[center][h1][color=silver]Lucius[/color][/h1][/center]

[quote=???]"Pilot on third team. Name. Rank. Framewerk ID. What is your given primary objective in this battle", ???? asked in a rather emotionless voice.[/quote][@DarkRecon]

Another question asked to him over the comms, and yet as Lucius moved to respond the comms began to light up all over again. Chatter and texts running back and forth so rapidly it took his attention off just to try to process it in a hurry. Seemed enough like some peculiar team banter back and forth in the end, though as things almost seemed to slow for a second-

[quote=????]???? finally decided on what she would do, trusting her heart, and connected Rex Artus to the encrypted team Apple channel, shielding the Framewerk from Electric Dragonfly's jamming. She then typed out a private message for Lucius' eyes only: "Please don't betray team Mango or team Apple, and choose whose side you will fight from the beginning. Even if we'll fight as enemies now, I don't want anyone's trust to be broken. I want us all to be friends."[/quote]

Hmm. His comms system was reporting that he'd been connected to the Team Apple channel, which was useful at least if they wanted secretive communications. Had Mema-ka organized this? Though soon afterwards, a message pinged into his messages and he opened it up to read in a hurry. However, it seemed to be from someone who was rather different than the more threatening message of Mema-ka at least, but-...eh? So they wanted him to 'choose whose side you will fight from the beginning', and-...ah, that was true. They were all comrades in arms for this, that was true, but even then there was a need to be able to face deceit right? Thoughy, well, had he also rushed to think of a plan here at the start, not thinking much of the potential consequences? 

...The message was naive enough even to his eyes, or at least that was his first impression, and yet at the same time it made him take an uncertain and genuine pause all the same. He couldn't find the words for a moment to respond with, though his thoughts were suddenly cut off by a general comms announcement from an already-familiar-feeling cranky voice. 

[quote=Grumpy Old Fruit Bat]"Team Banana's destruction is not necessary for either team to achieve victory. They can be shot, or not. It is up to you to decide if you can trust a rogue actor in the middle of a battlefield."
He cackled, which turned into a slight cough, like the kind you often hear over Microsoft Teams virtual meetings and the person doesn't mute themselves, to the displeasure of everyone.
"Now then, remember to give it your all in this battle even if it is virtual: there are no second chances when up against the Cruxi, so take everything you've learned, and hone your skill to kill!" 
He paused.
"Ready!"
He paused again.
"Set!"
He paused one last time.
"GO!"[/quote]

...The old man had enough bravery to be himself in all of this, it seemed, so in that vein he could respect it. Albeit the comms coughing was almost like the ancient phrase of 'nails on a chalk board'...whatever a chalk board was at least. Yet he'd prepared to make a run to a new position of safety, and that is what he'd do reflexively as his drones deployed around him and kept below the 'firing line' there'd perhaps be above the tops of the simulated buildings. They'd keep around him and coordinate defense for him, but for now he'd make a dead dash to the east with the aim of finding cover. In that sense, he was keeping to his orignial plan for now and falling back a bit on what they'd drilled and trained him to do back home. 

It was then that the politician-like voice rang again over his comms from the side of Team Mango. 

[quote=????]"Keeping it short.

Not gonna threaten you. Not the point. We'll all eat together tomorrow.

Not gonna say join us. Merely stay out of the way. Strat would be tangled with a new unknown anyway.

If you feel like it, I'll use my money and connections to grant you boons. So this is a bounty list.

Sleeping Thunder: Worth 3 Favours.
Raptor, Logic Diver, Dragonfly: Worth 2 Favours.
Everyone else: 1 Favour.

Accept or decline at leisure. Don't come near our lines unless you at least take someone down and prove you've chosen our side. We will be forced to shoot and void the deal.

Good Luck."[/quote]

Ah. Ok this was all going down faster than he'd thought it would, but his breaths would fall into a form of practiced breathing exersize as training began to kick in. Keep a cool head. Level it out. Adapt to the suprises, and get some responses out before things got too heated perhaps. He did need to respond to the offered deal at least though, so-

[@AtomicNut]

[color=silver][i]'Hmm, a bounty system? An intersting proposition to digest, especially with the promised favors, but between you and someone else bringing it up I believe you're right that we'll all eat together and such as it is. So...I'll say that I'll make my choices in this sim battle clear via my actions, out of respect for both sides, and for now I'll give you all some space before making any decisive actions. When I do act either way, it'll be a fun surprise to see what happens that way! 

After all, simply sitting by and doing nothing is the more boring if practical option in a situation like this, wouldn't you agree? Will be intersting to se you all in person after this! ;)

Jokes aside, though, good luck to you as well.'[/i][/color]

Heh. A small smile came to the pilot's face as the Rex Artus continued its dash toward the mid-eastern-edge building he had selected as a good spot for cover. Meanwhile, he would try to think up a message the unknown messager from Team Apple (Elora) back as well. Well, as quickly as he could at the very least. Not that he wasn't interrupted along the way by yet another message and then some chatter over the Team Apple comms he'd been pulled into. 

[quote=Meme-kun][i]'Feeling is mutual. We acknowledge your plan of action, Lucius, proceed ahead and locate team Mango. Upon receiving codeword: Fruitpunch, fire at will upon team Mango. The high command is watching. Dedicate yourself to a cause and stick with it. Doubt is the foundation of defeat.'[/i]

"The 'Obscure' is to be regarded as a sleeper agent, trigger it by using codename Fruitpunch once the lines collide. If the 'Obscure' remains unwilling to act the part it has offered. Regard it as hostile and shoot it down. Mema-Ka over."[/quote]

Vicious, much like his original plan it seemed. Curious. Most of Team Apple seemed to be quiet and focused on things, or being a bit threatening of course, and only the mystery messager had actually taken the time to at least be open with him about things in a less threatening manner. Perhaps this Mema-ka was a more focused and disciplined sort, the like to try to take some lead and deal with matters that could threaten his allies. Noted, for now of course. Would be interesting to talk to him later as well perhaps. Though he was scrolling back as his mech ran for good cover, looking at comms chatter records and-...pfft. 

Ok, he had to comment on this with a private message ([@Dezuel]). He had to, if nothing else to make himself lighten up a bit more. 

[color=silver][i]'Beep boop. Beep boop bop. I am totally a robot. :P'[/i][/color]

Griff would get a simple private message from the Rex Artus...partly out of Lucius finding it funny to send such a message to him out of the blue, partly due to what he'd found in the comms chatter records. But, for now, back to his analyses thus far on the teams.

So the one who offered him bounties was being nice, but it was bascially to offer a deal and tell him to get out of the way. A nicer way of putting it, reminded him in tone of a politician's writing, and yet his gut told him there was something more to the one from Mango whoo had messaged him in that case. Would be good to put a face to the name. Likewise the friendlier voice was certainly a welcome one before this, more chipper and the like, that had talked to him from Team Mango prior as well. 

Though as for making a call to Elora ([@Ariamis]) over private comms- 

[color=silver]"Mema-ka seems a bit vicious there, haha. Ah, but I suppose I walked into that with what I offered. 

Still, while I don't know your name yet I do appreciate your honesty and openess about things with me despite things. So I'll give you something to work with here, since you and Mango have made it clear we're still supposed to be teammates at the end of the day after this is said and done. To do that we need trust indeed, though we may face deception out there in the field as well later on.

So I sent Mango back a message making it clear I'd speak for what side I choose with my actions. Less deceptive, but I figure let's have a little fun with this. Fun? Heh. Sorry, this place and everyone here are all still so new to me as it is. But with the jamming in place blocking me from Mango's comms I can't say more to them if you wish for me to be clearer."[/color]

His tone was a touch apologetic at the end, but even so he was going to take his own gamble on this other voice. Something in him...wanted to, for whatever reason, and he had The Rex Artus kept crouched, though he would move his mech around while still crouched behind the mech-hiding building cover into the space of [b]P-27[/b] so he could take the more careful glance around the side of the building to see what was going on. Meanwhile, he sent one of his drones to [b]R-25[/b], to have it hover and maintain a vigilance in case soeone tried to come around to attack his rear. 

Meanwhile, the other three drones would be kept close to him and behind building cover, being set and ready to strike in defense or be sent out on offense as needed.  

[color=silver]"...But I'll respond specifically to your call to attack or not. Further, I'm moving into position P-27, and placing an Attack Drone to keep watch on my rear at R-25 while I have three others kept by me to be ready to attack or defend on a dime.

Call it...a sign of open trust being made in return for your own. Or perhaps call it my own naivete, haha! But the name's Lucius, and I hope to learn yours and the others' later after this when I can."[/color]

This was going to be an interesting first day, that much was for certain.