R&D

[abugslife]

[Fort Alhambra, the hangar. For some time, Hetepheres' engineering team was working on a project - and it's near its culmination now, as the final testing is going on. The testing consists of Heph standing in between several strange-looking scanners, all of which are connected with cables to Scaraber's currently open cockpit. Several raw-looking, obviously still in construction drones, each larger than a person, are flying around in the air, often accompanied by commanding gestures from the Gebian general.]

Hmm. Phantom limb control could use some precision adjustment... But most of the system is working excellently. The data obtained from the Fort Severn battle turned out to be the breakthrough we needed. How much time will you need until the battle version is complete?

[A Gebian aide nearby chirps something in response. Two other Gebians are sitting on two of the drones zooming around. They seem to be having fun.]

Comments

[abugslife]

Indeed. The development of it started even before I arrived on Earth; only recently we managed to get over the control issues, however.

[The drones start to move in faster and more confusing patterns. Unintentionally, surely.]

[star_of_sad]

Ahh...

[Setsuko gives up. You win this one, drones.]

Remotely controlled autonomous drones? That seems a bit familiar...

[abugslife]

Carris Nautilus, the Newtype boy you fought, uses similar weapons on his Mobile Suit. Even though he is a Newtype and I obviously am not, analysis of your battle against him helped us reach the breakthrough.

[star_of_sad]

These weapons are so rare... probably because Newtypes are, too. And I don't think anyone else can use them.

If you managed to create a version that ordinary people can use General, then could you perhaps...?

[abugslife]

No. This is not something ordinary people can use. I am able to control this system only because of the augmentation I received. Without it, piloting Scaraber would be extremely difficult - and controlling the Bitles, impossible.

[star_of_sad]

Oh. I see.

It's a bit of a shame, isn't it. But then, your augmentations are there to let you be a better warrior in the first place.

[abugslife]

I suspect the implants allowing you to control the drones will become Earthling-compatible as well, once we clear out various minor obstacles in the way the whole system works. I do not expect them to be as powerful as the bits Bertigo used, however.

This is a support weapon, not a main one. But it should fulfill that purpose excellently.

[star_of_sad]

I see. But it'd still require someone to undergo...

No, nevermind. Even if it's not a main weapon, it should still be really useful, shouldn't it.

...

[A delayed reaction.]

Bitles?

[abugslife]

Yes. Bitles. That is their name.

[star_of_sad]

I see.

Well, that's a good name, isn't it? Very... descriptive.

[abugslife]

It holds a deep and meaningful cultural significance.

...It does not translate well to your language.

[star_of_sad]

I think the significance of this word might be a bit... different, in some Earth languages.

[abugslife]

Perhaps.