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Description
Outside Fullbright, Besitzland
Zollikofen, Prefecture VIII
Republic of the Sphere
4 April 3133

Juanita Kwan ducked behind a wall, the sound of gunfire filling the air behind her, muffling the sound of the gravel crunching under her boots. She took a moment to catch her breath, even filtered as it was through her gasmask. Fortunately for her, between the smoke and the chunk of concrete wall that she was using for cover, she should be pretty much invisible. Should.

It was an awfully big risk. The derelict factory district that had become a battlefield provided a small, fast-moving target like her with a lot of places to hide. Unfortunately, it also provided plenty of places for an ambush, for enemy snipers, or simply for her to blindly blunder into an enemy patrol not that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She had to be careful as she moved; one mistake could easily be fatal, especially with what she was planning to do. Glancing around again, she saw that the cost was clear. Pistol in hand, she tensed herself, then took off in a mad dash across a stretch of distressingly open ground. A few seconds stretched out into an eternity as she was ever so briefly exposed; then, just as quickly, the moment was gone. Pressing her back to the corrugated iron wall of an old shed, she glanced around as she plotted her next move.

The shed was one of many like it; streaked with rust and decorated with broken windows and empty doorways. Larger buildings loomed in the distance, several large cranes visible in between them. The larger buildings were easily big enough for a ‘Mech to hide behind; the same features that protected her also protected her target. However, sight wasn’t the only way to find a ‘Mech.

She heard it over the whumph of a distant explosion. There was a clank of moving metal, the whine of moving motors, the scrape of parts in motion. She focused, trying to concentrate and filter out the sounds of distant gunfire that had become almost persistent in the background. Nearby.

Hugging the wall of the shed, she crept along the side, keeping her ears open for any sign of the enemy machine. The sounds grew louder as she approached the corner of the building, telling her that the target was nearby. Cautiously, knowing full well the consequences of a false move, she peered around the corner, ready for action.

Ahead of her, partially obscured by smoke but its presence unmistakable, was the hunchbacked form of a Carbine Constructionmech. At a glance, she could see that the machine had been modified; its right arm, usually mounting a backhoe, instead ended with a pair of weapon muzzles. Similarly, the ‘Mech was topped off with a boxy missile launcher. Looks like a standard Carbine MOD package, she assessed. The right arm will have a pair of machine guns, which will be able to turn me into meat if he spots me.

There were two ways to deal with the threat. The first was not to be seen; the second was to reduce the risk to her if she failed at the first. Watching the Carbine, she patiently observed its actions. The enemy pilot didn’t seem to have noticed her so far, which gave her a distinct advantage. After what seemed like an age, the modified ConstructionMech turned away from her.

Seizing the chance, she sprinted across the gap between the buildings, the crunching of gravel underfoot painfully loud as she went. Even when she ducked behind the next wall, she only felt the most minimal amount of relief. An open doorway provided the refuge that she sought, Juanita dashing inside without a moment’s hesitation.

The interior of the building was comfortingly dark compared to the relative brightness of the daylight outside; even the billowing smoke hadn’t provided her with enough cover to make her feel any better. Here, however, she was safe. The building was cluttered with rusted, long abandoned machinery, the only lighting coming from the broken windows and holes in the roof, allowing her to blend in with her surroundings.

Glancing through one of the windows, she could see the Carbine on the move, its less protected left side open to her. Nodding to herself, she broke into a run, moving as fast as he could to keep pace with the Industrialmech. Weaving in and out of machinery, she had to constantly glance between what was in front of her and the view out the next window.

He hasn’t seen me. Perfect. This was the biggest gamble, the one moment that would make or break her plan. She’d minimised the risk as best she could, but she had to act. Reaching the end of the building, she ran out through another open doorway, closing in on the hulking IndustrialMech.

Up close, she could see the machine’s modifications far more clearly. The right arm was largely hidden by the bulk of its body, but the twin machine guns were obvious from the few glances of it that she could get. While much of the ‘Mech was still in its standard safety yellow, she could see patches were extra armour had been attached to the frame and painted in a bright purple to cover the work.

Due to the placement of its cockpit at the front of the machine, ahead of its shoulders and its smoke-belching engine, the Carbine had terrible rear vision, a design flaw that she was determined to take advantage of. Running as close to the ‘Mech as possible, she pulled out her trusted Maghook, the tool of her trade. Gripping the weapon firmly and sure of her control, she fired. This had better work.

The head latched onto the machine with a reassuring clunk; a quick pull on the hook told her that it was safe and secure. Holding on tight, she reeled herself in, quickly ascending up the side of the Carbine. She’d won; the other guy just didn’t know it yet. Grabbing onto the Carbine’s flank, she hauled herself up, managing to find some purchase on its back. Glancing up, she could see the SRM launcher that had been mounted on the ‘Mech’s back, confirming her suspicions of its configuration.

Putting that aside, she grabbed at the side of the cockpit then unlatched the access hatch. Before the pilot could respond, she swung towards the cockpit, pistol in hand. “Get out of the ‘Mech! Now!”

Antonin Rybak casually stopped the throttle, then turned to face her, a pleased look on his face. “Good time, there, Juanita.” He casually replied, irrespective of the fact that she had a gun to his face. “That’s probably your best yet.”

She smirked as she pulled off the gas mask. “Hey, I’m good at what I do. And you’re dead, so you get to buy dinner.”

Description
Outside Fullbright, Besitzland
Zollikofen, Prefecture VIII
Republic of the Sphere
4 April 3133

Juanita Kwan ducked behind a wall, the sound of gunfire filling the air behind her, muffling the sound of the gravel crunching under her boots. She took a moment to catch her breath, even filtered as it was through her gasmask. Fortunately for her, between the smoke and the chunk of concrete wall that she was using for cover, she should be pretty much invisible. Should.

It was an awfully big risk. The derelict factory district that had become a battlefield provided a small, fast-moving target like her with a lot of places to hide. Unfortunately, it also provided plenty of places for an ambush, for enemy snipers, or simply for her to blindly blunder into an enemy patrol not that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She had to be careful as she moved; one mistake could easily be fatal, especially with what she was planning to do. Glancing around again, she saw that the cost was clear. Pistol in hand, she tensed herself, then took off in a mad dash across a stretch of distressingly open ground. A few seconds stretched out into an eternity as she was ever so briefly exposed; then, just as quickly, the moment was gone. Pressing her back to the corrugated iron wall of an old shed, she glanced around as she plotted her next move.

The shed was one of many like it; streaked with rust and decorated with broken windows and empty doorways. Larger buildings loomed in the distance, several large cranes visible in between them. The larger buildings were easily big enough for a ‘Mech to hide behind; the same features that protected her also protected her target. However, sight wasn’t the only way to find a ‘Mech.

She heard it over the whumph of a distant explosion. There was a clank of moving metal, the whine of moving motors, the scrape of parts in motion. She focused, trying to concentrate and filter out the sounds of distant gunfire that had become almost persistent in the background. Nearby.

Hugging the wall of the shed, she crept along the side, keeping her ears open for any sign of the enemy machine. The sounds grew louder as she approached the corner of the building, telling her that the target was nearby. Cautiously, knowing full well the consequences of a false move, she peered around the corner, ready for action.

Ahead of her, partially obscured by smoke but its presence unmistakable, was the hunchbacked form of a Carbine Constructionmech. At a glance, she could see that the machine had been modified; its right arm, usually mounting a backhoe, instead ended with a pair of weapon muzzles. Similarly, the ‘Mech was topped off with a boxy missile launcher. Looks like a standard Carbine MOD package, she assessed. The right arm will have a pair of machine guns, which will be able to turn me into meat if he spots me.

There were two ways to deal with the threat. The first was not to be seen; the second was to reduce the risk to her if she failed at the first. Watching the Carbine, she patiently observed its actions. The enemy pilot didn’t seem to have noticed her so far, which gave her a distinct advantage. After what seemed like an age, the modified ConstructionMech turned away from her.

Seizing the chance, she sprinted across the gap between the buildings, the crunching of gravel underfoot painfully loud as she went. Even when she ducked behind the next wall, she only felt the most minimal amount of relief. An open doorway provided the refuge that she sought, Juanita dashing inside without a moment’s hesitation.

The interior of the building was comfortingly dark compared to the relative brightness of the daylight outside; even the billowing smoke hadn’t provided her with enough cover to make her feel any better. Here, however, she was safe. The building was cluttered with rusted, long abandoned machinery, the only lighting coming from the broken windows and holes in the roof, allowing her to blend in with her surroundings.

Glancing through one of the windows, she could see the Carbine on the move, its less protected left side open to her. Nodding to herself, she broke into a run, moving as fast as he could to keep pace with the Industrialmech. Weaving in and out of machinery, she had to constantly glance between what was in front of her and the view out the next window.

He hasn’t seen me. Perfect. This was the biggest gamble, the one moment that would make or break her plan. She’d minimised the risk as best she could, but she had to act. Reaching the end of the building, she ran out through another open doorway, closing in on the hulking IndustrialMech.

Up close, she could see the machine’s modifications far more clearly. The right arm was largely hidden by the bulk of its body, but the twin machine guns were obvious from the few glances of it that she could get. While much of the ‘Mech was still in its standard safety yellow, she could see patches were extra armour had been attached to the frame and painted in a bright purple to cover the work.

Due to the placement of its cockpit at the front of the machine, ahead of its shoulders and its smoke-belching engine, the Carbine had terrible rear vision, a design flaw that she was determined to take advantage of. Running as close to the ‘Mech as possible, she pulled out her trusted Maghook, the tool of her trade. Gripping the weapon firmly and sure of her control, she fired. This had better work.

The head latched onto the machine with a reassuring clunk; a quick pull on the hook told her that it was safe and secure. Holding on tight, she reeled herself in, quickly ascending up the side of the Carbine. She’d won; the other guy just didn’t know it yet. Grabbing onto the Carbine’s flank, she hauled herself up, managing to find some purchase on its back. Glancing up, she could see the SRM launcher that had been mounted on the ‘Mech’s back, confirming her suspicions of its configuration.

Putting that aside, she grabbed at the side of the cockpit then unlatched the access hatch. Before the pilot could respond, she swung towards the cockpit, pistol in hand. “Get out of the ‘Mech! Now!”

Antonin Rybak casually stopped the throttle, then turned to face her, a pleased look on his face. “Good time, there, Juanita.” He casually replied, irrespective of the fact that she had a gun to his face. “That’s probably your best yet.”

She smirked as she pulled off the gas mask. “Hey, I’m good at what I do. And you’re dead, so you get to buy dinner.”