The day had certainly been an....eventful one, given the antics of the old fruit bat and the responses of the others, already. Busy for sure, and yet he'd had to make a decision after getting word of being able to swap out with some standard systems and thumbing through public records of his teammates' units (among other things) on his datapad. It had taken some thought, and he felt somewhat stuck in his choices while going about things before the meal. What to choose? He felt losing the MFCS was perhaps the best bet, given his failure to really pay it mind here and there even before the simulation battle and his short participation in it. But what to replace it with? There were plenty of good Secondary Systems for him to choose from, though, but this early on....it was rough to grasp just what would be needed later until he got a better understanding in the field in the practical sense. Training was one thing, but he'd always heard and gotten the idea that battle was a whole other 'ballgame' as he'd had one vet back home put it when talking to him.
Still....Phase Shift seemed to be the first thing that came to his mind, a more experimental system that frankly the Rex was built to be able to handle and be adapted to. In that sense he'd have enough to defend with on the fly and in more than one possible way. Barrier, phasing through things (which seemed absurd), and then Stargazer for the longer-ranged threats. At the same time, however, it did come to mind that he'd also neglected to use the Stargazer in battle. Perhaps it could have helped him redirect the enemy attack? Perhaps...or perhaps not. In that vein, he needed to go train a lot with it before his first field battle. Drill with it and the rest of the Rex's kit more actively, maybe taking some time each day for it? Sounded like a plan! It'd give him a nice training block in the simulation, where it'd be 1-to-1 with him actually operating things in his unit at least, so that made enough sense.
Though another thought that also hit his mind, then, was something the Professor had said. Noting that if he'd had the "support of a team" he'd have been better off. Well, that and not shooting at a speedy melee foe, but he'd not had much he could see at that time to act upon. In fact his response had been rather prompt and instinctual, to admit the truth, yet that was just the thing. He'd had 'not much he could see' at the time. The MFCS could have done some recon for him, but then it was limited how much of the battlefield he could see. If he saw more, he could better pick and attack targets. If he AND his team could see and learn more, then it helped them all better survive along with giving him some-...hmm. Air Recon Drones, perhaps? That'd mostly fit the bill, but even so it all felt so uncertain that he simply would try to brush the matter off for the time being-
*Ding*Eh?
Picking up his datapad as it lightly chimed in at him with a 'new message' alert, the brown haired man thumbed through to open the message and raised an eyebrow for a moment. Corporal Ava? She was one of the two new leaders of the group for field work, it seemed, but she was already thinking about such things as equipment replacements for them all? Rather studious of her, he had to admit, to give her thoughts and send them out. Luckily she wasn't trying to order them to take her reccomendations, though even then-....well, it wasn't coming to that at the very least. No use entertaining the alternative, as Ava seemed to be taking that sort of things into consideration already. Just another thing to brush off for the moment being, though he'd at least read what she wrote in his little section in the group-delivered message.
As someone who took you out, allow me to say that, in my opinion, your main mistake during the simulation was to take a shot at Argent Wings at that distance. Generally, a sniper should avoid shooting while there is a hostile unit close enough to get in close before you can reposition. A sniper is a very valuable part of a unit. Due to the high penetrative power of your weapon, one good shot is possibly enough to take out high-priority targets or pick off lone, unsuspecting targets. Therefore, the longer a sniper survives, the more they can rack up kills, and thus the more they will contribute to the victory of the team. For example, had you survived longer instead of taking the chance to take me out, by the endgame, your victory would have been possible, as you could easily snipe the rest of us whose frames are already damaged with reduced mobility. Thus, always prioritise repositioning over carelessly taking shots unless absolutely necessary.
As for my advice on Rex Artus' system, I recommend switching Multiple Fire Control System with Automated Targeting System. This Secondary System would allow you to fire your weapon in rapid succession, be it at the same target or at two different targets, maximising the time you have before having to reposition by being able to fire your weapons more.
Hmm. It was a good point on the system reccomendation in the sense that his weapon was on its own a slow reloader. But to rush two shots out of it? He wasn't sure if the tech could make that little miracle work out. It wasn't some Slag Cannon, after all, where he could slam two shots in rapid sucession. However, that mental image was enough for him to put a mental pin in some thoughts that it brought up inside his head all the same. Good. Or maybe he'd joot a note down on his datapad for himself to see later as well. Maybe just make a note with a list of ideas at that. Yeah, that'd be great!
Though her assessment of his performance in the simulation was also something that, for the most part, he felt matched up with his own thoughts on the matter. He'd willingly tossed aside his win condition, however, for reason he still was curious about the Professor not bringing up to him for some reason. Or perhaps it was a whole "I'll lexture others on it and you better pick up on it boy" type of situation. Now that? That'd also make sense, but he'd not try to overthink it too much more than that. Though thinking back on his problems of vision, certainly that'd help him be able to better navigate things? His Attack Drones were meant to help defend him by intercepting targets and assist in attacking alike. Hmm...ah! He'd add that to the new note he was already going to make along with the other thing that had already come to mind anyways.
But he did, however, want to send a response to the Corporal out of respect for her frankness and thoughts, or if nothing else to point one or two things out he didn't expect anyone to be a mind reader for anywho-
'Corporal Lane,
Good to hear your thoughts on things, as I've already been considering replacing my MFCS on the Rex by this point as well. I am considering a few options, though an Automated Targeting System might be useful if I get a more rapid-fire supporting armament for improved repositioning capabilities eventually. Or such is my own thoughts on the topic of your particular suggestion for a replacement system at this venture. Though one other thing stood out to me in hindsight of the battle, in that vein of systems to improve battlefield performance, which I feel needs to be considered before we get out there for real combat...and that is reconissance and gathering intel. Could be just my lack of experience after just arriving here and not having been in a proper battle yet out there, however, but I'll try to briefly explain my point.
I don't mean to put down the Logic Driver and its pilot in saying this, but flipping through some public files of everyone's Framewerks and seeing how things went down it seems most of our recon is grounded or is of a lighter (even if well armored by the standards of their weight class) units. Only two of us have stealth measures, and one of those isn't primarily a recon unit it would seem (the Guinevere) while still being a support.
We lack things such as Air Recon Drones and such that would be able to gather more intel in more ways in case of battlefield disruptions that might endanger vanguards and scouting units that move farther ahead, but be able do so without putting our own too far ahead into danger perhaps. Then again, perhaps too many 'eyes' on things would maybe muddy the lines of communication and data gathering as well I'd think. But making sure we have the best info out there that we reasonably can, and having some redundancy in case of problems that might inevitably arise out there, could perhaps raise survivability? Those are my thoughts on the topic at least.
This is also why I am considering such drones as one of the options for the Rex to replace the MFCS with, but more so I wanted to get your thoughts on this topic with regards to the team as a whole as a more seasoned pilot who's been out there before.
As for what I did in the simulation, my intention of shooting at you was priamrily to buy the Logic Driver and her allies some time admittedly. Leverage my imminent threat to draw attention, thus enabling a rescue and applying sudden pressure from elsewhere to potential threats. My drones, meanwhile, were used for trying to help pressure the Argo simultenously. After the meeting, though, I have considered the idea of maybe having used a suicide drone in case of getting charged by a melee foe, using it to intercept an attacker with a wider explosion of its plasma core.
I hope I'm not being too wordy, but all the same I appreciate hearing your thoughts on things and your perspective to boot. I wanted to send this message back with my own thoughts in turn.
-LuciusAfter hitting 'send' on the message, however, the brown haired boy put his datapad to the side and felt a small whoosh of air come out from between his lips for a moment. Was this woman one of those super uptight sorts in other ways? Sure she was considerate in her message, but....eh, no use worrying about it now, right? Not when there were places on the ship to see, and when there was trying to acclimate himself more to this vessel's nooks and crannies he felt that was important as well. More familiar he was with the ship, more familiar he'd be if it was in an emergency perhaps.
Besides, facing the 'Cruxi Fister' wasn't on his bingo card. Maybe someone like Griffith back there would be the type to rush in, but as a ranged build like his? He hadn't the armor and sheer means of keeping an opponent at arm's length to go solo at this point in time.
@Randomguy
As Lucius walked into the room, he couldn't help but look about for a moment to take in the scenery. THIS is what he had turned the cafeteria itself into? Delicate silverware, paired with honest-to-Solaire candles, and lovely white tablecloth placed over it as as if it was a five star restaurant? All to the tune of gentle music, a well cleared-out-space for their tables, and yet their host had yet to be seen? Sheesh. It made what he was wearing feel a bit too unfitting for the occasion, even if he'd done his best to put on something 'nice' given Arrish seemed like a rich nobleman, and even more so after having seen an actual glimpse of the venue for later in his own way and feeling it was a 'hint' at what he needed to wear for the occasion. Was it 'cheating'? Perhaps, but being here in-person certainly did enhance the reality of the vision nontheless and made him take more of a pause.
Adorning his cleanly-washed body was nothing short of his full and rather oddly tidy dress uniform, something that had been neatly packed and brought along for the ride on the shuttle along with his other effects. A neatly-suited black coat with long sleeves adorned his exterior torso, being adorned with golden buttons and a formal yellow trim along a patch on his right shoulder designating his rank in the Federation Military proper. Underneath this, and invisible from sight for now, was formal lighter blue shirt underneath that was cleanly buttoned-up in full and even gently ironed out just before Lucius had left to join the meal. Meanwhile the collar of the underlying buttoned-up shirt had a neartly hand-tied simple black tie poking up visibly at the front-bottom of his collar in normal fashion, though it too was hidden from sight for now. Combined with a similarly-themed pair of white dress uniform pants, a white belt with golden buckler at its center that sat about his wait over the top of the dress coat, and the pair of short and formal yet almost gentlemanly white gloves adorning his hands, Lucius was decked out in the 'best' that he frankly had with him as far as he was aware. No fancy tuxedo or such things, nor the money of nobles to buy things on the fly, etc. Military didn't pay much despite the war, which was certianly something, but he digressed.
Still, a white cap with a properly centered golden insignia of the Galactic Federation on it, and a smooth black brim, sat atop his head just as a pair of formal dress uniform shoes all shiny and new adorned on his feet as he moved forward from the entrance after his brief pause to look about. The first thing he'd note, however, was the presence of a certain blue-haired girl and Aurora. The former seemed as if she felt out of places....and the latter seemed to hold herself like a noblewoman who was used to such occasions as these, if he had to put some words to his thoughts on the matter. One seemed more simply but well dressed, a kind of semi-formal that almost felt like prom back home at his school (he'd never gotten to go but had seen pictures from his younger brother sneaking into it with his older date for the occasion), and yet the latter seemed to have a rather nice and fancy enough dress on that seemed to be 'simple yet elegant' if he had to put words to it.
Yet there was no one else here yet? Really? It was nothing against the two women, but rather a thought aimed at wondering who would turn down a nice steak dinner of all things. Well, not that everyone ate meat, he was aware of that, but...still.
"Good to see you two here," Lucius said as he approached the table where Serah and Aurora were at, giving a polite semi-bow after gently taking off his hat with his right hand and holding it to his chest in a formal fashion before then letting the cap-in-hand and his right arm overall sit properly at his side. Even then, his back and arms felt stiff despite how much he'd been drilled in formalities like this too back home (and to try to adjust him to them). In that sense, it left him feeling as if perhaps all the drilling and shouting had been worth it to get him into shape for occasions like this as well
unless he bungled it up somehow of course.
"May I sit with you?"His brown hair had even been brushed to a fine smoothness beyond his usual messier hairdo when in casual settings, that much was for sure, though the cap had ever so slightly begun to undo that when he'd worn it to come to the cafeteria in turn. Still, smooth chocolate brown eyes would look breifly, politely, and yet wholly without judgement at the same time at Serah and Aurora. This as a softly warm but smaller smile came to his face more naturally, feeling so despite his own attempt to maintain and match the energy of the venue and likewise more formal tone he had just adopted for the moment being. Even so, his left hand would breifly rise to somewhat adjust his dress coat collar for a moment all the same.
Albeit internally the younger man felt more of a twinge of nervousness in even asking the two, rather than him just sitting alone in a corner nearest to the door. Sure they were supposed to be a 'team', and he needed to get to know them, but he almost felt like an utter outside in all of this still. As if he hadn't the time or knowledge of anyone to justify asking such a thing, and in that sense he wasn't welcome, an isolating feeling he was at least keeping under wraps for the time being. Because really the promise of hot, fresh food made his 'second brain' act in ways to help counteract those bottled up less-than-welcome feelings of his a bit more if nothing else.
@Ammokkx@Shifter_Master
