They were the keys to the second factor that allowed Sheera Lin to massacre almost the entire academy's students.
The second factor was excellent strategy and tactics. Her use of manipulation of terrain and location to her advantage was literally godlike.
Us first graders have our dorm and practice field way down south of the entire academy. And as such, we have our backs against the wall.
However, instead of seeing that as a disadvantage, Sheera Lin took that as a positive thing. She had one less direction to worry about.
So she planted the juiciest part of her little army right there, way down south of the mountain range.
Two thousand five hundred mechas arrayed in neat lines in a valley by the entrance of the mountain range.
A couple kilometers ahead of the main first grade army was an interesting plateau of sorts. A high ground with steep sides that had a relatively flat top that could fit a thousand or so mechas.