“I actually have no idea,” I answer truthfully. “Where am I exactly?”
It takes an hour and the help of one of the assistants to get me (along with my bed) back to my dorm. I’m late for the training session, but I wonder if I sleepwalked out to the hangar. When I arrive for the testing, I see my fellow Tigers eyeing me.
“Have a good night’s sleep?” Kazu asks.
“Wonderful,” I reply.
They all burst out laughing.
“How did you get me out there without waking me up?” I demand.
“That’s something you should ask yourself,” Kazu says.
“You slept like a mummy,” Chieko says. “Nothing woke you.”
* * *
• • •
When we reach the one-week mark, they get us into the physical Leviathans. I get the mecha designated as the Arikuni, and the engineers have matched the parameters we set up in our simulations to a centimeter. The bridge is similar in size to the quad mecha and is placed inside the stomach, where it gets maximum protection. It can fit seven crew members and has ladders extending up and down through the mecha for maintenance. I take the pilot’s seat, which can be pushed into the ground if I want to control the mecha from a standing position. Next to me is a console with maps, sensor schematics, and communication relays that are traditionally used by the navigator. On both sides of the bridge, they have a spot for the two munitions officers who control the left and right side respectively. Toward the back is the seat for engineering, which directly connects with another engineer near the BPG. They’ve simplified functionality for these tests so we don’t require a full crew. They also have global optics on the goggles, which can make the bridge turn invisible. I feel like I’m floating midair with the arms and legs visible for combat, similar to many of the first-person portical games I play.
We’re testing our mechas in an underground version of the Coliseum where we had our tournament, but it’s double the size, and there isn’t any stadium seating. We’re able to move our Leviathans freely around, and I’m amazed at how well they respond to our commands. I swing my arm with the controls, and the mecha corresponds to my motion. The harder I swing, the harder my mecha punches.
They’ve built a life-sized version of the biomech. Unlike the simulation, this one has the regenerative skin that oozes around it. The biomech doesn’t move, but if it did, it’d be indistinguishable from the Nazi version. Did they capture an actual biomech? How were they able to re-create it so perfectly?
“Attack it with your weapons, please,” a new voice asks us over our communicators. I notice his w sounds like a v. Attack it vith your veapons, please. Is he German?
“Who is this?” Kazu asks.
“I am Dr. Günter, and I am assisting you in this operation.”
“Who would like to go first?” Dr. Shimitsu asks, without introducing the previous speaker further.
“I’ll take care of the vomit monster,” Chieko volunteers.
She doesn’t wait for confirmation and plunges her daggers into its belly. But the regenerative skin swallows the blades. Chieko tries to punch it, but the black ooze blocks her fist. She attacks it several times but only ends up denting her fingers. She pulls back, strategizing what to do next.
“Thank you,” Dr. Shimitsu says.
“What do you mean ‘thank you?’ I can take this thing down.”
“Any further attacks will only result in more damage. We’ll try someone else now.”
Kazu is very fast with his yo-yo, able to swing it and lacerate anything in his way. But when he attacks the biomech, the ebony skin actually latches onto his weapon and sucks it in. “What the hell’s going on?” he demands.
The results are the same with Noriko’s spear, Kujira’s sword, and my own blade. Nothing we have pierces its skin. The harder I thrust, the stronger the resistance. They have to turn off the biomech so we can extract our weapons. But even then, they’re damaged and will need replacement. My own blade is skewed, the sharp end blunted.
“Is this the Nazi superweapon?” Kujira asks.
“We call it a biomech because it fuses biological components on top of a mechanical skeletal structure,” Dr. Günter explains.
“You pronounced ‘mechanical’ wrong,” Kujira notes even though Dr. Günter pronounced it correctly.
“Did I?”
“Please try guns next,” Dr. Shimitsu asks us.
We’re each given machine guns with grenade launchers. We take turns unloading our bullets into the biomech, but it doesn’t affect it at all. That’s not a huge surprise since our melee weapons were ineffective as well. The gun has an alternate launcher built in so we switch to it. The grenade launchers make huge explosions, but even with acid shells, not much damage is inflicted on the biomech. It’s no wonder our Sentries were so easily destroyed.
Noriko tries out her sniper rifle, and even though the distance isn’t great, she aims at its head and fires. The biomech doesn’t even flinch as the black ooze absorbs the bullets.
It’s an afternoon of futility.
Kazu suggests to Dr. Shimitsu, “Can we give this one more go?”
“What would you like to try?”
“A simultaneous attack by all five of us.”
There is no response for a minute. They must be talking about it.
“Go ahead,” Dr. Shimitsu gives her approval.
Kazu says, “I’m sending each of you a vector of attack. If we strike the biomech simultaneously, we should be able to destroy it. But the timing has to be precise, so make sure you stay in sync.”
He sends us over the thirty-six-degree spread we’re covering. I have the back left. I grab a new sword and prepare myself.
“Timer ready,” Nori says. “I’ve done an analysis on the points which should cause maximum damage.”
The vulnerability I’m shown is in the shoulder. I overlay her graphic representation on the actual biomech and lock onto it as a target.
“Let’s do it!” Kazu yells.
The countdown begins. Fifteen seconds. I rush toward the biomech. Ten. Sword is in the air. Don’t screw this up, Mac! Syncing with the others. Five, four, three, two, wham! The Five Tigers strike the biomech at the same time. The impact from all directions shakes the biomech. My blade feels like it’s going deeper than it did before. The surface is being stretched to compensate for the multidirectional blow. For a second, I see through the black ooze to a metallic shoulder plate underneath. I push harder, hoping to penetrate. But I see a surge in the armor, and the biomech’s armor surrounds my sword. I try to withdraw, but only a third of my blade remains—the other two-thirds have dissolved inside its armor. Nori is the only one who cuts through the ooze and pierces into its armor, causing it to suffer an overload in its circuitry. Its right arm goes limp. But Nori can’t pull her spear out, and the ooze overtakes it. If this were a real-life fight, we’d all be dead now.
“Good effort,” Dr. Günter says. “But no regular attack will work against the Nazi biomech because it’ll absorb it, dissolve it, and redistribute it as part of its armor.”
“How do you know so much about them?” Nori asks.
“Because I helped design them,” he replies, which surprises the hell out of me.
If one of the principal designers of the biomech has defected to our side, it would be a huge blow to the Nazis. I’m certain they’d be doing whatever they could to get information about him and am reminded of the professors who were arrested earlier. Is there a connection? “Now let me show you an alternate method.”
The crew rolls out a crate full of new shells and a massive bazooka.
“Please equip the M87 sonic antimecha rocket launcher and load up the ablative shells,” Günter tells us. “You’ll need to feed it energy from your BPG. I’m sending over the necessary schematics so you can see where to connect to it.”
/> There are wires in our arms that connect with the M87, and I see the gauges activating, showing me how much power is being channeled into the weapon. I’ve never seen a bazooka require this much juice.
“Who’d like to go first?”
“Me,” Chieko volunteers again.
She places the M87 on her shoulder, where the pad actually has a spot for it to lock onto.
“For the purposes of this test launch, I’ve disabled the automatic aiming syste—”
There’s a deafening burst, a sonic boom rocking the coliseum. The ablative shell launches at the speed of sound into the biomech, shattering the black components. The whole front is exposed and vulnerable to attack.
“Whoa,” Chieko says. “That’s sweet. Barely any recoil too.”
“I’d like for each of you to try using this. But please wait for my signal before firing so we can take the appropriate measurements.”
“Sorry!” Chieko chimes in, though from the glee in her voice, I can tell she’s not at all sorry.
We each get a turn as they roll out a new biomech. I’m last, and after I position the antimecha launcher, I use my visual display to aim. As the red target lights up the biomech, I fire. Just as Chieko said, minimal recoil. I’ve dampened the audio from the blast, which is good, as my ears are still ringing from the first shot. The ablative shell hits and dissolves the biomech’s armor. All that’s standing is a metallic skeleton, vulnerable to our attack.
We do a few more drills and run some tests for Dr. Günter. But I have a solemn feeling like I’m witnessing history. If this works in combat, it means the balance of our two empires is going to change. What that portends, I have no idea. But it’s exciting and intimidating to be part of.
* * *
• • •
After our practice, we’re heading back to our dorms when a message arrives for Kazu. He takes it, talks for a minute, then leads us to a private conference room.
“You might have noticed our police have been arresting a lot of spies on campus recently,” he says. “The Nazis have been activating their sleeper agents in an almost reckless way. But I don’t think they care right now because they’ll sacrifice anyone in their attempt to find Dr. Günter.”
I’m disconcerted to hear that the Nazis have many sleeper agents in Berkeley. “Who exactly is he?” I ask.
“The foremost specialist in the Nazi’s biomech program.”
“Why did he defect?”
“I don’t know. I actually asked, but they didn’t tell me.”
“When’d this happen?”
“In the past year,” Kazu answers. “The Nazis are afraid we’ll find a way to undermine their entire biomech program, which, from the looks of it, we have. That’s why they’re doing everything they can to find Dr. Günter and neutralize him.”
“Did his family defect with him?” Chieko asks.
Kazu shakes his head. “His father is an important officer in the Reich. I don’t know about the rest of his family or what the fallout will be.”
“If this is so important, why are they using cadets to test his weapons?” Nori inquires.
“I want to be real with y’all. I think it’s because they still don’t trust Günter, and we’re more expendable than the other pilots.”
In my head, I was envisioning something like Only cadets with their unbiased perspective could be entrusted with this matter. Reality is always more sobering.
“I want to emphasize how crucial it is that you mention nothing about what we’re doing to anyone. Nazi spies are everywhere, so we have to be extra vigilant. If anyone asks what you’ve been up to, tell them a special assignment testing out training mechas. Even after the testing ends, and we break for the national holidays, be mindful.”
All of us agree.
“Tonight, we’ve been summoned for a dinner at the Gestahl Ballroom,” he continues. “They want us to come in full dress uniform.”
“We don’t have our full dress uniforms with us,” Nori replies.
“They’ve been sent to your rooms. Wash up and meet in the hall at eighteen thirty.”
“Do you know what it’s for?”
Kazu shrugs. “Maybe they want to celebrate our new weapon. You all can bring guests if you’d like. I’m sending you contact information to get clearance. We don’t have to report for testing tomorrow either, so you have the day off.”
“Will there be real food?” Kujira inquires.
“I don’t know the dining menu, but I assume there will be,” Kazu answers.
“You’re not policing us tonight, right?”
“You have free rein to ruin your gut tonight.”
“My gut thanks you.”
We split off except for Chieko, who asks if she can speak with me in my room.
“Are you excited?” she asks me.
“It’ll be great to eat something new,” I reply.
“I mean this is our chance to finally avenge everyone,” she states emphatically. “We don’t have to be afraid of their biomechs anymore.”
“We’re going to blow them to high hell,” I reply, but as I do, her enthusiasm reminds me of all the bad decisions I made the day of the biomech attack. I know it was our superiors who put us in that impossible situation. But then I think, wasn’t the biomech pilot doing the same thing as us, following his orders?
“I’m worried that it works fine while we’re testing it but using it on the field will be different,” I reply.
“It’s always different on the field,” she says. “And Command is smart to be cautious with Dr. Günter. Nazis have sent fake defectors before. But if he’s the real deal, they’ll keep on improving our antibiomech weapons, and we’ll make sure it works out there.” She looks plaintively at me. “I hope this means we’re going to see some real action soon.”
Real action? Fight a real biomech? I should be thrilled, but dread fills me instead. It’s an involuntary reaction that makes me slow to respond.
“You look shell-shocked,” she says.
“Last time we fought the biomech, the results weren’t so great.”
“This time’ll be different.” She gives me a wake-up sock. “I’ll see you at the party.”
She exits. I check our dress garments in the closet. I take a long shower. Even with weight training, controlling the mecha all day takes a toll on my muscles. Fortunately, the hot water works its magic. I look forward to relaxing for the night and eating tasty food again.
* * *
• • •
I thought the Gestahl Ballroom was part of Mechtown, but it’s actually aboveground at the Berkeley Marina, overlooking the bay. It feels nice to come up for the night breeze. I think we’d all been under the impression that we were celebrating our test today, but it’s a party commemorating Tagomi Metal Works’ thirty-fourth anniversary.
“Once the national holidays start, Berkeley will become a ghost town,” Nori says. “Which makes it perfect to visit all the touristy places in the bay.”
“You sticking around?”
“Of course. I get extra training in and catch up on all my schoolwork. You?”
“I think I need more than a week to catch up on all my schoolwork,” I confess.
The security is tight, and we walk past a thermal wall that scans our bodies for weapons. There are several hundred officers present on top of the plethora of civilian researchers and scientists. There’s a chandelier with more than thirty-three thousand crystals shaped like a mecha. Trees made of colored glass intertwine with plants that are shaded violet and fuchsia. A live band is playing popular songs from the USJ, and the glass dance floor extends all the way out over the water. There are several open bars and tables full of food. Kujira is piling up.
“You know what everyone in the room is doing?” I ask, wanting to test his social skills again.
; “No time for that nonsense,” he replies as he ignores the chopsticks and uses his hands to pick up the sushi rolls.
“I just want to know who you think the most important person in the room is.”
“Me,” he quickly responds.
He loads up on fried cod and snatches several garlic beans, munching on them before some female cadets whisk him away to ask him about his victory at the tournament.
I’m by myself, and I actually don’t know who to talk to. I fidget nervously, look for food, and grab a plate of zucchini fries just to keep busy. Near the main podium, I spot Dr. Shimitsu speaking with Colonel Yamaoka and a few other officers whose insignia designate them as generals. I didn’t know that the colonel was here, but it makes sense he’d attend the event. I should try to thank him sometime tonight.
“Mac!”
I turn around. Kazu is with two young girls, who I assume are his daughters.
“Say hi to Makoto-san,” Kazu orders them.
They both bow to me.
“I’m Mayu.”
“I’m Mio.”
They’re both clad in black dresses and red sashes.
Kazu grabs onion rings from a waiter passing by with a tray full of them.
“Dad, you’re over your calorie limit!” Mayu yells.
“And your drink limit!” Mio states firmly.
“Just one more snack for Dad,” Kazu pleads.
But his daughters grab his rings and take them away.
“It’s curfew time in twenty minutes,” Mayu says.
“Girls, party night today. Exceptions allowed.”
“No exceptions!” Mio shouts. “You promised to go over the Komatsu Type 932A tomorrow morning.”
“Four RCL 106mm recoilless rifles and 12mm armor with dual GX Missile Launchers and—” Maya starts, and spouts off a series of statistics.
“You interested in an antimecha-vehicle tour tomorrow morning?” Kazu asks me.
“I think I’m sleeping in.”
Behind me, a woman says, “I don’t know who’s the boss in our family.”
Mecha Samurai Empire Page 34