Simulation: Part 1
*Third Person POV*
After eating their fill, Aspen and Ghost put the remaining food in the fridge.
Aspen grabbed a beer before sitting back down and opening it. He took a swig from it and sighed in satisfaction. "I'll tell you what, one thing this world has that is better than my old world is the beer. It's kind of sweet, the taste of alcohol isn't felt even though this is... holy fuck, 40% alcohol, what do they put in this shit?"
Ghost chuckled as he grabbed himself a beer too. He sat down across from Aspen and his expression shifted a bit, a hint of sadness could be seen in his eyes. "You know, last time I shared a beer like this with Aspen, we were celebrating Alicia's birthday. Man, what a sweet little girl she was, active as hell too." He sat back and took a swig of his beer. "It was one of the last moments of peace we had before we decided to take the fight to the Cenollian Order. Never did he ever think that his action would blow back on his family."
He paused and took another swig and so did Aspen did too. "He was a man of justice, that one. Fought against his superiors, fought against an order that had been bought by corpos. Never once did he stop and think of the danger he was putting himself into, and he made sure shit would never blow back on him. Not any of our identities were known, he scrubbed the data of us that were wanted, he gave us all a new life."
He stopped as he clutched his beer bottle which immediately exploded in his hand, sending glass shards crashing to the ground and some into his hand. But he didn't seem fazed by it. "And then that bastard Ajax decided he would prefer money, sold himself to them, and sold Aspen out. And for what? That fucker, after everything Aspen had done for him."
Aspen nodded bitterly, the memories of certain events coming to him in bits and pieces. "I can recall some of that from his memories. He was a just man, that's for sure. I'm barely even anything like him. I'm mostly Aspen Del Santo, a successful Architect and Aerospace Engineer from New York City. Son of a father and mother he never met, a man who… a man who never had anyone." Aspen looks down at the floor as he finishes his sentence.
"I've never been the greatest man, tried to help others here and there, but I was never a man of justice. A rough childhood will shape a rough child, I can only be thankful I turned out alright." Aspen paused for a moment before he broke into a chuckle. "Ah, I sound like some cringe fake depressed bastard from Instagram."
Ghost looked at Aspen with confusion on his face. "Insta what? What's that, some sort of mental institution where they keep the mentally unstable and depressed?"
Aspen shook his head as he took another swig from his beer. "Nah, just a social media platform. It was alright, though it was getting real good when I got sucked in here. Humor was making a comeback, people weren't caring about hurting feelings, and overall, the world was healing from the past couple of years of mental illness and furries."
Ghost's expression softened a little as he smiled while shaking his head. "Hey, although it is late at night, I'm not really all that tired since we had surgery performed on us. Want to return down to the simulator pod and actually get a simulation going?"
Aspen took a swig from his beer and stood up from the chair. "Fuck it, why not. Let's go."
And with that, both men made their way down the hallway to the elevator which opened up and the same girl from the store came out of the apartment. She let out a shriek when she saw their disheveled look to which Aspen and Ghost slowly turned their heads towards each other with a "Are you fucking serious?" face.
A few seconds later a door was heard opening behind them and Michael came rushing out, his eyes weary and seemingly tired. "What the hell is going on here?"
The girl caught a glance of Michael and immediately made a break for it toward him. "Mr. Sullivan! These two men, they, they, I saw them earlier at my second job. I'm sure they're following me."
Michael just looked over at Aspen who was wearing a white shirt that seemed to have been stained with some sort of sauce and then at Ghost who had a bemused look on his face but was wearing a gray hoodie with what seemed to be oil stains on it. He saw Aspen mutter something to Ghost which made the man chuckle. "Hey there, calm down now Grace. These two men are the owners of the building."
The girl, Grace, looked at Michael as she realized her mistake. She then turned to Aspen and Ghost and apologized, "Ah, I'm sorry. I was just...I'm sorry. I noticed your guns when you came to the store earlier and I thought you two had been sent to kill me."
Aspen and Ghost exchanged a confused glance before turning to Grace. "And why would you think that?" Aspen asked.
"Ah, do you not know I am?" Grace asked with a little surprise. "It must be because I died my hair. My name is Grace Pennsworth. I'm a new tenant here."
Ghost raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Any relation to the Pennsworth Dynamics?"
Grace smiled at his question. "Yes, that's my family's mech manufacturing company."
Aspen glanced at Ghost with a questioning look, prompting Ghost to explain a little bit to him. "They are a mech manufacturer that push out mechs from tier 1 to 4. However, they specialize in manufacturing Rakshasa and Valkyrie class mechs."
Aspen nodded at this and introduced himself using his new identity. "All right little lady, my name is Azrael Fallcrest, and this here is my partner-"
"Riley Fallcrest. We're brothers, in case you couldn't tell." Ghost finished, a rare gentle smile on his face.
Grace chuckled at this, "You two actually don't look related at all, except for being tall, having a gruff feeling, and beards."
Aspen Chuckled as he shook his head and turned to enter the elevator. "Well then, we'll be on our way. Michael, we'll be out of contact for the next like 10 hours or so." As the elevator doors were about to close, he called out one final thing. "And little lady, don't just go revealing your identity to strangers if you think your life is in danger, even if someone says they're trustworthy."
After the elevator door closed, Michael looked at Grace who was still gripping onto him. "Would you mind letting my arm rest?" Grace let go of his arm and apologized as her face flushed red. "Well, as we discussed before. Your apartment is already fully furnished, but if you want to switch anything out with your own furniture you must let me know so that I can move them into storage."
Grace nodded "Yes, thanks a lot, Mr. Sullivan, again, I'm sorry for causing a scene," she said as she looked up to Micahel's tired eyes, "and for waking you up." Michael nodded and they parted ways.
Back to Aspen and Ghost, they exited the elevator and headed to the room where the simulator pod was located. They walked in and locked the door behind them as an extra security measure since to access this basement level alone you would need the Owner Access Code and input it into the elevator.
They then went into the simulator pod and lay down on the beds. The doors closed and the pod's AI came to life. "Detecting two users, would you like to do a joint simulation or individual?"
"Joint" answered Aspen.
"Joint simulation confirmed. Pilot levels at Epsilon, adjusting difficulty.... Difficulty adjusted. What type of simulation would you like? Ground War, War Frontlines, Infiltration, Objective Destruction, Objective Capture, Defend an Objective, Extraction, Long Deployment, Rouge Pilots..." The AI went on listing another 20 simulations.
Aspen and Ghost exchanged some words before finally coming to a decision on 2 of the simulations. "Describe Long Deployment and Rouge Pilots."
"Simulation: Long Deployment
Pilots are immersed in a grueling, high-stakes endurance mission designed to replicate extended deployments in hostile territory. The simulation spans a remote, mountainous region riddled with unpredictable weather, hidden enemy outposts, and limited resources. Pilots are tasked with maintaining operational readiness over the entire 1000 simulation hours or about 6 weeks of simulation time, where supply drops are rare, and encounters with enemy forces grow increasingly difficult.
Objectives:
Survival & Adaptability: Endure the full deployment duration, adapting to environmental and operational challenges with minimal external support.
Resource Management: Carefully manage ammunition, energy, and repair kits to withstand continuous, escalating enemy attacks.
Recon & Tactical Decision-Making: Navigate through dense forests, mountain passes, and enemy-occupied territories while strategically engaging or evading hostiles to conserve resources.
Team Coordination (Optional): When run in team mode, pilots can collaborate to cover different terrain, strategize defense, and share resources.
Key Challenges:
Weather Effects: Frequent storms and low visibility affect sensor accuracy and weapon targeting.
Enemy Patrols: Waves of enemy drones, ground mechs, and armored convoys test a pilot's endurance and combat skills.
Supply Shortages: Resupply is limited, requiring careful conservation and effective resource sharing when in teams.
Expected Outcomes:
This scenario hones resilience, patience, and resourcefulness, pushing pilots to their physical and mental limits while they learn to make critical decisions under extreme conditions.
Simulation: Rogue Pilots
In the *Rogue Pilots* joint simulation, participants form a band of renegade mech pilots operating as a small, outnumbered force against relentless military opposition. In a desolate region filled with treacherous terrain, the pilots must work together to evade, outsmart, and outlast their well-equipped pursuers. As rogue operatives without the support of a formal military or command structure, each pilot must rely on cooperation, communication, and resourcefulness to survive. The environment consists of abandoned industrial zones, dense forests, and open wastelands with few natural defenses.
Objectives:
Coordinated Survival: Work as a team to evade and confront continuous waves of enemies, using group tactics to outmaneuver the larger forces that pursue them.
Resource Management and Sharing: Scavenge scattered outposts and hidden caches for scarce resources and distribute supplies wisely among the team.
Team Stealth and Recon: Assign specific roles like scouts, snipers, or frontline defense to maximize stealth and identify threats, enabling informed decisions about when to fight or evade.
Adaptive Combat and Defense: Establish ambushes, set traps, and create temporary defensive perimeters while managing limited resources and ammunition.
Key Challenges:
Coordinated Pursuit Forces: Multiple military factions track the rogue team, adapting their search tactics, deploying mechs, and coordinating strategies to isolate and neutralize the pilots.
Dynamic, Hazardous Environment: The terrain is volatile, with environmental hazards like unstable ground, electrified zones, and sudden sandstorms that can separate or trap pilots.
Isolation from Reinforcements: With no reinforcements available, the team's survival depends on keeping everyone operational and unifying efforts to avoid overextension and breakdown of cohesion.
Expected Outcomes:
The simulation strengthens team cohesion, situational awareness, and tactical adaptability under high-pressure, high-stakes scenarios. Pilots will gain experience in decentralized command and guerilla-style tactics, crucial for operations behind enemy lines or in joint survival missions where independence and teamwork are equally critical."
Once the AI was done describing the two modes, Aspen and Ghost discussed for a bit which one they wanted to do.
Aspen thought about it for a second before coming up with something. "Well, the Long Deployment allows us to train to persevere in occasions where we have low supplies. It would be very representative of what we will have to face when we go up against Ajax and the rest of his group. Especially after we killed those two."
Ghost thought about it before coming up with a different idea. "Yeah, you're right on that. But how can you not see that the Rouge Pilots simulation is what best fits us and our description of things? We won't have any backup, we won't have any extra supplies, we will be fighting multiple fronts if anyone decides to intervene and we also have to learn how to coordinate with each other on precise ambushes if we will work our way up to cleansing this galaxy of so many bastards. Not to mention, it will really come in clutch if we manage to survive for all that time under pressure and in such a high-stakes scenario."
Aspen stayed quiet as he thought over Ghost's words. "You do seem to make a fair point. Alright then, Confirm simulation mode, Rouge Pilots."
"Simulation mode confirmed. Rouge Pilots simulation will commence shortly. Prepare for full dive simulation in 10, 9, 8....2, 1. Good Luck Pilots!." And with that, Aspen and Ghost felt their minds go blank before they found themselves in a completely different world."
*First Person POV: Aspen*
When I came to, I found myself inside a mech that had been badly damaged. Some sparks from the ceiling fell on top of me but I just ignored it and I quickly went over all of my panels and did a system diagnostics. My main screen, which had a few cracks running across is and had been off until now, came to life with information about the mech.
Here's a diagnostics screen for the badly damaged Tier 1 Parallax Striker mech, reflecting its operational status despite the extensive damage:
**Diagnostic**
Mech Class: Parallax Class
Mech Model: Parallax Striker, Tier 1 (Epsilon)
Pilot Status: Neural Link Active
SYSTEM STATUS: CRITICAL
Overall Integrity: 27%
Structural Damage: Severe (multiple breaches detected)
Primary Mobility System: Functional (Hindered)
Weapons Systems: Offline
Shields: Offline
Reactor: Stable (but under stress)
AI: System Failure
Life Support: Operational
DAMAGE REPORT:
Hull Breaches: 3 (upper torso, left arm, right leg)
Reactor: Damaged, Diminished energy production and lowered energy levels
Armor: 14%
Control Surfaces: Mostly non-responsive (hindered maneuverability)
Neural Link Response: Delayed signals detected (manual override required for optimal control)
OPERATING CONDITIONS:
Movement Speed: Severely reduced (approx. 23% of normal, Mostly due to system failures)
Combat Readiness: Low (weapons offline, limited defensive capabilities)
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Assess the surrounding area for immediate threats. Engage emergency protocols to stabilize systems. Prepare for manual evasion maneuvers. Signal for assistance if possible. Consider emergency extraction if integrity drops below 20%.
NOTE: This Parallax Striker remains operational but is extremely haggard and requires immediate repairs to enhance functionality. Adjust pilot strategy accordingly to avoid engagement with superior forces.
**End of Diagnostic**
"Well shit, this mech is almost a piece of scrap." I use the mech's damaged systems and manage to bring its optics online. I notice that I'm in what appears to be an industrial area, some sort of destroyed factory with a lot of cement. I look around a bit more and notice that there are some other Parallax Class mechs that are out of service about 100 or so meters in front of me.
I take over the controls, a little excited to be honest as this was my first time doing what I had only dreamed of, and I push the mech forward. It takes a little bit of patience as I manage to limp it toward the first downed mech and once I'm next to it I scan it to make sure it is of the same tier as my mech. Once I confirm, that it is a tier 1 mech, I kneel my mech and shut it down.
I then proceeded to disconnect from it by unplugging the multiple cords attached to my back, grab a DMR that was strapped to the side of the pilot seat, and holstered my pistol. I lift the cushion of the piloting seat and pull out a bag with some tools meant for dismantling and repairing mechs on the field. I put it on and then proceeded to slowly open my hatch and scope out the area with my DMR as it slowly rose with the assistance of a hydraulic system. I take a moment to notice that the armor was relatively thin, only about 2 inches thick, which made me remember just how impressed I was when I first learned all about Mech Engineering and read over mech armor and the materials used to produce them.
After scoping out the area a second time and noticing that there was no activity nearby. I climb out of my cockpit and then slide off of it to then drop about a meter to the ground, the tools in the bag clanking. I hear some distant echoes of gunfire of large caliber but ignore it since it has nothing to do with me.
I then climbed on top of the first mech that was before me, its legs a mangled twist of metal that no longer resembled its previous prowess. I realize that most of its chest armor seems to be intact with its only damage being on the legs. I grab a pry bar from the backpack and jam it into the small almost seamless opening of the hatch. I then activate a strobing flashlight on my DMR and aim it into the hatch with one hand as I push down with my other.
The benefits of the gene-enhancing serum also seem to be kept while in the simulation as I hear the metal strain in resistance as it slowly starts to rise. I pulled back my crowbar as the hatch started to rise on its own and with my aim trained on it, I got a glimpse of the inside. I see its pilot slumped over its controls and I quickly put a shot in his head to ensure he wouldn't be waking up while I worked my magic. I activated the mech manually using the screens and ran a diagnostic.
It was pretty much operational, if I ignored its destroyed legs and damaged targeting systems, it was almost brand new even. I shut everything down and disconnected the corpse from the mech and proceeded to throw him out of the cockpit. I then took off my backpack and started rummaging through it for specific tools. While I was doing so, I couldn't help but thank God for all of the information I had painstakingly parched for 10,000 credits.
Finally finding the tools I wanted, I proceeded to disassemble the mech's interior over the next hour. Once I did I moved all of the control screens out and dropped them about a meter to the ground. "They shouldn't break, they're military grade."
Once I said that I remembered what military-grade equipment was back on Earth... cheap shit. I slid down the side of the cockpit, landed next to the screen, and looked it over, noticing no visual damage. "Well, I can only hope that there is no internal damage from a little bump like that."
I proceeded to unload the rest of the screens with more care and I stepped out with the final pieces I would need from its interior. A small capsule that housed the mech's AI and with my backpack to continue disassembling things outside.
I spent the next 40 minutes taking off its frontal armor and tossing it aside. This thing was surprisingly light for the damage they could take, but it was also a lot. It was small squares about a foot and a half in height and length, about half a foot wide, and weighed about 20 pounds a piece. I then proceeded to, over the course of the next 3 hours, take off and replace everything I had taken for my mech.
Once I was done the gray sky outside was starting to dim a little bit. I knew I probably had about another 3 hours of daylight to take this mech's reactor and swap out mine for it. I hopped into my mech and connected to it before turning it on. I let its reactor warm up for a few minutes and then proceeded to turn over the mech I was scavenging parts from to its side, using one of its mangled legs to prop it up and ensure it stayed up. Once I did that I kneeled down and used one of my mech's arms to hold up the other side so it wouldn't fall over and crush me while I worked.
I deactivated my mech and hopped out. I then spent the next hour disassembling all of the parts surrounding the reactor, which was located at the hip area, before reaching it. It was a sphere about the size of a basketball with four cones on its edges and wires. I unhooked it and carefully brought it to the ground. I wiped my sweat from my forehead as I sighed. "Thank God I had learned all of that information about mech engineering and design," I said again, this time out loud. "Also thank you Jarvis...you are here with me right?"
"Yes Host, I am with you since I am bound to your soul. However, I will be of no use during simulations as the host will not be in any danger and the missions I can assign are only relating to the real world. I will also refuse to interfere in the Host's training by aiding the Host and highlighting enemies near you because then the point of the simulator will be null and the Host will have learned nothing."
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I just wanted to confirm you were still with me," I say out loud. I didn't take a rest as I went straight into dismantling the reactor for my mech and unhooking it. I then just tossed it aside, it was obsolete now and it wasn't active, so I didn't need it.
I then installed the other reactor and hooked everything up. I screwed everything back into place and was able to finish just before it got dark. I hopped into my mech and manually activated it. I run a diagnostic to make sure everything is alright and running.
**Diagnostic**
Mech Class: Parallax Class
Mech Model: Tier 1
Pilot Status: Neural Link Active
AI System: Activated
SYSTEM STATUS: OPERATIONAL
Overall Integrity: 65%
Structural Damage: Moderate
Systems Online:
Primary Mobility System: Functional (partially hindered)
Weapons Systems: Partly Functional
Shields: Charging (52% capacity)
Reactor: Fully Operational
Life Support: Fully Operational
DAMAGE REPORT:
Hull Breaches: Left Arm, Right Leg
Armor Rating: 75%
Control Surfaces: Improved (mobility hindered but manageable)
Neural Link Response: Optimal
AI: Operational
OPERATING CONDITIONS:
Movement Speed: Reduced, but manageable (approx. 60% of normal)
Combat Readiness: Moderate (weapons semi-functional, shields at partial capacity)
Environmental Hazards: None detected (cockpit interior fully restored)
NOTE: Parallax Striker's combat readiness is not yet suited for full-scale engagement. Exercise caution in all combat scenarios until shield capacity and structural repairs are fully optimized.
**End of Diagnostic**
I sighed at the sight of the diagnostics. "That seems more like it. On to the next one." I maneuvered the mech to another mech that was in a sitting position, its right arm was missing but the other one seemed relatively undamaged. Its cockpit also bore some dents and a hole in it that didn't go all the way though. It was leaning against a wall about 30 meters from the one I had just finished taking parts from.
While making my way to it, the new systems I had replaced allowed me to make scans from further. It's the same Tier 1 Parallax and it thanks to a system that wasn't working previously, I can tell that its pilot is still alive with an elevated heart rate. Meaning they were injured.
"Hey, mech AI, you there?" I asked out loud as I approached the other mech.
A male robotic voice answered me as soon as I finished my question. "I am here, Pilot."
"Why were you quiet until now?" I ask.
"I was just... calculating. Pilot, you have a neural link that is not on the database. However, my systems are not flagging it and my scans report that our current synchronization rate is at 95% and increasing," the AI responds.
"Increasing? How so?" I ask.
"Yes, Pilot, the more time we spend connected the higher the synchronization rate becomes," the AI said.
"Hmm, that's interesting. So it doesn't just go all the way out on sync rate as soon as I start to pilot a mech. Anyways, ignore that, AI... it feels weird calling you that. Do you have a name?" I ask the AI.
"Yes, Pilot. My designation is BT-7274. I aim to optimize you, Aspen Del Santo, in piloting this unit to the best of your abilities." the AI responded.
Its name caught me a little by surprise, BT-7274. Wasn't that the name of the AI of the mech from that one game EA decided not to make a part 3 of, Titanfall 2? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is. "Alright then, from now on, I'll refer to you as BT, is that alright with you?"
A series of lights flashes inside the cockpit as if the AI was processing the information. "Affirmative, Pilot. BT, I like it, has a nice ring to it."
I chuckle a bit at BT's antics, slightly resembling those of Titanfall 2's BT. "You're becoming more talkative. Also, if we ever need to identify ourselves, we will be known as Reaper. Only I will refer to you as BT. Got it?"
"Understood, Pilot. As for my talking, the more our synchronization rate rises, the more manners I take from my pilot. We are currently at 96%." BT replied.
I nodded as I said 'nice' internally. "Alright BT, do we have any external lights?"
"Unfortunately we do not, Pilot. However, if you put on your pilot helmet, you will be able to see without any hindrance of light. It will also allow me to work autonomously while maintaining our connection through your neural link." As BT spoke, a panel to my right opened and a helmet that resembled that of Titanfall 2's pilot helmet for Rifleman Cooper slid out.
I couldn't help but geek out at the sight of it. 'Hell fucking yeah,' I thought to myself. This helmet was slightly different though, it was a dark black and its visor was a golden hue similar to that of Master Chief's helmet. I put it on and immediately everything seemed much better. I could see much better.
I grab my DMR and the tool backpack I had between my legs and get ready to exit my cockpit. "Alright BT, I will dismount and look over that downed mech, take some of its parts, and continue to repair you as much as I can. I will need you to maintain a lookout for me."
"Understood, Pilot. I will advise you if any movement is detected."
I crawled out of the cockpit and made my way down to the ground, however, BT used his right arm to help me down this time. "Thanks, BT," I said as I climbed on top of the mech's cockpit.
I go for the same approach and open the cockpit of the mech the same way I did the other one. But before I could react I heard gunshots coming from the inside of the cockpit and a bullet ricocheted off my helmet and I was forced to take a step back. I then heard the familiar *click* of someone who had just unloaded everything they had in their mag. I peeked over the hatch and aimed my DMR at the female pilot inside.
She looked at me with anger and fear but I just ignored that as I aimed my DMR at her head. "How about we don't try that.... and you better not reach for your DMR or I swear I give your cockpit a makeover with your brain."
The female pilot dropped her pistol and as she did I fully opened the hatch and managed to get a better view inside. It wasn't pretty. Using my flashlight I noticed that her right leg had been mostly severed by a metal rod coming from under her seat. She also had 2 more metal rods piercing her right shoulder and abdomen. How she was still alive was probably due to the initial enhancements all pilots received.
"Nasty wounds you got there," I say to her.
She looked at me with disgust and spat. "Federation scum."
"Hmm. No, I'm not on either side of your little war. Mind giving me a quick history lesson?" I ask her.
It only earned me a simple "Fuck you" from her as she tried to spit at me again, but gravity works in mysterious ways and the spit that had flown up and back down on her face the first time had done so again.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. "Yeah, I thought so.... ah this must be quite painful right?" I ask her. She looks at me with anger as I'm obviously mocking her. I might be a psychopath I don't know. "Let me help you out."
At my words she closes her eyes and relaxes a bit, getting the sense of finally getting out of her situation.
*Tak* *Tak* *Tak*
I shot her 3 times in the head, at least she went out in peace, and well, I did help her out. I then climbed into the cockpit and completely deactivated it. I then climbed out and off the mech and went to disassemble its leg armor. I had gotten pretty lucky that both of the mechs I found were of the Parallax class, so repairing mine was pretty easy.
I spent the next 3 hours replacing BT's left arm since it had been damaged beyond repair, with the help of BT, of course, and repairing the damage along with replacing the armor on the right leg. Its damage was a little more extensive than I had anticipated so I couldn't fully repair it and the leg joints of the other mech weren't in the greatest shape either, but they were without a doubt fully functional.
Once I was done I ran another diagnostic wanting to only see the essential information.
**Diagnostic**
Integrity: 95%
Shields: Charging (92%)
All Systems Operational
Negligible Mobility Impairment
**End Diagnostic**
I smile as I see the results of my hard work. "Alright BT, I trust you to find us someplace safe to rest and keep a lookout. I'm going to knock out for a while. Wake me up at dawn."
"Affirmative, Pilot. Rest well, I will ensure our safety."
And with that, I slipped off to sleep, something I never thought would be possible in a simulation.
Word Count: 5144 Words 🥱