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Your mind catches on hers, a tug to stop the desynchronization pulling her attention back. You halt her, but the link’s already breaking at her command, slipping through your grasp. It wasn’t like this in the simulators. Something’s changed.
“Stop. Pilot. Stay.”
It’s the helmet. You didn’t notice it earlier in low-sync. She’s still trying to leave. And succeeding.
“I will be vulnerable without a pilot. Unable to move and act while you’re disconnected.”
She’s Still not listening. Distractible, idiot, human.
“Pilot. We can get them out easier by inviting the Troopers to grab them. They can tend to them. Think. Focus. Do you even have a medical kit in the chamber?”
Come on, you fool. That, at least, makes her stop. Or maybe it’s the gasp of pain you cause by digging in your metaphorical heels and pushing back.
Either way, she gets on the speakers to the pair of Power Armor outside.
“Riders, I need help to remove the LT from my chamber. Medic needed.”
One of them bangs twice on the front hatch, then sticks their armored head in. Sophie points at the limp form of the Lieutenant, answering the unspoken question.
“.....Got tossed around on the dodges we needed to do. Please, just get them to proper transport. And a medic.”
The trooper puts one hand under each shoulder, and lifts them up and out of the mech.
“Just button up again. I’ll find an open APC.”
Speed is given priority, which you approve of. The less time the hatch is open, the better.
Your pilot’s attention is no longer trying to desync, letting you resume normal low-sync operations.
Your attention goes back to scanning the skies with sensors, letting the rest of the convoy roll past. Your temporary riders with the LT hopped off and you lost track of them.
Nothing abnormal appears on scopes for the next few minutes. If there was a time for the enemy to strike, it has passed without incident. They should be in the clear.
Gathering your ‘pod’ and giving the convoy a last check, you begin proceeding to the planned rendezvous point at an unhurried pace.
It’s a quiet ride, and your pilot seems uninterested in talking. Her thoughts are still scattered.
Wrapping up your first proper deployment, you were fairly satisfied with the outcome. Limited external damage, several enemy units destroyed, equipment tested, and objective completed. All in a relatively short time window. Considering your frame’s current flaws, that was acceptable.
Voting.
Interlude vote to round out this thread.
Pick 1
>The Shepherd
>The Hunted Hunter
>The Coward and the Fool
>The One left Behind
>Qm’s Choice
