The Away Mission Test: Part 12

Summary
Suwa's Squad 7 explores the battle simulation mechanics, participating in several practice games in preparation for the next part of the test.

Long Summary
Note: the term "unit" refers to the Chibis Katori is shocked by how the units will have different stats depending on the squad, but Ui reminds that this is not new information.

Suwa reviews the rules with the group, the format being a online match using their Units. There will be 3 days of the battle simulations consisting of 10 twenty-minute matches running from 3-7pm, but the final 2 days of special simulations haven't been elaborated. As the days go on, teams will get more points for winning since they would presumably get better; Suwa comments that a day 1 loss wouldn't be detrimental, but winning would nonetheless grant them the lead. They decide to load up the simulation and check out the stats they were given, which slightly differ from their real-life counterparts. Due to this, Katori isn't sure what stats would count as good or bad.

The rules are as follows:
 * Both squads have 2.5 minutes to input their actions, with the next 15 seconds allocated for simultaneous action output.
 * All inputs done during the time limit count as one turn; this includes planning and action phases. The match is over after 6 turns.
 * When the match ends and the unit difference is 2 or more, the one with more units wins.
 * However if it is two or less, then the match is deemed a draw.
 * Each unit has a set amount of action tokens. Moving one cell takes one token.
 * Attacking, defending, and trigger usage will consume different amounts of tokens.

Suwa guesses that faster people get more action tokens; Osamu agrees, thinking of Yūma. Their operator recommends a practice match to grasp fighting mechanics, so Oki and Osamu face off against Katori and Suwa.

Madoka gives an overview of the map. Each unit's vision is limited by the glowing panels' vicinity. Any unit not using Bagworm is shown on the radar located in the top-right of the screen.

Osamu recognizes two labeled cones which move with the unit: Madoka explains that they represent ranges for the user's main and sub triggers. Any enemy unit that gets in-range will automatically be subject to attacks, regardless of manual input. The cones can also rotate, allowing for precise aim. She adds that swapping triggers after every turn is viable as well.

Oki questions his sniper trigger's long, thin cone along with the existence of Bagworm's cone. Madoka responds by saying that sniper triggers are just like that and thus can even block off a whole street. For Bagworm, she reveals that there is an option to evade an attack using Bagworm's cone; but if an opponent attacks outside its cone, the unit can't avoid it. Suwa recalls how sniper triggers can't be used exclusively for defense, just like in rank wars. Osamu agrees, with Oki commenting on its realism.

Madoka offers to start the practice round, but Katori has one more question: wouldn't it be possible to keep missing each other and end the turn with nothing happening? Madoka pauses, concluding that there are multiple movement types — one of which automatically homes in on an enemy unit. Katori promptly sets all of her movements to that.

-Practice Round Begins- Katori and Osamu advance, but Osamu retreats after nearing her.

Due to Katori's automated path she is sniped by Oki's Egret, which leads to her bailing out.

However, Oki is ambushed by Suwa and forced to bail out.

-Round Ends in a Draw-

Katori gets mad at Osamu for running away, but Osamu had predicted her target beforehand and simply acted out of instinct. Oki praises Suwa for reading his location. Suwa reasons how Oki was probably focused on Katori, on top of there being only so many vantage spots.

Suwa elaborates on the homing movement and how, while useful, is much too predictable. Madoka mentions that there are more details about its functions, but that was the gist of it. Suwa asks Osamu how he is feeling, with Osamu replying that there is a lot more he can do now than he had originally thought.

Translation Discrepancies
With Viz's translation on the right, Madoka claims that you can adjust the range when in the Japanese version she means rotate. While not exactly an error, "adjust" implies you can change the cone's shape, whereas "rotate" means you can only move it around.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Yōko Katori
 * Madoka Ui
 * Osamu Mikumo
 * Kōji Oki
 * Kōtarō Suwa

Triggers in Order of Appearance
all triggers used are in-game
 * Scorpion (Yōko Katori/Demonstration)
 * Raygust (Osamu Mikumo/Demonstration
 * Bagworm (Kōji Oki)
 * Shield (Yōko Katori/Demonstration and Osamu Mikumo/Demonstration)
 * Egret (Kōji Oki)
 * Asteroid (Kōtarō Suwa/Shotgun)
 * Bail Out (Yōko Katori and Kōji Oki)