|
The big mech slowly rises to a standing position, heavily favoring the still-smoking leg that bears a considerable scorch mark. He lumbers toward the vehicle, uncaring of the grass he mercilessly tramples. As the discussion of what to do about the inbound unknown comes up, he says, "Negative, Infantryman Auriel Acherean. The RG-14 RAE Rail Gun of the Glitter Boy should be able to neutralize any single combatant.
Just have Jonis shoot it," he rumbles, collapsing into the Mountaineer.
"Not an option. I'll explain shortly. Let's hide the vehicle for now. says Auriel as he begins doing just that.
As you attempt to hide the vehicle, two Coalition Sky Cycles and two older SAMAS power armor suits fly over the area. The Sky Cycles speed by, but the power armor slows for a few tense moments before turning and rejoining the the cycles. It looks like for the moment, you have managed to avoid the patrol...
"So, we have been robbed of a formidable warrior, and in her place karma has seen to saddle us with a defective robot. I wonder what we did to deserve this turn of events? Can we deactivate it until we have a chance to determine if it still retains any value? Surely some of the parts are at least salveagible."
"Must you be so acerbic Shakti?" says Auriel as he pats Attie on the shoulder. "This is an old friend; Attie, this is Shakti, Shakti, this is Attie." Auriel then begins removing the camoflage netting from atop the vehicle.
"A little help would be nice."
|
|
"I am not a robot, Overpaid and Underworked Government Employee Shakti. I am a AS7-D Atlas Assaultmech Cyborg, designation model TwentyOne Dash Twelve. And that is your point of view. From my point of view Fate has robbed me of an entire elite strike team and saddled me with a competent infantryman and an egocentric History Teacher whose place in a combat team is not yet justified.
My only current defect is that all ammunition counts are currently zero, and I have taken an injury that would have reduced an un-augmented human such as yourself to a small pile of dust that was not missed by anyone and perhaps rejoiced at by others. But I digress."
Seeing that egress could be sped up, Atlas groggily exits the vehicle and assists Auriel in re-packing the field camouflage. During this process he "accidentally" embraces and crushes a fairly large tree. "It appears my close-range combat potential, capable of crushing all the bones of an augmented human, are still functional. But I digress."
"Hello, Atlas, good to have you back" Burgurk says tersely.
Burgurk ignores the conversation between Atlas and Shakti, and helps remove the netting from the vehicle.
Shakti will give the Toaster one of the L-20's she took from the patrol they just eliminated, as well as some e-clips.
"This rifle probably fails to take advantage of your augmented strength like you own ordinance, but it will give you some range capability and make you somewhat less of a burden."
"If you will allow, I can repair the damaged organic elements in your leg. If we are to be saddled with you, I suppose it serves our best interest to have you functioning at least as well as designed, since nothing better than that is an option."
|
|
Atlas nods recognition back to Burgurk, then silently accepts the L-20 and accompanying clips, then sits still as the Public School Teacher attends to his injury, secretly keeping his Automated Target Acquisition Computer and high stand-by, at once stunned and confused at this sudden show of not merely concern, but downright usefulness by the walking thesaurus.
he rumbles out, testing the leg to insure it's condition.
Newly mended and the camouflage netting stowed, he resume his seat. he states, stoically.
"We are presently deployed on a mission. Our timetable does not permit for a return to Castle Refuge. We have a member of our team captured or killed, and a time sensitive objective. If you wish to be useful, you could render that aid of which you are capable towards our mission."
"And for the record, a debrief is something you do after an event upon which you wish to report or reflect. Receiving information for a future mission would by contrast be getting 'briefed'."
"Here is the situation, Attie. I know you're not going to like it..." Auriel then proceeds to explain what has happened with the group since Attie had left, doing his best to leave nothing out.
.....
"And that's where we stand now."
|
|
he suddenly yells, lunging forward, his eyes bright with Target Acquisition. He SLAMS his heavy fist into the side of the vehicle, twisting his hand and filling the air with a horrid screech of metal on metal.
Then he stands there, processing, grieving in his own way.
"No, no, there was nothing you could have done. She...she made her own choice."
He passively sits down.
"What is our current mission," the cyborg inquires.
"We are going to deal with both the Master Vampire and the necromancer, which may indeed be one and the same." explains Auriel. "I should also explain about the true nature of vampires. Most people believe that they are but natives that have been turned into the undead, but the truth is actually much worse than that: they are the pawns of a supernatural intelligence, a massive creature with tentacles that can drain life with a touch. Now, it is unlikely that such a creature is here, as if there was one here, the local area would be overrun with undead, but it is not outside the realm of possibility that it could just be hiding. As far as Vampires go, they are immune to non-magical weapons, even weapons of mass destruction. The only things that can permanently kill them are magical weapons, wooden stakes, and running water."
"There are three types of Vampires: Spawn, Secondary, Master, and the aforementioned vampire supernatural intelligence. Spawn are the most commonly seen: they are feral beasts that are easily dispatched; Secondary Vampires retain some measure of intelligence and many of their previous abilities, but they are subservient to the Master Vampire. Master Vampires have many rather potent powers, including the ability to command lesser vampires and animals, turn into mist, and control the hearts of men."
|
|
Atlas processes this. "Does the wood have to be in stake form? Does the stake have to be struck through their heart, or does piercing them anywhere suffice? Have we tried cudgels? I could, in theory, uproot a small tree and wield a...Warhammer."
"It does not need to be in the shape of a stake, but you do still have to ram it through a creature's chest and into the creature's heart, so the stake shape makes it easier; also, I should clarify that doing so does not kill the creature, merely incapacitate it indefintely. It is useful, however, to thin down the herd, so to speak."
"We can do that, but it's going to be a numbers game regardless. Does anyone know if there are any larger nearby settlements that we can get supplies at?"
"Before receiving the Mech's distress signal, we had agreed that time was of the essence. Has this changed? I believe we should press on."
"Atlas 21-12, you appear to have had an emotional attachment to Jonis. While we do not know her present disposition, she was last seen charging into a horde of zombies. I highly doubt that any number of these undead could cause her significant injury within her armoured suit, so I believe it to be far more likely that she has been captured. The longer we wait, the more likely it will be that she has A: been subjected to the kind of mind control or malevolence that caused a Cyber-Knight to abandon her principles, or B: that she will be induced to provide said Cyber-Knight with intelligence on her companions, allowing them to make preparations tailored to defending specifically against us."
"In either event, whether we hope to retrieve Jonis, or merely succeed in our original goal of eliminating the threat posed by Greyspear, I believe our best chance of success lies in either attacking immediately, or should we withdraw, striking instead with overwhelming force, such as a coordinated strike by multiple SET teams."
You take some time heading back to the settlement you left. It is becoming late in the evening when you arrive and as before, most of the inhabitants are returning to their homes and locking up for the night. Only some of their militia stay out to greet you. One of them comes up to your vehicle.
"I take it that you haven't yet found their lair. We sent a messenger to Whykin to ask for more help, but it may be a while before we hear back. For tonight, you are welcome to lock down with us or if you wish, keep watch for one of their raids."
|
|
Atlas takes his bulk and exits the the vehicle with some alacrity, his A-TAC inadvertently forcing him to make himself mobile in preparation to counter an oncoming attack.
Once he is out of the vehicle, he is able to come down from high alert and purposefully remind himself that, apparently, he has been returned to, if not friendly territory, at least ground that is not under enemy threat.
"Affirmative Unidentified Human That Apparently Has Some Militia Affiliation. I am Assault Mech Atlas Twenty One Dash Twelve, and I require immediate resupply.
Please point me to your closest ammunition dump."
Atlas stands eerily still, waiting for a response.
For some reason his A-TAC must not have shut down completely and his red gaze is unwavering at their greeting militia.
Shakti steps out of the vehicle, just to stretch her legs, and use the facilities. Other than that, she hasn't much to do while her companions attempt to resupply.
The human eyes the new cyborg warily, but points to one of the many shacks. "We don't have much, but you're welcome to what is there. The Old Man seems to have a lot of faith in you stopping those vampires. I sure hope he's right."
The ammunition and food supplies are scarce, but enough to at least fill your energy weapons and autocannons and bellies for a while. Nothing in the way of explosives however.
Later, as Burgurk attempts to contact Castle Refuge, he is able to reach a patrol nearby.
"... this is Soundwave Two One Actual, we have you loud and clear. Standby for relay to Home Base." After a few moments of static, you hear the voice of Major Grimjack, but as soon as you try to respond, more static interferes and another voice replaces his. A female voice.
"Interlopers and spies, the lot of you. It seems my minions weren't enough to keep you away and now even the threat of an army of the dead won't make you mind your business. Now I have one of your own. You want her back, leave Pux to me and take your Legion propaganda elsewhere. It isn't welcome here."
The signal cuts out and the communications tech from before gets on the line. "Sorry about that, we lost the connection and couldn't raise Home. We'll keep trying and patch you in when we can. Soundwave 21, out."
|
|
Atlas contentedly fills his railgun, honestly surprised to have found any rounds worth mentioning in this tier 3 town. He hands on to the L-20 recently tender about the vulnerability of one weapon system, and notes that he is still not at full combat capability.
He converts enough calories for his biological functions, and joins the group as Burgurk manipulates the vox.
As the female voice rudely breaks in, he consults his A-TAC, but finds nothing with 100% certainty, necessitating an inquiry.
"Is that Greyspear? Who do we think she has? Has Castle Refuge lost members recently?" he asks.
"Great; now his memory circuits are failing..." Shakti speaks to Atlas very slowly, in order to help him understand,
To Auriel and Burgurk she says, "Are we sure it is wise to give him access to heavy munitions in this state? His ability to function appears to be declining. Does he run on batteries that need charging or anything?"
|
|
Atlas is silent, contemplating the poor, delusional, apparently useless government bureaucrat that they'd been saddled with. 'No doubt a plant from some political overseer. Has the Castle turned Communist in the time I've been gone?'
"Apparently all the books you have read were only thesauruses. You are now committing the logical fallacy called 'jumping to a conclusion'. This is a difficult concept, without application to bean counting or raising someone's taxes, so I will explain carefully.
We only have an anonymous message, from an unidentified presumed female, that she has made the statement that she has current possession of a female which is known to us. This statement has not been accompanied by any evidence, or verification that it is factual.
Furthermore, whereas it IS unlikely that a hoard of normal humans could not damage a GlitterBoy power armor, that we have not heard from--"
Atlas goes quiet.
For at least a minute.
"--Jonis, indicates a high likelihood that zombification enhances combat effectiveness, leading to a high possibility that--"
It's so quiet.
"--Jonis' life signs have been terminated.
Also, from Infantryman Aureil's account, your "attack" was aborted by an eruption of undead. What exactly is your plan that is better than his plan that will not be foiled by the same obstacle, and is so masterful that it's likelihood of success is not enhanced by more ammunition?"
Burgurk says to everyone in general "Atlas...'thinks' differently than most humans. Shakti also thinks differently than most humans. I am not surprised that the two of you cannot communicate well with each other. I suggest we come up with a plan on how to get thru a horde of undead without Jonis' massive damage ability. If only we had some way to fly..."
"Wait, it can think? That doesn't seem to be supported by what we have seen so far..."
And since nobody is listening to her by this point, "Seriously, it's loading up a Railgun! And when he forgets which side he's on, I just know who he's going to be aiming at first."
|
|
"You said that the undead army formed up after your position had been confirmed by air patrol," Atlas states, no longer listening to the Overpaid Government Bureaucrat. "Therefore it may be concluded that the undead army may not be able to be permanently held together. Perhaps it requires a large expenditure of resources of "magic" to conjure and hold together.
Therefore, so long as we make an attempt to either maneuver quickly, in a vehicle, or stealthfully, on foot, we should be able to avoid such a pinning maneuver on our next attack.
What do you think?" he asks of everyone but Shakti.
"You said that the undead army formed up after your position had been confirmed by air patrol," Atlas states, no longer listening to the Overpaid Government Bureaucrat. "Therefore it may be concluded that the undead army may not be able to be permanently held together. Perhaps it requires a large expenditure of resources of "magic" to conjure and hold together.
Therefore, so long as we make an attempt to either maneuver quickly, in a vehicle, or stealthfully, on foot, we should be able to avoid such a pinning maneuver on our next attack.
What do you think?" he asks of everyone but Shakti.
:‑þ
"The rise of the undead may or may not have had anything to do with the air patrol. While they *were* working for Grayspear, they may or may not have radioed our position to her before we brought them down. She may just be powerful enough to have sensed our presence from that far away, which, I hate to admit it, scares me, and I don't scare easy."
|
|
"That is a good point, Special Operations Specialist Burkurk. At the same time, if it was a weapon of unlimited usage and unlimited range, it would probably have attacked us again by now--there are enough dead around the town to use as fodder. As it has not, that points to it probably having some limitations.
We can work our plan of attack around its one known weakness-speed. So long as we stay moving, if we can lure it out and away from our main attack, it should not be a threat.
Does that strike you as plausible?"
"You didn't see what happened - a literal *wave* of undead rose up from out of the ground. Are you suggesting that the team split up, and one part try to get the many dozens of undead to follow *them*? I'm always ready for a good fight, but I'm not into suicide missions!"
"Wait a minute, there was this tiny piece of metal attached to one undead, I'm assuming there was one attached to every one. Maybe if we can analyze it, we could figure out how to counter its effects?"
"Here it is. That is one of the strategies I suggested at the outset. As it appears technological, but apparently had a somewhat mystical effect, I believe our best bet is likely to be a skilled Techno-Wizard."
Auriel had been quietly mulling over the situation during the trip back to what passed for civilization.
He continued thinking while Shakti and Attie went back and forth.
As the group began to work up something resembling a strategy, Auriel abruptly got up and left the room.
|
|
"No, Special Operations Specialist Burkurk. That is a dumb plan. I would not do that plan. My plan is that if a wave of undead appears, we circle around. If it chases us, and it should by your account, since our vehicle is faster, we maneuver it out of position, and then circle around and drive on to the attack point."
"And so we arrive at the attack point with a hoard of undead behind us, rapidly catching up to us, with who-knows-what in front of us, and no time to recon or make plans? I don't think so!"