While the pilots were preparing for the coming battle, Ritsu and Lorenzo were watching them from the upper deck of the command room using surveillance systems, with numerous scientists manning stations on the lower deck. Lorenzo was sitting at the table, leaning on his clasped arms and looking at the numerous screens with his reflective glasses. Ritsu was standing next to him, and held her arms with a worried look on her face.

[color=f26522]"So far the project has entered its next phase splendidly,"[/color] Lorenzo suddenly spoke, as if he wasn't talking to anyone in the room. [color=f26522]"And there are plenty of promising subjects in this batch. Though there are also rotten examples, like the Number. Remind me why she is part of my project, Lieutenant."[/color]

Ritsu responded with tact. [color=0054a6]"Her inclusion in the XJ9 Project was requested by the head of the Exodus division, Joshua Graham. It was approved by the Lord Commander himself."[/color]

Lorenzo slammed his fist on the table. [color=f26522]"BAH! Cain is a fool for thinking that Y2C and their abominations can be salvaged in any way! Their methods were flawed in their very foundation! They named the subjects after numbers, for goodness sake! It is no wonder it ended in a disaster like that! Emotionless dolls have no place piloting anything, let alone my works of genius."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Professor, I would like to remind that Mai Twilight's mother was the first pilot to achieve a hundred-percent Synchronization Rate. Most pilots only reach into the 80-85 percent range at the very most. The Lord Commander believes she also has that potential despite her upbringing."[/color]

[color=f26522]"Well, if her current rate is of any indication, he's hoping for a miracle. They thought they were smart when designing her weaponry purely around her Synchro rate, but now she can't even use them at full power! She didn't even speak to the other pilots! Without a proper social build, she will never develop the necessary skills required for combating the Cruxi. An utter failure, that unlucky number seven."[/color]

[color=0054a6]"That remains to be seen, professor."[/color] Ritsu said in a stern tone to the scientist. She looked at the screen, and saw Alexei Stukov appear in the hangars with his plugsuit on. He promptly entered his Framewerk. [color=0054a6]"After all, that is one of the purposes of this exercise, to test their Synchro Rates and tactical capability."[/color]

Lorenzo jumped from his seat. [color=f26522]"Aah! Where is that noise coming from!"[/color]

[color=0054a6]"Professor, It seems the pilot of the Roxy, Harold Koehler, is broadcasting dated music. He seems to be quite eager based on the little dancing number he's throwing."[/color]

[color=f26522]"Not for long if I'm gonna have a say in it...lousy whipper-snappers,"[/color] the wrinkly man muttered to himself and activated the loudspeaker system. His voice could be heard booming through it:

[color=f26522]"Harold Koehler, communications were permitted, not sound pollution! Cut it out, and stop with the motions! Now then, we will shortly begin the mock battle."[/color]

Lt. Ritsu's voice came next. [color=0054a6]"As a reminder, I will explain the objective again, which is to defeat as many opponents as possible before you are defeated yourself. The operation is completed when only one Framewerk remains standing, or when the Executive Officer deems it completed."[/color]

The hangar doors were then opened, revealing the landscape of zone A, which was the Open Fields, a vast stretch of empty land. You could see a tower soaring to the sky in the distance, which the map file designated as zone G, or the Tower of Power. The sky was filled with gray clouds, making for a dour scene to look at.

[color=0054a6]"Cadets, commence Operation: Mock Battle!"[/color] As soon as the words left the Lieutenant's mouth, the air filled with the grinding of metal and the roaring of thrusters as every Framewerk launched out of the hangar and into the fields in a thunderous fashion. The battle that would soon unfold on an astounding scale, with titans climbing over the broken remains of their comrades and vying for being the one to remain.

[color=0054a6]"Are you sure this is necessary, professor?"[/color] Ritsu returned back to discussing privately with Lorenzo. [color=0054a6]"This Battle Royale, I mean?"[/color]

[color=f26522]"It is,"[/color] Lorenzo said with a stern face. [color=f26522]"You'll see. To defeat the Cruxi, they need to prepare to kill each other without hesitation."[/color]

[@Elitestpotato]