========== In Training Hall Seven’s hangar bay ==========
A series of ceiling lights switch on, quickly illuminating the hangar bay filled with a handful of neatly-arranged Uchigane IS units.
“Woah… Training ISes. I suppose these are the Uchigane units, Sensei?”
“Mhm! That’s right!”
Maya then steps forward to show Tsurugi one of the Uchiganes and explain the unit’s specifications.
“These are the units Academy students use to train. Armed with only a standard katana and an optional forearm rocket grappler, it can be used for a small range of combat scenarios.”
“Hmm… so it doesn’t have any ranged weapons aside from the rocket grappler?”
“Nope. It’s mandatory for all students to go through melee combat lessons since it’s the core combat style for any fighting techniques.”
“I see…”
“Before you board one, I’ll need to run a scan on you first.”
“Ah… The IS system compatibility test, Sensei?”
“Correct. Hold on while I go get the equipment, it should be around here somewhere…”
Maya walks around the hangar looking for the scanner while Tsurugi looks around, eventually setting her sights upon a particular steel cupboard next to the hangar’s entrance.
“Sensei?”
“Yes?”
She then directs Maya’s attention to the said cupboard by pointing at it.
“Ah, right!” Maya says with a slight hint of embarrassment and quickly walks over to the cupboard and opens it.
The scanning equipment is kept inside a grey briefcase which Maya carries out via a handle fixated on it.
She places the briefcase on the floor in front of Tsurugi and opens it, revealing its contents which turn out to be a laptop, a hand-held scanner which looks like an enlarged speed gun, and a tripod.
“All right, Tsurugi. I need you to keep still while this thing does a full scan on you.” She instructs while switching on the laptop and connecting it to the scanner via a cable.
“Sure thing, Sensei.”
Maya then secures the scanner onto the tripod and places it a short distance away from Tsurugi then presses a combo of keys on the laptop’s keyboard.
The scanner clicks as it activates, with its front side visor slowly glowing as it prepares to begin the scanning process.
“It’s starting, keep still now.”
Tsurugi stands up straight with her hands by her side. The scanner clicks again then hums as it projects a holographic panel, which then does a full sweep of her body from top to bottom.
The holographic panel disappears as the scanner clicks the third time, indicating the end of the scanning process.
The laptop screen then displays a series of fluctuating bar charts as it tabulates the results from the scan, promptly stopping and displays a result prompt, which shows a bolded
[B-].
“Hmm… not bad.” Maya remarks as she looks at the result.
“What is it, Sensei?” Tsurugi asks, mildly curious about her compatibility result.
“You got a B Minus. I suppose you have past IS piloting experiences?”
“Uum… Not exactly, Sensei. I’ve never piloted one before…”
Maya momentarily stuns at her answer then looks back at the laptop.
“Oh… wow. This is rare…”
“Eh…?”
“It’s all right. Don’t mind it… Let’s get you on board the unit.” Says Maya, who quickly presses some keys on the laptop and closes it then packs up the scanner and the tripod as well.
Tsurugi simply nods and goes over to an Uchigane unit while Maya, carrying the briefcase containing the scanning equipments, follows along.
“So… Sensei… How do I get on?”
“Touch it. Then let it react to you.”
“React…?”
Maya nods and gestures her to proceed. She looks at the Uchigane with slight uncertainty then proceeds to place her hand onto it after a brief moment of pause.
“Here goes nothing…”
Upon contact, the Uchigane begins to hum as it comes to life and causing Tsurugi to slightly startle. Her body begins to float as the IS dematerializes into streams of data which swirls around her.
“Woah…! This is… wow…” She remarks in awe as the streams of data begins to form the Uchigane’s parts onto her body in a bottom-up sequence.
Maya watches as the IS completes it reform, automatically fitting itself according to her physique.
“There! Now try and move around a bit.”
“Okay.”
Tsurugi then moves her arms, promptly surprised by how light the forearm armor is despite its elongated appearance. She then takes a few steps around the hangar and brings up one of her arms.
“Wow… It looks bulky, but it’s actually light!” She remarks while slowly twisting the IS’ wrists and wriggling its fingers.
“Yeap, it is. Try to summon the katana…”
“How do I do that, Sensei?”
“Focus. You’ll find it.”
“Right.”
Tsurugi then closes her eyes and focuses her thoughts, synchronizing them with the Uchigane’s systems while multiple holographic interfaces appear right in front of her.
“There is it…” She whispers while extending one of her arms to the front.
Data streams emerge along the arm and converges onto her IS palm, forming a digital katana silhouette which then dissipates as the real weapon forms up within her grip.
“Nice one, Tsurugi!”
She then opens her eyes and examines the IS katana in her hand, greatly amazed by its appearance.
“This is a very neat-looking weapon!”
“Good good. Looks like you’ve gotten a hang of basic deployment techniques and movement… Are you ready to face the instructor now?”
“Yes. I am ready, Sensei!”