Poor readings (Day 1, LA, Alchor Highlands)

[Lucretzia Winters]

As the charm offensive continued and the various military people went about their business, Lucretzia Winters had slipped out to sit on a nearby hill, perched on the hood of one of the company hovercraft, she gazed out over the landscape, seemingly pensive about the current situation.

Wrapped in her black overcoat, gray pants, and tall black boots, she certainly was an unusual figure, a mixture of pale white skin and dark clothes and hair, with those inscrutable eyes. She didn't have anything to read, as she normally did, and instead simply took in the sights in meditative silence.

[Felicity]

By luck, Felicity's mech had been stomping into the hangar when she'd heard over the radio that Lucretzia was departing. Word spread quickly regarding their contract holder. She relayed that she'd provide an escort, just in case. Careful with her controls, making sure her mech was walking slow and steady, she turned around and headed back out. When Miss Winters' ride had left she had followed and moved to set up a watch nearby. By the time Lucretzia was comfortably atop the hovercraft Felicity had surveyed the immediate area and contacted the ship to say it looked secure. Honestly, if anything did approach with hostile intentions her mech would be the least of their concerns; dropships were usually very well armed.

Only after checking her sensors one last time, forever that bit cautious, would she initiate a controlled shutdown of her mech. Taking her helmet off and setting it down on the seat, she disconnected the monitors and triggered the auto ladder she was lucky to have. She then popped the cockpit open and immediately realised something. Mierda. It's cold out here. Her hoodie was hastily tugged on followed by her rifle being picked up and the strap slung over her shoulder. For extra warmth she popped open where she kept her emergency supplies to take out a blanket. With all this done she nimbly climbed onto the side torso of her dear mech, giving it a pat, as she bent down to search for the top of the ladder with her foot. Thanks to a lot of practice it didn't take long.

I hope this is a quick visit.

Felicity climbed down and looked about. Hefting her rifle again, a beat up automatic, she walked swiftly over to the hovercraft. Atop the hill there was a cool breeze that was making her legs grow chill.

"You okay up there Miss?" She called out just loud enough to be heard.

[Lucretzia Winters]

Lucretzia turned her gaze toward the woman, and then nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine. I didn't realize I needed a bodyguard so close to home. I'll be more careful next time."

She arched an eyebrow. "You are the one with the ancient Periphery mech."

Her gaze took in the Phoenix and then she nodded.

"Do you like it?"

[Felicity]

... She's nicer than expected. Felicity had absolutely expected, completely and utterly, to be brushed off and told to leave the scientist be. Her answer was therefore quite honest as she was caught completely off guard.

"Yes, she's very reliable."

Looking back to the mech towering nearby she grinned sheepishly. "Kiara's ancient, but she's been kept in good condition over the centuries." Her gaze drifted toward Lucretzia again. She moved up to the side of the vehicle so they could speak more easily. "Eehm, I'm Felicity. If you can let us know when you or anyone in Echo Company are heading out we can ensure you're fully protected." Yuri could thank her later for the lite PR. "But it's our pleasure. Este, shame about the setback with the dropship." She hesitates before adding. "Good we landed safely."

[Lucretzia Winters]

"Yes. The captain did a good job handling the mishap - it could've gone much worse."

She glanced back at the ovoid craft, looming overhead, and added, "From what the crew said, that kind of malfunction would normally destroy a ship... we were very fortunate indeed."

Something about the way she said that was a little off, as if she were trying to convince herself.

[Felicity]

"Not the auspicious start anyone wanted though, si?"

Felicity looked for a way to clamber up.

"We've started patrols Miss Winters. While scouting the area, is there anything we ought to be looking for in particular?" Obviously, this was not many a mechwarrior's area of expertise. Pointers were going to be welcome.

[Lucretzia Winters]

"Old broadcasting equipment, abandoned structures... weird sensor readings... anything strange. We don't know what we're looking for, not exactly."

Lucretzia seemed to have banished her other concern.

"Maybe your mech will trigger some ancient recognition code or something. It is a Rim Worlds design."

Hopping down with surprising agility, Lucretzia rested her right elbow in her left palm, fixing Felicity with a calculating gaze.

"Where are you from?"

[Snorri Tycho]

Patrol duty wasn't all that bad, to be perfectly honest. In this case, the idea of hanging out with Felicity had been the cherry on top of a job that he was actually quite suited for.

"I don't suppose that either of you thought about trying to relay information back depending on what he find." Snorri pops out his holomap and motions to the Field Relay he was lugging around. "This should keep us in contact with the dropship anywhere on the continent, if I understand the manual right."

Snorri motions to the relay. "Old broadcasting equipment? Can we try to bounce a signal with this sucker?"

[Felicity]

So, buildings and anything odd. Can do.

She made a thoughtful noise as Lucretzia mentioned recognition code and the Rim Worlds. "I've heard that. Maybe."

Felicity stepped back as the Echo Company Director hopped down. She eased her gun down too of course. In response to the question she answered simply. "The Free Worlds League." She looked away at the stare, her tail likely very obvious to the astute woman. Her hood was up, which combined with her hair to partly hide her face.

"Information relay is important." She calls back as Snorri chimes in. Her attention transfers immediately to him. It was a good save. "..." She goes silent as Snorri offers a technical suggestion to Miss Winters.

[Lucretzia Winters]

"It's possible, but we'd need to know what to send. Perhaps if you find a burnt out relay or something, it may still have relevant signals in the hard drive."

Lucretzia glanced at the man lugging around a field relay, and her lip curled into... an almost laugh?

"I admire your dedication, but you'd likely have an easier time of it if you stuck that thing in your mech... unless you just enjoy the exercise."