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 a diagnostic performed the first time an Evangelion unit is activated. An activation test is not necessary for future activations.
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 Unit-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 Unit-01
It is not specified when Eva-01 underwent its first activation, but it is a possibility that the unit never had a proper activation test and was sent directly into combat against Sachiel with Shinji Ikari as its pilot. It is also possible that Rei Ayanami may have been the pilot used for Eva-01's activation test, but the pilot-swap test seen in Episode 14 suggests this was not the case.
Evangelion Unit-02
Asuka activated and trained with her Evangelion in Germany, long before it ever made an appearance.
Evangelion Unit-03
Eva-03 was infected by Bardiel before its activation test.[2]
Evangelion Unit-04
Eva-04's activation test is shrouded in mystery. The only known fact is that it was activated with an S2 engine, before enveloping Nerv's Nevada branch in a Dirac Sea.
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