[The feed cuts back in. The camera, such as it is, now sits in the cockpit of a mech; Aunic symbology and amulets seem to dot every available space that is not immediately useful for seeing out of the cockpit. As such, every movement comes with the sound of soft, rhythmic chimes and clanks from all around. The pilot's chair in front of the camera slightly turns and Moonshot leans on the armrest to address the audience.]
///:Moonshot: Welcome to training day, wayward pilgrims! It is my last day with the camera, so today you ride with me in a standard training drill. We have spent too long away from battle and must keep ourselves well-oiled as any regiment. Please, join me in the anthem of battle. There is a little monitor on the back of my chair from which you may see what transpires. Please, do take care to pay attention. Sing the litanies of Victory for me!
[She turns the seat back to it's normal position; and a chunky "CLICK" is heard, the seat slowly rising as screens fully illuminate around her. The dinky little screen in front of the camera by comparison, was clearly jury-rigged together. The fidelity is fine, but clearly not nearly to the capacity of the screens it's leeching from. A rudimentary readout from the Comms is overlayed in the bottom right.]
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:///Sureshot: BENEATH THE EYE; checking in.
///:Moonshot: Good morning, Sureshot! May you live in His light eternal!
:///Sureshot: A good morning to you too, Moonshot. I hope you remember that preaching isn't the reason Burnice gave you that password.
///:Moonshot: I am no minister nor a preacher, Sureshot. I show his word through deeds.
:///Sureshot: I'm sure. Our target drones are controlled by Trickshot today, so do not expect normal maneuvers.
///:Moonshot: Is there a reason she deviates so?
:///Sureshot: Reflex I'd imagine. The drone software is effectively 100% hers at this point.
///:Moonshot: Ah, that explains a bit of it. It is still so puzzling why she chooses to do so.
:///Sureshot: I get the impression training drills among Harrison Armory are not necessarily fun team building exercises. Especially where she was making her manna.
///:Moonshot: Oh dear...are we in danger?
:///Sureshot: No, there is no ammunition in these drones; they're purely for targeting purposes; so I'm sure we'll manage. Deploying Lotus Drone.
[BENEATH THE EYE floats into the optics of HIS BLESSED RETURN; Olive greens and browns accentuated with thin strips of gold painted onto it's thin, thin frame, only really noticeable for the billowing, flowing fabric; like a desert wanderer with the blessing of flight. It holds out a hand and flicks it's wrist actuator hard; popping a large acorn-like bit of metal off and into the air like a rocket. It immediately stabilizes and begins to unfold like a flower, before zipping away like a firework out of sight. On the optical display, a transparent light fills the area. Friendly Targets that are slightly beyond the horizon are now designated. Two Bogies come into view as well; hiding in the jungle on a rocky outcrop of island. Immediately they separate.]
:///Sureshot: Bogies sighted and aware of it. They're separating.
///:Moonshot: I will draw them out!
[One of the targets moves erratically refusing to leave the trees of the island, The other almost breaks the treeline before the sound of a loud, shot is heard. A shower of sparks and shimmering metal backdropped by a massive water impact as the drone is dashed to pieces; ripped to shreds by the munition of a Cyclonic Pulse Rifle. The camera spins to look at BENEATH THE EYE in mid-rack of the long, antiquated rifle design.]
:///Sureshot: Keep an eye out for the other one.
///:Moonshot: Understood!
[The target continues to move erratically, zipping from place to place. Both archer and sniper's weapons weave in time with it. No chance of a good shot like this. In fact...for whatever reason, it seems the distance is not being tracked.]
///:Moonshot: It hasn't left the treeline yet...but-
:///Sureshot: What's wrong?
///:Moonshot: Can you see it's distance?
:///Sureshot: As a matter of fact, I can't.
[BENEATH THE EYE fires again. The impact strikes the island like a bunker buster, but the target does not appear to take any damage. A miss.]
:///Sureshot: Mmm, clever. It's behind the Island. She's using a jamming signal from the Drone.
///:Moonshot: I will pursue!
[HIS PROMISED RETURN begins advancing; the water beginning to rise over the shoulders of the mighty mech. An alert to vent invading water and activate the EVA system is heard, and Moonshot obliges. The sea for but a moment bubbles fiercely around the mech as the optics of the Emperor finally submerge. She moves with impunity here; which seems to catch the attention of the target drone. It immediately makes a beeline down and then...sits there. It occasionally wiggles until a trail of bubbles from a propulsion system, as well as a little red glowing dot appears in the dark blue of the sea. ]
:///Sureshot: What are you doing, Moonshot?
///:Moonshot: Trust in me.
[Billowing in the water is the cloth that seems to shimmer even more around HIS PROMISED RETURN; making use of the arc bow next to useless as it wraps around nearly everything; unmoored by gravity. Nevertheless, HIS PROMISED RETURN begins pulling back the string of the Arc Bow; with what looks to be some difficulty as the resistance of the water fights against it; even at it's great size.]
:///Sureshot: I cannot get a shot on this while it's in motion like this, you must resurfac-
///:Moonshot: Place your faith in me.
[The cloth of HIS PROMISED RETURN seemingly begins to crawl up the arm nocking the arrow and coalesce around it; softly adding mass and weight to the thin projectile which now hums with energy, then pulls away and seemingly is caught by the current. The drone's target now shows six different meter distances around it; creating visual confusion as it charges likely at her. She does not move a muscle; her hand sitting on a button as she recites a prayer over and over. Finally, the drone appears, about to pass over HIS PROMISED RETURN. She presses the button...and HIS PROMISED RETURN twists it's grasp of the arrow...and a pillar of thin metal juts out of the arrow; smashing straight through the body, which buckles slightly under the sudden intrusion and the depth. All is quiet for a moment as the ferrofluid lance slowly disconnects from the arrow, and HIS PROMISED RETURN lowers it's weapon, holding out a hand actuator to collect the fluid again, which slides away and loses cohesion. Moonshot herself claps her hands together in excitement.]
///:Moonshot: I've gotten it! It is mine!
:///Sureshot: Huh. Target confirmed destroyed. Good job. We can-
[A warning displays on the console; and suddenly the water is filled with targets. Little red lights of drones spilling into the water like an insect hive; each seemingly causing some form of digital hallucination that is quickly corrected and then replaced with a new one from another little drone. In place of hacking such a robust mech, it appears the drone's call is to simply overwhelm the pilots with visual information.]
:///Sureshot: This is how she deviates from routine. You need to retreat!
///:Moonshot: Surely she cannot control all of them!?
:///Sureshot: She can. This is how she fights. Get out of there, now!
[This is the moment things appear to change. The billowing of the cloth suddenly twists itself into what appears to be an elaborate Crozier with a long pointed end. HIS BLESSED RETURN makes a series of thrusts; but it is as trying to catch fish that know it is there; the drones simply swirling around it from their small, spherical shape. She moves backwards as this is done; warnings from the Practice computer of damage she would theoretically be taking flashing. At this point, she would possibly be on route to losing an arm, before she simply clicks a button, and the computer corrects itself; she would be almost out of overshield. Finally, she appears to strike a couple, but it never seems to matter, until she gasps, watching the drones return to their pirahna swarm behavior.]
///:Moonshot: I am marking one of the drones especially. You should be able to hit it from their position!
:///Sureshot: Are you kidding me? There must be hundreds of the little devils down there; how can you be sure that's the right one?
///:Moonshot: Trust me, you had no trouble taking one out from a great distance, and this one will be moving less than the others. I put my faith in you as I put my faith in Him. You will strike true.
:///Sureshot: ...Very well.
[The sound of the shot is not heard, but hits the water with incredible force; the trail of the projectile can be seen in an instant; smashing down into one drone...and they all fall silent at once. The dying red lights becoming inert metal floating to the bottom of the ocean quietly. Moonshot begins clapping in victory, excited about the turn of events.]
///:Moonshot: Targets destroyed, you did it! You did it!
:///Sureshot: Whew...thank goodness. All targets destroyed. Let's go back to the hangar. You may want to turn that camera in to Burnie as well.
///:Moonshot: Of course, thank you Sureshot!
[The pilot's seat descends from it's place and it half swivels. She looks absolutely overjoyed with her performance.]
///:Moonshot: We really did it. We really did it together! I hope you enjoyed our time together, because I will be setting to work on healing the wound of my Gift for the time being until we receive a job. Until then...I will miss you, but I understand that all parting is just a temporary thing. I hope you have fun with our next pilot! Remember; Metat Aun loves you; always.
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///:USER_Tr1cksh0t: THAT WAS SOME -BULLSHIT-, MOONIE-
