The Mech Touch

looked at Javier in mild astonishment.
He took a sip of his delightfully warm coffee.
As this conversation began to stray into political territory, he quickly steered the topic towards mechs.
”How would you characterize the Vesian way of fighting? ”

”That ’s a big question.
Too big, in fact. ” Javier shrugged.
”Every duchy has adopted their overall mech doctrines.
I ’m sure you know some of that considering you served with the Vandals as you gallivated through our space.
As a subject of the Duchy of Imodris, I ’m most familiar with our own mech doctrine, which heavily focuses on combined arms.
We don ’t believe in putting ourselves into corners.
Instead, we try to have a bit of everything and rely on synergy to achieve more than the sum of its parts. ”

”That kind of sounds like the Imodris mech doctrine spreads itself a little too thin.
Won ’t the lack of focus prevent you from developing a strong specialty? ”

”That only matters at the top level.
Every mech regiment or private outfit gets to pick and choose what they like, and they know better than to grab a bit of everything.
That said, it ’s really annoying for me to adjust to different mech rosters each time I lead a new unit. ”

”There ’s one thing you Vesians have in common, though.
You employ missile weapons a lot more frequently than the Bright Republic.
Doesn ’t that get expensive? ”

”Pah. ” Lord Javier sneered.
”Missiles are pretty much fire-and-forget at their most basic level of use.
The main reason why we employ them so frequently is because it ’s not as demanding to train a missileer mech pilot as opposed to a rifleman mech pilot.
The latter demands actual skill in marksmanship while the former only forces you to tweak the targeting systems before you unleash the missiles. ”

”You guys don ’t train your mech pilots that well? ”

Lord Javier shrugged.
”It depends on which House and which noble is in charge of the mech regiment and mech legion.
I know some of my peers aren ’t as diligent in running their units as others.
I don ’t know.
I ’ve never been assigned to a military unit yet.
I should have been in contention to lead a mech regiment, but you Vandals came and ruined my Detemen System before I could go through with my commissioning.
Thanks for that, by the way. ”

”You ’re welcome. ”

”Sheesh.
You could have at least pretended to be contrite. ”

Ves laughed.
”Why bother when you could see through my act? ”

”It ’s the thought that counts.
Let me teach you a lesson, Ves.
When you go talk to people like me, the way you act and behave in public is more important than your underlying intentions.
Just now, I gave you an opportunity to make amends to me so that we would appear closer to each other, at least from a bystander ’s point of view.
That you didn ’t do so means you slighted me.
The public would think that we aren ’t on the same page. ”

All of this sounded fairly different from the normal way that Brighters treated each other.
The social differences between the classes weren ’t as wide, so they didn ’t have to think so much about their public conduct.
It was more than sufficient enough to act as yourself, though you would also have to make sure to be polite.

As Ves interacted more and more with Lord Javier, he became more exposed to the cultural differences between their states and social classes.

Ves particularly took note of the bearing he needed to adopt as a member of a higher social class.
He still clung too much to his former identity as an average citizen of the Republic.
Even back when he studied mech design at Rittersberg, he didn ’t pay too much attention to the elitist clubs and social circles at the capital planet.

He never considered himself to be capable of reaching a high station in his life! He thought it would be a pipe dream to become the head of a multi-billion mech manufacturing company within a couple of years!

Propelled with the help of his unique advantages, his rapid ascension came so suddenly that Ves still hadn ’t fully adjusted his attitude in a way that befitted his new station in life.

”You already possess the confidence and the arrogance of a successful mech designer and magnate. ” Lord Javier eyes Ves in a critical manner.
”I think the problem is that you ’re still too stuck in your past as an average Joe to shed your modesty. ”

”What ’s so wrong about being modest? ”

”There ’s a difference in being modest and being understated.
Just look at Senator Tovar for example.
That man doesn ’t dress extravagantly or demand or your obedience outright.
However, the way he naturally acts already commands obedience without saying so.
Sure, his status helps out a lot, but that man is a born leader no matter where he goes or who he talks to.
That ’s classy.
As for you… ”

”As for me? ” Ves wondered.

”You ’re kind of a mix between a dork and a boss.
Sometimes, I get the sense that you are capable of being in charge, but you ’re restraining yourself for some reason.
Is it because you don ’t see the need to keep your head high in the presence of someone like Senator Tovar or I? ”

What Lord Javier said about Ves seemed very apt to him! Ves himself knew that he acted much more domineering during the times he held authority over a bunch of subordinates.
From his time of taking charge of the LMC, to being the temporary head designer of the Vandals, to supervising the bunch of Ansel brats at Frozen Point Research Base, Ves had plenty of practice in exercising leadership.

Yet as soon as he met a bigshot or someone of a higher rank, he instantly adopted a servile demeanor.

”Is there anything wrong with that? ”

”Ves, Ves, Ves. ” Lord Javier shook his head.
”If you continue to act like that, people like Senator Tovar will keep rolling over you.
If you want to get anywhere in high society, you need to learn how to stand up for yourself even if you ’re being approached by a CFA admiral.
Don ’t worry.
Let Uncle Javier here teach you the ropes. ”