[color=gray]
[center]
[h1][color=blueviolet][b][u]Reprieve[/u][/b][/color][/h1]
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B-8aGvzbPc](Ambience)[/url]
[/center]

The battle for a beachhead on Skosgra was over. The UEE had succeeded, but like all planetary invasions, the costs had been high. Nevertheless, the 7th pressed on with their mission and went to ground to consolidate, rearm, and fix up the scratches and dents in their units. The walk was long and quiet, interspersed occasionally by alerts on Leah's displays as missiles flew overhead, intended for other targets. The dynamic camouflage plating was hard at work on the Blackout, the texture and coloration of the MAS's usually sleek, black frame distorting on a moment-by-moment basis to match the increasingly wild forest the team was headed into. The side of the MAS's head unit, as well as a few sections on the torso, were too damaged to match the surroundings, leading to a few patches of metallics sticking out from an otherwise well camouflaged machine. It took a while, but the team eventually reached their RV point where they were greeted by their support echelon with camo nets stretched overhead. Had they not been in an active warzone, this clearing they chose would have been an idyllic escape. The waterfall filled the place with a constant ambience that could mask their quiet movements and conversations. The sun lanced through small gaps in the leaves and camo nets, shining as rays through the humidity and water vapors which added some perfect golden light to the greens, browns, and blacks of their watery forest cove.

The Blackout strode into the camp, passing by a handful of marines and Leah's team of technicians. Leah saw them in her displays, their faces incredulous as she had once again brought the machine back with parts that needed replacing. They had gotten used to it, of course. The crew knew what the infantry did to their MAS units, but sadly the Navy didn't build their units in the same way the army did. More tech, less redundancy, and less reinforcements. So every time the ex-grunt brought their machine back from, what they had started calling it, a joyride, they were always disappointed but unsurprised. It likely stung the techs more with the Blackout, knowing that the machine had a legacy of pilots in the 7th that stretched before Leah's time. Her predecessor had a reputation for babying the Blackout, how the times have changed. Leah found a place for the Blackout, nestled under a stony overhang carved away by water millions of years ago. The MAS knelt to one knee, and the DCA shifted to a darker, wetter pattern to match its hideout. The techs gathered at the foot of the Blackout as the hatch hissed and lifted up with Leah climbing out like nothing had happened. She rested her buttocks against the rim of the hatch as she looked down at her techs, the crew chief looking up at her with his hands on his hips. [color=blueviolet][b]"What?"[/b][/color]

The chief brought his hand up to the bridge of his nose, [color=olive][i]"I take it my message didn't reach you in the medbay before this sortie."[/i][/color]

Leah specifically remembered the nurse's impression of him. She looked up at the Blackout's head, seeing half of its 'face' blown off with sparks flying out of it. She looked back to the chief and thumbed at the battle damage, [color=blueviolet][b]"That one wasn't my fault. Shit happens in battle."[/b][/color]

The chief gave an unconvinced, [color=olive][i]"Uh-huh..."[/i][/color] before sighing and waving his crew to get to work on the machine. [color=olive][i]"I suppose the Over-G stress on the Blackout's chassis wasn't your fault either."[/i][/color]

Leah cleared her throat awkwardly while rubbing the back of her head, [color=blueviolet][b]"Okay that one was my fault. But I had a good reason!"[/b][/color]

After saying that, she heard Sabine call out to her. [color=pink]"How's it feel to get your ass saved by the Rook?"[/color] she said as Leah was climbing down the MAS. Commie had commented along the same line too, though it was in a less personal style compared to how Sabine had delivered it.

[color=ff4136][i]"So one sortie later Braide's the one savin' people?"[/i][/color]

Leah glanced across the clearing, looking over to the Venator and seeing it was in one piece. Leah shrugged and looked back to Sabine and Commie, [color=blueviolet][b]"I'd say we're even. Those Skollr's were like a minute away from landing on his and Rhino's heads. Couldn't call out to warn them,"[/b][/color] she said as she thumbed up to the damaged head unit on the Blackout where the primary comms system was housed, [color=blueviolet][b]" And I couldn't get a clean enough shot on the transports. Had to make a call so... I'd say it was worth it. Plus the kid handled himself well."[/b][/color]

She looked Sabine over now, knowing she had gotten herself in a bit of a incident in the last battle. Leah smirked and decided to send some of the shade Sabine had thrown in the medbay back in her face. Crossing her arms, Leah echoed, [color=blueviolet][b]"Still alive, I see. Damn..."[/b][/color]

Hearing Johann's comment on Sabine's flying right after made her laugh. The banter and ribbing was all fun and games, but Leah was still glad that Sabine had made it out in one piece. Maybe a bit of a bruised ego would do the girl some good... But then again... Sabine's ego was practically indestructible. Only time would tell!

Leah turned and stepped over toward the Blackout's foot, reaching for a small armored hatch door. It hissed open, revealing a kit compartment. Leah pulled a field pack out of it and slung it over one shoulder as she waved to Sabine, [color=blueviolet][b]"I'm gonna go rinse off in that waterfall."[/b][/color] Leah hated how slimy and sweaty she felt after being cooked in a cockpit during orbital entries, so a natural spring was too good an opportunity to pass up. She fell in alongside Commie seeing as he had the same idea. Modesty was something Leah had lost in the army.

As she made her way toward the pool of water at the foot of the waterfall, Leah would wave and call out to Rook, [color=blueviolet][b]"You did good out there, new guy. Keep it up! Oh, and sorry about spiking your machine. I can't imagine that didn't cause a bit of panic."[/b][/color] Leah poked her tongue out at him.
[/color]