by Isaac Hooke
“Lori,” Jason said.
The tip of her tail immediately went dark, and she knelt beside him. “Yes, Baby?”
“You’re not helping,” Jason said.
“Sorry,” Lori said. “I just feel so helpless.”
“The repair drones are fixing his inner circuitry, and external armor, but he doesn’t seem to be getting any better…” Xin said.
Xin was right: Jason felt just as weak as the moment after impact. His vision seemed to be growing dimmer as well, with the LIDAR wireframes that overlaid his sight becoming darker with each moment.
“He’s going to need a new battery,” Aria said. “Both his main and his backup are shot.”
“If both are shot, why is he online at all?” Xin said.
“He’s running on his backup,” Aria said. “But look at the puncture on his Damage Report. It won’t last long.”
“I can contribute my main,” Sophie said. “I’ll operate on my backup.”
“No,” Tara said. “I’ll do it.”
“All right,” Aria said. “Jason, we’re going to have to shut you down.”
But she didn’t have to, because everything went dark a moment later.
Jason opened his eyes. It was still dark out, and the girls were seated in a circle around him. The Rex Wolves had come down from their perches, and Bruiser and Lackey were beside Tara, Runt with Lori, and Shaggy next to Jason.
Shaggy whined softly, and licked his metallic hand.
Jason sat up. “How long was I out for?” He checked his internal clock. “Only a minute.”
“Yep,” Aria said. “We just installed Tara’s spare battery, and booted you. The two of you will have to run on one cell for the time being, until we can get some proper lithium collected for new cells. Maybe pillage a few Bokerov bases somewhere along the way. Until then, be careful not to exhaust your cell, because there will be no switchover, and you’ll just power off.”
“Got it,” Jason said.
An alert appeared on his HUD. It was from one of the cameras that Aria had placed along the perimeter.
Warning. Aircraft detected.
On the overhead map, a red dot appeared five klicks away. The calculated trajectory, which appeared as a dotted line, was projected to pass directly over their position.
Jason switched to Bullet Time and scrambled to his feet. A couple of repair drones sluggishly fell off, and buzzed in outrage at his sudden movement. He swatted at the others.
“Recall these,” Jason ordered.
Sophie and Tara recalled their repair drones. He still needed maybe another ten minutes to fully replace his armor, but he could do that any other time.
He amped up his time sense to max, so that everything slowed to a halt.
“Do we bury ourselves?” Xin asked.
“No,” Jason said. “Look at the trajectory. It’s going to pass right over our position. My guess is, it spotted us when Tara and Sophie were fighting.”
“Sorry again,” Tara said. On the lower right of his HUD, her avatar was looking down, as if at her feet.
“Don’t be,” Jason said. “There’s only one aircraft. And it’s not zig-zagging yet. Maybe we can take it down. Assume defensive positions on the rise!”
Jason decreased his time sense, but still operated at an elevated level so that he could move as fast as possible. In moments he had reached the edge of the nearest rise, and he dropped to aim past the horizon.
He zoomed in, and then amped up his time sense to the max once more.
“The thermal signature isn’t a Russian design,” Jason said.
“No, it’s not,” Aria agreed.
“A trick on Bokerov’s part?” Xin asked.
“Maybe,” Jason replied. “Maybe not.”
Jason hesitated, but then decided to take a risk.
“Unidentified vessel, please identify yourself,” Jason transmitted on the common band. It was the first thing he could think of. Assuming that some sort of AI or Mind Refurb was in command of the craft, he kept his time sense cranked up to the max. If a machine was indeed in control, the timebase transmitted in the header of the message would allow the AI to match his time sense.
“You identify yourselves!” a voice returned.
“Uh,” Jason said. “We’re mechs. US units.”
“What company?” the voice said. “Division? Branch?”
“Uh, War Forgers?” Jason said. “Army. Maybe?”
“Friendlies!” the voice returned. “Why don’t you turn on your identifiers in your comm header? Would have saved me a lot of trouble.”
“Guess I missed that part in the manual,” Jason said.
“Well, you fuckers are lucky I didn’t bomb the shit out of you!” the voice said. “I saw the flashes you were making from kilometers away. Thought you were that Russian bitch.”
“And who are you again?” Jason said.
“Didn’t you read the identifier in my comm header?” the voice said. “Ah, never mind. I’m Major Denver, US Air Force. Mind Refurb division.”
“Ah,” Jason said.
“I assume you’ve been sent here for the same reason I was?” Denver said.
Jason paused. “Uh, yeah, probably.”
“That fucker has been destroying our bases throughout the region,” Denver said. “Along with ten others, I launched from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean to gather reconnaissance on his different bases. I was almost shot down five times now. He got me good two times, but I managed to repair and fly on. I believe I’m the only one left of the original ten. I’ve been trying to return to the carrier in the Mediterranean Sea to deliver my report, but I’ve been essentially stranded here, constrained to a region little bigger than a hundred klicks in diameter. The Russian has got anti-aircraft vehicles on the ground, encircling the area, and they’re slowly tightening the noose. I won’t be able to stay airborne forever. I’ll have to land and hide out at some point.”
“How long have you been in the air?” Jason asked.
“A few weeks now,” Denver replied.
“I’m surprised you haven’t run out of fuel,” Jason commented.
“Oh, I’ve got regenerating fuel tanks,” Denver said. “Special bacteria in my metal guts make it.” That would be like Sophie’s jumpjet unit. “I still have to land every few days to regenerate, however.”
“What’s the situation in the western hemisphere?” Jason said. “I would have expected some sort of counteroffensive by now, not just airborne scouts. You know, reinforcements, or other support troops. We’ve been the only ones.”
“We didn’t know what was going on for the first few weeks,” Denver said. “Because of a devastating cyberattack, we lost all of our comm satellites at the same time, as well as the AIs managing the army bases and even the nuclear launch facilities. Thankfully no actual launch codes were leaked. There have been constant cyberattacks against our infrastructure since then. Electrical grid, power plants, and so forth. Plus false flag attacks, meant to make it look like aliens have arrived: transports fly over cities and drop mutants into the town centers. Keeping us distracted.
“As far as we can tell, he’s been trying to obtain access to the Russian nuclear stockpile. Years ago, we filled most of the nuclear silos with concrete, along with those of the Chinese and other super powers in the uninhabited zone, and set up automated guard units to protect the areas. But those defenses have been under attack lately. So far, he hasn’t succeeded in taking a silo yet: you asked about reinforcements, and that’s where we’ve been sending most of them for the time being. But as soon as I get back, well, if I get back, we’ll have some fresh targets.”
“How did you know the Russian was responsible for all of this?” Jason said.
“We captured one of the transport ships that was dumping mutants onto the cities, and dug out its comm node,” Denver said. “We were able to trace the comm signal to this area, via a series of repeaters the Russian had strung across the ocean. I didn’t actually know
he was Russian, however, until he started attacking me, and his units matched old Russian makes and models in my database. He’s never said a word to me.”
“By now you’ve spotted the rifts that have been opening up, yes?” Jason said.
“That’s right,” Denver said. “I was going to report that, too. The fucker’s trying to facilitate an alien invasion.”
Jason paused to digest everything he just heard. “Okay, so you say you’ve been sent here to scout for the Russian bases? That means you’ve recorded a few of their positions, yes?”
“A few,” Denver agreed.
“We might be able to help each other,” Jason said.
19
“Tell me,” Jason said. “Have you seen anything that might resemble a communications center? A closet of satellites, repeater towers, and so forth?”
“I have,” Denver said. “But why should I tell you? You say you can help me? How?”
“We think we have a way to disable his entire army,” Jason said. “Via a specially designed virus payload. It requires physical access to the Russian’s communications center in the region, however.”
“Disabling his army would certainly help me,” Denver said.
“So what have you seen?” Jason pressed.
“There’s a valley in the center of the mountain range to the southeast,” Denver said. “In it, there’s a cluster of satellites and repeaters. It definitely could be the communications center you’re looking for. Unfortunately, it’s extremely well guarded. I was almost shot down passing over it, in fact.”
“Do you have any photographs you can share?” Jason said.
“Sure,” Denver said.
Jason received a file request, and accepted.
“There are two approaches leading in and out,” Denver said. “Mountain roads, essentially. Big enough for your mechs to fit. The Russian had some tanks on the outgoing road when I flew by. In the valley itself, ringing the comm center are a series of defense platforms, providing three hundred sixty degrees of weapons coverage. There are also seven large mechs ringing the area. Ranging from twice as large to three times as large as yours.”
“Cataphracts,” Jason said.
“That’s about right,” Denver said. “They’re of a design I’ve never seen before.”
“Even if we combine, we’ll be outnumbered more than two to one,” Jerry said on a private channel.
“We would, at least for a while,” Jason said. “We’d just need to defend long enough for Lori to inject her Containment Code.” Jason switched to the open band and addressed Denver: “Can you send me the exact location of this base?”
Denver did so.
“That’s definitely inside the mountain range,” Jason said. “And what about the two approaches?”
“If you give me highlight access to your map, I can show you,” Denver said.
Jason gave him access, and in moments two long lines appeared on the map, leading through the mountains to the comm center.
“We should set out as soon as possible,” Jason said. “While Bokerov’s forces are still looking for us. Denver, can you act as our high altitude scout?”
“I can,” Denver said.
“Good,” Jason said. “We’re going to need you to clear the way, so that we can get there as fast as possible, and with the least encounters.” He called Lori on a private line.
“Hey Babe!” Lori said.
“Is the injection code ready?” Jason asked.
“Me and Lori 5 should be finished in about two hours,” Lori said. “We can work on it while on the move—we just have to give our Accomps control of our mechs.”
“Do it,” Jason said.
Jason had the clones dig themselves out of their plots, and then ordered the group to set out for the mountains immediately.
Denver scouted ahead from high altitude. The major detected ground patrols four times, and helped the team steer well clear of each party. One of the patrols sighted him, and he was almost blown from the sky, but zig-zagging while on the retreat saved Denver.
As promised, sometime in the middle of the night Lori announced that she and her clone had completed the code injection routines.
“You’re sure it will work?” Jason asked her.
“Somewhat,” Lori replied.
“That doesn’t inspire confidence,” Jason said.
“Well,” Lori said. “The only way to be completely sure is to test it on the actual comm center server. But otherwise, I’m ninety-nine percent sure.”
When the team reached the range, the War Forgers and their clones hugged the shoulders of the mountains. By the time morning came, they had reached the pass that led to the comm center. It was guarded by four defense platforms and eight of the smaller mechs.
“All right, Lori, and Lori 5,” Jason said. “I want you to enter, and make your way to the comm center. Install the virus, if you can.”
The Stalkers of both Lori and Lori 5 became invisible.
“You really think they’ll make it to the comm center’s server room without being detected?” Sophie asked.
“I don’t know,” Jason said. “But it’s worth a try.”
Denver was traveling high overhead, ready to alert the team if either Lori got into trouble. The major had already drawn some fire, and he’d retreated a ways to the south, far enough so that he was outside Bokerov’s weapons range, but still close enough to observe the two Stalkers, though the angle was kind of poor, and he wouldn’t be able to keep the units in sight at all times—there were several blind spots, mostly due to the different mountain rises. Denver hadn’t spotted the Cataphracts: it was possible the large enemy mechs were hidden behind the blind spots.
Both Stalker mechs were still in range, and appeared on his overhead map, so he was able to watch as they approached the different mechs and defense platforms.
The pair managed to sneak halfway through the group of mechs when one of the units opened fire. Bokerov had apparently adapted, updating his sensors so that the telltale thermal signatures on Lori’s foot regions were detected during invisibility.
The other enemy mechs and platforms started firing, too.
The rest of the team rushed them, drawing the fire away from the girls, and together, Jason and company made short work of the units. The Rex Wolves even joined in, and with their powerful T-Rex-like jaws they were able to crunch right through the midsections of the smaller mechs.
“Destroying these platforms is going to call in Bokerovs from across the region, you know,” Tara said.
“Oh I know,” Jason said. “Which is why we have to get to the comm center and install the Containment Code immediately.”
There was another base about ten minutes away from this one, so it wouldn’t be long before reinforcements arrived. They definitely had to be quick.
Without pausing, the team entered the pass proper.
“I actually prefer it this way,” Jason said.
“Prefer what?” Tara said. “That the enemy knows we’re here?”
“Yes,” Jason said. “Because now we have no excuse not to go inside with both Stalkers. Those blind spots in Denver’s surveillance made me nervous.”
“I hear you,” Tara said. “They made me nervous, too.”
Still invisible, the two Loris led the way, followed by the two Arias, and the tanks. The rest of the team followed. Bruiser and Lackey stayed close to the two Taras, while Runt and Shaggy kept near Jason and Jerry. Shaggy had his ears back, and moved at a crouch, the big animal stepping as softly as he could.
I hope I don’t regret taking the dogs along…
Tara had assured him that the mutants would know when to stay back… that they wouldn’t dare attack the enemy Cataphracts, just as they had avoided Nightmares in the past. Still, Jason wasn’t so sure. He worried that one of the Rex Wolves would try something heroic if they saw him or one of the others they liked in danger. Still, he had to give them some credit: they had fought well back there, shredding those s
mall enemy mechs like so much paper.
On either side, the cliffs rose tall. There was enough room to fit four of the mechs abreast.
“Perfect spot for an ambush,” Aria remarked. She was surveying the peaks suspiciously. They all were.
Jason had his Explorer flying well above the peak line, offering a second set of eyes to Denver’s scout. So far, the area seemed clear beyond the peaks.
Red dots appeared on the overhead map up ahead as the Explorer picked up some units that were in Denver’s blind spot.
“Got twelve tanks coming up, around the bend,” Jason said. “Blocking the roadway. Prepare for contact.”
Jason pulled the Explorer back just as the tanks opened fire at the scout; he dodged the unit behind a mountain peak as a plasma bolt shot past.
The two Arias rounded the bend, holding their ballistic shields together to form a long plate. The tanks pounded it with their shells and plasma turrets. Two of the tanks had energy weapons, which tore holes right through the shields. The Arias stabbed their lightning weapons through those gaps and unleashed bolts of electricity that, when they struck, arced between the tanks.
Meanwhile, the invisible Loris used the distraction to approach completely undetected, and then unleashed their plasma bolts in rapid succession behind each of the tanks. The units took quite a battering, but their armor held; some of the tanks began to pivot their turrets toward the invisible sources of those plasmas, but then Jason and the others rounded the bend, and took cover behind Aria’s shield. They peered past to open fire.
Jason synced his laser with Jerry and the two Taras so that when he fired, the combined beam was almost as strong as an energy bolt. He targeted the turrets in turn. The two Xins also fired the plasma beams from their eyes, and the Sophies launched their micro machines, and in a few moments it was over. The Rex Wolves had wisely stayed back this time.
The team hurried to the wreckage of the tanks, and paused to launch their repair drones. The small machines used the wreckages of the tanks for parts, and began to repair the damage that had been inflicted to the shields of the two Arias. Jason waited until those holes had been patched to fifty percent strength, and then had the team recall their drones to move on—he was unwilling to delay any longer.