Battletech: Planet's Fall

".... and I'm telling you Kid, we should get out of here as fast as we can, these maniacs are going to get us all killed" Thomas was far from pleased after yesterday's mission and Richard suspected that the events had triggered a flashback to the Knights in him.

The two were talking on a private channel, but Richard was worried someone was listening in. "Calm down Jester, we have a service to perform and there is no use discussing it out here."

"But Kid,.." Thomas begun before being cut short by Richard, "I know, I know, I'm not exactly thrilled either, but please keep your eyes open now, I don't want the mech that was just repaired to have to go right back, okay?"

"Okay,...."

He switched channels "Kid to Apprentice: Any sign of contact?"

Neutrally
"Reading you Kid."
Day 7 EM-LM Patrol roll: 1d20 16

"My scanner are not detecting any hostiles."
Man'O'War grunts an affirmative and a greeting over the comms

"It is likely to be a calm patrol. If you wish we can spend the entire period in silence. Alternatively, I am also willing to participate in light conversation and test result feedback."

"Uhm,... sure" If Richard was embarrassed in any way, he tried hard not to let on.

"Very well."
There's silence over the Comms as the ex-DCMS mechs continue stomping forward.
Sounding as though she's reading from a list "Would you like to comment on this weather we are having??"
Man'O'War grunts quietly in what sounds like pain.

"It gets really warm here pretty quickly, not that I'm complaining, but it seems a little abnormal" he replied.

"What the,... " came it through jester's channel

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 8:40 am

"It gets really warm here pretty quickly, not that I'm complaining, but it seems a little abnormal" he replied.

"What the,... " came it through jester's channel

"Agreed, the planet's weather system is...unusual. I suppose it prevents mundanity."
There's a quiet rustle of paper and Yori clears her throat.
"What new events have occurred in your life since we last interacted?"

"While you were fighting at Budai yesterday I went to the barracks, there was quite a bit of destruction there, towards the end I caught a glimpse of the senior officer of the barracks. How was your fight yesterday?" he returned the question.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 8:49 am

"While you were fighting at Budai yesterday I went to the barracks, there was quite a bit of destruction there, towards the end I caught a glimpse of the senior officer of the barracks. How was your fight yesterday?" he returned the question.

"Indeed? I heard the fighting there was heavy, given our losses. Was the enemy commander particularly competent?"
A ping light's up. It looks like Man'O'War trying to get Richard on a secure channel as Yori continues.

"My fight was simple enough, we engaged a heavy enemy patrol which over extended itself. Our Jenner was able to get in among the enemy support vehicles while our slower mechs concentrated fire. I believe a spider and a phoenix hawk were salvaged."

"Sounds good. A Phoenix Hawk is a good addition to the roster, the Spider is a good spotter and hard to hit.... when you're moving, right Jester?"
A grumble could be heard over comms.

Richard looked at the ping in wonder, but switched the channel. "Kid to Man'o'War. Recieving you."

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:05 am

"Sounds good. A Phoenix Hawk is a good addition to the roster, the Spider is a good spotter and hard to hit.... when you're moving, right Jester?"
A grumble could be heard over comms.

Richard looked at the ping in wonder, but switched the channel. "Kid to Man'o'War. Recieving you."

On the private channel
"Hey Kid."
There's a sound like a cigar puffing.
"Just letting you know for all our sakes. The Lieutenant's trying to make casual conversation...or something approaching casual conversation because she's a bit nervous about something or the other. I'm not gonna say something but if she starts asking you about sports results or whatever feel free to nudge her along."
Pause
"Also the rest of us have been trying to talk her out of that damn questionnaire for years but she swears by it."

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:09 am

...

Richard laughed, "It's definitely not the easiest method. But I understand, that explains a lot. I'm changing the channel again."

After changing the channel, he waited to see if Yori was still talking or not.

"-And that is why I always have a full set of replacement buttons for all of my uniforms. And why I maintain sufficient shoe laces to make up for any catastrophic footwear malfunction."
It appears Yori had indeed just been monologuing the entire time.

"I see, I see." he nodded in his cockpit. "If you ever need help sewing, Mei has very skilled fingers at it." he answered in an attempt to appear to have listened properly.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:30 am

"I see, I see." he nodded in his cockpit. "If you ever need help sewing, Mei has very skilled fingers at it." he answered in an attempt to appear to have listened properly.

"Your suggestion is noted. I did notice her fingers were slightly more elongated than would be usual for her size. It makes sense she would seek to maximise their utility."
Another pause, another page flip.
"So, have you participated or viewed any sporting competition since we last spoke?"

"I saw the Hesperus Oxen game against the Lintzner Hedgehogs a few days ago, was quite an interesting game." he said Torashirō words in mind. "It's American football, in case that's not clear." he added, just for understanding.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:38 am

"I saw the Hesperus Oxen game against the Lintzner Hedgehogs a few days ago, was quite an interesting game." he said Torashirō words in mind. "It's American football, in case that's not clear." he added, just for understanding.

It was good he clarifies as Yori had very nearly asked him why he was watching animal fighting.
"Interesting, I am not overly familiar with it. That's the sport where each time attempts to carry the ball to the other end of the field, but timeouts keep getting in their way?"

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:41 am

It was good he clarifies as Yori had very nearly asked him why he was watching animal fighting.
"Interesting, I am not overly familiar with it. That's the sport where each time attempts to carry the ball to the other end of the field, but timeouts keep getting in their way?"

"Something like that" he said "The rules are a little more sophisticated, but it takes a few hours to learn them. And I'm not the best at the rules," he said, laughing. "The results of the game were very interesting, though. The Litzner Hedgehogs were actually the favorites, but lost the game by a narrow margin," he emphasized the word "results" a bit more than he normally would.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:48 am

"Something like that" he said "The rules are a little more sophisticated, but it takes a few hours to learn them. And I'm not the best at the rules," he said, laughing. "The results of the game were very interesting, though. The Litzner Hedgehogs were actually the favorites, but lost the game by a narrow margin," he emphasized the word "results" a bit more than he normally would.

"So it was an upset?"
Sounding very slightly curious.
"Why did the skilled hedgehogs lose the game they were suppose to win?"

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:51 am

"So it was an upset?"
Sounding very slightly curious.
"Why did the skilled hedgehogs lose the game they were suppose to win?"

"They had lulled themselves into security and neglected their defense towards the end of the game. The Hesperus Oxen were then able to take advantage of this and start a chase to make up points. This unsettled the hedgehogs and made them make one mistake after the other", he explained, "as the saying goes: Pride comes before a fall".