This choice: Terra goes hunting for Gato's new pilot • Go Back...Chapter #4An Anonymously Stunning Peformance by: metra   Terra was on her way to her room when a thought struck her, "I need to know more about the potential pilots we have on hand... Looking over the simulator logs and replays wouldn't be a bad place to start." She then turned on her heel and and made a beeline for the simulator room. The simulators were basically pods that allowed a pilot to train to be in a simulated Novarai cockpit or H.A.N (Human Assisted Novarai). In addition, the system allowed any HAN to connect to the simulator and fight with the pilot in simulated battles. As Terra walked into the simulation bay, she noted that three of the pods were offline and being examined by technicians. "Odd, I didn't think overhaul day was for another week..." The pilot thought as she climbed a flight of stairs and entered the control room. Inside the room she found two technicians working busily on the electronics that made the system work. "Hey guys, having technical issues?" Terra asked.
"Security issues... We think someone without access has been using the simulators," One of the techs replied.
Terra's face scrunched up in confusion, "How are they getting past the front door? There's cameras all around the external entry points and three senior techs are on duty at all times..."
"To be honest, we don't know. We don't even have an idea of what he or she looks like..." The second tech replied. "All we have is the combat data from the simulations they ran. No idea when they were here or when they actually left."
"You couldn't even I.D. them? How is that possible, shouldn't the internal camera inside the pod catch their face?" Terra asked?
"It did, the first time at least... but whoever it was wore a mask to keep themselves hidden. But now the camera won't even pick up an image anymore."
"This isn't an outside job... someone on this base who knows the system and the protocols is doing this," Terra muttered.... "Can I see the combat data?"
One of the two techs nodded and left his station to pull up the data on another monitor. Terra read over the numbers, as she did her face changed from thoughtful to shocked.
"Have you seen these numbers yet?" She asked.
"We did, and we thought it was a glitch... until we played back the footage," The tech replied as he punched a button on the keyboard to bring up the video. Terra watched as a gray yellow simulation of a concept HAN fought two enemy Novarai. Weilding a submachine gun, the HAN fired a volley of rounds at the two Novarai while charging them. The first Novarai fired a set of missles at the HAN. In a fluid motion the human piloted machine dropped from its sprint and onto its back to slide under the incoming missiles while releasing a spray of bullets into the air to destroy them. As the yellow mech slid to a stop a shadow fell over it. One of the opposing Novarai had closed the gap and prepared to fire what seemed to be some sort of laser rifle. The yellow machine responded by kicking the tip of its opponents gun skyward sending the beam blasting harmlessly into the sky, the yellow combatant then fired its submachine gun into its aggressor's torso. The gray novarai stumbled backwards before dropping to one knee. The sound of machine gun fire filled the air until a continuous clicking noise was all that could be heard. The yellow clad fighter had run out of ammunition. The second Novarai, which had kept its distance initially drew a blue, luminescent, sword like blade before charging the yellow HAN. The yellow unit threw it's empty rifle at the charging enemy as it rose to its feet only for the Novarai to shrug at it off like a meager annoyance.
Terra turned her head without taking her eyes off of the screen, "They didn't have a spare clip?" She asked.
"Apparently they accessed the system parameters and customized a HAN and loadout according to there personal specifications," The tech replied.
"What do you mean, 'specifications'?" Terra asked.
"Just watch..."
Just as the attacking Novarai neared it's victim, the yellow HAN fired a cable from the top of its wrist at a parked car a fair distance behind it. A pronged hook at the end of the line sunk into the car; anchoring to the end of the line. With a powerful upward yank the car shot skywards, a second downward tug brought the car down onto the charging Novarai's head sending it crashing to the ground before grinding to a halt. The first Novari charged at the yellow HAN who disconnected the line from its wrist and took up a boxing stance. The Novarai slammed into the Yellow mech before throwing a powerful punch at its head. The yellow machine reeled backwards before finding its footing in time to see its opponent coming back for a second attack. The yellow unit ducked under the gray mech's fist before grabbing its extended arm with both hands and slinging it into a nearby building. It then drew a pistol from a hidden holster in it's left thigh, but as it lined up the shot, the second Novarai smashed into its side sending it tumbling along the street. Yet, the yellow machine still managed to put itself right side up before sliding to a stop on its metal feet. The enemy wasted no time as it charged once again with it's sword at the ready. It slashed horizontally at the yellow armored frame before it only to cut air as the Yellow warrior bent its upper body backwards to avoid the blade before spring up and firing two quick right and left punches to the enemy's head. The Novarai staggered backwards as it was stunned by the sudden attack, allowing its yellow opponent to dash up and strike it in the chest with its right hand. The fingers on the right hand had pierced through the gray armor on impact, crippling the gray metallic beast. The wounded Novarai fell to its knees as its enemy snatched its hand back from its victims chest. By now the Novarai from earlier had gotten back to its feet and lined up a shot with the yellow fighters head. With little hesitation, the gray killing machine fired its weapon. The beam streaked toward its target, who spun to the side nearly falling over to avoid the deadly beam. It seemed that the full blooded Novarai had the advantage now. The yellow fighter took refuge in a nearby side street as the gray armored alien fired another shot, destroying a truck that was unfortunate enough to be in the line of fire after the initial target had dodged. The Novarai cautiously approached the entrance to the street where it's prey had disappeared moments ago and readied its weapon. Whipping around the corner, weapon drawn and finger on the trigger, the cybernetic soldier was surprised to find an empty street. Cautiously, the giant made its way through the street, searching for its quarry when seemingly out of nowhere a black cable with a grappled on the end of it wrapped around the muzzle of the Novarai's weapon before yanking it skyward. The Novarai looked up and focused its red eyes on a familiar yellow figure. The HAN stood suspended off of the side of a building, its left hand's claws dug into the concrete structure for support while its feet were placed squarely on the building's side and it's right arm now wielded the Novarai's stolen weapon before firing it and sending a laser right through its former owner ending the simulation.
"Impressive, its a very innovative fighting style to say the least," Terra mused... "Do you have the data for the pilots that applied to be assigned to Gato?"
"I have it on this drive over here, would you like me to put it in a pad for you?"
Terra nodded, "Please? Oh and put their corresponding result's on there as well... along with our mystery pilot's data..." Terra added as she absently glanced back at the screen which now displayed the yellow HAN's blue prints and specifications.
"You think it could be a pilot that uses the facility regularly?" The tech asked as he handed the electronic tablet over to Terra.
Terra sighed, "They would be the most likely candidates, but then that raises the question, 'Why sneak in when you already have access?' And what's with that loadout for the HAN? I've never seen anyone use a setup like that, one clip and grapple lines with a handgun for a secondary? It's just so... unusual... are all of his simulations like this."
"Not exactly, but for the most part yeah," The tech replied. "Same basic loadout minus a change hear and there."
"What types of changes?" Terra asked.
"Oddly enough the pilot sometimes uses combat knives even though they already have the 'Kat Claws' equipped. Occasionally there will be an extra clip or two but the majority of the time they always lead with some type of mid ranged weapon to cover their approach before engaging in close range combat with hand guns, knives and claws..."
"I see, well thanks for your help," Terra replied giving a wave as she left.
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