They only have time for a few rounds of 3D snooker before Nico's wrist device blares with an alarm. It's supposed to be an off day, but the alert is likely to be important.
"The new units have just arrived at the hangars. That was Corporal Fritz sending me the message." Nico clarifies for both Max and the curious audience that has been watching their matches.
"Your first personal Mecha, Cadets?" One of the onlookers asks, enviously.
"Yeah, we're being graduated early along with the whole class of special forces Cadets." Max nods.
"Good luck then. Hopefully you get a nice relaxing honor guard mission for your first. Just come back safe, we want to see who was going to win this match." The Private jokes as the two Cadets say their goodbyes.
The ship's crew is not at all surprised to see them racing back towards the airlock a few minutes later. It hasn't been long since they received the new Crusader Class Chassis, and the guard recognizes the small Cadet from her recent time at the repair bays.
It's no secret that four of the new units are for Cadets, in fact the entire 42nd Armored is excited about it. Piloting Cadets good enough to start their career so high up the ranks are one in ten thousand, so having four on board at once has attracted the attention of a good portion of the other pilots.
Both Cadets raise their wrists to have Theriot devices scanned in as they run by, ignoring the short line of soldiers headed in and out. Being called to duty while docked at a station is something they've all faced, and standing around chatting in line when you've been Summoned isn't an option.
Max and Nico aren't headed to official duty, but for them, it's just as exciting. Once the Mecha are in their bays, they will finally know for sure what units they'll be assigned to.
Neither of them knows quite how Tarith's Rage is equipped, but if they can get the spare parts, the crew will do some customization for the new pilot, to suit Nico's tastes. Max doesn't have any clues as to what he will be assigned as a mecha, but he's hoping for maximum firepower to suit his System Skills.
The initial assignment recommendations are actually done by the system. If they were regular graduates, they'd also put in a request for a specific armament, and then command would finalize it. But with an emergency requisition, they'll simply take what they get and like it, or try to get a change of equipment later.
That can be more difficult though, as Commanders build patrols around what their mecha are equipped for, and a drastic change to even one unit can throw out the balance.
"Cadets, I've been expecting you. Over this way, we've just confirmed your units into the system and you're in time to help with the check in procedure." Corporal Fritz calls as they enter the aft Mecha bays.
This place has always been relaxing to Max. Something about the smell of mecha,b or the Forest of Drab Green and brown mechanical bodies waiting for action, their camouflage only broken by the yellow and black iconography of the 42nd mechanized.
Fritz leads them to the back, by the cargo airlock where all newly received items are quarantined and checked for count, quality and possible contamination. Among the rows and rows of supplies, munitions and replacement light mecha, four giants stand. Three are liveried in blue armor over a silver chassis, while one is Crimson Red over bronze.
Max reads the chest mounted nameplate of the crimson mecha, finding that it is indeed Tarith's Rage. It carries an antique pattern Ion Destroyer on the right arm, and a gauntlet hand is equipped on the left, with a vicious looking serrated sword.
The Gauntlet had been modified to have two light rail guns above the knuckles, and the coaxial weapon mounted in the left side of the chest is the same. Atop the gracefully curving Turtle shell of its upper armor sits an Ion based quad anti aircraft battery.
It looks simple, and nearly obsolete with age, but between that Ion Destroyer and the Rail Guns, that Mecha is capable of putting an incredible amount of hurt on a light to medium Armored ranged target. Nico is grinning at it like a love struck groupie meeting their idol, but Fritz leads the pair to another mecha first.
Stalwart, the nameplate on the chest armor reads. It's a fully long range specced mecha, with a Battle Cannon on the right and a Gatling Battery on the left. Each arm has a Flamethrower mounted under the gun, and the coaxial weapon on the chest is a smaller Gatling gun. That is perfect for Max, who can effectively use every weapon at the same time.
Unlike the Tarith's Rage and every other Crusader Class Chassis he's seen with a single centrally mounted carapace weapon, Stalwart has rocket pods on each shoulder, each half the capacity of a standard unit. The overall firepower is unchanged, but in theory, it could still be mounted with an anti aircraft weapon or additional rocket pod.
Again, the elegant Turtle shell top armor plate is antiquated compared to the sleek curve of the modern units, but it is a beautiful mecha nonetheless.
"Pilot Max, welcome to your new home. She's been cleared for pathogens and invasive species, so you can begin the receiving checklist and system operations tests. Be sure to enter everything into the tablet step by step, since the unit needs to be double checked by a senior tech before we can fully clear it. Any mistakes in the list will hold up the process." Fritz says, handing Max a data tablet and pointing to the steps that lead up to the gantry and the walkway near the top of the Mecha.
That's all the encouragement that Max needs, and he takes off at a run towards his new mecha, the crew in the receiving area cursing when he pushes by, then laughing when they realize the who and why of the situation.
A new Crusader Class Mecha is a big thing for Pilots, a once in a lifetime event for many and a dream for many more. They're not about to spoil the young Pilot's moment by reprimanding him about decorum and receiving area safety regulations.
