Chapter 21

　　It had started with a simple concept, to provide Pilots with a safe and realistic environment to train. Whether it was recent recruits operating Mechs for the first time or veterans refreshing their skills and trying different equipment load-outs, its creators strived to be as authentic as possible to actual-world conditions.

　　Simulations existed for as long as Mechs had. They were bulky equipment nearly as large as the Mechs they simulated. With the complete ban on Artificial Intelligence, computers could not do the complex processing required to control something as advanced as a Mech, putting the onus on the Pilot to act as the brain` of the machine.

　　Any simulation would need to replicate the burden on the Pilot, a difficult task requiring fixed structures to support the technology. Simulators were expensive, enormous and only available on planets that could sustain them.

　　These technological limitations required Pilots to travel to training centers, increasing the cost and time for instruction.

　　It wasn`t until the invention of the galaxy-spanning Imperial Net that the processing burden could be shared amongst a network, reducing the size of the equipment needed. Suddenly, Starships could house simulators, allowing Mercenary companies, corporations and even private citizens to own them.

　　As their popularity expanded, so did the expectations placed on them.

　　Pilots wanted to challenge each other, to prove their superiority. Whether it was their close associates, or one group against another, it soon turned the simulator into a safe way to settle conflicts without the loss of life and expensive equipment.

　　Initially limited to direct connections between units, it soon evolved from a training tool to something else entirely. By putting more of the simulation on the Imperial Net, Pilots could interact with each other all over the galaxy.

　　Corporations were introducing new Mech designs and weapons technologies to a virtual audience that could test them before purchasing. Tournaments could be broadcast across the Net to an audience of billions for minimal cost in production.

　　Entire mercenary groups could fight against each other for fame and recognition without causalities, pitting their skills against one another to demonstrate their superiority in front of prospective clients.

　　The uses of the simulation exploded. Seeing the potential for profits, a group of programmers packaged it in a new and unique way.

　　Virtual Reality terminals were popular in the Empire. They launched MechTech BattleWarrior` to a very receptive public. Using clever tricks and coding, they could simulate the difficulty and skill required to Pilot a Mech without using an expensive Simulator.

　　The developers created a real-time and full-scale version of the galaxy within the game, where an individual could create a character and become a Pilot. It was revolutionary for training and recruitment. Organizations with much cheaper equipment could efficiently train and recruit from anywhere in the galaxy.

　　In this simulated version of the galaxy, the Unification War never happened. It remained divided and lawless. Instead of a cohesive government, corporations and Clans` controlled humanity, run by real-life people.

　　Tens of Billions of concurrent players accessed the game at any given time across the Empire.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

　　To promote conflict in the game, the developers introduced a monthly subscription fee, a portion of which would flow to the clans or groups that owned the virtual counterpart of a real-life location.

　　Suddenly, there was a financial interest in owning territory, and wars of conquest exploded across the virtual galaxy.

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　　Kal eased himself into the VR Terminal, his body sinking into the soft cushioning of its interior.

　　A screen projected in front of him, the manufacturer`s logo hovering in front of his face. Epiales Technology, a corporation Kal hadn`t heard of before, was one of the premier manufacturers of Virtual Reality Terminals.

　　"Have you ever used one of these before, Kal?" Talha asked, leaning over him and tapping a few buttons on the screen. The logo disappeared, showing a simple console menu.

　　"No, never." Kal replied. He smuggled the Datapads and other items into his room without his parent`s knowledge. They had been wary of providing him with anything he could use to access the Imperial Net after Luna.

　　"Alright. See this button? It closes the pod. This red one to the side activates the VR. You`ll almost certainly be disoriented at first. That`s completely normal. It may take a while to get used to the feeling of the Neural Link. Just relax and let it do its thing." Talha advised, pointing at the buttons as she explained them before reassuringly patting him on the shoulder.

　　Nodding to show his understanding, Kal pressed the green button on display. It flashed brightly, and the lid of his coffin closed over him. Lit by the display`s light, he took a deep breath as he tapped the red Activate` button.

　　The display in front of him dimmed, the pod darkening around him. A tingling sensation crept over his skin, and a pressure built up behind his eyes. He squeezed them shut against the discomfort. When he reopened his eyes, he was in an entirely different world.

　　He was on a mountain peak in a small cabin. He could see a forest through the large windows, the sun shining on pristine white snow. Beside him, a fire crackled merrily, sending its heat across his skin. Breathing in deeply, Kal could smell the woodsmoke.

　　Juxtaposed against his new environment, Kal could still see his body in the VR terminal. It was as if he was in two worlds simultaneously, his body doubled, and his vision overlapped. It was incredibly confusing, and it took him a while to get used to it.

　　He found that focusing on one world over the other caused it to become sharper, his awareness of the alternate world fading. The pressure behind his eyes remained, the strain` Tamara had mentioned.

　　Moving his virtual body, Kal stumbled forward and fell onto the cabin floor. Hitting his knee, he was pleasantly surprised to find that, while he could feel the sensation of his knee on the floor, the anticipated pain was absent.

　　He had trouble moving his virtual body without shifting his real-world counterpart. It was akin to growing new limbs and attempting to use them.

　　Slowly climbing back to his feet, Kal cautiously made his way around the room, unsteady on his virtual feet. He was like a newborn learning how to walk.

　　"This must be the VR lobby." Kal said before frowning as the sound came out of his real-world and virtual mouths simultaneously. Concentrating, he tried again, only using his virtual avatar`s mouth.

　　"I should get used to moving around here before entering the game." Kal spoke to the empty room. Better to embarrass himself in private than in a public space.

　　He made his way around the cabin for the next hour, picking up objects and placing them down again. Looking out the large windows, Kal couldn`t identify which planet the manufacturers of the VR Terminal had replicated.

　　It was remote, and he couldn`t see a single sign of habitation anywhere in the distance, just mountains and forests, unbroken to the horizon.

　　The cabin itself was rustic, entirely lacking in technology. It was just an open room with furniture and a few knickknacks placed around at random.

　　In the center of the room was a table with several small figurines standing prominently on its surface. Kal bent over it to get a better look. To the right, a miniature Golden Eagle wearing a collar with twelve stars had its wings stretched widely. To his surprise, words appeared above it.

　　Access Imperial Net.` Ignoring the bird, Kal turned to the next one.

　　It was a Mech. Its squat, humanoid figure wielded a Heavy Lasgun. Above it hovered the words MechTech BattleWarrior.`

　　Reaching down, Kal touched the figure, clenching it between his fingers. The cabin faded around him, leaving him in black. The miniature Mech disappeared into motes of light.