“First, I want to thank Chief Yerlish for attending today as a representative of the Ylishian people of the nation of Treaaw. Second, we stand together to express the special relationship between Treaaw and Falcon Rest. Third, I am proud to announce that we are sponsoring over two hundred students to come to study in our university in Mechabelli studies. Fourth, after the destruction from last mudslide season, we will be dispatching 7th Company of the Provincial Guard to Treaaw to train the Tribal Militia in Emergency Response Operations.” orates Elder Whistler to the news crews covering the reception.

  “I want to thank Elder Whistler for their generosity and the ability to renew our special relationship. While the Ylishian people may be separated by nations, that doesn’t end our ability to act as one people.” Chief Yerlish announces.

  “Any comment on the win of Lance during the Grand Prix?” Asks a reporter.

  “All Ylishian no matter their nationality, can take pride in sponsoring a new pilot with the mark of our ancestors and his impressive win today.” Responds Chief Yerlish.

  “Lance has the full support of the Ylishian Providence along with the blessing of his people. Him winning in the first round is presumed. We expect great things out of our champion.” Elder Whistler states.

  “In Merchese there has been a bombing of a hospital in the contested town of Gelth by the YML, the Ylishian of Merchese Liberation. Leader of the YML Ai-Thesh-pal claims that there were Merchesian Soldiers operating out of the hospital making it a valid target. Do you have any comments on the bombing?” asked a second reporter.

  “The Ylishian Providence has no connection, no association, and provides no support for the YML. I condemn any military action that goes against human rights law, and that there is no room for terrorism no matter the stipulation.” Elder Whistler expresses earnestly.

  “This ends questions for today”

  The news crews are ushered out of the room, the doors close, spider drones scan the room for any monitoring equipment then they are given the all clear.

  “Ai-Thesh-pal activity will cause increased scrutiny from Falcon Rest. It would be best to refrain from saying we are acting as one people. We are attempting discretion with the transfer of military resources to the Treaaw” says Elder Whistler expressing grievance.

  “Treaaw is simply not as advanced as The Providence. It will require many years before we have the military capability to rebel and join an independent Ylishia. My people cheer for the greatness of Ylishia but they have no stomach for war. You will need to stoke the fire revolution high to remove the water of complacency from my people. Seeing themselves as one people kindles that fire in their heart” Chief Yerlish quibbles.

  “Today we essentially announced that The Province would educate your mechanics and train your soldiers. Yerlish make sure that you are not in the middle of the fire when your people’s hearts ignite, but instead you are leading that inferno.” Elder Whistler threatened.

  Lance and Rebecca were working on maintaining the Scope Cougar when the second round of matches started. Each match was projected onto the walls of the garage. On Area 1 Schilling’s Trent in the Backpack Gorilla versus the NRG’s Kabir in the Basilisk Lizard. On Area 2 Schilling’s Monique in the Terror Bird versus Quarst’s Gael in the Missile Moose. Most of their attention was on Area 2 seeing as the winner would become their next opponent, in addition that they would never have a match in Area 1.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Who do you think is going to win Area 2?” Rebecca calls out.

  “The Terror Bird is a melee focused build which should have the edge against a missiler, however I wouldn’t count the Moose out” Lance muses.

  “Why?” Rebecca questions trying to get Lance to be more open.

  “The pilot clearly knows what is coming seeing how they have a small stock of missiles in the horns in favor of a close range machine gun mounted on the left side. Not sure what else I would do if I was piloting the Moose. At two to one odds I’ll bet on the Moose.” Lance says with a devilish grin.

  “Oh you want to bet! Sure I’ll take you on! Six hundred Talons to three hundred! I’ll be able to buy a nice dinner and a bottle of wine.” said Rebecca, already dreaming about the winnings.

  “Deal, what makes you so confident about the Terror Bird?” Lance questions.

  “Fenton told me that he’s the worst of his teammates. So him losing in the first round, given he would have to go against his own teammate in the second round, is not that big a deal.”

  “Wow Fenton wasn’t a bad pilot in any sense, that is some high praise for the rest of his team.”

  “Exactly, if he was a challenge for someone splintered, than his teammates must be freaks of nature”

  Lance and Rebecca stopped what they were working on to focus on the projections.

  “The Basilisk Lizard is pretty lucky that they have a water feature as part of Area 1” Lance states.

  “I don’t know anything about Basilisk Lizards, what is their deal?”

  “Well, just like basilisk lizards, the mech can run on water.”

  “Oh so it makes a pretty big difference if they have favorable terrain”

  “The freedom of movement allows the Basilisk Lizard the choice of when to engage, meaning the Basilisk Lizard gets to set the tempo of the match.”

  The projections countdown 3…2…1…The Terror Bird turbos forward toward the Moose at frightening speed across the flat terrain. The Gorilla launches two missiles, while the Basilisk Lizard turbos out over the water. The Moose responds with small arms fire damaging the left wing but the Terror bird continues forward claws extended. The Moose has long claw marks into the conductive ceramic showing the damaged right side. The Moose tries to turn into the Terror Bird but the biped mech has a tighter turn radius gashing out the left side of the Moose. Already the match was over for the Missile Moose. Tuning into the other match the first duo of missiles were closing in on the Basilisk Lizard, and the water runner dodged the first missile only to be hit by the second. The pilot is ejected from the Mech as it freezes up and skids across the surface till it starts to sink beneath the water.

  “Fenton wasn’t kidding, they made short work out of their opponents” Lance says while fishing out his PDA transferring the three hundred Talons to Rebecca.

  “Well he might be pushy but at least he was good for something” Rebecca says watching the funds tick up on her PDA.

  Before Lance can put away his PDA and get back to work on the Mech, Lance gets a call from Elder Whistler.

  “Hello Elder”

  “Hello Lance, Chief Yerlish still prefers being a big fish in a small pond, and is unreliably committed to advancing the revolution. I just watched your competition. You need to become a star for the Ylishian people. If you do not win first place people will feel that there are pilots that can stand against us. We need your troops to feel confident in your leadership when the time comes.” implores Elder Whistler.

  “Yes Elder, I am your will made manifest, and I will bring honor to Ylishia.”

  “Good, we are on the precipice. Our every action decides whether we rise or fall. We are facing changes not seen in three thousand years. The imperialists are falling while the colonized are getting back on their feet. Only once we have fought for our nation will they retreat with a bloody nose. Only then will we gain the respect owed to our civilization. Only then will the world be returned to tradition the way it ought to be.”

  “Yes Elder”

  “Good, the plan is in motion. There is no turning back. I knew I could only rely on you Th… Lance.”

  “Yes Elder”