Michael Haley looked over the pilots as they prepared to board their Overflags. Since leaving JOSH-A, the technical staff had been working around the clock to improve the machines, going over every inch of each mobile suit with a fine eye to find the sorts of mistakes that had led to several units failing in flight before they had even fired a single shot. They were all experienced pilots of the standard Flag, thrown head first into piloting the units with no idea aside from Michael's descriptions of what they could do. The crash course in Overflags had ended literally for several of the pilots.

Now it was up to the test pilot to give the enlisted pilots a real lesson in piloting the super machines. He looked over a checklist, comparing it to each of the pilots and a fresh medical evaluation for each of them.

"Welcome to Day 1 of Overflag School," Michael said. "You've each have piloted one of these beasts in real combat, but that doesn't make you a real Overflag pilot yet. I heard most of you cried when you were lifted out of your cockpits."

Each of the pilots shuffled about, either nervous, embarrassed, or wishing they weren't under orders to break the cocky test pilot's nose. Only Michael's wingman stood by motionless as the Overflags were brought out.

"It's not a sin to be overwhelmed by these machines," Michael stated. "At full thrust, you'll be hit with 7 Gs of acceleration, enough to make you pass out if you aren't ready for it. For this first lesson, the Overflags will be limited to 3 G, twice as much as the standard Union Flag puts out."

The assembled pilots quickly entered their mobile suits, eager to show up the cocky test pilot who was, for the time being, their instructor in the ways of the Overflag. Many of them were eager to push the suits to the limit, going full thrust out of the gate, but several units stalled despite the constant tuning and adjustment. Those that started slowly were soon in the air, going through basic maneuvers.

"Good work, pilots," Michael said, watching from his own Overflag. "Remaster the basics and then we can work on strengthening your bodies to accept this pressure."

Michael showed them the ropes of Overflag piloting, going over skills they learned at the beginning of their careers as pilots and helping them acclimate to the power of the Overflag. By the end of the training, several of them were still lagging behind, but many of the pilots were more comfortable with the powerful machines.

Outcome: Michael Haley wins
Michael Haley: (2+1) Xp, Repairing 1, L2 Overflag promoted to L3