[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/2HWveeE.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZQU7gNA.png[/img]
[i]Location:[/i] Lingayen Beach, Municipality of Lingayen, Lingayen Gulf
[i]Interactions:[/i] None[/center]

[quote=@Letter Bee]
"The enemy Arms Master we [i]know for sure[/i] is after us is Ren Huo - Or was it Huo Ren?" Noel responded to Regina punctually. "His Noble Arm is a Spear which allows him several Sun-themed powers - That means he's most likely the one projecting that Artificial Sun above us. Thankfully, Princess Fukuyo here is strengthened by fire and heat in general, meaning that she can counter him long enough for us to stab him in the back. As for the other Arms Masters... I don't have anything yet."
[/quote]

[i]Hearing Noel's rather "unprepared" response left a bad taste in Regina's mouth. She wasn't fond of working without a good basis for her enemy, even if surprises were supposed to happen during war. With the enemy's Arm Master approaching fast, everyone was starting to go on edge. Regina's squad, who had been just looking from afar were reunited with Regil at the helicopter, thinking about the next move they would make.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"Well, with this basic information, there's little we can actually work with. All that we know is that he's projecting the artificial Sun. And even if Princess Fuyuko can benefit from this situation, that doesn't mean we have his weak point identified."[/color] [i]Regina spoke.[/i]

[quote=@Letter Bee]
"Fireteams one and two - All of you but Nemo can reach him with your powers!" Noel shouted, clearly remembering Regil, Lucy, and Fukuyo's abilities in particular. "Prepare to attack; fire at will when we get the enemy's position through the comms!"
[/quote]

[color=8493ca](So... the enemy's getting closer and closer...)[/color] [i]Regil thought, looking at the sea in front of him.[/i]

"You're not thinking of attacking him directly, are you? We're gonna get bombarded without a chance to retaliate!" [i]One of the soldiers questioned him.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"Of course not. That's suicidal. And we don't have all the time in the world, either. As Lieutenant Alonso said, the enemy's Arms Master isn't some joke. Once he gets to the comms' range of detection, this battle will get even more fierce than usual."[/color] [i]Regil explained.[/i]

"If that's the case, shouldn't we just surrender and let them do whatever to us?! We're going to get killed anyway!" [i]Another one questioned.[/i]

[b][i]BGM:[/i][/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P8laoe8jbU]Friction by Mili[/url]

[color=8493ca]"No. I think I have an idea of how we can surround him with projectiles and keep him occupied. Even if his rank is right as an Arms Master, we can still overwhelm him with numbers."[/color] [i]Regil said.[/i]

"How?! This Huo Ren guy just blasted everything! How do you plan on making it so that he's busy?" [i]A third one asked.[/i]

[i]Regil looked behind them. Despite the beach being a mess, the city was behind them. And empty. The buildings near the beach were all unoccupied since all the civilians in the vicinity had been dispatched to rescue shelters far away from Lingayen Beach. It was a good place for the soldiers to hide and attack.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"Here's the plan: we'll leave the front line to any Arm Master still capable to fight. We can't risk you all going on full commando against someone who's literally capable of burning you to cinders. Grab the sniper rifles and station yourselves inside the buildings. Once you are in position, you're going to shoot as many rounds as we have at our disposal."[/color] [i]Regil explained his strategy.[/i]

"But young lord Regil, what about you? Are you planning to really go up front?" [i]The pilot asked.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"I may not have my strongest long-range Piece at my disposal now, but I still have a backup that can remedy the situation. And if I call his attention as one of the distant assailants, he won't think about noticing you all hidden in the buildings."[/color] [i]He answered.[/i]

"This is a strategy we're not used to. Normally we'd go full throttle on the enemy. That's how it works with Specialist Meitner." [i]A fourth soldier told him.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"This is all so you can escape in case the plan goes wrong. I'm not going to jeopardize your lives when I know that you can't defeat him on your own. If it goes south to us, I want you to abandon this battle and run. Go wherever it takes for you to reach safety and warn the main army about the enemy's potential."[/color] [i]Regil answered.[/i]

[i]The soldiers were surprised. They were so used to Regina's almost suicidal stunts that seeing the exact opposite strategy was nothing short of news to them. They were, to Regil, a chance on getting a better view of what the enemy can do, so that other Arms Masters who haven't joined the operation can know what they're dealing with.[/i]

"... Alright, we'll follow your plan. Let's get armed and hiding, boys!" [i]The pilot spoke. The soldiers nodded and went to grab the rifles inside the helicopter.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"Remember, in the first sign of loss, run away and don't look back. I don't want you to think about the consequences of abandoning us. Prioritize your survival before the victory."[/color] [i]Regil warned them.[/i]

"We do hope it doesn't come to this, young lord Regil. And whatever you do, don't you die either." [i]The pilot said, grabbing his rifle and running.[/i]

[i]From the distance, Regina could see her soldiers running away to the buildings. She grabbed her radio and called Regil directly.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"What did you just order my soldiers to do, Regil?"[/color] [i]Regina questioned him over the radio.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"It's a strategy I just came up with."[/color] [i]He answered.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"And can you please explain why they are running away to empty buildings? They should be stationed here and ready for the enemy."[/color] [i]Regina complained.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"It's certain death if they go right ahead at the Arm Master, Regina. I'm at least ensuring that they have a chance to escape."[/color] [i]Regil spoke.[/i]

[color=bc8dbf]"... Regil, order them to return to the front this instant. That's an order."[/color] [i]Regina ordered.[/i]

[color=8493ca]"No, I won't. This is imperative for a chance of us winning, or for raising the percentages of us getting a second chance in the future. Just trust me this once."[/color] [i]Regil said.[/i]