She peered through the thermal binoculars, counting five NEVEC soldiers preoccupied with repairing a data post.
'Now's good a time as any.' A snowstorm had brewed, it would make things all the easier for her. Nimbly, Luka slid down the snow enbankment, making use of her claws to keep balance. She was rendered oblivious to the snow's cold, thanks to a covering of chitin over the exposed parts of her slender frame. Ducking behind a nearby boulder, the chryatis girl was able to get a better view of the soldiers.
'Standard Issue Assault Rifles. Shouldn't be much of a problem.' Normally, Luka would have called in backup and uploaded the coordinates to prepare for an ambush. But her new akrid form would be more than enough for these five. She had opted to travel lightly for this, the fact that it was a scouting mission practically demanded it. Luka unholstered the Energy Gun, watching it surge with power at her touch, feeling the Thermal Energy move from her body into it. Enhanced sensory input made lining up the first shot a simple matter. It streaked forward, nailing the first soldier in the back of his helmet. He dropped to the ground, dead before his comrades even realized they were under attack.
	Luka ducked back into cover, hearing bullets tear away at the boulder's side. Charging the gun, she held it close, flattening out against the rock. The end glowed with scorching hot T-ENG, ready to be loosed upon a target. With a single leap, the akrid girl launched herself airborne. She was willing to bet that under those helmets the NEVEC soldiers all shared an expression of shock. Luka took aim again. Time seemed to slow for her as she trained the gun on another enemy. Its charge vaporized the poor soldier within seconds, leaving behind a melted patch of snow and ice. His partner cursed, attempting to bring his assault rifle up at Luka. But was too slow, and failed to fire in time. He stumbled, fighting to remain standing against tremors that the chryatis' landing had caused.
	She took advantage of this by using her free hand to swat him away; a blow that likely caused some major internal damage to the unfortunate individual. Luka didn't bother to make certain he was unconcious. Instead focusing on one of the remaining two hostiles, who was felled just as easily by energy gun fire.
	Bullets ripped at the ice near her. Not even thinking, she tucked into a quick roll and grabbed up the fallen soldier's rifle. Coming out of the motion already firing. Her enemy convulsed with a barrage of lead, sustaining multiple hits, then fell face-first into the snow.
	Luka was amazed by how easily she had taken down these hostiles. This was only the second mission since that incident with a malfunctioning TE unit. And already she felt perfectly comfortable with this body, and its abilities.
"Maybe we will finally win this." Luka serenely mouthed, dropping the spent rifle and moving to investigate the data beacon. It took but a moment for her to reconfigure it to tramsit a Snow Pirate signal. Feeling pride and hope, she moved towards the top of the snowbank and looked out; assuming a combat-ready stance. This mission wasn't over yet.