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Dunno what this will stir in reactions, but that's why I'm posting it. Feel 
free to pick it apart, since I have a couple of ideas for a revisial and want 
to see what works with it. For a bit of back reference for those how have 
played Rockman(Megaman) X, this replaces the events in 5 and 6, giving the 
Earth to gather itself after the Repliforce Crisis. And for extra lean to, 
I'm really not trying to rely on Sigma himself as a helpful antagonist/plot 
thread. Enjoy.

-K. Murasaki



-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: code_maverick.txt

Initializing Startup Protocol...

Subject Health: 100%

Motor Function Status: Nominal

Mental Pulse Rate: Nominal

Initializing Awareness Protocol...

[Good Morning X.]

*Wha... Morning? Already? My head hurts...*

[Status is showing full functional ability, with some side effects. You'll
just have to be more careful in your next mission if you don't want to wake
up with such abnormalities.]

*Well, I'm alive at least. Any emergency calls?*

[None noted that HQ couldn't handle diplomatically.]

*That's good to hear. So what's the day's agenda?*

[You have a meeting with Gaia's Regent's Director concerning yesterday's
mission. There are several unit reports on your desk to examine, and today
is the examination day.]

*That doesn't sound too bad Kin... EXAMINATION? The new recruits? Already?*

[Indeed X. They are due in at 0900 hours.]

*Geez, I completely forgot. How many total?*

[Seven candidates that have filed request for transferal to your unit, as
well as a new green specifically trained for your operations.]

*I thought they stopped singling them out for specific training?*

[Except for Specials Unit, yes. However--]

*Thanks, Kin. Just hand me the rest of the day's agenda on the usual list.
See if you can find a news report on yesterday's scare please.*

[Certainly, X. Have a pleasant day.]


*******************


****************************
January 04, 2149 A.D. 0650 hours.
****************************

"Sir, we're picking up another energy tremor."

Blake arched an eyebrow at his subordinate operating the radar systems. "It
doesn't look like we were going to get another shot tonight. Mind filling
me in on the schematics now?"

"In a moment sir. Alpha team will reach the area in three minutes."

The man nodded to the officer, a reploid, and continued his own musings.
This wasn't an unheard of mission, excavations were few and far inbetween
these days, more so because of lack of manpower and resources. The current
endeavor was privately funded, yet the local military had been petitioned
for assistance. What intrigued Blake the most about it was that it was a
mission that was already scheduled to be executed; the private contract had
merely accelerated the timetable.

But it didn't matter much. The base would be excavated, and the R&D
departments would have their toys to play with, if they found anything. If
his subordinate was right, they just might have.

"They've reached the ping sir."

The gruff man nodded. "Fine. Tell them to maintain awareness, since we
don't have solid confirmation that there are no hostiles down there."

"Affirmative sir. We'll be obtaining audio and visual momentarily."

The board the reploid was working at beeped, and a life-size hologram came
to life on the bulkhead of the freighter they were residing in. The scene
itself displayed several moving bodies, the team itself, and a base, molted
and tempered by time and condition from its resting place since its
collapse into the ocean four years ago. The team itself was closing in on
an unopened security door that looked as tall as the complex itself. The
team moved in and began their work.

"This is Boggs reporting. We've come across what looks like the main hanger
of the complex. Signs of battle are near everywhere, but the door itself
is intact. I'm guessing that our ping is behind there."

"Acknowledge Boggs." Blake answered back. "Be sure to take precautions. The
Hunters may have silenced the base, but they may have missed the trigger to
a trap or two."

"Yes sir. Moving in now."

It was a moment as the Alpha team set up their equipment, keeping on the
alert for any alarms or battle systems still online. It was swift and
precise reflexes that gave them the ample time they needed to scream when
the presumed trap did go off.

"Boggs! Sensors are showing it's moving! Signal increasing rapidly!"

The team scrambled away from the massive door just as it came down, hard.
The control team got a good look at a hulking, dangerous looking robot
before visual feed was broken.

Blake snapped to orders immediately, knowing he was already too late. "Call
them back, and inform Beta team of a Maverick in the area!"

"Alpha team visual no longer confirmed! Boggs' signal just went dead!" The
young Reploid officer's hands flew across keys, entering new commands to
warn the other teams in the area.

"Do we still have communication?"

"I'm looking into it now sir!" More buttons were pressed, and then the
young officer stopped altogether, in evident shock. "Alpha team silenced,
sir."

"Damnit." Blake frowned. They weren't too prepaired for this, but in a way,
it was probably what they were looking for. Situations had a way of working
out like that. "Inform teams to surround that sector and seal it off. Do
not advance on that robot in any way."

The officer turned to look at the elder commander. "Sir? What about the
rest of Alpha?"

"... I doubt if they're still functioning. Get it done. And be ready to
inform base that there are complications that need bigger guns than we've
got."

"Yes sir."


*******************


Code: M.A.V.E.R.I.C.K.

A Rockman X Fanfiction

Data Initialized by Kenji Murasaki

File 01: Enter the System


*******************


Maverick Hunter's main headquaters was located within a city known as
Genesis, within what used to be the city of Tokyo. Even with that fact, it
was less of a complex for military operations, and more of a city in
itself, serving as the home of thousands of reploids and humans dedicated
to the cause of stepping in where normal regent military could not, or
would tread. Everything that was set up outside of their base was within
the base somewhere, giving good reason to their reputation of always being
prepared for anything.

Within the compound itself, a dozen massive buildings, several docks
for alternate terrain transport, and four training fields, was a main
computer, a massive technological eye that kept and monitored the data on
countless beings. This computer maintained that endless data, updating it
almost on a moment's notice, and sharing it with several others of its kind
worldwide. It was a setup that could almost do anything.

[I win again Alia.]

That anything also included the Pong game currently going on with an
operator and the system itself.

"Blasted thing." The operator, Alia, frowned again. "Fifth match this
morning. I don't see how you do it."

[It comes from reflex. You'll learn eventually.]

"Whatever Jace." She fiddled with some controls, ready to take another
match, when she caught something out the corner of her eye. "Oops.
Captain's here. Gotta get back to work."

[Very well. See you next match.] Then Jace went back to analyzing and
relaying.

The female reploid sighed, and turned to meet aforementioned officer with
a salute. "Good morning Captain X."

The blue reploid returned the salute, and stifled a yawn. "Good morning
Alia. Everyone else is active?"

The shorter girl nodded, and handed a clipboard to X. "The recruit
applicants will be ready for you in the sim room in an hour, and your
meeting with the Regent Director of Gaia is two hours afterward."

X accepted the board and skimmed the documents while Alia continued,
running a hand through her blond hair. "You also got a note from your XO,
and the reply from the R&D lab on that armor you brought in."

"Armor?" X asked. "Don't you mean one of my old suits that they decided to
'borrow'?"

"The same sir." She smiled slightly. "You always seem to pick up new and
interesting toys for them to play with."

"Well, I'd be happier about it if I knew that they weren't using their
findings to make more weapons."

Alia gave him a curious expression. "Sir?"

"Nothing." He mumbled, skimming the lab report, and sighed. "Anything else
Alia?"

"Not really sir. Other than Beta's request, and--" Her eyes widened in
surprise. "I forgot! R&D wanted you to report in for a physical later
today."

X looked troubled, but kept it to himself. "Alright then. I'll let Kin take
care of the rest."

"Yes, Captain." Alia watched the blue reploid walk toward a monitor, and
turned back to her own work.


*******************


"This is it you know. No turning back from here."

"So? Don't tell me you're going to start having regrets now."

The pale reploid looked at her counterpart. "I have none. I'd be more
worried about what the higher-ups might do to you when they find out about
this little slice operation."

Her compatriot, his face bathed in the green glow of the computer screen,
merely shrugged. "It's not as if I'm doing some paramount evil. I simply
want to check up on some testing scores and such."

"And wipe some of your more 'horrid' ones in the process. And should they
find out, you'll be reprimanded and turned down for your candidate position
for another year. I am surprised that you haven't been deemed a Maverick
for these stunts."

"They haven't thrown me out or any such thing because they've yet to catch
me! All that technology of theirs, and they have nothing better to use it
for than hunting down rogue reploids and watching the weather. Do you
really think that they'll be so bugged out because I changedd my scores a
couple of points Chan?"

Chan shrugged. "I was just giving the warning I always give Tray. You
always do what you want to anyway."

"Exactly! So why not just sit back and watch me work my slicing magic--"
He stopped as the screen flickered, and then a slew of data began to flash
across the screen. Tray flicked his hand, a strange circular object taking
the place of the traditional palm and five fingers, and the visual on the
screen bent to the pulsating light that emitted from the tip of the arm
jack.

Tray's eyes grew wide as he took in the data being presented to him. "Hey
Chan, want to know your scores?"

Chan gave him a disinterested look. "Hardly. I know where I'm headed
already. You're the only one worried about positions."

"So... you wouldn't be interested in knowing that you didn't make the 14th
Unit?"

Chan's eyes narrowed at Tray. "Don't toy with me."

Tray nervously inched away from the reploid. "Who's toying? It says so
right here." He pointed to a file option on the screen, enlarging it to
show the details. Chan's status data was present; activation date, history,
schooling, expectations; all looking like a very well done college
application. On the bottom of the file were her scores, and where it said
assignment number, was the data code for 'undecided'.

"This... must be a joke." Her frown increased. "That cannot be right. I
applied directly to the 14th Unit, and I know all of my scores were
satisfactory. This can't be right."

Tray opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it. Instead
he patted her on the back. "Relax Chan. Maybe they haven't finished
processing you yet. Everyone in our class knows where your going. Even
Master said the same!"

Chan didn't look too convinced. "This better be a mistake, or someone is
going to pay."

"What are you going to do, file a complaint to the officers?" He asked. "We
aren't supposed to be in here, remember? Prepare to gripe about it if you
want, but try to do so after your actually supposed to KNOW about it,
okay?"

"... Fine. Whatever."

He smiled at her. She'd get over it, and find a way around it. She always
seemed to. "Anyway, back to seeing about those scores."

He closed the file, and began to sift further into the databanks of the
candidate's school, into the scoring system itself. A few more screens went
by, and he gave a whoop of triumph. "Made it! Now to change those target
practice scores."

"You mean you went through six levels of A-Class security walls to alter
your accuracy scores?" Chan shook her head, her slick platinum blond hair
swishing from side to side with her movements. "What could you possibly do
to them to make them any better?"

"Who said I wanted better?" He replied. "I just want to ensure they don't
see me as some sort of sniper. That means they'll place me away from the
good stuff."

"You're warped, you know that?" She favored him a small frown.

"Yeah, but you're not any better." He fished through for the specific
scores, and then began to slowly change them one by one. He came down to
the end of the document, and blinked at what he saw. "Hey, Chan."

"What is it now? You really should hurry, we're expected for session in ten
minutes."

"We'll make it, but look at this." He pointed to the screen with his other
hand. "That's the Evaluating Officer's signature, right?"

"Yes. They all mark their student's results and signs of progress." She
replied. "They have the best say in where a student candidate goes. Next to
the receiving officer, of course."

"Then I guess that must be the receiving officer, because I know Master's
signature, and that's not his signature."

Chan had a closer look at the markings. "You're right. It looks like this
was all a waste, because you've been assigned."

"That's not possible. I haven't made any preferences other than wanting to
work with something technical and--"

"Well, that's the only reason a receiving would sign your scores." She
studied the signature further, a small brief set of computer script with
an odd ending to it. "Unless someone's rejected you."

Tray paused in thought, then shook his head. "Makes no sense to me, but as
long as I get to do what I do best, all's well that ends I suppose."

While he withdrew from the terminal, cleaning up what he went through, Chan
stood on her feet, and put a hand through her hair. "Well, I won't worry
either. I'm sure that it's all a mistake, and I'll get my proper assignment
to the 14th."

Tray rolled his eyes. "Of course. Who would be silly enough to stop you
after you get your eye on something?"

"Whatever Tray. Just log out so we can report. The quicker we go, the
quicker I can dispute this little mishap."

Tray closed his screen laptop, and stuffed it back in the unit in his back.
"Sure Chan."


*******************


The Student Candidate's Program was erected some years ago, when MVH opted
on creating subsidiaries dedicated to making men and women, both reploid
and human, into what Maverick Hunter needed for their continued campaign
against destructive Mavericks, and groups of Maverick regimens. This final
move is what set MVH apart from regular policing authorities, and gave it
full jurisdiction in matters of large-scale Maverick activity.

The program itself is a vast training course, where its students are
hammered day to day with not only basic life skills for civilian
situations, but in combat skills and such other fields designed for the
specific purpose of keeping the peace, almost always at the cost of lives.
Still, every school enlisted to the program's care retains high enrollment
counts, most of which consist of victims or witnesses of Maverick attacks.

That is not to say that the schools involved weren't like any other
high-impact learning environments. Seldom did the numbers entering the
schools match the numbers that actually graduated. And those that decided
on pursuing the rest of the path to MVH itself had an even more difficult
time. In the end, only a select few ever made it to Maverick Hunter itself.

One of those select few was one known as Tray. A reploid designed for lab
assistance and janitorial duties, he decided himself that his talents more
leaned into technological matters. To those in the professor's seat, the
young reploid showed great promise in that field, and so they helped him
make his way into one of the many candidate schools. He excelled in his
field, past the rest of his peers, and some instructors as well. He was
also excelling in trouble-making, always unsatisfied with tinkering with
assigned computers. Underground, he was known as Train, the best data
slicer around.

Still, Tray was not satisfied with what he managed to learn and accomplish
in candidate's school, and hoped MVH had something better to offer. It was
his day to find out just how much.


*******************


"Line up!"

Tray and Chan settled in their ranks, but Tray's mind was still wandering
back to his earlier findings. He couldn't figure out for the life of him
just who's signature that was. It was a small code imprint, really standard
among military personnel, but few actually chose to DNA code their
signatures as well. It was an effective, but outdated method, and only so
many people and reploids still made use of it. Once he figured out who
signed his scripts, then he'd know where he was going, and if it was worth
it to even go.

"Alright, this morning you all get your wish. All of your semester scores
have been evaluated, and the majority have parties that are interested in
your skills."

Tray tried not to smirk at the gruff voice of Master as he addressed them.
He was a wise human, still in his prime, with a couple of cybernetic
implants for legs, which made him all the more towering and intimidating.
Of course, to his students, he was a fair teacher, who somehow understood
and tolerated everyone's limits and personalities. For that, they referred
to him as Master, instead of professor Matts.

"Your assignment request have also been responded to in kind," he continued.
"In short, most of you got what they wanted. Your appointments will be
handed to you after this debriefing. You are to proceed to the designated
places for your final interviews."

Master's eyes passed over the squad of students. "I have to say that on
a more personal note, this has been one of my more colorful classes. You
all seem to possess a fire that will definitely be necessary in your chosen
and assigned fields. I wish you all the best in your efforts.

"At this time, I'd like to ask that cadet Tray step forward, and receive an
award for marksmanship."

Tray looked around at the others, and frowned at Chan's slight smile. He
stepped out of ranks, and stood at attention in front of Master. The large
human placed a metal over his head and smiled himself.

"Good job son. I know it's not what you're looking for, but don't take
gifts like that for granted. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

Tray nodded, gave a sharp salute, and headed back into ranks. Master handed
several other awards out, and then dismissed the squad for their hour of
downtime.

Chan walked up to Tray, idly fingering her medal. "So, I take it that your
meddling with your scores had no effect whatsoever?"

Tray continued frowning. "It might still, but obviously not here. Maybe
someone won't pay too much attention to it."

Chan eyed him, and shrugged helplessly. "One day, you're going to find out
that you shouldn't look giftmechs in the mouth."

"I bet he will." A reploid with piercing green eyes and a stern demeanor
walked up to the two of them. "After he's scrapped, of course."

"Of course, Hawk." Tray remarked back with a smile that almost made a
sneer. "But I won't have that to worry about with you to take the fire for
me, now will I?"

Hawk responded with a flat out sinister grin. "Not this time. After this
afternoon, I'll never have to worry about seeing your hide ever again."

"You're... leaving me? But what about our children? What will they think
of me when I tell them their mother deserted them?" Tray placed his face in
his hands, completing the image of heartbroken despair.

Hawk only growled. "And that is why you won't last long in the corps. You
can't take a single thing that doesn't interest you seriously. I'll be
surprised not to see your name among the casualties after our first
battle."

"That's not true. I only don't take things seriously when I know I can get
you pissed off." Tray answered with a smile. "I happen to take this whole
thing very seriously. I just don't treat it as if it's going to kill me if
I do otherwise."

"Hopeless." Hawk muttered. "Just stay out of my way, and we'll be fine."

"Well, that's going to be hard," Tray said, looking at Hawk's appointment
sheet. "since we booth seem to be going to the same place."

"You're joking." Hawk snatched Tray's sheet from him, and his eye started
twitching. "This is ridiculous. I just can't be rid of you, can I?"

Tray grinned even more. "Obviously not. I guess we're destined for each
other."

"If you two are done," Chan spoke up. "I'd like to go back to my bunk and
ready my stuff for my transfer."

"Oh, sure. See you later Hawk." Tray waved to Hawk, who mumbled something
in response.

"You really do manage to get under his skin Tray." Chan spoke up after they
were both away from the lecturing area.

"Well, when he decides that I have my rights to live my life and serve my
people the way I choose, then I'm sure it won't bother him as much." Tray
shrugged. "Not my fault he takes everything like he does."

Chan shook her head. "No, but you don't help him settle that either. And
you still call him friend?"

"Well, you call him boyfriend." Tray fired back.

If Chan responded to his jab, she didn't show it. "Nonetheless, you think
that you two would have gotten over this by now. It's been a couple of
years now."

"Well, compared to that big fight we had sometime back, I'd say we have
more or less 'gotten over it'."

"You're incorrigible." Chan stretched, and looked at her chrono. "I'm going
to see where this appointment is, and who it's being taken by. Then I can
set about my PROPER appointment."

"And I'm the incorriging one?" Tray smiled at her. "Good luck lady. Hope
you get what you want."

They waved to each other, and set about their business.


*******************


****************************
Daylight, 0849 hours
****************************

"So what is your opinion on the matter Blake?"

"My opinion, sir," Blake looked at the aging man in his council chair. "Is
that we've lost 12 men for nothing, when we could have been better prepared
for the expedition."

"Perhaps." The gentleman lit his tobacco pipe, seemingly unconcerned. "But
we'll leave that for the tacticians to figure out."

"Sir, with all due respect, some good men we lost this morning because we
were unprepared, even after a request sent prior to the mission's start. If
the Chairman wants that site excavated--"

"What the Chairman wants," The man looked at the middle-aged commander. "Is
none of your real concern. You were given the resources available for the
task, and if you ask me, I believe that you utilized them poorly."

Blake fought to keep the anger from showing on his face. "Those were men
sir. All of them. They knew the risks, and they went willingly to explore
a supposed goose chase."

The businessman loomed over his desk. "What you believe the target to be
oes not concern me Blake, and I'd take care to make sure that such concerns
are well-kept in the future."

"...Yes sir. My apologizes."

"Now, as to this situation, the Chairman is still considering. Just to
satisfy you however, this incident will be brought to MVH's attention at
the meeting later this morning." He took another puff of his pipe, and
blew out a ring of smoke. "Until then, you are on standby. I'm sure they'll
want to mobilize for another attempt within 72 hours."

Blake saluted. "If that is all sir, I have some letters to write to the
loved ones."

The businessman only waved his pipe. "Of course, though I don't see what
the grand deal is. They were only reploids."

Blake shot the man a cold look. "They were serving our government, sir, and
deserve as much respect as any human would."

"Of course, of course. You're dismissed Commander."

Blake spun on his heel, and left the room.


*******************


The primary training area of MVH Headquarters was not a complex facility at
all. At least, that was until the simulators were started. Then it became
a war zone where mech-grade durasteel bullets and plasma flew as free as
air itself, or a hostile environment where one step the wrong way would be
the end of someone as they were consumed by molten lava or icy waters. The
sims could also be played out to a tennis court, which saved on luxury
construction within the MVH compound.

At current, the sims were not running, and the facility itself was empty,
save for one being. Zero was a reploid of a special breed, hence his
command of the elite 00 Unit. What he called for in his squad, a group
of six reploids, was subtlety. They weren't always able to deliver, but
they always kept this in mind. They were to strike hard, fast, and first,
and the whole time, remain unseen. They were all special in their own way,
and that was why they made his group, or were assigned there. Save for a
choice other units, most could never match their ways of eliminating a
hostile situation.

Then there were the chosen. Zero's sharp eyes ran over the cadet file once
more, making sure every detail was engrained. She'd requested the 14th Unit
as her assignment, and no doubt that she would handle it well. However,
Zero had an itch about her, something that said she was more than her
reports were giving. So with a subtle push of a couple of buttons, he'd
made it so her appointment would be taking place in the sims arena. Then
he could see what she was capable of doing.


*******************


"So Beta, you wanted to speak to me about something?"

X had finally made it to the debriefing room, awaiting the arrival of the
candidates. He had briefly reviewed their profiles, and knew somewhat what
to expect of them. He had just finished the last when his executive
officer, Beta, had arrived. The reploid, a hair shorter than X himself, had
amber eyes and a very athletic construct. Sleek yellow outlined his whole
body, and two stripes went down his torso like racing stripes. He gave off
the impression of a jet ready to burn into the clear blue skies.

"Yeah. I was trying to contact you, and I left a message with Kin and Alia.
Which one gave you the message?"

X arched an eyebrow at him. "Alia did. Why do you ask?"

"Then you didn't get the message." Beta grumbled. "Anyway, Captain Zero had
one of your candidate's transferred. He said to tell you sorry about it."

"Huh? Did anyone clear that?" It wasn't everyday that Zero took a special
interest in recruits. "Did Signas give the okay?"

"Nope, not that I know of, sir. You think he's interested in her looks?"

"Her?" X flipped through his files, and found the only female in the whole
group. She was supposedly an elite martial specialist, with excelled combat
skills, tracking skills, medical skills; the list went on. But they all
seemed to be at the same level score, and this made X blink.

*Hey, Kin?*

[Yes Captain?]

*Shoot Zero a message that I want to talk to him about cadet Chan later.*

[Affirmative.]

X switched off his personal communicator, and turned to his XO. "I think
Zero had a better reason to single her out than just to gawk at her. Be
sure you don't let him hear you say that."

"Sure boss." Beta gave a wry grin. "Anyway, I'll line up the greens, and
you knock 'em down, right?"

X nodded. "Yeah. Nothing much to do with them except get them all situated
until final evaluation begins."

"Check. Any specific grueling task to perform first?"

X eyed his XO warily. "Let me take care of all that."

Both reploids turned their heads as the hall door opened, and one by one
the canidates filed in. Beta walked over and began to file them up in ranks
by the tallest. After things were settled, X stood before them.

The veteran Hunter eyed the young crowd, a cold certainty growing about
him. "At ease people."

The complied, and he began his long speech. "I don't know what they told
you at the academies, but it is my recommendation that you forget three
quarters of it as soon as possible. You are all here because you either
choose to be here, were assigned here, or I picked you to be here, and the
last won't happen, because I wouldn't damn anybody to what we face.

"The delusions end here. There is no glory in your jobs. It's thankless,
heartless, and lethal. All of you need to realize you are now and probably
forever more in a situation of war. Your enemy, when you are called to
dispatch, will almost always be incredibly dangerous, and death is almost
always guaranteed to those who aren't careful, or who aren't fortunate.

"I myself say these things because I have been out there, and have been
lucky enough to come back. But make no mistake that I will not regret one
thing I have done in service of Maverick Hunter. I know that somewhere for
every fatal decision I make, there are four more lives that never have to
witness what the full effect of what a plasma cannon can have on a family,
or a home.

"In these next few weeks, you will each begin to find your own reason for
being here. That is your first assignment, and it won't be easy in the
slightest. Those of you who actually just came to spill blood for the sake
of glory or justice need to leave immediately, and find a nice engineering
job to do. The rest of you, feel fortunate with what life you have now,
because though I am a patient captain, I am not a lenient one. My primary
job is to make sure you people stay alive long enough to be effective in
what you do, and that's what I'm going to do, until my remains are
scattered across the great space itself."

X took a look at the group before him, noting facial expressions of his
recruits. One particular person, with piercing green eyes, looked
cold, as if he was waiting for something else. X made a mental note and
continued.

"You will each be assigned a bunk partner and a com droid for your use and
primary source of information. As long as you stay at MVH, so will the
droid. Get to know them well, people, because their one of the few luxuries
you have. To my right is Lieutenant Beta, my executive officer. Any major
problems will be run through him, and you'll learn to know him, or you
won't last long.

"After assignments to bunks, you will be outfitted for combat senario. The
suits you will be given will be your permanents, since they will be
customized to fit you personally. At 1500 hours, you are to report to sims
for basic training initiation. That leaves you with an hour to yourselves,
since fitting SHOULD NOT take that long." He eyed his audience at this
comment. "If there are no further questions, then Mr. Beta will be taking
command and assigning bunk mates. Get used to your bunk mate, as they will
be your second leg for the next three weeks."


*******************


Tray looked in somewhat awe as the 14th Unit captain stepped down and away
from them. That was the infamous Captain X? The slim, semi-short reploid
had blue from head to bulky toe, and some of the sharpest eyes he had ever
seen. Tray wondered just what in the seven hells had that man seen in his
lifetime. He was supposed to be among the most powerful of the Hunters, if
not the strongest. There were few that had his field record and lived to
tell about it.

"Recruit Tray, you're partnering with recruit Hawk."

"Figures." Tray muttered.

The taller reploid's face fell. "Sir, I don't think it would be wise to
partner--"

"You two should know each other by now, so there shouldn't be any
problems," Beta arched an eyebrow. "should there?"

Hawk tried to swallow his anger. "No sir. No problems."

"Good. Then here are your quarter numbers." He handed Hawk and Tray two
data cards a piece. "Once your situated, head to customs and get suited."

They both snapped a salute. "Yes sir!"

"Good. You're room should have your com droids. Dismissed."

"Well, that went well." Tray said.

As they left the room and entered the hallway, Hawk stopped Tray and glared
hard at the smaller reploid. "Look now, because I'm only going to say it
once. I have watched you for the past three years screw around with this
stuff like it was a children's game, and that is not good. If I had my way,
I'd have nothing to do with you, but since we've got to be through this
together, I'd like to set something straight."

"Um, I thought we already had an understanding?" Tray muttered weakly.

"No, what you must understand is that your lay back tactics won't work
here. In fact, they really are likely to get you killed, or kicked from MVH
altogether. I will not be responsible for that, so as long as we are
together, clean your act. I'll respect you, and you do the same. Got it?"

"Sure Hawk, now do me a favor and try to look a little more intimidating.
your effect is wearing thin."

Hawk's eye twitched, but he said nothing, instead spun on his heels and
left Tray standing there. Tray watched him walk off, and then frowned.
"If he thinks intimidation is going to work, he's got another thing
coming."

Tray walked off, and X stepped from where he saw the whole spectacle.

"Sir?" Beta emerged from the room. "They are on their way."

"Good." X said absently.

"So you noticed them too?" Beta asked.

"Yeah. They're both subtle, to a point. Not fools, but their attitudes could
be their deaths."

Beta nodded in understanding. "I'll get right to it sir."

"Thanks Beta."


*******************


"Hello?"

The appointment room was empty. It was massive, completely blank, and
utterly empty. Chan muttered quietly to herself. Wasting her time with
misinformation about an appointment was not her idea of fun. It was
time to go and contact a councilor about her assignment. It was already
revealed to her though her data card presented to her by Master, so it was
safe to gripe about it.

She turned to leave, and then gave a shout of surprise at the reploid
standing at the main door. He had red armor on, and wild blond hair that
stopped at the small of his back. He had no helmet on, and bangs covered his
left eye.

"You do know this is a restricted area to recruits unless training is
taking place." He said.

Chan eyed him warily. "... Yes, I do. I was also told to meet my receiving
officer here with the other recruits." Her lips formed a thin line on her
crafted face, and she ran a hand through her slicked back hair. "I take it
you're one of the other recruits?"

"No. I'm your receiving officer." He replied smartly.

"Then I'm afraid I have to report a mistake. I placed a reference to the
14th Unit."

The blonde reploid did not remove his eyes from hers. "Oh, I know that. I
saw your file, and placed a special request for you."

She did her best to keep the surprise from her eyes. "Me?"

"Yes. I observed your scores. Admirable work, I'm sure you know. You could
do just about anything you wanted at MVH."

"So..." She narrowed her eyes to get a better look at him. "I am to
understand that Captain Zero wanted to see me for a specific reason?"

"Yes." Zero responded. "I want to know why are you here."

That took her off guard, and she didn't bother hiding her confusion. "Sir?"

"I want to know why you chose the 14th when you're capable of more. I want
to know what you plan to accomplish at Maverick Hunter."

"I... wish to do what I have sworn, sir."

Zero arched an eyebrow. "And that would be?"

"To preserve the piece, sir. To protect those who can't protect themselves
against the Maverick menace."

"Menace? Nice choice of words." Zero walked up to her, and stared directly
in her eyes. Chan did her best not to flinch. "Why would they be a menace?"

"They destroy lives, sir. They wreak damage and horror for no logical
reason."

"Do they? Don't we do the same?"

"Sir?" Chan was now completely lost. What was with him? He was intense;
what had she done to provoke that?

"We're the same, aren't we? Those who don't follow the path of the masses
are rogues. Nomads. Mavericks. We're to hunt them down and neutralize them,
but aren't we the same, really?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean sir."

Zero paced away from her, and grabbed two poles. He tossed the other to
Chan, and she caught it deftly. "Their our brothers, right? Reploids that
are being discriminated against because they aren't following the status
quo?"

He struck without warning, delivering a sharp blow to her chest. She
buckled, and he was on her again. Chan only managed to dodge, rolling on
the ground and coming up on the side of him.

"No. They are murderers." She gasped. That blow had hurt, but his words
stung even more. They said that Zero never did much without purpose, so
what purpose was there in picking on a new recruit like her?

"Are they? And why are we different?" He pressed his attack, sweeping and
stabbing at her with the durasteel staff. She was quicker in dodgning and
countering, but he saw in her eyes a fire that was beginning to light.

"We're different because we don't kill at will. I will only harm those who
endanger others, those who pick on the weak." Chan's technique was becoming
erratic, but her instincts were making up for what her body couldn't catch.

"So you'll only kill when forced?"

"I'll kill when no other option is favorable!" She punctuated this with a
blow to his stomach, and a follow up sweep, taking the taller reploid off
his feet.

"Then why did you apply for the 14th?" He said from the ground. He rolled
out of her way, and into a kneeling position.

"Because I can be the most effective there."

"At what? Killing? That's all they do, you realize." He took her clouded
face as an advantage, and dashed in, jets on his feet flaring to life, and
clipped her off her feet with his pole as he passed.

Stars flew into her vision, and before she could correct her position,
Zero's pole was in her throat. "You want to protect, but the 14th isn't
the place to do it."

"What do you mean? Those are your comrades--"

"They are, but that's not what they'll be to you." Zero's gaze hardened,
making Chan even more uneasy. "You're inexperienced, and you have potential
you're not letting on to. You could join them, or any other unit, but it
would be a mistake that might cost you."

"What..." She tried to stand, but he kept his staff where it was. "What do
you mean by that?"

"Your scores are excellent, too excellent. You weren't trying, were you?"

"Yes, I was." She responded coldly.

Zero continued to look at her, then let her up. "Then I'll ask again, why
are you here?"

"To protect and serve." He was getting to her, and it was making her angry.
What was he after so much?

The red reploid went to get her pole, and turned to replace them by the
melee weapons rack. He turned and looked at her with a somber expression.
"If you've come to make a difference, just say so. But if you've come here
with the purpose of following along to MVH's orders, then you should
leave."

Chan's eyes narrowed at the supposed receiving officer. "Sir, that's not--"

"You can ask for transfer in another month. Until then, you are to remain
under the training for the 00 Ops Unit." He turned and departed, leaving
Chan with her own thoughts.


*******************


****************************
Daylight. 1158 hours.
****************************

"Okay, that was time well-spent." X grumbled. He had been in the
conference room for the better part of an hour, and the only ones who
managed to show was the conference clerk, who was starting to look about
as restless as X himself, and a serving droid who had tried to keep both
entertained with drinks and idle chat. The regent director and his aids
were due at 1100, and no notice had been brought to his attention that
the briefing was canceled.

"I don't know what to say sir." the clerk said, notepad in his hands. "No
one gave me any sort of indication that the debriefing was postponed nor
canceled. I've already tried raising Commander Signas, but all I can manage
to get is his secretary."

"Well, that's because the commander's had his hands full with several
directors recently." That was also the reason that X was making this
report, and not Signas himself, X didn't say. Because of recent run around
errands in the efforts to clean up after the massive wake of destruction
left by the fall of the Repliforce, as well as the recent retirement of the
old MVH Commander, no one was lucky enough to really see Signas, let
alone set him down for a meeting that didn't contain seven or more big wig
regent directors.

X could have easily taken the full report and file it through the MVH
mainframe, but he, as well as several other unit commanders, were given the
task of diplomacy in the process. As it happens, he was not the only person
that was supposed to report in about the damages done in a Maverick
terrorist situation that had taken place in downtown Gaia the previous day.
in fact, two more people were supposed to be there with him to help explain
just what happened.

X clicked his com droid for the seventh time since arriving. *Kin, do you
think you could try and raise Zero?*

[... He seven feet from your position, sir.]

X blinked, and looked to the other side of the room as the door opened, and
said Hunter stepped in. His helmet was tucked underneath his arm, and he
had a pensive look on his face. "So, the director hasn't arrived?"

"Afraid not, sir." The clerk answered. "I just received a notice that he
should be here shortly. There was some small matter that was holding him
up."

Zero nodded, and walked over to his friend and comrade. "How's the new
recruits coming?"

"Well, I'll know fully by this afternoon, when I take them in for sim
training." X answered. "But so far they look lively, for such a small
group. Most are signed on as engineers, but a few have opted for combat."

"So you mean to tell me that most of them won't make it?" Zero asked.

"I have my reservations about who will and who won't, but I'll be surprised
if I'm proven wrong." The blue reploid answered. "By the way, there was a
cadet on my roster that seemed to be snatched up at your request..."

"You have your reservations, and I have mine." Zero shrugged. "If it's a
problem, then she can be released back to your unit."

"I'd rather she would, but you've had these hunches before, I suppose." X
shook his head. "I wish you would have cleared that though. Doing things
like that makes it seem as if you have too much pull for your own good, and
you know we don't need that around here."

"Of course we don't, which is why the rest of the workings will be filled
in later on, and also why her request never went fully though." He leaned
against the wall, with a small smirk on his face. "But in the meantime, I
believe we have a debriefing to deliver."

X looked at Zero quizzically just as the door opened, and several more
people walked into the room. One of them X recognized as Gaia's Regent
Director, who took position at the head of the council table.

"Apologizes for the delay gentlemen, but further news came to my attention
that I felt needed to be sought through and brought to your attention." He
took his seat, and the others followed. Zero remained leaning against the
wall.

The director straightened himself, and then looked at the two unit
captains. "Now then, to start this meeting, I believe you both had a report
to bring to my attention?"

X frowned, but stood and picked up a data card, and fed it into a box near
him on the table. The clerk hit the lights, and a holographic display lit
up in the middle of the table.

"At 0730 two days ago, Gaia's network sent out a call to MVH requesting the
investigation of a plot to assassinate a political head of the Reploid
Liberation Front as they were to be scheduled at a conference." The display
Brought up a facial profile on a human female, with chestnut hair, and cold
eyes. Her expression was stern, and made her looked older than she was.

"This summary of the information was that Carol Nagashi, vice president of
the RLF movement, was to be kidnapped and executed. MVH assistance was
requested to follow several hard leads, as well as provide extra security
for the vice president's address, that was to take place the day following.
Escort was provided for the vice president, and the 14th was dispatched to
handle the alleged terrorist."

"This much we already know." The director spoke up. "There were two bases
spotted out from close surveillance, and that is what we gave you."

"Correct, and here is what we found." X tapped the holographic player, and
a full-body profile was brought forth, this time of a reploid. He was
covered head to toe in scale armor, and had a mean cannon strapped across
his back. "This is Dynast Snake, given Maverick status several months ago.
When we moved into the first location, we found evidence of a planned coup,
as well as Dynast himself. Though Dynast and several of his cohorts were
apprehended, and the others neutralized, we didn't believe this to be the
end of the situation, and so asked that the RLF speech be postponed until
investigations could be concluded, and all other involved parties found."

Zero stepped from his place against the wall. "At current, we still have
security around Ms. Nagashi, and Dynast is being detained for questioning.
There is little to no belief that we will get any information from him
until he can be studied and purged."

"Indeed. A good job to you and your men, Captain." The director said. "I
commend your efforts. However, a little persuasion might be in order to
make the subject confess what he knows."

"Perhaps," Zero replied. "the director has a bargaining chip in mind?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. We've recently uncovered evidence that says that
the RLF wasn't their primary target." He motioned to one man at the other
side of the table, a rotund human, who stood. "This is Chairman Hodge, who
has been overseeing the situation with local enforcement. He has brought
to my attention that their might be another underlying source behind this
terrorist ordeal."

The man, Hodge, nodded, and fingered a pipe in his left hand. "It is no
secret to anyone that the RLF has gained a rather massive display of foes
because of their bout to fight for reploid rights to no longer be profiled
as second class citizenship. Several Maverick factions thought to be in
hiding have spoken against what they preach, and have made attempts to
stop their rise in popularity. The faction that presented the immediate
threat to Vice President Nagashi is believed to be a part of the Sigma
faction."

X's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any proof of this?"

"That's where our current dilemma lies. One of our excavation crews came
across the ruins of one of their former bases, at point 04498."

"Sigma's primary fortress." Zero responded with a shudder. "Of course, it
was destroyed years ago."

"Indeed, but some days ago it became active, half surfacing above the water
line. We believe that it was the Sigma faction's doing, but have run into
some formidable interference after an attempt at investigating. Something
in there is keeping us from exploring it."

"What we would like," The Director spoke up, "is for MVH to aid us in our
investigations of the site, since it is the most familiar with the
layouts."

Hodge nodded as well. "We will provide as much assistance as you need to
explore what they have. This group must not be allowed to succeed in their
objectives."

X looked at Zero, and then at the rest of the councilors at the table, then
to the Director himself. "We will see what we can do, but we aren't a
mercenary group that is hired out at will."

"Of course not," the Director said. "But at this stage, MVH have the best
resources for the job. You can of course visualize what position this puts
us in."

"Have any other local regents had anything to say about this?" Zero asked.

"We've kept it away from the public eye for security measures, if that's
what you mean." Hodges replied. "The regent heads may be aware themselves,
but have offered no word, nor assistance."

Zero paused in thought, while X spoke up. "We will see to this at nearest
convenience, but for the moment, our priority lies with the leads we have.
I'm sure a team will be dispatched to assist in the excavation."

"Excellent! We cannot thank you enough." The Director smiled, and his
aides gathered. "If anything is needed, Chairman Hodge will be overseeing
operations, so you can obtain it from him. I hope plans for mobilization to
be made soon. Now if you'll excuse us."

The two reploids nodded to the regent director, and he and his aides filed
out the room. After they left, Zero sat at a chair by X in thought. "Did
any of that make perfect sense to you?"

"No, it doesn't." X sighed. "It complicates things more if anything. First
this threat against the RLF, and then a rising of a destroyed military
compound? My first question would be who would be doing the funding, and
why?"

"Not much we can do about it until one of these leads we have pulls through
for us. In the meantime, I suppose we start running planning drills for the
excavation until Signas gives it the green light." Zero stood and looked
toward the projector, now silent. "What I find weird is the little to no
response out of any other directors. I realize that Gaia might be a little
more isolated than other regents, but you do not fail to notice something
with as much power as the Kessler Fortress rising from its grave."

"So you're curious as to how the other directors have taken the news?"

"Maybe. There's too much silence in that though, and subtlety is not one
of the better clauses of Mavericks, especially if it is Sigma behind it."

"A repeat of the Reploid War..." X mused. It had been one of the most
trying times in his life, when he first became aware. Reploids everywhere
starting lashing out at the population, forming factions and armies, all
under Sigma's name. When Sigma was finally taken down in that desperate
gamble, only two years later, the Mavericks disbanded into separate sects,
trying to hold out against MVH.

"We don't need another of those, but what faction has that strength now?
Repliforce was the closest to that major power, and they've all but been
completely wiped out."

Zero shook his head at the memory. "We'll get our answers. In the meantime,
there are better things to do."

"Right. I'm going for a check up, and then see how ready these people are for
real combat." X waved to Zero. "I'll see you later."

"Sure. I'll be in the sims at 2000."

"Right, then." X said, and left the room.


*******************


Tray walked into his room assignment, and was plesantly surprised. There
were two desk councils to work from, storage space, and a nice view of the
recreation courts. There were also stasis pods to sleep in, which suited
him just fine; he considered it a nice switch from regular beds.

"Good afternoon."

Tray blinked at the talking stasis pod. "I take it you're the com droid?"

"Indeed." The voice said back. "I am model 340082--"

"That's okay, I don't need your serial number." Tray said with a wave of
his hand. "I'm supposed to give you a name, correct?"

"Since I will be your personal assistant for the duration of your service
at Maverick Hunter, then yes."

Tray looked closer at the pod itself, and nodded. At the top of it, a small
shell was placed, with a red crystal in the middle. It was pulsating as the
droid talked.

"I'd like to welcome you to your accommodations, sir, and I hope that we
will have a pleasant relationship."

Great, a prissy bot, Tray thought. Well, it couldn't be that bad. "Is it
true that all the com droids are just extensions of the mainframe that's
here at headquarters?"

"Indeed we are extensions, sir. There are currently twenty-thousand active android
units within the compound itself, operating off of--"

"Okay, okay. I get your point, thanks." Tray gave his pod a once over, and
hit a few buttons on a side panel. The pod clicked, then began to shift,
slanting into a deeper angle than the almost vertical position it was at.

"Adjusting already I see. That's very good sir, that you know what you
want." The droid sounded as if it was about to inhale, and then spoke once
more. "I am to inform you of your limitations and rights appropriate to
your rate and rank as a member of Maverick Hunter. You are free to use all
facilities that are marked as training, but are restricted from all areas
without proper clearance..."

Tray pushed a button, and the glass door of the pod opened. He lay inside,
droning out the sounds of the com droid. So far, he'd been fitted, and his
custom armor was due when the call came in from his droid. In the meantime,
he had another full hour to kill before reporting for sim training. A
pretty boring day in total for him, all things considered. He was a full-
fledged Maverick Hunter now, even though fresh from school, and this was
all that they had to do? Maybe there was something fun to do on MVH's
extensive network. Or maybe he could check and see how Chan was doing?

"Hey, jabber-jaw."

"And also..." The bot trailed off. "Is... that to be my name, sir?"

"Well, it might be, if you don't stop dragging on like that." Tray
scratched his head at what sounded like an electronic 'hmph'. "Anyway, I
need to know if you can patch me into the network here."

"Of course I can, sir. That is one of my primary functions, though it will
require your neural fitting in order to work."

"Neural?"

"Were you not listening to me sir? I explained that at the beginning. The
neural chip is personalized to each droid and reploid or human, and is
used to enter the network without the snag of heavy passwords  or such.
It also makes it easier to use the many terminals of the MVH facility."

"Alright then, how do I get one?"

"Well, since you are not human, you will not have to go through the trouble
of being prepped for surgical grafting." A compartment opened up to Tray's
right, showing a needle. "Insert that within your neck, and I will take
care of the rest."

Tray reluctantly took the needle, and injected himself with it at the base
of his neck. His vision went completely black, making him panic, and then
things went back to normal.

[I have now integrated with your head. There should be no fear of damaging
our connection, unless you suffer major head trauma, or have your head
severed from your body.]

"What the? Mental activation?"

[Yes sir. You'll find that you can do it as well.] The voice was no longer
in the room, but he could feel it in his head. [It might take some getting
accustomed to...]

*Like this?*

[You are a very fast learner Master Tray. Not many are able to utilize that
option for days.]

*Not sure if... it... but I'll work on it.* Tray 'thought'. *This is kinda
like the simulators, come to think about it.*

[In a way, it runs the same way, Master Tray. The feed itself works off of
your visual and audio nerves.]

*Ah. Aha. That's why they keep you guys around. You can play recorder too.*

[It is one of my capabilities, Master Tray.]

Tray frowned. *Just Tray, please.*

[As you wish, sir.]

This is going to really take some getting used to, Tray thought. *Anyway,
how about that surfing? Let's see what you can really do.*


*******************

****************************
Daylight. 1430 hours.
****************************


The experiment, such as it could be called, was a failure. He was right
about Rush's recording capabilities. Every area that was restricted was
labeled as such, and the droid wouldn't let him in those areas. Now that it
was in his head, he had to do something about its monitoring abilities, or
he really wouldn't be able to relax. What if a client came by requesting a
slicing project?

Rush did prove helpful though, at least in locating Chan. She was currently
in the mess area, sulking. At least that was what he could call it. There
were very few times that he could recall her making such a face, and
everytime she did, she was bothered by something.

Tray grabbed a drink from one of the machines, and sat by her. "Um, so how
did your day go?"

"I can't figure out what my new Captain has against me." She replied, never
once looking up at him.

"Something against you?"

"Yes, something against me. He requested me because of my scores, and I'm
stuck there until I can get a transfer request in a month."

"Stuck where exactly?" Tray asked, taking a pull from his can.

"Specials 00 Unit."

Tray promptly choked on his drink. "What? You got selected by Captain Zero?
'Bloody Efficient' Zero, who's supposed to be one of the strongest reploids
around?"

Chan nodded. "Turns out that's who made the relocation call. I went to see
if it could be overruled, but I'm already through the system."

"That's great! Congratulations Chan!"

Chan glared at him. "It's not exactly something I'm happy about, Tray."

"I don't see why. You're Black Ops now! You get to do anything you please,
and you take on the toughest missions." Tray waved his hands around
excitedly. "What's there not to be happy for?"

"I can't find my brother if I'm on constant call like they are."

Tray went silent about that. He knew what a touchy subject Chan's family
was to her. "Are you sure? It's not as if they don't get rest, and you do
get more access clearance than the other units. It's not like it's
something you can't handle."

Chan didn't look convinced. "They also pull more body counts than any other
of the units."

"Chan..." Tray placed an arm around her, and she frowned at him. "Can it
really be that bad? You've gotten this far, right? You'll get the
information on him. If anything, it should get you closer than even having
the 14th's resources at your desposal."

Chan looked into his ashen grey eyes, and smiled a little. "You don't help
much when I want to feel bad."

"That's because I gotta point out the stuff you overlook." He smirked and
sat back in his seat. "He can't have it too out for you. Probably got
curious since you hold back so much."

"Huh?" She sputtered intelligently.

"Come off it Chan. You know as well as I do that when you want something,
you chase it. Hard. This is just a setback for you, and you'll pass it." He
smiled. "He's either curious about that, or your helikes looking at your
caboose."

Chan glared at her friend. "Watch your mouth, dork."

"Sure." He said, taking another sip of his drink. "I have a question for
you."

"Which is?"

Tray tapped his neck. "You've already been assigned your com droid, right?"
When she nodded, he continued. "Then it's less of a question, and more of
a request."

She grinned at him. "I see that you've found out that the droids serve as
alternate recording devices."

"They really are useful though. It's just that I'm going to need some help
bypassing some of Rush's basic protocols. I can't change his personality,
cause I'm not that heartless, but I'd rather have him nagging that I
shouldn't be doing something than reporting me about something."

"...I'll help you. I don't know why, you deserve to get caught for what
you do."

"Hey, I only set off one credit ATM, and they forgave me for it." Tray got
up from his seat with his drink. "Anyway, I'm going to prep for our first
sim. I'll see you later?"

"Sure Tray."



*******************



"Cadets, a word if you please?"

Beta looked at the two cadets before him. Both had been fitted for their
armors. Tray had a visor helmet over his scruffy hair, and a body suit
that more melded to him than stuck out, making him look sleeker than
before. His slicing utencil was still in his arm, which now served as a
standard-grade plasma cannon. Overall, he looked like a slim, purple
upgraded version of himself.

Hawk, on the other hand, switched sleek for strength, using his armor to
highly augment his stamina and power. His arm cannon he left as he had
it at the academy, but had an extra launcher grafted to his back. His
helmet and armor complimented his dark green eyes.

"Is there something the matter, sir?" Tray asked.

"Nothing that you two can't solve, of course. You two will be leading this
group."

Hawk blinked, while Tray looked fully surprised. "Lead?"

"Affirmative. For the duration of this initiation progress, all
three weeks of it, you will report to me. You're to get to know your squad
mates, and their strengths and weaknesses. You are both to report to me,
and will have all the responsibility due to your new positions."

Tray paled. "Now hold on a moment..."

Beta looked at him with stern eyes. "Is there a problem with that cadet?"

"I understand if that is what the Lieutenant wants, but I think Hawk by
himself would be enough for the job, sir."

"That may be, but you seem to compliment each other, so both of you can
keep to this with ease, I'm sure."

Tray looked in the reploid's face, and found no room for argument. He
nodded reluctantly. "Yes sir."

"Good. The others will arrive shortly, and your simulation mission will
begin. This will be your main source of training for three weeks, when
afterward you will be assigned regular missions just like everyone else.
The only thing that remains is that you two christen your squad."

The two reploids nodded. "Now, your training mission is a search and
rescue. The details are up to you, but this is your target." At this, he
clicked a projector button, and a picture of a light purple reploid came on
screen. Tray's eyes widened. "The sim is based from one of the battles of
one of the turning points of the Reploid War. It will be over when you
neutralize the majority of his forces, and him, if possible. I won't lie
to you, Vile was one of the toughest bastards that MVH ever faced. A squad
of reploids spanned out over the city is your secondary objective. Make
sure they are all safe and transported in."

Beta walked away just as the others arrived. Tray tried to look calm, but
inside he was doing flips. It was one of the more famous battles he had
read about, where the casualty rate was horribly high. And they were to
go through that? He was supposed to LEAD them? Before he had a worry
that they would place him in a position where he would be away from the
real action, but now...

As the squad stepped in and looked at the two, the room went dark, and
then a war zone appeared. Turned over and burnt out cars were everywhere.
buildings were leaning, or in the process of collapsing altogether, and too
many of them were showing heavy damage. Plasma and explosions flew
rampant; either from destroyer bots controlled by Mavericks, or from the
desperate fighting of the Hunters. Everywhere there were bodies, scapped
reploids, or human corpses and skeletons. The new recruits did their best
not to throw up.

*Welcome to hell, people.* X's voice sounded in their neural chips, usually
reserved for droid access only. "This will be your first test. Your squad
commanders, cadets Tray and Hawk, have the details of your mission. In two
minutes, the sims will go hot, and you will be a part of them. Should you
be terminated in battle, you will return to the Quad, the waiting room on
the outside of the simulator, where you will remain until the sim run is
over, or until the rest of your squad is likewise terminated. Good luck.*


*******************

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FILE 01 CLOSE
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