2023-10-04: A Friendly Bout

• Log: A Friendly Bout
• Cast: Alto Saotome, Maya Jintek
• Where: Frontier Fleet Space
• OOC - IC Date: 28 Sep 0097
• Summary: Nergal/Morgenroete's new design is put to the test against SMS/LAI's slightly older one.

---

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        The expedition to Gallia IV is set to depart within days. As such, the
 various ships and mobile weapons that will be going have gathered at the
 Frontier Fleet. The Nadesico is currently docked at one of Nergal's private
 ports on the large colony ship, while the Macross Quarter is docked only a
 short distance away.

        Even during preparations for the departure, there remain other matters
 that need attending to. Such as the continued testing of the new Nivalis unit.
 It needs to be put through its paces to confirm the viability of the design,
 especially given its use soon on an alien world. No doubt Nergal and
 Morgenroete are interested in gathering futher, varied test data on the
 machine.

        Likewise, while the VF-25F variant of the Messiah line of Variable
 Fighters has been in operation for nearly two years now, the LAI Corporation
 continues to use it as one of the testing platforms for adjustments and
 improvements that will go into future VF designs.

        So it makes sense that, given the two's proximity at this time, they be
 put through some 'cooperative testing'.

        Which is just another way to say a mock battle.

        Physical weapons have had their ammo replaced with paint filled
 versions. Energy weapons have had their power output levels reduced to be
 little more than flashy lights. There's still some risk of damage,
 particularly from collisions or physical melee weapons. But at least this way
 a mistake on the part of the pilots is unlikely to lead to any serious harm.
 And the computer systems of both machines will compensate to make things seem
 more real.

        The VF-25F Messiah rises up on one of the Macross Quarter's hangar
 elevators, Alto in the cockpit flipping switches as he prepares for launch.
 There's a light shudder as the elevator reaches the Quarter's top deck.
 Holographic launch indicators appear ahead of the fighter and Alto grips his
 controls, <"Skull-4, launching."> Magnetic clamps disengage and the Messiah
 just floats there for a moment in the zero-g, before Alto pushes the throttle
 stick forward. The Messiah's nozzles narrow as the engines burn brightly,
 sending the fighter rocketing forward through the holographic indicators and
 then out into space proper.

        It's a short trip to the designated combat area, at which point Alto
 radios, <"Nivalis. I'm ready when you are.">

KTS: Alto Saotome has deployed in VF-25F Messiah <Fighter Mode>.

<Pose Tracker> Maya Jintek has posed.

         Well, this was it. The final test of the Nivalis before heading away
 from Earth. There had been others, of course, but this was a major one for
 many reasons. It was to be a mock battle against a Variable Fighter, flown by
 a professional, after all. Way different from simulators, target ranges, and
 obstacle courses. It was going to be in space, where she had a lot less
 experience. And also... it was going to be the closest thing Maya would
 experience to a real fight before going off to encounter a very real threat to
 humanity. To say she was treating this seriously would be an understatement.

         "Maya Jintek, Nivalis, launching!" She reported to the handlers in
 charge as the machine rocketed forward on its catapult, thusters boosting
 forward at the end. Her IFS allowed her to have a great deal of control over
 the machine, much moreso than her opponent had over his, and her machine was
 newer, but she wasn't going to let herself get cocky about this. There was no
 chance she had the experience advantage, and newer didn't always mean better.
 But at the end of the day, they were both on the same side. She'd try and
 learn as much as she could from this not just so she could survive and prove
 the Nivalis concept, but so that she could help others.

         The response on her radio was crisp and clear. No time like the
 present. "Understood, Nivalis is ready. Don't go easy on me, OK?" Maya
 replied, a little more casually with the last line, but not in challenge. She
 was smiling slightly, both because she was a little nervous, and because she
 was excited. She was looking forward to seeing how things went.

KTS: Maya Jintek has deployed in Nivalis.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        The Messiah is packing some extra components on top of its base frame.
 Some are bolted to its main airframe, but two large ones are slotted over its
 wings, large thruster nozzles on their rear. The Super FAST pack primarily
 augments the Messiah's manoeuvrability, but also grants it some additional
 weaponry. Alto had decided that part would make for some more useful test data.

        As Maya reports her ready status, as well as her request, Alto hehs,
 <"Wasn't planning to. Wouldn't make for much of a proper test if I did.">

        The Messiah swings around, now quickly barreling directly towards the
 Nivalis. As it does so, Alto radios further, <"You're new on the Nadesico,
 right? The expedition prep has kept me busy so it's been a while since I've
 flown from it... I'm Alto Saotome with SMS. Nice to meet you.">

        So nice in fact that Alto unleashes a swarm of micro-missiles from his
 launchers. They dance through space in the direction of the Nivalis, exploding
 into blossoms of not-so-deadly paint when they get close.

KTS: Alto Saotome targets Maya Jintek with CIMM-3A Micro-missile Launchers
 Lockon Strike!

KTS: Maya Jintek has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Maya Jintek's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
KTS: Maya Jintek fails to intercept Alto Saotome's CIMM-3A Micro-missile
 Launchers Lockon Strike, taking 3360 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alto Saotome's The Twinkle Of A Tearful Planet activates,
 causing Insight L1!

<Pose Tracker> Maya Jintek has posed.

         As it came into view on her sensors, this Messiah looked like it was
 packing more than just the standard arsenal. She knew that these different
 booster packs didn't necessarily weight down the craft as they often had their
 own boosters and the like, in fact making them faster and more manoueverable,
 in addition to whatever weapons they brought to the field. That was good. As
 her opponent... Alto, he said his name was, said, it wouldn't be a proper test
 otherwise.

         He did seem to be polite, though, as he came rocketing forward. "Nice
 to meet yoOOAHH!" She was in the middle of responding when suddenly a swarm of
 red dots began to rush towards her. Maya almost accused him of playing dirty
 by distracting her. Almost. But that was her fault and she quickly regained
 her composure. The chainguns in the head of the Nivalis were designed for
 this. They began blazing away as the missiles arced in, causing several to
 detonate in colourful bursts of paint.

         But even as she was moving to evade, focusing on the swarm ahead, she
 suddenly read impacts all over as the distortion field flickered in anger.
 Distracted again. She'd developed tunnel vision and missed the OTHER swarm of
 missiles. This must have been how the Zentraedi felt during the war all those
 years ago. The computer told her that it was a serious hit, though she was
 still in the battle. "Ha. Nice one." Maya said ruefully as she flicked over to
 the railgun. "Yep, I'm new - Maya Jintek of the Nadesico. It's nice to meet
 you toooooooo~!" She was already firing glob after glob of paint capsules at
 Alto's craft, rapidly accelerated to many times faster than any ordinary gun.
 With any luck she'd be able to gum things up for him a bit and return a little
 of what she was given.

KTS: Maya Jintek targets Alto Saotome with Standard Sabot - Power!
KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Alto Saotome successfully evades Maya Jintek's Standard Sabot - Power
Alto Saotome transforms to VF-25F Messiah <GERWALK Mode>

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        It's true that the IFS control method is cutting edge stuff. A step
 above the autobalanced control method that assists a pilot with basic
 stabilisation. Which is itself a step above the manual control system where
 the pilot needs to do everything themselves...

        And yet Alto demonstrates that it's not always about who's got the more
 advanced control system.

        Rapidly manipulating the flight stick in one hand, throttle and
 thrusters with the other, Alto deftly rolls and slides his space fighter
 around the shots fired in his direction. As he does so, he continues the
 conversation with only some mild grunts from the g-forces, <"It's interesting
 to see the IFS implants being used in something other than an Aestivalis. I've
 never used it myself but I've flown with the Nadesico's pilots enough times to
 notice the difference in control style.">

        Looking to gain an opening to shoot back, Alto jams his flight stick
 down and pulls it back. The Messiah's transformation is triggered, its parts
 separating and reconfiguring before jamming back together. All the span of
 less than a second.

        The half-fighter half-robot swings its legs up, engines burning in its
 feet rapidly altering the VF's course. As it begins to circle the Nivalis, it
 raises the gunpod in its right hand up and pulls the trigger. Paint rounds
 rapidly blast out of the gattling gun, streaking towards its target.

KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Alto Saotome targets Maya Jintek with Leading Fire!
KTS: [Lucky] Maya Jintek's luck activates, and luck goes her way!
KTS: Maya Jintek charges into the attack!
KTS: Maya Jintek's EN Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage.
KTS: Maya Jintek partially guards Alto Saotome's Leading Fire, taking 2800
 damage!

KTS: Alto Saotome begins a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Maya Jintek has posed.

         Maya clicked her tongue in frustration as Alto dances around the
 projectiles, frustrated that absolutely nothing was getting by him. She wasn't
 angry at him; he was doing precisely what he was supposed to be doing. It
 looked bad for both her and the Nivalis if she didn't achieve anything in this
 mock battle. Not all projects were successful, sure, but it didn't mean you
 wanted to fail. 'No, don't beat yourself up over this. If one thing doesn't
 work, then you try something else.' She told herself. A single failure didn't
 mean everything would be one, and you can come back from them too. "It's very
 intuitive - cuts down on training time, and an IFS has uses outside combat,
 too!" Honestly, it'd be great if more people would be willing to give the
 procedure a go, though people still shied away from any sort of cybernetic
 enhancement.

         As the VF transformed, Maya decided now was a good chance to try and
 take advantage of the transition time. She jolted forward as the Nivalis
 kicked into high gear, charging ahead. It wasn't quite fast enough to get into
 melee range before he drew his gun, and the screen flashed as she took more
 fire, but even though her mobile suit wasn't a melee specialist, she figured
 it was probably more adept at it than a VF was. She drew her beam saber -
 actually a canister of spraypaint for this scenario, and swept it towards
 Alto, hoping that this would score her her first hit.

KTS: Maya Jintek targets Alto Saotome with Beam Sword Slash!
KTS: Alto Saotome's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Alto Saotome blocks Maya Jintek's Beam Sword Slash, taking 2040 damage!
KTS: Maya Jintek has engaged Alto Saotome!
KTS: Maya Jintek begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

It's true that Alto is a little shy on the whole cybernetic enhancement idea.
 Though to be fair he grew up on the Frontier Fleet where cybernetic
 augmentation is illegal. But he does know a number of people who have gone
 through it and he has no problems with them...

        Well, okay, maybe one of them. But that's for reasons totally unrelated
 to his cybernetic enhancements.

        The Nivalis comes in for a swipe from its 'beam saber' and Alto is
 grateful he transformed. Because it's very true that VFs are generally not
 built for melee. But they can handle it to some degree in a couple of their
 forms. Specifically the ones that have shields!

        Alto brings the shield on his VF's left arm up to meet the paint can, a
 barrier of light forming to reduce the amount of paint that gets drawn across
 the shield. There's still some damage recorded, but his system deems it to be
 non-lethal.

        <"I hear it does have its downsides though. And can be risky depending
 upon the person.">

        Not wanting to stick around in close quarters, Alto leverages the
 superior thrust of his machine to blast away from the Nivalis again. Of
 course, he's not about to give Maya a chance to shoot him in the back either
 as he goes, once more launchers in his FAST pack opening to unleash a dizzying
 array of micro-missiles in her direction. At even greater quantity than
 before. They spread out, closing in from multiple vectors to try and overwhelm
 the Nivalis's distortion barrier.

KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Alto Saotome targets Maya Jintek with CIMM-3A Micro-missile Launchers
 Multi-directional Assault!

KTS: Maya Jintek has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Maya Jintek has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Maya Jintek fails to evade Alto Saotome's CIMM-3A Micro-missile Launchers
 Multi-directional Assault, taking 6175 damage!

KTS: Alto Saotome completes the Formation attack!
KTS: Maya Jintek has activated the Trick Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Maya Jintek has posed.

         'I got him!' Sure, it was hardly a fatal hit or anything, but the
 streak of paint on the Messiah said it all. At least she could walk away from
 this fight and say that it hadn't been entirely fruitless. As she expected,
 though, Alto made a quick escape, showing off the speed of a VF. She allowed
 it, figuring she might be able to hit him with the railgun next round. Maya
 didn't think she was going to win this battle, but maybe she could put on a
 good showing at least.

         His remark on the procedure showed he did have at least some knowledge
 of it, and she responded in kind. "That's... true, I admit. I didn't have any
 adverse reactions, but that doesn't mean it'd be the same for everyone." Maya
 had been a little concerned she might develop increased aggression, one of the
 more well-known side effects, but at least to her knowledge she was her same,
 average self. More concerning presently, however, was the missiles coming her
 way, even more than before. 'I can't shoot them all down!' An almost zen state
 comes over her as the Nivalis twists and dodges, attempting to evade the
 swarm. She was only hit by a small percentage of them, but given the quantity,
 a small percentage was still a lot of missiles.

        "Got my machine redlining with that one! Just how many battles have you
 been in?" Maya asked, impressed with the skills of her opponent. Sadly, the
 Nivalis' energy problems had reared its ugly head again, the fast paced nature
 of this battle not allowing her time to recover, so she flicked away from her
 railgun after considering it strongly, choosing instead to launch a burst of
 missiles of her own, although unlike Alto's, these were designed more for
 annoyance and distraction rather than aggression. It might give her time to
 build up for something bigger.

KTS: Maya Jintek targets Alto Saotome with Ion Storm!
KTS: Alto Saotome successfully evades Maya Jintek's Ion Storm
Alto Saotome transforms to VF-25F Messiah <Fighter Mode>

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto does actually pause a little in thought as Maya asks him that
 question... Just how many HAS he been in? It's not something he's really
 considered. He muses out loud, <"I... Don't know, really. My mission count is
 over a hundred, but they don't all include battle. Many are just boring
 patrols or escort missions where nothing happens. If I had to guess... Maybe
 one third of those included combat?"> So probably somewhere around the thirty
 to forty mark.

        <"Even then. Some are just minor skirmishes with pirates who flee
 pretty quickly. Actual major battles is probably closer to a couple dozen.">
 Which is probably for the best. It's not every day that you want to be facing
 down a hostile Macross, a swarm of Vajra, or a Behemoth of a mobile weapon...

        Alto is torn from his thoughts by the missile lock alert. He pushes his
 throttle forward and starts to weave his way through space. As the missiles
 get close he turns quickly, just barely escaping their 'explosion' radius each
 time until finally they are all spent.

        At which point Alto says, <"Probably time to finish this up for the
 day.">

        The Messiah's legs kick up, rapidly slowing it before it spins around
 to point towards the Nivalis. The machine transforms once more, back into
 fighter mode, before its engines burn brightly and start to accelerate it back
 towards Maya. Settling the other machine in his sights, Alto pulls the
 trigger. The machine guns in the Messiah's wings come to life, spitting out a
 stream of smaller but more numerous paint pellets compared to the larger
 calibre gunpod.

KTS: Alto Saotome targets Maya Jintek with ES-25A High Speed Machine Guns
 Concentrated Barrage!

KTS: Maya Jintek has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: [Lucky] Maya Jintek's luck activates, and luck goes her way!
KTS: Maya Jintek successfully evades Alto Saotome's ES-25A High Speed Machine
 Guns Concentrated Barrage

<Pose Tracker> Maya Jintek has posed.

         "Wow... truth be told, this is the closest I've even come to actual
 combat." Even if it were only around 20-25 'real' battles, that was a wealth
 of experience beyond what she had. She laughed at this. "Thank you for showing
 me what it's really like." Maya knew this still wasn't what it was really like
 - there was very little chance of any actual injury, outside of mechanical
 failure of some kind, and that wasn't something anyone really considered
 unless they were really paranoid. Besides, she was very familiar with the
 internals of this machine, so she knew that it was in good repair.

         The veteran, having apparently decided that this was his moment, made
 his intentions clear. His craft transformed again, this time opening up with a
 hail of gunfire that was rather intimidating in its volume. "Not if I can help
 it!" She jinked and dived away from the fire, but even then Alto was sticking
 tight to her tail. But at that instant, there was another sensor return in
 close range. It looked like it was a piece of space junk from a decommissioned
 satellite. 'Star-Link' was scrawled on the metal, but the important thing was
 that it was close. VERY close. Maya picked it up and used it as an impromptu
 shield, deflecting the paint pellets like a certain ancient superhero. It
 wouldn't have stood up to actual gunfire, but paint was another story.

         When the VF rocketed past, she tossed it towards Earth, its space now
 slightly safer from space debris. "Let's see how you deal with something a
 little bigger!" Maya declared as she triggered her railgun's alternate fire
 mode. The rails expanded, to allow for a larger round to be fired. The
 selector chose 'Armour Piercing', and a short volley of pellets rocketted
 towards Alto, at even higher speeds than before. Electricity sparked from the
 weapon as it fired, already complaining at the work it was having to do.

KTS: Maya Jintek targets Alto Saotome with Armour Piercing Sabot!
KTS: Alto Saotome fails to react to Maya Jintek's Armour Piercing Sabot, taking
 7670 damage!

KTS: Maya Jintek completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto is DEFINITELY aware that this is not what battle is really like...
 But he doesn't correct Maya, because he suspects she knows that too. It's hard
 to grow up in this age without having at least some idea. Even if you haven't
 been involved directly, there's a good chance you know someone who has. Even
 just watching the news will reveal the many tragedies that seem to occur so
 often. The spectre of war has been looming over the Earth Sphere for so long.

        Not unlike the demonic visage looming from Jupiter even now.

        But at this very moment, Alto focuses on the task at hand. Maya chooses
 to bring out a bigger gun and Alto once more tries to get out of its line of
 fire. He pulls back on his flight stick hard, taking his machine into a hard
 turn. Several of the shots from the volley rush past, just barely missing.

        But it only takes one!

        One of the rounds hits the rear of Alto's fighter hard and his system
 registers the damage...

        A moment later the light from Alto's engines cuts out and the fighter
 is left drifting from its inertia.

        Alto blinks for a moment, before glancing at his damage readout. He
 then snerks in amusment, <"Looks like you got the main feed to my engines.">
 The damage is not fatal, Alto could continue fighting. But without those
 engines, his thrust is reduced to just manoeuvring thrusters. Which are
 definitely no where near as powerful.

        Alto considers for a moment, before saying, <"Let's call the match
 there. I don't think there'll be much more they can learn if we continue,
 given our states."> Technically it means no one won. But on the bright side,
 no one lost!

        Switching his machine out of the simulation mode, Alto presses his
 throttle forward gently. The Messiah's engines come to life again and the
 fighter lazily swings around to start heading back towards its carrier.

        As Alto starts heading back, he says, <"Nice last shot there. You've
 definitely got potential."> It's only after Alto says that, that he realises
 how strange it sounds coming from him...

        When did he stop being the newbie and become the seasoned pilot?

<Pose Tracker> Maya Jintek has posed.

         'I got him...' "I got him!" Maya cried out, her radio thankfully off
 to save her the embarrassment of exulting in front of others. The computer was
 saying he wasn't out, but that was a very solid hit. The Variable Railgun
 still had a few kinks, but she had to admit, when it worked, it worked. She
 moved to fire again to finish the job, but nothing came out. It looked like
 the gun had seized up from the non-standard ammunition. She sighed, hanging
 her head. The transmission from Alto about the damage and calling the fight
 there was definitely welcome as the young woman deflated a little, the
 adrenaline leaving her body. "Honestly, if this were a real battle, I probably
 would have retreated instead of taking that shot... and now I'm gonna be stuck
 repairing this thing..." When it worked, it worked, but when it didn't...

         She moves into formation with Alto as they head back to base. "Thanks,
 but I've still got much further to go after seeing you in action. There's
 definitely a lot more paint I'll have to clean up." Another thing she'd likely
 be stuck doing, but she didn't say it with any particular distaste. The
 Nadesico's engineering crew were all great, and there were a lot of Zentraedi
 amongst them too, which was nice - they got to blast all the latest hits and
 the classics while working. "I'm glad I'll be flying with someone like you,
 though. I'll work hard to live up to that potential!"