Science Dawns Anew (Open)

[Roy "Weissritter" Atenwood]

Roy let out a sigh, stepping out of what looked to be a classic 1954 Plymouth Fury. It was painted bright red, and though it was outfitted with all the current technology, it looked like a car from the past. He was frivelous, in certain ways, but he imagined himself to more than make up for it with the many thousands of carity orginizations he personally funded, and the dozens he ran. The reclusive trillionaire even lived in a small apartment above a home for wayward youth, most of the time, only venturing to his compound when he needed his workshop.

One day, all will be able to afford such luxuries. Until then, I may need to flaunt what I have to keep up appearances, but I make up for that, I hope.

"Alfonse, take the kids some pizzas when you return the car. And whatever you and the rest of the staff want for yourselves, my treat." He spoke to the driver. He was known for benig overly generous, and tonight, the children's home he lived above would be having a pizza party. He usually attended these personally, but he would be busy tonight. Tonight was a fight. A mock fight, but it was one that would change the face of AMU development forever. Then again, his family had done so many times before. For the life of him, Roy couldn't remember the name of the current mass produced mechs he would be piloting against, but the Weissritter, the Gespenst W, would make its debut today. Finally, Alfonse responded to Roy's request. "Yes sir." Roy smiled as the man drove off, hsi driver was more than just a driver, he was a trusted friend, like all his staff. They weren't pawns. They were human beings.

But then again, it was widely known that the famous recluse treated everyone on his staff like family.

Roy walked past the throngs of people clamoring to get his attention. Journalists and millitary aides alike. He walked past them, and climbed into the car that was supposed to take him and the other test pilots to thier mechs.

"So, are we ready to begin testing?"

[PythianLegume]

The waiting vehicle was a classic military humvee, done in the traditional camouflage style. Inside the vehicle were the three pilots scheduled to sit in the cockpits of the Valkyries that Roy's new AMU was to fly against. In the front of the humvee sat two of these pilots, Private Hallows was behind the wheel and Private Urien was in the passengers seat. Both were new to the R&D Testing Department but were good enough to be picked from the graduates by their squad leader. Special Lieutenant Alain Gerste sat in the back of the humvee awaiting Roy so he could give him the quick brief before testing began. He was dressed in non-formal field uniform in contrast to the two privates who were dressed in fatigues. His crisp uniform however was not what stood out the most, that fell to the simple black eyepatch that dominated his seemingly apathetic features.

As the door slammed shut and Roy took his seat Alain turned and presented him with a stern salute. " Special Lieutenant Alain Gerste. On behalf of the Earth Federation Military Forces I am obliged to thank you for you contributions to our armament. I am assigned as team leader and testing coordinator for this operation. The two soldiers in front are Private Hallows and Private Urien respectively. The three of us will be piloting the Valkyrie opposition. In a few minutes we will be arriving at the test sight. I assume you have already received the mission briefing before hand so I will keep this short. Brass wants us to keep to low altitudes in our sortie as to make it easier for the investors and the brass to get a good look at your new AMU's capabilities. We'll be using the new ECM rounds that tag and jam systems simulating real combat damage. The sortie will finish when all three Valkyries or your Weisritter is no longer combat operational. Also we have outfitted the Valkyries with A configuration thrusters for optimal aerial performance. Do you have questions Mr. Atenwood ? " As per normal Alain presented himself with a very professional air sticking to the business at hand. By the time he was done his little speech the test area began to come into view in the distance.

[Roy "Weissritter" Atenwood]

"No questions, Lieutenant."

Roy smirked. Three guys, at least two in stock mechs, going up against his pride and joy? Were they trying to humiliate the poor privates? In any case, he wasn't going to hold back. His pride and joy was on display for the whole world to see, and instead of an uneasy feeling that usually came with that kind of pressure, it felt like ice was running through Roy's veins. That same cold feeling he got whenever he was under pressure.

He operated better under pressure, or so he was told.


The test area came into view. It was an area Roy knew well. He had personally tested every mech put out by Atenwood Applied Sciences in the same area. He smiled as it came into view.

He had never tested like this before, however. Against actual soldiers. It was time to prove himself in what would feel like a real battle. He leaned back in his seat, reveling in the cold feeling of pressure, until the humvee came to a stop.

"Good luck, you guys."

You'll need it. I've been training my whole life to unveil this mech...

It was a bit stupid to wish them good luck, since even the top brass was expecting him to utterly destroy them in combat. That, however, was just another bit of erratic-ness on Roy's part. He found it harder to hide his true self when he was under pressure. As he stepped out of the humvee and onto the lift to take him to the Weissritter's cockpit, he gave the crew preparing it a signal, and with all due haste, the giant tarp covering the mech was removed.

Reporters gasped and began snapping pictures. A few older kids from the homes Roy ran working internships at Atenwood Applied Sciences cheered, since they would have already known about the mech's appearance. Weissritter and its giant rifle were revealed to all. The rifle's beam setting had been replaced for the tests with a long-range ECM round meant to simulate its pure destructive power.

He smiled as the lift reached the top, and he climbed in, reveling in the feeling of his spinejack locking into place. This was going to be fun.