A slightly smaller Mess

"Erwin. 297th Kreig infantry, 5th Grenadier platoon, 3rd squad."

*he nods*
"A pleasure"

he nods back.

"Where are you headed now?"

"Don't know. Been wandering. Killing. Surviving."

"Any leads?"

"Very few. A few smaller organisations known to be fully owned by one or the other. Rumors. The PDF's command structure is entirely overtaken one way or the other."

*he nods*

"Meaning... with you here, I know not what now."

"What's their PDF like?"

"Well equipped. Disciplined. Nowhere near as much as my regiment was, but still above average."

"Tanks?"

"obviously"

"Then not pissing them off is gonna be rather important"

"I rather doubt they'd turn battle tanks on two insurgents."

"Freeblade."

"Is your suit safe?"

"It's aboard my ship. Which is in the dockyard"

"And now likely being watched. Heavily."

"More than likely"

"Then you can't go back for it."

"...Like they'd stop me"

"Without your knight suit against well trained and equipped soldiers who will doubtless be dug in and waiting for you, probably in ambush? I'd give you ten seconds."

"I'm not by myself, I'm able to communicate with my crew"

"And you think the enemy doesn't know? don't forget the defence fleet. I doubt the fleet hasn't been tainted. We're trapped."

"I'm saying we don't let them get to my suit"

"They won't get to it. Doubt they'd risk an open assault on your ship. Easier to just keep the pilot away from it. Same result either way."

"If they capture it. They will have it be possessed...I have fought possessed Knights. They are not fun to fight"

"Depends which cult. Besides, they're still 'in hiding' for now. Rather hard to hide one of those."

"They wouldn't have to hide if they can control it"

"They're hiding to avoid outside detection. Until they've dealt with the other one."

"Right"

"So...why bother taking the knight? It needs you to actually do anything. Keep you and it apart, or eliminate you, and it isn't a problem."

"Deny the enemy. Failing that, they can use it for resources"

"Which leaves us with few options."

"Exactly"

"Perhaps.... we should rest first. And plan."

"Sounds good"

"With me. I have a.... base I suppose is the word"

"Lead the way"

he does so, through the alleys. after a while he leads him to a centaur

"It's a Centaur!"
*Momemtary happiness before professionalism takes over*

"...what?"

"I like Centaurs"

"...they are functional"

"They are"

"..." *he gets in*

*So does Gideon*

"Man one of the guns"

*He stands and man's the heavy stubber*

the kreiger starts the engine, and begins to drive