[hr][table][row][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"... What are you slagheaps waiting for? It was a false alarm. Get back in position."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910558232764882944/whiskeysour_deadly.gif[/img][/cell][/row][/table][hr]Wordlessly they steered themselves away from the center, these steel giants shambling through the space-snow. Most of them, anyway. They aimed their backs to the others and their guns to the opaque, soupy expanse beyond, sweeping, searching. With a fifth hurrying to sidle in beside them, it did indeed resemble better a [i]testudo,[/i] or a wagon-fort; but still, with only five pairs of eyes watching the storm, and the angles of the five mechs still jutting and crowding up against the others, not a one of them could falter in their vigilance. Not when death could come from anywhere.

Clashing up against this vigilance, however, was the rookie. Not only did she have to watch the others to know what they were doing, and ape them to match; she was struggling to even walk in her new machine. Ketherin held her breath, lest it escaped as words too volatile and cruel for someone so fresh to the ranks, and forced her focus elsewhere. She just had to learn their ways, Ketherin convinced herself. The layout inside her cockpit must've strayed too far from those scanned into the simulations. Or maybe it was just first-day nerves. The girl belonged to a fireteam now, after all; a second family, one which she didn't choose and couldn't escape. Not until her tour was up. Five strangers with whom, if they hated each other's guts, she was trapped for the next three years. Of course she wanted to like them, and for them to like her back. Like Ana before Synapse, and Gan before Ana, this bright-eyed newcomer was watching their every move, and soaking up their every way, while trying not to lean too close and trample any toes in the process. She didn't know how to behave around them yet; she was overthinking it, and stumbling over her own two feet as she practically forgot how to walk.

It had been like this with Ana, too: every little thing she did crawled under Ketherin's skin. She never quite seemed to be taking it all seriously. Everything that left her mouth was a happy-go-lucky movie cliché. And that pose she did in photographs, ugh ... that is, until Yrma pulled Ketherin aside and explained it to her. Explained it in a way which made sense.

[quote]"You got any kids back home, Lieutenant-Commander?" she said.

"No," Ketherin answered plainly.

"Do me a favor and pretend."

"Alright? ..."

"You and your husband have just come home from a nice dinner, and find your little girl all tangled up in your pearls, and slathered in your lipstick. She's even put a blade to her hair and given it a good lop. Would you be angry?"

"Naturally."

"Angry to the point of punishment?"

"Probably."

Yrma had already crossed her arms and gloated in some show of triumph, though by Ketherin's reckoning she hadn't even reached any sort of punchline yet.

"Why?" she prodded.

"Quit screwing with me. It's obvious why."

But Yrma persisted. "Why, then?"

So Ketherin deigned to explain herself: "Because I was trying to have a calm, relaxing evening with my husband. Now I've got a mess to clean."

"Ah, right," Yrma chuckled, as if she really had forgotten something so obvious, "that's right. The kid has ruined your evening now, hasn't she. On purpose?"

Ketherin didn't want to admit that she had never delved particularly deeply into the psychology of children. She had to walk herself through all the likelihoods: of a child holding a grudge at least for hours, maybe days. Of the child's ability to bide, to scheme, and to execute. "Hmm. Probably not."

"But you're still punishing her?"

"For God's sake, is there a point to this Socratic bullshit or not?!"

Yrma chuckled again. "Alright. The point, then ... " Ana attracted her gaze from across the room. She was speaking to Caledon, recently promoted to Commander and team leader. From the way she dug the toe of her boot into the carpet, and hid her hands behind her back, and swayed bashfully on the ball of her foot, she was enjoying his company quite a lot. "Scyto" was harder to read; he made everyone feel welcome aboard his team, even when it wasn't his to lead. Even when he was troubled, as Ketherin was now troubled, he made sure it never sloughed off onto anyone else.

"You know, all this time you've talked about how it all made [i]you[/i] feel. The mess [i]you'd[/i] have to clean," Yrma explained. "But not once did you stop to consider the child's feelings in this story. Did you?"

"Of course I did," the new Lieutenant-Commander refuted. "I thought of how it would hurt her——hurt us both——for me to have to discipline her."

"But not one second before that. Not why she did it, because the mess seemed so senseless to [i]you,[/i] you never stopped to wonder about the feelings which provoked it."

Ketherin had been poised to refute this. All of it. Not anymore.

"Not even dogs chew the furniture for no reason, ma'am," Yrma continued. "They do it because they're lonely, neglected, pent-up. Because they'd rather be playing with you, and the wooden leg of a table is the effigy of your absence. So tell me what you think. Really. Why would a little girl want to wear [i]your[/i] jewels, [i]your[/i] makeup, [i]your[/i] hairstyle?"

Yrma didn't need Ketherin's answer; she could see that she'd got it. So the former had only one last thing to say to bring it all together. She paired it with a clap on the back, which then slid off Ketherin's shoulder as the elder pilot began sauntering back to the rest of the group.

"I know I'm not the CO around here, and I definitely wasn't much of a mother to anyone who called me one. But if you'll humor one more question, consider what it is that you're punishing right now," she said, throwing the youngest and newest member of the team a second furtive glance. "Is Ana Calypsi ditzy, clumsy, and dumb? Or is she nervous because she's eager to get along with her new team, and prove to you she's worth her scrap?

"That's it. Thanks."

The next footstep told Ketherin that Yrma really had said the last of her piece. She considered giving her the last word—letting the silence hang dramatically over the old woman's thesis—but ... no, she couldn't just let it go unsaid. Not after how she had just been, in a way, rescued. "Yrma."

Yrma stopped, but didn't turn.

"You were a wonderful mother. I'm sure of it."

Ketherin could sense Yrma's smile, bittersweet and forlorn, but not see it. "Thanks, but you're wrong," she replied. "A good mother would've been there for them."[/quote]
Ketherin glanced over at the second screen in her comms array—Yrma's screen—flickering near strips of duct tape scrawled over with her tail number, callsign, and a few of her machine's specs, all of these old and worn and peeling. The old woman had no chance of noticing the Commander's contemplative and nostalgic glance while sorting herself into the circle; scouring her rearviews and lining up with the mechs beside her and so on.

The new girl's screen, left of Yrma's, was the only one sticky with fresh tape and fresh pen. They were, after all, the only creds in the fireteam which Ketherin didn't know by heart.[center]"Lt. SYNAPSE, ROSE." 
"Model: Talarius RSS9 (Recon, Scout, Skirmisher, Mk9) 'Fire Ant.'"
"Tail #: 3[u]ZE[/u]"[/center][hr][table][row][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"So, Zulu-Echo, how did it look out there?"[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910545171744174111/fairytale_unamused.gif[/img]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color][/right][/cell][cell][code]"HEY! Who just bumped me?!"[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/914939690224869496/mowgli_awkward.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code](Oops.) "Um, it was smooth enough of a journey. Didn't even get caught! ... Oh! You won't believe what I saw, though: I saw a Quickdraw! Assault configuration! It was ancient!"[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code](Patience ...) "Glad to hear it. How many?"[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/914939690224869496/mowgli_awkward.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Only one. And it being so old and all, it didn't have hip actuators or anything. It definitely didn't notice me!"[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"In total, Zulu-Echo. How many are we up against? I say again: how many bandits in theater? Over."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/914939690224869496/mowgli_awkward.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Oh! Um, I don't know. Since I was being safe and taking a longer, safer circ route, I didn't keep track of anything like that. Sorry. Uh, over."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"..."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"Well, it doesn't change anything. Listen up. We're going hammer-and-anvil on these sons of bitches."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888569511802986576/mowgli_smug.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Right!" (Oh god we're going to be fighting soon aren't we oh god.)[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"Once Gan takes a shot and downs a tango, one of two things will happen. Either they'll group up and sally out to intercept him, or they'll circle around and try to take cover behind the base. Either way, our two groups pinch down hard and hit 'em from behind."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910545174676008960/romeo_casual.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"So we don't know who's the hammer and who's the anvil, huh ..."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"Something like that."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910545194171133952/grizzly_action.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Will the groups remain this ... asymmetrical? I don't like Gan being alone out there if they're gunning for him."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][/table][hr]A good point. Gan had weak armor, slow actuators, and an arsenal comprising long-range weapons almost exclusively. On top of that, most of the weight on the Basilisk was either a giant battery for fueling all those rail and laser systems, or a reactor engine for shoving all that mass around. If he got spotted, and was caught in unawares by more than a light-class patrol or two, he'd be sitting inside little more than a bomb waiting to blow.

But who to send in the Fire Ant's stead? The Phalanx had enough frontal armor to let Chlotho stand up to attack, but its armaments put it in much the same dilemma as the Basilisk: it wanted to weaken armor and pick off pilots from a distance, not get outmaneuvered up close. Ana's Hellion had impressive armor for the speeds she could achieve, but her configuration was meant for unloading a single huge payload quickly and relentlessly before backing off again to re-arm. She would thrive in a brief burst of violence, but languish under attrition. That only left the Hunchback, a versatile and deadly mech, but most of its short-range weapons were lasers, which were both less effective out in this weather, and quick to overheat leaving Yrma unguarded while her coolant flushed and her longer-range weapons sat haplessly quiet and cold.

It wasn't ideal——the 'Team worked best in formation, covering each other member's weaknesses——but Ketherin had a choice to make, and she made it. She called out the reinforcement's callsign while she made adjustments on the map.[hr][table][row][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"Alpha-Tango."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910545174676008960/romeo_casual.gif[/img]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Goddammit."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"You'll convoy with One-Seven-Juliet and provide him with covering fire. Zulu-Echo will reconnoiter before linking back up with our Alpha group."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888492402212487218/mowgli_calm.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Yes, ma'am."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"At the very least you need to tag stationary targets for the Basilisk's Gauss cannons. But I'd like a way to track them while they're mobile, too. Any ideas?"[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888492402212487218/mowgli_calm.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"How about sticky bombs? Hollow out the casings and put tracking devices inside them."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"Good idea. Anyone here have sticky bombs?"[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910545184796864572/grizzly_japing.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"No, but the miners would. They use 'em to blow rock in the ceilings of their tunnels."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"Then can we make contact with the base without blowing through the walls?"[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888492402212487218/mowgli_calm.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Maybe?"[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"Not good enough. Alright; forget it. You just find an immobile target for Gan, deliver the metadata to him, then RV with us here. And you, Chlotho."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910545174676008960/romeo_casual.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"Yeah, yeah. I'm mobile."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][right][code]"You two can fire-at-will. That goes for weapons and jammers. The rest of you, I want acoustics up at all times. We move once he takes the shot."[/code][/right][/cell][cell][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888457834717655080/whiskeysour_calm.gif[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/888492402212487218/mowgli_calm.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"On it, ma'am."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][right][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/617914243760783381/910545174676008960/romeo_casual.gif[/img][/right][/cell][cell][code]"I'll go fill him in, then. Out."[/code][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][/table][hr]They made a breach in the formation, and watched him as he went. Glaring, as the Phalanx trudged southward, was the thinness of its rear armor, especially in the torso. That weakness had plagued Chlotho before, as he was eager to rush ahead into danger and was thus prone to overextend himself. His easily-flanked mech [i]really[/i] belonged in the hands of a calmer, cooler pilot, but ... he could also make a shot when it really mattered, just like Ganymedes. And it was too late to talk Chlotho out of trading it in, anyway; now he was nostalgic for the thing. Ketherin only hoped she hadn't just sent her two best shots into a desperate last stand, stranded kilometers away from the rest of the team.