Those anti-armor mines are magnetic, said Nickelo. If you space the mines out on this side of the intersection, you will at least slow the Kraken down. Even an experienced pilot would have trouble getting the Kraken’s six legs through the intersection without stepping on a mine.
Good, Richard said. That’s what I was hoping.
Activating the mine release level, Richard hastily laid out the eight anti-armor mines in what Nickelo assured him was the most efficient pattern. After the mines were in place, Richard walked his Tomcat forward until his left-gun pod was only a half meter from the edge of the next building.
Tam will know where you’re at, Rick, said Nickelo. Your stealth shield is too good for her to pick up, but the Long Cat’s sensors will be tracing the electronic output of your Tomcat. The moment you stick any part of your cat around the corner of the building, you’re going to have a 200mm phase round coming at you.
I know, Richard said. That’s why I’m not going to stick my head around the corner. I’m going to stick my left pod’s 40mm autocannon around it. I’ll use the autocannon’s sighting device as a sort of periscope to pinpoint the Long Cat’s position. I need more detailed information than my passive scan and the Tomcat’s electronic sensors are giving me.
Fine, said Nickelo. Do it your way. You’re the all-powerful wizard scout. I’m just the subservient and humble battle computer.
Whatever, Richard said half dismissively. I haven’t heard you giving any suggestions. You’re just pointing out problems.
It’s your training exercise, Rick, not mine, said Nickelo. Besides, TAC Officer Myers directed all of the battle computers to give minimal assistance unless there was a safety reason.
You know, Nick, Richard said, sometimes I think you listen to Myers more than you listen to me.
Now you know that’s not true, Rick, said Nickelo in a hurt voice. You know I always listen to you. I don’t always do what you ask, but I do listen. There’s a difference, you know.
Richard didn’t bother answering. He made another check of his heads-up display. Both the Kraken and the Warcat scout were still in their same positions.
Hey, Richard said. The Warcat hasn’t moved either. What’s Jerad up to? I figured he’d be making use of the scout’s maneuverability to get into the battle as soon as possible.
The yellow dot you see on your heads-up display is from information I received thirty-two seconds ago, said Nickelo. I don’t know where the Warcat scout is now. I’ll update the plot when I receive new information. I seriously doubt the Warcat is anywhere close to the yellow dot on your heads-up display.
Well, nothing I can do about it, Richard said. I’ve got to take out Tam while I have the chance.
Richard used the Tomcat’s hydraulics to slowly edge the left-gun pod of his cat around the corner of the building. Once he had the 40mm cannon past the corner, Richard had a clear field of view of the street ahead. About fifty meters to his front, Richard made out a jumble of concrete from a bombed-out building. He saw a flash of light at the edge of the gunsight. Richard immediately jerked the Tomcat’s left-gun pod back, but he was a split second too late. A huge splash of blue paint splattered the corner of the building. By the time Richard finished pulling the 40mm autocannon back around the corner, it was dripping in blue paint as well.
That sucks, Richard said. Tam took out the 40mm autocannon. The only long-range weapon I have now is the 20mm chain gun and the six anti-armor rockets in my shoulder pod.
Well, said Nickelo unsympathetically. You’re lucky this is a simulation, and the Long Cat is only firing paint rounds. An actual 200mm phase round would have taken out the whole corner of the building in addition to your autocannon. You’d either be flaming wreckage by now or buried under a hundred metric tons of concrete. In either case, you’d be dead.
If this wasn’t a simulation, I’d have called in an airstrike, Richard said.
I won’t argue with you, Rick, said Nickelo. Regardless, what are you going to do about the Long Cat? Jerad will be here in the Warcat soon. The clock’s ticking.
What about the roof of this next building? Richard said. Do you think it would hold the weight of my Tomcat?
Not if you stood up it wouldn’t, said Nickelo. But if you low crawl on the roof, the weight will be distributed. I calculate a ninety-four percent probability you could navigate the roof if you remained in a prone position. But, I need to point out the pilot of the Long Cat will know exactly where you’re at. Your stealth shield is hiding you, but you can’t hide the electronic signature of your cat.
No problem, Richard said. The phase cannon on the Long Cat can only elevate forty degrees. Even if Tam backs her cat up to the far building, she’ll only be able to hit the fourth floor of this one. I’ll be two stories higher when I’m on the roof. I’ll be safe enough.
If Tam had a real phase cannon, said Nickelo, she’d blow the whole floor out. The Tomcat and you'd come tumbling down.
Well, Richard said, as I pointed out earlier, this is a simulation. Tam doesn’t have a real phase cannon. I’m just working within the limitations of the simulation. Now, are you going to keep talking? Or are you going to help me find the best handholds.
Richard’s heads-up display switched to an image of the wall of the building. Yellow markers pinpointed strategic hand and footholds for the Tomcat. Richard took a step towards the wall, but then he stopped. He took two quick steps back towards the blasted out section of the first building. Reaching inside with the Tomcat’s right arm, he ripped out one of the support beams. The metal beam was about three meters long.
And what pray tell are you going to do with that? Nickelo asked.
I’m not sure yet, Richard admitted. I’ll let you know as soon as I figure it out. It just seemed like a good idea. Call it a hunch. All I know for sure is this 20mm peashooter I have won’t harm a medium cat. I need something a little more potent.
Without discussing it further, Richard began climbing the wall. Climbing was awkward. The hydraulics to the Tomcat’s left-gun pod had been deactivated. It now hung uselessly at his side. Richard thrust his right arm in a convenient hole and pulled the cat up. When his hold was secure, Richard took a moment to insure the Kraken was still stationary. It was. He continued climbing up the side of the wall.
Where’s Jerad in the Warcat, Nick? And what’s Telsa doing in the Kraken? Why is she just staying in one place?
No idea, Rick. Sorry.
Once Richard made it to the edge of the roof, he rolled over the reinforced-concrete ledge until he was lying flat on the roof. Even with his weight distributed, Richard heard the roof make cracking noises.
Here goes nothing, Richard said as he began crawling forward.
Low crawling while inside a four meter tall, eight metric ton cat was not easy. Fortunately, moving the Tomcat was similar to moving a human body.
Make your way towards that vent cap, said Nickelo. The Long Cat should be right below there. And, why are you still carrying that metal bar? I don’t understand how you think it’s going to help.
I’m not sure how it’ll help, Richard said as he crawled the last few meters to a position near the edge of the roof. However, I have a hunch it’ll come in handy. Besides, it reminds me of my phase rod. I think I prefer it to the 20mm.
Well, said Nickelo doubtfully, we’ll see how useful you think it is when that Warcat scout is firing anti-armor rockets at you from fifty meters away.
I’m going to ease my cockpit past the lip of the roof so I can get a visual of the Long Cat, Richard said. Has the Kraken moved? And, do you have an update on the Warcat’s location.
That’s a negative on both counts, Rick, said Nickelo. I’m confused by the Kraken’s non-movement.
Can’t worry about it now, Nick, Richard said. Tam’s quick on her feet. I know the Long Cat’s phase cannon can’t elevate this high, but I wouldn’t put it past her to figure out some method for using her rocket pods to harass us. Back me up on the visual, Nick. Regardless of what t
he instructors say, the view from this cockpit is not the same as looking out the visor of my battle helmet.
Will do, Rick, said Nickelo. I agree with you on Tam. She’s tricky. She’s bound to have a fix on your location. I calculate there is a twenty-two percent probability she’s figured out a way to elevate her weapons.
Doubtful, Richard said as he eased the upper part of his cockpit past the edge of the roof. Richard peered over the side of the building as he continued crawling forward. He could see part of the street below. Normally, he kept his battle helmet’s filter in night-vision mode which gave everything a red tint. But since he was inside the cat, Richard had opted to use his helmet’s clear visor. As a result, he saw every nuance of color on the wall of the building opposite him and on the street below.
Where’s she at? Richard said growing concerned. Even if she were crouching, I should be seeing the top of the Long Cat’s turret by now. That medium cat is seven meters tall. I wouldn’t think she could crouch down that much.
It’s seven point four meters tall, said Nickelo. And you’re right. Even in a crouch, the Long Cat couldn’t reduce its height to less than five meters.
Pushing forward with the clawed feet of the Tomcat, Richard eased his cockpit window a little further past the edge of the roof. He could now see the entire street. When Richard finally saw the Long Cat he began backpedaling desperately.
“Nick,” Richard said out loud. “She’s lying down.”
The vision of the massive Long Cat lying on its back with its 200mm phase cannon aimed right at the center of his cockpit window was etched in Richard’s brain as he continued to backpedal. Just as the top of his cockpit pulled back over the ledge, a burst of blue paint exploded along the edge of the roof. Small specks of blue splattered the front of his cockpit.
Your Tomcat’s still running, said Nickelo. The controllers obviously didn’t count that as a kill. So, get moving wizard scout before the Long Cat’s phase cannon has a chance to recycle.
Reacting without thinking was Richard’s strong point. He raised the Tomcat to its feet and jumped over the ledge of the roof. He heard parts of the roof caving in behind him. Richard fell towards the street six stories below. As he fell, a part of Richard’s mind calculated the reload time for the Long Cat’s 200mm cannon. Unlike plasma weapons, a phase weapon was a combination of a physical cartridge and energy. An actual phase cartridge contained a creallium core which was charged with energy from an isotopic battery. A real phase cannon could reload in a half second. The Long Cat’s training cannon had been modified to fire 200mm paintballs. It took a full three seconds to reload. The range and accuracy of the modified cannon was much reduced as well.
As he fell, Richard visually located and targeted the Long Cat. The large bore of the 200mm phase cannon was pointed directly at him. Richard imagined the reload taking place as he fell to the street below. As he watched, the residue of the last paintball was ejected out the side of the phase cannon. He knew another paintball would be entering the empty chamber a split-second later. Richard pulled back the right arm of the Tomcat and moved it forward at maximum velocity. The three meter long support beam hurtled straight towards the open bore of the phase cannon.
Richard didn’t waste time watching to see if the metal beam struck true. Either it would or it wouldn’t. From experience, he knew watching wouldn’t help. Richard targeted the cockpit of the Long Cat with the rocket pod on the Tomcat’s shoulder. His six anti-armor rockets began salvo-firing at the cockpit below. Richard made out Tam’s upper body through the Long Cat’s cockpit. Her hands were moving furiously across the Long Cat’s control panel as she attempted to raise her cat into a standing position. The rockets in her two shoulder-mounted weapon’s pods began returning fire. The range between the two cats was too close for the guidance mechanisms of any of the rockets to lock onto their targets. Richard’s first two rockets hit the street to the left side of the Long Cat’s cockpit splattering red paint on the grey concrete street. Trails of smoke passed to either side of Richard as the first wave of Tam’s rockets whizzed by his cockpit.
Richard caught a glimpse of his third rocket streaking directly towards the clear windows of the Long Cat’s cockpit. Just before the third rocket struck home, Richard saw Tam raise her right fist with her middle finger extended in a universal gesture of defiance. A split second later, the Tomcat’s rocket shattered on the Long Cat’s cockpit window covering it in red paint. The fourth rocket also struck true completely blanketing the upper torso of the cat in red. At the same time, one of Tam’s rockets hit the stored, rear leg of Richard’s Tomcat. He saw a schematic of the Tomcat appear on his heads-up display. He noticed the hydraulic pressure of the rear leg dropping rapidly as the Tomcat’s aft hydraulic pump began flashing red.
The controllers have taken the Tomcat’s rear leg offline, said Nickelo.
The Tomcat hit the ground hard and tumbled forward. Even sheltered inside the gel-filled cockpit of the cat, Richard felt the shock of the landing. Instinctively, he tucked the Tomcat into a crouch and rolled forward into a summersault to reduce the shock of the fall. As soon as the Tomcat completed its roll, Richard raised his cat into a standing position. He was pleasantly surprised to find most of the Tomcat’s controls still working. Either the controller’s computer had determined the Tomcat could have survived such a maneuver under combat conditions, or the controllers were too shocked to make a final decision. Whatever the reason, Richard didn’t care. While his Tomcat’s left arm was out as well as his rear leg, his cat was still operational, and that’s what mattered. He could still move, and as long as he could move, he could fight.
Richard took two steps towards the Long Cat. It lay helpless among the broken rubble of the building. The Long Cat’s cockpit windows were completely covered in red paint, so he couldn’t see Tam. But the image of her giving him the finger made him smile. Tam was one tough soldier. She didn’t like to lose.
Reaching out with the claw of the Tomcat’s right arm, Richard pulled the metal beam out of the muzzle of the Long Cat’s phase cannon. His improvised missile had struck true. The end of the beam was covered in blue paint. Richard had a momentary thought that the beam must have hit a round of paint just as it was being chambered into the phase cannon. He’d beaten Tam to the punch by a hair at the most.
Once the metal beam was firmly in his grasp, Richard raised the Tomcat to a semi-comfortable position. The metal beam really did remind him of his phase rod a little. A wizard scout’s phase rod was a modified riot baton. When activated, a telescopic brerellium-steel rod extended a meter out of the rod’s handle. When the rod’s lever was moved to destructive mode, an isotopic battery energized the phase rod’s creallium core. When activated, phase energy moved up and down the phase rod in a fashion similar to hundreds of miniature lightning bolts. While the current metal beam was not energized with phase energy, Richard hoped he could make good use of it in close combat as a battering weapon.
Inside the Tomcat’s cockpit, Richard began moving his legs in a running motion. The sensors inside the Tomcat picked up the movement. The cat began running down the street. Richard headed in the direction of the Warcat’s last known position. He doubted Jerad would give him long to celebrate his victory over the Long Cat. A glance at his heads-up display confirmed the Kraken was still stationary. The lack of movement on the part of his friend, Telsa, concerned Richard, but he couldn’t waste time worrying about it. Jerad was his most dangerous opponent. Even in the lightly-armed Warcat, Richard suspected Jerad had tricks up his sleeve he’d be hard pressed to counter. Jerad’s years spent working his way up through the ranks in armor units had given his friend more experience than Richard feared he could defend against with his paltry three weeks of training.
What do you think you’re going to accomplish by running down the street like a wild man swinging that metal beam? said Nickelo. Do you even have a plan?
Jerad only has two rockets, Richard said. And his light plasma guns are only goo
d as anti-personnel weapons. I’m going to draw his fire and make him waste his two missiles. I’ve fired all my missiles, and my Tomcat’s 20mm chain gun won’t penetrate even the Warcat’s armor. So, I’m going to use this metal beam like it’s a phase rod and beat the tar out of his Warcat. How’s that for a plan?
Nickelo’s lack of a reply let Richard know exactly what his battle computer thought about his plan.
Chapter 5 – The Warcat
_____________________________________
Incoming, said Nickelo. It’s an anti-armor missile.
Richard hadn’t made it twenty meters down the street before sensing the energy reading streaking towards him.
Jerad’s not wasting any time, is he? Richard said.
Negative, said Nickelo. You’ve given him too good of a target. I’ve tracked the missile back to its origin, and pinpointed the Warcat’s position. I’m updating your heads-up display.
Richard didn’t waste time looking at the heads-up display. He had an incoming missile to worry about. Richard instinctively made a quick calculation and threw the steel beam in the Tomcat’s right claw. The beam hit true, and the incoming missile exploded in a spray of blue paint ten meters to his front.
Disconnect the Tomcat’s third leg, Nick, Richard said.
Disconnecting, said Nickelo. But I’m not sure why you’re bothering. It was stowed out of the way. Even though it was out of action, it wasn’t causing you any problems.
Richard didn’t bother answering. He reached down with the Tomcat’s right claw and picked up the disconnected third leg. It resembled a monkey’s tail more than it resembled a leg. Richard picked up one end of the flexible-metal leg. He gave it a flick so the flexible leg coiled behind him like a whip.
Glancing at his heads-up display, Richard noted the Warcat’s location. The Warcat was half exposed around the corner of a building. Richard began running straight towards the stationary Warcat. Small paintballs representing antipersonnel plasma rounds came towards him. Richard ignored them. Even if the Warcat’s automatic plasma rifles had been filled with live ammo, they wouldn’t have been able to penetrate the Tomcat’s armor. Richard’s primary concern was Jerad’s remaining anti-armor missile.
Wizard Scout (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 3) Page 5