In the weeks following the training exercise, Krista had buried herself in her new role as Squad Leader. Between the training they all had to do and her own studies on being a leader she hadn't much time to socialize with the others. The constant reminder of her responsibilities she bore on her shoulders didn't help break the ice either. Then there was the incident between Yeshua and Kohler. She hadn't seen it personally but from what she had heard about it it was pretty gruesome. They both seemed... off ever since. 

At the most recent of the Professor's lectures, a question struck her from earlier. After letting the others ask their questions before approaching. [color=FireBrick]"Sir, I have a question about something you brought up earlier. About the difficulties in capturing a Cruxi unit intact."[/color]

Lorenzo looked over from his bundle of research notes. [color=f26522]"Yes, Officer Reynolds, what is it?"[/color]

[color=FireBrick]"You mentioned a while back that certain units would retreat by teleporting. I was wondering if they ever use this offensively?"[/color] she said.

The professor stroked his beard when he listened to the question. [color=f26522]"Hmm, that is an interesting thought. It wouldn't take them much to adjust what they're already using to materialize weapons or use it some other way. However, considering how recently they started using this technology in this war, I believe even they themselves do not understand the full capability of what they have discovered. Like us, I believe they are also inventing new weapons to overcome us in the arms race. Still, it would be easy to teleport bombs into colonies, yet they haven't done so...most intriguing..."[/color] Lorenzo mumbled, deep in thought.

Krista shuddered at the thought of a bomb appearing in her lap without warning. [color=FireBrick]"Do you think it might operate on some sort of homing beacon? Like it can only recall units, not deploy them." [/color]

[color=f26522]"A plausible theory, Reynolds. Of course, as long as we don't understand how the mechanics related to the phenomenon exactly work we can only guess. But if we were to acquire this technology...oh, it would revolutionize human society. Such an ingenious race to turn it into a mere weapon of war...there is no greater disappointment for a scientist."[/color]

Krista sighed. [color=FireBrick]"Too bad learning about them requires being shot at..."[/color] she said, [color=FireBrick]"You said that the decision to try and capture one would be at the Squad Officer's choice. Do we have anything that might help take one intact?"[/color]

[color=f26522]"Why yes, that is correct. Let's see..."[/color] Lorenzo scrambled over his papers until he found one. [color=f26522]"If we take the concept of the immobilization mine and turn it into an attached weapons system, and a brave pilot would close the distance and apply the freezing agent onto an enemy unit, covering it up...add in the electrifying solution with EMP-generators...Yes! If my hypothesis is correct, that should prevent the unit from self-destructing! But it would have to be applied at extremely close range, and without the unit's weapon systems being hindered. An extremely dangerous situation for any Framewerk pilot. But if one were to succeed, oh, I would get an entire Cruxi mech all for myself, heh heh!"[/color] Lorenzo devilishly grinned at the prospect.

Krista put that in the back of her mind as something that might be worth trying later, once the rest of the squad had seen action. [color=FireBrick]"That would be nice. Know your enemy and all that. Going back to the teleportation thing. I was wondering if we knew where they went. Seems like it would be simple enough to tag them with a tracker of some sort." [/color]

[color=f26522]"Why yes, it would be...if any of the Framewerks who attempted that ever survived. The teleportation function seems to only be reserved for the most advanced models of war machine the Cruxi utilize, and any attempts to place trackers on them only resulted in the poor pilot being shredded or annihilated. They are really defensive about their precious toys, those damn clickers..."[/color]

[color=FireBrick]"Ugh... should've realized it wouldn't be easy,"[/color] she lamented, [color=FireBrick]"Thanks for answering my questions sir. I'll let you get back to what you were doing."[/color] She turned around before stopping and facing Lorenzo again. [color=FireBrick]"Actually, one more thing, when do you think we'll have a prototype of that Cruxi-immobilzation weapon?"[/color]

[color=f26522]"I'll start working on it now, so if my calculations are complete...it should enter production stage in a month or so. If there aren't any malfunctions present, of course."[/color] Lorenzo then went back to his pile of papers and looked at them with renewed interest and stamina, as if his brain was running with more gears than usual.