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Izu Base

Kenzo: So then, No. 55 is…

Ingram: Yes. He has shown to have good compatibility with the T-LINK System.

Kenzo: His DNA is not fighting against the system…so then there is no need for adjustments?

Ingram: Monitor the situation for now. Maybe we won’t have to go through the trouble of doing that procedure.

Ingram: …Unlike with Aya.

Kenzo: …..

Kenzo: Then, the pilot for Unit 1 will be Subject Number 55…I mean, Ryusei Date?

Ingram: That is my intention.

Kenzo: Understood. Also, I found another person with a similar aptitude as No. 55.

Ingram: Another tournament contestant?

Kenzo: No.

Ingram: Then who…?

Kenzo: A TPL test was run on the people who were admitted to the military hospital.

Ingram: And you found someone. What is their name?

Kenzo: Kusuha Mizuha.

Ingram: …I see. She may be able to take No. 55’s place if he can’t hold up. Have her brought in.

Kenzo: I’ll see to it.

Ingram: One final matter…three other prospective recruits we were monitoring have failed to appear at the tournament..

Kenzo: Which three?

Ingram: Tenzan Nakajima, Kenichiro Moridera, and Ryoto Hikawa.

Kenzo: …If I recall, Ryoto Hikawa’s data marked him as having a TP reaction.

Ingram: Yes. It may be that another group has also been scouting PT Pilots using that game…

Ingram: And they may be after the same thing that “The School” was.

Kenzo: …..

Izu Base – Briefing Room

Aya: Come on, Ryu. Let me introduce you to a member of your unit.

Ryusei: Oh…there are others?

Aya: Yep. Like you, he’ll be a test pilot in our project…

Rai: I’m Lt. Raidiese F. Branstein.

Ryusei: Hey…you’re the guy I saw at the gate…!

Aya: Ah…you two have already met?

Rai: …..

Ryusei: I-I’m Ryusei Date. Nice to meet you.

Rai: Excuse me, but…what is your rank?

Ryusei: Uh…

Aya: Ryu was specially commissioned, and his rank is Master Sergeant.

Rai: Alright. Good to meet you, Sergeant Ryusei Date.

Ryusei: No need to be so formal.

Rai: In that case, just call me Rai.

Aya: Okay, do either of you have any questions?

Rai: Captain…how did a civilian get chosen for this project?

Aya: …It’s a long story. But he’s got the right stuff.

Rai: HIM…?

Ryusei: Hey, don’t give me that look.

Rai: …One piece of advice. Don’t hold me back.

Ryusei: Wh…What did you say!? Who do you think you are!?

Aya: Alright you two, knock it off! You’re not kids anymore!

Ryusei: Tch…my teammate’s a jerk, and my captain’s wound up too tight.

Ryusei: Isn’t this is kind of cliche?

Rai: Jerk?

Aya: Wound up too tight?

Ryusei: Never mind. Hey, can I get into my PT now?

Aya: Don’t be so hasty. A Personal Trooper isn’t some ride at an amusement park.

Aya: For now, you’ll be studying the basics of piloting.

Ryusei: B-But…I fought in live combat, I already know the basics.

Aya: Ryu, you’re piloting a mobile weapon…it’s not like driving a car.

Aya: There are even regulations for starting up a PT. It’s not something you can just jump into.

Aya: Also, the Type TT you piloted had a simplified cockpit…

Aya: You won’t be able to pilot other models without training.

Ryusei: I-I see…

Aya: Anyway, Rai…you’ll pilot the Schutzwald.

Rai: Schutzwald…that’s the Gespenst-based artillery test model.

Aya: Right. We have a re-calibrated roll-out model.

Aya: Take a look at it later.

Rai: I will.

Ryusei: What’s this, no training for him?

Aya: Rai is…was an ace pilot in the United Colony Corps.

Aya The executives at Mao Industries were impressed with his skills and hired him as a test pilot.

Aya: On top of that, his family is…

Rai: …Captain, please don’t say any more.

Aya: Oh…? I-I’m sorry…

Ryusei: UCC, huh… Then you must be from the Space Colonies.

Ryusei: No wonder you act like such a snob.

Rai: What did you just say…?

Aya: Ryu, there was no need to say that.

Ryusei: Well, that’s just how the folks in space are…

Ryusei: They think they’re superior to us Earthlings.

Rai: …Because we ARE superior to primitive beings like YOU.

Ryusei: Why, you…!!

Aya: Knock it off, both of you!

Rai: My apologies, Captain.

Ryusei: Ugh, don’t be such a yesman…

Aya: (*sigh* This is not going to be easy.)

Aya: Anyways. Ryu, you’ll be instructed on basic PT maneuvers.

Aya: When you’re done, you’ll move on to simulator training.

Ryusei: All right. In that case, let’s get started.

Chapter 3: Training

PT Combat Simulator

*Aya, Rai, and Command Module appear*

Crew: Simulator setup, completed. Environment setting, Pattern S. Link with each machine is normal.

Ryusei: This PT simulator is amazing…

Ryusei: I thought that Burning PT looked awesome, but this is on a whole ‘nother level.

Aya: It’s not just the graphics. It also gives realistic feedback for terrian, gravitational effect, recoil from damage…

Ryusei: So, as real as real can get, right?

Aya: That’s right. And that also means the impact will feel real. So don’t forget what you’ve learned.

Ingram: Let’s begin. Place the enemy units on the battlefield.

Crew: Roger.

*Enemies Appear*

Ryusei: Wow! Are those EFA tanks?

Ingram: Master Sergeant Ryusei, I want to inform you of something before we start.

Ryusei: What’s that, Major?

Ingram: Personal Troopers can equip compatible armaments before sortieing.

Ryusei: Compatible armaments?

Ingram: Mainly handheld weapons, such as firearms and swords.

Ryusei: I see.

Ingram: However, some weapons, like the Twin Beam Cannons on Rai’s Schutzwald…

Ingram: Are built in to the PT and cannot be removed.

Ryusei: In other words, I can’t just equip or remove every kind of weapon.

Ingram: The type and number of weapons that can be equipped also depends on the mech itself.

Ingram: Know your mech, know your mission, then choose your armaments based on them.

Ryusei: Got it.

Ingram: Currently, your mech’s not equipped with close-range weapons.

Ingram: So if you want them, select “Weapon”, then “Equip”…

Ingram: Then choose “Plasma Cutter” to equip it to your mech.

Ingram: It’s up to you as to how you equip your mech before deploying.

Ryusei: Yes Sir!

*Got “Plasma Cutter”, got “M950 Machine Gun”, Preparations Screen, Ryusei deploys*

Ingram: All units. Aya is your lead, followed by Ryusei, then Rai.

Ingram: Do NOT break your formation, and destroy all targets!

Aya: Roger that, Major.

Ryusei: Heh! Tanks are no match for me!

Aya: Take it easy. Tanks are dangerous even to a PT. They have strong armor and powerful cannons.

Ryusei: Power doesn’t matter if I don’t get hit.

Rai: One bad hit and you’ll be dead.

Ryusei: Whaddya mean? No one dies in a simulation.

Ryusei: Plus, you can always hit reset when the game is over.

Rai: …Hit reset…?

*Ryusei promptly breaks formation and charges into the enemies*

Ryusei: Yee-ha! I’ll take the lead!

Aya: Wait, Ryu! Don’t break the formation!

Ryusei: Relax, I can handle forward position! Just cover me, you two!

*Victory, Defeat and Mastery Conditions revealed, Gameplay starts*

{Ryusei is hit}

Ryusei: A-Arrgh! I got hit!

Ryusei: Luckily, it wasn’t fatal!

Aya: Ryu! Leave the rest to us and pull back!

Ryusei: What are you sayin!? I can’t back off now!!

Aya: That’s an order!!

Ryusei: Eh, forget it. I’m stayin’ in. Over and out!

Aya: (*sigh* I’m the team leader here.)

Ingram: Reprogram the tanks’ AI. Target Ryusei.

Crew: Only Ryusei, sir?

Ingram: Yes.

*Destroy all tanks*

Ryusei: Not bad! I destroyed all the targets as ordered!

Ingram: Let’s move on to the next stage. Deploy the targets.

Crew: Affirmative

*More enemies appear*

Ryusei: Fighter jets this time…!

Ingram: They’re formidable opponents for land warfare PTs. Work together to defeat them.

Ryusei: Heh, tank, jet, whatever…this shouldn’t take long!

*Destroy reinforcements*

Ryusei: Woo-hoo, stage cleared!! Who’s next!?

Ingram: That’s it. Terminate the exercise.

Ingram: Get out of the PT simulator and come see me, Msg. Ryusei…

Outside the simulator

Ryusei: How was that, sir? I can do that in battle too!

Ingram: …..

Ingram: Ryusei, you’ll need to start over from the beginning again.

Ryusei: H-Huh? Why!?

Ingram: …You know why. I won’t tolerate such grandstanding.

Ryusei: Ugh…

Ingram: Listen…

Ingram: If you can’t be a team player, then get out of that PT.

Ryusei: !

Ingram: Personal Troopers are valuable. They’re not meant for everyone… Remember that.

*Ingram leaves*

Ryusei: Tch! I know they’re valuable.

Garnet: Hey, if you’re done training, can you move aside?

Ryusei: Huh?

Garnet: We’ll be using the PT simu–I mean, the simulator, next.

Ryusei: Oh…well, I’m done, so…

Garnet: Giado! We got the simulator next!

Garnet: Giado! Hey Giado!

Garnet: *groan* I told you not to listen to music on duty!

Latune: …..

Garnet: Hmm, what? You wanna go get him?

Latune: …..

Garnet: That’s okay, I’ll go. Can you prep the simulator for us?

Latune: …..

Ryusei: By the way—

Latune: !

*Latune runs off*

Ryusei: Oh…she’s gone. I didn’t mean to scare her.

Giado: …OK, you don’t have to tear me ear off, Garnet!

Garnet: Next time you don’t listen to me, I’m taking your D-Con from you!

Giado: N-no way, mon. You know I can’t live without me reggae.

Garnet: *sigh* How’s the prep work going, Latune?

Latune: …..

Garnet: Finished already? Good job!

Giado: Ah-right! Let’s begin de anti-PT combat sim!

Latune: …..

Ryusei: (What’s a kid doing at a military base…?)

Training End

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