Chapter 2: The Beginning
Renya surveyed the jungle terrain around him, his Knightmare's Factospheres picking up trace heat signatures through the foliage. The thicket was making confirming enemies via visual sight difficult, so he alternated between infrared and the new echolocation sensors to try and find the enemy before they found him. Echolocation was a similar system to sonar, but created a visual image based on reflected soundwaves that essentially nullified most camouflage technology.
His Knightmare Frame, the Prototype Byakushiki, was currently among the most advanced Knightmares Frames in existence. Boasting a Gladius Luminous Energy Blade Renya named Yukihira, a VARIS MK XI Rifle, and four MASER Slash Hearkens. Developed specifically for the Spartan II program alongside several other Knightmares, it absolutely wrecked Rebel Akatsuki MK-V Knightmares like they were nothing.
It was designed primarily after the Lancelot series of Knightmares, but also had several Guren series technologies; going down the Mixed Knightmare route of Knightmare Technology rather than the Britannian or Japanese routes that dominated modern Knightmare technology. It had a white and gold color scheme and angular armor, taking after the Lancelot, but also had a traditional Japanese Guren-style faceplate and Japanese technologies. It truly was a fusion of the two technological routes, which dated back to the time of the almost ancient war between the Britannian Empire and the Black Knights.
But currently the enemy was a rather cunning one, stalking Renya's team out and simply waiting for a chance to strike. Currently, Renya was separated from his team by his own orders. Tapping away holographic icons that warned him of getting too far away from his team and mentally ordering his Byakushiki to continue walking through the jungle in his cockpit. Inwardly, he wondered how on Earth the Rebels managed to fight with the solid controls that plagued older Knightmares; all current generation Knightmares worked via a combination of mental connection and a holographic interface.
Then, he saw something flicker on his echolocation sensors. Several flickers, actually, surrounding him from several angles. He tapped away the red holographic warning that warned him of unknown IFFs approaching, and activated his Knightmare's voice amplifier.
"Well, took long enough." Renya said, switching to visual sensors as he beheld five Rebel Knightmares surround him from all sides
The Knightmares were equipped with M-13 Coilgun Assault Rifles, an old model; currently the UFNSC used M-15s. But they could do their damage to current generation Knightmares in trained hands. It was obvious, from the way they pointed the guns at Renya without firing, that they intended on taking him prisoner; probably for the technological value of his Byakushiki.
His guess was confirmed, as the apparent Rebel leader spoke; "We have you surrounded; power down your Knightmare Frame, or be annihilated."
"Tch, what a cliché line. Is that really the best they could do?" Renya thought, smiling
"Well, since you asked so nicely, I'm going to reply with…" Renya said, slowly bringing up his Knightmare's right arm
"Hell. No."
Suddenly, five cylinders broke through the trees surrounding the frames. Catching the attention of the rebel frames as they looked up to see what the cylinders were.
They were M9 High Explosive Chaos Grenades, twirling right above the group of Knightmares and glowing a terrifying orange color that signified their activation. By the time the rebels realized that, however, the Byakushiki's fist had collided with the soft jungle floor.
"Absolute Defense Bubble Shield, activate!" Renya thought, focusing entirely on giving the mental order
A purple hexagonal shield surrounded Renya, just as the Chaos Grenades exploded showering the enemy Knightmares with heated metal needles, which broke through both their Radiant Wave Shielding and armor. Only three, damaged, enemy Knightmares remained now.
"Oh the tides, how they turn." Renya spoke with a grin, as the Yukihira Energy Blade lit up with a bright blue color
He immediately rushed towards a caught off guard enemy Akatsuki, slicing the entire frame in half with a single slice of his blade. The two other enemies attempted to fire upon him, but one had its right arm shot off by Renya's VARIS, while the other was destroyed from a shot going right through the Akatsuki's Yggdrasil Drive. The remaining Rebel Knightmare Pilot, the leader, instinctively looked around; before noticing several more Frames emerging from the jungle. Obviously, they were the ones who threw the grenades and the ones who just destroyed his comrade.
"We have you surrounded; you know the drill." One of the Spartan II Knightmare pilots said, echoing the rebel leader's earlier words
It was all planned from the start; Renya deliberately put distance between him and his team in order to use himself as bait while the team waited for the enemy to make their move. But the rebel leader, refusing to give up, rushed straight at Renya; but soon had his Knightmare's knees shot to pieces by two of the Knightmares, his Akatsuki instantly falling to the floor only barely managing to hold itself up with its arms. Renya stood over the defeated rebel leader, and aimed his VARIS at the Knightmare's head. The eyes of every one of his comrades looked upon him, waiting for the blast of the VARIS' green projectile impacting against the enemy Akatsuki.
But, unexpectedly, Renya holstered the VARIS. "It's our victory, nobody else has to die today." Renya said, to the disappointment of a few of his comrades
Suddenly, the enemy Knightmare's ejection seat kicked in; rocket thrusters ejecting the enemy's cockpit out of his Knightmare. "Shit!" Renya shouted, jutting towards the ejected cockpit in a vain attempt to catch it
Luckily, or unluckily depending on who was watching; the hands of one of the Spartan Knightmare Frames caught the ejected cockpit. Crushing the metal pod with his Knightmare's strength until anything inside it would be reduced to a mushy pulp.
"Wow, real smooth Renya." The Spartan pilot said, throwing away the crushed cockpit like it was trash
"Rebels Defeated: Spartan Blue Team has accomplished objective. Simulation ending."
With that, the Knightmares, wreckage, and jungle disappeared from Renya's vision. Replace by the advanced insides of a simulator cockpit, darkness as the simulator's screens turned off one by one, and the slightest hint of outside light which grew as the cockpit began opening up.
"Congratulations Renya: You bought yourself a one way ticket to some counseling, again." Renya thought with a groan, slowly getting out of his cockpit as he awaited the inevitable tirade of explaining himself to his team and superiors
But Renya had won the battle, just as he always did. That was what mattered the most, at least to him.