I believe, I believe there's a reason
There's a breach in the hull
Started going under, loot and plunder
Cut 'em down, cut 'em Down at the knees, yeah
Cut 'em down to the bone
Just a lesser evil, born unequal
You show them where they belong
Tear right through them, tear right through them all
We pretend in the darkness
We pretend the night won't steal our youth
Singing me the sweet songs of seduction
Let me be the fool, fool, fool
Who will live and die for you
We pretend in the darkness
We pretend the night won't steal our youth
Singing me the sweet songs of seduction
Let me be the fool, fool, fool
Who will live and die for you
[Julian] Y'all look like y'all seen a ghost.
[people chattering]
[man] I don't believe it.
Is it just an AI that looks like him?
- Some kind of sick joke? - Dios.
Really?
I was trying to, you know, lighten the mood.
[sighs] Doctor, if you'd please.
Yes, perhaps I'd better.
- Hello, everyone. If... - [chattering continues]
Okay, if we can compose ourselves.
I can explain,
- if we could all simply... - [chattering continues]
- [high-pitched whistling] - [all groaning]
[chattering stops]
Yes, there you go. Deep breaths.
Count backwards from 10, all right?
Some of you may recognize me.
I'm Dr. Weller of the Polity's Experimental Science Unit, the ESU.
And what we're about to discuss is...
Um...
What phrase do you use here?
Eyes-only, top secret...
Breathe a word of this and I will kill you myself.
Well, I was going to talk about what the Union would do to you
but clearly your colonel is the bigger threat.
Holding for laugh.
Nope? Well, moving on.
Chase, is that you?
Yeah, man, it's really me.
I'm alive-ish.
Spoilers! Skip, skip.
I prepared an entire speech building up to that.
Oh! Skipping.
Fine, may as well cut to the...
Right. Uh...
Yes, this really is Chase.
His MR overlay, to be clear, but, yes.
We recovered him from his crash.
He's alive and nearby.
How is that possible?
We saw the crash.
Yeah, you sure you're not dead, man?
Wanna game later, Siege?
It's him.
- Focus, please. - [Miranda] How?
How are you here?
Chase is the very first in a very special R&D program.
Shortly before the war began,
we had an extraordinary breakthrough at the ESU.
Chase had been identified as one of the few
compatible candidates in the entire world.
Less than one in a million, really,
so we kept an eye on him.
When the incident in New York occurred,
we rushed to his aid
and have since made every effort to help his recovery.
In return, he agreed to help us
with our secret little experiment.
Okay, this was already gonna be awkward, but come on.
Doesn't anyone wanna know why?
What we've been up to?
The new mechs we just saw.
The new mechs you just saw, yes.
We call them Holons.
So they're not drones, and they're not RC?
No. But there's no place for a cockpit, no pilot.
And if Chase is still in recovery...
Oh, there's a pilot.
If you wanna be precise, there are no human bodies
aboard the Holons, no, but they are piloted
by a decanted human mind.
[speaks Spanish]
What?
We are at the dawn of a new age,
one where it is possible to digitize the human mind,
grab it, and send it across a brain-computer interface
so it can run on an electronic mainframe,
or "mind frame" if you will.
Maybe "Ebrain."
Yeah, all right. I'm still working on it.
It's certainly better than "cyber dome."
I'm telling you, it's gonna catch on.
Chase here is the world's first human
to successfully achieve what we refer to as gen: LOCK.
Phase one anyhow.
Which in this case means he uploaded his mind
to the cybernetic brain inside his Holon,
allowing him to operate the mech
much as though it was his own body.
Ms. Madrani here represents the second such success.
It was she who inhabited the other Holon that aided you earlier.
It's obviously a lot to digest.
We should leave it here for now.
The ESU will be staying with us
while they identify additional recruits for the gen: LOCK project,
mostly greenhorns who will need to be taught proper tactics.
That's where we come in.
The gen: LOCK team will embed with us as we conduct joint training exercises,
possibly some field operations,
depending on how it all goes.
Treat them as you would any other fellow unit.
Dismissed.
[people chattering]
[woman 1] They based an AI off of him? I'm still confused.
[woman 2] No, I think they're saying that's actually him.
[sighs] I don't get it.
Just give us the new mechs.
- We'll show 'em how to fight. - [Migas] So he's actually on base?
You're telling me I can have another beer with that dead bastard?
Only if you pour it in his tank.
[Migas] Wait, y'all drive tanks too?
Hey, Chase!
[Julian breathing]
[clears throat]
Hey, Chase?
He's probably still mixed into the briefing room.
He should return shortly.
Can I...
Uh...
[exclaims] You're always gonna win the best scar competition,
- that's for sure. - Thanks, amigo.
Not sure I wanted the honor, though.
'Sup, Chase?
You're looking good.
You lost weight.
[both chuckling]
'Sup, Migas?
- He calls you "eggs?" - "Crumbs."
It was supposed to be "huevos." We should tell her the story.
Come on, man! I just met her.
You know, he wasn't all there before he wasn't all there.
Hey.
I have suspected.
So I'm just gonna ask.
No regen?
I mean, I know this would be a lot,
but there have been cases that...
[Weller] Union nanotech.
Nasty stuff.
On the other hand, if it hadn't infected him,
he wouldn't have lasted long enough for us to find him, but no.
For all the ESU's new techniques, it's too much.
I do not know if or when Chase
will be able to leave the tank, physically, anyhow.
Whenever y'all are done with the melodrama,
- just let me know. - Yeah, in a minute.
So you looked for him, helped him, above all others.
Why?
Gen: LOCK has been pressed into service so early,
the process is still in such a nascent, raw state.
It requires a very unique nervous system,
a tremendous amount of neuroplasticity in order to work.
But to be gen: LOCK compatible and already have
a stellar career in combat aviation, hmm?
That makes Chase one of the most important pilots in history.
- [Yaz clears throat] - One. I said one, didn't I?
This isn't your moment.
Wait, when was this compatibility check?
Sorry, that's confidential.
No, I'm joking.
You were tested ages ago, all of you really.
Anyone who worked for the Polity.
Oh, come now.
You don't think your health is the only thing
being screened at your, you know,
your health screenings, do you?
The things they inject you with
and all the extra data they collect that...
That you are presumably welcome to inquire about
to your medical officer.
Moving on. Chase passed the Weller test.
And yes, he named it after himself.
When you invent technology that changes the course of human history,
you're welcome to name your procedures however you like.
Ah! Reminds me.
Some light reading.
- What's this? - The Colonel didn't tell you?
During our stay, you're pulling second shift
as the head of Holon maintenance.
You've got a thousand or three systems to begin familiarizing yourself with,
and then we'll move on to the outer armor.
You still here?
You might want to get cracking.
I'll need a tour around one of these Holon things.
Deal.
Chase, it's good to have you back.
[softly] Thank you.
I'm not sure how I expected this day to go,
but it could have been worse.
You sure about that?
There's always tomorrow.
That's the spirit!
No, I mean you should always be ready
in case things are worse tomorrow.
Our new recruits arrive tomorrow!
I know, yes.
Good night.
You all right?
Fiveby.
See you when you get up.
[Julian] Music.
Give me Night Tunes Three.
[music playing]
[pilot] Razor 2-7 on final. Anvil approach.
Pad is 3-5 left. Clear to land.
[Cammie] Now that's a big fucking cairn.
I thought a cairn was a tomb.
It's a pile of rocks.
Yeah, that usually serves as a monument or tomb?
Well, it's not like they've been winning the war lately, have they?
That's because we haven't started yet.
You want to get on the front lines?
A ranger pretty much lives on the front lines.
What about you?
I like fights I can win.
If you don't think you can win, why are you here?
That's one of life's great mysteries, isn't it?
- [snoring] - Doesn't matter where anyone goes now.
They're coming for you.
[mumbles in Japanese]
[in Japanese]
We're somewhere all right.
Ms. MacCloud.
Iida-san.
Ms. Roma... Romanyza... [stammers]
Valentina. [chuckles]
Specialist Sinclair.
Welcome to the Anvil.
So good to finally meet you all in person.
[gasps] That's a hell of a way to say hello.
That's nothing.
Wait till you see what he does to you next.
I was joking.
He wasn't.
Caliban will stow your gear in the hangar.
[in Japanese]
The hangar?
Don't we get bunks?
[Yaz] Not if you're not staying.
Okay, everyone who cannae ken what's up
with the mad scientist here, say "aye."
[both] Aye.
Yes.
Aye.
[Weller] I do get ahead of myself.
Apologies.
On behalf of the ESU, thank you for all your time thus far,
testing for our program. But you're not done.
Not quite yet.
But we passed.
You advanced to the finals, but there are some things
we can only know if we deal with each other eye-to-eye.
If it doesn't work out,
you'll be on your way home on the next transport.
"Home," says he.
[in Japanese]
And we just got off the plane.
Mind if we refresh first?
Each minute we waste here is another minute
before you meet your future.
Go!
Suit up and I'll catch you shortly.
Did he say "suit up"?
He's like a kid on Christmas morning.
Which makes us what?
His new puppies?
You're the new lab rats.
Come on.
It's cool.
Once you get to know her she's...
Nah, she's pretty much the same.
[Migas] So that's the rest of 'em, huh?
I swung by the lab last night.
- Saw Chase. - Don't you start.
Don't.
Whoa! Wait, what are those?
I'll catch up with y'all.
- [Valentina] Come on. - [groans]
[Cammie] Wait, wait, wait!
[Julian] Hey.
- I... - Why didn't...
We were...
They told us you were...
You let us believe...
You think I had a choice?
Biggest secret in the whole world.
You think they were just gonna let me call my friend...
We were more than...
Four years with nothing.
Four years of me working to this,
a chance to be here, to see you again.
You're not even really here.
I am, but you gotta trust me.
I don't know what you want right now, but...
Trust you?
[sighs]
I can't say I've worn a uniform like this.
[in Japanese]
Cool, what even is this material?
And it's got what?
What are these optical fiber circuits?
And they all lead back up to...
Please, just suit up.
We will explain as we go.
I like it.
[computer chiming]
Ma'am, we have a possible intruder situation.
Isolate them, now.
Do it quietly.
[Cammie] So if things don't work out,
we at least get to keep the suits?
You know, a souvenir?
[in Japanese]
They are prototype body armor
the ESU has been developing for the Vanguard.
But let's wait for the doctor to explain...
[guard] Freeze!
Hands in the air!
Did we fail already?
[in Japanese]
Did you think we weren't going to catch a Union spy in our own base?
Yes, I was from the Union, but...
Huh?
If you'd please call Dr. Weller, he can explain.
Lady, we're talking about him.
Screw it.
Secure her too and we'll sort it out later.
[sighs] You couldn't have waited like ten more minutes?
[guard] Seal the room!
Sound the... [screams]
[groans]
- [gasps] - [guns firing]
[guard screaming]
[grunting]
Huh?
[yells]
Cammie, make yourself useful!
Hmm.
[grunting]
[guard screaming]
We should be fighting them together, but, no, you were weak.
Okay, I'm starting to get the alarms working.
- [alarm blaring] - The hell?
Get him! Sinclair!
The shite's a spy!
You don't know how good you had it.
- Boo! - Huh?
[grunting]
[Julian] No, Doc! Wait!
Whoa! Easy.
You will not take him.
You understand you're aiming at the most important mind
in the entire Polity.
Hmm? Oh! Me.
I'm certain she's aiming at you, but that's nice of you to say.
Well, Yasamin.
You were right about how today could go...
[groans]
Don't worry.
There's only one thing he's here for.
I got this.
[muzak playing]
- Well, this is exciting. - Shut up.
I very much doubt you could falsify test results,
so either they turned you...
Shut up.
Or you're not really Sinclair.
Cal, start gen: LOCK.
Emergency override.
There we go, progress.
Presumably you killed him then?
What is your plan anyhow?
No, I'm really curious.
What do you want?
How do you think you'll get away?
The answer's one and the same.
[sighs]
[Marin] Down! Get down on the ground now!
Yeah, I really don't think that's happening.
[grunting]
[chuckles] Just once,
could an engineer follow naming conventions?
Hey?
[Julian] 'Sup?
Excuse me.
- [exclaims] - 40-foot-tall dude coming through.
Okay, I'll just finish up later.
[Julian] Okay, which one is he gonna grab?
Well. [scoffs]
I know someone who'd very much like to say hello to you.
Open that door!
I suggest everyone stays very, very still.
Here's the deal.
I want a Holon.
Order the droid to upload me, or I turn the smoke loose.
What happens after that is on you.
We're really not here to negotiate with you.
I'll be leaving here with one of the brains,
with me running on it.
But if you upload, you leave your body.
Colonel, he clearly has the upper hand.
[Sinclair] Now!
Order him now or I do it.
[Julian] Come on, come on.
Caliban, plug in this gentleman and initiate gen: LOCK.
Destination, unit two.
Absolutely not!
[grunts]
- [alarm beeping] - [screaming]
[monitor flatlining]
[Julian] What the hell? Where are you?
Guys, how's it going in there?
Guys?
[sighs]
And that is why you want to be gen: LOCK compatible.
So, who wants to go next?
Any takers?