Solar Mech Wars 2: Secrets of Titan

Chapter 3: Five Days and Nights in Tailoc

Angela watched as the bandit's Hungry Wolf mech speed away into the distance, its exposed structure and missing armor evidence of rough encounters. As her frustration over the missed shot began to fade, a throbbing pain in her head reminded her of the bump she had taken earlier. When the train conductor approached for her statement, he mentioned that bandit attacks were becoming more frequent across Titan, though they usually weren't this bloodless. He thanked her for keeping the train safe and offered to upgrade her to an open sleeper car.

Grateful for the offer, Angela accepted, settling into the sleeper car where she could finally tend to her injuries. She reflected on the encounter, determined to improve her combat skills for the challenges ahead.

The train continued its journey toward Tailoc, the hab dome of the Polaris Capybara tribe. When Angela disembarked, the rustic, frontier feel of the settlement was immediately apparent. Tailoc was a far cry from the sleek art deco of the Xanaduand hub cities, with its rough-hewn structures and the harsh, icy winds that whistled through the streets.

Despite its size, the station had a storage area large enough for her mech. Angela quickly set to work, deploying her repair drones to handle the modifications needed to connect Innovator to the local power grid. The Titan Innovator Mk. I stood out against the backdrop of Tailoc, its white frame with deep blue accents reflecting the icy landscape of Titan. The mech's sleek design, with angular lines, gave it an air of elegance amidst the rugged environment. The drones, small and efficient, buzzed around the mech, their white and blue-violet matching Innovator's color scheme.

While the drones worked, Angela approached the station's sole attendant, a dusky, heavy-set man in his early fifties. She introduced herself and inquired about recent events, particularly any expeditions or research teams passing through.

The man seemed slightly annoyed but obliged. "Yeah, there's always bandit activity this far from Xanadu. Gets worse every year. Weather's rough, too, especially with winter coming. Might be seven years before we see another train heading up to Northpoint Outpost once it sets in."

Angela pressed on, asking about any teams heading towards Kraken Mare. The attendant mentioned a group that passed through a few months ago but dismissed her request to check the logs.

Realizing she might get more information on her own, Angela decided to hack into the station's system. With the network no match for her skills, she quickly found the logs. Her father had indeed passed through here six months ago with a team of six, three mechs, and two snow cat transports. They had stayed for a few days before moving on without incident. Satisfied with the information, Angela logged out, leaving no trace of her intrusion.

Returning to her mech, Angela's thoughts were interrupted by an advert for the Tailoc Tavern Hall. With the drones still hard at work and dark period approaching, she decided a visit to the tavern might be just what she needed. It would be an opportunity to gather more information—or at least enjoy some local hospitality.

With a sense of curiosity, Angela made her way toward the tavern, ready to see what the evening might bring.

Stepping out of the train station into the Tailoc Hab Dome, Angela was struck by a wave of culture shock. The dome was brightly lit as if it were midday, a jarring contrast to the dusk she had expected. The rustic nature of the station, with its lingering traces of Titan's famous art deco style, hadn't prepared her for the sight outside. It felt like she'd stepped into a sci-fi version of an Alaskan frontier town he had seen in some holo vid once, where survival outweighed aesthetics.

A third of the structures were still made from the pre-fab cargo containers repurposed by Titan's first colonists, while even the newer buildings looked weathered and run-down. The main street—really the only paved street—was lined with the largest and most structurally sound buildings in the dome, though they were as rough around the edges as everything else in Tailoc.