Activation Test
"We've seen it. The proof of its construction was very useful." |
They say a picture is worth a thousand words... |
"You told me that you returned the day before the incident. Was it also good luck that you returned with your research aswell?" |
The activation test is the process by which an Evangelion is powered up for the first time, allowing subsequent activations. The activation test only needs to be performed once, unless an Evangelion is fully deactivated. In this case, the Evangelion must be re-activated.
Procedure
The Evangelion is hooked up to an umbilical cable, and its internal batteries are charged. After this process is complete, the signal plug is ejected and the entry plug is inserted into the body of the Evangelion. As opposed to a standard activation, the optic nerves are not activated[1]. Power is supplied to the Evangelion unit until it reaches an internal threshold, at which point the Evangelion is deemed to be activated and fit for future re-activations.
Evangelion 00
In the case of Eva-00, its initial activation was unsuccessful. After going berserk, it was cut off from power and allowed to exhaust its internal batteries. After it lost power, a signal plug was inserted, effectively rendering the unit useless. The unit's second activation went without problems.
Evangelion 01
While it is unknown exactly when Eva-01 underwent its first activation, one can extrapolate that Rei Ayanami may have been the pilot in the unit's original activation[2]. While Eva-01 ran out of power multiple times in the series, it never needed a full reactivation, showing that something was unique about Eva-00's deactivation.
Evangelion 02
Asuka presumably activated her Evangelion in Germany, long before it ever made an appearance.
Evangelion 03
Eva-03 was infected by an angel before its activation test. The test itself, however, was unaffected.
Evangelion 04
Eva-04's pilot and soul are unknown. However, since an activation test did occur, a control mechanism and pilot must have been present. While there is no way to know the soul inside of the unit, it can be safely assumed that a dummy plug was used in the unit's activation.
Mass Production Evangelions
All the MPEs were likely activated at Seele before appearing in End of Evangelion. Because they are clearly piloted by dummy plugs, it stands to reason that they must have been activated with the plugs as well.
In Rebuild
Evangelion Provisional Unit 05
It is assumed that Eva-05 finished its original activation test seconds before it appeared on-screen. The text characters covering the walls of her entry plug suggest that some sort of internal diagnostic occurred following its first (and only) activation.
Mk.06
Nothing is known about the Mk.06's activation asides from the fact that yes, it is an Evangelion, and yes, it was activated.
Evangelion 08
Eva-08 was presumably activated sometime during the 14 year timeskip.
Mk.09
See entry for the Mk.06.
Evangelion 13
Because the mechanics of Neo-Nerv are likely different than those 14 years ago, it is unknown if activation procedures changed or not.
References