Chapter 19
.
Seven weeks had gone by, still plugging away and somehow still alive, with no one suspecting me of anything other than being mediocre at weight lifting.
Fortunately, while I was finding there were many physical pitfalls to my original foolhardy plan, the mental side was completely within my wheelhouse, and I was at least keeping up in my lectures.
‘The Anatomy of a Machine’ was written across the illumiboard, each word appearing in time with Dr. Dorian’s lecture in Advanced Mechanics.
I was glad I’d tested into a higher level from the get go, as I was endlessly fascinated by the dissection of the technology that made up the neural link system, and I would be so bored if I’d gotten stuck, instead, learning the difference between a ratchet and a pipe wrench.
“We’ve explored the intricacies of the limbs and mechanical muscles, but what do you do in the event that your machine is disabled beyond repair and can’t return to base under its own power?
” Dr. Dorian started his lecture. “Today we’re going to explore some of the features within the Shinka’s infrastructure that will help get you home in the event of a total loss situation.
A Shinka can be rebuilt, but a brilliant pilot is very difficult to replace. ”
The doctor was agile, climbing about the disabled Shinka unit with swift, acrobatic movements.
He scaled its torso effortlessly and took a perch atop the Shinka’s shoulder, while we observed a virtual model emitted in perfect holographic clarity at our work stations.
I used two fingers to zoom in on the model, pinpointing the shoulder for a more intricate view of its rivet patterns.
“As you’re likely aware, Shinka units are linked together via tracking systems, so at all times you can know the distance and location of your allied units, both within the HUD Map and when scanning the environment in the standard view.
In order to assure this tracking function remains intact, we’ve placed two different beacons in different points of the spine.
” He patted the base of the machine’s neck, drawing attention to a small green light that was disguised to look like the segment between its vertebrae.
“This tracker is what emits Map location. It’s placed in easy access of the core’s exit path, and the body heat of touching your own hand to the light will send an immediate S.O.S.
back to base. This way, if you’re evacuating your unit, you can easily activate the beacon.
There are plenty of ways to send an alert within your cockpit while everything is going well, but this is a last resort for when things are going poorly.
We’ve found that, statistically, this is one of the least targeted spots on the unit, as it’s both a difficult place to attack successfully without retaliation, and there’s very little value in targeting the back of the neck. ”
Dr. Dorian dropped back down the Shinka’s chest, then took a seat in its lap.
He looked so small compared to the metal giant, it was almost adorable.
“A second tracker is placed in the base of the tailbone. Similarly neglected in a fight, and similarly accessible if you end up out of your suit and on the ground. If the first tracker is destroyed, the secondary tracker is equipped to send an alert automatically, whether you touch it or not.”
“There’s no tracker in the core itself?” I asked aloud, scanning the model, moving in on the electronics one layer at a time. “If a pilot dies, but the suit otherwise remains intact, how would our allies know that they’ve been killed?”
“An excellent question, Mr. Callan.” Dr. Dorian patted the Shinka beneath him. “Can anyone here answer that question for our new recruit?”
“Even if the core is destroyed and the COMM is down, Shinkas are also equipped with vital based distress signals.” Sebastian answered, glancing at me as he spoke.
“The unit will still appear on the map in the event that their suit can be recovered, but an audible indicator will be transmitted to all units on the network in the event of flat-line, so you don’t take unnecessary risks to recover a dead soldier. ”
“I can always count on Takeyama’s son to be paying attention.
” Dr. Dorian nodded in his direction. Sebastian stiffened at the praise—Or maybe more so the vague reference to his father.
“The system is set up to allow multiple fail-safes in hopes that we’ll bring our pilots home.
And if we can’t, all allies will be notified of the imminent danger so they can respond accordingly.
It’s an unfortunate reality of war that sometimes you will have to leave a unit behind, but you should never leave a pilot if it’s at all possible to save them. ”
Sebastian shook his head. “This signal is a failing of the system, in my opinion.” He interrupted Dr. Dorian, eliciting a purse of the professor’s lips.
“It tells you someone has died, but it doesn’t tell you anything about who has been eliminated, how, or where.
If the core is destroyed, but the trackers both remain intact, there won’t be any visible indicators to know where your active allies are versus your downed ones.
In the event that multiple units are attacked at once, it isn’t immediately obvious who has been eliminated unless you actively witness the battle.
It requires taking the time to either check in on COMMs for every ally to take stock of who’s still alive, or monitor movements on the map to presume efficacy, all of which is impractical during active combat. ”
Interesting. That did seem like a failing of the system.
At the very least, I would expect the HUD indicators to turn a different color in the event of lost vitals, but it sounded like the status of the machines was prioritized over the status of the men, despite the reassuring speech about valuing soldiers more than the tech.
I continued to search through the electronics equipped to the core itself, tapping each part and reading the brief description that appeared beside the holographic model.
“As a soldier, you should always know the status and location of your allies. That’s why you’re equipped with advance mapping systems.” Dr. Dorian hopped off the Shinka and paced to the center of the workshop.
“It’s a failing of a Unit Captain if one of your men is killed, and you have no idea who and where that soldier was.
You should always be aware of active engagements.
” He approached Sebastian with his hands in the pockets of his lab coat, and his chin cocked back, putting them level in height.
“We expect all of our pilots to be capable of fighting as a one-man army, but don’t forget that you’re not out there alone.
War is a team sport. Not a place for heroes. ”
The words were pointed and targeted. Sebastian held his posture, a clear tension between them.
“But in the heat of battle, shouldn’t your focus be on your own surroundings?
” I chimed in, drawing Dr. Dorian’s attention toward my work station.
“If you have to micromanage everyone at all times, then you’re not a functioning unit, and you’ll be at a disadvantage against a better trained and coordinated enemy.
Something as simple as a tracker turning red would be more useful than expecting the unit leader to be actively watching his map while he has his own battle to fight. I think he has a point.”
Sebastian eyed me curiously from the station beside me, but I wasn’t saying it to defend him. He was right, and it seemed obvious that he was. Mictlan was hurting themselves if that was their attitude.
“Have you ever been on the battlefield, Mr, Callan?” The professor paced over to my station now.
“Yes,” I said, not wanting to appear intimidated when all eyes were on me. “I’ve been a civilian during an active battle on multiple occasions, sir.”
A couple of the men snickered, but I held my posture. Maybe I’d never fought on the battlefield, but I’d certainly been in the middle of a few. I still had the scars and the nightmares to prove it.
Sebastian was watching me. Elio was silent on the other side of the room, but I could always feel his stare.
I wasn’t sure what I was trying to do here. Was I defending Sebastian? Or was I just trying to make a point and be heard? Either way, I didn’t want to be treated like I was some ignorant child just because I’d never been in a giant war machine. I’d seen plenty in my life at this point.
“Fair enough.” The professor’s smile was wide. “You’re from 005, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
He reached for my holographic model and zoomed out all the way, so the full shape of the Shinka was visible. He rotated the model so we were looking beneath its heel, then he zoomed in until the bottom of its boot was all we could see.
“That must have been an interesting perspective, actually. It looks a lot like this, right?” More of the men laughed, but I didn’t see what was so funny.
I knew I couldn’t expect sensitivity from anyone in this place, but that was still a level of cold blooded I didn’t want to tolerate.
I did my best to keep my nerve, as he continued to press his point.
“Did you win? Did you come up with a strategy to put an end to the fight? What did you learn and accomplish while you were on this battlefield as a civilian. Please, educate us.”
“If I may, as the only soldier on site for the most recent conflict, Sir—” Sebastian, started, but Dr. Dorian held up a hand, silencing him.
“No, I already know your perspective, Takeyama. I’d like to know what Callan learned as an ant on the ground.”
I glanced about the room, where everyone was now staring. Elio was watching with casual interest with his arms folded over his chest. Sebastian’s expression was unreadable, conversely.