The Swarm's electronic systems were still functioning, as they were embedded within the torso, which didn't take much damag during the crash, as the jetpack shielded it from the ground, which did the most damage. The jetpack was probably either completely ground up by the friction during the crash, or it was crushed by the impact. Possibly something in between. The legs and arms were also damaged, soil got into the joints, and armor was deformed, limiting the joints' mobility. In it's current state, the Swarm had the mobility of an elder person suffering from gout.

Despite this, Joe managed to get the Swarm in an upright position, and started walking towards Blur and Mad-E. Despite the reduced flexibility of the Swarm's joints, slowly walking in the NC was still a littlebit faster than running on foot. He opened a direct line to Blur: "Did you get any response from Mad-E yet? If not, I'll attempt to force a video feed from within the cockpit, unless I arrive first." Joe muted himself on the line afterwards, he didn't want to distract anyone with his attempts of getting a response.

His first test was to check if Mad-E's communication systems were still functioning, so he sent a PING to the NC. Any device interfacing with a network should respond to a PING with a PONG, provided it is able to do so, and the origin of the PING isn't on the device's blacklist. Mad-E'S computer immedeatly replied with the automated response. Joe sighed, relieved that the communication equipment survived, so he wouldn't be forced to be in the dark about the pilot's state until the hatch was broken open.

The next step would be to get a response from the pilot, and not the computer. Joe decided, that the best way to do so, was to pretend to be an unknown entity attempting to open a channel to the Mad-E. The computer should then prompt the pilot as for what to do. Even if the pilot wasn't plugged in, there should at least be a notification on a display or through a speaker, provided any display or speaker had survived.

As he sent the request, he had walked a 3rd of the way. Without the impaired joints, Joe would've arrived before he would have been able to start the 2nd test.