Kovacs sat at his desk, the weight of the recent days pressing down on him. The redesigns for the four mecha were proving more challenging than he had anticipated, especially concerning the weapon systems. He knew he needed to fill the gaps in his knowledge if he wanted to make any real progress.

He pulled on the hood for the Iron Reaper game, logged in, and pulled up the system’s purchase screen. He scanned the available skills. The options were extensive, with skills ranging across different categories of missile systems and laser technologies. The list was daunting, with each skill set broken down into long-range, medium-range, and short-range categories. Each category had different levels of understanding, from basic operations to advanced tactics and system optimizations.

Kovacks sighed. “System, Rubber Duck mode.” A large rubber duck appeared.

"So," he began, facing the duck before him, "I need to get a better handle on these weapon systems. The question is, where do I start? Missiles or lasers?"

The duck, as usual, remained silent, its beady eyes offering no judgment.

"Okay, let's break it down," Kovacs continued. "Missiles. We’ve got long-range, medium-range, and short-range options. Long-range missiles are great for keeping enemies at bay, but they might be overkill for these mecha. Medium-range... maybe? They’re versatile but require precise targeting. Then there’s short-range—fast, brutal, but risky."

He paused, considering the next option. "Then there are lasers—same deal—long, medium, and short-range. Lasers don’t run out of ammo, but they generate heat, and I need to balance that with the heat sinks. If I mess this up, I could overheat the entire system."

Kovacs set the duck down on the desk, looking at the screen again. "I could go for a balanced approach and get some skills in missiles and lasers, but I’d have to start with the basics. Or I could specialize, dig into one type, and master it. What do you think?"

He knew the duck wouldn’t respond, but talking it out helped him organize his thoughts.

"Maybe I should focus on missiles first. They have more flexibility, and I can always return for the laser skills later. If I start with medium-range missiles, I get a good balance of power and range, then work my way up to long-range for strategic strikes."

He looked back at the screen, his mind made up. "Missiles it is, then. I’ll start with medium-range, get the basics down, and then move up. Later, I’ll revisit lasers once I have a better feel for the mecha’s overall design."

Satisfied with his plan, he reached out and selected the needed skills. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. And right now, any progress is better than none.

Kovacs stood in the center of the station, reviewing the basic specifications of the Fusallier he was redesigning. The blueprint flickered on the screen before him, displaying a bipedal, armless design—an older model built primarily for long-range missile support. It was a solid platform but had shortcomings. He reviewed the details and mentally noted the strengths and weaknesses.

Basic Specifications:

Weight: 30 tons

Chassis: Bipedal, armless design

Movement: 54 km/h (Walk) / 86.4 km/h (Run)

Engine: 150Kw Fusion Engine by Cummings

Heat Sinks: 10

Armor: 5.5 tons of standard armor

Components Breakdown:

Internal Structure: 3 tons

Engine: 5 tons

Gyro: 2 tons

Cockpit: 3 tons

Armor: 5.5 tons

Weapons and Ammo: 11.5 tons

Weapons Loadout:

Remmington 10 pack: 5 tons

Ammo: 1 ton

2 Remmington 5 packs: 4 tons

Ammo: 1 ton

Loadout Details:

Remington-10:

The main weapon system, providing heavy long-range firepower.

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Mounted in the central torso, ensuring stability and precision.

Remington-5s:

Twin LRM-5s supplement the LRM-10, offering additional salvos.

Mounted in the left and right torso, spreading out the missile launchers to minimize the impact of damage.

Kovacs frowned, tapping his fingers against the desk. The mecha’s strengths were apparent. With its missile loadout, it was a formidable long-range support unit capable of unleashing a barrage of missiles from a distance. The distribution of the missiles across the torso provided a tactical advantage, allowing for more consistent firepower even if one side took damage.

But then there were the weaknesses.

Weaknesses:

Low Armor: The mecha was under-armored, with only 5.5 tons dedicated to protection. While it could dish out damage from afar, it wouldn’t withstand much if caught in close-quarters combat or if enemy fire managed to get through its missile barrage. The armor distribution was just enough to keep it functional, but any concentrated attack would spell trouble.

Ammunition Dependency: All the weapons relied on ammunition, and while the ammo was well-distributed, it was finite. Once the missiles were gone, the mecha would be defenseless, reduced to a sitting duck on the battlefield. This made it vulnerable during extended engagements, where resupply might not be an option.

Kovacs sighed, thinking through the implications. The mecha was designed for a specific role, but that role came with significant risks. It was effective in a support position, laying down missile fire from the rear, but if the battlefield shifted or the mecha was forced into a prolonged fight, it would be in serious trouble.

“I need to address these issues,” Kovacs muttered to himself. “The armor needs an upgrade, but that means sacrificing either speed or firepower, both of which are crucial to its role. As for the weapons, I might need to consider integrating a secondary system that doesn’t rely on ammunition—maybe a laser or something similar that can keep it fighting even after the missiles are spent.”

He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. There was no easy solution. Any improvement would come with trade-offs, and he must balance them carefully. But he was determined to find a way to transform this old design into something more capable and resilient.

Kovacs knew that his redesign wouldn’t just be about tweaking numbers or swapping out parts. It was about fundamentally understanding the mecha’s role on the battlefield and enhancing its strengths while mitigating its weaknesses. It was a puzzle and one that he was determined to solve.

With that in mind, he returned to his work, methodically analyzing every detail and component with the goal of crafting something truly exceptional. This was his challenge, and he would meet it head-on.

The room was dimly lit, with only the computer screen's glow and the scattered holographic blueprints illuminating his workspace. He stared at the mecha design on the display, knowing it needed more than just a few tweaks. It required a complete overhaul.

"Alright, duck," Kovacs said, holding the small rubber figure to eye level like a trusted advisor. "We’ve got to start from the ground up on this one. First thing’s first—strip off the armor and weapon systems. This old design won’t cut it anymore."

With a few quick commands, the holographic image of the mecha on his screen began to shift. The outer layers of armor and the weapon mounts vanished, leaving only the skeletal frame and internal components. Kovacs watched as the virtual representation was reduced to its bare essentials, the chassis, and internal structure, all of which remained.

"Let’s start with the armor," he continued, his voice steady as he talked through his thoughts. "The standard plating won’t do. We will replace it with the new compressed armor formulation we’ve been working on. It’s lighter, and we can pack more of it into the same space. That should give us better protection without sacrificing too much on mobility."

He began overlaying the new armor onto the mecha’s frame, calculating the exact distribution and thickness needed to maintain balance while maximizing defense. The compressed armor had the added benefit of being slightly reflective, which could deflect some energy-based attacks, a bonus that the older armor lacked.

"Now, for the weapon systems," Kovacs said, setting the duck next to the keyboard. He pulled up the specifications for the newer Dahlgren missile launchers, studying the details closely. "We’ll swap out the old Remington systems for these Dahlgrens. The Dahlgren 10s weigh the same as the Remington 5’s, so we can upgrade the firepower without adding extra weight. And we can replace the Remington 10 with a Dahlgren 15, giving us more punch without compromising too much on space or weight."

He began integrating the new missile launchers into the mecha’s design. The Dahlgrens fit seamlessly into the existing mounts, and he took extra care to ensure that the ammunition storage was both efficient and well-protected.

"This gives us a significant boost in firepower," Kovacs murmured as he continued to work. "The Dahlgrens are known for their reliability and accuracy, and with the extra firepower from the 15’s, we should be able to lay down a devastating barrage at long range. Plus, the compressed armor should keep us in the fight longer, even if we’re under heavy return fire."

He paused, looking at the evolving design with a critical eye. It was shaping up well, but details were still refined and balances to strike. The new loadout would make the mecha a formidable opponent on the battlefield, but he knew that every advantage came with its own set of challenges.

He picked up the duck again, rolling it between his fingers as he thought through the implications of the changes. "We’ll need to run some simulations to see how they fit together in practice. Make sure we’re not missing anything. The armor distribution looks solid, but I want to double-check the heat management with the new weapon systems. Those Dahlgrens might run a bit hotter than the old Remingtons."

Kovacs leaned forward, typing rapidly as he adjusted the heat sinks, tweaking the design to ensure the mecha could handle the increased thermal load without overheating during prolonged engagements. He knew that every second counted in the heat of battle, and a mecha that ran too hot could quickly become a liability.

After a few more minutes of fine-tuning, he reviewed the changes. The new design significantly improved, with better armor, more powerful weapons, and enhanced heat management. It was still a 30-ton mecha, but now it packed a far more lethal punch and could withstand greater punishment.

"That’s better," Kovacs said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "We’re not just patching up an old design anymore. We’re creating something new that can hold its own out there."

He saved the updated blueprint, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The redesign was just one step in a long process, but it was crucial. Looking at the rubber duck, he couldn’t help but smile. "Thanks for the help, duck. Couldn’t have done it without you."

With the redesigned mecha complete, Kovacs knew the real test would come in the simulations and, eventually, on the battlefield. But for now, he was ready to move forward, confident that he had created something that could make a difference in future conflicts.