For the next hour, Nasreen sends me on all sorts of errands across the bay. For the most part, they are all simple tasks, with me running documents to her or checking on the status of repairs. However, despite the constant running around, the job is enjoyable, giving me something to occupy my time with.
Unfortunately, the peace comes to an end as I spy Auclair-Stolz and Di’Lotta make their way into the mech bay. The two of them walk into the bay as if they own the place, marching through without a second thought. Auclair-Slolz surveys the room, his eyes sliding over me for a brief second as he scans the room before locking on me.
“The rest of my squad is here,” I say, stepping a bit closer to Nasreen.
“Huh, guess that means I have to get this bullshit over with then,” she sighs, rising from her computer. I follow as she quickly crosses the mech bay and makes her way over to Auclair-Stolz and Di’Lotta. “So you are the others from Squad 3?”
“I am the leader of squad 3, Ensign Walter Auclair-Stolz. I take it you are in charge here?”
“Yup, I am the ship’s secondary Assistant Chief Mechanical Officer and the Head of the Secondary mech bay. Name’s Nasreen.”
“Just Nasreen?” Di’Lotta asks, one of his eyebrows raising.
“Yeah, Nasreen. Got a problem with it?”
“Well, I’m just surprised that someone of your background...”
“Ok, gonna shut you the fuck up right there. You’re high status, right? Can you fix up an Astral Gear? Can you design equipment? Can you modify equipment for individual AG use?”
“Well, no, but I’m sure that someone of a higher status could meet those qualifications.”
“Well, two things about that. A) I didn’t list the requirements for my position. The requirements really only need you to know how to repair an AG. I know all the other stuff cause I’m amazing and more than qualified. B) Even if there was another who matches my credentials, they ain’t here. So let me tell you how things will work. I am the second most qualified person on this ship when it comes to AGs. And I’m the most qualified in this entire room.
“If you got a problem with me, you can take that up with the chief. But I can tell you right now that he’ll just tell you to shove it. He is the one who vouched for me. And unless I decide to place a bomb in your cockpit, he ain’t gonna fire me. Hell, he might not even fire me if I can defend you having a bomb in your cockpit.”
“Wa..What!”
“Trust me, while a good pilot is a valuable part of the machine, what you just said proves you ain’t a good pilot. Anyone with any sense knows not to insult people who are in charge of working on the machine you rely on. All it takes is one misplaced bolt, and then whoosh. To space with your sorry ass.
“Anyway, Nasreen. In charge in here. And if you have sense and don’t try to antagonize like a little pedant, the person who makes sure that your AG is up to date, ship shape, and customized to meet your needs. But you aren’t here for all that right now. You are here for the flight check, right?”
“That would be correct, Bay Officer Nasreen,” Auclair-Stolz replies. “Can we get to that?”
“Sure. Follow me.”
With that, she smoothly turns on her heel and makes her way toward some of the Janissaries.
“Your AG’s are over here,” she says after some walking. With a wave of her hand, she points us over to three Janissaries. The two on the outside are almost identical, being the standard Janissary that I trained with in the sims, with the exception of a unique decal. On the right shoulder shield, there is a painting of a grinning wolf, and below that, there are numbers 13 on one and 12 on the other. In the center, I see one of the tri-horned Janissary, and on its soldier is the same wolf and the number 4. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Auclair-Stolz’s face twitch into a frown, but when I blink, his face is locked into its usual cold expression.
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“These are your machines. The ones on the outer ends are just your standard Janissaries nothing too fancy going on with them, though you got the new armor/ weapon system that allows for quite a bit of options. More than enough to blow the Martians and the bastards on Terra into cosmic dust. As for the center, that is a Janissary Commander. How much have they made you aware of that machine and its capabilities?”
“I was informed about many of the combat applications during a briefing with Captain Jackson-Gladio as well as Chief Mechanical Officer Lucian Vulcan-Bastille. I have been made aware that it can equip the same modular weapons as the Janissary and possess a more advanced sensor suite and thruster portfolio. Finally, we were informed of a backup sensor system located within the torso in addition to the base head-mounted sensors.”
“Well, that’s great,” Nasreen replies, as a smirk crosses her face. “That means I can save both of our time. The only thing that they didn’t mention from the sound of it is the fact that thanks to the advanced sensors you will be rocking, you can field the Arquebus, or as it is officially known, the M1-Sniper Rifle.”
“Oh?”
“It’s a weapon specced out for advanced distance fighting. It was paired with the Ashigaru Sniper, a rather overhauled version of the Ashigaru, so don’t be too worried if it sounds unfamiliar. All it is is a gun specced out for long-distance combat. And by long distance, they mean it. Thing struggles in the normal combat range, but it is like having a miniaturized cruiser cannon so it is what it is.”
“While that is interesting, I don’t think I would be changing my armaments to that degree. I figured. Most of you Academy folk have preferences already. But that is beside the point at the moment. I’m not here to sell you on a better weapon that would allow you to more efficiently deal with enemies that you would face. No, I’m here to help you do system checks. Boring, boring systems checks.
“Now, feel free to head on up. Your machines have already been checked to make sure they are flight-ready. Everything is clear and ready to go. For this test you will be armed with the standard loadout, that being the Arashi, the Tempête, and the Cleaver, or to use its official name, the M2 CCW. Oh, and as a very, very important note. While your armaments will be loaded, please refrain from wasting ammunition. They are loaded only, so you will get a chance to experience the machines and the weights with which you will be working. Got it?”
“Yes, Bay officer.”
“Good. Now, feel free to head over. Once you get in, activate the machines, and then we will guide you through the start-up checklist.”
With that, we make our way over to the machines. Each step I take closer to the machine increases the sensation of being dwarfed by it. I eventually make my way over to the ladder on the dock wall and quickly clamber up onto the scaffolding. On the scaffold, I make my way over to its front. Standing in front of the armored chest of the AG, I look around for a bit before I find the access hatch and head into the heart of my machine.
Sitting in the seat of the cockpit, I am hit by a strange feeling. The cockpit, off of pure looks, is fairly similar to the sims that I have spent so much time in. However, at the same time, everything is ever so slightly…off. The seat is fresh, not worn by countless others. There is a strange shine to everything, and as the hatch seals itself, the world becomes silenced.
Not wanting to keep the others waiting, I begin the activation sequence, which, fortunately, is the same as in the sim. Unlike the gentle start of the sim, the Janissary roars to life, announcing its presence to the world. Along with the roar, lights all across the cockpit flicker to life alongside the view screen, which displays the hanger bay in sharp clarity. As the roar dies down a bit, I see my com light flicker on. Switching the coms on, I am greeted by Nasreen’s voice.
“Ok, pilots. I am going to run you through flight checks, and then we will get you onto the catapult. Once you are out in the void, you will have a few minutes to do some flight drills and acclimate yourselves to your machines.”
The next few minutes are spent hovering over the dashboard, making sure that everything is in order. Seeing no issues, I run through my system checks and test out the limbs, raising and lowering them before taking a test step guided by Nasreen and the flight crew.
“Ok, Unit 12 is clear of the launch path. You are clear to head over to the catapult Wolf 13.”
“Understood,” I reply.
Gently, I push the drive, and I feel the machine obey my commands. It lumbers over to the catapult, and I shift into the launch position, crouching as the clamps magnetize to the Jannissary’s feet.
“Wolf 13, you are clear for launch.”
With that, I switch to flight mode, activating my thrusters. I am held in place for a second before being rocketed forward by the catapult. The force of the launch throws me back into my seat as I am carried out of the ship. As the catapult releases me, I am sent flying forward. Panic rises up only to be cut down as I take control, easing back on the thrusters and guiding myself over to where Auclair-Stolz and Di’Lotta are holding.
I fly over to their position as Auclair-Stolz’s voice comes over my com.
“We are just going to do a few flight drills around the ship. The emphasis will be flying in formation and adjusting to my commands. First, V formation.”
With that, he takes off, leading us on through the void. We follow, maneuvering around our machines at his command. Along with flying in a basic V formation, he has us practice swapping our weapons rapidly as well as scattering on his command.
“Hmm, that will have to….” Auclair-Stolz’s voice cuts off as he breaks communication. I don’t have time to wonder why as his voice quickly returns. “Men formation! We have contact!”