As Kovacs entered his quarters that evening, he activated his tablet to access the competition’s portal. Alongside the notification of his acceptance into the next phase of the contest, he found a second file: an automated assessment of his ad hoc mech. He hesitated before opening it, bracing himself for what he was sure would be a thorough critique.
The holographic evaluation flickered to life, projecting a three-dimensional model of his mech in the air above his desk. The holographic evaluation highlighted sections in red, yellow, and green, corresponding to critical faults, areas for improvement, and well-executed features, as it flickered to life, projecting a three-dimensional model of his mech in the air above his desk.
Assessment Summary:
Structural Integrity: Adequate but lacks durability under high-stress. Structural integrity is sufficient but lacks durability in severe conditions. The agricultural drone torso provides a lightweight solution but offers minimal protection against direct fire or sustained stress.
Mobility: Below average. The mining-rig legs are stable but lack the agility necessary for rapid maneuvering or uneven terrain. Improperly calibrated actuators cause inefficient energy use during gait adjustments.
Power Distribution: Marginal. The modified core produces sufficient energy, but the lack of redundant routing makes it vulnerable to a single point of failure. The untested amplification system introduces a risk of catastrophic overload.
Weapons Integration: Creative but impractical. The loader claw provides precision and strength, but its industrial origin limits its combat utility. The grappler arm is functional but undersized for offensive capabilities.
Final Score: 62/100
Verdict: Functional but unoptimized. While the design demonstrates ingenuity under resource constraints, it is ill-suited for combat applications and lacks the refinement expected in competitive environments. Recommendations include revisiting mobility systems, enhancing structural integrity, and integrating scalable power routing.
Kovacs exhaled sharply, sinking into his chair. The assessment stung, even though it aligned with his own criticisms of the mech. It wasn’t a failure—it had gotten him through to the next phase—but the report made it clear that if he wanted to compete at the next level, he would need to do better. Much better.
With a sigh, he used the bracelet starting the system’s evaluation process. The display lit up with annotations, overlays, and a score breakdown. The prototype, now incorporating elements from Ilara’s data and his own ingenuity, stood as a testament to his growth as an engineer.
Assessment Summary:
Structural Integrity: Excellent. The active-armor composite plating provides superior protection while maintaining a lightweight frame. The modular skeletal structure ensures damage can be isolated and repaired without compromising core systems.
Mobility: Above average. Adaptive gyroscopic stabilizers and advanced actuator networks enable precise movement and rapid directional changes. The mining-rig origins of the legs are no longer apparent, as the redesign prioritizes battlefield agility.
Power Distribution: Exceptional. The energy-redistribution lattice allows for real-time rerouting of power, ensuring consistent performance even under extreme stress. Redundant pathways eliminate single points of failure.
Weapons Integration: Strong. The grappler arm has been replaced with an extendable energy pike, and the loader claw has been reinforced with high-torque servos for combat applications. Both weapons integrate seamlessly with targeting and power systems.
Final Score: 87/100
Verdict: A highly functional war machine with innovative design elements. While the system notes minor vulnerabilities in long-term energy efficiency under sustained stress, the mech demonstrates a well-rounded balance of durability, mobility, and firepower. Suitable for deployment in dynamic combat scenarios.
Kovacs leaned back in his chair, his mind racing as he compared the two evaluations. The differences were stark, but they told a clear story of his progress—and the compromises he’d made along the way.
Structural Integrity
Ad-Hoc Mech: "Adequate but lacks durability under high-impact conditions." The agricultural drone torso had been a quick fix, functional but flimsy. The prototype’s active-armor plating, by contrast, was a game-changer. Ilara’s data had been invaluable here, introducing him to materials that adapted in real time, turning the mech into a fortress.
“I’ve moved from cobbling together scraps to designing something with real staying power. But the plating’s complexity makes it harder to repair in the field. I’ll need to account for that.”
Mobility
Ad-Hoc Mech: "Below average. The mining-rig legs are stable but lack the agility necessary for rapid maneuvering." The sluggish movements had been a glaring weakness. The prototype’s upgraded actuators and stabilizers now allowed for nimble, precise motion, solving a critical issue.
“The difference is night and day, but the actuators rely heavily on the power core’s stability. If something goes wrong there, the mech’s mobility could collapse.”
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Power Distribution
Ad-Hoc Mech: "Marginal. The lack of redundant routing makes it vulnerable to a single point of failure." The makeshift system had been a glaring liability, barely holding together under strain. The new energy lattice, with its adaptive routing and fail-safes, had turned it into a strength.
“This might be the biggest leap forward. But it’s also the most experimental system. If the lattice fails, I’m back to square one.”
Weapons Integration
Ad-Hoc Mech: "Creative but impractical." The loader claw and grappler arm had been passable in concept but lacked true combat functionality. The energy pike and reinforced claw were now deadly and efficient, making the mech a legitimate contender.
“I’ve finally designed a mech that can fight—not just survive. But I’m still relying heavily on experimental tech. There’s a fine line between innovation and recklessness.”
As he studied the evaluations, Kovacs couldn’t ignore the lingering question: was the new design truly his? The active armor, the energy lattice, even the weapons—they all bore the fingerprints of Ilara’s guidance and the stolen CID data. While his own ingenuity had tied it all together, he felt a creeping unease about how much he had relied on others.
The ad-hoc mech, for all its flaws, had been his creation. It was scrappy, imperfect, but undeniably his. The war machine prototype was polished, powerful—and tainted by the shadows of corporate interests and stolen knowledge.
“This is what progress looks like,” he murmured to himself, though the words rang hollow.
The new design scored higher in every category, but it came with a cost. The pressure to compete at this level, to prove himself to Ilara and the CID, had pushed him to adopt techniques and materials he barely understood. While the prototype was a triumph on paper, it felt like a ticking time bomb in his gut.
“Potential isn’t enough,” Ilara had said. He understood her words better now. But as he stared at the hologram of his war machine, he wondered: was the cost of reaching that potential worth it?
The CID needed results. Ilara demanded brilliance. And Kovacs? He just wanted to build something he could believe in. But for now, he was trapped between expectations, and the competition wasn’t over yet.
***
The next morning, Kovacs joined the other contestants in a cavernous hall within the competition facility. A holographic display at the front of the room read: “Phase Two: The War Machine.”
Dr. Maren Vael stood at the podium, flanked by two other judges. Ilara Oran was among them, her presence commanding despite her silence. Kovacs caught her eye for a brief moment, but her expression remained inscrutable.
“Congratulations to those of you who have advanced,” Dr. Vael began. “The next phase of the competition will test your ability to design a mech suited for the most demanding conditions of warfare. Your objective is to create a prototype that balances mobility, durability, and firepower, while addressing real-world combat scenarios.”
She gestured to the display, which now showcased a simulated battlefield. “Your designs will be evaluated on their ability to survive and adapt in dynamic environments. Each team will have access to advanced materials and resources provided by our sponsors.”
Kovacs frowned. Sponsors? He leaned closer, reading the names listed at the bottom of the display. Among them was Cindralis Dynamics.
***
After the briefing, Ilara approached Kovacs as the contestants began filing out. Her sharp eyes swept over him, her expression as unreadable as ever.
“You’ve made it to the next phase,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
“Yes,” Kovacs replied cautiously. “Thanks to your advice, I suppose.”
Ilara raised an eyebrow. “If you want my advice now, you’ll have to earn it.”
Kovacs blinked. “Earn it how?”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “By proving you can handle more than makeshift designs. I agreed to mentor you because I see potential, but potential means nothing if you can’t push past your limits.”
He met her gaze, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. “And what if those limits aren’t just mine? The competition’s sponsors—Cindralis Dynamics—they’re tied to everything happening on Prescott.”
Ilara’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—recognition, perhaps, or guilt. “You think you’re the first to question them? The first to feel conflicted about the hands feeding this industry?”
“Are you?” Kovacs shot back.
Ilara’s lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. “You’re asking the wrong questions.”
She handed him a small data chip. “Take this. It’s a repository of techniques for integrating advanced materials. You’ll need it to keep up. But don’t expect me to hold your hand. If you want to win—and if you want answers—you’ll have to find them yourself.”
Before he could respond, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there with more questions than ever.
***
Back in the workshop, Kovacs slotted the data chip into his tablet. The files it contained were dense, filled with schematics, calculations, and material properties far beyond what he’d encountered before. Among the entries was a primer on active-armor composites, a type of plating that could shift its density in response to incoming projectiles. Another file detailed energy-redistribution lattices, systems capable of channeling excess power to auxiliary systems in real-time.
Kovacs dove into the data, his mind racing with possibilities. He sketched out preliminary designs, incorporating the advanced materials into a mech that could adapt to battlefield conditions. The active armor would protect key components, while the energy lattice would ensure uninterrupted power flow even under heavy fire.
But the deeper he went, the more he realized how little he truly understood. The concepts were groundbreaking, but they were also maddeningly complex. Each improvement he made seemed to introduce new vulnerabilities, and the clock was ticking.
***
As Kovacs wrestled with his design, Jackie burst into the workshop, her expression grim. She glanced around to ensure they were alone before stepping closer.
“We’ve got a problem,” she said.
Kovacs looked up, his exhaustion evident. “What now?”
“The CID found something,” Jackie said, lowering her voice. “Proof that Prescott was targeted for its resources. Not just the rare elements—but the infrastructure to exploit them. The corporations running this contest? They’re part of it.”
Kovacs felt a chill run through him. “Ilara’s tied to them, isn’t she?”
Jackie hesitated, then nodded. “She’s connected, yes. But how deep it goes, we don’t know yet. You need to be careful, Kovacs. If you trust her too much—”
“I don’t trust her,” he interrupted. “But if she can help me build something that gets their attention, maybe we can find out what’s really going on.”
Jackie frowned but didn’t argue. “Just… don’t lose sight of why you’re here. This isn’t just a competition anymore.”
Kovacs nodded, his resolve hardening. The competition, the CID, Ilara—it was all part of a larger game. And if he wanted to survive it, he’d need to play smarter than ever.