Our Future Lies with You

Ah the smell of the city in the middle section. Its not as bad as the lower section but its still has its trouble. Many homeless roam the streets. People minding their business not batting an eye. It is a city indeed.

"Morning Henry"

"Captain!"

I saluted him. He is a mech pilot of my unit, Garrison Unit M-327. Its headquarter is in the district 27 of the west administration, not the best place since its location is near the ship hull. But the rent here is so cheap, so we moved here. Coincidentally, district 25 just north of here is where The Mech Pilot Academy is located, i am sure we moving here is also Johan's idea.

"Oh come Henry we are not in HQ, no need to be so formal"

"I'm sorry captain!"

"Like i said, no need to do that"

"uh, okay Mr. Amri"

Captain and i have only known each other since i got to the garrison, basically one week. However, both of us really like to talk about mech so we do get along with each other even though he is a 40 year old man and i am still 19.

"So Henry, what do you think of the all new VK-M3? I mean, that junk they call an upgrade is even clunkier than its predescesor"

"I do think its clunkier than M2 but M3 got an upgraded laser sword.. uh i believe they called it laser saber now, i have no idea why change the name. Oh and also they strip some of that useless ShortMisile and put all that remaining tonnage they get to armor"

"Henry henry, my little henry. Weapon and armor is not everything. Mobility is more important, my instructor used to say 'If you can't move, you died' and i still cling to that"

Indeed, in a fight with The Scourge, no matter how beefed up your armor, it will get chewed eventually. That's why any UM mech no matter what its variant is really bad at fighting The Scourge because they really aren't meant to be used to fight them. However, the same can be said with mobility and VK design. One can only dodge that melting fluid or the spike or its telekinetic power so far before succumbing to faulty manuever.

We talked a bit after that. Occasionally shout to each other. He then talked a bit about his family. About how he got a beautiful daughter. Gosh, he keeps bringing that up. If your daughter is really that beautiful, then let me have her already.

"You know Henry, you are pretty enthusiastic about this whole mech thing. Why not join The Academy? I mean, even if you can't pilot it, you can still opt for MechEngineer"

"Yeah, its not that i don't want to go its more like i can't"

"Is it about credits?"

"Yeah that is one of it. We do have a financial problem"

"Its a shame, my daughter just got accepted. You miss your chance idiot"

Before we realized we are already in front of our HQ. The Garrison HQ is as bad as one can imagine. Its a little bit fallen in disrepair. However, the base still function pretty much effectively.

"Ah, guess that was it. Oh btw Henry, someone from the academy is visiting us today. they brought a surprise box for recruits like you"

"What? what surprise?"

"It wouldn't be a surprise if i told you fucktard"

What surprise are they bringing? why is today full of secrets? first Johan and his mystery girlfriend, then mom with her secret, now this? Damn i got to hire a detective agency or something.

I proceeds to enter the main building. Lieutenant Harrick, basically our district garrison director said there is gonna be something happening today especially for recruits so it must be connected with those guys from the academy.

"Pvt. Henry?"

"Yes sir!"

"You are late. Do you need more disciplinary lesson recruit?"

"No sir!"

"Then don't do it again. Come quickly, get inside"

Damn it, i though i was still on track. Things are supposed to start at 10. Maybe i need to buy a TimeKeeper.

"If you can't move, you are death"

A familiar phrase but an unfamiliar face. A woman in her early 50, probably? Her face looks younger but her skin and posture are a mess. Wait, maybe she is captain's old instructor and she came from the academy. So this is the surprise huh captain.

"Oh, you are late. we already begun the lesson"

"I am sorry maam"

"Quick, if you are fighting The Scourge while piloting a mech. What weapon will you use?"

What is this? is she trying to test me?

"uh.. according to the success of recent engagement with The Scourge when the VK-M3 were deployed. They were pretty successful since no drone get to breach the hull. Since they use a laser swo.. saber, i would say laser saber is pretty effective"

"Uuh, you have done your homework i see. That's right ladies and gents. We recently found out the current most effective of.. Why are you still standing there?"

"Uh. shou-"

"Get a chair, do i need to order you around?"

Ah shit, here we go. Who the fuck she think she is. The class seems to be absorbed in her lesson. Perhaps she is not that bad, i mean her attitud was bad.

"The current laser saber used the latest tech of using short ultra-gamma rays. This weapon is very dangerous. It can cut up almost everything we got, ..."

She continued her lecture and i got bored already. I have already read about this before. Basically the current laser saber is so dangerous that using it inside the ship must be done with extra precusion. I mean yeah, it can absolutely melt anything.

So she continues her lesson. Nothing really worthy came out of her mouth.

"You are probably familiar with Mr. Hasan Murad. Mr. Muras was once my student and he did implement our military doctrine to its fullest extend. His never leave any scratch on his mech after battle. Mobility over protection, control over firepower."

Well this is new. Just like what the captain said huh? Perhaps this is why i lose to Johan all the time when we played using the MechSimulator. I am really bad at controlling a mech and mostly focus on firepower. Its more like a walking tank than a mech.

"Alright, seems like our time is up. Oh, but don't you worry! We are still on to something. We.. from the academy has decided to bring something for you today"

Huh, what is it that you brought here.

"DR. Farah, everything is ready."

"Alright, thank you. You hear that lads. Things been set up at the hangar. Lets move ourselve there."

So we moved to the hangar. I hear a few chit-chat in my surrounding. basically people are trying to figure it out what the hell are the things they set up at the hangar.

"There she is. That thing infront of you is Mech Training Module 5 or MTM 5. We at the academy like to call this baby, the Big Black Box or simply the Trhee-B. This thing is the latest technology at mech training technology. We got many-many scenarios, Real time simulation, many model of mech, and ofcourse, our latest model VK-M3. You wont found this baby anywhere beside The Academy"

What the? I can't believe my eyes. Johan used to speak about this. Mech Training Module, and before me is the real thing. Not a cheap knockoff that MechSimulator we used to play together. This is the real deal. This is what Johan has always wanted. I.. I feel bad about myself. Johan is the one that supposed to be here not me enjoying this insyead of me. I mean, i am here to be a garrison troop not a mech pilot.

"So today, each one of you have a chance to know how it feels to be a mech pilot. We in the academy wanted to know how you as a cadet in the garrison can fare piloting a mech. As a sweetener, i will propose a competition for you. In my hands now are 500 credits. its not much but you can certainly live a month using this much credit. The competition is, you must finish course number 39 as fast as possible."

What is this? i don't understand. What ia the point of this competition you are holding? I am sure only a handful of people can pilot a mech, well atleast the virtual one you pilot in a simulator. But still, 500 credits is not much but certaintly worth fighting for, especially since its just piloting a mech in a simulator. Its the thing Johan and i done countless of time for 7 years.

"You got max 5 minute to finish your task. The current record holder is on 21 second. See if you beat that!"

No way man, that record must be achieved by some nuts student at the academy or something.

"Alright everyone listen. All of you are the hope of our ship. You will be the next generation to inherit our burden. My generetion has failed and the generstion before me has failed spectacularly. The current director of our ship wanted that every single one of you to offer up yourself. If no sacrifice is made, there will be no victory. We have been long way from our real home, the Planet Earth. However i am sure, that your generetion will finally free us from our obligation to our overlord. Long live Humanity! Long live Humanity! All hail Humanity!"

"All hail Humanity!"

All hail Humanity, May our LORD be with us.