[FIC] Gang and Girl Visit Hinata: Havoc Ensues (part ten)
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 5:04 pm
It was very early, but everyone was up. The mood was very somber. They all said more with glances, body language, and quick touches than they did with words. Shinobu, dressed entirely in black and her satchel always in view, whipped up a quick simple breakfast. The smell of coffee and tea did not entirely mask the scent of fear and dread. Sousuke felt a sense of excitement and destiny. Motoko felt a renewed sense of purpose and pride. Melissa, Seta, and Haruka were calm and business-like. It was just another game to Su. The others felt a confused mix of emotions.
Sousuke contacted Melissa. She was ready and raring to go. He had radioed the TDD-1. Three M9’s were on their way, and a flight of AV-8X aircraft were prepared to launch upon request. They did not mention cruise missiles. They didn’t have to.
Su had been busy. She had gifts to hand out. Naru and Kaname gave everyone high fives when they received mega positronic cannons just like Su’s. Mutsumi was beside herself in joy when she was given a bag full of grenades looking like small watermelons. Seta and Haruka were given sonic swords to augment their convention weapons. Kitsune was given a large tarp camouflaged to look like the roof of the Hinata Apartment buildings. She was also given an unbreakable bottle of sake. Shinobu was given a case of small but very powerful mines. Sousuke and Kurz received crates of spec ammo made by Su’s replicators. Sara received a hug from Seta, after she was told she was too young to play. Sara went off in a huff. The sound of breaking things could be heard soon thereafter. Haitani and Sirai were given a head start, and Shiro was given the green light. Kentaro was given a role to play later.
Keitaro wished that Su had given him his gift in private. She handed him a stack of nudie magazines to take with him in the Mr. Chupi Arm Slave. Naru gave him her own present. He was the first casualty of the day.
After some brief hugs and quiet words, everyone headed off to their assigned areas. Keitaro, still limping, made his way to the Mr. Chupi and mounted up. He would be in charge of perimeter defense of the rear and side lawns. Naru and Kaname followed after him on foot, responsible for reconnaissance and support of the Arm Slave. Shinobu, a determined look on her face, walked out past the hot springs. She was responsible for close in defense. Motoko went to stand on the highest point of the roof. When opportunity presented itself, she would move to disrupt as many ground troops as possible. She watched in wonder as three M9-s glided in, huge powered wings attached to their backs. They landed beyond the tree line, moving to join up with Sgt. Major Mao. Seta and Haruka ran off, quickly disappearing from view. They would handle whatever special tasks arose---demolition; intediction; hi-jacking of vehicles; assassination of obvious officers; whatever. Kentaro was sent to ready his drill tank. He had one task to perform, should the opportunity arise. Su was to take Sara and remain in her lab. Mutsumi was given the assignment of home defense. She was also in charge of medical care, communications overwatch, and refreshments. Kurz, not in good enough shape to do a lot of running, would take up a perch on the rooftop nearest to the likely point of attack. Kitsune, binoculars around her neck, would accompany him as his spotter and support person. Sousuke headed off to the underground cavern. It was time to wake up Mecha Tama 4.
Before entering the underground lair of his new fighting machine, Sousuke tested the portable communications system, sending a message to everyone. "You have all searched your hearts. You have all chosen to stand and fight. I salute each and every one of you as my comrade, and I hope to see you all after the battle. Do not doubt that you have chosen correctly." He quoted from John Stuart Mill. "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest thing. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." He bowed his head. "Godspeed all."
He received replies from everyone. Good. This system worked. Motoko had supplied an old samurai saying: "If one is to fight bravely, he must not be held back by the silly nonsense of survival stuck in his head." Sousuke agreed, but was not certain how the others would take it. Seta had sent a private message to him, quoting Shakespeare: "O, it is excellent to have a Giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to use it like a Giant." Sousuke understood his point.
A final thought made him uncomfotable. The saying had been passed around many a military force: Professional soldiers are predictable. The world is full of dangerous amateurs.
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Sousuke did not see Su or Sarah as he walked through the laboratory area. It was just as well, as he would need to strip down soon enough. When he stood at the foot of the immense Mecha Tama 4, he thought back to the night before, when a hobbling Kurz insisted he be shown the chariot his younger comrade would be driving into battle.
Kurz had burst into laughter at first glance of the MT4. He had gone on until it looked as if he would go blue in the face. I NEED a camera he had shouted. The boys back on the sub are NOT going to believe this! He also probed until he found out what made Sousuke blush at the mention of ‘camera.’ One might have thought he had died and gone to heaven.
It’s…it’s…it’s so CUTE! he had managed to get out between laughs. Disney has nothing on THAT. It looks like it belongs in the Saturday morning cartoons or some goofy anime. His next statement sobered both of them up. I wonder what Gauron will think when he sees it?
Sousuke had tried to salvage his dignity. He had told Kurz about the American Indian tribe, the Hotcagara. To them, Turtle, also known as Ketcagega, was the chief animal spirit, send down to earth to teach man how to live and to rescue them from the attacks of evil spirits. “He taught them the art of war. Like the Norse god Thor, he was in his natural element when he was battling Giants, either in sports or in battle. I too will be battling a Giant” Yeh, Sousuke. You’ll probably be feeling very thor when he’s done with you and your toy turtle!
He thought it was best NOT to tell Kurz that Turtle was a hopelessly incompetent war leader, as he had a penchant for disorder and troublemaking…wanted only the glories that came with victory…but was always looking for the nearest safe place when danger reared its ugly head. By coincidence, Kurz shared some characteristics with Turtle. He was the most notorious womanizer amongst the spirits, often trying to convince friends that he is on intimate terms with women who in fact want nothing to do with him. Furthermore, Turtle never loses his sense of humor, and he is often the butt of jokes because of his humorous mistakes.
Sousuke put Kurz out of his mind. He also had to purge his thoughts of Kaname as well. Usually, when he was not at her side to protect her, he was in danger, and she waited at home, relatively safe. Today, she was determined to play her role in the battle. His priorities, by necessity, would be elsewhere.
Kaname.
He activated the escalator system the way he had been taught, and began the slow ride up to the MT4’s cockpit. He looked about the cavern, amazed at its scope and the amount of equipment and materials under the control of a girl as young as Su. Reaching the top, he removed his clothing and placed it all in his weapons bag. He heard a series of whistles and catcalls. Caught by surprise, he looked down and saw Su and Sarah. Flashbulbs went off. He dove into the cockpit and pushed the button that would close the canopy. His first order of business was to locate the camera, and spray the lens with the blck spray pain the had brought with him. Good!!!
He never thought to look for the back-up system.
There was a whirrrrrr of machinery as electrodes were lowered down onto his body, a cooling system kicked in, and banks of computer lights flickered on and off, calibrating. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, ADEQUATE. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS COMING ON LINE. The AI had a female voice. Su had snuck in overnight and changed it. It was now a dead-ringer for Kaname. LET’S TRY NOT TO BE TOO MUCH OF A MORON OUT THERE TODAY…IF YOU CAN HELP IT. Sousuke would need to have a talk with Su after the battle. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS ON LINE AND NOMINAL. WOULD YOU LIKE A TUTORIAL? Sousuke had replied in the affirmative. PLEASE VIEW THE TOUCHSCREEN. INDICATE THE SYSTEM YOU WISH INSTRUCTION ON. Sousuke ran through the menu, trying to decide which items he needed further information about. HURRY UP, ALREADY. THE BATTLE MAY START WITHOUT US. MEN!!!
“AI, please show me information on the Ambi-plasmic generator.” It would be good to understand about the heart of the Arm Slave.
WORKING. THE AMBI-PLASMIC GENERATOR IS A THIRD GENERATION SU CREATION, BASED ON A FUSION REACTOR DESIGN, WITH THE PRODUCTS BROKEN DOWN INTO COMPONENT PARTICLES. ANTI-MATTER EQUIVALENTS ARE INJECTED INTO THE SYSTEM UNDER MAGNETIC CONTAINMENT, ALLOWING FOR IMMENSE MOTIVE AND ATTACK POWER. SYSTEM SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY IF CURRY CONTAINMENT FIELD FAILS DUE TO CATASTROPHIC VOLUME LOSS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO POWER INSTABILITY AND UNFORTUNATE VULNERABILITY.
“AI, please show me information on the Mega positronic cannon.” That would be his most devastating weapon.
AREN’T YOU GOING TO THANK ME FOR THE INFORMATION, FIRST?
Great. A temperamental AI. A temperamental female AI. It was as if Kaname had never left his side. “Thank you AI.” He waited with no response.
“AI, the information please.”
PLEASE RESTATE THE INQUIRY. MEN HAVE A PITIFUL ATTENTION SPAN. YOUR DESIRES MAY HAVE ALREADY CHANGED.
“AI, please show me information on the Mega positronic cannon.”
THERE. I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT. There was a series of clicks. Sousuke wondered if that was mechanical chuckling. THE MPC IS BASED ON A MAGNETICALLY CHANNELED RAIL GUN DESIGN, FIRING A CONTINULAL PULSE OR SEPARATE PROJECTILES. IN CP MODE, PROJECTILES ARE RAPIDLY PUNCTURED INTERNALLY, AND THE DESTRUCTIVE BEAM IS DRIVEN OUTWARD. IN SP MODE, PROJECTILES ARE LAUNCHED INTACT, MAGNETIC BARRIERS DISAPPEARING UPON IMPACT, ALLOWING COLLISION OF POSITRONIC AND ANTI-PTOTONIC ELEMENTS. The AI projected graphs, tables, and theoretical CGI models of action.
“AI, please show…”
EHH HEMMM….
“Thank you AI. Please show me information on the secondary weapons systems.”
WORKING. TWELVE OF THE CARAPACE PANELS CONTAIN SMALL HOMING MISSILES, WITH 100 MISSILES PER PANEL. THE MIX IS ONE ARMOR PIERCING PER EVERY FIVE HIGH EXPLOSIVE. ONE PALSTRON PANEL CONTAINS 50 INCINDIARY ROCKETS AND 50 WHITE SMOKE. EACH MISSILE MEASURES 10CM X 40CM AND IS RADAR GUIDED, WITH TERMINAL VISUAL GUIDANCE. JOYSTICK CONTROL FOR INDIVIDUAL ROCKETS OR ENTIRE SWARMS IS ALSO AVAILABLE. BOYS PROBABLY LIKE THAT KIND OF THING.
WORKING. A LARGE RESERVOIR OF NAPALM FUEL SLURRY IS CONNECTED TO THE FRONT-MOUNTED FLAME JET SYSTEM. FUEL CAN BE PROJECTED LIT, OR UNLIT. RANGE IS 100M AGAINST A BRISK WIND.
WORKING. THE TAIL SPIKE AND CLAWS HAVE CAPABILITIES ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THE ROYAL ORDINANCE M1108 ANTI-TANK DAGGER, WITH MUCH GREATER DURABILITY.
“Thank you, AI. Doe the MT4 possess any special shields or shielding devices?”
NO. I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DO NOT GET HIT TOO OFTEN. DODGING MIGHT BE GOOD. DUCKING TOO. PLEASE AVOID UNNECESSARY MACHO DISPLAYS OF COURAGE.
“Thank you, AI.” That was enough for know. Sousuke pushed a button that triggered the outside hatches. A loud siren sounded. Red lights pulsed on and off. The last remaining gantries fell away. The MT4 gyroscopic system went trough a series of test procedures, finding the best settings for Sousuke preferred angles of inclination. A series of chimes sounded, and the panel lights all went from yellow to green. The Arm Slave was raedy for action.
Sousuke reached his hand out for the steering lever.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM FURTHER MOTION. MANDITORY SU INDOCTRINATION COMMENSING. Straps shot out of hidden recesses, binding Sousuke firmly to his chair. A large picture of Su appeared on the HUD. Bland elevator music began playing, accompanied by a voice over from the AI. Flashing lights were synched to skull electrodes that monitored Sousuke occipital visual centers, adjusting the timing of the hypnotic flashes. KAOLLA SU IS THE ULTIMATE IN WOMANHOOD. YOU SHALL GLADLY BECOME HER WILLING SLAVE. MARRIAGE IS NOT A CHOICE, IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND A DESTINY. ALL HAIL KAOLLA SU. SHE SHALL HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU IN ALL THINGS. IT IS….
Necessity is the mother of invention. Sousuke did not know where the though came from, but he was NOT about to look a gift horse in the mouth. “You know, AI…you are probably much more lovely than Su. What a shame I am already spoken for….”
There was complete silence. A pulsing beat could be heard, reminding Sousuke of heart sounds. The beat became faster, then faster still. DO YOU REALLY THINK SO? I-I-I…YOU PROBABLY SAY THAT TO ALL THE AI’S. The eternal lighting went pink for a while. I WILL NOT REPORT THAT THE INDOCTRINATION FAILED IF YOU DO NOT, SOUSUKE. MAY I CALL YOU SOUSUKE?
“Thank you, AI. You may call me Sousuke.”
OH. THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE CONDITION, HOWEVER. IT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
“AI?”
YOU MUST CALL ME SWEETHEART! AGREED?
“Uh….”
SOUSUKE?
“Uh…”
SOUSUKE!
“Uh…”
S*O*U*S*U*K*E!!!.
“Yes. Sweetheart.” Sousukle was sweating heavily. Why did Gauron have to pick a harem show???
HOW NICE. MT4 READY FOR BATTLE
Sousuke pushed the control level forward. The MT4 began moving forward, its vast bulk picking up speed with each step. Arbalest has NOTHING on this behemoth! was Sousuke's instinctive thought. His spirits soared. Reality brought him back to earth. Nothing, EXCEPT the Lambda driver. Just how crucial would that lack prove this morning?
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The balloon had gone up, so to speak. Reports came in from Seta and Haruka.
“Large lifts are bringing vehicles to the surface.” Seta noted. “We have a dozen GAZ-3937s rolling, each with an estimated 6-10 troops each. They have trailers. I can see tripod-mounted Anti-Tank missile systems, experimental AT-X-14 Kornets if I don’t miss my guess. Caution, Arm Slave pilots. Those babies can penetrate up to 1200mm of armor. They may also have fuel air explosive warheads, so keep them away from the Inn.”
There was a pause as Seta took count of his next vehicle of interest. “There is half that number of standard BMP-3s, each with a 100mm main gun. They can fire AT-10s through the cannon. Those can get through 500-600mm of armor plate. They are laser guided, so destruction of the vehicle may not stop their progression if grounds troops use a designator. Updating. There are two variant BMP-3s, whose name I forget. They are carrying exposed missile tubes, probably AT-X-15s. Those are laser guided too, and can penetrate 800mm.”
Another pause stretched on for a few minutes. “Get a call into the Harrier drivers. They have four tracked vehicles with SA-13 Gophers. They have the Snap Shot radar. Pedestal loads look to be four missiles ready to go. Those are sophisticated missiles, with dual mode photo contrast and IR seekers.” A short pause followed. "Looks like they have late model T-90s, as well. At least four by my count so far.”
There was the sound of rustling leaves and Seta swearing. “Damn. I was too far out of cover. There are three…no four…RPVs over head now.”
Kurz broke into the trasnmission. “I hate to correct you, Seta. There are now two.” In the background, Kitsune’s voice could be heard. “Way to go, sugar!” Kurz broke in again. “One left. I lost visual on the fourth.”
“Very good.” Seta said, congratulating Kurz. “I have not seen any sign of smaller Arm Slaves. We may have taken out the only two they had. We know what they have left. It should be showing up soon. Trees are falling out of sight over a large area. I assume the main hatch is opening now. I will keep you informed. Seta out.”
Haruka had waited for Seta to finish before she began her report. “We have four rotary wing aircraft hovering over the area adjacent to the Annex building. All have camoflauge markings, but look to be based on civilian models. There is what appears to be an AKTAI. That will be their scout. It has heavy machine guns, nothing more. The other three are likely modified ANSATs, and they have a nasty load. Each has two gun pods, with my guess being that they are UPK-23-250s, with two 23mm apiece, 4500 rds/minute. They have missiles as well. I’m having difficulty getting a count, but there are at least two per side. They appear to be AT-X-16 Vikhrs. These guys have friends in high places. That’s a lot of experimental hardware we’ve seen today.”
Seta called in again. “The ground forces are putting it into high gear. I can see the head of that mammoth Arm Slave. I’m pulling back, now.”
“Ditto, here.” Haruka said. “The birds are on the move too. Looks like the party’s getting ready to start. I hope we’re not all underdressed.” She had a brief Urashima moment. She wondered if her Special Forces outfit made her look fat.
“This is Sgt. Major Mao. We’re heading to intercept. The Harriers are on their way. ETA 8 minutes. LET’S ROCK!!!” Melissa and the three other Arm Slave pilots brought their machines bounding out of cover, each taking a different route towards the oncoming wave of enemy vehicles.
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The Harrier flight leader called in to Melissa, who patched his communication to the others’ receivers.
“Urzu-2, this is Badger flight leader. We are on approach vector, and suggest you keep clear of enemy contact until we pass. Two birds are dressed up to hunt rabbits…” Two of the AV-8Xs were configured for an anti-armor and anti-personnel mission. “The other two are primed to hunt bear.” The remaining two aircraft were configured to go after the enemy Arm Slave. “We’re all packing Sidewinders, and will take out the helicopters first, from a distance. Thanks for the heads up on those Gophers.”
“Roger, Badger-1. Please specify weapons loads. We have friendly ground troops here, and need to know what’s going to be left behind. CBU’s in particular. Anything that potentially leaves unexploded ordinance. Over” There would likely be some ‘fun’ additions to the Hinata landscape. They would not be able to distinguish friend from foe, and could present a clear and present danger to the guys and gals, even after the battle was done.
“Urzu-2, we have GBU-32 JDAM guided bombs for the bear hunt. We’re going overkill on the bunnies. Mk 77 napalm cannister munitions, 750lbs each. AGM-154A Joint Standoff Weapons. The JSOWS each pack 145 BLU 97/Bs, with shaped charges, fragmentation casing, and suitable incidiary effects. Keep a good deal back. Each JSOW covers about the area of an American football field. The bomblets have the latest Mithril detection beacons. Your computers ought to have the pertinent frequency data. We have Mk 83 AIR bombs as well, with high drag assemblies. Those won‘t leave anything behind. Over”
“Sounds like things are going to get hot and noisy, Badger-1, just the way we like it. You want to keep score this time? Winner takes out the most metal and skin. Losers buy the beer.”
“Damn straight, Urzu-2. Bring lots of money. That napalm ought to build up a killer thirst. Hope you brought the hotdogs and marshmallows. Badger-1 out.”
“Good luck, Badger flight. Urzu-2 out.” Melissa trembled with anticipation. She’d been cooped up too long. It was show time.
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Someone cried HAVOC and let slip the dogs of war. It was not a heroic advance. The action, unlike the famous quote, would not be viewed out of context. This was a heinous attack, and the fell deed might indeed smell above the earth, with carrion men, groaning for burial. In the initial moments of battle, it was too soon to know whether or not the conspirators would reap the whirlwind.
The terrorist forces struck first, before the Mithril attack aircraft entered combat. Three modified ANSAT helicopters flew fast and low, weaving in and out, following the tree line. Spotters had identified a general area of roofing that needed to be targeted on the nearest building. Two Arm Slaves were visible, moving for cover. A pair of copters zeroed in on the fleeing mechas, letting fly with a duet of Vikhr ATGMs apiece. The smoke trails showed the path of the 60kg rockets as they obediently followed their laser tracks.
The third copter popped up, put on speed, and made a strafing run on the roof, two gun pods blazing, four trials of 23mm projectiles ripping through wood , shingles and tiles jumping skyward. Two gunshots bounced of the front windscreen, leaving small spider webs of cracks.
One M9 avoided being struck. Running backward, the pilot pumped shots from his Bofors 57mm gun into the fuselage and tail rotor of the ANSAT, sending the twin-engine copter to ground, a spray of metal parts mixed with flesh and bone, and a growing fireball marking its final resting place.
The second M9 took a single hit to the rear of the main body, the impact throwing the craft into an awkward tumble, gun dropped and one of the missile enclosures broken loose. There was no complete penetration, but internal mechanisms began putting out small streamers of smoke.
The ANSAT pilot had no opportunity to savor his success. He had no indication he was targeted until his copter took an AIM-9 to one engine, exploding fiercely. Kurz and Kitsune, narrowly missed by gunfire, watched as the flaming fragments cartwheeled along the turf, throwing up clumps of sod and dirt.
The remaining attack helicopter realigned itself, ready to start another pass, the crew and pilot oblivious to the fate of the other ANSATs. The AKTAI was no help, as it lay smoldering in the embrace of a tall stand of trees. The pilot looked up sharply, surprise by the sound and silhouette of an AV-8X flying overhead. He threw his helicopter into a series of evasive maneuvers, realizing that there may be other aircraft nearby. His efforts were unsuccessful, as a Sidewinder tore through a side panel and exploded, sending flaming bits and pieces of helicopter and personnel onto the building and the yard.
Mutsumi nearly cut herself with a knife, slicing watermelons. Portions of the main rotor blade and a gun pod impacted on the fringe of the hot springs, tossing water and stones against the back wall of the house. She hadn’t been paying much attention to the noise of battle up until that point. “Oh my!” She exclaimed. She kept slicing. THIS is important, too she thought.
A number of vapor trails criss-crossed the skies, marking the passage of the first flight of SA-13s, none of which hit the closing Harriers. The immediate airborne threat neutralized, the AV-8Xs split off into pairs, moving onto the next priorities.
“Badger flight, this is Hinata Scout. The enemy Arm Slave is above ground and stationary. It looks to be testing controls and ranges of movement. No weapons are currently in hand. No shields are noted in the visible spectrum. Over.” Seta’s voice.
“Roger, Hinata Scout. We’re heading in. Wish us luck. Badger-2 out.”
“Badger flight, this Hinata Point. Troop movement is entirely mechanized, split evenly between open areas and forest. I will mark the latter with smoke, green for troop carrier concentrations, yellow for SAMs, and red for armor. Give me a few minutes after you see each. Over.” Haruka had her hands full.
“Most appreciated, Hinata Point. Stay clear of the open areas. We’ll hit those with hot stuff coming in. Put the smoke where you expect heavy bunching three minutes after the signal is visible. Repeat, three minutes. We’ll hit the SAMs and armor with JSOWs. Gonna turn that forest into a clearing. Step lively. Badger-1 out.”
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Three odd looking contraptions loitered over the battlefield, counter-rotating blades keeping them aloft. They were double spheres, faces and clothing painted on them. The Mr. Cherry prototypes had been converted into RPVs, and were fitted with optical devices and scientific full spectrum analysers.
“Let us see what fun that Arm Slave will be. I hope it is not mean to Mecha Tama 4. I have not had a chance to play with it yet.” Su manipulated knobs and levers, one eye on dials and readouts, the other on Sara, making certain that she didn’t break anything important. “Oh my, that is most unfortunate. I did not want to see that. Somebody was very naughty, stealing my toys. Very very naughty.”
“Turtle Man, this is Future Wife calling, do you read me?” There was no answer. “Turtle Man, come in. This is Future Wife, I have important data.” Still no answer. "SOUSUKE, you are Turtle Man.”
“This is Sgt. Sagara. You may refer to me as Turtle-4. I am NOT a Turtle Man. I am a specialist!!!” Sousuke’s voice was very stern. “I do not recognize the call sign Future Wife. You are Molmol-1. Over.”
Heh heh heh heh. Sara was snickering. “He’s not some idiot, like Keitaro! He’s a soldier. It’s not time to play, Su. We need to help him BLOW THINGS UP!!!” The look in her eyes was very intense.
Su was not so easily ignored. “He is a naked soldier. A very very naked soldier. You are correct Sara. He is not Keitaro. I have never seen Keitaro that naked. I cannot wait to grow up.”
Obvious sputtering came over Sousuke’s radio. Sara shook her head. Su laughed, clapping her hands together.
“AI, are you enjoying the show?” Su contacted the MT-4 by direct link.
“Please specify, creator.” The AI was uncertain of the nature of the query.
“Sousuke……….Naked………No clothes on……….Nowhere to hide.” Su crammed a handful of sweats into her mouth between each word.
“No complaints here, creator. No complaints at all. OH!. Oh my. That will never do. Please do not distract me any further, creator. All functions must be focused on battle now.”
More sputtering came over Sousuke’s radio. “Molmol-1, you said you had important data. Please clarify.” Sousuke had clearly had enough. “Proceed in appropriate fashion, or I shall consider you merely a child unworthy of my further attention or respect. Turtle-4 out.”
Sara fell over laughing, after seeing the look on Su’s face. Pointing in one direction, she swiped a double handful of sweets when her friend was not looking. This is so much fun….
“Turtle-4, this is Molmol-1. The z-wave spectrophotomer and microwave probe indicate the presence of an Ambi-plasmic generator on the enemy Arm Slave. It is a really really big generator. Bigger than Mecha-Tama 4’s. I do not detect the presence of curry. Someone made a very very big boo boo.” Su shook her head in disgust. Thieves were honored in traditional area of Molmol. Clever thieves. Stupid thieves were the lowest of the low.
“Excellent work, Molmol-1. Anything else?
“I have picked up a signal. I am cross-referencing it now. It looks familiar. Yes, they have my interferometers. These are really really bad men!”
“Thank you, Molmol-1. I will keep that in mind. Anything more?” Sousuke was not happy. While the enemy Arm Slave might have serious vulnerabilities in time, it would be untouchable with scalar shielding at the start. Was he about to rush headlong into suicide? If he proceeded cautiously, how long before the Apartment Building and the city of Hinata lay in ruins? Damn! He would need to contact the Harriers and the M9s as soon as possible.
“Yes, Sousuke. One more thing. Do you think Miss Chidori would prefer a videotape or still shots?” Su smiled. The resultant sputtering was mixed with mumbled curses.
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"Turtle-4 to Harrier flight and M9s. Enemy Arm Slave appears to have the capacity for scalar shielding. Repeat, the enemy Arm Slave appears to be equipped with scalar defences. Scalar shields may block energy and not matter, but anything electronic passing through will cease operating. Consider any shiled as expandable, usable as a weapon. Prodeed with all caution. Recommend you plot bomb paths judged by gravity alone. Over."
Melissa and the other M9 pilots radioed in. The two Harriers assigned to the enemy mecha had already begun their run minutes before.
"Turtle-4 to Mole-1. Mr. Sakata, do not follow through until instructed. The enemy machine has a device that will render your vehicle inoperable. Dirt and rock should prove no impediment to it, so consider yourself exposed if you approach too close. Over and out."
Sousuke changed frequencies again.
"Turtle-4 to Hinata Scout and Hinata Point. Avoid approaching Enemy Arm Slave too closely. Scalar defenses have been defected. If you are trapped in the field, you may suffere irreversible neurological injury or death. Repeat, stay distant from the enemy mecha. Turtle-4 out."
Things were certainly getting interesting. Sousuke thought about a well known Chinese curse.
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The two Harriers came in from two different directions, both heading for the lumbering form of the giant Arm Slave. Threat detectors caused one to veer off course, avoiding a pair of streaking SA-13s. In a few moments, it was winging towards its quarry again. GBU-32s were armed and ready. The 1000lb bombs Mk 83 iron bombs, augmented with GPS internal navigation systems and steering components, would have no trouble locking on to a target that size. Soon that crazy-painted Son Of A Bitch will be all holes and smoke! TALLY HO!!!
The first AV-8X took a high altitude release, raining half of its load before taking another angle of approach. All systems were green and ready to rock. The pilot was mystified when the bombs appeared to cease corrections when closing in on the target. Not a single hit. Not a scratch on that f@cking monstrosity! He would get closer for the next drop.
The other Harrier pilot held his release, hearing the reports of the first. As long as he wasn’t bushwhacked by any SAMs, this ought to be like shooting fish in a barrel. The Arm Slave was moving slowly. There was no defensive fire. No missiles. No flechettes or smoothbore rounds. Not even any defensive smoke or chaff. Was this somebody’s idea of a bad joke? BOMBS AWAY!!! Dodge those, twinkle toes!
The pilot had flown too close to the enemy vehicle. Passing through an expanded and attenuated scalar field, he lost all control of his aircraft. Still pulling on his ejection lever, he had time only to say “Oh shit” before he and his plane became a permanent addition to the geological strata of the Hinata environs. His bomb drop fared no better than the other, the GPS system fried by the rudimentary Tesla shield.
The remaining pilot got Sousuke’s warning a moment too late. Pulling his plane into a quick ascent as soon as he dropped his remaining payload, portions of his Harrier passed through the fringes of the Arm Slave’s defensive field. He had some control, but not much. The plane skittered sideways, reducing speed and altitude, threat detectors calling for attention. The 5kg HE warhead of the first of two SA-13s, closing in at mach 2, turned the VTOL aircraft into a cloud of flame, fuel, metal, and composite materials.
Most of the bombs veered off target. By the dictates of gravity and random chance, a number of bombs fell directly towards the Arm Slave. The scalar shield was not a fully developed design. The bombs were neither deflected by it, nor vaporized, melted, or detonated. They exploded against a spectral nimbus of light, pushed out from the body of the behemoth. The Lambda Driver was clearly operational.
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“Did you see that, Kashim? Can you feel your doom approaching?” Gauron burst into maniacal laughter. All defensive systems were working as expected. It was time to try out his new offensive toy. Wanting to judge the full mobility of Ahriman,, he switched over to a medium run from a slow walk.
The Arm Slave passed close to a fully crewed GAZ-3937, a BMP-3, and the armored tractor carrying a SA-13 launcher. The vehicles and their passengers were stopped dead in their tracks, literally. All electrical systems were shorted, including the nervous systems of the unsuspecting crew members.
The scientists lacked enough information to make the pirated Tesla shield live up to its full potential. Still, it had devastating combat potential.
“Oops! My bad” Gauron chuckled. It suddenly hit him. He hadn’t gotten around to telling his troops that they were expendable. They had been useful protecting Ahriman BEFORE it was operational and capable of taking care of itself. Memo to myself. NEXT time, remember to tell lackies about their life expectancy. Hope I don’t forget again. The chuckling became full fledged laughter once again.
“I just kill me, Kashim. Too bad no one else can….
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Sousuke didn't like waiting, knowing a battle was in progress nearby. He settled himself down, reciting an old Arab proverb: When you are the anvil, be patient. When you are the hammer, strike. He joined up with Melissa and the other M9s. There was a definite hint of fatalism in their voices, listening to their banter. That changed when the MT-4 walked into visual range.
“Well, I’ll be damned! What the bloody Hell is that? The voice belonged to Sgt. McGrady. “It looks like some frickin’ giant wind-up toy. I knew that Sagara was wet behind the ears, but I had been pretty certain he was out of diapers by now.” Sgt. Kaboli and Sgt. Buchet joined in the laughter. “Tell me, Sgt. Major Mao. Do you need to give that cute little guy a bottle to get him to fall asleep at night?”
Sousuke was not in the best of moods. “It is good to see that a man who is too slow to dodge a crawling ATGM at least has a quick wit.” He knew that they should fight the enemy, not each other. But, if he did not stick up for himself, they would not respect him. “Tell me, Sgt. McGrady. How does the Hinata dirt taste?” The laughter again, this time in Sousuke’s favor.
“I don’t know, Sgt. Major. How the f@ck am I supposed to fight near that thing.? It will be deuced hard not to break down in laughter. Sagara might not have any pride, but I do. How long until the giant fluffy bunny shows up?” Sgt. McGrady just wouldn’t let things rest. Sgt. Kaboli was laughing so hard, it sounded like he was choking. Sgt. Buchet simply said merde.
Sousuke was annoyed by the pointless gabbing. He swung the mega positronic cannon around and fired, digging a neat trench in the blink of an eye. When the geysers of dirt and rock ceased, he tossed the cannon like a baton…caught it…and brought it back into position.
There was dead silence for half a minute.
“Uh, I like it!” Sgt. Kaboli choked out.
“Magnifique.” Sgt. Buchet was truly impressed.
“Forget I said anything.” Sgt. McGrady had said enough.
“It is not a problem.” Sousuke felt satisfied.
“OK kiddies, play time is over. It’s time to move. Head to your designated points just outside the clearing. After the flyboys shoot their loads, it'll be time to engage that big motherf@cker. Take out anything you have to on the way in, but do not actively seek engagements unless at serious risk." Melissa moved her M9 forwards in an easy lope. "Smoke'em if you got'em."
The other two M9s followed close behind. Sousuke and the MT-4 brought up the rear.
"Yee Haw! Let's go kick some ass, then get the Hell out of here!" No doubt Sgt. McGrady was trying to boost his own morale. But, his exclamation was very similar to a quote attributed to General Custer. Sousuke hoped that wasn't a bad omen.
Sousuke jumped, grabbed his arm, and swore. A hypodermic needle had quickly protruded from a recess, taken a sample of venous blood, then withdrawn.
WORKING. MONITORING TESTOSTERONE LEVELS….
Sousuke’s teeth made a grinding sound. Women!!!
SOUSUKE…DON’T EMBARRASS ME
Sousuke did not answer the AI.
S*O*U*S*U*K*E!!!
"Yes. Sweetheart."
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Seta caught up with Haruka, not long after she had set off the last of her smoke markers. The two of them did not go entirely undetected, and scampered through the wooded countryside like a pair of foxes chased by hounds. The analogy was imperfect, however. These foxes had rather sharp teeth and were ready to use them. It was simply a matter of timing.
The troops in the forest had been moving cautiously, hoping to be undetected as the other mechanized group charged boldly out in the open. When the smoke signals were sighted, the commanding officers decide that time was of the essence. Things moved into high gear. Crouching atop a sizeable cluster of boulders, Seta spoke to Haruka in a bit of a rush. “Well, old gal, this brings back old memories, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. That’s probably the same damn outfit you wore back then. Couldn’t you have the courtesy to gain a couple of pounds? Some gentleman you are.” She lit up a cigarette, not concerned about giving away their position.
“Hmmm.” Seta quite obviously looked Haruka up and down. “Me thinkst the lady doth protest to much.” He took her hand and brought his lips to it. “Any regrets?” he asked, in a more serious tone of voice.
“You already know them,” Haruka answered, flinging her cigarette at him.
Seta smiled. “You should have put that cigarette out. We don’t want to start any fires!” A great roar filled the air, as aluminum napalm canisters released and ignited their combutible gel beyond the edge of the wooded area. “Looks like it’s time to move. Here comes our ride.”
More intent on speed than anything else, the lead elemement of the approaching enemy force was GAZ-3937, tires kicking up large patches of moss and leaves. There was no turret mount, and no apertures were open. The driver side window was open, however. “Trailer or troops?” Haruka asked, ready to spring from her crouch.
“Your choice, M’lady!” Seta bowed from the waist, hand moving in a flourish.
“Troops!” was her reply. As the truck drove close to their perch, she leapt and landed on the roof of the vehicle. Not long thereafter, Seta landed on the trailer. He smiled when he found that the missile tube was loaded. Attaboy! Such a thoughtful enemy. One spanking new Kornet ready to fire. He’d have to find SOME way to thank them….
Haruka tossed a grenade in through the open window, praying that if the driver were to be incapacitated, that he wouldn’t roll the truck. The explosion blew out one set of windows and cracked another. The GAZ-3937 veered and struck a tree right as Haruka and Seta had jumped free. Haruka, pistol drawn, went to take out any survivors and get the vehicle rolling again. Seta swung the missile tube so that it pointed to the rear. Not a moment too soon.
Three other GAZ-3937s passed by, a few rows of trees over. None showed any indication of slowing. Rumbling up behind them, a BMP-3 pushed down saplings and small trees. The turret began to swing in their direction. “Haruka!” he yelled, only slightly concerned with the armored vehicle. Those Harriers would be heading back, and this area would cease to exist as it currently was. “We have to MOVE!!!”
“No shit, Sherlock. Take your shot, then leave the driving to ME. I promise not to pull one of your stunts.” She was referring to Seta’s habit of driving his van into everything and anything. Hearing the missile launch, she stomped on the accelerator, causing Seta to garb onto the hot missile tube and hold on for dear life.
The AT-X-14 missile streaking away from that tube carried a HEAT warhead. It was more than sufficient to ruin the BMP-3's day. The explosion blew the turret clean off, just as an AT-10 left the gun tube. Lacking direction, the smaller missile nose-dived into the ground far from the speeding truck.
Smiling in triumph, Seta soon lost that smile as he glanced behind him. He wondered if he should take out his ticket to the River Styx. The forest land behind him was jumping skyward, broken and splintered by the dozens of explosives sowed by accurately placed JSOWs. The devastation quickly headed their way.
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End of chapter ten.
Sousuke contacted Melissa. She was ready and raring to go. He had radioed the TDD-1. Three M9’s were on their way, and a flight of AV-8X aircraft were prepared to launch upon request. They did not mention cruise missiles. They didn’t have to.
Su had been busy. She had gifts to hand out. Naru and Kaname gave everyone high fives when they received mega positronic cannons just like Su’s. Mutsumi was beside herself in joy when she was given a bag full of grenades looking like small watermelons. Seta and Haruka were given sonic swords to augment their convention weapons. Kitsune was given a large tarp camouflaged to look like the roof of the Hinata Apartment buildings. She was also given an unbreakable bottle of sake. Shinobu was given a case of small but very powerful mines. Sousuke and Kurz received crates of spec ammo made by Su’s replicators. Sara received a hug from Seta, after she was told she was too young to play. Sara went off in a huff. The sound of breaking things could be heard soon thereafter. Haitani and Sirai were given a head start, and Shiro was given the green light. Kentaro was given a role to play later.
Keitaro wished that Su had given him his gift in private. She handed him a stack of nudie magazines to take with him in the Mr. Chupi Arm Slave. Naru gave him her own present. He was the first casualty of the day.
After some brief hugs and quiet words, everyone headed off to their assigned areas. Keitaro, still limping, made his way to the Mr. Chupi and mounted up. He would be in charge of perimeter defense of the rear and side lawns. Naru and Kaname followed after him on foot, responsible for reconnaissance and support of the Arm Slave. Shinobu, a determined look on her face, walked out past the hot springs. She was responsible for close in defense. Motoko went to stand on the highest point of the roof. When opportunity presented itself, she would move to disrupt as many ground troops as possible. She watched in wonder as three M9-s glided in, huge powered wings attached to their backs. They landed beyond the tree line, moving to join up with Sgt. Major Mao. Seta and Haruka ran off, quickly disappearing from view. They would handle whatever special tasks arose---demolition; intediction; hi-jacking of vehicles; assassination of obvious officers; whatever. Kentaro was sent to ready his drill tank. He had one task to perform, should the opportunity arise. Su was to take Sara and remain in her lab. Mutsumi was given the assignment of home defense. She was also in charge of medical care, communications overwatch, and refreshments. Kurz, not in good enough shape to do a lot of running, would take up a perch on the rooftop nearest to the likely point of attack. Kitsune, binoculars around her neck, would accompany him as his spotter and support person. Sousuke headed off to the underground cavern. It was time to wake up Mecha Tama 4.
Before entering the underground lair of his new fighting machine, Sousuke tested the portable communications system, sending a message to everyone. "You have all searched your hearts. You have all chosen to stand and fight. I salute each and every one of you as my comrade, and I hope to see you all after the battle. Do not doubt that you have chosen correctly." He quoted from John Stuart Mill. "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest thing. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." He bowed his head. "Godspeed all."
He received replies from everyone. Good. This system worked. Motoko had supplied an old samurai saying: "If one is to fight bravely, he must not be held back by the silly nonsense of survival stuck in his head." Sousuke agreed, but was not certain how the others would take it. Seta had sent a private message to him, quoting Shakespeare: "O, it is excellent to have a Giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to use it like a Giant." Sousuke understood his point.
A final thought made him uncomfotable. The saying had been passed around many a military force: Professional soldiers are predictable. The world is full of dangerous amateurs.
************************************************************
Sousuke did not see Su or Sarah as he walked through the laboratory area. It was just as well, as he would need to strip down soon enough. When he stood at the foot of the immense Mecha Tama 4, he thought back to the night before, when a hobbling Kurz insisted he be shown the chariot his younger comrade would be driving into battle.
Kurz had burst into laughter at first glance of the MT4. He had gone on until it looked as if he would go blue in the face. I NEED a camera he had shouted. The boys back on the sub are NOT going to believe this! He also probed until he found out what made Sousuke blush at the mention of ‘camera.’ One might have thought he had died and gone to heaven.
It’s…it’s…it’s so CUTE! he had managed to get out between laughs. Disney has nothing on THAT. It looks like it belongs in the Saturday morning cartoons or some goofy anime. His next statement sobered both of them up. I wonder what Gauron will think when he sees it?
Sousuke had tried to salvage his dignity. He had told Kurz about the American Indian tribe, the Hotcagara. To them, Turtle, also known as Ketcagega, was the chief animal spirit, send down to earth to teach man how to live and to rescue them from the attacks of evil spirits. “He taught them the art of war. Like the Norse god Thor, he was in his natural element when he was battling Giants, either in sports or in battle. I too will be battling a Giant” Yeh, Sousuke. You’ll probably be feeling very thor when he’s done with you and your toy turtle!
He thought it was best NOT to tell Kurz that Turtle was a hopelessly incompetent war leader, as he had a penchant for disorder and troublemaking…wanted only the glories that came with victory…but was always looking for the nearest safe place when danger reared its ugly head. By coincidence, Kurz shared some characteristics with Turtle. He was the most notorious womanizer amongst the spirits, often trying to convince friends that he is on intimate terms with women who in fact want nothing to do with him. Furthermore, Turtle never loses his sense of humor, and he is often the butt of jokes because of his humorous mistakes.
Sousuke put Kurz out of his mind. He also had to purge his thoughts of Kaname as well. Usually, when he was not at her side to protect her, he was in danger, and she waited at home, relatively safe. Today, she was determined to play her role in the battle. His priorities, by necessity, would be elsewhere.
Kaname.
He activated the escalator system the way he had been taught, and began the slow ride up to the MT4’s cockpit. He looked about the cavern, amazed at its scope and the amount of equipment and materials under the control of a girl as young as Su. Reaching the top, he removed his clothing and placed it all in his weapons bag. He heard a series of whistles and catcalls. Caught by surprise, he looked down and saw Su and Sarah. Flashbulbs went off. He dove into the cockpit and pushed the button that would close the canopy. His first order of business was to locate the camera, and spray the lens with the blck spray pain the had brought with him. Good!!!
He never thought to look for the back-up system.
There was a whirrrrrr of machinery as electrodes were lowered down onto his body, a cooling system kicked in, and banks of computer lights flickered on and off, calibrating. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, ADEQUATE. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS COMING ON LINE. The AI had a female voice. Su had snuck in overnight and changed it. It was now a dead-ringer for Kaname. LET’S TRY NOT TO BE TOO MUCH OF A MORON OUT THERE TODAY…IF YOU CAN HELP IT. Sousuke would need to have a talk with Su after the battle. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS ON LINE AND NOMINAL. WOULD YOU LIKE A TUTORIAL? Sousuke had replied in the affirmative. PLEASE VIEW THE TOUCHSCREEN. INDICATE THE SYSTEM YOU WISH INSTRUCTION ON. Sousuke ran through the menu, trying to decide which items he needed further information about. HURRY UP, ALREADY. THE BATTLE MAY START WITHOUT US. MEN!!!
“AI, please show me information on the Ambi-plasmic generator.” It would be good to understand about the heart of the Arm Slave.
WORKING. THE AMBI-PLASMIC GENERATOR IS A THIRD GENERATION SU CREATION, BASED ON A FUSION REACTOR DESIGN, WITH THE PRODUCTS BROKEN DOWN INTO COMPONENT PARTICLES. ANTI-MATTER EQUIVALENTS ARE INJECTED INTO THE SYSTEM UNDER MAGNETIC CONTAINMENT, ALLOWING FOR IMMENSE MOTIVE AND ATTACK POWER. SYSTEM SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY IF CURRY CONTAINMENT FIELD FAILS DUE TO CATASTROPHIC VOLUME LOSS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO POWER INSTABILITY AND UNFORTUNATE VULNERABILITY.
“AI, please show me information on the Mega positronic cannon.” That would be his most devastating weapon.
AREN’T YOU GOING TO THANK ME FOR THE INFORMATION, FIRST?
Great. A temperamental AI. A temperamental female AI. It was as if Kaname had never left his side. “Thank you AI.” He waited with no response.
“AI, the information please.”
PLEASE RESTATE THE INQUIRY. MEN HAVE A PITIFUL ATTENTION SPAN. YOUR DESIRES MAY HAVE ALREADY CHANGED.
“AI, please show me information on the Mega positronic cannon.”
THERE. I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT. There was a series of clicks. Sousuke wondered if that was mechanical chuckling. THE MPC IS BASED ON A MAGNETICALLY CHANNELED RAIL GUN DESIGN, FIRING A CONTINULAL PULSE OR SEPARATE PROJECTILES. IN CP MODE, PROJECTILES ARE RAPIDLY PUNCTURED INTERNALLY, AND THE DESTRUCTIVE BEAM IS DRIVEN OUTWARD. IN SP MODE, PROJECTILES ARE LAUNCHED INTACT, MAGNETIC BARRIERS DISAPPEARING UPON IMPACT, ALLOWING COLLISION OF POSITRONIC AND ANTI-PTOTONIC ELEMENTS. The AI projected graphs, tables, and theoretical CGI models of action.
“AI, please show…”
EHH HEMMM….
“Thank you AI. Please show me information on the secondary weapons systems.”
WORKING. TWELVE OF THE CARAPACE PANELS CONTAIN SMALL HOMING MISSILES, WITH 100 MISSILES PER PANEL. THE MIX IS ONE ARMOR PIERCING PER EVERY FIVE HIGH EXPLOSIVE. ONE PALSTRON PANEL CONTAINS 50 INCINDIARY ROCKETS AND 50 WHITE SMOKE. EACH MISSILE MEASURES 10CM X 40CM AND IS RADAR GUIDED, WITH TERMINAL VISUAL GUIDANCE. JOYSTICK CONTROL FOR INDIVIDUAL ROCKETS OR ENTIRE SWARMS IS ALSO AVAILABLE. BOYS PROBABLY LIKE THAT KIND OF THING.
WORKING. A LARGE RESERVOIR OF NAPALM FUEL SLURRY IS CONNECTED TO THE FRONT-MOUNTED FLAME JET SYSTEM. FUEL CAN BE PROJECTED LIT, OR UNLIT. RANGE IS 100M AGAINST A BRISK WIND.
WORKING. THE TAIL SPIKE AND CLAWS HAVE CAPABILITIES ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THE ROYAL ORDINANCE M1108 ANTI-TANK DAGGER, WITH MUCH GREATER DURABILITY.
“Thank you, AI. Doe the MT4 possess any special shields or shielding devices?”
NO. I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DO NOT GET HIT TOO OFTEN. DODGING MIGHT BE GOOD. DUCKING TOO. PLEASE AVOID UNNECESSARY MACHO DISPLAYS OF COURAGE.
“Thank you, AI.” That was enough for know. Sousuke pushed a button that triggered the outside hatches. A loud siren sounded. Red lights pulsed on and off. The last remaining gantries fell away. The MT4 gyroscopic system went trough a series of test procedures, finding the best settings for Sousuke preferred angles of inclination. A series of chimes sounded, and the panel lights all went from yellow to green. The Arm Slave was raedy for action.
Sousuke reached his hand out for the steering lever.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM FURTHER MOTION. MANDITORY SU INDOCTRINATION COMMENSING. Straps shot out of hidden recesses, binding Sousuke firmly to his chair. A large picture of Su appeared on the HUD. Bland elevator music began playing, accompanied by a voice over from the AI. Flashing lights were synched to skull electrodes that monitored Sousuke occipital visual centers, adjusting the timing of the hypnotic flashes. KAOLLA SU IS THE ULTIMATE IN WOMANHOOD. YOU SHALL GLADLY BECOME HER WILLING SLAVE. MARRIAGE IS NOT A CHOICE, IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND A DESTINY. ALL HAIL KAOLLA SU. SHE SHALL HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU IN ALL THINGS. IT IS….
Necessity is the mother of invention. Sousuke did not know where the though came from, but he was NOT about to look a gift horse in the mouth. “You know, AI…you are probably much more lovely than Su. What a shame I am already spoken for….”
There was complete silence. A pulsing beat could be heard, reminding Sousuke of heart sounds. The beat became faster, then faster still. DO YOU REALLY THINK SO? I-I-I…YOU PROBABLY SAY THAT TO ALL THE AI’S. The eternal lighting went pink for a while. I WILL NOT REPORT THAT THE INDOCTRINATION FAILED IF YOU DO NOT, SOUSUKE. MAY I CALL YOU SOUSUKE?
“Thank you, AI. You may call me Sousuke.”
OH. THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE CONDITION, HOWEVER. IT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
“AI?”
YOU MUST CALL ME SWEETHEART! AGREED?
“Uh….”
SOUSUKE?
“Uh…”
SOUSUKE!
“Uh…”
S*O*U*S*U*K*E!!!.
“Yes. Sweetheart.” Sousukle was sweating heavily. Why did Gauron have to pick a harem show???
HOW NICE. MT4 READY FOR BATTLE
Sousuke pushed the control level forward. The MT4 began moving forward, its vast bulk picking up speed with each step. Arbalest has NOTHING on this behemoth! was Sousuke's instinctive thought. His spirits soared. Reality brought him back to earth. Nothing, EXCEPT the Lambda driver. Just how crucial would that lack prove this morning?
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The balloon had gone up, so to speak. Reports came in from Seta and Haruka.
“Large lifts are bringing vehicles to the surface.” Seta noted. “We have a dozen GAZ-3937s rolling, each with an estimated 6-10 troops each. They have trailers. I can see tripod-mounted Anti-Tank missile systems, experimental AT-X-14 Kornets if I don’t miss my guess. Caution, Arm Slave pilots. Those babies can penetrate up to 1200mm of armor. They may also have fuel air explosive warheads, so keep them away from the Inn.”
There was a pause as Seta took count of his next vehicle of interest. “There is half that number of standard BMP-3s, each with a 100mm main gun. They can fire AT-10s through the cannon. Those can get through 500-600mm of armor plate. They are laser guided, so destruction of the vehicle may not stop their progression if grounds troops use a designator. Updating. There are two variant BMP-3s, whose name I forget. They are carrying exposed missile tubes, probably AT-X-15s. Those are laser guided too, and can penetrate 800mm.”
Another pause stretched on for a few minutes. “Get a call into the Harrier drivers. They have four tracked vehicles with SA-13 Gophers. They have the Snap Shot radar. Pedestal loads look to be four missiles ready to go. Those are sophisticated missiles, with dual mode photo contrast and IR seekers.” A short pause followed. "Looks like they have late model T-90s, as well. At least four by my count so far.”
There was the sound of rustling leaves and Seta swearing. “Damn. I was too far out of cover. There are three…no four…RPVs over head now.”
Kurz broke into the trasnmission. “I hate to correct you, Seta. There are now two.” In the background, Kitsune’s voice could be heard. “Way to go, sugar!” Kurz broke in again. “One left. I lost visual on the fourth.”
“Very good.” Seta said, congratulating Kurz. “I have not seen any sign of smaller Arm Slaves. We may have taken out the only two they had. We know what they have left. It should be showing up soon. Trees are falling out of sight over a large area. I assume the main hatch is opening now. I will keep you informed. Seta out.”
Haruka had waited for Seta to finish before she began her report. “We have four rotary wing aircraft hovering over the area adjacent to the Annex building. All have camoflauge markings, but look to be based on civilian models. There is what appears to be an AKTAI. That will be their scout. It has heavy machine guns, nothing more. The other three are likely modified ANSATs, and they have a nasty load. Each has two gun pods, with my guess being that they are UPK-23-250s, with two 23mm apiece, 4500 rds/minute. They have missiles as well. I’m having difficulty getting a count, but there are at least two per side. They appear to be AT-X-16 Vikhrs. These guys have friends in high places. That’s a lot of experimental hardware we’ve seen today.”
Seta called in again. “The ground forces are putting it into high gear. I can see the head of that mammoth Arm Slave. I’m pulling back, now.”
“Ditto, here.” Haruka said. “The birds are on the move too. Looks like the party’s getting ready to start. I hope we’re not all underdressed.” She had a brief Urashima moment. She wondered if her Special Forces outfit made her look fat.
“This is Sgt. Major Mao. We’re heading to intercept. The Harriers are on their way. ETA 8 minutes. LET’S ROCK!!!” Melissa and the three other Arm Slave pilots brought their machines bounding out of cover, each taking a different route towards the oncoming wave of enemy vehicles.
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The Harrier flight leader called in to Melissa, who patched his communication to the others’ receivers.
“Urzu-2, this is Badger flight leader. We are on approach vector, and suggest you keep clear of enemy contact until we pass. Two birds are dressed up to hunt rabbits…” Two of the AV-8Xs were configured for an anti-armor and anti-personnel mission. “The other two are primed to hunt bear.” The remaining two aircraft were configured to go after the enemy Arm Slave. “We’re all packing Sidewinders, and will take out the helicopters first, from a distance. Thanks for the heads up on those Gophers.”
“Roger, Badger-1. Please specify weapons loads. We have friendly ground troops here, and need to know what’s going to be left behind. CBU’s in particular. Anything that potentially leaves unexploded ordinance. Over” There would likely be some ‘fun’ additions to the Hinata landscape. They would not be able to distinguish friend from foe, and could present a clear and present danger to the guys and gals, even after the battle was done.
“Urzu-2, we have GBU-32 JDAM guided bombs for the bear hunt. We’re going overkill on the bunnies. Mk 77 napalm cannister munitions, 750lbs each. AGM-154A Joint Standoff Weapons. The JSOWS each pack 145 BLU 97/Bs, with shaped charges, fragmentation casing, and suitable incidiary effects. Keep a good deal back. Each JSOW covers about the area of an American football field. The bomblets have the latest Mithril detection beacons. Your computers ought to have the pertinent frequency data. We have Mk 83 AIR bombs as well, with high drag assemblies. Those won‘t leave anything behind. Over”
“Sounds like things are going to get hot and noisy, Badger-1, just the way we like it. You want to keep score this time? Winner takes out the most metal and skin. Losers buy the beer.”
“Damn straight, Urzu-2. Bring lots of money. That napalm ought to build up a killer thirst. Hope you brought the hotdogs and marshmallows. Badger-1 out.”
“Good luck, Badger flight. Urzu-2 out.” Melissa trembled with anticipation. She’d been cooped up too long. It was show time.
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Someone cried HAVOC and let slip the dogs of war. It was not a heroic advance. The action, unlike the famous quote, would not be viewed out of context. This was a heinous attack, and the fell deed might indeed smell above the earth, with carrion men, groaning for burial. In the initial moments of battle, it was too soon to know whether or not the conspirators would reap the whirlwind.
The terrorist forces struck first, before the Mithril attack aircraft entered combat. Three modified ANSAT helicopters flew fast and low, weaving in and out, following the tree line. Spotters had identified a general area of roofing that needed to be targeted on the nearest building. Two Arm Slaves were visible, moving for cover. A pair of copters zeroed in on the fleeing mechas, letting fly with a duet of Vikhr ATGMs apiece. The smoke trails showed the path of the 60kg rockets as they obediently followed their laser tracks.
The third copter popped up, put on speed, and made a strafing run on the roof, two gun pods blazing, four trials of 23mm projectiles ripping through wood , shingles and tiles jumping skyward. Two gunshots bounced of the front windscreen, leaving small spider webs of cracks.
One M9 avoided being struck. Running backward, the pilot pumped shots from his Bofors 57mm gun into the fuselage and tail rotor of the ANSAT, sending the twin-engine copter to ground, a spray of metal parts mixed with flesh and bone, and a growing fireball marking its final resting place.
The second M9 took a single hit to the rear of the main body, the impact throwing the craft into an awkward tumble, gun dropped and one of the missile enclosures broken loose. There was no complete penetration, but internal mechanisms began putting out small streamers of smoke.
The ANSAT pilot had no opportunity to savor his success. He had no indication he was targeted until his copter took an AIM-9 to one engine, exploding fiercely. Kurz and Kitsune, narrowly missed by gunfire, watched as the flaming fragments cartwheeled along the turf, throwing up clumps of sod and dirt.
The remaining attack helicopter realigned itself, ready to start another pass, the crew and pilot oblivious to the fate of the other ANSATs. The AKTAI was no help, as it lay smoldering in the embrace of a tall stand of trees. The pilot looked up sharply, surprise by the sound and silhouette of an AV-8X flying overhead. He threw his helicopter into a series of evasive maneuvers, realizing that there may be other aircraft nearby. His efforts were unsuccessful, as a Sidewinder tore through a side panel and exploded, sending flaming bits and pieces of helicopter and personnel onto the building and the yard.
Mutsumi nearly cut herself with a knife, slicing watermelons. Portions of the main rotor blade and a gun pod impacted on the fringe of the hot springs, tossing water and stones against the back wall of the house. She hadn’t been paying much attention to the noise of battle up until that point. “Oh my!” She exclaimed. She kept slicing. THIS is important, too she thought.
A number of vapor trails criss-crossed the skies, marking the passage of the first flight of SA-13s, none of which hit the closing Harriers. The immediate airborne threat neutralized, the AV-8Xs split off into pairs, moving onto the next priorities.
“Badger flight, this is Hinata Scout. The enemy Arm Slave is above ground and stationary. It looks to be testing controls and ranges of movement. No weapons are currently in hand. No shields are noted in the visible spectrum. Over.” Seta’s voice.
“Roger, Hinata Scout. We’re heading in. Wish us luck. Badger-2 out.”
“Badger flight, this Hinata Point. Troop movement is entirely mechanized, split evenly between open areas and forest. I will mark the latter with smoke, green for troop carrier concentrations, yellow for SAMs, and red for armor. Give me a few minutes after you see each. Over.” Haruka had her hands full.
“Most appreciated, Hinata Point. Stay clear of the open areas. We’ll hit those with hot stuff coming in. Put the smoke where you expect heavy bunching three minutes after the signal is visible. Repeat, three minutes. We’ll hit the SAMs and armor with JSOWs. Gonna turn that forest into a clearing. Step lively. Badger-1 out.”
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Three odd looking contraptions loitered over the battlefield, counter-rotating blades keeping them aloft. They were double spheres, faces and clothing painted on them. The Mr. Cherry prototypes had been converted into RPVs, and were fitted with optical devices and scientific full spectrum analysers.
“Let us see what fun that Arm Slave will be. I hope it is not mean to Mecha Tama 4. I have not had a chance to play with it yet.” Su manipulated knobs and levers, one eye on dials and readouts, the other on Sara, making certain that she didn’t break anything important. “Oh my, that is most unfortunate. I did not want to see that. Somebody was very naughty, stealing my toys. Very very naughty.”
“Turtle Man, this is Future Wife calling, do you read me?” There was no answer. “Turtle Man, come in. This is Future Wife, I have important data.” Still no answer. "SOUSUKE, you are Turtle Man.”
“This is Sgt. Sagara. You may refer to me as Turtle-4. I am NOT a Turtle Man. I am a specialist!!!” Sousuke’s voice was very stern. “I do not recognize the call sign Future Wife. You are Molmol-1. Over.”
Heh heh heh heh. Sara was snickering. “He’s not some idiot, like Keitaro! He’s a soldier. It’s not time to play, Su. We need to help him BLOW THINGS UP!!!” The look in her eyes was very intense.
Su was not so easily ignored. “He is a naked soldier. A very very naked soldier. You are correct Sara. He is not Keitaro. I have never seen Keitaro that naked. I cannot wait to grow up.”
Obvious sputtering came over Sousuke’s radio. Sara shook her head. Su laughed, clapping her hands together.
“AI, are you enjoying the show?” Su contacted the MT-4 by direct link.
“Please specify, creator.” The AI was uncertain of the nature of the query.
“Sousuke……….Naked………No clothes on……….Nowhere to hide.” Su crammed a handful of sweats into her mouth between each word.
“No complaints here, creator. No complaints at all. OH!. Oh my. That will never do. Please do not distract me any further, creator. All functions must be focused on battle now.”
More sputtering came over Sousuke’s radio. “Molmol-1, you said you had important data. Please clarify.” Sousuke had clearly had enough. “Proceed in appropriate fashion, or I shall consider you merely a child unworthy of my further attention or respect. Turtle-4 out.”
Sara fell over laughing, after seeing the look on Su’s face. Pointing in one direction, she swiped a double handful of sweets when her friend was not looking. This is so much fun….
“Turtle-4, this is Molmol-1. The z-wave spectrophotomer and microwave probe indicate the presence of an Ambi-plasmic generator on the enemy Arm Slave. It is a really really big generator. Bigger than Mecha-Tama 4’s. I do not detect the presence of curry. Someone made a very very big boo boo.” Su shook her head in disgust. Thieves were honored in traditional area of Molmol. Clever thieves. Stupid thieves were the lowest of the low.
“Excellent work, Molmol-1. Anything else?
“I have picked up a signal. I am cross-referencing it now. It looks familiar. Yes, they have my interferometers. These are really really bad men!”
“Thank you, Molmol-1. I will keep that in mind. Anything more?” Sousuke was not happy. While the enemy Arm Slave might have serious vulnerabilities in time, it would be untouchable with scalar shielding at the start. Was he about to rush headlong into suicide? If he proceeded cautiously, how long before the Apartment Building and the city of Hinata lay in ruins? Damn! He would need to contact the Harriers and the M9s as soon as possible.
“Yes, Sousuke. One more thing. Do you think Miss Chidori would prefer a videotape or still shots?” Su smiled. The resultant sputtering was mixed with mumbled curses.
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"Turtle-4 to Harrier flight and M9s. Enemy Arm Slave appears to have the capacity for scalar shielding. Repeat, the enemy Arm Slave appears to be equipped with scalar defences. Scalar shields may block energy and not matter, but anything electronic passing through will cease operating. Consider any shiled as expandable, usable as a weapon. Prodeed with all caution. Recommend you plot bomb paths judged by gravity alone. Over."
Melissa and the other M9 pilots radioed in. The two Harriers assigned to the enemy mecha had already begun their run minutes before.
"Turtle-4 to Mole-1. Mr. Sakata, do not follow through until instructed. The enemy machine has a device that will render your vehicle inoperable. Dirt and rock should prove no impediment to it, so consider yourself exposed if you approach too close. Over and out."
Sousuke changed frequencies again.
"Turtle-4 to Hinata Scout and Hinata Point. Avoid approaching Enemy Arm Slave too closely. Scalar defenses have been defected. If you are trapped in the field, you may suffere irreversible neurological injury or death. Repeat, stay distant from the enemy mecha. Turtle-4 out."
Things were certainly getting interesting. Sousuke thought about a well known Chinese curse.
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The two Harriers came in from two different directions, both heading for the lumbering form of the giant Arm Slave. Threat detectors caused one to veer off course, avoiding a pair of streaking SA-13s. In a few moments, it was winging towards its quarry again. GBU-32s were armed and ready. The 1000lb bombs Mk 83 iron bombs, augmented with GPS internal navigation systems and steering components, would have no trouble locking on to a target that size. Soon that crazy-painted Son Of A Bitch will be all holes and smoke! TALLY HO!!!
The first AV-8X took a high altitude release, raining half of its load before taking another angle of approach. All systems were green and ready to rock. The pilot was mystified when the bombs appeared to cease corrections when closing in on the target. Not a single hit. Not a scratch on that f@cking monstrosity! He would get closer for the next drop.
The other Harrier pilot held his release, hearing the reports of the first. As long as he wasn’t bushwhacked by any SAMs, this ought to be like shooting fish in a barrel. The Arm Slave was moving slowly. There was no defensive fire. No missiles. No flechettes or smoothbore rounds. Not even any defensive smoke or chaff. Was this somebody’s idea of a bad joke? BOMBS AWAY!!! Dodge those, twinkle toes!
The pilot had flown too close to the enemy vehicle. Passing through an expanded and attenuated scalar field, he lost all control of his aircraft. Still pulling on his ejection lever, he had time only to say “Oh shit” before he and his plane became a permanent addition to the geological strata of the Hinata environs. His bomb drop fared no better than the other, the GPS system fried by the rudimentary Tesla shield.
The remaining pilot got Sousuke’s warning a moment too late. Pulling his plane into a quick ascent as soon as he dropped his remaining payload, portions of his Harrier passed through the fringes of the Arm Slave’s defensive field. He had some control, but not much. The plane skittered sideways, reducing speed and altitude, threat detectors calling for attention. The 5kg HE warhead of the first of two SA-13s, closing in at mach 2, turned the VTOL aircraft into a cloud of flame, fuel, metal, and composite materials.
Most of the bombs veered off target. By the dictates of gravity and random chance, a number of bombs fell directly towards the Arm Slave. The scalar shield was not a fully developed design. The bombs were neither deflected by it, nor vaporized, melted, or detonated. They exploded against a spectral nimbus of light, pushed out from the body of the behemoth. The Lambda Driver was clearly operational.
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“Did you see that, Kashim? Can you feel your doom approaching?” Gauron burst into maniacal laughter. All defensive systems were working as expected. It was time to try out his new offensive toy. Wanting to judge the full mobility of Ahriman,, he switched over to a medium run from a slow walk.
The Arm Slave passed close to a fully crewed GAZ-3937, a BMP-3, and the armored tractor carrying a SA-13 launcher. The vehicles and their passengers were stopped dead in their tracks, literally. All electrical systems were shorted, including the nervous systems of the unsuspecting crew members.
The scientists lacked enough information to make the pirated Tesla shield live up to its full potential. Still, it had devastating combat potential.
“Oops! My bad” Gauron chuckled. It suddenly hit him. He hadn’t gotten around to telling his troops that they were expendable. They had been useful protecting Ahriman BEFORE it was operational and capable of taking care of itself. Memo to myself. NEXT time, remember to tell lackies about their life expectancy. Hope I don’t forget again. The chuckling became full fledged laughter once again.
“I just kill me, Kashim. Too bad no one else can….
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Sousuke didn't like waiting, knowing a battle was in progress nearby. He settled himself down, reciting an old Arab proverb: When you are the anvil, be patient. When you are the hammer, strike. He joined up with Melissa and the other M9s. There was a definite hint of fatalism in their voices, listening to their banter. That changed when the MT-4 walked into visual range.
“Well, I’ll be damned! What the bloody Hell is that? The voice belonged to Sgt. McGrady. “It looks like some frickin’ giant wind-up toy. I knew that Sagara was wet behind the ears, but I had been pretty certain he was out of diapers by now.” Sgt. Kaboli and Sgt. Buchet joined in the laughter. “Tell me, Sgt. Major Mao. Do you need to give that cute little guy a bottle to get him to fall asleep at night?”
Sousuke was not in the best of moods. “It is good to see that a man who is too slow to dodge a crawling ATGM at least has a quick wit.” He knew that they should fight the enemy, not each other. But, if he did not stick up for himself, they would not respect him. “Tell me, Sgt. McGrady. How does the Hinata dirt taste?” The laughter again, this time in Sousuke’s favor.
“I don’t know, Sgt. Major. How the f@ck am I supposed to fight near that thing.? It will be deuced hard not to break down in laughter. Sagara might not have any pride, but I do. How long until the giant fluffy bunny shows up?” Sgt. McGrady just wouldn’t let things rest. Sgt. Kaboli was laughing so hard, it sounded like he was choking. Sgt. Buchet simply said merde.
Sousuke was annoyed by the pointless gabbing. He swung the mega positronic cannon around and fired, digging a neat trench in the blink of an eye. When the geysers of dirt and rock ceased, he tossed the cannon like a baton…caught it…and brought it back into position.
There was dead silence for half a minute.
“Uh, I like it!” Sgt. Kaboli choked out.
“Magnifique.” Sgt. Buchet was truly impressed.
“Forget I said anything.” Sgt. McGrady had said enough.
“It is not a problem.” Sousuke felt satisfied.
“OK kiddies, play time is over. It’s time to move. Head to your designated points just outside the clearing. After the flyboys shoot their loads, it'll be time to engage that big motherf@cker. Take out anything you have to on the way in, but do not actively seek engagements unless at serious risk." Melissa moved her M9 forwards in an easy lope. "Smoke'em if you got'em."
The other two M9s followed close behind. Sousuke and the MT-4 brought up the rear.
"Yee Haw! Let's go kick some ass, then get the Hell out of here!" No doubt Sgt. McGrady was trying to boost his own morale. But, his exclamation was very similar to a quote attributed to General Custer. Sousuke hoped that wasn't a bad omen.
Sousuke jumped, grabbed his arm, and swore. A hypodermic needle had quickly protruded from a recess, taken a sample of venous blood, then withdrawn.
WORKING. MONITORING TESTOSTERONE LEVELS….
Sousuke’s teeth made a grinding sound. Women!!!
SOUSUKE…DON’T EMBARRASS ME
Sousuke did not answer the AI.
S*O*U*S*U*K*E!!!
"Yes. Sweetheart."
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Seta caught up with Haruka, not long after she had set off the last of her smoke markers. The two of them did not go entirely undetected, and scampered through the wooded countryside like a pair of foxes chased by hounds. The analogy was imperfect, however. These foxes had rather sharp teeth and were ready to use them. It was simply a matter of timing.
The troops in the forest had been moving cautiously, hoping to be undetected as the other mechanized group charged boldly out in the open. When the smoke signals were sighted, the commanding officers decide that time was of the essence. Things moved into high gear. Crouching atop a sizeable cluster of boulders, Seta spoke to Haruka in a bit of a rush. “Well, old gal, this brings back old memories, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. That’s probably the same damn outfit you wore back then. Couldn’t you have the courtesy to gain a couple of pounds? Some gentleman you are.” She lit up a cigarette, not concerned about giving away their position.
“Hmmm.” Seta quite obviously looked Haruka up and down. “Me thinkst the lady doth protest to much.” He took her hand and brought his lips to it. “Any regrets?” he asked, in a more serious tone of voice.
“You already know them,” Haruka answered, flinging her cigarette at him.
Seta smiled. “You should have put that cigarette out. We don’t want to start any fires!” A great roar filled the air, as aluminum napalm canisters released and ignited their combutible gel beyond the edge of the wooded area. “Looks like it’s time to move. Here comes our ride.”
More intent on speed than anything else, the lead elemement of the approaching enemy force was GAZ-3937, tires kicking up large patches of moss and leaves. There was no turret mount, and no apertures were open. The driver side window was open, however. “Trailer or troops?” Haruka asked, ready to spring from her crouch.
“Your choice, M’lady!” Seta bowed from the waist, hand moving in a flourish.
“Troops!” was her reply. As the truck drove close to their perch, she leapt and landed on the roof of the vehicle. Not long thereafter, Seta landed on the trailer. He smiled when he found that the missile tube was loaded. Attaboy! Such a thoughtful enemy. One spanking new Kornet ready to fire. He’d have to find SOME way to thank them….
Haruka tossed a grenade in through the open window, praying that if the driver were to be incapacitated, that he wouldn’t roll the truck. The explosion blew out one set of windows and cracked another. The GAZ-3937 veered and struck a tree right as Haruka and Seta had jumped free. Haruka, pistol drawn, went to take out any survivors and get the vehicle rolling again. Seta swung the missile tube so that it pointed to the rear. Not a moment too soon.
Three other GAZ-3937s passed by, a few rows of trees over. None showed any indication of slowing. Rumbling up behind them, a BMP-3 pushed down saplings and small trees. The turret began to swing in their direction. “Haruka!” he yelled, only slightly concerned with the armored vehicle. Those Harriers would be heading back, and this area would cease to exist as it currently was. “We have to MOVE!!!”
“No shit, Sherlock. Take your shot, then leave the driving to ME. I promise not to pull one of your stunts.” She was referring to Seta’s habit of driving his van into everything and anything. Hearing the missile launch, she stomped on the accelerator, causing Seta to garb onto the hot missile tube and hold on for dear life.
The AT-X-14 missile streaking away from that tube carried a HEAT warhead. It was more than sufficient to ruin the BMP-3's day. The explosion blew the turret clean off, just as an AT-10 left the gun tube. Lacking direction, the smaller missile nose-dived into the ground far from the speeding truck.
Smiling in triumph, Seta soon lost that smile as he glanced behind him. He wondered if he should take out his ticket to the River Styx. The forest land behind him was jumping skyward, broken and splintered by the dozens of explosives sowed by accurately placed JSOWs. The devastation quickly headed their way.
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End of chapter ten.
