[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7doaecd.png[/img][/center] [hr] Penny grits her teeth as her strike lands true, shattering through the giant mecha's armor and right into its chest cavity and right through to the ground, creating a small crater where she landed. She pauses there, catching her breath as she recovers from her newest attack. [quote=@Inedible]Penny can feel a sudden heat as something cuts a line through the machine just above her. Blair’s flaming claymore carves a wicked line through half of the thing’s center mass, and Penny for a moment feels like the heat of a furnace as the Scottish girl skids to a halt next to her in the gaping cavity that Penny’s created. “Fuck,” She complains, “Y’took all the fun, ye’—”[/quote] Before Blaire could finish, the machine erupts into an explosion as Cordelia delivers one last strike to the dying war machine. Soon, all that's left is the sound of bending metal and breaking concrete, and then silence. Penny looks up at the fallen titan, then turns to Blaire. [quote]“Field’s clear. Orders are to hold until exercise is over. We’ll rendezvous shortly.”[/quote] [color=39b54a]"Copy that,"[/color] Penny replies into the comm. She turns back to Blaire. [color=39b54a]"I vote we get away from the giant, ammo-filled engine of destruction and get back to the group. We'll argue some more later."[/color] [quote=@Ponn][color=Gold]“All right!”[/color] Dana cheered, jumping up and punching the air, before holding out her hand in a victory sign. [color=Gold]“We did it! Nice work guys!”[/color] she added with a dazzling smile, as the various officers and Ars Magi gathered together. [color=Gold]“We made a great team!”[/color][/quote] [color=39b54a]"Oh, I don't know,"[/color] Penny replies with a slight smile. [color=39b54a]"It got pretty hairy there for a bit, wouldn't call it a milk run. Still, I'd have to agree; that was some [b][i]great[/i][/b] teamwork."[/color] [hr] [quote]“Penny!” Says Dima, breaking briefly away from the group of officers. “You were awesome. Like—way better than Altea.” It’s unclear if he heard all the swearing. Considering he’s supposed to be handling Blair, he might have gotten used to it. “I’ve got to go set stuff up, but, I’ll talk to you later—soon—hopefully--”[/quote] Penny is temporarily embarrassed by Dima effectively flirting with her in the middle of a field debriefing. Though she's surprised he's handling [b][i]Blaire[/i][/b] of all people, but then again, she supposes you get used to her. Sort of. [color=39b54a]"Oh come on, you're just buttering me up,"[/color] she says defensively. [color=39b54a]"I just did what I was told... "Oh, okay, yeah, talk to you later..."[/color] “Hah. Penny’s got a boyfriend, huh?” Penny shoots Blaire an annoyed glare, but feels like she can't let the Scot get the last word in. [color=39b54a]"Why? Are you jealous?"[/color] “How cute.” Penny's attention shifts to the blonde, wondering if she has another snarky remark up her sleeve. [color=39b54a][i]Well, that's just fine,[/i][/color] Penny thinks, [color=39b54a][i]I can just fight fire with f-[/i][/color] “Good work, Grenoble.” Okay, that genuinely catches her off guard. Amanda seems to be honest about her complement. Maybe she's not bad after all. Penny just takes the hand, and shakes it in a firm but friendly manner. [color=39b54a]"Thanks. You were pretty good out there too,"[/color] she replies with a genuine smile. Priya's offer of paying for lunch doesn't escape Penny's attention. [color=39b54a]"Hey, I wouldn't mind that offer - assuming you're not inviting just the sword-wielders of the group,"[/color] Penny comments. [quote]“Operation complete. All teams prepare from transport. Repeat—operation complete, return to base.”[/quote] [color=39b54a]"And I guess that's our cue to leave,"[/color] Penny says, hefting her giant warhammer onto her petite shoulders. [color=39b54a]"Oh, and Blaire, don't sweat it; you'll probably get the killing blow next time."[/color] As the girls head back to base, Penny pipes up. [color=39b54a]"Hey, Nichole?"[/color] she says. [color=39b54a]"Remember how you asked if anyone had a good idea for a team name and Dana said she was still trying to think of one? How does the name 'Team Radiant Storm' sound? A little pretentious, but I think it fits us nicely..."[/color] [hr] Back at the dorms, Penny is plain tuckered out. The day had been rather exhausting, what with the heavy fighting and the long-ass mission time. Still, there's no denying there's a strong sense of accomplishment, not only in surviving the mission in one piece, but in managing to succeed in accomplishing their goals. Even so, the tired Penny finds it a struggle to get out of her school outfit and into her sleeping clothes, and is almost tempted to just flop onto the bed in her schoolwear. Somehow, she manages to get to put aside her clothes neatly (guess she owes Mom's discipline a thanks for that one) before dropping onto her bed. [color=39b54a]"G'night, Dana,"[/color] she mutters before she goes to sleep. [color=39b54a]"Sweet dreams..."[/color]