THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE
In the control room of NAM Testing Area 18-S, FIRE Testing Range...
The testing center control room was fairly barren this morning. David and Rojer were not with them today, as it was a bit early, and they had not reached the NAM offices yet. Natalie, however, stood off to Garland's side, smiling softly, ready to assist Garland should he need it. Eri and Tessa were standing out in the test area, in a shiny new NAM FIRE suit.
"Alright Eri, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the FIRE's weapon systems...we will be testing the EAR-01a again, on another live target," Garland spoke loudly into the speaker as his eyes trailed off to the datapad in his other hand. Eri nodded in reply, and took a moment to run a diagnostic check on the powered armor.
"Dr. Garland!" A voice rang out from the head tester's left. It was the NAM CEO himself, Melchoir Vel Steyr. The frail but smart looking man looked much better than he was when Garland met him in passing a long time ago, the Vel Steyr having checked himself for an extended vacation from NAM work. Although they have never met face to face, Melchoir seemed to take Garland quite cordially. "How's it going?" He said, leaning on one of the observation rails.
Garland looked up from his datapad with a grin...he found it quite the honor for the CEO of NAM to take it upon himself to visit the testing ranges himself. After a quick moment of composure, Garland pointed an outstretched plam towards Eri and his FIRE armor behind the thick plated glass of the testing control room. "Very well Dr. Vel Steyr! As you can see, we will be testing the EAR-01a units on this FIRE model," Garland replied with confidence and pride before turned back to his console. "Alright Eri, if you would please load Tessa into the AIR we put in the loading dock, you two may begin the exercise."
"Yes sir," Eri did what he was told, quickly exiting his FIRE armor and climbing up to retrieve his Savtech from its slot.
"Wait just a minute!" Another voice rang out, this time on Garland's right. There stood the holographic image of a gold long haired lady in a green dress. Although she looked as old as the other savtechs (Which was pretty young), she carried herself with much authority. "Melchoir, I request permission to replace Tessa for this test."
"Permission granted." Melchoir replied casually with a shrug. The holograph of Elise disappeared as The Vel Steyr pulled out the thick card shaped housing that held her in his pocket. As he passed by Garland to the testing room, he said, "It wasn't just me that has been observing the results of your experiments, doctor. Perhaps this will spice things up."
"Err..." Garland muttered to himself, slightly dumbstruck at the suggestion. He turned towards Natalie, whom also had a look of slight concern strewn across her face. Eri and Tessa down on the testing area floor also gazed into the control room with slight surprise. "...are you sure that is a good idea doctor? Tessa is experienced in these types of tests."
There was a sly grin across Melchoir's face as he climbed to the side of the AIR2 to slot Elise in. Messing with the variables on conventional experiments was one of his deepest pleasures. After slotting her in, he made his way back to the observation room as the AIR2 armor sealed itself up.
I have put the NAM Complex under automatic for the time being. Elise ran through her self diagnosis procedures as the AIR2 powered up. I have transferred all relevant data to this processor and will execute this task without the use of the Headquaters high performance server processor. The AIR2 stood up as two red dots shone brightly on its shoulders. Through only the use of a microprocessor and my own ability, I have calculated that the chances are in my favor.
Garland took Melchoir's silent actions as a 'yes'. He shrugged, and nodded silently for Eri and Tessa to return to the FIRE suit and prepare themselves. Garland shot one last look of concern at Natalie before turning back to face the plated glass. "Alright Ms. Elise, the situation is the same as the NAM EAR-01a Test #12...Eri will be unloading his entire salvo of ARROW missiles in an attempt to disable you. You are not to engage the FIRE at any point, however you are free to use any other means necessary to...survive the barrage. Do you understand this?" Garland spoke clearly, keeping an eye on Melchoir as he walked to the exit.
"Affirmative, Dr. Garland." Elise simply replied as she raised the AIR2s FMD right at Eri's head. A rolling and clicking sound could be heard as the Power Armor readied two charges.
"Alright...Eri, begin the test...now."
Eri was feeling uncomfortable; he had destroyed four Power Armors in four ARROW tests. But now this one was suddenly different from what was originally planned, he is going to be launching them at THE most influential Savtech herself. Bracing himself, he started. Instantly, the FIRE crouched its knees to brace itself, activating the unpowered ARROW rack on its back. A short burst of ARROWs shot from the top of the rack, rising slightly above Eri's head.
Elise's AIR2 instantly raised the FMD a few more degrees to point above the FIRE1s head and launched a single timed RED charge and another charge one second later. As the charges flew right above Eri's unit, the fuse expired and the charge exploded, taking twenty missiles each with them. Eri exclaimed in surprise as he had to brace against the shockwave of the explosions but the rest of the missiles launched out unhindered. On an empty plain the AIR2 would be able to out accelerate the ARROWs, but the reinforced underground testing chamber severely reduced the abilities of the AIR2.
"Eri! Pay attention, reassert your footing and keep firing!" Tessa ordered, taking slight charge of the situation. Although she didn't need any help moving the FIRE on her own, Eri nodded and supplemented his own movements to match. The FIRE continued to unleash huge waves of ARROWs at the AIR dodging around in front of it, a literal storm of smoke and heat being unleashed from the missile rack.
The grey colored machine slowed down, to an observer it would appear that the ARROWs will hit the AIR2 and the AIR2 will hit the wall at the same time. However the AIR2 slowed down so much that a few of the missiles were already impacting upon the shield, bleeding away its protective power. Thirty ARROWs will be lost in the explosion to the shields and laser but now the AIR2 was down to its armor.
As the shield's repulsion force finally failed, the closer ARROWs suddenly picked up speed in a vengeance. At the same instant the AIR2 shot right up, finally hitting the wall and using its tractor beams as an invisible ninja rope. Another thirty arrows were unable to control themselves due to their sudden burst of speed. They impacted themselves upon the test chamber walls but the rest managed to change their trajectories and continued persuing Elise.
The FIRE continued to unload wave after wave of projectiles from the EAR, the two test pilots inside frowning slightly. Before long it had fired the last of its ARROWs. Eri picked himself up and stepped back a bit, hoping to get a better visual of how Elise and her AIR were faring against the tide of ARROWs being pushed against her.
As the AIR2 reached the ceiling, Elise pressed her left palm on the vertical wall and activated her pre-charged PPG. The AIR2 rebounded at an angle tangent to its original path while twenty missiles narrowly missed her and smashed into the wall. She continued moving across the ceiling, having the pleasure of the entire length of the chamber to continue flying across.
Garland began to smile widely as he watched the events unfold beyond the safety glass. "She's doing very well," he mumbled off to Natalie, who was also watching quite intently. She returned a smile of slight relief. "Indeed..."
Elise however flew right down at an angle, landing right beside the surprised Eri. Turning around she let go her store of DART missiles. Sixty hornets of her own mingled with the remaining thirty streaking towards her. Both types of micro-missiles exploded, leaving a dense cloud of black smoke and charged particles that even some of the sensors of the observation platform flatlined. Elise has completely used up all her cards to prevent damage to the Armor and it seemed like she succeeded, until a single ARROW missile streaked out of the smog, undetected by the scrambled sensors and making right for her.
It impacted. Right on Elises PPG Guard. It left a small crater on the shield but the display showed that it was still operational. Mission accomplished, Elise curtsied with the AIR2s skirt armor and powered down, opening the pilots hatch for her retrieval.
"There you go." Melchoir said, whistling once after that. "That should give everybody something to talk about." He signaled Eri to assist him in retrieving his Savtech, it being unsafe to enter the smog filled testing chamber.
Eri found himself clapping the hands of his FIRE lightly, along with the rest of the testing faculty. This was the first failure of the NAM EAR-01a, and the participants of the test merely celebrated Elise's masterful maneuvering. As the testing area began filtering out the harmful smoke with a slight hum, Garland clasped his hands together. "Very well played Ms. Elise! Eri, if you would please retrieve our guest and return up to the console room..." Garland spoke into the microphone before turning back to face Melchoir.
"Well, it appears that the there are a few bugs with the ARROWs targeting capabilities...I will have to compile a request to improve this in my report."
"Will do." Melchoir said, with a small smile on his face. He held out his hand to the side and Eri placed Elise on it. The Vel Steyr turned around and made for the exit. "Keep up the good work, Dr. Garland. I'll have something more interesting for you to test later, I'll tell you over lunch." He said with a backhanded wave as the door closed behind him.
Garland smirked slightly as he watched Melchoir leave. "See, why can't you do things like that Tessa?"
"Yeah Tessa," Eri chimed in, seeing his chance to actually say something against his savtech.
Mother knows best... The red-haired Savtech then turned gave her master an un-amused grimace.
"...shut up Eri."
"...yes ma'am."
