Up until now, Winter had only been in simulators. And yet here she was, wearing her very own flight suit. Climbing into the cabin of an Actual PMK-127! It was all so electric, her body surging with nervous excitement. The dumb grin fixed to her face, only growing wider. Palms sweaty, heart thundering.
Then when she opened the hatch, the pneumatic hiss that it brought. Sent shivers through the soldiers body, so this is what she was missing. Climbing into the cockpit, she was made for this. Attaching the kinetic control system, she's been waiting for this. Fitting on the manual control unit, she's Trained for this Cutting on the main phase power, she was ready for this. Checking system diagnostics, she had this. And yet, Winter hesitated.
She was one click away from waking up her beast, and she was frozen. Shaking hand hovering inches away from full ignition, fear setting in immediately. This was her first time ever, and it was do or die. Either she danced well, and proved herself worthy of her wings. Or she fails, and may never dance in her mech again. The weight of her situation finally getting to her, pressing in her chest and clouding her reality.
Her breathing spiked and her panic only increased, until she remembered one thing. She was a Kemynshki, her adoptive mother started the entire revolution she was fighting. Finally breaking her first dance jitters, she'd flick the ignition. And would immediately wonder why she was ever nervous.
The roar of her monster would chase off her doubts. Feeling the rumble of the kinetic fusion engine beneath her. The steady heart of a metal beast, toiling tirelessly to keep her metal body moving. Then there was walking for the first time ever, it was so surreal to see the world beneath her. Each step she took, her new body would do as she did. Flexing her new metal hands, examining the brutal yet beautiful design.
Then there was her main weapon, a NoctCo Flak shot. A crude weapon designed for durability and reliability, it was essentially an oversized KS-23m. Which hilariously have been reproduced, due to some officer finding old blueprints. She'd feel it's heft, tossing it arm to arm. Feeling the weight shift her body, ever so slightly with each catch. Checking the mag tube to see what was loaded, and chuckling at the non-lethal blue shells. "Zeus shells...capable of stunning any mech with a few charges .." The Starshina muttered to herself, getting lost in the moment.
"How does it feel Kemynshki, your new body?" The Major's voice would cut through her amazement, snapping her back to reality. "Sorry you don't get to experience the full thing, neural interface augments aren't cheap. That being said, VR is good yes?"
"Y-Yes sir! This is.. incredible! I ..I feel-.."
"Like you can take the world? Like nothing can stop you?"
"Нет Comrade Major, I feel.... comfortable....at home."
"Heh, well then miss comfortable. Let's get to your first dance, and tell you what. If you can Actually manage to win, I'll personally vet you for exemption. Now, are you ready?"
For once in her life, this was the first thing she was actually ready for. Taking in a deep breath, clearing out those eternal doubts just for one moment. Before bringing her body about to her adversary, her first dance partner. The Major.
"Aye sir, what's the R.O.E?" She asked with a smirk, getting into a combat stable stance. Preparing to roll forwards, to close some distance between the two.
"Survive". Was the only thing he'd say, before slamming a full volley into the Starshina's chassis. Stunning both mentally and physically, she didn't know they were just starting. And before she could think, a second volley slammed into her left shoulder. The impact knocking her back a few steps, and knocking her back into reality again.
She needed to survive, which meant she needed to get moving. Leaping out of the way of the third shell, she'd land with a groan. Though she couldn't hesitate for long, there wasn't much cover in the mech fighting pit. Getting to her feet, she'd send her own volley of electrified darts. Watching them strike the major, before using the opening to charge in.
"Aggressive aren't you? Oh shit, NOOO!!!"
The Major would swiftly see why the solder went in close, as she slung her multi tonne mech into his. Knocking the veteran on his back, and within a few moments. With a few stun needles in his chest.
"Sorry sir, didn't know we started sooner than I thought." The confident Winter would sneer, before leaning down to help her Major up. Leaving the man standing and stunned, and unfortunately for his pride. Most of her class was just as daring.
One using their flak shot as club, leaping to their enemies as if they were a melee chassis. Another simply chose to stay just inside the Zeus Shell's effective range, slowly picking away at the poor cadet they were fighting. Leaving the man dumbfounded, that this was the new wave. Though in his heart, he'd feel something reignite. Hope for the new pilots, and the future they may bring.
"Very good pilots......Malik will be happy to hear this..."
pixelskylines
snowghoul
gracieabrams
