Kovacs sat in his corner of the workshop, fully immersed in the Lee’s design. He refined the modular weapon system, integrated the secondary power regulator and cooling vents, and stabilized the power distribution. It was time to focus on the Lee’s core role: reconnaissance. This scout mech was meant to be fast, agile, and maneuverable, capable of slipping through enemy lines undetected, gathering data, and escaping before anyone noticed.
He pulled up the specs for the Wasp engine, the lightweight 180 kW power source he’d chosen for the Lee. It was a delicate balance—every additional pound of armor, every adjustment to the frame’s structure could compromise the speed and agility he wanted. Kovacs leaned forward, tapping his fingers against the table as he adjusted the weight ratios, recalculated the mass distribution, and streamlined the frame. He stripped down unnecessary components, focusing on the essentials.
“Light armor,” he murmured, his gaze fixed on the schematic. “Enough to keep it functional in the event of a hit, but no more than that. Just the basics.”
He reduced the armor around non-essential systems and tightened the weight on the frame, enhancing the Lee’s speed without compromising its durability too severely. He made the design as aerodynamic as possible, envisioning a machine cutting through the air with minimal resistance. The Lee had to be nimble, shift direction on a dime and accelerate in short bursts. Every element of the design was focused on precision and efficiency.
Satisfied with the latest adjustments, Kovacs sat back, scrutinizing the layout. He had added improved hydraulics in the joints to enable rapid movement, allowing the mech to twist, pivot, and sidestep in ways that would give it an advantage in close-range encounters. This, combined with the modular system and simplified weapon mounts, gave the Lee an edge.
After a few hours, he uploaded the updated design to the system, feeling excited. He’d done everything he could to maximize the Lee’s speed and agility. Now, it was time to see how it performed.
The hum of machinery surrounded Jackie as she entered the simulation room. She strapped herself into the simulator cockpit, pulling down the VR visor to immerse her in a virtual version of the Lee. Kovacs’s design modifications were loaded into the system and ready for a live test in the simulation.
“Testing prototype Lee, Scout Mecha, version 3.2,” she announced over the comm, her voice clear and steady.
The environment around her shimmered to life—a vast, rugged terrain with jagged rocks, uneven ground, and tight corners—perfect for putting the Lee through its paces. Jackie gripped the controls, feeling the surge of the simulated engine as the Wasp roared to life in her hands. She pushed the throttle, and the Lee responded, accelerating quickly, the landscape whipping past her in a blur.
The initial burst of speed was impressive. Kovacs had managed to lighten the frame enough that the Lee felt nimble, almost graceful as it glided over the terrain. She tested the joints, twisting sharply to the left, then to the right, and the mech responded beautifully, adjusting to each turn with minimal resistance. Jackie smiled, feeling the thrill of control as she maneuvered through the landscape.
But as she pushed the Lee harder, weaving through narrow passes and accelerating up rocky slopes, she noticed a few cracks in the design. For one, the Lee’s light armor made it highly vulnerable. In the simulation, she encountered a small contingent of enemy drones, and though she managed to dodge most of the shots, a single glancing blow rattled the cockpit, warning lights flashing. She took another hit, and her HUD flared, displaying multiple warnings as the lightly armored frame struggled to absorb the impact.
Another issue emerged with the sensor range. The Lee’s radar picked up objects around her, but the detection lagged as she descended a steep hill, failing to update in real-time. Jackie frowned, realizing that this delay could be a fatal flaw in real combat, significantly if the Lee was outnumbered and relied on its sensors to navigate.
After a few more rounds in the simulation, Jackie exited the cockpit, pulled off her visor, and made a beeline for the workshop where Kovacs was stationed. She found him nose-deep in his datapad and cleared her throat to get his attention.
“Kovacs, we’ve got strengths, but we’ve also got a couple of weaknesses to iron out,” she began, her tone professional but firm.
Kovacs looked up, his gaze sharp with curiosity. “Tell me everything.”
Jackie recounted the issues in detail—the impressive speed and maneuverability, but the weaknesses in the Lee’s light armor and the lag in the sensor suite. “You’ve got a solid base here, Kovacs. The speed is phenomenal, and the agility is spot-on. But without adjustments, a few hits could bring this thing down. And the sensors—they’re just not keeping up.”
Kovacs listened intently, nodding as he absorbed each point, already considering solutions.
Back at his workstation, Kovacs dove into refining the Lee, focusing on Jackie's identified weaknesses. The armor issue was straightforward: the Lee was a scout, not a tank, so he couldn’t reinforce it too heavily without compromising its speed. But he could add a few strategically placed shields around the cockpit and power core, giving the pilot an extra layer of protection in high-stress situations.
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Next, he studied the sensor suite, analyzing the layout of the radar and detection systems. Jackie's lag suggested a limitation in the data processing, so Kovacs decided to enhance the processing power dedicated to the sensors. He added a high-speed data relay optimized for fast environmental scanning. This relay would keep the sensors in sync with the mech’s speed, ensuring real-time updates even in the most chaotic situations.
He reviewed the joint hydraulics again to enhance maneuverability, reinforcing the actuators and refining the angle limits. He wanted the Lee to make sharp, rapid pivots without compromising stability. He upgraded the control software, adding an adaptive feedback system that let the pilot feel the resistance and flow of each turn, making the Lee respond more intuitively to the operator’s commands.
He also integrated a secondary thruster system along the Lee’s legs, allowing for short bursts of additional speed. It was a minor adjustment, but it would help the Lee escape quickly when cornered or retreat from a threat if spotted.
Finally, Kovacs took a step back, reviewing the adjustments he’d made to the design. The refined armor, improved sensors, and increased maneuverability were all crucial improvements, creating a mech that was not only fast but also resilient in its role as a scout.
He saved the latest version, labeled it Lee Scout Mecha v3.3, and sent it to the simulation team with a note for Jackie.
Later that evening, Kovacs received a message from her: “Looks like you nailed it this time. The Lee’s responding beautifully—real-time updates, faster escape potential, and no delays in radar. Great work, Kovacs.”
He smiled, relief flooding through him. This wasn’t just another design; it was the beginning of something that could redefine their approach to adaptable, modular mechs.
***
Jackie settled into the simulator cockpit, gripping the controls as the Lee powered up around her. The display flickered, glowing her as the virtual terrain loaded. Her mission briefing appeared on the HUD—a scouting mission through enemy-controlled territory. She was to gather intel, avoid detection, and, if possible, engage any isolated units without alerting the main force.
The landscape materialized, rugged and uneven, with dense patches of foliage, jagged hills, and a scattering of buildings and outposts. She toggled through the *Lee*’s loadout—a long-range missile launcher and a tri-barrel array of medium lasers. The loadout wasn’t built for sustained combat, but it had enough firepower to punch through lightly armored enemies, which was perfect for a scouting mission.
As she pushed the throttle forward, the Lee responded instantly, the Wasp engine roaring to life. The mech surged ahead with speed and fluidity, gliding smoothly over rocky ground and weaving through the trees. She adjusted the sensors, widening the scan radius to pick up any enemy presence around her. The improvements Kovacs had made to the sensor suite were immediately noticeable—no lag, and every detail updated in real-time, displaying enemy positions with pinpoint accuracy.
Cresting a ridge, she brought the Lee to a halt, scanning the horizon. Her sensors pinged softly as several enemy signals registered near a small supply depot—a patrol of three lightly armored mechs stationed near the buildings. Jackie grinned, appreciating the opportunity to test the Lee’s weapons in action.
Carefully positioning herself behind a line of boulders for cover, she locked onto the furthest enemy mech with her long-range missiles. The Lee’s targeting systems adapted quickly, thanks to Kovacs’s upgrades, allowing her to achieve a clean lock from a significant distance. She pressed the trigger, releasing a salvo of missiles that arced gracefully through the air, striking the mech in a bright flash. Alarms blared as the damaged mech staggered, smoke rising from its frame.
The two remaining mechs reacted instantly, swiveling toward her location, their weapons firing blindly in her direction. Jackie gripped the controls, leaning into the Lee’s agility as she maneuvered from behind cover, quickly switching to the tri-barrel laser array. She targeted the closest enemy, aligning her sights as it charged, and unleashed a precise volley from the lasers. The beams sliced through the armor on its shoulder, sparking as they hit critical systems beneath.
The second mech was already on the move, attempting to circle around her, its pilot likely trying to get a clear shot on her exposed left side. Jackie didn’t wait to be cornered. She activated the short-burst thrusters Kovacs had installed along the Lee’s legs, and the mech surged forward, dodging to the side with a burst of speed. She kept low, using the uneven terrain to reposition herself on higher ground.
Reaching the top of a small ridge, she spun the Lee around, aligning her sights with the remaining enemy mech before it could close in. A quick scan showed that the armor on its left flank was thinner, likely a design vulnerability. Jackie fired the lasers, aiming directly at the weak spot, and watched with satisfaction as the beams cut through the plating, causing the mech to stagger and go offline.
With the enemy patrol disabled, Jackie resumed her original mission, pushing forward on the throttle as the Lee continued its smooth, nimble movement through the field. The sensors picked up residual signals from the enemy supply depot in the distance, and she zoomed in to see larger, more heavily armored mechs guarding key structures—an observation she immediately marked for command.
Her HUD confirmed the successful transmission of recon data, and Jackie began to pull back from the perimeter, feeling a surge of pride in the Lee’s performance. The speed and agility were precisely what she needed for this kind of operation. Every movement felt seamless, and the precision of the targeting system allowed her to take out the patrol without drawing attention from the main base.
The Lee had proven itself as a scout, fast and nimble enough to slip through enemy lines while packing just enough firepower to handle lightly armored targets. Kovacs’s design tweaks had made all the difference—the responsive sensors, the enhanced mobility, and the carefully balanced armor had allowed her to execute the mission with flawless efficiency.
Exiting the simulator, Jackie removed her visor, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The Lee was more than just a concept now—it was a capable, high-speed scout with real tactical potential. She couldn’t wait to tell Kovacs about the test run and let him know how much his adjustments had transformed the mech.