<div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/9a/Tony_Leung.jpg)</div><strong>Hiro Kagekaze</strong><br/><strong>In his 'Mech, in the desert, in a fight</strong><br/><strong>Tagged: Everett Yoshikawa (Butterfly), Allia Rowe (Gheistwulf), Kari Moreno</strong><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Santa Prisca Desert, Librios<br/>Deneb Algedi, Benjamin District<br/>Draconis Combine<br/>1 January 3145</strong><br/><br/><em>”Cut to the chase. I always wondered what that meant”</em><br/><br/>"It's a movie thing.  They used to use film, and do edits by cutting them with scissors.  Cutting to the chase meant going for the action."<br/><br/>I wasn't sure who asked, but I just figured I'd answer.<br/><br/><em>“Recon lance, loop around and cut across their back.  Strike, press the flank, keep them divided. We have numbers and mobility, so let’s use them."</em><br/><br/>Usually, I like to be in charge.  But something about Kari made me actually enjoy taking orders from a woman.  Might have been the image of her getting all hot and sweaty in her cockpit.<br/><br/>"Roger.  Moving.  Out."<br/><br/><em>"Bear you're with me, we're going to hit the right side.  Fast and furious then pull back.  Butterfly and Ronin, take the left.  Try and get that Archer to focus on you and less on the command lance."</em><br/><br/>Allia's another one I whose commands I liked to hear.  While Kari was a veteran, like me, Allia was a Mechwarrior hitting her peak.  Even though she had less years on her than I, we spent about the same amoung of time in a Battlemech.  I found her on the quiet side, keeping to herself.  Maybe she was shy.  Maybe she was a snob.  But on the battlefield, she, like Kari, was all business.<br/><br/>Me, I never considered myself a leader during a skirmish.  I kind of did my own thing, causing and getting into trouble.  But once I got a direction to go in thanks to someone else who was seeing the big picture, then I became more dangerous.<br/><br/><em>"Hai, Geistwulf. We'll show that thug why you don't bring a bow to a knife fight."</em><br/><br/>"Nailed it!"  An Archer bringing a bow.  My mech wielding a sword.  Everett had a way with words.<br/><br/><em>"Looks like we get the hard job again, Ronin. Can't pincer him while he's anchoring the line like that, so you want to go up his throat together leapfrog-style, or hook around and split his fire arcs while I go punch him in the nose?"</em><br/><br/>"<em>Hai</em>, Butterfly-<em>san</em>, I will go around and draw his attention while you stab him in the back.  I will then take off his head."<br/><br/>My Spider handled like a dream, doing more than I thought was possible with a Battlemech.  I started off by sprinting around the Archer.  I was too close for him to lock-on, but he could use direct fire.  He was patient, waiting for me to jump so he could shoot me where I landed.<br/><br/>I gave him what he wanted.  Jets on my Spider's back ignited, sending me flying up into the air.  At the peak, I had the partial wing carry me toward the Archer while his missiles exploded harmlessly under me.<br/><br/>I had the Spider pose with the sword in a samurai stance, giving Everett a chance to take his shot at the Archer's rear torso.<br/><br/>