Tokyo-3, underground Heaven sector, Technical Development Department, First Hangar.
"Wolf Pack Combat Protocol activated!"
In the spacious circular control room, the holographic consoles lit up on their own with a ghostly blue glow, and the metal gates slowly slid apart amid the low hum of hydraulic machinery.
Cold, silvery-white light poured out like a waterfall, illuminating the hangar floor until it resembled a frost-covered metallic wasteland.
At that moment, three silver-gray mechanical arms raised specially made Entry Plugs in unison, suspending them precisely above the gates engraved with the "WOLF PACK" insignia.
On the floating platform beside an Entry Plug, a short-haired girl reached up and unzipped her black leather combat jacket, revealing a simple, close-fitting white underlayer.
"Finally, it's my time to shine, meow."
The ears atop Mari's head twitched, and the white mist of her breath quickly dissipated in the cold.
She bent down and picked up the black Plugsuit lying on the platform. A faint chill met her fingertips as they touched its specially made fabric.
The hangar's cooling system ran year-round to maintain the units' performance. Even with her underlayer on, she could feel the biting cold, and she could not help shivering.
Mari briskly slipped into the Plugsuit, gripped the zipper at her collar with both hands, and pulled it all the way down before pressing the adjustment buttons on either side of her waist.
The loose Plugsuit instantly tightened to fit her curves, while alloy guards automatically unfolded over her shoulders and elbows, tracing powerful contours.
"Much more comfortable than the old Plugsuits at the United States branch. Mobility should improve by another fifteen percent. No wonder every country wants ANIMA's technology."
She rolled her shoulders, feeling the gentle support from the Plugsuit's built-in assist mechanisms.
Mari looked up ahead. The iron-gray unit gazed