"Alright Jherek, this is just going to be another standard test," Elisa Hawke stated. "Just shoot the targets, then let the others shoot the targets, then we'll compare the data."

"Aren't we a little far from base for this?" Jherek asked as he positioned his beam rifle.

"They wouldn't let us do live fire tests with beam rifles inside the base," Elisa answered. "Something about a mishap during a new GiNN test. We'll be fine here though."

Jherek nodded and prepared to fire when the target in his sights exploded. His rifle still read at full power and he hadn't seen either of his squadmates ready to fire. It hadn't looked like a beam destroyed the target either. More like a bazooka shell.

"Incoming contacts!" Leo Stark barked. "Incoming Zakus!"

"This far into our territory?" Elisa gasped. "You are clear to engage!"

"Roger that," Jherek said, looking for targets. "Fire at will!"

The three suits huddled around the engineers' vehicle protectively, raising their shields to ward off attacks. The air came alive with bullets as the invading mobile suits opened fire with machineguns. As Jherek fired, he noted the enemy's numbers with dread: ten Zakus of various types. The only good thing was that only one of them had any heavy weapons, the bazooka that fired earlier. Three green lances shot out from his squad's rifles, downing a Zaku I, but failing to deter the rest from their charge. Jherek continued to fire until the enemy was too close, downing another Zaku. His ears began to ring as 120mm shells ricocheted off of his special Phase-Shift Armor, but he had a feeling his squadmates weren't fairing as well. The Duel Gundam quickly drew a beam saber and charged into the enemy's formation to draw their attention. He slashed the nearest enemy, sending its gun arm flying away as three others drew their heat hawks. A superheated blade bit into the Gundam's shoulder before Jherek could slam his elbow into the enemy, knocking it back without its weapon.

With half the enemy's attention suddenly drawn away, the two Duel Daggers pursued their enemies more aggressively, charging forward while launching a grenade each. The Zakus paused, huddling before their own shields as they were pushed back by explosive force. The Zaku with the bazooka recovered quickly and fired, knocking Katarina Septem off her feet. Leo kneeled in front of her suit with his shield forward, tagging a Zaku in the torso. Before the other Zakus could fire again, bullets rained down from the sky.

"Duel Test Team, this is Schmidt Squadron," a pilot said, strafing the Zakus. "We've got your back."

Twelve Infestus and six Fly Mantas strafed the Zakus attacking the Duel Gundam, using their vulcans until the test model could get away. One of the Zakus raised his machinegun towards the sky and fired, but he quickly became the target of two dozen missiles. The other Zakus hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to keep fighting the mobile suits, turn their weapons on the fighters, or just to flat-out run. Jharek decided for them.

"Team, we're pulling out!" he ordered. "Secure the engineers and fall back. The fighters can finish this one for us."

The sounds of battle carried on behind them as the squad retreated. Jharek heard the explosions of mobile suits and the death-spirals of crashing fighters, but dared not stop to see how it was going. Later, he would see the battered squadron return to base, reduced in number but triumphant.

Outcome: Jherek Harkness wins
Jherek Harkness: (7+1) Xp, Repairing 3