Ah, so the sprinter had the ability to refuel as well, was it? Though Hu-Shi had her doubts about how well or consistent power generators were when the battlefield had already been well-overrun by the Saurid horde, she kept those thoughts to herself. Ideally, she'd like to have the Jiang Shi core at full charge in case she needed the extra shielding or power, but if they couldn't find the queen of this reptilian anthill in time, it would be better spent making sure that everyone could still move their AWEs. As Richard left, the Chinese girl decided, he brows furrowing almost unnoticeably, that, until the Matriarch was within firing range, she'll hold off using the Jiang Shi core for herself. Well, it would be a fun mission regardless.

A few minutes later, the communication channel went online again, establishing the fact that Richard had gotten in contact with an individual that was obviously very important to the ground forces that they would be soon joining. Named himself as Lieutenant Scikkor, ethnicity unrecognizable. Perhaps European? His last name sounded somewhat like Scipio, after all. An agitated individual, one that made Hu-Shi want to speak to, to calm down with her words, and perhaps serve some tea to. Well...a shame that he was only part of the simulation, to test the cadet's ability to deal with aggravating individuals. Tests that she could pass easily, considering her background. Still, it hailed some good information for the battle to come. The Saurids had mutated into melees who could rip through armor, and acid-spitters who could be annoying. Shield maintenance would be important, but with a good charge, she should be able to get to the Slimers easily, and then butcher them.

It would be what happened after the momentum of the cavalry was lost that things could get scary.

Well, it must have been scarier for a man with a family to fight without being encased in an AWE against those monsters. Even when none of this was real. Even when virtual deaths meant nothing. Even though this was training to make them think of 'real' deaths as nothing as well. Ah...Hu-Shi hoped that the Lieutenant would survive this simulation, if nothing else. She was pointlessly shallow like that.

The words of Thessalia brought her back out of her thoughts, as the strategy was confirmed once more. Jack Roman, the split-personality boy, would be working to find, and perhaps assassinate, the Queen. The rest would be dropping near the front lines, so they would have a few more moments to prepare, before engaging the enemy. Nothing as crazy as dropping into the thick of the hornet's nest then. With the first order of suiting up, and the reveal that Richard was also a man who knew his machines (or at least enjoyed calibrating all of them), she happily followed the lead of Thessalia into the drop bay. She breathed in the noticeably different air, marvelled once more at how realistic everything was, before entering into the metallic capsule, perhaps a coffin, that was marked as her own.

Within, the Chrome Ex-Road, shiny and red like a tank that was masquerading as a sports car, stood. It towered above her at three meters, and its smooth curves and angles simply looked fabulous. What a pretty machine. It'll be dusty soon, and then it'll be slick with blood, but that was fine. That was part of the deal. And it would be good stress relief, pounding down on what were obviously enemies of humanity. The Dragon Slayers, massive swords that cleaved evil, were held at the AWE's sides. Using one of them as a foothold, she gracefully climbed up onto the top of the colossal mass of gears and pistons, before placing her left hand firmly against the domed top of the Chrome Ex-Road. For a moment, a warm sensation enveloped the surface of her hand, before a translucent 'OK' showed up on the silvery surface, and the dome opened, up, revealing the dark interior. Sliding in and sitting down on the soft seating of her AWE, a seat that was just a bit above the gatling gun hidden inside the AWE, Hu-Shi groped around until the grooved gloves and boots of her interface suit locked into the positions that the limb-control and motion interfaces of the Chrome Ex-road were.

All that was left was for the dome overhead to seal and click once more, turning transparent in the process. As the whole machine hummed into life, a mechanical safety harness held her in place, and the transparent screen started to read out the current condition of the AWE.

All clear in all ways.

As a final test, Hu-Shi brought up her comm online, and with a cheery smile, said, [b]“This is Chrome Ex-Road, ready to drop! Good luck and stay sharp, everybody!”[/b]