Red emergency light washes the service road as Starlight holds the lane mouth. Dust and shredded metal hang between the warehouses, and the crippled salvage unit hesitates inside the corridor, its optics flicking toward a fresh contact.
Mami Tomoe steps into the open from the industrial perimeter, rifle steady, cape and ribbons snapping in the hot wind. Her gaze tracks the machine first, then Chiaki's Core, measuring both threats at once.
Mami Tomoe
Stand down, both of you. That unit is not leaving this district.
The Mechanized Unit
New priority detected. Civilian extraction interrupted. Hostile variables multiplying.
Its chassis pivots, trying to choose between the blocked road and the woman on the perimeter. Homura stays locked in her firing stance, waiting for the machine to commit.
Mami Tomoe
If you want it gone, aim for the joints. If you want it intact, get out of my line of fire.
✓ Quest Accepted
Resolve the standoff with Mami Tomoe
“Hey Kid. You got something strong then those muskets?”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled +1)
Chiaki Kaname
Hey, kid. You got something stronger than those muskets?
Mami Tomoe
Stronger than a musket is easy. Clean shot, better discipline.
Mami Tomoe
This one is built to punch through plating, if I need it to.
She shifts her grip and tilts the rifle just enough to show its heavier frame, not boasting, just confirming the answer with steel in hand.
Mami Tomoe
You held the lane. That matters. I can finish this if you keep it pinned.
Mami Tomoe
But if you want my help after this, tell me why you are standing between that thing and a house.
Inside the corridor, the salvage unit locks onto Chiaki's machine again, its aim shifting in a hard, predatory pause as it waits for the opening Mami just offered.
“Ya That's my home”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled +0)
Chiaki Kaname
Yeah. That's my home.
The words cross the cockpit comms as Starlight braces against the corridor walls. Its damaged power couplings surge, draining reserve charge to keep the salvage unit pinned.
Mami Tomoe
Then you have my answer. Keep it facing you, and I will make sure it never reaches your door.
The salvage unit lunges, weapon ports opening toward Starlight. Chiaki's frame catches the impact on its shoulder plating, alarms shrieking as armor buckles and the cockpit jolts.
Mami Tomoe
Hold still. This is the clean shot.
Mami fires. The heavy round punches through the exposed joint assembly, and the salvage unit collapses against the containers, its weapon arms locking inert.
Mami Tomoe
Your home is safe for this moment. Get that machine standing, if you can. You paid for the line in armor.
Quest Complete
Resolve the standoff with Mami Tomoe
Attribute Upgrade: Willpower Good→Great