The hangar bustled with quiet anticipation as the team prepared the Lee for its first field test. After a week of non-stop work and refining every detail, the 30-ton scout mech was finally ready for a live mission. Kovacs stood by the edge of the hangar, his eyes fixed on the Lee as the technicians made their final checks. He’d poured everything he had into this design, pushing the limits on agility, speed, and adaptability.

Sergeant Delaney, the veteran pilot assigned to the Lee, approached Kovacs, giving him a nod. “She’s a beauty, Kovacs. Lean, sleek, like she was built to cut through anything.”

Kovacs nodded, a hint of nervous pride in his expression. “She’s fast, Sergeant. And those sensors should give you a wider, sharper view than anything you’ve piloted before. Just… let me know if anything feels off.”

Delaney grinned. “Oh, don’t worry. If something goes wrong, you’ll be the first to hear about it.”

With a firm handshake and a final look of encouragement, Kovacs watched Delaney climb into the Lee’s cockpit. The hangar doors slid open, revealing a rugged stretch of test terrain designed to challenge every aspect of the Lee design. Lieutenant Harlan’s Scor, a bulkier, older scout mech, waited outside, ready to serve as a comparison unit.

“Control, this is Lee prototype. Starting test mission now,” Delaney’s voice crackled over the comms. The Lee powered up, its sleek frame moving forward with a hum that resonated through the hangar.

Kovacs could barely breathe as he watched the *Lee* step into the sunlight, its frame catching the light as it moved with a fluidity that made it seem almost alive. Delaney pushed the throttle, and the Lee shot forward, leaving the Scor trailing behind as it sped across the terrain.

“Picking up data points now,” Delaney announced over the comms. The Lee’s HUD displayed a flood of information—heat signatures, structural markers, and radar scans, all updating in real time. The advanced sensor suite was proving itself, capturing details with pinpoint accuracy as Delaney maneuvered the *Lee* over rocky ground and through dense foliage.

The Lee glided down a slope, its agility on full display as Delaney tested the limits of the hydraulic joints. The mech twisted and turned, navigating tight spaces and sharp inclines with ease. Harlan’s Scor struggled to keep up, its heavier, bulkier frame unable to match the *Lee*’s precision and speed.

“Kovacs, this thing handles like a dream,” Delaney’s voice crackled in Kovacs’s ear, excitement evident. “Feels like she reads my moves before I make ’em.”

Kovacs allowed himself a small smile, relief mingling with pride. “Glad to hear it, Sergeant. Keep an eye on the sensors; I designed them to scan wide but focus on your immediate area. If there’s anything out there, you’ll see it first.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The test terrain shifted from open slopes to a narrow valley, the perfect place to test the Lee’s scouting abilities. As Delaney brought the mech to a halt on a ridge, the HUD pinged, picking up faint heat signatures near a makeshift outpost down below. Several light enemy mechs were stationed around it, along with patrols moving in loose formation. Scouts like the Lee were meant to observe and report on the kind of small, isolated target.

Delaney adjusted the sensor range and zoomed in for a better view. “Control, we have potential hostiles at the marked location, reading multiple light mechs and automated defenses. Sending intel now.”

“Copy that, Lee prototype,” Control responded in a calm voice. “Permission to engage minimally if you think it’ll help with testing. Otherwise, proceed with caution.”

Delaney grinned, his fingers hovering over the weapon controls. “Let’s see what she can do in a fight.”

He locked onto one of the perimeter defense turrets, taking careful aim before launching a short-range missile. The projectile shot across the field, striking the turret in sparks and a twisted metal explosion. Immediately, enemy units reacted, moving into defensive positions and scanning the area. Delaney eased the *

LLee back, maneuvering behind the cover as he prepared for the next move.

“Nice shot,” Harlan’s voice crackled through. “The Scor would’ve taken twice as long to lock that target.”

Delaney shifted to the medium laser array, bringing the Lee out from cover just enough to line up another shot. A light mech from the enemy patrol spotted him and moved forward, aiming to intercept him. Delaney squeezed the trigger, and the tri-barrel medium lasers unleashed a precise volley, beams of energy striking the enemy mech’s leg and sending it staggering.

The Lee handled beautifully, responding to Delaney’s every command with sharp precision. He sidestepped, staying light on his feet and moving to a higher position, keeping the enemy off-balance. The HUD showed more movement up ahead, and additional patrols were alerted by the commotion. Delaney’s fingers danced over the controls, launching another missile to scatter a cluster of infantry near the outpost.

In the distance, the Scor lumbered up, struggling to match the Lee’s rapid movements and precision targeting. “You’ve got quite the machine here, Delaney,” Harlan said, his tone tinged with respect. “Kid really outdid himself.”

Delaney transmitted the final recon data as the simulated mission wound down, marking the targets and potential weak points around the enemy outpost. The Lee had completed its objectives quickly and efficiently, gathering intel and disrupting enemy defenses without drawing too much attention. Kovacs had designed a scout with unparalleled agility and adaptability, and Delaney could feel that potential in every step, every responsive movement.

Returning to the rendezvous point, Delaney could barely contain his satisfaction. The Lee had performed flawlessly, handling the mission with a blend of speed, intelligence, and tactical precision that he hadn’t expected from a prototype. As he powered down and climbed out, he looked over at Kovacs, who was waiting eagerly nearby.

“Kovacs,” he said, his voice carrying a rare note of admiration, “you’ve built one hell of a machine here. You can see the whole battlefield fast, smooth, and those sensors. This isn’t just another scout. This is a weapon, through and through.”

Kovacs grinned, relief and pride mingling as he took in the words. The Lee had proven itself in its first real test, and he could already see the possibilities expanding. This wasn’t just the end of a prototype but the beginning of something new.