The next day.
In the bright underground workshop, the roar of CNC machines and the whirring of bearings filled the air. Automated mechanical arms operated according to programmed sequences, their buzzing and the friction of their end tools echoing rhythmically in Vela's ears.
"To miniaturize and integrate the Blaze Luminous energy shield system into the [Power Armor] framework… the technical difficulty is indeed extreme."
Tap, tap.
Her fingers rhythmically tapped the matte control console. Vela paused, lifted her head, and in her irises—where orange-red data streams flickered—was reflected the latest prototype from the third-generation miniaturization research of [Cyber Kong].
A full-body, close-fitting armor over 2.2 meters tall, equipped on its back with multiple floating auxiliary modules resembling external drone units.
Compared to the current models produced by Arasaka—particularly the visually imposing, overbearing, and utterly ostentatious first- and second-generation [Cyber Tyrant] suits used by Arasaka Security—the third-generation version built entirely according to Vela's specifications was in another league. Manufactured under the directive: no cost limits, ignore pilot endurance thresholds, disregard ordinary neural load capacity, this new model abandoned the old blocky, clumsy, and oversized design.
It shared some similarities with Arasaka's heavy military-grade power armor used by the Power Armor Division—those weighing several tons or even dozens of tons—but the concept behind it was entirely different.
Its overall form was streamlined, angular.
Lightweight, agile, sharp, and powerful.
If the earlier 'Kong' models—those mounted externally by the Tyrant units—were brutish and feral like Adam Smasher's machines, then the custom unit before Vela embodied the image of an Arasaka cyber-assassin: cold, lethal, restrained, and elegant.
Of course, its so-called 'lightweight' build was only in comparison to the older 'Kong' models.
What satisfied Vela most were its gravity-field manipulator and magnetic generator. Even the vector thrusters, comparable to those used on lev-cars, had been retained.
Yet, it was still only a prototype.
Far from the life-saving trump card she envisioned—one that could ensure her survival amid the ruthless assassinations that would follow the Fifth Corporate War, when all pretense of diplomacy was gone.
"Energy."
Vela whispered softly.
Her gaze shifted to the UI projection on her retinal display—a freshly received internal Arasaka network mail accompanying the delivery of [Cyber Kong Gamma].
Sender: Shinichi Tanaka [Technical Development Division]
Subject: Project Report
To Director Vela Russell:
This should be my first formal report to you since the start of 2077. On behalf of the Technical Development Division and the entire Cyber Kong Project Team, I would like to express our deep gratitude for your continuous support and leadership…
…To keep things brief, after wishing you a pleasant New Year (Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu), I shall proceed directly to the report.
Regarding the performance and shortcomings of [Cyber Kong Gamma], you are likely already aware of some details.
Despite the product's remarkable performance—and thanks to your guidance—our breakthroughs in materials science, optics, electronics, and bioengineering have allowed us to successfully achieve further miniaturization and CNC system integration. However, the greatest limitation restricting the product's capabilities remains unresolved: energy consumption.
To report candidly—its sustained combat capability is extremely poor. Once disconnected from its external power supply, relying solely on the onboard battery pack, many of [Cyber Kong Gamma]'s weapon systems become nothing more than dead weight—far from practical battlefield standards.
Furthermore, its production cost is excessively high.
[// Attachment 1 – Manufacturing Difficulties, Production Steps, and Cost Analysis]
This contradicts your long-held strategy emphasizing accessibility, mass production, and cost efficiency.
My sincerest apologies, Director Russell. Despite the tremendous investment of manpower, materials, and funding, I must admit that I have yet to deliver meaningful combat data—or even a complete, satisfactory product testing report—for [Cyber Kong Gamma].
The reason is simple: only a very small number of individuals, those who have undergone full-body cybernetic reconstruction, possess extraordinary physical endurance, and maintain exceptional mental stability, can withstand its operational load.
Note: Tests show that ordinary cyber-mercenaries are completely incapable of withstanding the psychological and personality disturbances caused by the resonance between the [Cyber Kong Gamma] operating system and the various implanted hardware and behavioral software modules within the user's body.
Without exception, every live trial resulted in cyberpsychosis within thirty seconds—followed by neural collapse, inflammation of brain cells, and total dissolution of personality.
Attached are the unmanned test logs, the data from live convict trials, and comparative reports between weapon modules powered by external energy sources versus onboard batteries for your reference.
[// Attachment 2 – Unmanned Trial Logs]
[// Attachment 3 – Live Subject Trials]
[// Attachment 4 – Weapon Module Comparison]
…That said, I firmly believe that, were it not for the constant sabotage and interference from our enemies—Militech, NUSA, and their allied forces—under your leadership, Director, the Cyber Kong Project's progress would have entered the fast lane by now.
Given the current potential shown by [Cyber Kong Gamma], in time—so long as the energy issue, the soft-operating system control interface, and the miniaturized body protection mechanisms are resolved—its evolution will not stop here.
...
A mass-produced cyberpsychosis machine.
That was the evaluation written in the live test attachment by one of the project engineers.
Even more exaggerated than the remarks made at the project's inception.
"So this is Tanaka's current limit, huh."
Ignoring the humble phrasing and flattering conclusion in Shinichi Tanaka's report, Vela immediately caught the subtext between his lines—
[Cyber Kong Gamma] was a dead end.
They were subtly suggesting: Let's redirect our resources toward [Cyber Kong Type-II Revision] or the proper third-generation model. After all, the large-scale external modules and exoskeletal armor suits used by Adam Smasher and the Tyrant units were more in line with Arasaka's aesthetics—imposing, dominant, and brimming with Waaaagh-style ferocity.
Indeed, no matter how much they claimed to have moved beyond the obsession with "decisive battle weapons," the Japanese never lost their fascination for towering, magnificent designs…
Vela only smiled faintly.
Truth be told, she was the same.
But she believed in specific solutions for specific needs.
High mobility and close-fitting versatility meant such armor shouldn't be overly bulky.
Even at over 2.2 meters tall, this frame was already pushing the upper limit. Still, it was better than rampaging around in several-ton power armor suits that practically violated the City Over-Limit Firepower Restriction Treaty. Those borderline-excessive Centaur units, EXO exosuits, and Adam Smasher's bugged-out monstrosities were tolerable for now, but wearing power armor in the open would be too much—it would provoke the Treaty Oversight Court directly.
Speaking of power armor—Vela had separate plans for her non-humanoid customized power suits and full-scale combat mechs.
Beep-beep.
[Vela: Understood. Approval granted. The Cyber Kong Project Team is permitted to temporarily suspend the Gamma armor development route and resume work on the Type-II Revision through Third-Generation iteration series.]
Gamma, written as "γ," the third Greek letter, was the codename shorthand for the power armor line developed exclusively for Vela's personal requirements.
The achievements so far meant Tanaka's expertise had likely been exhausted. Any further short-term investment would yield minimal progress.
Rather than forcing a dead-end, it was better to let Tanaka return to the 'mainline Cyber Kong series'—his comfort zone—and continue gradual improvement. Especially now that sufficient combat data had been gathered from the field deployment of [Cyber Tyrant Type-II Revision]; it was indeed time for refinement.
[Message received.]
After issuing her directive, Vela turned her gaze once more toward the unpainted γ-armor.
The three core challenges Tanaka had encountered were precisely as she expected.
First: Energy.
Given the immense output levels she demanded for the weapon modules, even with 2077's advanced nuclear energy utilization—where people practically wanted to install micro-reactors into every lev-car—the γ-armor was far too small and form-fitting to house one.
Moreover, in essence, the γ-armor and Cyber Kong shared the same lineage. It was an external augment—a cybernetic extension—not a full-scale power armor.
The latter, at least, had enough space to accommodate an [Electromechanical Core] and [Feedback Circuit], with separate battery packs dedicated to sustaining weapon module output.
As for the former… even after reducing the [Electromechanical Core] and [Feedback Circuit], they could barely fit inside. Sustainability was unqualified—relying solely on the pilot's implanted bioelectric output simply wasn't feasible.
Second: The Soft Operating System.
As the name suggests, this was a synchronous resonance system.
It needed to process the user's commands in real time.
The γ-armor wasn't a 'Kong Prototype'—it didn't need to mutilate the user into a torso of wires—and neither was it a clunky T-Tyrant unit with limited intelligence and rigid, formulaic combat movements. Its design standard was flexibility, with requirements for tactile feedback, force feedback, and full-body motion tracking. Any tactical motion a human could perform, the γ-armor had to reproduce in perfect sync.
At the same time, it had to harmonize external data input with the armor's internal status—executing the corresponding commands in the shortest possible time.
In short, it had to become a "second skin."
Third: Human Body Protection Engineering.
In essence, this was the set of necessary safety measures ensuring the user's survival and combat continuity under extreme external forces—high-G aerial maneuvers, impact resistance, and shock absorption all had to be resolved.
For this, Vela's solution was—
"Are the materials ready?"
Vela turned away from the holographic interface of the control console. The mirror-smooth wall behind her reflected the faint, cold glow from the screens—casting ambiguous, shifting silhouettes along its surface.
"High-density Sakuraite. And the miniaturized rotary Sakuraite core technology from that so-called 'Count Pudding.'"
One figure raised a cylindrical vial filled with a pink liquid.
"The brain-computer interface and partial neuro-optic system tech obtained from the Public Security Section 9 exchange with Motoko Kusanagi and Daisuke Aramaki."
Another responded from behind a desk, flipping through electronic case files as they spoke.
"You plan to use the old living Quinque set—[Arata-Ayato-α]—as the inner lining of the armor? A solid idea. The new custom living Quinque armor, built with rear-neck neural and cranial interface ports, is already under production. With the S-Class regenerative Quinque [Nick] available, it won't be an issue."
This one wore a badge shaped like a white dove at the collar.
"I'll supply the base material. The headless ghoul biomatter you dumped beneath my San Francisco Industrial Park has completed its cultivation cycle—continuous Kakuhou production is stable."
Said another, whose collar bore a yellow cube inlaid with a 'V' and the Militech insignia.
Feeling the strong support from her "sisters," a bright indigo gleam flickered in Vela's eyes, full of determination—the look of someone ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.
"Then let's begin."
...