***Well, you don't know...what we might find...why don't you come with me little girl...on a magic carpet ride***
"The music is hot, and so am I" Kurz said to himself, working on in-flight preparations before things got b-u-s-y.
***Last night I held Aladin's lamp..so I wished that I could stay...but before the thing could answer me...someone took the lamp away***
He entered a program into the descent computer, knowing he'd be too busy with surveillance scans to ride things in manually. He set the chute to rapid fill, and selected a broad spiralling descent, hopefully adequate to give a good view of the factory surroundings.
He then switched over to his information systems to take inventory of the ammunition stores for the Starburst portable anti-aircraft cannon. He also took time to go over range and dispersion characteristics of the weapon. If they ran into any delays today, or if the enemy got a good jump on them, he and the Starburst would be very intimate very soon. "Hah," he said, thinking of the weapon, "I'll name you C-a-s-i-m-i-r-a," selected in honor of the delectable Lt. Concepcion. "Oh, yeh! Cassie!!! How about a date?!"
***Why don't you come with me little girl...on a magic carpet ride***
That finished, he moved on to his most crucial task...programming his tunes. When things started rockin' for real, he wouldn't have time to mess around with THAT. He soon had things in the order he wanted.
The loud hissing noise was his first indication that the fun was about to start. Once a sufficient volume of gases had been vented to the outside air, small explosive charges detached the nose cone of the missile and split the outer casing of the missile into four curved panels that promptly fell away from the Arm Slave within. After a few seconds of free fall, eight cannisters of a compressed helium mixture strated the rapid filling of an enormous winged chute.
"Eight? Eight? There should be twelve!" Kurz cursed, looking at his staus board. "Didn't Sousuke check these things out?!" Moments after he said that, the other four cannisters joined in. "Ahhh...of course he did! Atta boy, Sousuke!"
The drag of the chute stretched the slightly elastic cords tautly, giving Kurz a brief bungy effect to add to his list of exciting experiences. The programed descent kicked in, and computers automatically altered the shape and inclination of the wing as needed.
"OOOOOKay!!! Lets get busy! Kurz is in the house!!!"
***The head nurse spoke...and she said leave this one alone...she could tell right away...that I was bad to the bone......bad to the bone......bad to the bone......B-B-B-B-Bad to the bone***
He put the long range Doppler on auto-scan...he'd want to know when Urzu 2 and Urzu 4 arrived. He turned on his optical sensors, leaving one set under computer control to serve as large object motion detectors.
He cued up a set of satellite photos of the target area on his console display screen, using that to help him guide his reconnaisance sweep. No radar detected. No sign of active infra-red. No sign of sirens were picked up by the acoustic aerials.
A buzzer drew his attention to the console. The number of lights flashing, and the timing of their pulse, told Kurz that a number of land-based vehicles were entering his detection range. He manipulated his viewers with the ease of a seasoned maestro, picking up sight of three armored vehicles. He increased zoom, and keyed in his armored vehicle recognition system. The tanks were quickly identified as Ukranian supplied T80s...formidable enough as tanks go, armed with 125mm guns. They were headed away from his direction slowly, but he knew that could change as soon as he was noticed.
Kurz placed his fingers on the ECS control switch, debating whether or not to engage the system. The pros, of course, included reduced visibility. The cons, though, held the winning hand at the moment. The likelihood of damage to the ECS on landing was increased if it were active at the time of impact.
***And when I walk the streets...Kings and Queens step aside...every woman I meet...they all stay satisfied***
Another buzzer drew his attention: The radar system. One contact, two contacts...large enough to be Urzu 2 and Urzu 4...his friends had joined the party!!!
Kurz knew that things could get real hectic real soon. He watched as the casings from his two comrades' missiles crashed into the rooves of nearby industrial buildings, wincing when he realized that he had forgotten to turn off the sensitive external pick-ups. "Shit!!!" was all he said.
That infernal racket would draw attention, for sure!
Scanning their drop points, Kurz watched as Urzu 2 and Urzu 2 each made a textbook thruster-retarded hot landing. Nice footwork! He lost sight of them visually as they engaged their ECS systems, but he could still track them by radar. He checked their ground behind them visually as they walked, making certain they were not leaving an easily detectable trail of footprints. So far, so good!
***Megaton...leviathan load...ready to hit the roof......you better watch out and hold on tight...we're headin' your way like dynamite*** and Kurz added "Uuuuooo...Deliverin' the goods!!!"
Aware of his altitude, Kurz took over with manual control of his descent. He tried for a landing on one of the taller and sturdier looking factory buildings and succeeded, fortunate that the roof held.
"Urzu 6, this is Urzu 2, report." Melissa's voice was clear and abrupt.
"Urzu 2, this is Urzu 6. Welcome to the party. No guests have arrived yet, but I saw three T-80s out for a stroll a few blocks over. If they want, and if they don't throw their tracks in too big a hurry, they could get here in 10 or 15 minutes, minimum. No airborne activity, no advanced detection systems. No troops on the factory grounds. I will commence search for infrared signatures within the buildings and and will be on the look-out for external findings of interest. Do you copy?" Kurz started a slow sweep of the buildings highlighted during the intelligence briefing, usuing one screen to show infra-red intensities of select areas and the other to show a variable zoom natural light picture of the structures and the ground.
"Roger, Urzu 2. Urzu 4 and I will head for the two largest external doors, and will change our actions at your direction. Over."
***Shake down...rockin' boys...crack that whip strap mean......pulse rave...air waves......Vitalizin' every place we've been***
Kurz scanned the two large factory doors with infrared. There was a increased heat signature behind the nearest door, suggesting a group of individuals. "Urzu 2, there is a heat source behind the grey door...," Kurz said, pausing as a small reflection of light caught his attention. Zooming in on the spot, he continued "there is also a short set of metal tracks leading away from the door. They're pretty shiny, sis, so I'd judge them to be pretty recent. Over."
"Good work Kurz, we might make a soldier of you yet. What about the black door? Over."
"Already on it, babe...it's got a track too, same as the other. Heat signature was low to start with, but seems to be growing in intensity. We might have a bunch of folks running to the area behind the door, sis." Kurz said.
"Roger, Urzu 6. We're on it!"
"Kurz scanned the area looking for other tracks. Seeing none in the time he allotted himself for the task, he activated his long range message system. He reported his findings, suggesting the possibility that track-mounted launch systems might be behind the doors, and that crews may be preparing the missiles for firing. He stressed his concern about not finding a third set of tracks, and requested that the intelligence division do a high resolution computer scan of the tracks, allowing the computers and their human counterparts to set up a reference for search.
"I strongly suggest that you run a check of the lands surrounding any factory or other large buildings in this vicinity, continuing further outward from there. If there's another track, we had better find it sooner than later." He had said all he could. It was up to the Intel boys and girls now.
Kurz resumed his scans. The grey door was opening!
"Urzu 2, this is Urzu 6, the grey door is opening..." he started, pausing as he increased resolution. "Melissa, there's movement inside, something is riding the tracks. Copy."
"I read you Urzu 6. I'll direct Urzu 4 to pick up speed in that direction. I will continue towards the black door. Over."
Multiple threat detectors went off in rapid succession. Kurz quickly went to work attempting to find out what dangers they would soon encounter.
***You better watch out and hold on tight...we're headin' your way like dynamite............deliverin' the goods.***
"Urzu 2 and Urzu 4, we have incoming aircraft, type as yet unidentified," Kurz said as he shouldered Cassie. "Sis...Conrad...they may not want to drop ordinance in the vicinity of the buildings...or the tracks...if the things we are looking for are behind those doors."
"Good thought, Urzu 6" he heard Sgt. Conrad say, "I'm already closing in on my goal...and I can confirm there is a missile...I repeat, there is a missile...rolling out on a very large launch platform." He then asked "Why does it have to be that large for a missile that size?"
"Urzu 6, do what you can about the aircraft. I'm going to have my hands full for a bit, getting through this door. We won't have much time...I'm going to request a cruise missile launch to cover both sites and everything else in this whole area. Hopefully we will give them reason to abort detonation. We cannot let those missiles launch!" Melissa said.
Kurz saw a huge shower of sparks at the door Melissa was attacking with her Heavy Cutter.
"Way to use the old noodle, babe. If the third missile is inside, it will be be toast. If it's not here, it's up to the Intel guys to find it." Kurz had no more time to give to conversation.
A flight of three planes flew towards the factory complex. The identication system named them to be Q5s, Chinese-supplied ground attack aircraft. "Three Q5s coming in hot, and near the bullseye." Kurz radioed.
***I'm a street walkin' cheetah with a heart full of napalm...I'm a runaway son of the nuclear A-bomb***
Two of the aircraft lauched large awkward munitions carriers towards the ground in front of the factory doors. "Incoming, big dispersers!" Kurz called out. The third aircraft passed overhead without dropping munitions.
Urzu 2 was almost through the door and Urzu 5 prepared to engage the one missile just as the munition carriers did what they were designed to do.
"What the Hell!!!" all three pilots appeared to yell in unison. And for good reason. The weapons had eached discharged a large mass of green paint!!! "What IS that shit?" Kurz heard Sgt. Conrad exclaim.
From his viewpoint, Kurz could see large areas of paint surrounding each large door and track. A large circular area around the missile launch platform was untouched, however...HOW??!!
"Urzu 4 you are visible, partially visible...the back of your M9's legs are marked with paint. Ditto you, sis, your back is covered too!"
"Sons of a fockin' bitch!!!" He heard Melissa swear, "the bastards must have know there would...or could be...ECS-capable Arms Slaves coming!!! Shit...How the Hell...???"
***I am the world's forgotten boy...the one who searches and destroys***
Things were happening too fast to follow. The three previously sighted T80s rolled into a clear field of fire, soon to be accompanied by two T59s. Two armored personnel carriers were on their way too, much further out.
The third Q5 had turned and was returning fast, just above the roof tops, headed in Kurz' direction...he had neglected---or been unable to---move his large chute out of site.
One flight of F-16s was flying high cover, and another set of three...configured for ground attack...were coming in.
Sgt. Conrad fired six shots in rapid succession from his Bofors 57mm gun...none reached the target! "Shit...what's GOING ON here?" he asked, still charging towards the target. "I'm too damn close, I COULDN'T have missed!" Four more shots had no more success. "Guess I will just have to do this the old fashioned way," he said, grabbing his anti-tank dagger and making a fiercesome leap towards the missile.
Kurz had sufficient warning to turn in time and see the Q5 hurtling towards him. He judged his shot placement well, and the buzzing swarm of flechettes flying from the Starburst's projectile turned the aircraft into small shards of glass, metal, flesh, and bone, all surrounded by a halo of exploding aircraft fuel.
"That a girl, Cassie!!" he yelled, "the first round of drinks is on me!" His elation was short lived though: the munitions carrier was flying sufficiently slower than the jet to avoid being totally disabled. It exploded near target, partially covering Kurz' M9 with paint, blinding a number of his visual sensors. Soon thereafter, he was targeted by the lead group of tanks which soon began firing.
Melissa had gotten enough of the door pulled away to see the second missile inside, surrounded by a few brave souls remaining at its transport control equipment. She cleared the area of human opponents, but swore when her 57mm rounds failed to come anywhere near the missile. She had a sinking feeling she knew what the problem was.
Before Melissa could relay her suspicions, Sgt. Conrad had already discovered the startling nature of the missile's invulnerability. He had bounched of an invisible shield, five feet from the Missile. He rammed his dagger towards the target, only to see its blade snap off against the unseen barrier. Cursing in a number of different tongues, and choosing particularly nasty phrases, he brought his Hellbore flame cannon to bear.
"Urzu 2, we may have lambda driver technology here. I repeat, lambda driver technology highly suspected!" Sgt. Conrad said. He send out a large stream of napalm-like flame towards the missile and its support apparatus. The flame formed a large dome shaped mound of intense fire, but the normally adhesive spray slid easily to the ground, leaving the missile untouched, and forming a huge ring of burning fire around it, obscurring it somewhat from view. "Shit!" she said.
Kurz moved quickly, making a prodigious 30 meter jump just as 125mm tank rounds punched into the area he had just vacated. Hopefully out of the line of sight of the ground forces, he quickly addressed the problem posed by the F-16s closing in on their positions. He fired Cassie again, shredding one of the planes before it could discharge its attack load.
One of the two remaining aircrafts veered off without attacking, but the third remained on course.
"Urzu 6, this is Urzu 2. Priority one is the missile. It is guarded by what appears to be a lamda driver driven shield. Consider the missile invulnerable prior to launch. After lauch, the missile should be easy prey for Starburst fire. Copy."
"I read you, babe. I'm on it." He took a prone position, crawling just enough forward to be able to see the missile. Lamda driver? What the hell was going on? The Intel folks had missed out on this one big time! How he wished Sousuke and the ARX-7 were here now.
************************************************************
Kurz was not the only one to come to that decision. Captain Testarossa, Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin., Lt. Concepcion, and others were gathered around a table covered with satellite photograps and other intelligence data.
"Lamda driver?" Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin asked, highly concerned. "This not only provides a difficulty for the attack team that we didn't have any reason to suspect, but also raises major questions about the whole plot in general."
"You are quite correct, sir" Mr. Windham said. "We were able to determine that the cabal was behind the plot, but we never saw reason to question who was behind the cabal!" Lt. Concepcion nodded her head in agreement.
"Captain, would there be time to deliver your Arm Slave with lambda driver technology to the battle site?" Mr. Windham asked.
"I am sorry to say we could not. It would take too long to purge the transport missile, unload the M9, set the ARX-7 in place, prepare, and then launch. It may also prove unnecessary."
"How so, Capatain?" the intelligence operative asked.
"The cruise missile we just lauched is carrying the maximum explosive charge we have at our disposal and will no doubt render the two known missiles inoperable...assuming neither make a successful launch prior to detonation" Tessa said.
"But with lambda driver driven shields..." Lt. Concepcion started.
"The missiles and their launch assemblies might survive the blast, but there would be an exceedingly high probability that the extensive physical damage to the ground beneath the missiles and surrounding the missiles would render launch impossible for some time. And if the weapons fall hard enough or suffer seismic damage, the lambda drivers may well be disabled." Tessa explained. "Right now, I believe our highest priority is locating the third missile. We have to operate under the assumption that it will not be destroyed with the other two."
"Yes, I understand Captain," Lt. Conception said. "But, we are looking for a needle in a field of haystacks. We still have no leads to report at this time."
Tessa turned slowly and met Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin's gaze. "If there is indeed lambda driver technology is use here, there is another means by which we may pinpoint the location of our third target."
Kalinin said "If you are suggesting what I think you are Captain, I strongly disapprove. You are by no means guaranteed success, and you could place yourself in an extremely difficult situation. You would be exposing yourself to significant physical and mental risk."
"I understand that, Mr. Kalinin." Tessa said. "But, what other choices do we have?"
*************************************************************
more coming
[FIC] Knockin' On The Gates of Hell (part 2 of 3) {Ch. 13}
Moderators: KiLlEr, HELLFIRE, Taurec