42 M1 - Term: 1, Round: 5 (2/2)

Durand: Yes Maam.

Morganne Barran: Sigh. I'm sixteen. Don't call me Maam either. Can we just move to the Analysis?

Durand: Yes…Squirm…Barran M

Morganne Barran: It's fairly simple. M3TS1, as you put it, suck balls. Inferior equipment is only the beginning. Tactics. Piloting. Gunnery were leagues apart. After watching that debacle, I would give them zero chance of beating M1TS0 in a hundred matches in a row.

Durand: quite scathing. Can you talk about M1TS0 some as they will now meet M3TS0 in almost an hour?

Morganne Barran: I don't expect it to be much different. Even if squad zeros equipment is much better than squad one, they aren't in the same league when it comes to tactics, piloting and gunnery. Like most of Thoth, they have been disregarding the physical aspects believing they need only to focus on the science. To all of the House Thoth cadets listening to me now. Especially M1. Yes, work to become a great engineer, but until you start specialising in U1 do not disregard the physical and tactical arts. By improving your mastery, it will only inform you of what you should be inventing.

My gosh. M1Squad zero were only using basic grapplers and grenade launchers. Nothing special! But how they used them was the difference. And to be supported by those Railguns. They were the breakout weapon today. To think they developed that Railgun themselves in nine weeks. I am astonished. Not to mention their exo. I think it is classed as a medium now, but it has better movement than a standard mesh.

Durand: is it true that Daedo is Daedalus from CyberMech?

Morganne Barran: how would I know?

Durand: your brother is in his squad.

Morganne Barran: Do you have an older sister?

Durand: yes.

Morganne Barran: and what secrets do you tell her?

Durand: point taken. Thank you for your time. Can you come back after the next battle for another summary?

Morganne Barran: No.

Durand squirmed in his chair and did not dare ask why not.

The next battle will start in almost an hour Thoth Cadets. And I am looking forward to it. We will break for forty minutes and come back for the pre-battle lineup.

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Vannier brushed some dirt off her shoulder. ”That was easier than I thought it would be,” she directed at no one in particular. Mostly she received slight nods all around.

Daedo approached Gaumont, ”you did well. The cover you provided Barran saved him from going down. The timing was impeccable.”

Gaumont smiled. ”Yeah, well they were only firing at him. It was a no-brainer. I thought of giving him my shield after his crumbled, but there wasn't time to discuss it.”

”Just throw it at me next time,” Barran replied. ”No need to discuss. I'll get the hint from the flying shield.”

”We can work on these next term as part of your tech project,” Daedo said indicating the shields. ”It would be nice if they could soak more damage with higher resistance at least.”

Gaumont continued,”the structure could be enhanced to take more raw damage before breaking down, and if we add a modulating EMR shield, depending on our opposition, we could possibly improve the resistance.”

Barran added, ”and add a big ass spike to the front for face stabbing.”

”In a perfect world the shield would soak up kinetic or other energy types, store it, and you release that at your opponent,” Daedo added.

”Holy crap! You can do that? Do that,” Barran exclaimed.

”The point is, you two will be doing it,” Daedo reminded him.

Barran patted Gaumont on the shoulder, ”yep no problem. Hey Gaumont.” Which was Barran speak for Gaumont doing most of the work.

Gaumont rolled his eyes as Daedo turned back to Vannier who was pinging him.

”We have a small problem. Axelzero sprained her ankle and will need to go to medical,” Vannier announced.

”Go go!” Daedo urged Axelzero.

”I might be late getting back,” she replied anxiously.

”No matter, the longer we stand around he talking about it, the more chance of that happening. Go. That's an order,” Daedo said for the very first time.

Vannier nodded quickly picking up Axelzero between herself and Picard until they could get a gurney or some sort of vehicle. Once they were on the travelator, she would no longer have to walk.

”Barran,” Daedo called. ”Sorry, Axelzero I know this is embarrassing. Barran,” he said again as Barran come over. ”Pick her up and run to the travelator please.”

”Can do,” he said with a swift salute. Barran proceeded to whisk her off her feet and began to run.

Vannier ran after and started to send messages back to Daedo.

Vannier: thanks. She didn't want to go.

Daedo: drop her off and come back with Barran. We can go with six, and if they fix her in time, she can always run back.

Vannier: we tried the first aid spray, and it did nothing. Sorry, it took so long to work out we needed to send her.

Daedo: no problem. Let me know when you're on your way back.

”Cadet Daedo,” the Master from M3 approached the M1 squad leader. He was middle-aged, about sixty, black hair with streaks of grey over his ears. Master Granger stopped in front of Daedo starring down at him. Trying to look imposing Daedo surmised.

”Master Granger?” Daedo enquired after a quick salute.

Mater Granger cleared his throat and straightened his back. ”There is no need for the second match. You are through to the Tier one tournament in M3.” Master Granger announced formerly.

Daedo nodded and was about to thank him.

But Master Granger cut him off, ”Good luck. You will need it, Cadet.” There was a slight tone in his delivery that Daedo couldn't pick as derisive or just angry. It didn't matter Daedo forgot the slight in an instant.

He saluted again and thanked the Master who left promptly.

”That's a load off,” Gaumont mentioned with Picard nodding in agreement.

”Should we tell Vannier that Barran no longer needs to carry Axelzero?” Mace asked.

Daedo shrugged, and Gaumont laughed. But he sent the missive anyway.

Before they finished packing up their equipment Morganne Barran arrived. Daedo looked at Barran's older sister. It was their second meeting.

Like her brother she had blonde hair and compared to Daedo she was tall, almost 1700mm in height. She was sixteen and in U1, the first of the upper years. Daedo was not attracted to many girls, unlike Brice Barran, it was not something he dwelled on. But Barran-M did make his heart beat a little faster, and he wasn't exactly sure why.

”Squad Zero, well done,” Barran-M announced she saluted Daedo before he could salute her. ”I'm a big fan of yours,” she directed at Daedo.

Daedo blushed. It was a new sensation for him.

Gaumont heard an imperceptible exasperated sigh from Mace. He looked from Mace to Daedo to Barran-M trying to work out what was going on.

”Ah, why?” Daedo blustered back after a short pause while he found his words.

Barran-M laughed which had a surprising hoarse quality coming through the high pitched sound. It wasn't unattractive, it made her seem different. Barran-M was confident in herself just like her little brother. However, she lacked any signs of conceitedness.

”Why?” She asked rhetorically. ”Are you fishing for compliments?” She shook her head, meaning he wasn't going to get any. ”You are smart enough to work it out.”

”Until you came along, Barran-M was the highest ranked Thoth Cadet in Middle years,” Mace offered.

”Yes, but the best I ever achieved was third,” Barran-M said looking at Mace who was currently ranked second. ”And I'm not in M anymore. Thank the stars!” The cadets were ranked differently in Upper, U1 to U3, as they no longer competed head to head in most of their subjects. They were focusing their work on their speciality subjects.

”Anyway,” Barran-M continued. ”On behalf of Thoth cadets in all year levels, I would like to both Thank and Curse you.” She beamed at their confusion.

Daedo looked at Mace who just shrugged, but she texted she would explain later.

”When you wrap this up,” Barran-M swept her arm indicating their equipment, ”I will meet you back at your quarters. Master Nader and my Father both want me to chat with you.”

Mace texted Daedo that now she was confused as well.