Chapter One: Entrance Exam

Brian walked down the center aisle of Tek's Mechs Hanger in Soluna City. His head tilted back and his eyes fixated on a large object that towered over him. It was huge, standing over three stories tall. It was a Mecha, an assault mechanical robot. Brian is a new student at GEARS University, his buddy Tom was with him as well. Brian walked by a large blue mecha. Next to its left foot was a sign that said "Mecha model 11283 Katana, available to most freshman at GEARS University." He gazed in awe at it.

"Man, this is a dream come true…" he said leaving the hangar. He walked out of Tek's Mechs shop and headed towards the shuttle that took students back and forth between Soluna City and GEARS University. "Man, there are a lot of students here huh?" said Tom coming up behind Brian. "Yea, did you decide what model of Mecha your are going to get? I'm getting the Katana model." said Brian. "Sure, I'm aiming for the Hammer V.2 model. It comes with a Photon Blaster on its right arm."

"Now boarding for GEARS University, all freshmen board now, juniors, sophomore, seniors, board in an hour." Said a voice over an intercom. "Well lets get started, these are going to be the best 4 years ever man!" said Brian. "Agreed! Let's go!" laughed Tom.

(At the University)

"Dean Warlick , the first round of new recruits have arrived" said a voice over a speaker. Dean Warlick pressed the intercom button, "Equip them with the freshmen mechas and get them started on the entrance exam" he said to a microphone. Dean Warlick watched out the window as the shuttle arrived. He smiled and said "I hope this year's recruits are brave enough to take on Shadowsythe Mechs."

"OK now, everyone, this is the GEARS University Mecha Hangar. I will call your name and you will pick one of the available freshmen mecha. First up, Alexander-Martha." said Admina. She continued down the list..."Peacock-Brian," she called "go on and pick your mecha." Brian saw that there were approximately 50 or so mechas left in the freshman hangar. "Man, this hangar is huge. I wonder how many mecha it holds..." he said walking down the aile. "Aw man, the Katana is gone" he said frowning "Ooh but that red Star Gladius looks good."

He climbed up the stairs leading to the head of the mecha. At the back of the head was a door, hanging next to it was a pair of keys with a key-chain hanging next to them with the fresman symbol...

He unlocked the door and walked inside...It was incredible...In front of him were the commands to the Star Gladius. He was speechless. There was a large window pane that was the "eyes" of the head, and below that there was a large chair with the freshman symbol on it. In front of the chair was the control desk. There were joysticks and fire buttons for the weapons you could equip on the right shoulder, left shoulder, and right and left arms. There was also a joystick to move the legs (without it you couldn't move, duh). There was also two, large size, monitors just below the window pane. One of them was to monitor the damage to the mecha, the other was the communications monitor.

"GEARS to MECHA 189756, come in MECHA 189756" said a face appearing Com. (communications) monitor. Brian pressed the "talk" button next to the monitor, "Is that my number? Ok then, MECHA 189756 to GEARS, I read you loud and clear" he said. "MECHA 189756, you have clearance to leave the building. The only weapon on your mecha is an AutoGun on your right arm correct?" "Correct, I am unarmed all but my right arm" "Ok then, state your name MECHA 189756" "Um, Brian Peacock" "Peacock-Brian, freshman, 15, mecha number 189756, Ok then just show your ID at the window before you leave. Report to the Mecha arena ASAP, when you leave they will give you a new ID with your mecha model, and number on it." and the face disappeared.

"Wow that was cool" thought Brian. "Hey loser!" said a familiar voice on the communications monitor. It was Tom "Come on aren't you going to the exam lets go! I'm right behind you" he said. Brian swirled his chair around and looked out the back window, it was Tom in a shiny new black Hammer V.2.

Brian chuckled and put the key inside the ignition. Upon turning it, the Damage monitor went online. The communications monitor opened up a message...

Welcome to the STAR GLADIUS V.159753, Please state your name and state your MECHA ID number.

Brian typed in the information and then pressed enter.

Welcome to the STAR GLADIUS V.159753, Please state your nameBRIAN and state your MECHA ID number189756.

The whole system went operational, he grabbed the movement joystick and pushed it slightly forward. The legs of the mecha took two steps forward and then stopped, "Tom, whats you ID number?" he said into the radio next to the communications monitor. Tom's face appeared on the monitor, "Dude you don't need my ID, just type my full name in."

Brian tilted the joystick and the mecha moved forward. He moved into the center aisle and pushed the stick to the right, the waist of the mecha turned and the torso turned as well . The mecha was in the center aisle of the hangar now, and he kept moving forward. He looked behind and could see Tom not far.

He arrived at the office window, it was a tower. He got out of the mecha and a long ladder came down and just barely touched the shoulder of the mecha, Brian climbed up about ten feet to the office window. "Brian Peacock" he said, and the man handed him his new ID card. It had his picture on it and his mecha number, as well as other information. He got back into his mecha and pulled forward, then waited for Tom.

As soon as Tom got his ID, they were on their way to the arena. Upon arriving, they found that everyone was there. All different types of mecha were lined up in the massive arena. But there were people that didn't make it already...

Scattered across the arena in various places, were mecha parts that had been totaled. The good news is, the people ejected before the mecha blew up. For another hour, names were called and new students were required to try to defeat a specialized Battle Droid. The purpose for this? To see who was ahead and had more skill and to see who needed some work...

"Loveland-Tom, MECHA 0005243" said a loud voice through a speaker. Tom Tilted his joystick forward as the mecha moved. They were the last ones left on the arena, the others either lost or passed and went on to store their mecha.

"GO!" said the voice, and the droid's arms moved up and aimed at Tom's mecha. Tom slammed his joystick to the left and avoided the first three shots, then he pulled the right arm joystick down as the arm moved up. He pressed the button on top as the Photon Cannon fired three times and fractured the left side of the Droid.

The Droid reacted upon taking the blow, it's torso raised up separating from the rest of the body revealing a Gatling gun. Without enough time for Tom to realize what was happening, the gatling gun set off. Tom threw his mecha to the side, but he still took several hits to the left leg. Tom saw an opening were the Droid exposed it's core when it opened up it's gatling gun, so he fired his Photon Cannon another three times. The first two shots missed, but the third one hit the core at a critical point and totaled the Droid.

"Pass" said the loud voice "lock up your mecha in the hangar and go to the main office to receive your dorm keys." Brian Watched as Tom's mecha turned and left the arena. "Last student, Peacock-Brian, MECHA 189756."

Brian moved his mecha forward into the battle zone, and then a new Droid moved into the arena. "GO!" said the voice, and before the Droid could react, Brian jerked the joystick forward the mecha ran at the Droid. The Droid Raised it's arms, both armed with 50 guns. Brian pulled the joystick to the side and then grabbed the right arm joystick. As the mecha was moving to the side, Brian aimed the right arm AutoGun at the Droid and held the trigger tightly. Brian kept the gun aimed and firing at the Droid as the moved his mecha in a circle formation while keeping the AutoGun aimed and firing at the Droid. He hit seventeen times in the back until the Droid turned around and fired back. Brian whipped to the side and fired at the Droid one last round, and then it went up in flames. As the Droid exploded, the loud voice said "Pass, lock up your mecha in the hangar and report to the main office for dorm assignment." Brian turned his mecha around and headed for the freshman hangar, the greatest challenges of his life are yet to come, now that he has passed into GEARS University. Another wave of recruits are coming in next week, so its time to begin college life at GEARS!