Chapter 7

New MAWs were always in constant design and production. Anything that gave the soldier an advantage in battle raised his or her chances of survival. New MAWs were kept hidden, in case the enemy would copy its design before it was put into the field. So it was rare to get an opportunity to test run a new MAW without the pressures of combat involved.

Jason, although serious most of the time, did like a bit of fun from time to time, and now was his fun time. As he made his way towards Cargo Bay 15 he noticed that security was heavy, but it was well concealed to prevent anyone thinking anything important was in it. He walked up to the two door sentries in front of him and saluted. The sentries saluted back.

�Lieutenant Lawson reporting,� Jason said.

 �Please step up to the scanner,� one of the sentries replied.

It was a three point scanner, Retina, handprint and DNA. Standard issue everywhere, since it was very hard to forge all three.

Jason walked up to the scanner and proceeded with the check. There was a short sharp pain as his finger was pricked for the DNA blood test. The scanner seemed to think it over for a second before showing the �cleared� message on the screen. The cargo bays airlock doors opened and Jason stepped in, the doors shutting behind him. It was dark for a moment, and then the atmospheric processors changed the atmosphere to that of the other side and opened the doors in front of him. It also did a scan of him for any espionage device, but found none.

A single spotlight seemed to illuminate a single console with Dr Biggington at it. He looked up at Jason.

�Ah, Lieutenant. Good of you to join me,� Biggington said.

Jason said nothing, but just walked over.

�Here we have the new MAW. It�s the MAW AH-type.� And with that he pressed a button and a spotlight came on, illuminating a MAW.

The first main difference he saw was in the arms, or rather the fact that it had human-like arms. Previous MAW types had fixed gun arms, to reduce the need for complicated controls. But these? They looked like proper arms, fingers and everything.

�We had to change the control system, and that�s what really took us the longest, but you will see for yourself when you get there. Just go onto the lift, and I will put you up there.�

Jason stood on the lift and he was elevated to a gantry on level with the command access hatch, where the pilot enters the MAW. Technicians came over. Some with PDA pads, some with basic medical scanning equipment.

�The medical equipment is to monitor your vitals during the test. If at any point there are any difficulties we will terminate the test, and with that I�ll open the hatch.�

The hatched opened to reveal the command centre of the MAW. It was different. For starters there was no chair, only a kind of vest that was held on the back by a support going into the roof of the command centre. There was what looked like leg braces with wires coming out of it, with clips on and were open, as well as arm braces that were open as well.

�Just step backwards into the cockpit. The technicians will fit you in.�

Jason did as he was told, and no sooner had he got in there, then the technicians started to move him into place. They unclipped the vest, moved Jason back into it and clipped it on, like body armour. They clipped the arm and leg braces on as well, encasing him in a sort of suit. One of the technicians reached up and pulled a helmet down onto Jason and fastened it on.

�You will feel a bit disorientated at first, but that�s normal to someone who hasn�t piloted one of these before.�

Jason couldn�t see anything with the helmet on as a visor covered his eyes, but he could hear the technicians move away and the hatch closed. Then there was nothing.

Quiet.

And then suddenly the visor came to life, and he could feel a weight all over his body, not to heavy, but he could feel it. The visor displayed �Starting up� then after a few seconds displayed �MAW online� then cut away and he was looking at the cargo bay, but much higher up than usual.

�Down here!� Dr Biggington yelled �Just move your head to look at me!�

Jason scowled confused and moved his head to look down, and saw him, some distance bellow.

Dr Biggington pushed a button and then Jason could here him over his helmet.

�Good! Now take a look around. I have disabled movement for the time being.�

Jason looked at his body and was surprised to see a MAW body.

�What the ...?� Jason murmured.

�It�s the new vision system.� Dr Biggington said. �It�s just like looking around normally.�

Jason was amazed.

�Whoa!� he said.

�Great, isn�t it? I�m freeing up the movement now. Just try to move normally.�

Jason felt some of the weight disappear and he adjusted his posture.

It felt like him moving, it was so fluid. He held up his arms to look at them, turning a twisting to see them and even touched them.

To his surprise he actually felt them.

�New feedback system means you can feel it. Good, huh?�

�Yeah!�

Jason thought he was dreaming.

�The best bits about this design is that the versatility and modular ability of it. Try crouching and try to walk gently over to the Nav marker I just set.�

A arrow appeared on Jason�s visor. He crouched, turned and crept over to it.

There was a light thud with each footstep, more than a human footstep, but a lot less than the thud you get with normal MAW walking.

�The new interface means you can creep around and take the enemy be stealth if necessary.�

What else did this wizard have in his bag of tricks, Jason thought.

�Now weapons testing.�

Jason felt his eyes light up.

�With the new design you can do unarmed combat. Just try it on the target over there. Just punch it.�

Something that resembled a large punching bag was illuminated by a light.

Jason just strode over to it and began to punch it like in training. He could feel the blows as he hit it. This feedback did a lot.

�Great! Now there�s a machinegun on the gantry over there, you can use it like a regular rifle, there are also some melee weapons available for you to use, but due to the new design there aren�t many weapons available yet, but there soon will be.�

Jason was thinking how can this get any better?

But the thought was abruptly ended as the ship rocked as they heard an explosion go off. Emergency klaxons went off.

Dr Biggington furiously tapped at the controls before saying, �The test is terminated, get out now!�

The commander�s voice came over the PA system. All squads, we are under attack. I repeat, we are under attack. This is not a drill. All crew to battle stations!�

Jason felt a cold chill down his spine.