[Galactic Menace and Legendary Pilot]
Revoked Pilot License # 706289
Sometimes the universe, which loves and seeks the balance of opposites, arranges for privileged minds to take sides, by one or another cosmic principle... Whether by order or by chaos. Go ask the Universe about his eery reasons.
Speaking of privileged minds, we have an outstanding example in the mysterious and obscure person of Doctor Drake Novum, who throughout his life has achieved a notoriety only surpassed by Droch'ah himself.
The many fields of science that Drake has approached and perfected to a meticulous perfection, to incorporate them into his evil plans of invasion and conquest include, among many others: mech engineering, neuroscience and biotic engineering, hadronic computer science and A.I's engineering, biogenetics in the specialty of cloning and some more bizarre as mechanics and a degree as an elite projectile gunner with an unbeaten score of 99.999% at the Illyrian military academy of Novum Charybdis.
After a successful career as a frontline researcher in the scientific colony of Novum Dolorum, he tackled cloning projects through practices that caused remorse even among the often harsh and imperturbable Hegemony Military Staff, who afraid of the consequences and repercussions of the Dr. Drake's researchs, decided to destroy his works and make him disappear discreetly. Drake, who by keeping hacked the Novum Dolorum network was aware of the plans of the authorities, was evaded along with the valuable data of his studies, establishing his refuge somewhere in the galaxy, beyond the borders of Uncharted areas.
Drake's work in the field of cloning led him to create a clone army with which he tested the Major Powers in 3282, and later to associate with numerous villains, such as Gorax or some of Droch'ah's lieutenants: Xerxes and Otto Von Bismarck, providing them with clone armies (3293 and 3294) with which they could undertake their plans for conquest. These experiences served him to obtain the necessary resources with which to create a second and improved clone army that he released in 3297 (however, with a success similar to the one of its first clone army, being disrupted by the mercenary clans).
He eventually came to associate with the last Forerunner himself: In exchange for his freedom to continue his own investigations, as well as an obscene amount of resources, Dr. Drake gave to Droch'ah enough knowledge for him to create his own clone army of the League of Ages as to encourage the resurgence of the Forerunner race.
In the field of the Mech Engineering, Dr. Drake has created two marvels war machines: The Antithesis, a 90 tons effective and dangerous heavy mech, and the Anubis, a deadly missile BFM that was developed in collaboration with Otto Von Bismarck.
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First gold medals at each category:
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Recorded videoptic archives.- Subject: Live Interview with Doctor Drake Novum.
Date: April, 10, 3320
Location: Secret Drake's Clonning Facilities, somewhere in the uncharted sector, beyond the known galaxy.
Mechanomicon - After several difficult and deep investigations, one of our scholars and investigators found a thin track leading him to the Dr. Drake facilities in the uncharted zone, where he requested successfully an interview with the elusive and dangerous Doctor.
Greetings Dr. Drake
Dr. Drake Novum - Salutations! And thank you for the genetic sample; I can always use a new clone."Big smile as he takes a seat." Can I get you some tea? It's delicious. I spent years perfecting the plant to get just the right flavor."
M. - *grins* I would really enjoy the tea and the chance to interview you, Dr. Drake. The journey to meet you has been quite the adventure of a life. Shall we start then?
*Drake motions and a clone come in carrying a tray. He sets it down a scurry away*
Drake - Yes the uncharted zones are definitely an adventure. It is full on pesky raiders, aliens, anomalies, and unstable gateways. I have lost lots of clones that way.
- Yes ask away.
M. - Let's start from your origins, Doctor. Where are you from?
Drake - Originally Earth, but spent more time on Novum. This is why I eventually took Novum for my last name."
M. - We found several pilots coming from the Old Terra. Like if the cradle of the mankind was also a factory of the best genetic specimens when time comes to link with a Mecha A.I.
- How young did you arrive to Novum Dolorum?
Drake - Novum Dolorum had the best schools for science, medicine, and other areas of interest to me. So I moved at relatively a young age, not like I had family to stop me from moving when I had the funds to do so.
M. - The Illyrian scientist colony is the closer place to a prison world I ever seen... I believe your life there was not easy precisely.
Drake - Well, I am brilliant and surprisingly charismatic so life there was not too difficult. And when people bothered me too much accidents, well not every invention is safe before testing.
*Drake takes a sip of tea*
M. - Aside a brilliant genius on the genetic scientist field, you are also known to be a very skilled mecha pilot and engineer... Which one was your first piloted mech, and how did you happen to end designing the marvelous Antithesis?
Drake - Don't forget the Anubis, I'm proud of that baby too. Well truthfully my first mech was one I invented, it never made it to production, became self aware and tried to destroy the facility. My second mech was another invention. One I tested on the pilot Marius Darkmoor. He defeated me and that's when I started using standard mechs. I wasn't really happy until I crafted my Antithesis though.
M. - You can be proud from your designs Doctor. Those who know how to rightly gear an Antithesis have never regretted its performance. Anubis is other question, quite the azimuth of your designs, a jewel for the missile behemoths.
- But before you became focused on your genetic research, you have been joining the sponsored Mecha games and Tournaments, right? Which one was your first clan?
Drake - Exile children, which I eventually became leader of before transferring to leadership of Exile Song. I made a deal with their leadership not to clone their members and they gave me sanctuary from the authorities.
M. - How was your experience among the Exile faction?
*Drake takes a moment, rubbing his chin.*
Drake - Fun, yes I would have to say fun. I even made it to the main clan before people started retiring.
M. - Before I started the long travel to your hide facilities, Mechanomicon checked your records into the Craftsmen Tournaments database, where we noticed a brilliant achievement during your short presence there...
- A first gold into the KotM competition... Front line champion in division nine, in Dec 3282...
Fire and Ice champion in 8th division, in november 3287...
Then, the 3288, the same tear in which the Black Star faction got founded, your clan got gold medal in division 17th
Drake - Yes, my Antithesis made all the difference. Not many could stand up to me in those low divisions. The gold in div 17 was my last time as leader of the children before the second faction war.
M. - Then, after nine more years of gold and some, and after your participation in the Clan Wars of 3304, was this time when you became to create your clone army?
- I believe all those tournaments must have gave you the opportunity to collect the DNA of several experienced pilots from the whole galaxy
Drake - True. The tournaments and wars gave me plenty of time to gather genetic samples.
- My first clone forces were unleashed upon the galaxy in December of 3282. I remember because I raided before the faction war and afterwards. I lost so many clones. I've never had enough to repeat the attacks both before and after a war again.
- Though given the chance to create and stockpile enough new clones I hope I can unleash the hordes again.
M. - Do you have cloned yourself anytime?
Drake - I have cloned myself a number of times, and even have AI's pattered after my brainwaves i.e. digital clones.
M. - So we could say you made yourself immortal, even if your original body got destroyed, right?
Drake - Well I guess so. Now that you mention it, I tend to send my clones into dangerous situations.
M. – Why, which one is your goal Dr. Drake; a tour de Force to test the armies and mercenary clans; a try aiming for pure domination or the demonstration of what a deviant genius mind can do?
Drake - Can't a man do all three? I mean sure testing the clans is fun but it does get... Sad seeing my poor clones blasted to bits, though not every raid is a loss, some clans just can't handle the overwhelming force. But truthfully I do it because it's fun to put in motion an event and see how it turns out. Like any good experiment I love learning how things work.
M. - And yet, you started dealing with the infamous Forerunner Drochah, who beyond experiments, has tried with consummate persistence to conquer this galaxy and resurrect his lineage, hundreds of years extinct, to enslave again the mankind (and luckily, always stopped by the combined effort of the whole mercenary clans)...
Drake - Well I've worked with lots of people. Gorak (now Gorax), Evil Santa, Otto Von Bismarck, tried working with Serpentarius but she swallowed my lab with me in it. If I didn't have my inventions, I would be a dead man now. My AI's would be running the show. Well one of my AI's did get out and start hacking people's mechs if I recall Toshiko had corrupted it.
M. - Thousands of pilots can't now drink and laugh at LaSalle's because of your maneuvers and business with all those villains... But I bet that won't disturb your dreams...
* Drake keeps a perfect poker face while he sips again his rare tea*
M. - After your last retirement, did you notice about the recent Clone Purge?
Drake - Heard about it, not really surprised I did make a whole lot and then people started capturing and recruiting clones for their clans. Showing them anime teaching them they have rights... utter chaos.
M. - More than that... Some of your laboratories data got leaked and other scientists copied it and started their own clone production, provided they pretended those clones were stable, but the time showed certain psychopathic conducts on them. That moved the galactic authorities to ban most of them, control and limit them. All of this happened also in the wings of the paranoia that your own actions generated along the time.
Drake - I knew my failsafe on that lab was faulty. I should have just destroyed it when I fled it like I normally do anymore. Other scientist with my clones... There is no respect for trademarks.
M. - February 3320, Craftsmen’s records show you joked all security protocols and joined once more time the KotM to become champion in the own face of General Nova in the Progressive Pileup competition... Why your return from the forbidden borders and to expose you to a possible detention by any of the hundreds of security agencies looking to catch you?
Drake - Truthfully, I'm not sure. My Antithesis was a bit dusty and I really wanted to see if I still had what it takes to be the best. I almost didn't do it. It was a struggle but with my two Antithesis, Harrell, Magnus, Dilophos, Inferno, Gigus, 2 Megazones and Ammonite; I was confident I had a shot.
- I also don't fret the authorities when it comes to tournaments as I usually have an escape plan.
M. - The Mechanomicon A.I. threw an interesting theory about your return, curiously coincident with the recent discovery of a new Chroniode... Long time Drochah has been own one, and pretending to master you; Now, with the defeat and banishment of Drochah (but probably not definitive defeat) you might want to own your own.
What marvels couldn't create the enigmatic engineer, cloning master, ancient lore researchers, mech inventor and hacker with a Chroniode?
*Drake licks thoughtfully his lips before leave the cup on the ebony table and takes out a notepad where he starts making notes*
Drake - Yes... I just might. If I... increase accuracy... stronger clones... must have... another raid, yes to get that...hmmm.
- Oh you're still here. Disregard anything you might have heard.
M. – (sighs) Returning to the mechas... You were well known for your love for projectile weapons and trampling bash... Do you happen to like another specific mecha capability?
Drake - Dodge, yes an agile mech is very important to me. Don't be there to take the hit and you'll live longer in my book.
M. - Just as time becomes tangible when it comes to technology, advances, in mech engineering have achieved a new generation of mechas: the incomparable titans of 100 tons. What do you think about those monsters among the monsters?
Drake - I would love to build a BFM, maybe a fire ice combo with built in wide fork and decent agility. *starts making notes*
M. - Although, to obtain the maximum performance of the biggest of the BFMs the pilot skills required are as high that few can match, only this way can achieve the excellence in its handling... Do you think you would dedicate time to polish your skills to pilot them?
Drake - It might take awhile to get my skills up to piloting one.
M. - How do you find the fact that through the creation of your Antithesis and Anubis mechs you have been supporting the mankind by providing them mighty weapons against the several menaces that time to time besiege our galaxy?
Even your tries to dominate the galaxy have served as a useful training to the mercenary clans, with more success polishing their warrior skills than the own games, making them ready to confront the most dangerous threats to the galaxy as the latest invasion of Unification.
Drake – Ouch, way to hit a man where it hurts. Now my factory that makes the Antithesis was captured nothing I can do about that, and Bismarck should have destroyed the plans for the Anubis so no one else could replicate it but me.
M. - Even your tries to dominate the galaxy have served as a useful training to the mercenary clans, with more success polishing their warrior skills than the own games, making them ready to confront the most dangerous threats to the galaxy as the latest invasion of Unification.
Drake - Well it was not my plan to help the clans more like crush them, they have proven their metal time and time again. It just pushes me to make better clones in return, so the help is sort of mutual.
M. - Even the clones, at some time had been an useful resource of recruitment, when a good amount of them were offering the possibility to recycle them after free them from your mind conditioning.
Drake - They proved very effective spies for me... whoops.
M. - Mechanomicon analyzed all your attempts to take over the galaxy and has evidence that your maneuvers have been a great good for the galaxy, aside the victims of course.
*cough*… Your actions have been catalogued as a cosmic paradox by Mechanomicon A.I.
Drake - …Burnt towns and villages… Mechs rampaging through cities… A great boon to the galaxy… Then there is the virus's I've engineered.
*Drake frowns*
- Paradox, yes... Fighting my own raids was a paradox.
M. - Towns and villages in a whole galaxy are nothing that some re-urbanization programs have been doing before... the virus plagues have allowed to find some new medical discoveries and new and more effective vaccines...
- Mechanomicon's A.I. has defined you as an unexpected good for the galaxy that have been training better than with any other instructor might have been prepare the galactic forces to repel the greater Evilness
- What do you think about the matter Sir?
Drake - I... I'm at a loss for words. I'm helping the galaxy…
*As the gaze of Drake Novum turns with a dangerous looking, the Mechanomicon interviewer drastically changes the subject of the questions*
M. - (cough) You stated, Doctor, that you would like to keep improving your pilot capabilities... Are you planning to do it joining a new mercenary clan or on your own?
Drake - Now that is a good question, now I may try to go solo and keep the authorities from tracking me down unless I can find sanctuary with a clan again.
M. - It has been a pleasure to have this opportunity to interview someone with such a prodigious mind... and the tea was delicious, Doctor.
Is there something else you may want to add, or a message for the scholars coming into your entry in the Mechanomicon?
*Drake smiles sinisterly showing his menacing perfect teeth*
Drake - It's been a delight and you've definitely have gotten me interested in what is going on in the galaxy again. Be cloning you soon.
M. - That brings to my mind a question... Is it possible to create a quality clone by cloning a clone?
Drake - Why yes, I have perfected the art. It's the only way I can craft such a large army, then there is the mechs. Getting my hands on so many of them with some being not even available to the clans is quite a chore.
M. - Once again, it has been a pleasure and a rare opportunity to be able to interview you for your entry in to the Mechanomicon.
*The investigator left the Drake's facility with a sigh of relief, but not being able to get rid of the insidious feeling that perhaps, he had not interviewed Dr. Drake, but one of his many clones...*
Entry and interview with Drake Novum Scientist (706289) by GJ (685605)
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