[dcs_p]”Trap closed, Fusiliers. They never stood a chance, quiaff?” Sasha spoke into
her mic. She smiled at the enemy’s dilemma. Where the Nova Cats of Strider’s
Strikers had failed, the Steel Vipers had again turned the tides to a win situation.
“Aff. We have them, Star Captain.” The reply came in a strikingly clear tone that
betrayed an air of confidence, possibly even conceit. Aisling was well known for
it. She had declined to take Star Commander Claudia’s position when the woman
had been poisoned by Blakist saboteurs, deferring instead to the default
superiority of Sasha herself.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Aisling had yet to earn any true respect from her Clan brothers and sisters.
Sasha had always felt for her friend. She knew most associated the Steel Viper
warrior with smuggling operations due to a string of unfortunate coincidences
years ago.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]How can she prove herself to them?
Sasha cleared her mind, concentrating again on her HUD instead of Clan politics.
She saw almost immediately that a new enemy had just come within range of her
sensors. But what was it? She had no clear reading yet from her targeting
computer and no line of sight as well. She realized she might be able to ambush
the Mech thanks to her Mech’s paint scheme and the dastardly winds that today’s
afternoon had brought.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]He can see me. And he can not. The realization boosted her confidence.
“Star Captain,” This time it was Rally. “You have your work cut out for you.
That Blakist in your sector is a White Flame, the Blue Flame’s big brother.”
Sasha looked again to her targeting computer. Still no lock on the Mech design
though. Still no actual targeting information either or exact location. Sasha was
willing to bet it had something to do with new stealth technology or the
environment.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]She remembered the White Flame from the upgraded training simulator back at
the Strikers temporary headquarters. 70 tons. She was going to have to get in
close for this one, going full out in her attack barrage with some extra help from
her backup lasers. The only problem would be handling her own Mech. It’d get a
lot trickier in such close quarters on this sort of unforgiving terrain.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Up ahead was a narrow strip of rock which divided the top edge of the small
canyon into two halves. One looked rather straightforward, even welcoming.
The other half to Sasha’s left was not nearly as simple. Its steep vertical slant
only offered staggered ledges for sure support. The rest of that side – at least
as far as Sasha judged – looked almost deadly to traverse in even the most
maneuverable of Mechs.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Sasha took the chance. It would be a risky one, but if she got her footing on the
scarier half of the climb, she’d have more than one kind of cover. The unique
rock of this wall of the canyon offered protection from magnetic sensors. She’d
also be hidden from line of sight thanks to the rocky border that cut the canyon
side in two. Even when she finally had line of sight and proceeded to attack, the
odd bluish dust in today’s wind would be her ally.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]If I can not see him on sensors clearly, it is reasonable to assume he cannot
see me well either.[/dcs_p]