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UnderCurrent - But this time it's a LitRPG?!
A LitRPG Re-telling of the UnderCurrent
By Momentie
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UC Chapter Header A [https://i.imgur.com/LTseeZG.jpg]
Front 1 - First Day
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1.1 - Combat
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'One day, it's amazing how much difference one day can make' - Una pondered longingly.
One day ago had been her first aboard the Battleship 'Am-Fluchtig'.
One day ago she hadn't been surrounded by the oppressive smell of freshly oiled machine parts.
One day ago she hadn't been staring down the barrel of an enemy rifle-scope.
A faint streak of pulsing light soared past Una's screen, careering forward into a cluster of detritus that seemed to disintegrate to dust and explode all at once. Una quickly pulled at the two massive handles of the control grips, hurriedly moving herself and her machine further behind a massive piece of lifeless silver metal.
She could feel the uncomfortable sensation from beads of sweat that glistened across her forehead, her hands clammy as they moved between the complicated equipment of her machine. In front of her was a series of monitor screens, some displaying grainy imagery of her surroundings, others streaming numbers indicative of the various complex systems running throughout her craft - And most of all, the largest screen directly to the front, displaying the main-camera-feed.
Said feed currently showed two other mechs some distance away, hiding in their own field of rubble - Her 'comrades-in-arms'; The gruff older man, Kolme Nilas and the younger but equally worn looking, Sabban Vint.
She hadn't meant to fly so far ahead of her allies, only to find somewhere out in space lay a Vijaik with a mighty rifle of some kind - Yet here she was. Talking a deep breath she fumbled with a small board of switches on her right, flipping on the radio link to her allies.
As she waited for the connection to be established, Una couldn't help but notice lieutenant Kolme's machine, fitted with an array of non-standard gear compared to her own mech - Including a litany of dishes and towers for sensing enemies, perched on one shoulder and a massive backpack fixed with two large cannons on its back.
Similarly ensign Sabban's mechanical home boasted a sort of backpack consisting of multiple massive thrusters, capable of allowing his machine to move at remarkable speeds over short distances - At the cost of an excessive amount of fuel.
Another of these 'customisations' caught her eye as she looked at the monitor, Sabban's duo of 'shotguns' - Somewhat anomalous weapons these days.
The stats for her allies mecha flashed up on a control panel as she stared at them;
Mech Designation; AF-NV-004 Pilot; Lt.Kolme Nilas Mech Model; IAFS Main-Battle-Type Neo-Custom Threat Ranking; B- Experience Level; 1 Notable Equipment: - Extended Communications Array - Heavy Duty Cannon Pack
Mech Designation; AF-NV-005 Pilot; Ensign Sabban Vint Mech Model; IAFS Main-Battle-Type Neo-Custom Threat Ranking; B- Experience Level; 2 Notable Equipment: - Custom High Mobility Booster Pack - Dual Experimental Shot-Guns
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"I told ya' not to stray ahead lass." Came the exasperated voice of the older man after a few seconds of waiting for the communications channels to connect - He sounded almost like he had palm to his face in despair.
"Strange--" The second voice Una identified as Sabban's, it was younger by rights yet the tone of it wasn't far off Kolme;
"--They should have blasted the Rookie to bits by now, I mean that rubble she's behind is paper thin."
Una reflexively glanced behind herself to, of course only see the back of her chair, her face flushed at this act.
"Hmm guess they're at it again." Kolme responded sounding ever more dejected, "But that might not be all bad...ya let's do that then."
The older man added, his voice lifting.
Una asked what he meant and soon Kolme began to divulge a plan to the two younger pilots:
"----So think ya 'an handle that Rookie? I mean before this me and the lad had a little bet." Kolme finished with a tone of mischief.
'The Rookie' swallowed hard, "What sort of bet?"
"Oh nothin' really, he reckons ten to one you'll get taken out first but I think it's more like 5 to 1 ya hear?"
Una couldn't exactly say she hadn't expected this sort of thing, hazing was normal when starting a new job and she was well aware of her own inexperience - Still she would have been lying if she had said it didn't sting a little to be talked about in such degrading terms.
Before she could try to think up a suitable retort however, one of her machine's screens flashed a warning light in a startling bright red, while elsewhere an alarm rang out, before mere seconds later, far too few for her to actually do anything about these alerts, a sleek navy blue line of solid light burst forth through the wall of metal she'd made her hiding place.
Watching on the screen as it soared ever onwards, seemingly heading into the blackness of space without any sign of ever stopping - Una gulped down far harder this time, one of the smaller monitors indicated the blast had been only a couple inches away from hitting her.
"Ho-ho, looks like we're on kiddos. Sab-lad I'll leave it to you."
Sabban didn't reply to Kolme's final comment so much in words, as with a confident grunt. Una did her best to put in her own reply but found herself cut off as another blast, to her left, once again pierced through her scant cover - Only centimetres off this time.
By now she realised her hands weren't just clammy but downright pouring, any second could bring a third shot straight on top of her. 'Blue means it's very, very strong right?'
She did her best to calm her breathing, it felt tight, as though something was squeezing her wind-pipe, she fought back the urge to open the cockpit in a vain attempt to get more air. Further the place was warm, hazily so.
'The Plan, focus on the plan.'
It wasn't an especially complicated strategy, atleast not on paper. Kolme seemed to think that the two enemy combatants were squabbling, hence why they had yet to make a proper assault or land a shot on Una's machine - To that end they would make the first move.
Utilising his superior thrusters, Sabban would take point and cover the distance as fast as needed, with Una falling in behind him. The closer they could get, the less effective the enemies long range rifle would be, that was the idea atleast.
Una held her breath, trying her best to ready herself. There it was, Sabban's bulky custom-mech breaking free from cover and bottling towards her at a remarkable speed, covering the distance in seconds.
And then it was gone.
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