60 M1 - Term: 1 to 2 - Break (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: (holiday)
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”Har Daedo, you owe me a chocolate thickshake,” Barran roared, ”can't believe you bet on Dead Beat.”
”His durability was incredibly high compared to all the other Mechs,” Daedo replied.
”Yeah, but Smack Ninja beat Kick Start, and that Mech rocked. So, Smack Ninja had to rock harder. He will go all the way now,” Barran stated confidently.
”Assuming he doesn't get banned for cheating,” Daedo said softly. The Axel bodysuit sensors picked up the faint micro-bursts and Myrmidon tracked down where they were coming from through simple triangulation. When Myrmidon informed Daedo, he was gobsmacked that the pair who owned Smack Ninja would do such a thing.
The cadets sat through the final which was not as exciting as the semi-final with Dead Beat. Smack Ninja again used a micro-burst interference cheat to ensure its victory. Daedo was torn whether to inform the authorities or not. In the end, he decided not, if Smack Ninja was smart enough to beat the adjudicators, then it was fair game. There was a risk to using the cheat and an equal reward. Similar to other risky strategies that could be employed in battle.
”I want to see Dead Beat,” Daedo stated when they were discussing what to do next. It was their last night in Munich. Most were heading back to the workshop with the exception of Vannier and Axelzero who had to spend the rest of the break with their families.
”Is there a way to get a backstage pass?” Vannier asked peering at Barran.
Barran shrugged, ”You have to know someone,” he said after a moment.
None of the squad or their families had any contacts from amongst the league or the competitors. They moved in different circles. Different universes. Most of the pro league were more like Daedo, coming up from the great unwashed and bettering their lot. Starting with nothing and either crowdfunding some capital or duking it out in the garage leagues until they had enough capital to enter the pro league. And to survive in the pro league, they had to be good, very good, at building, piloting, attracting sponsors and probably gambling.
”We sorta know someone,” Vannier mentioned.
Barran nodded, ”Smack Ninja. But, they will probably be the hardest to get in and see. Since they won the final.”
”If you can find their contact, I know of something that will get us in,” Daedo added.
”Like?” Vannier and Barran turned to Daedo who just shrugged and smiled.
”Ok, ok, I'll see if they are in my family's DB,” Barran said uncomfortably. After a minute of searching. ”Woah, they owe some creds to finance. I have a Sebastian Cordala contact for a P.loan where Smack Ninja is listed as capital.”
”That could be red or black beard,” Axelzero offered her input to which Barran nodded.
”Ok Daedo, what are the magic words to get an audience?” Barran asked.
”Micro-burst 834.22khz five-second intervals,” Daedo said to everyone's surprise.
”What does that even mean?” Barran began to ask before adding, ”oh don't worry. I am sure they will understand.” Barran proceeded to send a message to a Sebastian Cordala titled Cadets and Micro-Burst.
Mace whispered conspiratorily, ”I think Daedo caught them cheating.”
”Thanks to Axel corp sensors,” Daedo mentioned nodding to Axelzero.
She looked at him accusingly, ”we all have the same sensors.” And indicated the entire squad with a sweep of her hands.
Daedo smiled, ”but there is only one Myrmidon.” And he tapped his cybernetic implant behind his ear.
”I'm so jealous,” Mace stated. She had become so comfortable with Daedo over the last week, she would never have been so open and talkative in the past.
”Are the sessions working?” Daedo asked. The results would not be immediate, but Daedo and Myrmidon had constructed sessions for all the Cadets to run through with their AI. And he expected that they would see some results by now.
”Yes. We are improving. Slowly,” Mace answered solemnly.
”Alright,” Barran announced, ”That was quick. They want to meet.”
”Flick me the thread,” Daedo asked as soon as Barran sent it through Daedo contacted Sebastian Cordala.
*Daedo: don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. I just want to meet Dead Beat's engineer in return for keeping quiet.*
*Seb: whateva kid. Ya know yer taking a chance by blackmailing us. How do ya know we ain't crims who would kill ya?*
*Daedo: because if anything happens to me or my friends, your secret will certainly get out. And I am not asking for creds, I just want to meet the brains behind Dead Beat.*
*Seb: I must admit, it's the strangest blackmail request I eva heard of. Come down to the loading dock kid, and I will get ya in.*
”I'm going down to the loading dock,” Daedo announced.
”How many of us can come?” Barran asked.
”One, we didn't discuss an exact number,” Daedo replied.
”Ok, Picard goes with you for protection,” Barran stated.
”You don't want to come?” Daedo asked.
”I'm guessing you used that info to push your way in, so no, I will stay out and contact EUsec if I need to,” Barran replied. All his usual banter shelved. He took his role as security chief seriously.
”I'll patch you all into my suit's feed,” Daedo said as he began to move.
Picard hurried to catch up.”We aren't expecting trouble are we?” She asked. Daedo gave a quick shake of his head in answer. After a few minutes of searching for the loading dock, they found Seb leaning against a wall smoking something unhealthy.
”Oh it's you,” Seb said with his raspy voice. With a flick of his head, he extinguished the stick and added, ”follow me.” It wasn't long before there were in a maze of corridors which Seb's ID granted them access.
”I hope ya are good for yer word kid,” Seb said standing in front of mechbay two.
”He's not in the habit of negging a deal if that's what you mean Smack Ninja,” Picard said sternly while standing slightly in front of Daedo.
”You kids some sort of team?” Seb asked at the last, ”never heard of Daedalus.”
”It's our company,” Daedo answered, ”this place is huge where is Dead Beat?” Mech bay two was a communal bay for half of the unseeded competitors. Most of which were packing up, loading hover bins and jacks.
”How should I know,” Seb replied with a shrug, ”I just know he's in two.” Seb resisted the urge to ask the kid how he uncovered the micro-blast, but the less they talked about it, the better. As long as the league didn't find out he was golden.
Daedo dashed down the line of pro league mechs looking for Dead Beats colouring of gunmetal grey. A few of the mechs had been packed down, where the main body parts were dismantled into five separate pieces.
There were almost thirty mechs in mech bay two, fifteen on each side of the long central avenue. The avenue was currently occupied with large containers of gear from the early exits trying to leave the venue.
”There,” Picard said pointing. At the end of the row was the unmistakeable gunmetal grey mech Dead Beat. Most mechs had some colour scheme, where Dead Beat persona was he couldn't care less for the pomp and pageantry that his competitors went to.
The pair rushed down to the last section of the bay and Daedo began to look for the engineer or pilot, anyone.
Dead Beat was slowly being dismantled and not into five sections, piece by piece was coming off and thrown into hoverbins. Every plate and strut, no matter the size was being pulled off by little bots which were basically a soccer sized ball with arms and legs.