Wargames (MAC fiction)
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:27 am
Andrea could almost hear the explosions ringing out across the ruined cityscape, smashing buildings to still smaller units of rubble whenever they struck. Which was often, since all the pilots were making the utmost use of cover. Except, of course, that this wasn't a live-fire exercise, and the explosions were all in her mind.
Which made it easier to concentrate, at least, she reflected as she corrected her aim and sent another trio of mortar shells arcing up into the sky, hopefully to impact upon that blasted elusive mage. Lives might not be on the line here, but the instructors were watching, and the little notes they'd be making would cut every bit as deep as bullets or beams.
A lightning strike from a cloudless sky smacked down to her right, demonstrating that the mage was still active. And, thankfully, had no better idea of her location than she did of his. Andrea would have liked to stick her head up to get a decent view of the field, but the orcs were just waiting for somebody to venture into line of sight of those obscenely powerful gatling cannons of theirs. Xastor had already suffered serious damage when he'd ventured briefly out of cover, though he was still capable of contributing to the barrage.
Right now, Andrea and her two companions were putting out as much indirect firepower as they could, to support the illusion that all of them were still hunkered down in cover. In reality, Higiyama and Kasan were sneaking around the flank, intent upon taking out the orc mech. Without that massive vehicle and its firepower, Blue Team would be severely hampered. Andrea intended to win this engagement, and win it convincingly.
As another wave of fire struck across the field, a voice crackled across her comm, "Corpath, we've got company." Eric Leischmann was a transfer student from Valth, and hence hadn't really made a lot of friends to date. Unusually for a Valthi, he was an accomplished mage and, shock horrors, didn't believe in the supremacy of technology over all else.
Which wasn't to say he didn't have an abundance of attitude. Still, his skills were good enough that Andrea had felt confident in assigning him to guard the right flank. Even as she pivoted to cover the flank, the 'company' Leischmann had referred to swept around the corner of one of the less ruined buildings.
The phoenix was upon them. <p>Centuries of threats of "I'll turn you all to stone!" and "I'll knock you all down!" have caused Domans to develop an instinct to form small groups. For safety, I assure you. – Keir</p>
Which made it easier to concentrate, at least, she reflected as she corrected her aim and sent another trio of mortar shells arcing up into the sky, hopefully to impact upon that blasted elusive mage. Lives might not be on the line here, but the instructors were watching, and the little notes they'd be making would cut every bit as deep as bullets or beams.
A lightning strike from a cloudless sky smacked down to her right, demonstrating that the mage was still active. And, thankfully, had no better idea of her location than she did of his. Andrea would have liked to stick her head up to get a decent view of the field, but the orcs were just waiting for somebody to venture into line of sight of those obscenely powerful gatling cannons of theirs. Xastor had already suffered serious damage when he'd ventured briefly out of cover, though he was still capable of contributing to the barrage.
Right now, Andrea and her two companions were putting out as much indirect firepower as they could, to support the illusion that all of them were still hunkered down in cover. In reality, Higiyama and Kasan were sneaking around the flank, intent upon taking out the orc mech. Without that massive vehicle and its firepower, Blue Team would be severely hampered. Andrea intended to win this engagement, and win it convincingly.
As another wave of fire struck across the field, a voice crackled across her comm, "Corpath, we've got company." Eric Leischmann was a transfer student from Valth, and hence hadn't really made a lot of friends to date. Unusually for a Valthi, he was an accomplished mage and, shock horrors, didn't believe in the supremacy of technology over all else.
Which wasn't to say he didn't have an abundance of attitude. Still, his skills were good enough that Andrea had felt confident in assigning him to guard the right flank. Even as she pivoted to cover the flank, the 'company' Leischmann had referred to swept around the corner of one of the less ruined buildings.
The phoenix was upon them. <p>Centuries of threats of "I'll turn you all to stone!" and "I'll knock you all down!" have caused Domans to develop an instinct to form small groups. For safety, I assure you. – Keir</p>