>>36020938
[I advise-] The message changes in a half-second. [Please explain what you are now doing.]
Looking back and forth between the printout and the console controls as needed, you activate several systems. Holographic displays appear for targeting systems, navigation, radar, comms, temperatures, various statuses of the engines and weapons.
"Nothing wrong with some situational awareness, especially in the possiblity of an emergency." You reply, tapping a few buttons on a holowindow for communications.
[Understandable. However I see that you are also attempting to contact your subordinate. I shall allow this and inform her of the situation. Approximately two minutes until engagement.]

After a few seconds the screen that the AI was using changes to a vidcam showing Teza, her welding mask down. She's holding her PDA in one of her hands, AI must have messaged her.
"Boss! You okay?"

>"No."
>"I'm fine."
>"Might get blown to pieces shortly, so I'm probably good."
Then...
>"How combat ready is this thing? Any advice?"
>"Know anything about these 'drones'?"
>"Do you know where the hell I am?"
>Say nothing further.
>[insert option]

>>36020950
>"Might get blown to pieces shortly, so I'm probably good."
>"Know anything about these 'drones'?"
>"Do you know where the hell I am?"

>"Might get blown to pieces shortly, so I'm probably good."
>"Know anything about these 'drones'?"
>"Do you know where the hell I am?"

"Might get blown to pieces shortly, so I'm probably good."
Somehow you can see Teza's panic through the welding mask that covers her face.
"Blown to pieces?! Boss, don't joke like that! Don't die on me!"
"I'll live soldier, now calm down!"
"Yes Boss!"
"Now Teza, know anything about these 'drones'?"
"Uh, there was a rumor about incorrect cargo on a supply ship, accidentally bringing in terror drones..."
"Terror drones?"
"I've seen them in action before Boss, they-they..."
A beep draws your eyes away from the vidcam to a new holowindow. Green text on black, the AI's switched to that window.
[These drones are both damaged and malfunctioning. I have seen no signs that they retain even a quarter of their capabilities. Furthermore there is a small number of them.]
"And what are their capabilities?"
[CLASSIFIED BY ORDER OF THE EMPRESS]
"...Empress?" You thought the Hegemony worked via a Senate.
[I lack the time to explain the Terran government. There is less than thirty seconds until contact.]
You look back to the vidcam.
"Do you know where the hell I am?"
"Well Boss uh...you're in an exhaust vent of the station generator." She answers nervously.
"Wait, what?! What's the generator let out? How long until the next emission?"
[Classified and nine minutes. Contact in twenty seconds.]
"Shit..."
You tense, giving a quick but good look at the printout before looking out the cockpit window.

>>36022569
The lights from the mech provide the barest outline of a shape, a cyclindrical object with what looks like legs and wings twisting around it. Given the way some of them stretch it's not all metal. Must be a bio-drone.
It seems to break into fives and reattach, generating an odd whining sound. It seems to convulse as the mech comes closer.

Can you really trust automation for this?
>Yes, let the Destuco's combat programming handle it for now, stepping in if needed. No need to panic.
>Ask the AI to take over immediately. You don't want to take any chances with either the programming or your own piloting.
>Screw it, take control of the mech yourself.

>>36022598
>Yes, let the Destuco's combat programming handle it for now, stepping in if needed. No need to panic.
Texas seems pretty reliable.

>Yes, let the Destuco's combat programming handle it for now, stepping in if needed. No need to panic.

No, need to stay calm. Don't panic the first time you see the enemy. You can have some confidence in your subordinate's skills.
You sit up in the chair, folding your arms.
"Let's see who's designed better."

A mild shriek-like sound is emitted from the bio-drone as you hear the Destuco's artillery cannon ready a shell. It recognizes weapons being prepared, interesting.
You hear several mechanical sounds as the artillery cannon is probably taking aim at the bio-drone. A droning hum is emitted by the malfunctioning junk, and the appendages of the cylindrical creation seem to tense up.
Rather than fire the artillery, the Destuco instead opens up with its four regular kinetic cannons, nailing three of the bio-drones' five pieces as it separates on seeming reflex. Loud whirrings ring out from the remaining pieces as their appendages flail about.
You blink your eyes in mild disbelief for a moment before smiling.
"A feint..." Provided that wasn't a fluke, the Destuco's already smarter than you thought.
You hear the familiar sound of the mech's boosters as you reflexively grip the chair. The Destuco seems to boost backwards before facing up, where a spherical machine is hurtling towards it. The artillery cannon releases its payload, the drone ending its 'life' with a hole punched through.
There is a humming as the Destuco turns to a different direction, a disc-like drone with twelve grippers mere meters away. It latches onto the mech before two white bursts plow through its core, the grippers releasing moments later.
Somewhat alarmed by how close it came, you look at the radar. Only thing showing up on it is the Destuco Shipper itself.
The hell were these drones used for?
What sounds like a pair of heavy repeaters interrupts your thought, moments later fragments of one of the first bio-drone's pieces can be seen floating away.

>>36025957
You wait for the action to continue, but nothing occurs. A now-familiar beep draws your eyes back to the AI's holowindow.
[Area clear. There should have been more. Emission in two minutes, pulling the Destuco out now.]

Can't say how damn much I hate this but I have to stop early yet again. Shit keeps coming up in my life.

>>36026087
Alright. I hope you run again soon.