(no subject)

[no99]

Somebody's been thinking deeply, on and off, ever since her last deployment. The one where half her mech got blown up and she didn't land a single hit on her opponent. It's the kind of thing that sticks with you. It doesn't come up again until one of those late nights, when Suma's off duty and drinking heavily. Like she tends to do.

"It's a fine puzzle, isn't it? War God Number 02. What kind of strategy do you use against someone who knows your next move the moment you do?"

Drink. "She may be the worst possible match for me. I've no skill with clouding my thoughts, and unless I can figure out some sort of trick, I'll never get close enough to turn it into a close-range fight, where I'd be at the advantage. Still, I'll certainly see her again, and don't plan on dying when it happens."

Drink, bitter laugh. "And then there's still the Pharaoh beyond her. And beyond him, a hundred new foes emerging in this new age of warfare. Even after coming so far, the mountain I climb continues to rise to unfathomable heights!"

Comments

[abugslife]

I would imagine the solution to beating such an enemy is pretty obvious. Easy to come up with, at least; harder to put into practice.

[no99]

I have thought of many solutions difficult to put into practice. Which one do you refer to?

[abugslife]

Overwhelming power. If enough units attack her at once, even if she reads the minds of all the pilots and knows what are they going to do... If the attacks cover all escape angles, she simply will not be able to defend against all of them.

[no99]

Aye, there must be a limit - if not to what she can process, then to what it is possible to dodge all at once, even with full foreknowledge of what is coming.

Last time, she was not alone. Perhaps she tags along with allies to make this strategy harder to pull off.

[abugslife]

It is not the only strategy that can work on her. As a matter of fact, there is something even simpler, though also requiring more preparation.

[no99]

And what simpler strategy is this?

[abugslife]

Combat drones. You cannot read the mind of something that does not possess one.

[no99]

Hmph. I've never cared for such strategies.

[abugslife]

Does it hurt your warrior's pride to rely on things that are not even alive?

[no99]

I feel that if someone plans to kill their enemies, the least they can do is to show up for the occasion.

[abugslife]

In a normal situation, perhaps. But if it is the only way to defeat an opponent?

[no99]

It would depend on the opponent, then, yes?

In facing Lucy, were I forced to choose between dishonor and death, I would easily choose dishonor. I cannot allow myself to die while Kashid still lives.

[abugslife]

Not that you have much choice in the matter, being immortal.

[no99]

Would that that were true, but mine is a conditional mortality. In battle - and only in battle - I can be killed, as can she.

[abugslife]

And not just by each other? So this is the kind of immortality you possess.

Pride is important to most warriors, and I would not say I am different. But victory in an important battle, and the lives of the soldiers under my command - both of those are more important.

[no99]

There are none under my command. Once I am the last of the War Gods, this life serves little purpose.

[abugslife]

You could find one yet. The threats Earth faces are numerous; the War Gods are but one of them. I doubt you will ever run out of enemies to kill.

[no99]

Aye, there is also my oath to Nikostratos to consider. I must find a path to rise above the person I have become.