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"Okay, Rin.  Matsu.  Chio.  This is a simple training exercise," came Instructor Mikoto's warm tones over the radio.  "Your goal is to get to the beacon, retrieve it, and return here."  Her krieger raised its rifle.  "Don't worry.  If I hit you with this, it'll simulate increasing damage until your krieger is disabled, and you fail the exercise.  If any of you disable my krieger, all three of you pass.  If any of you retrieve the beacon, you pass.  If I reclaim the beacon, you fail.  If you run into trouble, activate your EDB and  the exercise will be over.  Questions?"

Rin stared at the ruined city.  "Are you sure this is the best place for a exercise, ma'am?  There could be people here."

"You three need to get used to a dynamic environment.  Tokyo's a no-trespass zone, so anyone here is here is on their own recognizance.  That said, try not to step on any squatters if you can help it.  Most of them steer clear of our training grounds."

"Any other hazards to be aware of?" Chio asked nervously.

"The usual.  Unstable buildings.  Flooded environments.  Mutant beasties.  Your cabins are sealed, so you should be fine.  Again, if you get into serious trouble, activate your EDB.  Anything else?"

"If we beat you, you buy us all beers.  Deal?" Matsu asked with a chuckle.

"You're underage, Matsu.  I'll buy you a soda pop," Instructor Mikoto shot back.  "When the timer reaches zero, the beacon will activate and you'll have one out to retrieve it.  Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!" all three replied sharply.  The instructor's krieger gave them a fist salute, and then turned and ran into the ruined city.

A ten minute timer flashed to life on her HUD and started counting down.  "Should we work out a strategy?" Rin asked, pretty sure that the Lieutenant was going to take them all out.

"I say we ignore the beacon, hunt her down, and disable her," Matsu suggested immediately as the clock wound down.  "She's only got a ten minute lead.  We rush after her before she can get in a good position and we take her out."

"That's crazy!  She's a soldier!" Chio objected at once, and Rin fought a smile at how the training krieg mimiced her fidgeting and swaying nervously.  "We should just get to the beacon and get out and try our best.  That's all we can do!"

Rin may not have liked it, but Chio had a point.  Still, Rin had no doubts that their instructor would pick them off as they tried to run.  "We split up.  Matsu and I will go for the Lieutenant.  Chio, you get the beacon and get out while we keep her busy."

"Or we waste her ass!" Matsu added, his krieger pumping its fist dramatically.

"Sure," Rin said as the timer counted down.  "Either of you know Tokyo?"

"Sorry.  I'm Korean," Chio said.

"Really?  But your name-" Rin started to ask, but then stopped.

Chio answered in a small voice, "My mother changed it when we evacuated to Japan."

"What'd it use to be?" Matsu asked.

"Chin-Sun," she answered.  "Chio was close enough for me to remember.  I was only five when we came here."

"Huh," Matsu grunted.  "Well, this is Saitama, northern outskirts of the city.  My uncle's from here.  When the moon bombarded the earth, the tsunami pushed debris all over this area.  Not a lot of high rises.  Mostly two, three stories tall.  A couple of parks.  Nothing major."

"Right.  And if you were the Lieutenant, where would you go?" Rin asked.

Matsu chuckled and pointed towards a distant sky rise.  "Well, I'd go there.  It's an old pharmaceutical college.  Highest building in the area.  She could see us coming from there."

"Right.  Right."  Rin took a deep breath.  "If nothing else, we might see her from up there, or pin her down long enough for Chio to get in and out.  Chio, are you good with this plan?"

"Okay," she answered in her small voice.

"Okay," Rin said, watching the number count down to zero. "Let's do this!"