Several days later, the IO transport completed a few jumps across empty sectors and reached a desolate star system - now orbiting a Class N Planet. Barren and rocky, its surface was a mixture of light-brown and yellow, with huge meteor craters visible from its surface.
The planet orbited as the third nearest satellite to the star. If it jumped a little further away, it would have occupied the ecological region of the star system, where extensive life forms could exist.
Speaking of the star, it radiated in many colors and one could mistake it as white. However, with more powerful scanners, the passengers correctly identified it as a Green Star, similar in size to that of a Yellow Star.
The green sun was orbited by five planets, and was once a mining station for the Union. When the available resources were thoroughly depleted, it was abandoned in haste. As a result, debris of all kinds of useless trash freely floated. Attracted to the mass of the planet, it formed a belt around the third satellite, displaying the countless clusters of human wasteful products.
It would have been a good time for the passengers to admire the handiwork of their own kind or watch the mysterious star, but most did not spare a second glance as they were in a hurry to establish connection with their branch in the Empire.
Only Mina stood on the viewport, switching her gaze at the green sun and a distant gas giant. Whenever her sight landed on the belt of trash, the corner of her lips curled downward.
In an electronics room, hurriedly transformed into a simulation area, most of the crew gathered.
Director Fei sat on a corner, caressing the back of her head. The blinking green lights from the comms, shone on her gloomy face - bitter and resentful.
During the war with Atlas, her branch contributed trillions of credits for the war effort. Now the main branch refused to return even a single credit, assuming that the Union branch was all but lost. They were already considered as part of the main branch, and had no distinct recognition from henceforth.
Well, at least, the main branch relented for a simulation. Not that they were committed, they just wanted to gloat their 6th Gens to the two female directors and feel superior about it.
Sonorously communicating on the main platform, Director Cia coordinated all of the people who played the bigger roles for the upcoming simulation in good order. Commander Derton was already online from the other line, informing her about his fruitless journey in Steel Arena. After a moment, he was instructed to hop inside his Virtual Pod so that the simulation could begin.
"I see no point in this simulation. Our mechs are already battle tested while your design is still in its simulation stage." Projected from the holographic screen, a man with shoulder length black hair, dressed in a white suit, said with a cocky grin on his handsome face. He continued after observing the other director for a few seconds, "But if you insist, Director Cia, we will upload the data of my own creation, 'The Red Beast'. Our other mechs are too advance for this useless endeavour."
Cia's expression did not change, but deep inside, she knew that the main branch released three 6th Gens, one in each class of the light, medium and heavy. All categorized as 6th Gen. Tier 1. The Red Beast was the heavy mech of the three. Clearly, they wanted to dominate the entire simulation.
"We are honored that you considered our offer, Director Porter." She dismissively said, her voice carried no emotion.
On the other hand, Director Porter's expression visibly changed due to Cia's indifference. With a chuckle, he turned to someone on his side, and commanded, "Adapt Steel Arena's simulation engine. Create a new pocket. We are going online in five minutes."
Finally overcoming her emotions, Director Fei hastily stood up, and went to Cia's side. After receiving a short brief and realizing the unfair matchup, she gave the handsome man on the screen an intense glare. With a growl, she stated, "Porter, you are as shameless as ever."
The man bursted into laughter after hearing the compliment.
The orange head started to bark orders for the preparations, before making a private call.
"What does this humble servant require of you, my lady?" Graves nonchalantly greeted from the other end.
"Commander Derton! I want you to beat the crap out of this Red Beast until it becomes unrecognizable in a heap of trash!" She demanded in venomous tone.
Graves only responded with an effortless salute.
"It's a shame. I was hoping that there was a new weapon system for the Straggler S1-2." Thales murmured in the corner while running a few diagnostics in his computer.
"We still haven't seen it action. Judging from its framework, it will give us a few surprises. But I'm with you. The Straggler seem to lack firepower. It might excel in the earlier stages of the simulation." Niel said, standing beside his colleague. After some thoughts, he asked, "So how did your retrieval of its computer system go?"
Thales turned and faced the other specialist, a toothy grin plastered on his face, "I bought the Straggler S1-2 on the market with my own money. Though, Director Cia assured me that she will return 80% of my purchase." After a thoughtful pause, he added, "I was planning to take a quick look, but could not bypass its security system. So, I just copied it all in my data chip."
There was a look of pain in Niel's face. If Thales could not open it in Steel Arena even with the cheat codes that his privilege as an esteem mech specialist allowed him to, there was no way they could unlock its secrets in the real world unless they hired a Computer-tech specialist at the highest level to do the dirty work.
On the entrance of the room, Mina appeared before the simulation began. She found a corner and stood there, staring in anticipation at the huge holographic screen located at the center of the room.
"Simulation will begin shortly." Director Porter started, "We will begin with hand to hand combat."
"Agreed." Cia and Fei both said at the same time.
Hand to hand combat was crucial to determine whether a mech can defend itself when being surrounded. No matter how formidable a mech was, if inferior mechs could easily bring it down on the ground, they could easily disable it. As such, this process was to provide insight on what the mechs were lacking in close range.
Long time ago, knights were well armored from head to toe, and almost insusceptible from any kind of attack. They were also trained killers. What can a group of lightly armed peasants do against one such mighty warrior? Nothing. But if they were determined, they could bring the knight down on the ground, and try to stab through the gaps in the armor, but there was probably almost none. Best chance they got was to remove the helmet. Richard The Lion Heart was one such case.
"Uploading data to pocket server." A technician announced with an indifferent voice.
"Connecting simulation pilots."
"Commander Varus."
"Commander Derton."
"We are good to go."
The huge projected screen on the center of the room blinked, before displaying a vast expanse of rocky terrain devoid of any slopes and only an occasional rising of giant rocks in the distance. Sometimes, terrain dictated the course of battle, but this time, they only wanted to see a brawl between two collosal machines of war.
After a few seconds, two figures slowly materialized in the chosen battle ground. Director Porter's mouth slowly curled up into a grin as soon as a giant red object fully matured from the screen.
The crimson figure was not fully erect, and supported its stand with long arms fisted on the ground. The mech had a stocky body and broad shoulders. It only took a short moment before the Union's side eventually realized what archaic animal the mech represented.
"A gorilla just like its creator." Fei loudly expressed, her voice laced with distaste.
Porter laughed and then turned his gaze to the other side where a tall humanoid mech stood. After giving it a moment of observation, he uttered, "Girls are always attracted to pretty things. I'll have to admit that I'm not pretty myself. Let's see how your skinny mech will fare against a force of nature."
"I'll have to also admit that your Red Beast is uglier than you are. But I'd rather date it than a goon like you." Fei retorted.
A dark expression appeared on Porter's face.
"Weapon's are disabled. The match can begin now." The technician in charge of the simulation stated.
With that, Porter declared while activating his comm, "Varus! Tear that walking skeleton into pieces!"
The Red Beast on all four suddenly lunched forward with a terrifying speed, even though it weighed twice than the Straggler S1-2.