"Boot sequence: Activated."
The electronic female voice emitted from the control panel. Lights flashed and relays clicked into place as system check after system check took place; the results rolling into infinite lines of electro-technical gibberish on the holo-displays. Turbines hummed to life and power whined through heavy cables to innumerable sub-assemblies. More relays; more lights, and finally a loud beep and several rows of dimly glowing green 'GO' lights.
"Boot sequence: Complete. All systems operable within acceptable parameters."
"Test unit 486 operational and standing by. Commencing mission on your signal, Sir."
"Engage unit test, Lieutenant."
A switch was thrown and thrust controls were rocketed forward. Jet turbines screamed in protest as they spooled up at an exponential rate, the electromagnetic catapult didn't even have time to engage before the test unit was hurtling down the launchway. As the unit exited the hangar and shrieked past the control tower it passed in momentary silence before the tower was rocked with a shockwave of sound and displaced air.
"What the hell just happened, Sergeant?"
The full bird in charge of the test project turned to a slack jawed Colonial Marine, who slowly replied,
"Sir…486…just went supersonic…on an unassisted launch."
"Lieutenant, begin full combat operations tests."
"Affirmative, Captain. Initiating combat protocols."
The young lieutenant in the cockpit smiled to himself. He knew all too well what 486 was capable of, more than the big brass and the eggheads gave him any credit for. He knew that the combat parameters were unduly inefficient, and that the top speed was actually more than any human could handle in such a huge piece of equipment so it had been dialed back.
"486, shift loading ratio from 8.6 to 9.3, re-optimize fire rate for optimum stability. Reroute power from braking to the gyro-balanced turning radius. Optimize thrusters for optimum mobility. Recalculate targeting timing data to coincide with new g-force telemetry."
"Recalculating."
The AI replied flatly.
"Recalculation complete; all systems calibrated to optimum performance specifications."
"486, engage combat parameters."
"Combat parameters engaging. Weapon systems live. Targeting system engaged. Diverting power to maneuvering thrusters."
"Sergeant, deploy the targets."
"Yessir. Remote MT's deploying now."
Six unmanned units flashed to life on 486's radar display. Lieutenant Dmitri Kasparov smiled as he gave his next command to his Core.
"Jackal…Hunt paramaeter."
The brass in the control tower watched in complete awe as the test data from the newly christened AC Jackal rolled in. A deep voice boomed behind the captain in charge of the program.
"I've got just the place for someone like him."
General Isaac of the Third Colonial Marine Expedition looked over Captain Sargosa's shoulder at the test data.
"General Isaac, we weren't expecting you until next week."
"I moved up my flight; didn't want to miss this."
The general motioned to the display of the battle field where the Jackal now stood amidst a pile of broken MT's.
"But it looks like I already did. I'll send for him when you're done with the data analysis."