Sometimes, Killian Fleischer really hated the ridiculous-looking crests that GiNN and its variants had on their heads. Compared to the modest command spike the Zakus had, the GiNNs might as well be advertising their location at all times. It can as some relief then when the first shot taken in the current sniper duel took the crest off of his reconnaissance GiNN.

What had been a simple patrol of the border for Killian had turned into a tense battle when an enemy sniper on the Japanese side of the border had spotted him and took a shot. The European pilot had immediately ran for cover, hiding behind a convenient hill while calling for backup.

"Hold on for fifteen minutes," the nearest base had told him. "We'll send a flight of bombers to support you."

That had been twenty minutes ago, Killian reflected, looking for any sign on the enemy. The first shot, the one that took his GiNN's head fin, had also been the only shot fired so far. Both snipers had gone into cover and were carefully searching for their opponents. This was the worst part of the duel, trying to find an undercover enemy so you could slot him before he did the same to you. Killian's advanced sensors suddenly picked up the reinforcement flight's approach, a half-dozen Fly Mantas soaring from the north. He hadn't picked up a similarly signal from Japanese territory though; the other sniper must have been confident enough in his skills to not want help.

A shot lanced up from the terrain and into the fighter formation, a signal marking the Zaku's location for Killian. He quickly swung his rifle around and fired into the source of the beam. He fired two more times before ducking fully behind the hill. The radio was buzzing with reports of a downed fighter followed by a loud rumble as the rest of the planes bombed the site of the sniper.

"What's the enemy's status?" Killian asked, edging towards a new sniping position.

"He was missing a leg when we started firing," the fighter leader reported. "He hasn't moved and he doesn't have a rifle any longer."

"He's all yours then," Killian said before resuming his patrol.

The GiNN had barely started to walk away when more explosions ripped through the ground behind him, signaling the end of one Zaku Sniper.

Outcome: Killian Fleischer wins
Killian Fleischer: 5 Xp, Repairing 1