A knight's training

[stupidhonor]

[1]
Yes! We are victorious! Truly, the day is ours. I expected not for Earth to carry so many talking beasts, yet here we are.

[Well, someone's happy. Sielje's spirits are high after the Cassowary Emperor has been stopped - for good.]

I suggest we celebrate by trying ourselves. A friendly bout, a training fight. I gladly accept any challenges.

[2]
[A few days later, the Ankaian knight can be found around the simulator area. Apparently she figured out the controls enough to be able to use at least the most basic mobile suit functions - a pretty good time, all things considered. And yet...]

[Even the simplest combat scenarios Sielje tried out always went the same: ignore ranged weaponry or ambushes and rush the enemy into melee. Be suppressed by the foe's superior range. Try to dodge and use terrain for cover, get overwhelmed, explode. Repeat over and over again.]


Why...

Why is it this way?

[She sits in the simulator cockpit, obviously frustrated and tired. The monitors display scenario history, at least a dozen attempts failed.]

[3]


...

[Trying to forget about her fiasco, the knight has chosen several books to distract herself with.]

How large is Australia, anyway?

[The books in question are: a technical manual of some handheld rifle, the original version of an old story she saw the movie adaptation of, a monthly fashion magazine, and a picture storybook about animals.

Regardless of contents, she studies each one carefully, with a concentrated look on her face.]

Comments

[stupidhonor]

The letter, and its spirit, you say.

[Sielje looks down, thoughtfully.]

The intent behind the laws of honor is more important than their exact wording. Is this what you mean?

[reactorhead_russians]

"Da," Sasha says simply. "Your ancestors created their honor code not out of thin air, but for specific reasons; to improve their lives and punish the wicked of their day."

Sasha strokes her chin in thought. "You mentioned that in your world, people who use ranged weapons have an unfair advantage over others. Why do you think that is?"

[stupidhonor]

The reasons are twofold. First is that ranged combat is not a contest of strength. Some might is needed to wield and accurately aim a weapon that strikes from afar...

[Sielje hesitates. She's not exactly an expert regarding this.]

But it still puts even a weakling on equal ground with a mighty warrior.

But the other reason, and I think this is why you asked - is that no one else uses ranged weapons.

[reactorhead_russians]

"The might you speak of isn't only physical strength, but also technique, awareness, reflexes...the results of hard work and training, da?" Sasha points out. "Even though a novice in bows or rifles can outmatch a seasoned warrior with melee weapons...won't a master of the art of ranged weapons also defeat a novice?

Sasha shrugs. "It's merely a game with different rules."

[stupidhonor]

Therefore, do you wish to state that combat between two parties armed with ranged weapons is just as fair as if they fought in melee?

[reactorhead_russians]

"Da...as long as both parties know what the rules of the game are," Sasha argues.

She gestures to the Sim Pods. "Would you care to do a simulated battle with me? To learn the rules of ranged warefare, if nothing else?"

[stupidhonor]

I may. It is not a real fight one way or another.

However...

[She looks like she wants to say something more.]

[reactorhead_russians]

"However...?" Sasha says back, raising an eyebrow.

[stupidhonor]

It may be true that this setup is fair. Perhaps it would be permitted under specific circumstances for an Ankaian knight to participate in real, ranged combat - and it would not be a dishonor to his name.

But it is not my place to judge this.

These are the rules of honor, and as a warrior of my land, I have no choice but to obey.

[reactorhead_russians]

Sasha could say a lot of things about thinking for yourself, or the virtue of disobeying laws that make no sense...but at this point, she judges, Sieljie has to figure things out for herself.

"Then let us try and figure out how to make your rules of honor work for you on the battlefields of earth," Sasha offers, booting up the simulation, and choosing a Jenice for herself to pilot.

"Which terrain do you want to master? Desert, or rolling tundra?"

[stupidhonor]

The Knight's Arms were equipped to deal with Earth's way of fighting. The beasthide cloaks offer great protection against shot projectiles for a reason.

... The desert it is, then.

[reactorhead_russians]

"Da," Sasha notes with a grin. "Uncharitable folk might say that your beast-hide cloaks...are an unfair advantage."

Sasha dials up a 4 person enemy squad for Sieljie and her to fight. In the distance, four beam-rifle equipped Daughtresses slowly advance across the dunes towards them.

"The enemy is not yet in range. We cannot hit them, they cannot hit us," Sasha says, pulling out one of the Jenice's heat hawks. "What do you think we should do, Sieljie?"

[stupidhonor]

Their potency depends on the internal power of the wielder. They are not unfair, they exist to equalize the field of battle.

[Sielje notices the opponent, her mobile suit's monoeye staring at the distance.]

Make our presence known, then once the challenge has been cast - cut the distance. Use those sandy hills for protection against their shots.

[reactorhead_russians]

"Or," Sasha points out, "we can wait for them to draw closer before springing out like skittish rabbits."

[stupidhonor]

How much closer? That sounds like an ambush.