"Today's test..." a deep voice started, "is for three trainees. We've color-coded their ACs to better identify them, they're equipped with the most basic gear that we've given to most of our past trainees. They'll be facing a convict, one of our own, I'm afraid to say." Several gasps are audible, and a bit of chatter among several people in a dome-like room, barely lit by yellow-glowing lights. "Do not worry, this is one of very few to defect. He will be executed here today, regardless of whether the trainees survive to kill him. The opponent will be in his AC, which I must say, is very well-equipped."

A huge dome-like structure lights up, four bent pillars of steel standing at opposing ends, slowly edging up into a cross-like shape at the top. A green aura-like field slowly grows between them, completing the half-sphere arena. A single hatch opens on one end of the field, rather large, sending a towering golden humanoid machine to the floor. It seems cold, and hard, most likely disengaged. Slung onto its back is a large missile pod, as well as a folded dark grenade launcher. In one hand sits a silver buckler-like shield, and the other holds a brass machinegun. The bulk-packed metal man sits coldly, waiting, and watching.

Three hatches open at the opposing end, releasing three lighter-built objects. As was expected, they each have a different color for their armor. One is blue, one red, and one yellow. One arm holds a laserblade, disengaged at the moment, and the other a simple rifle. They each have a simple missile-launching device, as well as a radar.

In a moment, the large mech at the other end of the arena lights up, red beams slipping through the joints as it begins trudging forward. The other three also activate, a red glow emenating from their joints as well. A volley of machinegun fire, bursting from a machinegun of the large machine, rips into the metal of the red suit, pieces of glowing steel falling from around it. The yellow one shoots off a few volleys from its missile launcher in an attempt to distract, each smacking into the now-engaged blue shield. The blue mech takes to the air, twin red flares following it closely. It fires a single shot from its rifle, ramming into the elbow of the left arm of the bulk-covered machine, which is holding the shield. Sparks fly from the joint, the shield shorting out in a blaze a few moments later, and a missile soon following, which rips the metal arm off of the towering structure with a bang. The bulky metal man changes its attention to the yellow mech, flying backwards into the air as a volley of seemingly endless missiles pours from its back.

The red mech, sparks falling from nearly every part of its mechanical body, collapses backwards onto the ground, growing cold and powerless without getting the slightest change of fighting back. The missiles soon hit their target, the running sun-like mech. Running didn't get it far, sadly, as the missiles quickly fly past one leg and straight into the other, sending the shining mech into the gray floor of the arena on its side, the right leg volleying off the wall and hitting the ground with a thud soon after. The targetted large mech swaps its target a final time, this time pulling the long tube of the grenade launcher beside its head. It takes careful aim on the falling blue mech, but is disrupted by another shot from a rifle. It hits with amazing accuracy, moving down the barrel of the explosive device and ripping it right off the shoulder of the metal being with a loud crackle and explosion, shattering the long, narrow barrel. A second shot rings out while the blue mech begins dashing towards its target, shattering the joint between the other shoulder and the missile pod on the thick mech's back. Having no other choice, the large mech begins firing its machinegun another time, the shots firing with horrible accuracy due to the lack of balance. It does no good, however, as after nearly twenty missed shots, a red beam rips through the center of the bulk-covered mech. The beam slowly fades, a large bang and flame shredding the towering being into two shattered pieces, right down the middle, which fall backwards with random shrapnel and bits of metal.

The blue mech stands, unscathed, three shattered and sparking messes of mechs around it. A crackling radio transmission comes out from it, seemingly a young man of around 20, "...Uh, does that mean I pass?"

---

A deep voice, the same one that spoke of the test before, embodied now by a fairly plump man of fair height, speaks again, in a darker room with a simple desk and another man."To be direct, I was slightly frightened by the results of the test...But, this just means another few chips in the gambling of these corperations. Go ahead, give the pilot of the blue mech-"

Another voice springs out, seeming to be a young man. "His name is Izzy, sir."

"It doesn't matter what his name is."

"I beleive it will become an important name in the future, it's best to learn it now, sir."

"Regardless, give him twenty-thousand to start. The yellow one, he should only be a little shaken up. His test results were satisfactory, give him rights as well, but only five thousand to start."

"Right, sir." the light voice ends, the young man slowly lifting from his chair and walking towards the dark oak door. He smirks at the door as he approaches, wondering how much money went into getting such an expensive material as wood.

"Sir Izzy, might I congradulate you on your spectacular victory." the young man says, roughly an hour later. He has blonde hair, and is wearing a white three-piece suit. He seems very proper, and a higher-up in the corperate sect.

Opposite him, in front of the same blue mechanical being that showed the arena a few new tricks, stands a young, tall man with tan pants and a white t-shirt. Atop his head sits a flowing, but short willow of red hair, accompanied by a brighter red headband. His eyes are illuminated by an azul iris, which shine as he speaks. "Thanks, but I couldn't have done it without the fine machine you gave me."

"Please, don't be concerned with it. You'll be able to do much more with it as you take on missions for the corperations. They saw your results, and were very pleased, you shouldn't have much trouble getting work."

"Thanks again...What happened to the others, anyway? ...And, the one in the large mech?"

"The man in the yellow mech will also be given a position with us. The one in the red did not pass, however, only sustained minor injuries. He'll be set up for another test since he didn't get much time to perform in this one. The one in the bulked mech, however..." He stops, thinking for a moment. "...You're going to have to fight other ravens in the line of duty. Don't concern yourself with their well-being."

"Uh...right..."

"As for now, you're free to wander around. This sector of the arena will be en-route to the HQ via space-travel for an hour or so. Upon arrival, you'll have full access to the shop and your own garage and hangar with a starting balance of twenty-thousand to modify your mech."

"Twenty...thousand?"

"Yes. Twenty thousand. Your results warrant such a starting allowance."

"Sounds...terrific. Report to debreifing upon arrival, right?"

"Yes. Follow the red arrows from the dock and it should be fine. They indicate different sectors, red leads to breifing and debreifing as well as the mission sector, blue leads to the garages, yellow to the test and shop areas, green to the arena, black to the docks, and orange to the corperate sector."

"What's the corperate sector?"

"It's for long-term arrangements. I'd avoid that area in the start, you won't have trouble finding work for a while."

"I...see. Anything else?"

"No. Dismissed. Be prepared when we disembark."