Super Robot Quest

1050, 2 July A.D. 2072
Command Center

It felt like forever ago that you were even here at the Command Center. Forever plus a few days if you consider how long it took to even have this part of the Institute constructed. And a few weeks added atop that if you factor in just how the entire facility changed from an abandoned university to the nerve center of kaiju and alien technologies with a hidden cache of pre-Unification software that developed sentience. When you put it like that, it has felt like decades since you started this, when in reality it's only been years. The miniature self-correction doesn't exactly make you feel better, but at least a little more grounded.

This is a good thing. Because your workload is on track to increase considerably.

"Alright." You look across the room, and to the brilliant - and more than a little eccentric - minds behind the organizational madhouse that is known as the Defense Force Research Institute. The round table with the holographic display embedded in the center of the room lets everyone face each other, while keeping you at the 'head' of the table at the far end opposite of the doubledoors leading to the rest of the grounds. Defense Force, Engineering, and Science are all gathered here, having created miracles already and called upon to do more.


Said miracles, however, don't seem to include getting that strange chorus to stop. Just another strange law of the universe when Sam Carlson is involved, however tangentially, you suppose.

Defense Force

Captain Haruko Sasaki sits to your left, flanked by the holographic avatars of her 'lieutenants,' Diana and Adriana. From uncertain beginnings as a skeptical appointee, Sasaki has matured significantly as your executive officer, and she has proven more than worthy of your trust time and time again. From running administration over this particular herd of cats, all the way to commanding your Super Robots and supporting assets in battle against the Kausen and the Kaiju, Sasaki has proven she more than deserves her position. The only thing she lacks is time to do everything you both want her to do. While this is made up for somewhat with Diana and Adriana - the former is standing at ease, but is sporting a slight twitch to her eyebrow at how her younger sister is constantly jumping up and down excitedly - it soon may be time to start branching out for additional talent to help Sasaki.

"There are more than a few things that need your attention, Sir," Sasaki begins. "Pilot training and integration remain ongoing concerns, particularly in light of the Perseus co-pilot and its support team, along with Cadet Satsuma's bonding with the C-Crystal. I have some options in mind to get started on preparing them for deployment."

"Security's a done deal, boss man!" Adriana declared proudly, slamming a fist onto her shoulder for added emphasis. "Buuuuut there's always room for improvement! Just give the word and I'll get to work on it!"

"Additionally, there are hotspots all across the North American District that will require your attention," Diana cut in smoothly, her calm voice clashing with Adriana's unbridled enthusiasm. "The Beowulf is already standing ready to hunt down the Kaus known as 'Bandit' and force him to cease his operations along the west coast."

"There are also liaison opportunities with Colonel Kim of the First Response Corps and other elements of the Defense Force," Sasaki said. "Not to mention it may be wise to correspond with the MSS."

"Give me a light start, why don't you?" you grumble.




Engineering

Wilde and Henry sit at your right. The unlikely duo are the masterminds behind Variable Configuration, one of the core technologies that makes all of your Super Robot technologies even possible in the first place, and partially responsible for securing an alliance with the Legion. One is constantly smiling and fidgeting, a bottled tornado of energy given human form as he chuckles over some new idea that's popped into his head. The other sits as still as a rock, his beret at its usual angle and his face somehow giving a sense of exasperated disapproval of his officer even when his expression had not changed a single bit. They're professionals, however, and you know you'll be able to put their skills even further to the test.

Dr. Ignatov sits further to the duo's right. The grandfather-like computer scientist is serenely going over his notes, a look of tired contentedness on his face as he is surrounded by examples of his team's hard work spread across each team. The modern day father and pioneer of the Super AI project, they have long since fulfilled and surpassed his original goal of developing supercomputer processors for the Super Robot project. The AI assistants, Ichiro and the new trio of siblings - they are in many ways his children, and his job has now become to ensure their care just as much as compiling new ones to join the growing family of the DFRI.

Jiro and Lana finish up the roundup of the Engineering team, quietly bickering with one another over some design flaw or other. The third AI 'sister' of the Institute's grounds, and the nephew of the creator of Mercury V have somewhat settled into a pattern of disruptive arguments intermingled with bursts of productive energy. Uneasy as the dynamic is, these are the two current pioneers of the next generation of the Union's Super Robot designs, so one aught not to underestimate them.

"If you two could settle down?" Ignatov mildly chides Lana and Jiro, realizing the meeting has turned its focus to them. "Frankie, Charlie and Violet are settling in decently well, so I am free to turn over supervision of their development for fitting them into new chassis and training. We currently do not have much call for developing new AI personalities at this time with the possible exception of the Seeker frame, but the decision is yours, Major. We are ready to facilitate compiling of a new sibling, or assist in other endeavors in the Engineering department."

"One of our priorities is Ichiro," Lana chimes in. "He's taken more than a few scrapes fighting that thing in France. And, uh, he's been complaining about wanting an upgrade."

"I'm more than happy to pitch in on that," Jiro volunteers. "Still finding my footing here, but this should give me a better understanding of how your first gen systems work."

"You calling us old?" Lana demanded.

"No, you're just short. There's a dif-"

Henry coughs, cutting Jiro and Lana off before more of their bickering could be entered into any official minutes. "Speaking of Ichiro, we have the recovered wreckage and the weapon," he says. "I'm very interested to see what the Separatists have come up with."

"Thing had an explosive punch," Wilde agrees. "Kinda like they welded together a bunch of different guns together to make a mega gun."

"Is that your technical description?" you ask dryly.

"It is now, sir!" It's hard to ignore the cheeky grin on Wilde's face as he continues. "Sam and his crew also finished up recently on the Dragon sample and the K-Fang - all sorts of fun stuff we could try out with that too, maybe even give some of our older ideas another go. Your call, sir!"

"You all have a lot of moving parts to cover starting this month," you warn the Engineering team. If anything, the whole team seems cheered by the thought - such is the life at the cutting edge of new technologies, you suppose.




Science

The whole team can't fit into the conference room - but aside from Zulu's absence, you have the major players on mostly the opposite side of the table. Sam Carlson - the man 'exiled' from Unity Station into your care along with his equally insane crew of scientists and researchers - has an aura of suppressed energy similar to Wilde's. Broad shouldered and with a square jaw, one wouldn't think at first glance that he and his team are the ones responsible for beginning to pierce through the secrets of kaiju biotechnology and the beginnings of human psychic potential.

Next to him is his equally mad, and equally brilliant, friend and peer, Max. Unhinged in her own way, her original purpose of unlocking the Regent's secrets have given way to deciphering its gifts, as well as recreating much of the Kausen advanced technologies. Without her efforts, the Anti-Gravity chemical solutions and Zirvitium armor plating would have been an unimaginable pipedream.

Impatient to get on with things, Max's fingers drum in an inconsistent rhythm along the table, all while being fretted over by the researchers' own AI personality, Ivanna. Though she had been intended to be an assistant to the researchers, she has instead grown into more of a moderating influence, trying frantically to reign in the more destructive ideas behind the uneven brilliance that explode (sometimes literally) from the Department.

"As you know, chief, we've got a few ongoing projects already locked in," Sam began. "The new K-Fang project using bits and pieces of Sample One is still ongoing - it'll be a couple of months before I have something substantial enough for the Engineering boys to tinker around with." Nodding at Wilde and Henry, he continued, "That'll be awhile, but in the meantime Ivanna can help out or focus on another project."

"Oversight over the C-Crystal integration is still going on as well," Ivanna confirms. "I can focus more on that, but if you need me focused elsewhere, we can leave well enough alone for now I think."

You glance over at Max, who immediately jumps straight into the topic. "Before you ask, no - we don't have a spaceship yet," she said curtly. "But since the Engineers are focused on turning the Navy's supercarrier into some horrible new monstrosity, we might as well bolt on what we just learned onto it." You just sigh, knowing the headache that this is going to cause for the next two months. "And like Ivanna said, the C-Crystal and Cadet Satsuma I would like to observe some more to make sure there aren't any negative effects. And there's that last technology the Regent gave us, the 'Empathic Enhancer.'"




Special Actions

The final adviser is Katarina. The very first AI that you discovered locked away in the supercomputer bay now known as "The Lair," she is the original form of code and data from which all Super AI have developed from. You're just thankful that she's a sweet, kind hearted and excitable personality rather than the worst old science fiction could have thrown at you. "Speaking of the supercarrier, Major, we also have the newcomers from the Marine Expeditionary Force arriving this month," she reminds you cheerfully. "You only need to make a decision on what they will be field testing on our behalf. In addition, you have a meeting with the officers from 'Ground Pound' this month as well regarding a power source for them."

And this is why you need as much help as you can get - you did promise to look into a potential power source for Major Jenkins. "Thanks, Katarina," you grumble as you reach for the coffee. Sweet, scalding, caffeine-laced coffee. "Anything else?"

"As always, I can assist in any of this month's projects!"

Coffee consumed, giant list for the month's agenda presented. "Alright," you exhale. "Let's get to it."