Arthur stood up from the chair and froze.
What was that sound?
"I don't know."
"Maybe an earthquake sir."
The floor trembled under his feet
Beep, beep the phone ringed
Arthur answered the call.
"Who's this?"
"Sir, it's me. Noah from the 3rd district.
I have bad news.
The Unknown have breached the first wall."
Arthur closed his eyes and sighed.
"How long till they reach the second wall?"
"Two hours, according to the nearby scouts.
What are your orders, sir?
Should we send them on their first mission?"
Then Michael walks forward and salutes.
"Sir, allow me to lead the defense of the frontlines with them.
I will promise to finally make an end to this madness.
The Unknown have become arrogant, seeing our small country not counter attacking them.
They underestimate our firepower.
Let's surprise them and strike back!"
Arthur nods and hands him the keycard to something.
"Permission granted, Captain Michael Voss of the special unit Zero."
Michael takes the keycard and beeps it to the black suitcase.
Beep.
"Subject Michael Voss. Permission granted.
Excalibur prototype 2.0 ready for use.
Please proceed and walk inside the mecha and wait for awaiting orders."
Arthur watched as Michael stepped toward the mecha.
Michael
The cockpit sealed shut.
Beep. Beep.
Lights flickered around him.
Metal plates locked into place.
Michael took a slow breath.
"Neural sync in progress."
The machine vibrated under his body.
His hands tightened.
This thing was alive.
"Synchronization at thirty percent."
"Pilot confirmed."
"Excalibur online."
I hate this part.
It hurts so much.
It's like I'm about to vomit.
I have to, to hold it in.
Hold it in.
Breathe.
And breathe.
Just like that.
It hurts, aghhh.
"Neural spikes inserted."
"Synchronization at sixty percent."
Aghhhh.
Please, at least turn off the pain receptors.
"Understood."
"Turning off the pain receptors."
"Power flow stable."
I hope they are ready for this.
This is my first time using Excalibur 2.0.
It's already so painful, and it's not even ready.
I heard some pilots became disabled or dead after once using it.
"Weapon systems locked."
"Synchronization at ninety percent."
Almost ready.
Only ten percent more.
Fuck, even while pain receptors are off, it still feels bad.
"Synchronization one hundred percent."
"Excalibur ready for action."
"Michael Voss, please brace for impact.
The fall will be rough."
The world dropped away.
Then everything slammed back at once.
The mecha shook
Michael swallowed
What the hell was that?, i almost died
"Stabilizers damaged."
"Michael what was that"
"Report immediately"
Arthur's voice came through the comms.
I don't know i dont see anything its pitch black here, the interface screen is signaling that there's something moving fast to my current location
"Warning. Object closing distance."
"Estimated impact in four seconds."
Michael's breath caught.
"Arthur, whatever it is—it's almost on top of me."
CRACK.
Something hit the mecha.
Static exploded through the comms.
"Michael?"
No answer.
Only the sound of something grinding against metal.
Then the signal cut.