[center][h2]Saturday March 18th, 2094, 13:00
Cape Town, South Africa[/h2][h3]Carrera Condor contracted hotel[/h3][/center]An inspirational [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MejvKklh4KI]orchestral track[/url] played to a backdrop of scenes of South African nature and important moments from its history. [color=#1EFF24]”Officially the Republic of South Africa, it is the Southernmost country of the mainland Old World, home to over 70 million people, 1500 known animal and 23000 plant species across over 1 221 000 square kilometres. Historically an important navigational landmark in the form of the Cape of Good Hope, the world’s largest producer of gold for nearly a century until 2006 and current third largest exporter chrome and iron ore, it has always been a keystone nation to Humanity.”[/color]

The music fell silent as the video cut to Bea wringing water out of a towel before wrapping it around her head. [color=#1EFF24]”Who in their right mind chooses to live here?”[/color] She groaned.

The music swelled again, the voiceover returning. [color=#1EFF24]”South Africa has had its ups and downs across the years, and between apartheid, crime rates through the roof, ANC mismanagement and the resulting energy crisis, it was about time this beautiful piece of land caught a break. After decades, South Africa has finally capitalised on its potential, becoming a vibrant place and the beer… the beer here is to die for.”[/color]

The music fell silent again, cutting to Bea with her head in the fridge. [color=#1EFF24]”I mean, there’s Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Canada… and you choose to live here, where you can tell it’s lunch time because the road surface starts to boil?”[/color] The British woman definitely a winter enjoyer rather than a summer fan.
[color=#1EFF24]”Well, we’re here, at least the food is great and the views are spectacular.”[/color] She pulled her head out of the fridge, picked up the camera and moved to the balcony to demonstrate the latter, [color=#1EFF24]”But I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the upgrades we brought for this race since they were announced and why I haven’t covered them yet. Simply put, there isn’t anything to show off because it’s just ECU software. There aren’t any new parts, we’re just using what we had a lot more efficiently, and bloody Hell were we doing something wrong, because going by the data we have we’re suddenly the second fastest thing under the Sun alongside Al-Saqr. And right on time, too, because this track demands it.
That being said,”[/color] She grabbed a backpack and a straw sun hat, [color=#1EFF24]”Let’s see what we can do with it.”[/color]

[hr][center][h2]Saturday March 18th, 2094, 14:22
Cape Town, South Africa[/h2][h3]Qualifying[/h3][/center]”And as Fitzroy pulls into the pits, we’re watching Ward about to start her hot lap.”
The rainbow-on-black livery caught the sun’s rays as the ship straightened out, shooting out of the final corner notably faster than it ever did in Auckland.
“489 kilometers per hour at the speed trap, that is night and day from Mensah!”
“Those upgrades they brought are already paying off.” The pundits noted as Bea pulled back on the throttle, thrust reverser flaps flaring out at the back to help the air brakes slow the ship for the stadium section.

[color=#129914]”Heavy tailwind expected when you reach the summit.”[/color] Bea’s engineer cautioned over the radio.
There was no response as the ship climbed the mountain, but eagle-eyed viewers watching the onboard would note a quick flick of the stick to the other side mid-corner as she reached the top to keep the ship pointed where it was supposed to be as the wind tried to rotate the rear of the ship.

“Purple sector one for Ward.”

[color=#129914]”Engine mode ‘high’ please, and full deploy.”[/color]
[color=#1EFF24]”Mode high, full send.”[/color] Bea read back, slightly changing the fuel mixture and angle of fan blades to better work at higher altitude as the ship tore across the flat mountain top.

“That’s sector two purple as well, she’s on an absolute flyer!”
“She’s three tenths up on Mensah already.”
“Well, she did say she wanted to make it a proper fight with SuperCat here.”

[color=#129914]”Mode ‘low’ and do not charge.”[/color]
[color=#1EFF24]”Mode low.”[/color] Bea confirmed the setting as she seemingly fell rather than drove off the mountain toward the sea level.

“And that’s Ward’s lap, over six tenths ahead of provisional P2.”
“Where did they find that form?”
“Maybe the Highlanders sent some nice whisky as thanks for Bea’s promotion to pour into the tank? Anyway, here’s the radio.”
[color=#129914]”Nice job, you’ve beaten them all.”[/color] Alistair said in reference to the five that had their runs before Bea as she slowed down and moved aside to let Lowry past her on her outlap. [color=#129914]”Mode ‘slow’ as usual, and radiator to ‘auto’.”[/color]
[color=#1EFF24]”That was *BEEEEP*ing spectacular.”[/color] She cheered as several flaps opened on at back of the ship to help cool the engine in the hot African air, [color=#1EFF24]”Mode slow, radiator automatic.”[/color]

[hr]
Lowry was exactly where Carrera Condor expected her to be. But then went Mulder. Then Kovalenko. And then Ava, and then Neves and with each one, cheers could be heard from the Carrera Condor garage and Bea’s side in particular. Zenix couldn’t put a damper on the mood, especially since Hornfleur, Wedgewood and Han put the smiles back on.

[hr][color=gold][center][h1][i][b]DELTΔ HYPER[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color][color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Episode 2: Hunting Apex[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color]
[hr]
[color=#1EFF24]”How does it feel? The team had to make me wear diving weights to stop me from bouncing off the walls, that’s how!”[/color] Bea was indeed one big, wide grin, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and bouncing on the balls of her feet. [color=#1EFF24]”When you and I were talking after the race in Auckland, I almost said I expected this to be worse because I know where I’m strong and where I’m not and this track has the latter in spades, so you can imagine my surprise.”[/color]
[color=#1EFF24]”As to where it came from, you’ll have to take a rain check and I’ll tell you once I know, because I have no clue.”[/color] She shrugged, leaning back again. [color=#1EFF24]”I don’t even think there’s that much to be brave about on this circuit, there’s less proper corners than cheat days in a meal plan, you take half of them either flat out or just with a lift.“[/color] ‘Lift’ wasn’t an entirely accurate term for AG ships with their HOTAS control scheme, but why change things that work? [color=#1EFF24]”I think the difference between us is down to the setup. I’m running my ship with stronger repulsion and weaker magnets - less stable, but riding higher lets me push harder in the bankings without worrying about bottoming out.
But with where the ships are now and what this track demands, we’re definitely looking forward, not back.”[/color]

[hr]
[b]GalwayGirl:[/b] >“I expected this to be worse because I know where I’m strong and where I’m not and this track has the latter in spades.”
                     >Qualifies 7th.
	[b]TruckerTim:[/b]
	[img]https://c.tenor.com/-raWJ5JdqmEAAAAC/tenor.gif[/img]
[b]CarreraCarmen:[/b] Now that was a LAP! Double points tomorrow, let’s go!.
	[b]AndesAG:[/b] right? that was clinical
[b]Sol_de_Mayo:[/b] She was pretty cocky in that interview, let’s see her actually capitalise.
	[b]Richie:[/b] Finally some fire. Get your elbows out, let’s gooo!
		[b]Mate0:[/b] “If all you have is one flash in the pan it means nothing, doesn’t matter who you beat.”
			[b]Laugh_Ness:[/b] hate to say it, but the argie’s git a point.
			[b]Zero:[/b] If you look at the ships only, she only got beaten by Southern Cross and Al-Saqr, both of which are better than Carrera Condor at this track. And Silver Apex, because Silver Apex.
				[b]DohnJoe:[/b] lmao i see it now, kitties dead last at their home track on ship performance. rip
[b]Hotstuff:[/b] just me or was Villarosa not happy about being outqualified
	[b]Javi:[/b] just u
[b]DadManWalking:[/b] “I don’t think there’s much to be brave about here.” 600 km/h top speeds. These fucking people.
	[b]Crossfit_Crusader:[/b] #RallyBrave!
		[b]GalwayGirl:[/b] Built. Different. :D

[hr]
[center][url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TrLdbYUu7LJQf9_6F1zblN3WfwvCU8R3W8Xskd8b3vI/edit?usp=sharing]Carrera Condor NPCs[/url][/center]