RP: YSS Miharu Prologue, Day 2

Tom Freeman had drawn a bead on the retreating Epsilon as it was being chased by James' smoking Daisy. He was about to pull the trigger when he saw a second friendly unit run into his sights and attempt to engage the Epsilon in hand-to-hand combat.

What the HELL is he doing?"

The Yamataian laughed out loud at the absurdity of the situation, shaking his head as he left his position and flanked the others, maintaining enough of a distance to keep the enemy mecha within range of his LASR in case things should turn ugly.

Shooting the grenades into the tight cluster of mechas would probably be a bad idea.

"What's the squad-leader's condition?" He asked his Daisy.

Masako blinked in surprise as she entered the changing room. Sighing quietly, she went over to one of the many lockers and began to strip. "Holographic window would probably be best," she replied to KAMI as she placed her clothing into the locker. With that, she entered the bathing area with her toiletries in hand.

James blinked at the sudden appearance of another armor, which his AIES immediately identified as friendly.

Well, finding them wasn't so hard, now was it?

Seeing the Epsilon reach for the carbine, James grunted and gathered himself for a flying tackle at the hostile armor, hoping that the friendly Daisy wouldn't get a face-full of bullet.

" ... " The situation unfolded slowly in front of Yukari, yet she felt frozen. Her sniper rifle would've put a hole through the Epsilon armor and possibly the Daisy. She could not risk that. But seeing not one but two armors engaged in some twisted form of martial arts was too much to bear. They had rushed before a word could leave her mouth.

"Freeman-Hei, please lower the volume on your helmet receiver. I will be loud."

Her AIES had finally identified the other pilot: Dige-Hei.

Suuuuuu --

"KAMIYAMA AND DIGE! STOP YOUR FOOLISHNESS AND FLY from the armor with your ANTI-GRAVITY SYSTEM!"

Not waiting for an answer, Yukari took off with her own anti-gravity unit, flying about 100 meters into the air until she was floating almost directly over the Epsilon. She took aim with her rifle at the target below her. Her Harpy's wings automatically extended in case she needed to make a quick getaway.

James blanched as he hurdled through the air, ears ringing from the verbal onslaught.

"Anti-gravity? WHAT anti-gravity?!'

"Auxiliary Gravimetric Engine engaged," the AIES helpfully informed him. The Geshrin's armor suddenly paused and started rising up. He felt momentarily disoriented as the armor righted itself and took up a flanking position above and to the side of Yukari's armor.

"Dige, iiya!" Yukari saw James' armor coming for her. The Epsilon would track him and she could be in the line of fire --

Yukari sighted on the Epsilon's shooting arm and fired.

Ok, you need to move. For Pete's sake, MOVE.

"KAMIYAMA AND DIGE! STOP YOUR FOOLISHNESS AND FLY from the armor with your ANTI-GRAVITY SYSTEM!"

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Tom gritted his teeth, his ears ringing from the volume of Yukari's voice.

Tom had his LASR squarely focused on the enemy unit, but couldn't fire until the remaining ally moved. When Dige flew upwards and flanked Yukari --which effectively gave away her position and the element of surprise she possessed-- Tom groaned.

"AIES, what's the probability of accidentally destroying the allied unit should I fire at the remaining enemy?"

Yukari's railgun shot speared through the the middle of the Epsilon's forearm, ripping the extremity off in a non-negligible fountain of blood. The enemy suit staggered back away from the nearby Morita, trying to gain some space away from its aggressors despite the shock of being so grieviously wounded.

"Risk nil." Tom's AIES replied as it gave him the green light to fire.

However, about the same time, several new red dots appeared on Yukari's sensor display. "Active sensor contacts confirmed and identified: Taurus One and Two labelled as Ph-M3-1B, Taurus Three as Ph-CPA-04. NDI Advanced Tactical Assault Corps squad composition suggests the presence of Taurus Four through Seven. Units deemed hostile."

The AIES read the distance of the Golem IIs as being 3400 meters and closing. The Kairyuu was around there too, but its actual position was beyond the AIES' ability to accurately determine.

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The KAMI provided Masako with an hologrpahic data screen with several topics it had previously submitted to Nyton Claymere and left it in stationary orbit of Masako so it would follow her around until she asked otherwise.

The sensor readings in the upper right corner of her helmet screen left Yukari little time.

She hoped Tom would understand. She quickly lined up and fired a second shot at the Epsilon's head, but she did not focus on if it hit or not; her eyes were instantly up at her radar.

"Chikushou!" she swore. That she was still stealthed was a miracle. She quickly dropped to the ground; her internal clock nearly ticked over her own thoughts. Her radar data was immediately fed to everyone else.

"Minna, listen," she said sternly, calling everyone down to her position in the middle of the square where they'd been fighting. "The armors coming for us now are arguably more powerful than us. I cannot yet determine their armaments, but we must assume the worst. Therefore, we must all prepare to ambush them. Surprise is our only hope."

The wings of her armor retracted back into her suit. She did her best not to think about what she did, but feel it. The idea sounded utterly stupid.

"The armors are coming from the east," she said. She was facing south toward Tom. "We will bait them."

"Dige-Hei, you still have grenades. Take a position along the bottom floor of the old stone building there." She pointed to the crumbling building on the southwest corner of the square. "Use your powered drones to assist your aim. Fire at Taurus One with a grenade, loose some LASR fire, then retreat into the building heading south."

She turned to Morita. "Kamiyama-Hei, take prone position in the destroyed corner of the building there." She pointed to the building on the northeast corner. "When the armors follow Dige, you will use your plasma rifle on Taurus Two. Use several shots in rapid succession, to ensure the most damage before it can raise its Barrier Shield."

They are closing quickly! Yukari thought desperately. "Freeman-Hei, take Kamiyama's old position to the south." She pointed at the shot-out window in the blasted-in-half business office to the south, near where they had been dropped. "Target Taurus Three as it enters your field of view. Use your plasma rifle."

She pointed to a blasted-out window about 4 stories up in a modern but squat condominium building on the northwest corner. "I will be behind a window in that building, waiting for Taurus One. It is crucial everyone remain under thermoptic and active camoflauge. Do not put up your Energy Cloaks until your position is revealed; they will detect them. Also expect your radios and radar to malfunction; the Golem IIs have jamming equipment. Go, quickly!"

Yukari did not wait for a confirmation as she turned and flew toward the open window. The moment she landed, she looked all across the window, then took a breath and went to a prone position, adjusting her rifle in a stiff, robotic manner. Her heart was in her throat, but the lives of her friends were at stake. In a sick way, she relied on them far more than they relied on her.

She transmitted all the essential data on both armor types approaching them to her comrades. "AIES, determine the weaponry of Taurus Group as soon as possible. Also, using optical data, create a hologram replacing the window I flew through. Allow me to see through the hologram via radar imaging." She took a deep breath again and let it out slowly.

As my old commander would have said ... 'here we go.'

Down in the street, the dead Epsilon was a silent testament that Yukari's knack with solid-projectile weapons consistantly being applied to her Harpy's sniper rifle as well. Anyone doubting her marksmanship could just look at the shattered helmet covered for confirmation.

The Harpy's AIES began listing the specs of the NDI Golem Mark II and the Kairyuu power armors to Yukari and sent similar readouts to the three other men as it generated holography through its holographic skin, though it would require Yukari to be extremely still or the projection would be spoiled.

No visual on the enemy suits yet. They were steadily advancing on her radar display though, their active sensors having probably picked up one of Yukari's companions already. Hopefully not, but Morita using his plasma rifle earlier suggested otherwise.

No sign of other suits being in the area either. Not yet, at any rate.

Yukari listened to AIES' instructions about the hologram. She let her breaths come naturally, easily, calming her body as best she could.

Though she was stealthed, the window had seemed too convenient a place for a sniper. She did not wish to take risks, even stealthed, so she used the hologram.

The drones of the Phoenix armors were her worst problem -- they would be able to poke in corners without risking its parent armor. She had to wait until they were in the square, however -- it was the only chance to catch them in the open. She kept her rifle held close against her shoulder.

Morita was in the most danger, she figured worriedly -- he had to remain as still as possible and pray no drones floated to his position. He was safe from the Phoenix radar, at least -- it was not as advanced as KFY radar and she was positive it could not penetrate the wrecked building debris.

"Remember," she transmitted to everyone, "wait until they are in the square, attempting to chase Dige-Hei."

Hmm.

So close combat isn't an option in this case, and I seem to be having problems with my rifle. Morita breathed out and headed to his new assigned position, falling prone with his rifle at the ready. Morita was more than happy to unleash whatever hell he's supposed to at these things.

"AIES, it seems that this somatic response problem will be something of an issue when engaging in ranged combat. What steps can you take to make sure I hit the damn target?"

"As stated before, the Daisy moves based on electrical impulse signals that normally function muscle movement and general motor skills," the AIES replied.

Morita swore. This isn't helping any. "So, you're saying that in order for me to fire as if it was a part of my body."

"Affirmative."

Morita shut his mouth while eyes were glued to the HUD. With the luck he's having with this power armor simulator (not to mention the fact that he himself has no actual armor experience), he's bound to keep firing even when he should be in close combat. His appreciation for technology and confidence in its usage was dropping at an alarming rate.

Just point and pull the trigger when the suit tells you to. Don't get too worked up. Take some deep breaths, Morita. This isn't like you. Morita attempted to regulate his breathing, calm himself down, while the hostiles closed in. His body's reflexes relied on the tactile feedback that a weapon, be it his hands or a plasma rifle, gave. The departure from not being able to use his physical body was something too great, especially for someone who has relied on knowing the feel of a punch for half of his life.

Morita let out a deep breath and fought to enter the calming state that he hoped to achieve. Damn it. I'm probably hosed.

Tom followed his orders immediately, maintaining his thermoptic and active camoflauge systems as he thrust up to his sniping point. Taking position within the building, crouching near the window, the Yamataian waited, his rifle tucked away for the time being so as not to draw attention.

"Roger," James replied, scuttling over to the stone building. He was bound and determined to get the job done as efficiently as possible.

"AIES, resume thermoptic and active camoflauge. Get those drones in the air, too."

He thumbed the LASR to full-auto as the two drones activated and glided over to the crumbling wall. Pressing against the corner, he waited for the armors to appear.

Superior force, heavier weapon loadouts, and an unknown number of hostiles remaining. This is turning out to be an eventful day.

After a short, through scrubbing followed by a quick rinse, Masako slowly lowered herself into a full bath with a sigh. "That feels better," she mumbled as she brought the holographic display in front of her. She automatically pulled up information on the new model of Mindy first, being more familiar with the Mindy than the other armors. At first glance, it didn't look like the Mindy had changed much at all. But as the young neko read on, the new addition of the SPINE system and the Ke-M2-P2900 Teleportation Unit caught her eye. Hmmm...seems like I can adapt to the Mindy relatively easy, she pondered in relief. Since the teleportation unit was optional and the SPINE system was made for NH-29s, it wouldn't take much adjustment at all.

She minimized the Mindy window so she could pull up information on the newer Sylph Armors. Skimming over the technical data at first, Masako had to admit that it was a well built design. Not as powerful as the Mindy of course, but it was meant to be anti-personnel more than anything else. A conservative design to say the least, but Masako wouldn't want to pilot it. Though to be on the safe side, it would probably be good to aquaint herself to its systems and functions.

Upon examination of the Harpy and Daisy, on the other hand, Masako realized that she would only be able to pilot the Sylph and the Mindy. The Harpy was solely for Yamataian pilots while the Daisy required the young neko to be five feet at least instead of her actualy 4'11" of height. The warrant officer couldn't help but frown a bit in disappointment. After all, the Daisy seemed like it was an interesting armor.

A small sigh exited her lips as she sank back into the bath and closed her eyes for a moment, letting the warm water relax her newly created muscles even more.

The three Taurus power armors closed in toward their position even slower than the Kairyuu's maximum speed of 30mph: they obviously were making a cautious approach, even if they had totally revealed themselves with active sensors in an effort to locate the KFY armors.

Seconds ticked by and the enemy suits stopped advancing at roughly 1200 meters and held position, still hidden behind cover. They seemed in no hurry to move and intercept for the moment.

They are not moving ... they realize we are waiting for them.

Yukari winced, her plan seemingly teetering toward a lethal failure. For her, at least, there was no use changing it -- the moment the hologram evaporated, she would as well.

"AIES, can you boost my telepathic signal?"

"Reception inside the established IES network should be appropriate." Yukari's Harpy acquiesced.

"Thank you AIES ... " Yukari breathed. "Dige-Hei ... the armors are waiting instead of falling into the trap! You must draw them somehow ... the rest of us rely on you!"

The Geshrin groaned, even as he inched towards the corner.

It figures that we'd fight some smart opponents, he thought grimly, glancing at where Yukari's armor was hidden.

Wait...

"AIES, switch active camoflauge to project a holographic image of my armor looking out into the streets. Use the sensor drones to send me a visual feed."