The Skirmishes are individual battles that a squadless Walker-type “Weapons” can take part in for a meager pay, they tend to group together many Walker pilots into squads and the jobs vary from elimination jobs to rescue missions, all the way to tactical rescue operations.
After skimming through the available Skirmishes, I narrowed my choice down to a few potential options
”Survey Border territory X-12-421 Y-174-29”
Estimated foe: No estimate, Medium conflict chance
Merit: 2 Profit: 60 Credits
”Survey Border territory X-18-469 Y-172-29”
Estimated foe: No estimate, Medium conflict chance
Merit: 2 Profit: 60 Credits
”Eliminate Enemy Force on X-09-255 Y-139-112”
Estimated foe: 10-20 Medium, 0-3 Heavies, 0-200 Lesser
Merit: 9 Profit: 170 Credits
”Haul valuable cargo”
Distance: 155 Km
Target: Írotan Arcology (X-950-117 Y-105-25)
Estimated foe: 0-20 lesser 0-1 Medium, Low conflict Chance
Merit: 3 Profit: 95 Credits
The 2 Survey missions are essentially next to each other, making them a great choice to take both, but their pay is not very good if you factor in potential repair prices from conflict.
What? ’Don't you get paid extra if there is conflict and you eliminate enemies?’ Don't misunderstand, the person paying for commission has to pay extra, but that fee goes to the Commission Hub, in fact it is the main income for the Commission Hub, since the job reward is given to the ”Weapon” tax-free.
The extermination is great on both pay and merits, but it's not really worth it due to the potential of 3 Heavies. Leaving only one option
The Hauling job.
Hauling jobs essentially are the most risk-free easy money, but they demand a lot of moving between arcologies, that's why I usually avoid them, I prefer to stay in one Arcology, but seeing as I have bills and it's the only price-efficient job, I guess I should take it. The trip is relatively short so I can always come back after finishing it.
Signing myself for the hauling job I Take the elevator down to the Walker hangar, where I left Lily for Lee to maintain.
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Coming out the elevator I could already see my Walker, she already looks a bit well aged, rusty even in a few places where the dark grey paint has worn off, but that's nothing to worry about, as long as the white lily on the side is still visible. The Walker looks ‘’thin’’ for a machine ranging around 5 to 6 meters and wide enough for a cockpit able to fit me in with some extra space.
Its legs were designed for faster maneuvers, her right arm carrying the R223 Rifle whilst the left arm has a hand designed to wield the vibroblade currently sheathed on her back.
Overall she looks almost ‘’vintage’’ in her design, probably because of her more rounded shape instead of the more straight and box-like shape of the newer models.
And as expected, Lee is already working on Lily, doing god-knows-what to it.
”Ah Rasmus!” He exclaimed as his eyebrows un-scrunched from their focused frown, and his face changed to a beaming smile. ”What job is it this time, extermination?” He continued.
”Hauler. To Ìrota.” I said casually, making his happy face freeze,
”…Hauling job?... You are leaving Aurora?” He asked, with a strange expression
”Not for long, I do plan to come back after I am done.” I try to calm him.
”…But that's a week long trip..”
”Dont worry! it will go by in a flash I am sure” Erm, why am I forced to calm down an adult man about something like this… I feel creeped out a bit.
”….” Ah, he is sulking now…
…I’ll just leave him be for now..
I leave Lee to his thoughts and head to Lily’s hangar terminal.
Author’s note:
Last chapter for the day, But for the time being i plan to post more than one chapter tomorrow so we can get the storyline to a point where there is some actual content here.
Please notify me on any mistakes etc. Thank you.