So there's a lot of ground to cover. We've been given creative freedom over the interpretation of the 'animated clay', the background of our faction and its characteristics, our pilots' names, backgrounds and relationships as well as our own take on the nature of the Aria's within the confines of what's been stated thus far in the discord.
One idea of what the clay is - a mass of a plastic (in the mechanical sense) soft electronic substance, hence the term clay, which acts as a processing core, accomplishes the unit's motor functions, and provides structural stability. The nature of Arias might be an emergent behaviour from large, potentially conscious bundles of clay, with the external robotics and infrastructure constraining and slaving the clay to an internal network and the operator in particular. The necessary size (~50 meters for the current unit) might be due to a critical mass of clay necessary for said emergent behaviour to manifest. There's also a discussion to be had over the faction's name. Seeing as we're a R&D branch of a corporation that formed the clay, we have options.
As far as the practical side of things goes.
The Arias themselves seem to function via sound or thereabouts, but they generate a standing wave at a distance and can thus be utilized for a variety of interesting things in the long run. We also know, from our starting options, that they can create and direct beams of light.
We got a free unit - the Angelica 03 Sachiel (Unit 0-A03 Sachiel?) armed with the knife and aria bow. I assume there's no room for a second pilot in there, or in the frame itself. Whatever we want, we'll probably have to build ourselves to solidify. The fact we've given up the relatively decent ranged and melee armament due to cost concerns and in favor of Aria bonuses mean we should prioritize at least buffing and diversifying this at least once during what is essentially this AR's pre-main game super turn.
Personally, one thing I'd want to do prior to the start of the game proper is boost our pilots' capabilities (visibility, emergency survival, compatibility with at least the test unit) with a dedicated plug suit and plug system; revising a hardened frame at an equal cost more or less to protect vital areas, such as the aforementioned plug and motor centers and keep the thing fighting even if its shield goes down temporarily - as well as giving it EW and ECW suites + more sensors; boosting the Aria of Wind's capabilities and rename it something more respectable... A lot to do, actually. We can spend the revisions to get ourselves better parts for the mechs and/or improve our industrial base / support units.
What we need to do is play this smart. We need to lay the groundwork for future expansion if nothing else, and we'd do that now. Revising the unit's frame and mobility suite - primarily boosting their general performance, with us introducing conduits for the unit's Aria to further improve that within the design itself. Leaving that for a revision, even the above-mentioned pilot improvement plan would be valuable in that it'd let us make use of any physical improvements we make to the units.
I propose the following:
Aria 1, Production Model 'Adriel' Framework
The Adriel framework encompasses a set of planned designs and revisions based around the philosophy that guided the Sachiel's development. Within this broader plan, individual components that seek to enhance the base capabilities of the Aria make up the building blocks, while aria conduit infrastructure (ACI compatibility) acts as the glue further strengthening a unit's effectiveness.
The base components are thus the A1-PMa series frame, leg improvements, an EW and ECW suite, and various pilot enhancements
A1 Series Frame
Where-as the Sachiel's basic frame was designed without a clear purpose in mind, as it represented one of the first functional Aria prototypes, the goal of the A1 Frame is to more effectively distribute the various components that allow the unit to tick. The command pod is standardized in the form of a long tubular chamber reminiscent of a long capsule, which is kept in the form of an entry outside the unit, docked with the walls while in standby, and injected into the posterior of the unit's spine at a large angle prior to combat missions. This standardized command pod (the SCAMP for short) hosts the unit's control interface, room for a copilot, a defensive armament in case of ejection in the form of a standard issue service rifle, as well as the emergency eject system in the form of escape thrusters serving to propel the pod away from the unit in case of a berserk scenario, or otherwise in case of critical structural damage that would render it inoperable. The SCAMP is hardened against kinetic and chemical penetrators, as well as EMP strikes and electronic warfare attempts so as to ensure the pilot is kept alive even in the face of direct fire from large caliber ordinance, and the link to the Aria untouched by outside interference even in the absence of the defense field. Furthermore, armoring of the frame is allocated to the torso and sensory suite in the head, with the limbs formed from a leaner yet denser mixture of smart clay. Due to the shift in center of gravity and reduction in weight, the unit should be quicker, and due to the concentration of armor on critical areas, more durable. The frame is made ACI compatible to enable it to increase the effectiveness of Arias-based and enhanced machinery, though not granting many boons apart from yet more protection to the frame itself. This protection comes from the ability of the Aria to form an internal segmented defensive field when the field is at low strength, therefore increasing its effective armoring while at the same time allowing the field to regenerate at a faster pace.
A1 Series Mobility Suite
Along with the A1 Series Frame, an accompanying mobility suite is planned to make full use of the first production-ready Aria's capabilities. Motor material density is put at a premium alongside refining work on the clay and smart fiber motors themselves to maximize speed, acceleration and force transfer - working at its peak alongside the respective frame. These legs are fully ACI compatible with the A1 series frame and utilize the defensive field Arias to allow the unit a mode in which it practically sprints at a significant increase from its regular performance, and has the ability to jump over significant distances and glide on a solidified field at a controllable pace.
A1 Series E(C/CC)W Suite
To allow the frame more flexibility, modernizations of the frame's electronic warfare capabilities are available in the form of an installable package installed in the unit's cranium, taking up a portion of the clay's processing power and moving them away from motor functions to maximize offensive and defensive hacking capabilities, jamming potency, decryption and encryption, as well as analysis, of communications and sensory data, and the general manipulation of electromagnetic radiation for the sake of lowering the enemy's and increasing our own efficacy on the battlefield. The unit is noticeable due to it's increased number of external 'eyes' and the extended cranium attaching to the back and moving over the extreme inner edge of the shoulder joints, with an entry plug located at the base where it thins into the back.
'Adriel' Series Pilot Suit & Training Programme
With the above-mentioned upgrades awaiting the Aria, the pilots' suits seemed undesirable - as they were simple flight suits equipped with sensory layers and interface helmets afforded to members of the airforce. The 'Adriel' series thus sought to attend to the unique position of Aria pilots and transform both the image and the effectiveness of our pilots. The suit is made more rugged, incorporating the sensory layer into the main fabric of the suit and interweaving it with a strong ballistic fiber. Additional composite armor plates are installed in the shoulder, torso, knees, elbows, and back. Over this, the pilot dons the front of a four-point safety harness and a metal cage that interfaces with a secured metal block within the SCAMP itself, outside the unit and before injection - wherein magnetic clamps grab onto the pilot and, while permitting movement, secure them within the command seat. The helmet is made resistant to direct fire and is fitted with an augmented reality visor giving the pilot a 360° unobstructed view of the outside of the Aria at night or day, direct diagnostics tools and improving immensely their general situational awareness through the usage of a man-machine interface. Essential information about the Aria, aiming and maneuvering assistance, and output from the processing core is all displayed clearly on an active matrix liquid crystal display. In the case of SCAMP ejection, the pilot possesses an easy to reach lever that unsecures him from the seat. After this, his suit and provided armament serve to allow him enough time for extraction or exfiltration to maximize pilot survivability in adverse conditions. Programmable clay processors are to be incorporated in the crown of the helmet to analyze battlefield data and provide constant communication with mission control. Pilot training and recruitment regimes are, likewise, adapted to suit the personal soul link that is the core behind the Aria's power supply. Preparations for live training and missions are done in pairs, with an emphasis on romantic attachment and long-term compatibility.