New Mission!
Graves Derton was a high ranking military officer, and uncle to Griles Derton. This favorite uncle had yet to make his own family - spending millions on the whims of his nephews due to the fact that he had no one else to direct his fatherly doting.
The Dertons were a militaristic family and had a high chance of having male children. Surprisingly numerous in such a profession because of their peculiar ability in battle, one can easily find them in the ranks of the Union's army.
The 44-year-old veteran patiently sat in the Straggler S1-2's cockpit, waiting for a match. His two inch brown hair was brushed backward, while his fierce green eyes tediously stared at the main monitor. With the absence of a mustache, the veteran only had a 1 inch tufted beard.
[Director Fei is enroute to Pyr Prime. You are being recalled to the research outpost.]
Upon seeing the message coming from the real world, a corner of his mouth curled up in irritation, revealing gritted teeth.
Within the mech factions, there would always be a dominant mech guild amongst dozen. In the Union's case, it was the Green Torch. In order to keep out any external military forces in its territory, the Union granted the Green Torch exclusive access to its military personnel to assist in any ongoing research to keep out the guild's uncouth mercenaries.
The GT had a strange way of assigning important individuals to manage their branches. Perhaps a good way to emphasize competition and speed up things. In the Union, two directors who contradicted each other in Cia Renli and Fei Dart. This duo were the definition of chaos and order. Cia was patient and calculating, wanting to take her time in completing a critical project, while the other, Fei, wanted to push things and can get easily irritated. Some of her projects were scrapped, but she would eventually achieve a very good result in a short amount of time. The veteran wanted to be assigned with the former, but his luck was just bleak, and he wasn't able to receive a breathing air for the last three months.
Even though itching for an action, Graves begrudgingly canceled the match and exited the mech. As soon as he climbed down and patted the colossal mech's metallic and giant foot, he muttered in a bitter voice, "Sorry, boy. Let's go out for a ride next time."
[The new 6th Gen was uploaded into the database. You have been chosen as a candidate to test pilot the prototype.]
The new message caused the veteran's eyes to widen as he looked up to the Straggler S1-2 with renewed excitement. Although emotional, his voice was indifferent, saying, "Boy, it seems like you have a new sparring partner!"
-----
Sitting before the computer core of the virtual workshop, Sy rested a foot above the knee of his other leg. Business was always random and could fire back - he had enough of it. He was trying to catch small fishes but hooked the big ones who tried to fight off his grip.
This time, his attention was on his tech skill. Smirking with a corner of his lips, he was unable to choose one from the list.
[
(Technology Skills)
Basic Weapon-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Energy-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Construction-tech = Level 1
(Spend 1,000 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Computer-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Propulsion-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
Basic Bio-tech = Level 0
(Spend 100 Pioneering Score to upgrade)
]
Upgrading his Weapon-tech would be like breaking out of its shell. Since it's based on starship-scale weaponry and also focused on void torpedoes, it's more worthy to mention beam weapons suited for mechs. Level 1 could now provide the applications for emitters to release destructive energy in a narrow and focused beam optimized for minimal dispersion. Laser-like attacks can now reach thousands of kilometers. Although only practical for starship use, Sy can make some adjustments and can also apply it on a personnel-scale.
Energy-tech? Ooh.. sassy. Not to mention the force field, and the twice powerful reactors that could make these lesser factions drool greedily, but it was also a valuable step for the other techs to improve.
Although he did not have enough PS to upgrade the Construction-tech, it had to be mention because of the level 1 Energy-tech. Level 2 Construction-tech, apply Structural integrity fields allowing large structures to be made from heavier materials without suffering from any stress caused by the mass of such materials. Heavier alloys can now be used in all forms of construction. Now, Sy, can be able to build mechs out of Duranium - a common alloy for starships, which was very heavy and tough.
Computer-tech was a favorite for Sy, and his mind was already hovering above it. Now he can integrate the MSD and make supercomputers, with stronger programming tools. Computers were always the device that could help humans to manage a more complex technology, and also a valuable tool in advancing technology.
Now comes the science that make everything go faster. Propulsion-tech. Boo! Aside from the Continuum Drive - a technology which allow travel faster than light without maintaining that speed on a fixed amount of time, it also include the application of the compression and combustion of exotic gasses. Now, combine it with Construction-tech, Sy can now make a flight module - with a powerful reactor - that could easily propel a mech into space, before independently make its way to another star-system. That's the ambition. But, no. If the mech factions see him do that within this time, they would arrest him for sorcery. Without his license, he can't go inventing super advance things until then.
Ah, Bio-tech. Advance Hydroponic and Med Bays. Bio-organic replicator. So many things it can contribute to human society. One thing Sy can implement was the life support of the mech. Whether it's underground, underwater, new planetary atmosphere, the void.. the pilot can stay in the mech comfortably. Sy can also add a bio-organic replicator in the cockpit and the pilot could spend the rest of his life inside his mech. Provided his reactor do not run out of juice. This tech can improve the value of mechs several folds, as mechs can now contribute into new planetary expeditions, acting as an exploration device, working hand in hand with the EVA Protection Vessels such as the Exo-crawler.
Sy could just close his eyes and randomly choose from the tech skills. Of course, the Construction-tech won't be upgraded because he do not have enough PS! If he accidentally pressed it while his eyes were close.
One thing that stuck in his mind was The Mole. Once Niel came back, they would start revising their initial work and design a better one.
Niel might have his way, but Sy wanted to incorporate something for the industrial mech. He wanted to remove the Neuro-link where a person needed an affinity in order to pilot it, and make the mech universal. The first gens were a good inspiration. All people can now manually steer it without restrictions. Problem was that it might need a lot of training before one can get used to it, but not as difficult and expensive as hiring a 1 of 100 person that had an affinity.
This was an innovative idea that could potentially propel the Union's industry into new heights, but the mech guilds might have a say to it, and Sy was not aware of this. He just wanted to push the boundary of limits for the Union.
Furthermore, the new design for the city that he gave to David was actually his first thought in which The Mole could fulfill its first role in the Union.
Without further ado, Sy chose the Bio-tech and upgraded it. The flood of countless data fed into his brain made him tense for a second, his body straightening up. When he regained his composure, the first that grabbed his attention was the new knowledge of celestial bodies, before bacterias of all kinds registered, and so on.
"I should first create a bio-organic replicator.." He declared. Upon a realization, his face soured. These replicators synthesize a wide variety of food from otherwise inedible biomass. The flavor and complexity of the result was sometimes undesirable and criticized, but its nutritional value was indisputable.
Reminded him of the dirt balls. Only that it's a bit nutritious and tasted like dirt.
Ptuf!
With the massive and newly acquired applied knowledge, Sy couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. He turned his mind to the System and uttered, "Thank you."
The System responded with a panel.
[New Mission!
Genetically create two Pioneers!
Reward: +20,000 Pioneering Score]
"Are we really going to do this now?!" A frown immediately appeared on the young Pioneer's face.