71 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 1 (1/2)
Attendance at Fortescue Military Academy M1 Y:2142
House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero
M1 Rank: 1/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null
Term: 2, Round: 1
Daedalus Operating Capital: 60,000 bitcreds
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The hardest Gauntlet they had faced so far was proving difficult to crack. Daedo was not happy that he was unable to weave his way through and avoid most of the enemy. After much research, it was obvious all the groups searched for him from the beginning of the scenario. There was no proximity agro, or more accurately, the insectoids were always agroed, and the only distinction was whether they were searching or knew your location and were chasing you down.
It was the second last Gauntlet of the round, and it was time for a serious attempt by Daedo. There were no points for kills in this scenario. The lowest time to capture all three bases gave the best score.
For Thoth Squad Zero, the M1 ranking wasn't a challenge, outside of their squad that is. With the exception of Kang who had a lot to learn, but she was showing promise and improving rapidly. Daedo had no concerns that she would be granted Master Nader's approval at the end of the week. No one was aware, except for him, that it was even an issue. He had assigned different squad members, to Kang, with a weekly goal, in different subjects which suited their strengths.
Picard had the hardest assignment. Fortunately, Kang was a better athlete than him when he started. Vannier and Axelzero handled most of the Academic subjects. He handled AI nurturing and Mace was her coach for the Gauntlet. Barran wasn't a natural tutor, he liked to talk but barely listened. And he was busy selling exo contracts to any squad who would pay the fifteen kay price tag for the two-point-six model. The term one tournament model.
Daedo had refined his Gauntlet loadout to the grappler, explosive traps and railgun. The lack of variety and melee weapon allowed him to carry a dozen explosive traps and grapple hooks.
The current M3 leaderboard was the real challenge. Although he wouldn't appear on their leaderboard, the points total he achieved could be directly compared to the M3 scores. At the moment his best score wasn't in the top one hundred for M3.
This Gauntlet suited Barran's strengths thus he was ranked one in M1, and when compared to M3 he slotted in at eleven. It was a fantastic achievement, and it was thanks to how quickly Barran took down insectoids with the swordlance at close quarters. Barran carried a shield and railgun as well.
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The Gauntlet Term 2, Round 1
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Score, Ranks in M1 and the equivalent rank if the cadets were in M3
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Barran, 255, M1: 1, M3: 11
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Picard, 249, M1: 2, M3: 32
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Daedo, 222, M1: 3, M3: 109
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Mace, 221, M1: 4, M3: 111
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Vannier, 215, M1: 5, M3: 120
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Axelzero, 210, M1: 6, M3: 125
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Kang, 171, M1: 198, M3: didn't scroll down that far
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The reason Master Nader petitioned and was successful in having the same Gauntlet for M3 down to M1 was the inter-Academy league which began in term three. The league consisted of a number of events. And the main scoring events were the weekend home and away season of arena matches and gauntlets.
By reaching the semi-finals and therefore finishing in the top four M3 squads, M1 Thoth Squad Zero (M1TS0) had proven they were contenders to participate in the inter-academy competition, and if they didn't, at least their equipment should be utilised. Despite their misgivings with Master Nader and M1TS0, the Fortescue Military Academy hierarchy prioritised the performance in the Inter-Academy league above all.
Due to the advantage of their exos and railguns, M1TS0 dominated the M1 table, only Kang who was still learning the ropes struggled, yet she still managed to land in the top two hundred with guidance from Mace and her own sheer determination.
”Are you going to knock off top spot today?” Mace asked with a small smile. Daedo usually left his runs to the last minute.
”I don't think so. I can't kill them in melee anywhere near as fast as Barran and Picard. And kiting them is less efficient. Even if I didn't get overrun and pummelled. Today I will set more traps, let's see how that works,” Daedo replied.
Mace nodded, ”I am doing much the same,” she showed him the twelve proximity explosives she carried. They laughed and discussed their planned placements. Kang stood by like a third wheel listening in. During the Gauntlet she was Mace's protégé and by design stayed close.
Barran walked in on the conversation, ”We need to get a couple into the top M3 scores.” He directed his announced at Daedo and Mace.
”For your sales?” Daedo asked, and Barran nodded.
”Aren't M3 Shu holding down half of the top ten?” Mace asked pointing out that M3SS0 was using their exo.
”Yeah, but they were already awesome. It would mean much more if we were pushing up. They would assume it had nothing to do with our skill and everything to do with the exo,” Barran replied.
”I think you could make that argument with the current ranks,” Daedo teased, ”Although Picard is thirty-two, she is most likely to make the top ten. I will talk to her.”
Barran, ”Hey didn't you see my score!”
There was no way on earth that Daedo wasn't aware of Barran's score, considering he never shut up about it. ”No, I never look at Gauntlet ranks, Myrmidon just summarises for me,” Daedo said deadpan.
”Oh, you ..” Barran laughed, ”you had me for a second.”
”Seriously though, with this Gauntlet, you and Picard are the ones to get into the top three if you can. Two sixty should do it.” Daedo said.
”Okay,” Barran said giving his trademark confident smile, ”Watch this space.” He was up, he entered the Gauntlet eyes ablaze with ambition.
Picard was practising a lance thrust waiting for her turn.
”Did you hear that Picard?” Axelzero asked, ”You need to get two hundred and sixty.”
Picard just shook her head, as if to say don't talk to me, she was a picture of concentration.
”So you are ranked one, two, three, four, five and six. And you are still so serious about getting better scores?” Kang asked Mace.
Mace nodded, ”We want the chance to compete in the Inter-Academy league. And to do that we have to beat M3 cadets.”
”Okay, but if you sell them all your exos won't that make it harder?” Kang asked.
Mace nodded, ”Yeah.”
Kang slapped her armoured forehead with her armoured hand. It made a loud clunk. ”Then why?”
”Many reasons, but most of all, we need to be skilled, we can't rely on our equipment advantage,” Daedo replied.
”You need to go on the next green,” Mace told Kang. Vannier had entered the Gauntlet three minutes before Barran.
Kang nodded, they usually made her go first. But she had been improving.
As Kang took off, Daedo, Mace and Axelzero called after her. ”Go Kang!” and variations of ”Smash those bugs!” She looked back and rolled her eyes, although no one could see through her helmet, at the squad's corniness before fixing her steely gaze into the Gauntlet.
Picard readied to go next. She turned to Daedo and Mace and said, ”She's doing really well,” nodding in Kang's direction.
”Have you seen the swordlance and shield compound yet?” Daedo asked Picard.
She nodded, ”We can test them this weekend.” Picard bent her knees slightly, and as the beep sounded, she launched herself into the Gauntlet.
”Thanks for all your work last week,” Daedo said to Mace quietly. They hadn't had much of a chance to review and catch-up since last week's events. And for a change, it was Mace who was busy all the time. ”We will have the test results from your UHVI fluid tomorrow.”
Mace replied in short sentences with a short pause between each, ”Looking forward to it. I'd almost forgotten. Have had my head in polymers since Saturday.”
”You're only one point behind me,” Daedo changed the subject back to the task at hand. ”If you beat me I'll buy you a chocolate thick shake.”
Mace laughed, ”One; they are free, and two; Picard would kill you. She has me on a strict protein, vitamin, mineral and fibre diet.”
”I know,” Daedo bawled. He was on the same diet. The chocolate thick shakes were a delicacy they picked up from Axelzero's Aunt. They consisted of coconut cream, cacao with a tiny amount of vanilla and cinnamon. It was delivered almost frozen. Once the recipe was known it was something the cafeteria could make in almost infinite amounts.
The beep sounded, and Mace entered the Gauntlet, she had the identical loadout to Daedo. Railgun, grappler and traps.
”Good luck,” Daedo and Axelzero called to her departing form.
”Just me and you,” Axelzero said cheerfully.
”Yeah until Barran finishes,” Daedo said with a shiver.