The new mechanic walked down the repair bay with their superior, eyes scanning the elite units they’d be servicing during their stay.
“That’s an interesting design.” They gestured to a squat mech with a pair of rotor blades.
Their boss chuckled, an over-familiar gloved hand clasping the mechanic’s shoulder.
“Yeah, it’s an experimental build focused on air support.”
Experimental, the word brought just a small sting of unease after finding out what made this batch of mercs so special. They hoped the gulp wasn’t too audible.
“Tell me about the pilot.”
The head mechanic leaned against the railing, a mutual fog of moroseness plaguing the conversation.
“Well, I don’t know much, I’m definitely not it’s handler, but y’know how it goes in these parts. Some fidgety little murder junkie, so far along that it identifies more with its mech than itself as its physical body.” She cracked a toothy smirk as she took a deep breath, gesturing to the olive drab assault mech.
“As far as it’s concerned, that is how it wants to present itself.”
“So it identifies as an attack helicopter?”
The elder mechanic lit a cigarette, eyes drifting off to nowhere as she pondered her apprentice’s question.