[hr][hr][center][color=0076a3][h2]STEIN KALFOX[/h2][/color]
[sub][i][b]“Greed is so destructive. It destroys everything.”[/b][/i]
E A R T H A  K I T T[/sub][/center]
[hr][hr]
[center][b]BRIEFING ROOM  -  NEW ANCHORAGE[/b][/center]

[quote][i][color=8882be]"Currently, it's pretty walled up. We seem to have two NC's guarding it, the Red-Oni and Fubuki, a heavily armored unit that specializes in thermal based attacks, and a 'bird-leg' humanoid that focuses on mobility and electronic warfare respectively. Aside from those two stooges, the gun is also defended by a small collective of turrets, most of them fitted with standard medium-ROF, medium damage kinetic cannons, and two of them being light artillery pieces. Nothing Little-Dragon and Goldenspur can't handle together, I reckon, so you two'll be heading out for that. Pay is 450,000 credits, divided amongst you two and after taking a cut for SR, that should be 100,000 for each of you."[/color][/i][/quote]
[i]Little Dragon and Goldenspur. Heh.[/i]

If Stein had a sense of humor she would’ve found her first assignment as an independent particularly amusing. Not only was it for her former employers, it was one assigned with that pilot in particular. She was sure that the lead engineer would be chuckling in his own amusement. It seemed that she would be indeed seeing if his piloting was better than his wit, indeed. 

Her eyes moved down as she flipped through the information her unit had been given on the missions at large. 

[color=0076a3][i]“Hm.”[/i][/color] Stein mused in her thoughts, as she read the paper in front of her.

As Stein read through the files she stopped on the page that detailed her to-be enemies. Enemies that were detailed in what could have been possibly the most messy intelligence gathering she had ever seen for any enemy in her [i]entire[/i] career, let alone ones she was particularly familiar with— NC’s that she had come across before in [i]actual[/i] reports back when she was a Volkov drone. Then again she didn’t know a lot more than Sophia’s operation, though she’d never admit it. Red Oni, or Akai no Akuma (赤い悪魔) was a bulky mech that had a ridiculous loadout, but if she remembered correctly the pilot used this as a sort of “false flag” operation to trick opponents into underestimating them; which was smart and something Stein would do. As for Fubuki (吹雪), well the only thing that Stein could gather in the past was they were a “solo player” who liked dealing with things quickly, efficiently, and [i]alone[/i].

These were facts she would most definitely share with her partner in the operation. Though it was here that Stein began thinking of strategies revolving around the two almost as soon as she read and recalled their profiles.

Jan had taken a sideways glance at Stein the moment he realized he was being paired up with her. He thought back on the simulation earlier. It seemed like he would get to know what her piloting was like without the rigidity of an AI involved. He was already making plans as to how they would work together. The intelligence on the enemy wasn’t too great, but it would have to do. At least, that's what he thought.

When his name was mentioned specifically, Jan felt somewhat flattered, but also rather perturbed. If a corporation would bother to call him by name, it meant they had at least a passing interest in him. Experience had taught him such attention could be quite dangerous for independents like him. Still, the offer seemed easy enough, just shoot at a prototype for field testing. He had a nagging feeling about the specifics of the offered contract though. Why did Fairbanks want independent contractors for such a sensitive thing, he’d think they could just draw from their own fleet of NC pilots. It seemed Stein had followed a similar vein of reasoning to himself though, as she was already raising essentially the same concerns.

[color=0076a3]“I have a comment, if I may.”[/color] Stein stated as she paused on reading about the third operation; the one requesting Jan by name.

[color=8882be]"You have the floor. Go ahead.”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“Is it not sufficiently risky for us to engage in the Fairbanks operation? It seems like we could damage our armors pointlessly. Is there additional information, Commander?”[/color]

[color=8882be]"Pointlessly? No. It’s a simple fight ‘to the death’, AKA, until you or the prototype has to tap out. In any case, Fairbanks didn’t give us shit to go on themselves, but they’re the types to use anything to win, no matter what. ”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“Understood, though could it also be possible that asking for Officer Van Gent by name might indicate Fairbanks is targeting him? His career as an independent has dubbed him as a ‘mercenary’ with many enemies in all corporations if my information is correct.”[/color]

Whilst Stein didn’t recognize Jan’s face when she met him earlier in the day, she did know the name; a fact she kept to herself when they exchanged names in their brief ‘proper’ introduction. It was clear to her, at least within her mind, that this operation from Fairbanks could’ve been a trap for one individual pilot. Stein had guided herself on her instincts in the past and she was getting one from this briefing when the third operation had been mentioned— a reason she had decided to speak up when her history at Volkov had little vocal inquiries or statements in the briefing room.

Jan nodded, “I would rather not walk ass backwards into a trap, sir. She is right, I have quite a bit of bad blood with quite a lot of powerful people. And if this were to be a trap, it would also drag everyone else in this room in along with me.”

[color=8882be]“Very good points you two, it’s nice to confirm that you pilots are keeping your eye on the ball too. In any case, they had to go through a lot of trouble to contact us, and just how hated can you be by the higher-ups in Fairbanks, Jan, really?”[/color]

Jan leaned back as he reminisced. “Well, I’ve disrupted their supply lines for about a year one time, I’ve also been part of some larger clashes where I’m quite certain I could confirm a not easily ignored number of confirmed Fairbanks-aligned casualties to my name. But perhaps you are right. An independent like me can grow quite paranoid living ‘off the grid’ for as long as I have.”

[color=0076a3]“A career on the grid isn’t much less dangerous.”[/color] Stein added before turning back to their Commander. [color=0076a3]“What are the estimated statistics of this Fairbanks operation being a FFO?”[/color]

Jan chuckled at the mention of the word ‘statistics’. As if pure conjecture like this could be quantified. Still, he remained silent, as to not interrupt anyone’s train of thought.

[color=8882be]“Oh, yes, what a complex series of calculations…. three percent.”[/color]. Sophia had to keep herself from breaking face. Stein wanted a full on estimation of the statistics? These days, anything could happen.

Stein raised a brow about the statistic given, but decided not to make a comment on it’s authenticity; an authenticity that was most certainly fabricated as far as her presumptions went because she had never gotten such a low percentile in her decade or so of fighting as a pilot. Howver, if that was the information she was given, then that was what she would factor in. 

[color=8882be]”If you two really believe it’s a trap, as I said, it’s optional, on all technicalities. I won’t force you to do it, but I’d obviously prefer if you signed up.”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“If he accepts the mission and requests me as backup, I will provide it.”[/color]

Jan took a moment to think about the entire situation. “As you say Commander, the chance of this being a trap is rather negligible. Still, I’d prefer we have a backup plan in case that three percent does ring true. I would ask some pilots stay back at base as a plan B, just in case.  But given those precautions… I’d be willing to do it.”

[color=8882be]“Fair enough. Anyone else have any questions?”[/color]