[Assessing the Pilots is part of our test requirements as well. So, should we give them an hour in the learning machines to adapt before we send them out after lunch? We can do the reports ourselves just as easily, using their data as a reference.] The researcher suggested.
[We still need their personal input, but we can make it once today instead of twice. I think the learning machines would be a much greater help to our testing procedure. We have three runs as a baseline for the adaptation speed of the Pilots, and then we can run three more after the learning machine to record the changes caused by the rapid learning environment.] Nico agreed.
[Agreed. We will inform them after lunch.] Max decided.
[All units report to Light of Truth for the midday break.]
The researchers who were still on the main ship had a buffet ready when everyone returned to the hangar bay, including the Rum cake, as everyone had managed to just barely pass the fifteen-minute cutoff to be considered passably qualified on the Line Mecha.
"I think they sent us here to be humbled, not as a reward." One of the Pilots was joking as they got out of the experimental units a few minutes later.
"Right? Finding out that we didn't even qualify as Line Mecha Pilots at the start of the day because we weren't used to the complexities of Space Piloting was a harsh experience. But we're at least up to that standard now." Another agreed.
"Just be glad they didn't call it a Corvette Class unit and increase the standard. We'd all be grinding for weeks just to make the time limit."
Max cleared his throat. "Good news, everyone. After lunch, we agreed not to make you write reports. Instead, you will spend an hour in the learning machines, practicing multiple target-firing drills and space piloting maneuvers. Then we will run three more trips through the obstacle course and measure your improvements again before the end of the day.
Now, enjoy your break, and I will prepare your devices."
The time in the learning machines did a lot of good for the Pilots, and Max was certain when they got out that, they would start putting some decent times up on the record sheet. They all got into their Mecha, and Max piloted Cleansing Light out to supervise them for the final three runs of the day when an alien ship of a design that Max didn't recognize dropped out of warp close to Light of Truth.
A sense of danger flared in Max's mind as the combined hatred of the occupants of the new ship reached him, and he immediately moved to action.
[Light of Truth, all hands to battle stations. Shields up. Prepare to be attacked.] He ordered on the Trade Group's general channel so that all of the other human ships in the vicinity would hear him.
The crew on duty reacted nearly instantly, and the shields came up just as the first Ion Cannon shots charged, and the newly arrived ship reversed its thrusters to come about for a broadside run past the Cutter.
Dozens more of the vessels appeared seconds later, in attack positions on the Cruiser and the two Destroyers, who would still need a minute or two to deploy their defensive Mecha. They did at least have their shields up thanks to Max's warning and the early arrival of the one ship, but they were at a disadvantage in numbers and possibly firepower.
[Test Cancelled. All units target the enemy ship. Targeting data is up.] Max continued on the research group channel.
A barrage of Ion Cannon fire caused the shielding on the Cutter to flicker before the Captain got it stabilized, and Max unleashed a full-power Orbital Lance at the newly arrived vessel.
All ten of the Line Mecha joined him, with the Warp Field Generators on their Mass Drivers activated, sending out a hail of small projectiles at close to the speed of light.
They sparked all over the ship's shielding as they hit, and Max saw a few secondary explosions before his Orbital Lance hit, and the shields collapsed entirely.
The unknown vessel began evasive maneuvers as more Mass Driver shells crashed into her hull, tearing apart the external plating before the light rounds vaporized from the force. The small explosions from the equipped rounds were inconsequential compared to the impact of the shell itself, as they were intended for training purposes, but the damage to the ship was severe before it could get its shield back up.
It had managed to rotate 90 degrees, turning fresh armour plates toward them and getting the shield back up on one side before Nico's first Mass Driver round slammed into it with a fusion explosion that tore a massive chunk of the ship away and sent all the lights on board dark as the ship began to internally detonate.
[Test units, turn your Mass Drivers on the next designated target. Relieve the sentry ships until they can get their Mecha out.] Max ordered.
The other ships were sending out Mecha in an angular design, clearly not Arisen War Walkers, but there was no explanation as to why they were attacking.
[Commander Yuri, who the feth are these guys, and why are we under attack?] Max demanded on the Koleska main channel.]
[They're the Galen. They had been at war with the Koleska for centuries before the Arisen attacked their homeworld. We all thought that they had been exterminated.] Commander Yuri answered before Max had even finished speaking.
[So, we're under attack for helping you? Or perhaps just for driving off the Arisen? Well, we will see about that.] Max replied grimly as he watched his Orbital Lance flash to indicate fully charged.
The Destroyers had scrambled their main weapons at this point, and one unfortunate Cruiser from the Galen fleet took twelve simultaneous blasts, turning it into scrap floating in space in an instant.
The rest of the ships began to scatter, moving into evasive patterns, which would make it hard to lock onto them with the slower-firing heavy weapons, and the first of the Titan Class Mecha began to emerge from the Cruiser.
If the Galen thought that facing Cleansing Light was bad, they were going to absolutely love it when the other hundred Titan Class units joined the fight.
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