Daedalus 52 M1 - Term: 1, Round: 5

House Thoth, Squad Leader, Squad Zero

M1 Rank: 1/1275, Tier 3 M-Rank: Null

Term: 1, Round: 5

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The four squads from M1 who had progressed to the semi-finals stood at attention in the corral of the top-side exo arena.

The stands were packed with more Middle Academy cadets than the group rounds, all who did not qualify for the semis themselves were now free. With only two matches to be played, it would be over soon, and they could migrate to the other topside arena to watch the U1 mechs in the early afternoon.

The seven members of Thoth zero stood shoulder to shoulder. Each cadet equipped with a railgun long or short barrel, medium exos, and grappler. Every cadet stowed a standard issue swordlance with a shield on their back. All seven.

Lined up with Thoth were the other three squads who qualified for the M1 semi-finals. Osiris Squad zero who would be facing Thoth. While Amun-Ra squad zero were up against Horus squad two.

The reason for Horus squad two's appearance in group one was now obvious. Horus zero had pulled out. Thoth zero were so involved with their own operations, and the fact they insulated themselves from other squads, meant they were unaware of this until after the group stages were underway.

Alfred Almeras, squad leader of Osiris zero, had on a few occasions displayed his loudmouthedness to the Thoth squad he now faced. A lesser man would make a snide remark about how Thoth was going to hand them a beating. Almeras' first interaction with Mitso was to tell them a matter of factly that Thoth were not compet.i.tion they were merely nerds who would build him equipment in the future.

Barran wandered past Osiris when the short introduction ceremony was complete, "ready to eat dirt Alfresco?" he snarked without pausing to hear a reply and made his way over to the Thoth starting gate.

Barran adroitly fulfilled the role as Mitso's lesser man.

Osiris carried a range of high powered a.s.sault rifles, a couple of miniguns and one cadet wielded a giant two-handed hammer. They were all in heavy exos, fairly standard for this type of squad at this stage. Not many M1 squads had completed equipment upgrades, this historically happened over the three years incrementally. The third year is when squads took equipment very seriously after they had worked out their particular strengths, strategies, style and the obtainability of said equipment.

Traditionally squads spent half the year in M1 finding out what they should be upgrading and how to begin doing so. Advice from elder siblings was that they should initially find out what suited them and then work hard at getting upgrades through tweaks or purchases.

The current Thoth medium v2.6 exo had higher strength, armour and mobility factors than a standard heavy. The values were nominal as they took in many aspects, especially mobility which encompa.s.sed speed, responsiveness, jumping power and agility.

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Thoth Medium exo version 2.6.

Strength Factor 9

Armour Value 110

Mobility Factor 2.0

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FMA standard heavy exo

Strength Factor 5

Armour Value 80

Mobility Factor 0.8

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Where M3 squad's equipment was on par overall with Mitso, there was a ma.s.sive gulf in M1. Given the gap, it would be a major feat if Osiris were able to pull off a victory. Unfortunately for Osiris, they did not know the nominal values of the Thoth exo, they only knew it was good.

The normal procedure for the start of a battle was underway. With two thousand cadet spectators and an unknown number of adults , the match was about to get underway.

Daedo: we will sweep wide to the west. I will mark waypoints on the hud. Keep in line behind Picard. Picard, not too fast, we need to keep together. 65% max speed.

Daedo had run through the tactics the previous night, over and over. Until they were hammered in, at least theoretically. He only spent an hour of contemplation, time was limited if the cadets were to be given time to fathom the dramatic changes.

The foundation strategy was that all seven cadets would stay in close proximity, focus fire on any weak points while minimizing and spreading incoming damage. Daedo added an extra rule that would look ridiculous to their opponents and spectators alike. If a cadet was incapacitated, the squad would need to drag them into a safe area or make the area around them safe.

Picard was the perfect choice for the lead. She could run with a shield all day, was level-headed, highly skilled at ranged and melee attacks. In Daedos mind she was almost the perfect squaddie when it came to on-field battles.

Thoth skirted around the edge of the map, in the shape of a letter "C" coming at the enemy from the southwest flank. The arena had been updated again, and the map contained four hills, numerous trees, with a creek making crisscrossing in-between the hills.

It was not a map with cover and height like the canyon or urban topography. It was one where speed could play a larger part. At a two-thirds pace, Thoth was almost twice as fast as their opponent's max speed.

As Thoth closed on Osiris, Myrmidon placed a red and orange dots on everyone's HUD. They received sporadic fire from two a.s.sault rifles from Osiris' right flank. The extended range and their movement caused the fire to miss. The red dot was their target, the orange dot was the following target.

The entire squad moved to get a line of sight on the target and opened fire with railguns, after three shots he was down. It was first in best dressed in this situation. Daedo sent three to the hill to the south; Gaumont, Vannier, and Axelzero. This group would provide cover fire and take down any approaching enemy.

Picard and Barran drew their shields and swordlances. Daedo and Mace followed behind with medium range railguns.

The standard swordlance was too heavy for non-exo use, being four times the weight of a long sword possessing four edges instead of two. Daedo had no interest in long-term use in its current form. They would upgrade it like every other piece of standard equipment. The reason for its inclusion in the loadout was he wanted to utilise a lance with their current speed advantage, and by utilising a swordlance, it gave the loadout an extra dimension of versatility.

Daedo had plans for the swordlance, he always did. The trust factor from the squad was at an all-time high, wherein the first week he allowed personal equipment selection and made suggestions. Now he dictated loadouts, which were accepted happily.

*Daedo: run him down. Mace and I will attempt a kill shot. If not skewer. Retreat immediately after the engagement.*

Barran and Picard lead at full speed, shields covering most of their body with the smaller Mace and Daedo behind.

Pink dots began appearing on the HUD as more enemy fire began as Osiris tried to regroup on their right flank. Thoth was too fast.

Vannier's group returned fire which delayed the reinforcement. Forcing them behind cover or into p.r.o.ne positions.

Picard took the left side of the tree while Barran slid to the right, their quarry was seeking cover waiting for reinforcement which didn't arrive. The Osiris cadet had been in a no-win situation, retreating or waiting for reinforcements were both futile.

Three stabs from the melee weapons forced the Osiris cadet into deactivation by the AR adjudicator. Daedo's group of four immediately retreated to the treeline to the west.

*Daedo: hold position. Railguns ready. Focus fire on the red dot as soon as it appears until then take attacks of opportunity.*

Known enemy positions were pink. As soon as they came into range or LOS, they would turn red giving Mitso a focus fire target. Secondary targets were changed to orange.

The hill was a strategic position, its height only equalled by the other three hills on the map which were all out of range or sight due to distance and trees. Osiris was aware that a number of Thoth cadets were on the hill and had just taken down their right flank. It was unlikely they knew the exact numbers.

Daedo's plan was to win this battle without losing a single cadet. He would be patient and whittle down Osiris. Today this goal was feasible, tomorrow against M3SS0 it would be almost impossible.

*Daedo: hold position.*

There was no need for cadets to call enemy sighting, Myrmidon was monitoring feeds from all cadets and updating the HUD of enemy positions based on sound, sight and other sensory information. When sensors lost an enemy player position Myrmidon would extrapolate based on available data and years of machine learning which began while playing CyberMech.

Humans were humans. And the learning Myrmidon achieved with tracking and antic.i.p.ation in CyberMech was transferrable to, the almost real, AR arena combat. Where the reflex and CyberMech combat skills were lost to Daedo, some strategies remained. And certainly, strategy formulation was one of his strengths he developed while playing the game.

The two squads began to exchange fire. Thoth had a major advantage with the railgun damage output compared to the a.s.sault rifles that Osiris was using. Osiris had a few options, while Daedo was patiently waiting for them to attack. Osiris had lost two cadets and were down to five. What remained was two a.s.sault rifles, two miniguns and the hammer. Almeras had one of the miniguns.

*Daedo: Myrmidon target priority a.s.sault Rifles.*

Osiris got into position to attack the hill. Which was the obvious strategic move, the hill controlled the battlefield. The two cadets with a.s.sault rifles would provide cover fire while the other three charged up the hill.

*Daedo: take out the ARs. Retreat before the miniguns get into range.*

Daedo would allow Osiris the hill. Where yesterday he would be bold and steamroll the enemy, today he was conservative.

All seven Thoth Cadets targeted the a.s.sault Rifle cadets, which Daedos group ranging to the northeast in order to get a better line of sight, away from Vannier's hill.

Vannier's group retreated down the west side of the hill while Daedo took out the a.s.sault Rifle cadets leaving Almeras and the other two remaining cadets alone on top of the hill.

Daedo pinged the minimap on their HUD.

*Daedo: converge at this location.*

The two groups swung around the hill staying out of range from Osiris close combat cadets. Attacks of opportunity were taken while they moved with no resulting casualties. Thoth had the range advantage and could shoot sporadically while moving.

Thoth now had Osiris at one hundred and eighty metres with trees and undulations ruining the LOS.

*Daedo: forty-metre envelope.*

The cadets arranged in an arc with one every ten metres and advanced to one hundred and twenty-metre range, where they could take pot shots at Osiris with impunity. Osiris needed to retreat or charge. If they remained, they would die to Railgun fire in less than a couple of minutes.

Osiris charged down the hill.

The match was over in ten seconds.

The arena battle was never in doubt, not with the disparity in equipment quality. Thoth had never practised this tactic, and an unequal match, albeit semi-final was the perfect opportunity to do so. They not only benefited from the drill, but it was also certain their opponents were scratching their heads at the change of formation, loadout and the transition from aggressive to conservative tactics.

The semi-finals for M3 were tomorrow morning while the final for M1 was early afternoon.

Before packing up their equipment, they watched the second semi-final. Horus two versus Amun-Ra zero.

Where the first match was one-sided the second match in the hills was extremely close. Horus had the upper hand early, but with some amazing moves by Duval from Amun-Ra the two squads were equal with three cadets remaining.

Duval and Delcroix then gained the upper hand through expert use of close combat blasters. The defence of both teams was on par, but the firepower from Amun-Ra outstripped Horus who lost their last three cadets including Moreau while only taking down Delcroix from Amun-Ra.

Thoth Squad zero (0) def Osiris Squad zero (Thoth sustained 0 casualties)

Amun-Ra Squad zero (5) def Horus Squad two (Amun-Ra sustained 5 casualties)

Thoth would face not Horus zero in the M1 final, but Amun-Ra squad zero. If cadets took bets on this match-up in week one, it would have had extremely long odds.

"That's another thousand credits in the bag," Barran announced.

Vannier looked at him quizzically before suddenly realising, "Oh yeah the bet! Daedo you bet Karine that we would beat them at the end of term tournament!"

Daedo nodded, he hadn't forgotten. "How do we collect?"

Immediately six volunteers jumped and raised their hands. "Me Me. I will go there and ask for it!" Came out of their mouths in different words, but with the same meaning. They all clamoured for the honour, even Gaumont volunteered excitedly.

"I haven't seen such unanimous enthusiasm….for anything," Daedo concluded while finishing the sentence.

Barran got on his knees in front of Daedo, "Please oh mighty leader. Let me go. I will do anything you ask. Anything." He begged so earnestly everyone laughed.

Daedo shook his head, "I am afraid you are so keen who knows what will happen! I will go with Vannier. I can't trust any of you with this important mission."

With much angst, the squad relented before demanding Daedo and Vannier capture and save the entire encounter.

*Vannier: we better go now. If you leave it a few days she may leave the Academy or worse, Barran takes it in his own hands to visit her.*

*Daedo: we do need the creds. You know I could just message her. The same contact we used for the contract.*

*Vannier: No! We have so few pleasures. Let's do this together.*

*Daedo: she got under your skin?*

*Vannier: no! I want to see her taken down a peg. Things in the past.. you know. She can be a b.i.t.c.h.*

*Daedo: I have never heard you swear before or call someone a name like that. Are you sure?*

*Vannier: yes I am sure.*

*Daedo: I could take Mace.*

*Vannier: Daedo…don't you dare! I do the c.r.a.p jobs remember?*

*Daedo: yes. You've earned this. Let's go.*

Daedo messaged Karine asking to meet, and after only a minute with no questions on what it was regarding, she sent a message back.

*Fortescue: topside Mech Arena. Come to the Fortescue box.*

*Daedo: wheres that?*

*Fortescue: Seriously? (she attached a map with pin on her current GPS coordinate)*

"Picard, please ensure everything gets stowed in our quarters. If you want to watch the Mechs after we will do a debrief and tactical meeting tonight at 1830." And with that Daedo left with Vannier.

Vannier walked with a spring in her step. Her back straight, she was somewhat taller than Daedo by six centimetres. They had removed their exos and were in their House coloured bodysuits, with helmets stowed on their upper back. The bodysuits were Thoth's black with white markings. Vannier had more white on her shoulders than any M1 cadet save Daedo. Each rank, accomplishment, tournament win and merit added minuscule slivers of white to their bodysuit. Including the squad leader and 2IC designations which added a large slab of white.

If it wasn't for Daedo's height, he almost looked like an M3 cadet. Their tournament wins in M3 added to their markings as well as the M1 wins. There was a strict code to the process.

Vannier had changed her hair to an ochre colour a few weeks earlier. It was no small thing, as she didn't dye her hair, it was done via genetic modification. Beauty therapy research and application of gene therapy to the industry was a thing apparently.

The ochre colour looked like gold without the metallic shine. It suited her complexion which was pale. Many male cadets would think she was very pretty where Daedo just saw her as a friend and co-leader of the squad. He looked up to her just as much as she looked up to him.

Next to Vannier Daedo was dark, her pale skin contrasted with his deep olive complexion and almost black hair. When he allowed it to grow it still clung to his head in tight curls.

On Daedo's upper left chest was the number zero, same as Vannier. It indicated their squad designation. On his upper right chest was the number one, where Vannier had four. Which indicated their rank in M1. A person who knew how to read an Academy bodysuit and was aware of the rankings in M1 would know immediately who Daedo was. Which were most of the adults and all of the cadets present in the topside Mech arena.

Daedo followed the instructions, taking an airlift up to the top floor of the stadium. The Fortescue box occupied a few hundred metres and jutted out above the seats below. There was a view up and down the arena as well as one straight down. The height was such that mechs could not reach and all munitions were AR, therefore, would not blow it out of the sky.

It was at least five times the size of any other box, understandably as it was Fortescue Military Academy.

Daedo and Vannier were stopped at the door. A robot intoned, "sorry sir you are not on the guest list."

"That's right," Daedo answered, "we are not on the guest list. Karine Fortescue invited us to meet her, can you confirm?"

"One moment," the robot said and proceeded to send a message through whatever protocol was in place.

*Myrmidon: can I help?*

*Daedo: no no. Leave them alone. We don't want trouble later.*

*Myrmidon: they are calling Master Becker. I don't think the message got through to Fortescue.*

Daedo decided to message Karine directly.

*Daedo: Fortescue. We are at the door talking to your wonderful robot that didn't know we were coming.*

*Fortescue: Just tell it I invited you and walk in.*

*Daedo: it doesn't work that way. It's a simple gateway. You are on the list, or you are not. How do you not know this?*

*Fortescue: don't lecture me. I have enough problems because of you and my mother.*

*Daedo: should I feel sorry for you?*

Daedo couldn't help himself. He talked to Fortescue as he would have one of his squad when they were crying over their issues instead of finding a way forward. She ignored the remark and was silent for the next minute.

Karine arrived at the door looking unhappy and her house Master, Becker, could be seen in the background also approaching.

She flicked her head back, "come on." Intriguingly the robot's programming accepted the head flick as an invitation.

The tall blonde haired Master Becker watched disdainfully as Karine walked past with Daedo and Vannier in tow. He crossed his arms and stood motionlessly twenty paces from the entrance. Daedo surmised that he was going to question the cadets but now was apathetic.

As Karine led the pair away from the active areas of the box, with hundreds of adults chatting in their small groups, they wandered into a quieter area which contained a few cadets from Horus from all levels of the Academy.

She led them to a comfortable booth which was vacant, it did not appear that Karine needed backup from her peers for confidence or support. A little shake of her head informed Paget-A that she was not required.

"So what brings you here?" she pointedly asked Daedo.

"A thousand creds," Daedo answered simply.

"Holiday plans," Vannier added with a flick of her hand, "you will provide some spending money." That was her version of a cutting remark. Even Myrmidon was better at sledging.

Karine did not react, "you could have just messaged me. While technically you didn't beat us in the M1 tournament since we didn't compete. I will pay in the spirit of the bet." She opened a direct payment to Daedo, normally the limit on peer to peer transmits with no account details was ten bitcreds, but Karine was able to send a thousand in this manner.

"Send me a remittance," she ordered. "Anything else?"

"Nope," Daedo was about to stand, but Vannier placed a hand on his leg keeping him in place.

"Don't you at least owe Daedo an apology. Or congratulations. Where are your manners?" Vannier asked scathingly. Karine's att.i.tude got under her skin, and where Vannier would disregard it if it was aimed at herself, but when she felt a friend was slighted she would arc up in protective mode.

Karine was unaffected by the question. However, she turned to Daedo and said, "congratulations for progressing through the group round in M3 while in M1." She then turned to Vannier and with a colder look said, "there happy?"

"You know you could learn a lot from him if you could put that ma.s.sive ego aside for a nanosecond," Vannier continued.

Karine showed no outward signs of being affected by Vannier's words, but, her actions spoke otherwise. She didn't address Vannier, she ignored her and addressed Daedo, "What could you teach me oh great one?"

Daedo contemplated the pa.s.sive aggressive question. And while he did Paget-A and Paget-L wandered into the roomy booth, they were probably listening and came to support Karine once things started to turn ugly.

Within a few moments, Daedo put aside the petty rivalries in his mind. What was the point in being an enemy with another human from planet earth? They would soon enough be in the s.h.i.t together. What did he need from this academy? It was not merely a training vehicle for his squad. If he could help others improve would that not make everyone's life easier?

Daedo was looking down at the organic carpet. It was quite nice, it even gave off a nice fragrance.

With the Pagets now flanking her, he looked up at Karine with one his serious stares. Daedo was unaware of them, but Vannier knew them well. It was a stare he delivered when he dug deep and was about to surprise the s.h.i.t out of her.

"Stop worrying about the adults. They don't know s.h.i.t," he said.