That didn't mean that everyone that signed up wasaccepted. There were still minimum standards. Such as: physicalability, intelligence, resourcefulness and, most of all, sanity.
Sanity was key. They weren't going to let you be incharge of enough firepower to level a city/state without making sureyou wouldn't actually level a city/state. Unless ordered to, ofcourse.
So tests were designed. The biggest test: the ride tothe mech base.
***
Once a pilot candidate was singled out from their citystate, they boarded a train to the mech base. This train was designedto do only two things: get the pilot candidate to the base and useevery tool available to break that candidate before they got there.
Once on board, the candidate was secluded in awindowless passenger car. There was one seat only, bolted to thefloor in the middle of the empty car.
The candidate would be instructed to strap in and remainstrapped in until told otherwise.
They would be left that way for 24 hours.
***
Most pilot candidates failed the first part of the testwithin six hours. It's why the train never left the station untilthe first 24 hours were up.
Movement and sound would be simulated, making thecandidate think they were on their way, but at no point would they becommunicated or interacted with for the entire 24 hours.
If they undid a strap, moved from the chair, begged tobe let out or just flat broke down, then the test was endedimmediately, they were thanked and sent home.
The majority failed because they refused to piss theirpants.
***
If the candidate made it past the first test, then thetrain would start its long journey to the mech base.
This time the simulation was opposite. Instead of fakingmovement and sound, it faked stillness and quiet. The candidate wouldbe told there was a mechanical issue and the train would be stoppedfor at least 24 hours, when in actuality it was moving at a steadyclip of 85 miles per hour.
The candidate would be allowed to move about, to use thesmall latrine bucket provided and to eat from the ration packetsattached to the chair.
***
For the candidate, the train ride to the mech base was afour day trip, no matter where they were coming from.
The first day they are stuck in the station, but thinkthey are moving.
The second day, they think they are stuck in thewasteland, but are actually moving.
The third day, they think they are moving, actually aremoving and are given every opportunity to relax and ask questions.The train's pilot and co-pilot are allowed to communicate with thecandidate, as long as they stay on script.
The fourth day, the candidate thinks they will die.
***
The third day of testing is merely designed to lull thecandidate into a false sense of security. Ease their minds and putthem off guard.
Then they are hit with the fourth day, the day they die.
The train never stops moving once it leaves the station,but the candidate believes it does on day two and four.
When they are told the train has been attacked on dayfour, they feel the attack. Every last blast, ricochet andconcussion.
They are watched. Watched for how they react, how theytry to help and how they try to escape.
***
Once the train is in motion, the candidate will not bereturned for any reason. They are on their way to the mech base andthat is where they will be assigned and where they will stay.
Whether they become a mech pilot or not is the question.
The test is simple: if the candidate can figure out howto get out of the train car, they will become a pilot. If they don'tfigure it out or don't try, then there are plenty of other jobs atthe mech base.
The fourth day weeds the pilots from the cooks.
***
On arriving at the mech base, the candidate is strippedof his or her name. They are known only as the Rookie.
Only one Rookie is allowed at the base at a time. Thiskeeps the confusion down and also keeps valuable resources from beingdrained or wasted by Rookie mistakes.
Until they are given back their name, they are thelowest on the totem pole.
Even if they are training as a mech pilot, they areabove no one. From food service to maintenance, the Rookie is thebase's bitch.
Some make it just fine, some don't. Most don't.
Chapter One
Part One- Introduction & Tragedy
The traffic was awful. Jimmy hadn't moved more than amile in the past hour, surrounded by cars honking, their electricmotors purring in the hot summer evening.
His com phone buzzed and he casually answered it.
"Hey Sweetheart! What's up?"
"Where are you?" Michelle's voice was frantic.
"Stuck in traffic baby. It's Friday night rush hour.What's wrong? Rachel okay?"
"Yes, but you need to get home."
"What's wrong?"
"I just talked to my dad. He said we need to get outof the city right away."
Capreze woke with a start; thankful the nightmare didn'tproceed any further.
***
The two mechs stood on the ridge looming over the valleybelow.
"You sure you picked up something?" Bisby asked overhis com.
"Positive," Stanislaw responded, double checking hisscanners. Nothing.
"Hmmm, guess we have to go down into that bake oven ofa dust bowl and check it all out," Bisby grumbled. "You sure?"
"Yes, Biz, I'm sure," Stanislaw snapped back. "Idon't know why you're bitching, this is why we're here."
"Yeah, but the Rookie comes in today. I don't wantto miss the fun."
"Youdidn't think being a Rookie was much fun."
"Shit rolls down hill."
***
Chief Mechanic Jay Rind stood and stretched, his backcracking and popping into line.
"Ahhhhh, that's the shit," Jay yawned, turning tosurvey the mech hangar. He glanced at his watch. 0600. "Damn, didit again."
Jethro laughed, walking into the hangar holding two cupsof coffee. "You fall asleep in here last night?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Jay replied, cracking his neckand taking the offered coffee mug. He nodded his thanks to Jethro andturned back to his workbench and the schematics lain upon it. Jethrosidled up next to him.
"That's some ballsy shit."
"Don't I know," agreed Jay.
***
"Where you want me Stan?" Bisby asked, watchingStanislaw's mech stomp down into the barren valley.
"Stay put. Keep scanners at full and watch for theambush."
"Listen, I know you're the best and all, but I don'tthink anything is in this valley. We're wasting our time."
"Never assume, Biz. That's how I stayed alive thislong and following that advice will keep you alive just as long."Stanislaw's scanners beeped. He checked the readings. "I justshot you my scan. You seeing that Biz?"
"Yeah … looks like some crevice off to your left. Hardto see from up here."
***
Mathew walked into the barracks, towel around his waist.The noises from Masters' bunk made him stop.
"Oh, for fuck's sake you two!" Mathew said, tiredof walking in on Masters and Harlow going at it.
"Just … keep … walking … pilot," Harlow mutteredbetween grunts.
Mathew swore under his breath, walked quickly to hisbunk and grabbed his uniform. He turned and huffed to the barracksdoor, trying to ignore the lump of sweaty flesh that made up Mastersand Harlow.
"Briefing in fifty, kids," he called back, walkinginto the hallway. "Don't be too late."
"OH GOD," was all he heard in response.
***
"Whatcha see Stan?"
"Not sure. This is more than a crevice. It's afuckin' rift in the Earth's mantle. Jeezus."
Stanislaw set scanners to full spectrum. What lookedlike a thin opening to a crack in the valley floor, quickly opened upbelow into a massive cavern. A cavern able to hold any number of deadmechs. Stanislaw backed away, powering up his weapons.
"Hey Biz?"
"Yeah, Stan?"
"I'm not sure what I'm looking at here, but Ithink we may need back up." Stanislaw shot the data over to Bisby.
"Shit! That cavern's huge. Who knows what's downthere … "
***
Capreze stood in the middle of the tracks, cup of coffeein hand. He watched the dawn sun lift over the far off mountains.
"Mornin' Papa Bear."
Capreze looked up at the mech to his left. The cockpitwas wide open, Rachel's legs dangling over the edge. He lifted hiscup in salute.
"Mornin' Baby Girl. You make this joe?"
"Yep."
Capreze took a sip of his coffee and sighed. "You havethe gift."
They stayed silent, each sipping from their mugs.
Rachel looked to the distance, down the tracks.
"Rookie'll be here soon."
"Yep. Hope he's worth a shit."
***
"Coming to you, Stan."
"Stay up there. No point in both of us gettingambushed."
"Fuck that! How about you drop a couple plasma chargesdown there and just frag it all."
"What if it isn't hostile?"
"We're in the fucking wasteland! Everything ishostile!"
Stanislaw pondered this for a moment, but just for amoment. Proximity alarms blared in his cockpit, interrupting hisdeliberations.
"Stan?!? What is it?!?"
Stanislaw checked his scanners. He pinged a shape, largeand moving. Moving fast.