Back in the Saddle (D10 Patrol EM-LM)

[Ezmeralda]

A patrol seemed the best way to get familiar with her new mech so Ezmeralda had gone ahead and secured clearance to do so.

Tango joined her for much the same reason. "Yo, boss. You seeing the clouds?"

"Yeah... those look... bad..."

[Yori Hakamada]

A patrol seemed the best way to get familiar with her new mech so Ezmeralda had gone ahead and secured clearance to do so.

Tango joined her for much the same reason. "Yo, boss. You seeing the clouds?"

"Yeah... those look... bad..."

"Sergeant Ezmeralda, Tango. Good morning."

Yori and Torashirō stomp into view in their respective mechs. The Lieutenant's tone was as dull as ever. Her sergeant grunted a greeting over the open comms as well.

[Ezmeralda]

"Morning Lieutenant," Easy said with a respectful tone.

"That nonsense should ground any air concerns, right?" Tango asked lifting her mech's hand to point skyward, "Seems dangerous to me anyways."

[Yori Hakamada]

"Morning Lieutenant," Easy said with a respectful tone.

"That nonsense should ground any air concerns, right?" Tango asked lifting her mech's hand to point skyward, "Seems dangerous to me anyways."

"I thought I would join you on patrol, if acceptable. I am 94 minutes behind my allotted piloting time for the week. If you wish, we can engage in light conversation. Alternatively I can work in silence."

And for Tango's question.
"It would be significantly more dangerous. But I have always considered aerospace pilots the exact sort of people who would do something more dangerous solely because it was."

[Ezmeralda]

"Then I hope that lightning arcs and blows their systems," Tango replied pragmatically, "Save us the effort."

"Sure thing, Lieutenant. We should be able to clear up your pilot time deficiency," she said with vague flashbacks to her academy days in Kuritan space, "So what would you like to talk about?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"Then I hope that lightning arcs and blows their systems," Tango replied pragmatically, "Save us the effort."

"Sure thing, Lieutenant. We should be able to clear up your pilot time deficiency," she said with vague flashbacks to her academy days in Kuritan space, "So what would you like to talk about?"

"Hmmm, I believe we have already discussed the weather, which is the traditional starting topic."
Yori directs her mech up to patrol speed, the Crusader stomping along.

"We could discuss how you believe the campaign is going so far? That is likely to be of mutual interest. Alternatively, if you have any interest factoids you would like to highlight I am willing to ask a series of questions about them."

[Ezmeralda]

"Uh, yes, weather is a traditional starter," Easy said as she continued to have her life choices affirmed, "So far most enemy encounters seem to have been in a similar vein to Tai-i Mercer Ravannion's Charge of the Horde although their mech tactics seem more conventional."

If she was going to have a conversation with someone that talked like a DCMS tactics instructor she at least had done so in another life.

_____________
Patrol: 2

[GM Yuusha]

A little further into the patrol, as the lance is moving up hilly terrain, you spot a winding foot path. More attention grabbing is the small girl walking along the footpath and looking up at the growing storm. She stops and looks back at the sound of mechs stomping closer...

[Ezmeralda]

Ezmeralda turned on the local comms. "Hey, kid! Where are your folks?" her voice squawked out over a speaker as she slowed her mech down.

"Tango, check the area in case this is a trap," she said switching back to squad comms.

[GM Yuusha]

She hadn't been startled before, but the loud speakers and Ez's yell were a big mood change from the otherwise peaceful morning. The girl backs away a little nervously from the four ominous black mechs.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori blinks in her cockpit but it's Torashirō who speaks, his usual gruffness a touch softer.

"Easy kid. We're just checking you're alright. That's our job at the moment, making sure nobody is in trouble."

[GM Yuusha]

Through the mech speakers it was still plenty gruff enough. The girl starts sobbing.

Good work ruining everything Torashirō and Ezmeralda!

[Ezmeralda]

"Okay, I am getting out of the mech," Easy said opening her hatch.

"Hey, see, we aren't going to hurt you," she said reassuringly.

[GM Yuusha]

The sobbing slowly dies down to sniffling as the girl cautiously watches Ez open her hatch. Ez would need to use an auto-ladder to get down.

"Okay..." *Hic*

[Ezmeralda]

Coming down she tried to be non-threatening. "So where are you going?"

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori to Torashirō: "I believe this is outside of our skillset."
Torashirō: "Hmmmph, a Draconis child wouldn't be so...hmmmph."
Yori: "She appears mildy distressed regardless."

[GM Yuusha]

The little girl meekly points ahead on the path, which wasn't very helpful really. There was nothing in sight.

"Torutovy..."

It was only a couple of days' walk away.

[Ezmeralda]

"Alright, come along with me," she beckoned her over, "I could use an excuse to go to town after this anyways."

[GM Yuusha]

"W-who are you?" She didn't seem convinced. "My father said not to talk to strangers."

(Communications [Awareness] roll to convince her)

[Ezmeralda]

"I'm Ezmeralda," she said patting her flattened chest, "He wouldn't want you out on the road at night, would he?" She hoped that would help her warm to her.

"Hey, L-T, do the patrol SOPs include looking after refugees?" Tango asked Yori as she seemed to feel this was a waste of time.