The virtual landscape of the battlefield sprawled out before Jackie Stewart—call sign “Stewart”—as she logged into her Epona mecha, the Mustang Striker variant hummed to life around her. The simulation loaded a rugged, mountainous terrain with narrow passes, dense forests, and sheer cliffs. It was a perfect hunting ground, and she could feel her pulse quicken in anticipation.

She wasn’t alone. Forty-nine other mecha of varying types and sizes fanned out across the battlefield, their digital presence registered on her HUD. The mission was clear: engage and eliminate enemy forces while gathering intelligence on their movements. Stewart's Epona, with its sleek design and advanced sensor suite, was built for this operation.

“Stewart, you’re leading the scout group,” crackled the voice of her squad leader over the comms. “Get us eyes on the enemy’s advance. We’ll follow up and hit them hard.”

“Copy that,” she replied, her hands dancing over the controls. The Epona responded instantly, its servos whirring softly as it broke into a swift jog. The landscape blurred past as she pushed the mecha’s speed, her sensors sweeping the area for any signs of enemy movement.

The first sign of trouble came as a blip on her radar—a fast-moving target darting in and out of the trees to her left. A scout, no doubt, was sent to probe her team’s defenses. Stewart grinned, a predatory gleam in her eyes. Let’s see who’s the better hunter.

She shifted her trajectory, veering towards the target with the Epona’s muscles working smoothly. The Mustang Striker was built for mobility, and she used it to her full advantage, weaving through the dense forest with practiced ease. As she closed the distance, her sensors picked up two more signatures, flanking the first. They’re working in tandem, she noted, adjusting her approach.

Stewart slowed the Epona to a crawl. The mech’s sleek frame blended with the surrounding environment, and the adaptive paint job flickered into a pattern that mimicked the forest's dappled shadows. She advanced silently, the only sound the faint hum of the Epona’s power plant.

Her HUD highlighted the enemy scouts—lightweight, fast-moving mecha designed for reconnaissance, much like hers but lacking the Epona’s advanced armor and weaponry. Stewart identified the leader in the center, moving with confidence the others mimicked. Take out the leader, and the others will panic.

Stewart took a deep breath and engaged. The Epona burst from the cover, moving with a fluidity that belied its size. She raised the laser rifle, the targeting reticle locking onto the lead scout. A high-pitched whine filled the cockpit as the weapon charged.

Fwoosh! The laser sliced through the air, a beam of pure energy that struck the lead scout dead center. The enemy mech shuddered, its systems faltering as the laser burned through its armor, punching a hole clean through its torso. It toppled over, crashing into the ground with a satisfying thud. Stewart would use the Eponas’ size to bully the enemy scouts.

The other two scouts reacted immediately, but it was too late. Stewart was already on the move, her Epona sprinting towards them. One tried to break away, but she anticipated the move, cutting it off with a precise burst from her tri-barrel laser cannon. The energy beams tore through the scout’s thin armor, reducing it to scrap before it could even get a shot off.

Realizing the danger, the third scout attempted to retreat, but Stewart was relentless. She closed the distance in seconds, her Epona’s servos whining as it leaped into the air, coming down hard on the fleeing mech. The impact crushed the enemy scout’s frame, leaving it a smoking ruin beneath the Epona’s feet.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Stewart didn’t waste time. She pulled up her map, and her sensors scanned the surrounding area. Her orders were clear: locate the enemy’s main force and relay their position back to command.

She moved swiftly, the Epona’s advanced sensors sweeping the battlefield. Her HUD was filled with data—heat signatures, electronic signals, and the telltale signs of heavy machinery. The enemy was close.

As she crested a ridge, the full scope of the enemy force came into view. Dozens of mechs, a mix of heavy assault units and lighter support mechs, were advancing through a broad valley. It was a formidable force, their numbers overwhelming, but their formation was loose, spread out across the terrain.

“Command, this is Stewart,” she reported, her voice steady. “Enemy main force located, moving through Grid 7. Estimated forty-six units, a mix of heavies and supports. They’re vulnerable in the center; recommend immediate strike.”

“Roger that, Stewart,” came the reply. “Fall back to the rally point. We’re moving in.”

She looked at the enemy force one last before turning her Epona back towards friendly lines. The mission wasn’t over, but she’d done her part. As she sprinted back through the forest, she knew that the battle was far from won—but thanks to her, they had the advantage.

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And in the chaos that would soon erupt, Stewart knew she would be right in the thick of it, where she belonged.

The battlefield erupted into chaos as Stewart’s Epona rejoined the fight. The air was thick with the slam of feet on dirt and stone, the crackle of energy weapons, and the thunderous impacts of mechs clashing. She kept to the outskirts of the primary engagement, her eyes scanning the carnage for targets of opportunity. Her orders were clear: hit the light mechs and keep them off the heavier units.

The Epona’s HUD was a swirl of information—enemy markers, allied positions, and incoming projectiles. She tuned it out, focusing on the task at hand. The first target presented itself almost immediately—a sleek, fast-moving scout mech attempting to flank one of her team’s assault units. Stewart didn’t hesitate. She raised her laser rifle, the reticle locking onto the scout’s slender frame.

The beam lanced out, cutting through the air with a sharp crack. It struck the scout’s left leg, severing it just above the knee joint. The mech stumbled, crashing to the ground in a shower of sparks and debris. Stewart moved on, her Epona pivoting smoothly as she sought out the next threat.

She spotted a pair of enemy light mechs darting between the larger combatants, their speed making them difficult targets. From her side, they were gunning for the exposed rear of a heavy mech, its attention focused on the frontal assault. Not today, Stewart thought grimly, shifting the Epona into a sprint.

The Epona’s thrusters flared, propelling it forward with speed. Stewart angled towards the flanking mechs, her tri-barrel laser cannon humming as it powered up. She targeted the closer of the two, tracking its erratic movements. The gun fired a rapid burst of three energy beams converging on the enemy mech. Two beams went wide, but the third struck true, carving a molten path across the mech’s torso.

The hit slowed the enemy, giving Stewart the opening she needed. She closed the distance, switching back to her laser rifle as she moved in for the kill. The scout mech twisted to face her, its weapons flaring, but it was too late. Stewart’s rifle fired a single precise shot that punched through the weakened armor and into the mech’s reactor. The enemy unit shuddered, then exploded in a flash of light and fire.

Stewart didn’t stop to admire her work. The second scout mech was still in play and had adjusted its course to avoid her. She veered after it, pushing the Epona to its limits. The two mechs weaved through the battlefield, dodging the heavy fire surrounding them. Stewart could see the enemy pilot was good—too good to take down quickly. So it’s going to be like that, she thought, her jaw clenching.

She activated the Epona’s targeting system, cycling through options until she found what she sought. The tri-barrel laser cannon wasn’t the most accurate weapon at this range, but it had a widespread, and that was precisely what she needed. Stewart lined up the shot, waiting until the enemy scout committed to its next maneuver.

Now. She squeezed the trigger, unleashing a barrage of energy beams. The enemy pilot tried to dodge, but there was no escape. One of the beams struck the scout’s cockpit, instantly vaporizing the canopy. The mech went limp, its momentum carrying it forward until it crashed into the ground.

Stewart paused to catch her breath, the Epona’s systems humming around her as they cooled from the exertion. The battlefield was still a chaotic mess, but she could see the tide beginning to turn in her side’s favor. The enemy’s light mechs had been their key to breaking through, but with most of them out of commission, their assault was losing momentum.

“Stewart, status report,” came her squad leader’s voice over the comms.

“Picked off a few more scouts,” she replied, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. “Their light units are thinning out. Heavies are exposed.”

“Good work. Keep at it—we’re pressing the attack. Don’t let them regroup.”

“Roger that.” Stewart cut the line and scanned the battlefield again. There were still targets—light mechs trying to regroup, others taking potshots at her team’s heavies. She selected the nearest one, a nimble-looking mech weaving between two friendly units, trying to harass them from the flanks.

She moved in quickly; the Epona’s extremities whirred as it bounded over the uneven terrain. The enemy pilot saw her coming and tried to flee, but Stewart was faster. She lined up the laser rifle, firing a quick burst that caught the scout in the back. The mech staggered, its armor sizzling as the energy beams melted through the plating. Stewart followed up with another shot, striking the scout’s leg and sending it crashing.

She was about to finish it when another enemy mech appeared, a heavier unit with a brutish frame and a pair of oversized cannons mounted on its shoulders. It turned towards her, the cannons charging with a low hum. Shit. Stewart darted to the side, the Epona’s thrusters flaring as she tried to evade the inevitable attack.

The cannons fired, twin beams of energy slicing through the air where she’d been a moment before. The ground exploded in a shower of dirt and debris, but Stewart kept moving, her heart pounding. She had to take down that heavy, but she knew the Epona wasn’t built for a slugfest. It would be about hit and run—striking fast and getting out before it could return fire.

She circled, keeping low and using the terrain for cover. The heavy mech tried to track her, its cannons swiveling as it searched for a clear shot. Stewart kept her distance, waiting for the right moment. She knew she couldn’t take it head-on, but if she could get in close, she might have a chance.

The opportunity came when the heavy mech stumbled over a piece of debris, its footing momentarily unsteady. Stewart seized the moment, launching the Epona forward in a full sprint. She closed the distance in seconds, the tri-barrel laser cannon spinning up as she targeted the enemy’s exposed side.

The cannon fired, and a concentrated burst of energy tore through the heavy mech’s armor. The enemy pilot tried to swing around, but Stewart was already on the move, slipping past its slower movements. She fired again, this time aiming for the joint between the shoulder and torso—the shot connected, severing the arm and sending it crashing to the ground.

The heavy mech staggered, its systems struggling to compensate for the damage. Stewart didn’t give it a chance to recover. She brought up the laser rifle and fired at the exposed internals, the beam slicing through cables and circuits in a shower of sparks. The enemy mech convulsed, then fell silent, its systems finally giving out as it toppled over in a heap of twisted metal.

Stewart took a moment to survey the battlefield with the heavy mech down. The enemy forces were in disarray, their lines crumbling as her team pressed the attack. The heavier units on her side were mopping up the remaining resistance, while the few enemy scouts that were still operational were either retreating or trying to avoid the inevitable.

“Stewart, we’ve got them on the ropes,” her squad leader’s voice came over the comms again with a hint of satisfaction. “Finish off any stragglers and regroup at the rally point.”

“Copy that,” she replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. The battle was all but won, and it had been a hard-fought victory. But there was still work to be done.

She set her sights on the last remaining scout mech, a battered and smoking unit trying to limp away from the battlefield. Stewart moved in for the kill. The enemy pilot didn’t try to fight back; their mecha was too damaged to resist.

The laser rifle fired one last time, a clean shot that put the enemy mech out of its misery. Stewart watched as it crumpled to the ground, the smoke from its ruined systems rising into the sky.

Stewart allowed herself a moment of satisfaction as the dust settled and the battlefield fell silent. The Epona had performed flawlessly, and so had she. The mission was a success, and the enemy forces had been routed.

Stewart turned her Epona towards the rally point, the weight of the battle lifting as she returned to her team. There would be more battles ahead, more challenges to face—but for now, she allowed herself to savor the victory.