[b]Solarel[/b] Akaithon is a puzzle solver and a fine pilot. In this light, her attack approach is the “correct” solution to the Aeteline, to the extent such a solution exists. She has a power core in the Kathresis to match yours, and a light frame that can emphasize speed and shielding. If the pilot is adequately quick, adequately precise, and adequately in tune with the machine, they can switch power over to the attacks just as they connect, defeating even the defenses of the Aeteline. It demands intense focus, precision control, and split-second reflexes. But then, that’s the best possible solution that Akai could offer you: she has made herself the point of failure in her attempt to beat the Aeteline. She has, also, though she rides in your shadow, chosen a different approach to this fight than the last. “Sol, I think you’re up to speaking on more than one level” she says, making any attempt an approach, looks for your response, and then cuts her speed and changes her angle. “And I want you to hear why I’m in this machine. I was only going to pilot it back from the crystal hangar originally, but once I was tied into it, it spoke to me. It spoke of you and the mistake we both made. The Aeteline is evil, Sol. It was made broken, the fires it channels ruin things, break things. It breaks the world. The Kathresis begged me to bring it down and it showed me how it could be done. I know…I know you won’t be able to see that from within it, I can only imagine the rush of piloting it. Which is why I’m going to have to show you in the only language you really speak.” Her lance is coming, a single blow could be a deadly strike nod her speed is a match for the Aeteline. What do you do? *** [b]Isabelle[/b] “Oh wow, you’re really upbeat compared to the gala!” You can hear Kiriala’s smile as she answers you. “Must have been a good prep week! Whispered Promise is fine, I think. She’s been doing some really intense stuff to prep for her next matches and uh…some other stuff, I think. She told me she’s working on her promise to you, too. We’ve all been trying to help, she’s got a lot of ideas and doesn’t always think about how to share that with other people, you know?” Similar to her prior match with Mirror, Kiriala isn’t going for anything underhanded. She’s not the type to try and cut your head off in the middle of a casual conversation and she’s perfectly fine taking the match at her own pace. She keeps to the ground as well. The wide space offers free room to maneuver and she’s taking a stance that says she’s ready to react to you if you get started, but at the same time she’s not going to be the one to make the first move before you’re both ready. This isn’t naivete, it’s just an approach to fighting that she likes. The patient hunter. “Oh but don’t think you can go prying any info out of me. First off, I wouldn’t give you details during a match where anyone who wants can hear and second I don’t know them anyway!” You can absolutely hear her sticking her tongue out at you in the way she ended that sentence. “So, what’s got you all upbeat? I hope it’s our help? Give me some clues though. I’m not a good enough detective even among Hybrasilians to hear your tone of voice and distinguish whether you’ve got the good exercise glow, or the good food glow, or the good sex glow, so help me out here!” [There’s a generic string XP in it for you if you open up to Kiriala to start the fight] *** [b]Dolly and Jade[/b] The water bursts around you like a thousand spears thrusting in formation. Laser blasts from Jacinta strike the foam and burst into steam, sizzling with heat. She lets out a primal roar all her own, deep and low that rumbles through her whole body. A challenge and a war cry all in one. As she does, the Roar, crazy as it sounds, is doing its best to strike all three targets simultaneously, splitting its cannon fire among auto cannons and lasers to avoid presenting any completely open front. At the same time though, the split means that no front is completely impassible. Instead, you’ve got a difficult but manageable bullet hell Fromm each approach. And here, you can see a piece of Jacinta Niares as a character. She’s not willing to leave herself open. The Roar is full of surprises still, don’t let your guard down, but you have this insight that the way she reacts is that she’s just not willing not leave any opening in any direction. [Take a string on Jacinta] She’s also rising, moving herself above the level of the water and steam, but you’ve created this much opportunity: until she gets clear and can take in the various jackals you’ve unleashed, you have the situation in hand and a chance to act. [b]Angela[/b] “Please, I saw you at the party, you’re hardly one to talk” comes the chuckling response over the Comms. And Ada does indeed launch her attack, wasting no time in closing the distance to her preferred fighting range. She’s careful about it though, damn her. She uses every bit of natural cover to close and avoid shots, and she’s got a reserve booster to dodge suddenly if you pull out a secret weapon. It’s a little like being smothered, but instead of in a hug, it’s in an inescapable net as she comes at you and you’re forced back. “I told Jade the same thing I’ll tell you now though. I’m about providing for my family, tournament or no. And you, backwater Terenian daughter, does that mean anything to you? Do you understand how I might feel? The way your people forget about you ring any bells, huh? Win, lose, or draw, I’m open to anyone who wants to work together.” And therein lies her fire. The pride of being the provider, the pride of protecting. You’ve got to come up with something before you’re forced back into the forest or the rocks and have nowhere left to cede ground. It’s lucky that the Barn Owl is a workhorse model and can take a lot of glancing blows without losing any core functionality. *** [b]Mirror[/b] “Oh, uh, gosh, wow” Maelia says, trying not to look too closely at all the different ways you’re disheveled. She doesn’t want to look like she’s judging, but she also doesn’t want to look away because that would be embarrassing for both of you, so she’s settled on looking at you, but kind of awkwardly past you without looking at anything in particular and hoping that works for everybody. “I mean, wow, um…who knew my co-caster was such a dedicated go-getter? I mean, a lot of people probably did if they watched your matches because that mecha of yours is something else and you must have trained just as hard to pilot it without passing out from the feeling of cutting off your own arms, right?” She laughs, nervously. “Well, um, anyway, let’s get on air. The match is already starting.” She hits a button and a light goes on. You’re on a slight broadcast delay, but current with the monitors and there’s Dolly and Jade blasting above the lake with several duplicates against the raining firepower of the Roar. “So, I’ve got a um, new caster with me today, and we’re going to have to jump right into it because Smokeless Jade Fires and her pilot Dala Hunters looked like they drew the short straw but instead of the match ending before it started, they’ve made a brilliant move and shifted all their power to a terrain and multi-unit simultaneous distraction! The use of the water to absorb laser fire in particular is inspired. As a medium it will both dissipate heat (folks at home, did you know that water has one of the highest specific—heat absorption ratios of any commonly found substance?) and deflect the blasts from their intended target. Jacinta isn’t letting up though and she refuses to offer a clear approach vector! Mira, what do you make of this fight?”