudden surge of determination. This was a wake-up call. He couldn’t keep hiding behind the CAD screen, designing for others to pilot his creations. If he was going to design mechs that would withstand the pressures of the battlefield, he needed to understand what those pressures genuinely felt like. His lack of combat experience wasn’t just a flaw in his character sheet but in his understanding of what a mech needed to be.
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He leaned back, his mind racing as he considered his options. He could not gain real combat experience overnight, but he could start to work at it. He’d have to find ways to push himself beyond his comfort zone, to think not just as a designer but as a pilot, as someone who might one day find themselves in the cockpit of the machines he created.
But even now, he could push his design skills harder. His high CAD, Diagnostics, and Power Systems ratings showed he had untapped potential. He’d been relying on the system to help guide him, but he realized he’d only been scratching the surface of what it could do. The system wasn’t just a tool but a source of endless possibilities, limited only by how far he was willing to push it.
With a renewed sense of purpose, he brought up the design interface, adjusting his workspace to simulate different combat scenarios. He began running through potential improvements to his designs, factoring in variables he’d previously ignored—unpredictable terrain, sudden structural damage, energy efficiency in prolonged combat. He adjusted the Grant’s framework, experimenting with different weapon placements to keep it balanced while still maintaining maneuverability. He set up simulations to stress-test each part, making notes on areas for reinforcement.
The data sheet’s reminder of his strengths and weaknesses fueled him, pushing his designs to their limits. He started tinkering with advanced algorithms in the system, looking for ways to optimize power distribution in battle. His lack of field knowledge had held him back before, but he was determined to bridge that gap however he could.
After hours of intense focus, he finally leaned back, exhaustion overtaking him. His data sheet had shown him more than his stats—it had exposed the gaps in his experience, the flaws in his approach. But instead of feeling defeated, he felt driven. This was just the beginning. He would push his design skills further, study tactics and combat maneuvers, and find a way to become more than just a mech designer.
As he closed the data sheet, he whispered to himself, “One day, I’ll be more than just the designer. I’ll be someone who truly understands what these machines are capable of—someone worthy of being in that cockpit.”
With renewed determination, he returned to his workstation, ready to take his designs and himself to the next level.
Kovacs leaned back from his workstation, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He’d analyzed his data sheet, seeing both his strengths and the glaring weaknesses holding him back. His skills in CAD and Diagnostics were high, but his understanding of actual weapon systems—particularly the way they were constructed and modified—was limited. He could design them in theory, but his knowledge stopped short of making critical adjustments or optimizations that might be needed on the battlefield.
With a sense of urgency, he opened the system store and scrolled through the list of available skills and training. His goal was clear: He needed to strengthen his understanding of weapons systems, not just how they worked in combat but also how they could be built, modified, and repaired. The list of skills was extensive, each one with a hefty price tag in points.
Kovacs narrowed the list to focus on construction and modification. A few skills stood out to him:
Weapon Assembly and Construction—This is a fundamental course that covers the assembly of weapon systems, including structure, firing mechanisms, and efficiency optimization.
- Ballistics and Calibration – This skill would provide insight into projectile weapon mechanics, including fine-tuning ballistics, adjusting for weight and recoil, and recalibrating for accuracy.
Energy Weapon Tuning—This course Focuses on optimizing energy-based weapons like lasers and plasma systems. It covers maintenance, charge control, and firing adjustments.
- Advanced Field Modifications – A higher-level skill that specializes in making quick adjustments and repairs on weapon systems in the field, from changing out parts to reinforcing critical weak points.
Each skill was enticing, and he knew that any of them would provide the edge he needed. But as he reviewed the point costs, he felt frustrated—he only had 512 points, and each of these skills required nearly all of it. He could only afford one, so he’d have to choose carefully.
He paused on Weapon Assembly and Construction. Unlike the others, this skill would give him a complete foundation on the inner workings of weapon systems—the knowledge he needed to understand the functionality and build of each weapon. If he mastered the basics of assembly, he’d have the versatility to work with all kinds of weapon systems, not just one specific type. With this knowledge, he’d gain insights into how each component functioned and could make more intelligent design adjustments.
He took a steady breath and selected Weapon Assembly and Construction, watching his points drop from 512 to just 12. A confirmation appeared on the screen:
“Weapon Assembly and Construction Purchased: This course covers the fundamentals of weapon system assembly, including structure, firing mechanisms, component compatibility, and efficiency optimization. Ideal for designers and operators who wish to improve their ability to modify and enhance weapon systems.”
The information loaded directly into his neural interface, and Kovacs felt a surge of knowledge settle into his mind. Schematics of firing mechanisms, details of component alignment, the nuances of materials and tolerances—all of it began to take shape. He could see the inner workings of ballistic and energy weapons alike, understanding how components like the trigger assembly, barrel, and receiver all needed to align perfectly to ensure consistent performance. He could also see how poor alignment or subpar materials would cause failure points in the field.
The skill didn’t make him a master armorer overnight, but it gave him a solid grasp on the fundamentals. He now understood the importance of quality control in every tiny part of a weapon, and how even slight adjustments could optimize a weapon’s reliability and firing rate. More importantly, he could now visualize how to *improve* a weapon, reinforcing weak points or enhancing output with specific modifications.
Returning to the Grant’s design, Kovacs examined the weapon sockets he’d set up as modular mounts. With his new understanding, he could see where he could reinforce the mounts themselves, ensuring they could handle higher-powered weapons without losing stability. He began sketching adjustments to the weapon brackets, adding shock absorbers and better material reinforcements to counteract potential issues with recoil.
He also revisited the power distribution circuits he’d set up for energy-based weapons, identifying ways to streamline the connections for more efficient energy transfer. By reducing the resistance in key circuits, he could ensure that energy weapons mounted on the Grant would fire efficiently without overheating the system.
His mind buzzed with possibilities. This wasn’t just about designing standard weapon mounts; he could now design adaptable ones reinforced for multiple uses and conditions. If a pilot needed to switch from a long-range cannon to a rapid-fire ballistic setup, the mounts wouldn’t need to be recalibrated entirely—just minor adjustments would suffice.
Davis, one of the engineers, noticed Kovacs’s intense focus and wandered over. “Kovacs, you look like you’re in the zone. What are you working on?”
Kovacs looked up, his face lighting up with excitement. “I decided to invest in some training on weapon assembly and construction. I can see where we can improve the modular mounts on the Grant. We can make these sockets adaptable and more reliable by reinforcing key components and optimizing the assembly. If a weapon fails or needs replacement, swapping in a new one will be faster and easier than ever.”
Davis nodded, clearly impressed. “That’s ambitious, but if you’ve got the understanding now, it could be a game-changer for us in the field. Faster repairs and higher adaptability’ll give the crew more flexibility during missions.”
Kovacs grinned, feeling a rush of satisfaction. “Exactly. The original design specs won’t limit us. If something’s not working, we modify it on the fly, reinforce it, and even enhance it if needed. Every weapon we put on the Grant—or any mech—can be optimized for the specific mission at hand.”
As Davis walked away, Kovacs returned to his schematics, now looking at his designs with a newfound perspective. This wasn’t just about attaching weapons but building adaptable, high-performance weapon systems that could be maintained and upgraded efficiently.
For the first time, he felt like he truly understood how to bring his mechs to life—not just as machines but as adaptable weapons ready for anything the battlefield could throw at them.