Mech Designer course

Mech designs

Weapons

Any part in a mech can be divided into 5 broad categories.

Protection Weapons Energy Movement Auxiliary subsystems.

Today we are going to talk about weapons, as only in attack does the possibility of victory exist.

Weapons systems are incredibly varied and come in multiple ways and shapes as humans devised new and improved ways of killing, maiming, and breaking things.

There are many classificatory systems and modules so we will see today only some of them.

First are classifications depending on distance, Melee, short, medium, and long range.

Long range is incredibly varied buy mostly refer to weapons that do not rely in Line Of Sight but rather complex aiming systems. The most common type of weapons in this category for mech are artillery and snipers using self-propelled bullets for planet combat. This is also the main distance for space battles were missiles and light-based weaponry is used.

Medium distance is mainly with direct LOS and is the most common distance in planet-based combat with the most varied number of possible weapons. The most common weapons are rifles, missiles, and high explosive ordinance in the form of grenades mainly. This distance in space battles usually is used by high-speed ships meant for flanking or that the combat has been lost

Short distance is the normal combat mechs go through went fighting against beasts in the wilds with the most common weapons being wide area attacks from shotguns, flamethrower, lightning, or sonic attacks. It’s used in space battle for boarding actions and little else.

Melee distance is used in only 3 scenarios. For when beasts are attacking a city and they are already at the walls, when the pilot has fucked up in planet-based combat and ONLY when they are boarding an enemy ship and the mechs must cut their way inside.

Yes, outside of absolutely unrealistic novels, stories and movies MELEE BATTLES DON’T HAPPEN IN SPACE BETWEEN MECHS.

Most planet-based mechs carry certain countermeasures to get out of this situations, mostly electric, kinetic, or sound based.

Only 1 type of mech carry actual melee weapons, ritualistic mech fighters as seen in the Coliseum and the why they are so difficult to design due to the complexity of designing arms that can handle the counterforces due to the physical hits.

As soon as he saw the message Marcus frowned, picked up the pad and did a voice call.

"Hello Evander" Marcus voice was a bit hoarse from yesterday’s party

"Hello Designer Marcus, this is a delicate situation so let me connect with the research chief Albus so he can better explain the situation" Evander’s voice was quiet, strict and with none of the usual warmness.

"Chief Albus this is the Mech Designer Marcus Caelum who created the ‘Metentis Aranea’" Evander was being very deferential and correct with no emotional inflections which was strange, last time they had been friendly with each other.

"Greetings Designer Marcus" A soft but authoritative voice came from the pad, strangely it also sounded old "My name is Albus Aquilinus Celsus, I’m the head researcher of the Minerva’s Lab on Quintus 6 and the one that had started this request"

Marcus was shocked, while the New Roman Civilization did not completely inherit the naming practices of old, having 3 roman names usually denoted that it was someone of an old and powerful family.

"Greetings Head Researcher Albus" Marcus was a bit lost. He didn’t know how to ask about the message while still being respectful.

"Designer Marcus, as I stated previously a problem arose after your design was chosen. Therefore, I added Head Researcher Albus to the call so he can explain properly"

"As Researcher Evander said your design was accepted among others and was chosen from all of them.

As Minerva's Lab is a private company it is not required by law to a lot of things, however this design is partially funded by the Roman government and, as such, some extra requirements are added, including allowing certain parties to review and comment upon your design.

In this case a comment was made that the simulation results while comprehensive may not reflect reality properly and, according to Roman law, any schematic presented must be accompanied by a prototype to be tested fully into multiple specific scenarios to verify the response of the mech.

As such the contract has been amended as following.

You will have to deliver a working prototype to the city of Quintus 2, all the modules for your design will be prepared free of charge and will be delivered to you once you have and appropriate place for the assembly and they will be sent there within 1 standard solar day delivered by Minerva's Lab however you will have to procure the rest of the materials on your own including armor plates and containers.

You will not be delivered any of the liquids but they shall not be required as they will be filled and tested on the facility itself.

If you accept this then you shall be given 4 standard solar days to accomplish this and your design will be kept as having a ‘preferred’ status. If you need more time your design will lose the ‘preferred’ status and other designs will be considered. However, if you are unable to present a design within 10 standard solar days you will receive a demerit.

If you refuse this offer then we will be forced to seek another design and you will lose the opportunity to present any other design for this contract.

Do you understand?

May Minerva favor you Designer Marcus" and the call was cut.

Marcus head was a mess. Why had this happened, why did Evander behaved so strangely, who the fuck was this Albus and why was this new requirement added so suddenly.

Another notification with the amended contract including all the changes Albus just explained to him.

Marcus tried calling Evander only to receive an image of the owl of Minerva and declined all further communication.

‘OK I need to calm myself, so far they only had added a condition, make a mech and transport it. The transportation can be handled to the Vigiles thanks to the previous mishap and I could assemble the mech at Val’s but I don’t have enough money to buy all the metal required, however, I could buy the re melted wrecks, it will not be perfect but it will be more practical and cheaper’ he knew that he had to speak with Val about this and ask her help but he was still feeling confused and a bit angry about the whole thing.

One thing was sure though, if he couldn’t do this and accepted, he would be fucked so he had to be sure of it.

The citizen score meant how much had that person done to contribute to the whole civilization. Your earned points meant how much had you benefited the whole and you would lose points when you required things FROM society.

The detriment marks where another thing all together. They served as constant reminders that they had done something that harmed the whole civilization, corruption in a public office like the mechanics in charge of the buses or other grievous crimes. Murder classified for it ONLY if the dead person was very important or had a high score, the rest was just a normal crime and would not qualify. Receiving this mark meant that you could not work with the government EVER and discredited you from a lot of services and work places. Applying for a governmental contract and failing to complete it could in theory be enough for that but he had some doubts.

In this case Marcus wasn’t sure if it was serious enough to be given one in case of failure but the threat was obvious, he was being told to drop it or suffer the consequences. Thankfully the offer didn’t force him to give and immediate reply. He was fuming but forced himself to cool his mind. A drink would not help. He had to speak with Val.

"Val, need help, shit happened, going to workshop" Quick, concise, and exactly what Marcus needed to be.

Marcus was in an autopilot; he kept thinking about the talk he just had and didn’t realize that he was already at the workshop until he saw the sign in front of him. He quickly went inside and knocked on the door.

"Come Marcus" Val voice soothed Marcus.

"Sorry Val coming like this" said Marcus as he entered the room and took a seat in front of Val "I was just contacted saying that there has been a problem with my design and basically to either pick the new arrangement or leave".

He explained the whole situation and replayed the conversation to her, thankfully his data pad had an automatic record function so they could listen to all again. He even sent the owl picture to Val.

Val was seated there thinking, Marcus saw her do something with her data pad when the recording finished but nothing since then, her face a perfect mask with a deep frown while considering things.

A ping sounded in her data pad from a notification, she read it and smiled a little. Marcus was still feeling pressured but kept quiet. He knew that she hated to be interrupted in moments like this.

"I understand a bit" started Val slowly "First, the lab may not be doing this. The owl of Minerva is used to symbolize wisdom, intelligence, and knowledge but also to that it was under her sight or to put it bluntly oversight.

If Evander sent you this and your previous interactions where good then this has something to do with the contract and because it’s a governmental contract. It is possible that there is a RAI overlooking all that is related to it to ensure ‘fairness’.

The use of the term standard solar day is important. We don’t use that standard but the government does for their contracts based on the old capital planet of New Rome that had the 24 hours format but 1 minute was over 100 seconds while ours is 64 seconds. 1 standard day means that should be here tomorrow evening at the latest and 4 standard days is almost 1 week for us. Still the most important thing is that by law everything must be under the Roman standard and is used only for very scrutinized contracts.

Albus’s closing words also helped. He asked you if you understood. The general message was quite simple but he is obviously not a simple man so there should be something more hidden, specifically something to do with the comment from the other Designer. Someone with a high score had to interfere to enforce all these regulations, so maybe someone is trying to manipulate this contract but also don’t have the power to directly force things to go their way. Instead, the most stringent regulations are forced and you are given the same standard threat to all that waste the time of the Empire. Work well and be lauded, waste our time, and be destroyed.

Basically, someone wants you to drop of the race but Minerva’s Lab is not behind this." Val’s voice was steady and calm yet her face was strangely neutral.

"We could keep investigating but the end part is simple. You must make a choice. Either you want to continue or you quit" ended Val.

Marcus kept thinking about all, the offer, Val’s analysis, all possible problems if he says yes… he had a lot in his mind but Val’s final question focused him. He worked very hard, studied a lot to graduate early, he struggled with issues in the middle but he didn’t quit before so… He would NOT quite now.

"I will continue" a steady and calm declaration, Marcus knew that he would fight "My design was chosen, I will build the mech however I can and I will win the contract. I could use your help and of everyone however".

Val smiled upon hearing so "Good, we will help. What do you need?"

"I don’t have enough money basically. All the internal parts, armor plates, support and the rest must be bought or made so I would need you to bankroll the mech however it may not actually require money. With the metal from the wrecks, I can edit the model enough to use what is stored here and not buy anything or reduced what is needed. Also, the machining shop"

Val though for a while "If they asked for you to build it means that the lab doesn’t have an assembly group or they should be the ones to do that. If you win the price of the mech will be paid by the government so I can give you all the metal we have in stock the same for the equipment, personnel, and space however the payback will not be money, it will be different"

"Different how?" Marcus was determined but seeing Val’s business face was making him feel a bit like prey.

"Since they can’t make it now, they won’t be able to make them later and the lab will have to choose a workshop to build the mechs. If your mech wins they will see the quality of our work, if you include some comments telling how good is our service then they will make the order to us. Those earnings should more than cover the cost. You will also get Marcellinus’s and Titiana’s help for the smelting and machining plus Hilaria’s team for assembly" Val was smiling and you could almost see the credit sign in her eyes "As for the transport, the Vigiles owe you a favor so you can ask them to repay you"

Marcus smiled, she really was a good shrewd woman and she was going to help him. "I will send my confirmation that I accept the changes and ask them to send the modules here".

"Good, do that, however we also need to examine your design to see what we have to order and what parts we can make, I’ll call Hilaria, Marcellinus and Titiana to help us here as they will be the ones to produce most in house parts"

As they came to the office the situation was explained, Marcellinus was frowning more than usual while Titiana was serious and quiet which was also strange, Hilaria joined them a few minutes after and took the whole situation in stride. Between the 5 of them it took 3 hours to design a basic assembly procedure and 2 more hours to verify which parts could be manufactured there and which had to be ordered, they would even order some metals to create a homemade composition that would create a more protective, bulkier but lighter armor plates that Titiana knew how to make and would not require additional patents.

By the time they finished the orders were in place, the smelter and printer would be left running with specific instructions so they could begin to build the mech next day.

As Marcus reached his home, he was tired and strangely happy, he always felt good working on the workshop, even with offers to do other things or for more money that place was special to him, it was like family and today that feeling stronger.

Thinking about family he though his mothers, the secrets they left and that they should be coming home soon so he decided to send them a message. Sure, they were mercs and they may not read it till later but it would be good for him and if he left for the delivery before they came back then they would know where he was.

"Hi Anne, Mina. Well, these last few months have been incredibly strange.

I received some strange gifts, got my first contract as a Mech Designer, won it and now I have a few problems with it, I will attach all the information so you can read it later but you can relax. A plan was made with Val and they will help me to make a transport the mech towards the testing facility so everything is in good hands and prepared.

I plan to travel to the testing facility to see what happens and try to meet personally with someone from Minerva’s Lab to see if I can get more information so if I’m not here when you come back then you know where I will be.

Best of luck in your hunt. With love Marcus"