Project Lupus
Part: 4 Little Devil
The Militia fleet didn't linger in the Hydraxis system, nor did it take long for them to pick a different target. But before they could take a crack at another high profile target, they needed to restore the several squads of titan they lost. At the same time, they could get out of this with more than they lost.
For a solid month the weakened fleet carefully lurks in and out of warp to make their way towards the Nalex system. The set of planets were a large and comprehensive supply depot and the nearby moon was a massive long-range communication array. Staying hidden had made their trip long and grueling, a strain on the fuel stores and food. But it left Nalex with only its minor orbital defense detail of a few frigates and a single garrison of troops.
Thankfully the battle on Hydraxis hadn't cost them any ships, so the next battle was somewhat weighed in their favor.
...
Little did the Militia fleet know, the Gardon lurks just out their field of detection. Sophia along with the captain watch the fleet rip out of warp just over the planet. Lupus was in the room as well, leaned against a wall by a support strut in the far back. The IMC fleet in low orbit was thrown into a panic by the sudden attack, coming under fire as they tried to form a defensive line between the Militia and the planet. But what caught the captain's eye was the single battle cruiser veering away from the bulk of the fleet, heading for the moon.
That's when one of the few crewman among the bridge turns from his station. "Sir, we have an incoming encrypted transmission, it's from Vinson Dynamics". Sophia exchanges a look with the captain before nodding "let it through". A few seconds later a hologram of an aging man in a flawless three piece suit, he wasn't all that remarkable. His neck length hair was swept back and smooth. He bore a simple and small pin on the lapel of his coat. It was the logo of Vinson Dynamics. This was Will Vinson, head of Vinson Dynamics.
Sophia nearly jumps out her coat. "Sir!"She scrambles in place for a moment before just giving a quick nod "It's an honor to speak to you Mr.V, what do you need sir".
The hologram grins and waves her off. "C'mooon just call me Will" Remarks the second most powerful man in the galaxy, his old earth Italian accent clear. "So Sophia I'm here to give you congrats on the success of Project: Lupus."
A bit frazzled she replies "Oh but sir I was just doing my job..."
Will snorts "You know what." The shimmering hologram does a slow spin, head swiveling this way and that. "Where is he, I wanna see this 'masterpiece' the report went on about."
Sophia gulps, setting her lips she whistles. In the shadow of the support strut, a pair of ears stand straight. "Lawrence dear, come here and meet our boss; Will" she makes a small beckoning motion.
The experiment makes his way over in long loping strides. Will turns to gawk as Lawrence came to a halt at Sophia's left. Will blinks. "Holy fuckin figure skatin' Christ..." His perfect teeth gleam as he looks her way. "I read all the specs" he gestures wildly to several parts of Lawrence. Who stands silent and wondering why the man is flailing his arms around so much. "Sophia listen, I'm gonna level with ya; this." He waves his hand at the confused wolf. "Is literally the coolest shit I've seen in my fuckin' life; if this is what you call just doin' your job, I 'm afraid of what'll happen if you start freelancin'!"
Sophia blushes as Will turns his attention to Lawrence. "Listen Lawrence I'mma tell you this straight, you." The CEO snaps his fingers at the wolf. "Are history in the god damn making, and as you along with everything the Beasthood Directive is bringin' to the table is gonna rip the frontier a new one." The wolf tilts his head at that last part; was he really that remarkable?
Lawrence gives a bow of his head "Thank you Will, it is an honor to be in service to Vinson Dynamics"
The hologram nod and takes a few steps forward. "Yeah we all are, but ehh...listen kid." Will's tone shifts to something a bit more personal "I know that your situation is pretty messed up right now, I'd bet my left nut that you're thinkin'bout the whole purpose of your existence but let me tell you somethin'."
The man rapidly taps a finger to his chest "Vinson Dynamics takes care of its shit, and you's our biggest project to date, so if any of these guys starting talking shit or not treatin you or the rest of your brothers and sisters right." He points to Sophia "You tell ya ma, and she'll tell me, alright?"
With a strange warm feeling blooming in his chest, Lawrence nods. "Thank you Will, there is a saying 'the lone wolf...is a dead wolf'."
Will nods "Yeah, ain't that the damn truth; by the way the final training for Project: Mustella just finished a few weeks ago. Stealth frigate Galantan will be forming up with you in a few hours" he snaps a pair of finger guns at them. "Kick some ass out there kid, Will, out." The hologram winks out of sight leaving a relieved Sophia and an excited Lawrence.
It looks like he would be joined by one his siblings. Project: Mustella; better known as Jacob and Sheng. The projects in their initial stages were all kept together in their own complex; living like some kind of strange family. Lupus was the first project to leave his incubation chamber. Jacob got out nearly a year later, this made them the two oldest of their steadily growing little 'family'.
Having a sibling around will be such a weight off of Lawrence's shoulders; the stares were starting to get to him. That's when the captain turns to them both. "A Militia cruiser just broke atmosphere on that moon, we need to stop them from taking that array."
Sophia turns back to Lawrence with a measured look. "Lawrence dear, prepare for drop"
...
Cooper couldn't stop a sigh from leaving his lips as he looks over the launch hangar. The Vanguard squad was all present; but two less than they should be. Jack fingers tighten around the controls as the memories of the Hydraxis assault roll through his head.
His temper churns as he gazes into the two empty launch racks. He could barely hear Briggs speaking over the radio channel, too focused on his darkening thoughts. Jack blames himself completely for losing not only a pair of Vanguards, but two pilots as well. No one else in the squad shared his thoughts; all of them just evasively gave the excuse of 'it was a new model, there's no way you could have been ready' but it didn't change how he felt.
A single flick of his eyes towards the upper part of his display shows the countdown only a few seconds from launching them. "BT" starts Jack, grinding his teeth.
An instant answer "yes Jack?"
The counter is rapidly reaching zero "let's rip this system a new one"
"Understood". The timer hits zero and the Vanguard squad rocket towards the moon's surface.
...
Lawrence clips the last few grenades to his belt when his helmet radio comes online with the sweet voice of his handler. "Lawrence dear, the Galantan just got out of warp, Jacob will joining you on the ground". His tails wags slowly under the plated flap that hangs under his jump kit. Francis, sitting just few feet away, was oiling the slide on his Kraber. The man wasn't wearing his helmet, letting his dirty blonde hair breath. Two, sharp, hazel eyes stare into Lawrence framed by a beard and generally stony features. "What's got you in such a good mood, Fido?".
Lawrence didn't bother to dignify the name, pulling his face into an easy smile "My little brother is on his way, he'll be with us in defending the communication array."
That made Francis and the other members of his squad in ear shot glance up from their pre mission rituals "So there's more of you?" grumbles Francis.
Feeling a swell of pride Lawrence nods "Yes, he's my younger brother Jacob is..." The wolf snickers."...it's better if you meet him yourself."
Their dropship pilot announces that he's ready for the drop. Without another word the squad began to pile into the dropship; finding their places among the small seats for the brief ride. On his display Lawrence went over the details of the moon. It was the largest of Nalex's moons, a barren and arid place that bore only a thin veil of oxygen and a weaker gravity field. The ship jerks as it enters warp; and instant later the ships reappears over the desolate landscape. It was craggy rocks and dust for miles in every direction. Francis yanks open the hatch and leads the group down to the sandy earth below.
The captain's voice came through the radio. "Titans on the ground; five seconds". The comet like forms of titan drop pods appearing far above in the sky, five in total.
They all slam into the earth within second of each other, lacking their dome barriers and standing to attention. The four machines bore the classic colors of the IMC, a base white with darker red accenting.
Standing in a line was Tone, Legion, Ion, and lastly a NorthStar. The NorthStar had the front of the cockpit painted with nasty visage of a maw full of bloody teeth. Another pod came down just as the titans stood up. It broke apart midair, the grey shape did a rapid front tuck before crashing to the sand.
Hund rose to his full height and wordlessly walks towards his pilot; the other titans following suit. The prototype titan spoke "re-enforcements warping in now". Hund directs their attention to another dropship that just ripped its way out of warp. It banks gracefully before swinging its bay door their way. Something leaps from the open bay with vicious speed; spinning once in the air before slamming into the dirt. Lawrence grins under his helmet as the new pilot rushes towards him.
The shape slams into him full tilt making him slide several feet. Lawrence wraps both arms around the smaller experiment in a hug "Jacob, it's amazing to see you again!"
The smaller creatures rubs his head into the cowl of thick fur before looking up at him. "Aw Lawrence you got no idea how good it is to see you in one piece! Damn near shat myself when I heard you got sent out for a field test"
Jacob literally backflips off him; landing on both his small feet. He was rather small overall, being designed from a stoat. He stood at five feet and ten inches, but his body was a single mass of taut wiry muscle under his suit. The suit itself was a mired of swooping angles of lightweight alloys, digital forest camo covered the plating as he looks up to his older sibling. He reaches for his helmet without a word, ripping the X shaped visor away to reveal his mustelid features.
His muzzle was short and ended in a small jaw structure and a set of trimmed whiskers. The top of his head was a sandy brown color but from his chin down it was a milky white. Jacobs golden eyes glimmer with elations and raw unending energy. His voice was youthful, and judging from his build Jacob couldn't be older than eighteen "so we gonna kill some bitches or sit around!?"
Lawrence gave a low rumbling chortle giving Jacobs head a scratch; the chuckle grew into a laugh as titan pods fell from the other frigate. A pair of Scorches and Tones made landfall nearby Jacobs's squad, and two his own titan slams to the sand. Bright orange optics gleam through the dust and the tall slim shape of the other half of Project: Mustella bounds forward. The first thing to set it apart was the design of the legs, far longer than most titans and bearing clawed toes. Actual springs were mounted around the hydraulic servos, this somehow let it run the short distance in only a few seconds, long arms swinging at its sides. The torso design was sharp and narrow and bore optic strips much like a Legion, however three optical units sat atop the chassis all triangular in shape. It bore a single mounted launcher on its back, but the design was energy based; with a square scub nose.
A sub machine like weapon sat on its lower back just above a scabbard. The paint job was similar forest green camo much like the pilot. The machine came to a halt, three optics swiveling over present company, and spoke in a, lightly eastern Asian accented, female voice "Sheng-4536 ready for combat"
The Stoat grins, giving Lawrence a punch in the stomach; the wolf didn't budge. "You heard the lady, the fuck we all waitin' for our theme song? Mount up!"
The ten pilots all leap into their respective titan, well in the case of Lawrence and Jacob; phase shift into their cockpits. By the time the normal titans were ready to move, the pair were already sprinting towards the looming shape of the nearby radio dish. Francis was about to muter something about 'damn super titans' when the radio came on.
"We will scout ahead to ascertain the enemy force" said Lawrence as Hund powers up his thrusters. The engines whine before firing; the titan shoots into the air on six jets of blue fire. Sheng just picked up the pace, leaving a large cloud of dust behind her as others took their marked route.
The two squads of IMC titans had formed up into a single unit. All of them sprinting through the sand and rocks. Francis, in his NorthStar, jogs alongside a scorch that was leading the other squad. He probes with awkward small talk. "So...what's yours like?"
The voice of a somewhat older woman replies. "He's a little fuzz ball with a big mouth, but once you get to know him he just cares way too much. How about yours?"
The NorthStar shrugs "He's pretty lonesome, but he doesn't cause any trouble"
The squad starts to round another large rock formation and heading up a steady incline. Once Lawrence speaks over the radio. "We've got a squad of Ions and a few SRS Vanguards and at least half a company of infantry. It won't be long until they activate the defenses; I am doubtful a few reapers are will slow them down that much."
The message earns a growl from both squad leaders. "You all know the plan!" Barks the woman in the Scorch. "We hold the communication array!"
...
Cooper leads the charge as they reach the outskirts of the facility; the other Vanguards only a few steps behind him. Their squad had only four among them counting Cooper; the rest of the Vanguards were on Nalex; spearheading the assault to secure a beachhead.
The Ions were hanging back with the infantry, their task was to keep them covered; and get them to the power station. There was a sudden ping on his display, they just hit the point where the squads would diverge. Jack and his Vanguards had to take the control tower itself; while the rest had to seize control of the power station and control center. BT spins around; letting Jack face the Ion squad. "This is our split, keep those guys alive" The lead Ion, obvious by the detailed serpent nose paint, gives a thumbs up.
Jack already knew there was going to be casualties; this place was no doubt crawling with specters. As if reading his mind, alarms blare around the entire complex. Hidden hatches among the building open up, launch tubes rise from the ground, and turret emplacements power up. Cooper bounces in the cockpit seat; getting ready for the fight ahead. IMC titans were likely already on their way to stop them, but Jack wouldn't fail...not this time. The first few Reapers leap from their launch tubes. The Vanguard squad meets them full force; a wall of ammunition tearing into the machines.
Cover is sparse among the rocks and dunes but they manage; ducking under hills to avoid constant flurry of missiles. The Vanguard with the plasma railgun, Katie was her name, was doing the most damage. The dull orange of her Vanguard blending well with the sand around them. With their combined supporting fire they were allowing her breathing room to properly charge and land her shots.
The group easily made it to the massive power lines that fed from the power station to the disk. Specters began backing up the Reapers; the light arms fire was putting a strain on their shields. It made the Vanguards move with greater haste towards the tower, where they had a better chance at cover. They only needed to hold out long enough for the grunts to shut down the automated defenses; but there was no telling how long that could take.
As Cooper guns down a particularly brave Reaper, BT calls out urgently "Airborne bogey detected, Cooper! The array!" Cooper looks up along with several other Vanguards look up to the dish.
Jack's heart clenches at the tall grey form flying in and latching onto the right support column. In that instant purple optics meet green. Cooper's pulse climbs as they stare each other down.
There's an abrupt, ear shattering, Crack!
The grey titan jerks to the left; a plasma round streaking by. Lawrence stares with utter calm from inside. "That one will need to suffer..."
Hund pulls the plasma repeater from his back. "Noted" Replies the titan as he leaps into the air, boosters flaring bright.
Cooper's heart leaps up his throat; rifle snapping up to sight his target. "O-open fire!" He barks as the titan takes flight. The grey titan banks, firing rockets at the mass of titans. Hund's rockets had no tracking and could only travel in a straight line; however they flew faster and farther and stuck with greater force.
Most of the salvo is dodged; but a lucky missile his the arm of the Navy Blue Vanguard wielding a tracker cannon. The pilot, Michael was his name, swears under his breath as the single rocket nearly breaks his shields. After another graceful turn Hund's engines suddenly cut out. The titan lands, the sand kicking up in a large dust cloud. The Vanguards fire into the dust cloud; their ammunition disturbs that sand but they can't confirm any hits. A sudden, mild wing gust blows through the area; the large cloud of sand and dust clears slowly.
The grey titan was gone
"Shit..." Michael hissed. His darker blue Vanguard gripping the tracker cannon tighter
Cooper breaks into a cold sweat under his armor; clashing with the boiling frustration in the back of his head. "Keep your eyes peeled he's cloaked!"
The Vanguards began to sweep in every direction; optics swinging left and right to catch the tell-tale shimmer of a cloaked shape. There was sudden shout across the radio from one of the titans. "Land based bogey detected in our AO, moving at high speed. Heading, south east!"
Cooper whirls to the heading; BT's optic zooming in on the tall, slender, shape racing towards them. Jack's heart seized. "Hostile is an experimental titan, we have two. Someone get word to Briggs about backup, now!' By the time Jack finished his sentence the new foe was already in firing range. Coming from the south east put Michael the closest. The pilot takes aim; firing down range a second later. The new forest green enemy gracefully jukes the 40mm round and keeps pace. Nerves fizzling, Michael fires rapidly and back pedals; but the new foe simply dodges the ammo flying its way.
Katie was standing farther back from the squad. Her plasma railgun at full charge, between the new titans and the still attacking reapers the battlefield was a storm of mayhem. But Katie was laser focused on the strange unit that Michael was desperately trying to land a shot on. Her aim was powered with a toxic level of contempt. These were the supposed titans that killed off Higgins and Clancy. Katie had known Higgins since they were teenagers; both born on one of the distant farm worlds of the frontier.
Katie sets her jaw 'I'll eat my own fucking liver before I let some IMC lapdog and their fancy clunker get away with this...' In that moment Katie got a feeling that every sharpshooter gets. A tingle that races up her back, the hairs on the back of her neck standing straight. Much like pilot Higgins, Katie caught that grey shimmer just a second too late.
But she wasn't late enough to save herself. In a knee jerk reaction Katie brings the railgun up in both hands. An axe head smashes into the weapon; stopping half way into the magnetic rails. She shoves him back, lunching a flurry of missiles at him. "Engaged with the cloaked bogey, lost my rifle, I need back up!" The busted railgun comes flying back at her, she dashes left. Those few seconds were all Lawrence needed; he crashes into her at full speed.
While those two roll through the sand Michael is failing to defeat the other titan. He was joined by the last of the squad. An ash grey Vanguard, David was his name, fires away with a quad rocket launcher at the fast moving titan. The rapid chattering sub machine gun fire forced them to constantly duck into cover. The rounds were low caliber but clearly of an armor piercing design ripping into their plating easily. "Michael!" Shouts the pilot; his titan speckled with countless small bullet holes. "Go help Katie!"
Michael whirls around to run Katie's way. The other SRS pilot wasn't doing all that well. Lawrence had Katie on her back; the Vanguard was covered in claw marks but managed to lock both hands around the grey titan's wrists. Both Katie's missile launchers were gone, her titan was even missing a finger. Smoke leaks from arm joints and cooling vents. Michael thunders forward leveling his tracker cannon at the titan. Purple open look up and the Hund suddenly throws all weight backwards. Michael hisses as the first round struck Katie's titan in the back. Lawrence fires all six flight thrusters; forcing both titan's in the air. They climb to at least a hundred feet before tossing Katie aside.
Her titan rolls through and scrambles away as a few Reapers prey on her weakness; bright blue projectiles smashing into the sand dune she dove behind.
The second she's out his hands the Lawrence dives at the other titan; arm mounted guns chattering away. The hail of charged rounds slam into a particle wall as Michael backpedals. Hund's shield take a few tracker rounds before the titan rolls in the air; curving to the left too fast for the 40mm shells. Coming out the spin Lawrence levels his plasma repeater unleashing a stream of plasma bolts into the titan's side. The agitated particles rip apart the Vanguards shields before Hund's crashes into the titan shoulder first.
"How are things on your end Jacob?" Grunts Lawrence as he switches his weapon to its alt-fire. The mag rails slide and fold backward. Lawrence stomps on foot onto the tracker cannon and fires into the downed titan. The alternate barrel sent a violent scatter shot into the Vanguard a full eight times before the canister ran dry.
There's was sharp bark of cruel laughter from the other side of the radio. The green titan had performed a rapid leg sweep on the quad launcher wielding Vanguard. Sheng leaps onto the downed machine and reaching for the scabbard on her lower back. From it she pulls out a titan sized knife with a flat single edged blade. The knife is a blur of motion as several holes are stabbed into the cockpit, the blade coming back covered in red.
"They can't even fuckin' touch me man, the Reapers are making this too damn easy" At the very moment all the Reapers suddenly come to a halt. Even the easily forgettable specters stop; heads sliding back into their torsos. The entire mechanized horde going completely silent. "Me and my fat fuckin 'mouth..." groans the Stoat.
Jack groans in relief as the radio sounds out, the infantry commander speaks proudly. "The defenses are down sir, but we got some IMC titans givin' us a serious run for our money sir, half out titan support is already gone"
Jack rolls behind a massive power cable, a storm of anti-armor rounds following. By the time he right himself Jacob is already upon once more. The launcher on Sheng's back raises to fire a scintillating ball of electricity. The optics flicker as BT was slowed by the power surge; the titan slams into BT with incredible speed using both feet. The green titan literally vaults off BT's chest, doing a complete back tuck before landing in the sand. By the time visuals were fully restored Jacob was closing in again.
Meanwhile Katie was doing her best to fend off Lawrence while Michael struggles to get his titan standing. The barrage of plasma had melted the cockpit shut and left countless systems in disarray. By some miracle the main optic was still online but it flickers and fizzles. "Michael, get up!"Shrieks Katie just barely managing to dodge a set of rockets. The young pilot, nose bleeding, shakes his head as his titan stands up fully; just in time to see Katie get a vicious kick. His tracker cannon is intact but sitting in the sand a good 100 or so feet away. Naturally he makes a mad dash for the weapon; the loping footfalls of his foe getting louder by the second.
He dives for it; the entire cockpit shakes as he scoops up the weapon. Michael pops up in a firing position only for a mass of grey metal to smash into him full tilt. More hull damage warnings sound as his titan tumbles; a death grip on the tracker cannon. The Vanguard pilot screams and roars; firing at his enemy despite the claws racking at his own titan. In the spin of motion Michael ends against one of the Reaper launch tubes. The tracker cannon is out his hands from the impact before the massive gun could hit the sand Lawrence grabs it by the barrel. The grey titan suddenly fires its thrusters, all of them at a diagonal. Lawrence spins in the air; the first kick smashes into the raised arms of Michael's Vanguard. The next kick knocks the appendages out the way; and the grey tian swings the tracker cannon with the full momentum of his rotation.
The forces breaks the cannon in two; and rips the SERE kit free of Michael's titan in a shower of wires and parts. Lawrence tosses away the other half of the cannon as the Vanguard wobbles on its feet. Inside Michael curses and panics "FUCK, KATIEEE!" he screams through the remaining external speakers
Jack turns at the scream, but Jacob delivers a drop kick to BT's back, sending them face first into the sand.
Lawrence spins the titan around and plants clawed foot onto the titan's back. Gripping both arms tight, Lawrence pulls. Hund's servos give a long purr of effort while the joints of Michael's Vanguard groan and crack. "You won't be needing these..." Lawrence grits his teeth his teeth as the actuators hit max power.
With a deep crunch of metal and crack off severing wires both arms rip free of the wrecked Vanguard. Katie was farther back; her titan lacking any kind of weapon. "Jack, I'm calling for backup!" she calls over the radio.
"Do it!" Cooper barks back, missing Jacob yet again; staggering back while his vortex shield catches the return fire.
Lawrence lets the two arms fall to the ground. Lazily; he grabs the leg of the crippled Vanguard and walks away from the Launch tube. Michael's titan leaves a trail of coolant and hydraulic fluid as Lawrence drags him like a hunter with a fresh kill. Inside Michael frantically gathers the weapons that were stowed away in the cockpit; a magnetic grenade launcher and his trusty Hemlock. His silent prayers are answered as he works the upper emergency hatch. The escape hatch fights him for every inch but he forces the hatch open and worms his way out. Michael, in his scrambling, doesn't notice a single purple optic swivel around to look at him. "He's running..." casually remark Hund.
"Oh." Grunts Lawrence, spinning his chassis around "hold on..." He yanks the launcher off the Vanguard, he bounces it in hand for a moment before hurling it like a football. The hunk of metal flew true; Michael hears the mass hurdling through the air behind him. He spins only catching a blurry glimpse off the object before diving; it lands on his legs. Michael lets out a bestial howl of agony as most of his lower body is pulverized. "Impressive accuracy" remarks Hund
Jacob grins toothily inside his cockpit. Sheng was marred with scratches and dents, several close calls that couldn't land. BT was riddled with small bullet holes, several had bitten deep in vital systems.
Shengs external speakers turn on. Jacob leans the submachine gun lazily on Sheng's shoulder. "Well it looks like someone's having a real shit day" Remarks Jacob, slowly walking forward. Jack didn't humor the taunt; firing the last of his magazine. Once again the green titan jukes with an incredibly speed; great plumes of sand blasting up where its feet hit the ground. Snarling through his teeth Cooper does his best to track his target while dodging the high powered rounds flying his way.
Without warning there a powerful groan of machinery, all eyes go to the massive communication array that was adjusting its angle. The furious voice of Francis calls over the IMC wavelength. "Lawrence, we took down most of the Militia here but the last of'em have sealed themselves in the control room, their sending some kind of distress call to their fleet and a data stream to the planet of Harmony!" A second later the Captain of the Gardon speaks out "if that signal gets through we could have the rest of the Militia armada on their way here, they've already secured a beachhead on Nalex. I'm giving the both of you permission, stop that transmission at all costs. I don't care if that entire place is a molten crater!"
"Quick Sheng" Starts Jacob, his young voice cracking. "What the closest part of this thing we can fuck up!"
"Marking" She said back, a small blip appears in his display; directing to a larger underground section at the base where all the powerlines met. "The power junction regulates the power flow to the antennae, it will overload without it functioning properly" explains Sheng.
Hund had done his own scan of the tower and devises to destroy the signal targeting array, without, that message would broadcast on all wavelengths, letting anyone in the frontier know the Militia's business. Hund's thrusters fire; lifting him into the air before a sudden forty ton weight crashes into him. Katie swears as she hangs onto the grey titan, the sudden influx of weight threw off Hund's stabilizers, and Katie's wild punching wasn't helping either. "Lawrence" Starts Hund as they careen towards the tower "we now fully agree on making this particular pilot suffer greater damage".
Lawrence chortles at his titan's statement despite the situation, even as they crash into massive bowl of the dish. The Vanguard rolls across the dish, righting herself in deft roll. Lawrence stands his titan to his full height. Lawrence pulls the axe from Hund's back in the left hand points at the titan with the other "try to stop to me" Katie's eyes flicker in hesitation as a canine growl rolls from the other titan's speakers "watch what happens..."
Lawrence takes a few steps forward, letting his rocket launcher aim at the targeting array. As expected, the Vanguard pilot charges him with battle cry.
Back on the ground Jacob suddenly breaks away from BT just they watch Katie and Hund crash into the dish. "Cooper, they are trying to destroy the power junction, we must stop that pilot" Jack tears of after the other titan. The camo green titan's legs move in long graceful strides that carry it faster than the Vanguard. Once Jacob makes it onto the concrete he spins around to fire a burst but Jack catches most of it in the vortex shield. The Vanguard runs along the power line as they make it to the power junction. It was a large structure that was mostly underground consisting of several massive transformers. Sheng slides to the northern part of the junction, crouching down at a maintenance door.
"Jacob we are too large to fit inside the, you must disembark" The cockpit opens and the stoat leaps out before the door "I will hold off any resistance until your task in complete"
Jacob punches the release on the maintenance door and gives her a thumbs up. "I'll be fast darlin' stay safe alright?!"
"Understood, we will not fail our first mission" Replies Sheng hefting her gun and lumbering around the corner to find her target.
On the west wall BT kneels down to let Cooper out. "That pilot and titan have separated, you must stop him, we will engage with the titan". Jack could only give a clipped thumbs up before tearing through the access hatch. The interior is lit mostly by the crackling light of exposed heavy wiring. Jack tears off from the catwalk he stood, running along the wall and leaping to the lower level. He barely misses a crackling cable before landing with a roll and kept running. "Cooper, I must remind you to proceed with extreme caution, from what few scans we could attain, these are not normal pilots"
Jack bounds off a giant power cable to slide down a concrete wall, heading towards the center "yeah, I kinda figured that. Their reactions are just way too fast to be your typical IMC hired goon"
After a few more jump he makes it to the main transformers. Three massive rectangular machines that are all connected to the large cables from outside. Cooper could see his target, he wasn't all that large. He walks with a hurried energy as he tosses charges all over the massive pieces of equipment. The pilot bounced from foot to foot and moves with the rapid swaying of his...tail. Eyes bulging, Jack sets his helmet to record everything from then on. "What in the name of Christ..." Mutters jack as he creeps on the catwalk a few steps and unslung his Flatline. The other pilot freezes in before spinning to face jack. An SMG similar to his titan's sat in his hands
Jack ducks down behind a power line as a stream of bullets rake the wall where he was a moment ago. He pops up to fire down at the strange pilot. The pilot blurs, putting this sudden burst of motion a he tears off to the left; his sleek jump kit fires letting him bound of a pair of pipes before he was on the same catwalk. They meet eyes for a moment, or at least they see he each other from within their helmet. That's when the pilot hisses; breaking into a sprint too fast for a human.
About three hundred feet up a horribly one sided duel is coming to a close. Katie titan takes another swift axe swing to chest, the Vanguard stagger but takes another swing at the other machine. The axe arm smacks away the punch and Lawrence plunges a clawed hand into the right side; goring batteries in the titans side. Lawrence rips his hand back out, sending three damaged batteries rolling across the dish.
With power draining the titan staggers on its feet while Katie fights to regain control. Hund's launcher swivels and fires into the targeting array, blowing it apart in a shower of fragile components. Lawrence swings the axe across the Vanguard's front with enough force to break several bindings and lunges forward with the other hand. Katie shrieks as the cockpit is shredded and the massive hand wraps around her middle.
Once the pilot is free Lawrence swings the axe one last time, splitting the Vanguard's optic down the middle and embedding the axe in the cockpit. He stares at the trembling female in Hund's clawed fingers as her Vanguard pitches backward. Katie struggles, twisting this way and that as her titan topples onto its back. That struggling stops at a sudden hiss of depressurization. The grey titan allows the cockpit hatch to unfold out the way of the pilot.
Lawrence stands on the lip of the hatch taking two small steps forward. He gives a long lazy stretch; stiff from being stuck in the cockpit all day. Katie looks down at the strange sound of something sliding against fabric, she dares to look down between his legs to see a furry tail sliding against the ballistic fabric hanging from his jump kit.
Her jaws goes slack as she slowly looks back up at him. "Wh-what the fuck are you!"
The helmet tilts to the left in a doggish manner, and the looming creatures lower into a squat; the titan lifting her a few inches. For a moment she just stares into the helmet while Lawrence is silent in his thoughts. He was weighing his options on what he was about to do...he made his decision. Lawrence slowly raises his hands to grab at the chin of his helmet; at a small neural command the bindings holding the helmet in place opened, letting it slip free. The helmet slips free and the regards her without any filter.
She isn't even forming words anymore; just whimpering and fighting at Hund's hand. There was certain feral intensity to her motion, this was fear, raw and pure fear. The wolf could smell it coming off her. Coming off her smaller, weaker form; for the first time Lawrence looked upon an SRS Vanguard pilot. These were supposedly the core of Militia's might, gleaming incredible knights in service to their cause. Yet here one was, sniveling like a child before him, this victory over Katie was striking a deep chord in Lawrence. Sure he'd badly beaten Vanguards before but now he was seeing the ruin of his foe, he could smell her fear in the air. Lunging a hand forward, he grips her helmet with crushing force before ripping it off. Short, sweat matted blonde hair frames the face of a pale woman in her mid-twenties.
Katie raises both hands. "Please!" she squeals, the smell of terror growing even stronger. "I surrender p-please..." She swallows trying to set her shaking lower jaw "just, I beg you make it quick"
Lawrence finds himself reveling in her fear; face stretching into a horrid grin. "I could just end you here, but maybe there are many things that you can tell me..."
There's a sudden series of crackling pops, the sound of ships coming out of warp.
"Lawrence, hostile anti-titan aircraft incoming, Militia reinforcements" said Hund gripping the pilot with a bit more urgency.
Lawrence suddenly grabs Katie by throat, Hund gently letting go so the wolf's unnatural strength hoists her to eye level. Lawrence growls so close that she could feel the vibration on her face but his voice more patronizing than angry. "Looks like your lucky day madam, I'll be sure to be through next time we meet" He lets go, letting her fall twenty feet to the dish. Her jump kit makes it completely manageably; but she trips onto her backside as the grey titan seals the cockpit.
A missile streaks by and Lawrence retaliates with a flurry of rocket. In a light half step Hund recovers his axe. "Brother!" barks Lawrence "the tower is destroyed, we are no longer needed here"
Hund flips over the edge of the dish, Sheng sprinting away from the smoking dish. "Yeah let's get the fuck outta here"
The captain speaks over their channel "good work you two, the system may now be isolated but they have no way of getting reinforcements, but they've success on Nalex. We'll talk about this more on the ship, form back up with your squads and get to the extraction point"
...
Katie leans against what's left of her titan as friendly dropships come to a hover over head. The young pilot is still reeling from the battle, the destruction of RY-9537, her Vanguard titan. But most of all she was shocked at what she had seen only a few minutes ago. She heard the sound of boots hitting metal of the radar dish.
A hand firmly lands on her shoulder, turning her around gently. It was medic along with a squad of pilots. Two other ships came along and began the work of attaching cables to the chassis of her titan. "Ma'am" starts the medic, already pulling her towards the dropship "We need to go now"
She ushered on the ship in her daze, she looks through the window as it shuts. Several other and their recovery crews were working frantically to hitch up the wreck titans. Even BT was being hoisted up. Katie gives a weak shuddering sigh before slumping against the wall; waiting out the ride. The ship's warp drive activates and it rockets away, the other ships all flock in the same direction; vanishing from sight. Katie stares into space as the medic checks her over with careful precision.
The image of that snaring maw full of teeth just won't leave her mind, she pinches her eyes shut and thumps her head against the back of the ship. Feeling the cool metal thump on the back maker her eyes shoot wide...where the fuck is my helmet?
...
The two prototype titans come to a halt at the extraction point, one landing while the other skids to a stop.
"We have arrived at the extraction point, eta for pickup is ten minutes, friendly titan arrival time five minutes" Said Sheng, slinging her weapon to her lower back. Her cockpit open with a hiss, the plates sliding vertically upward and downward. Jacob leaps out whooping in excitement, Hund kneels and his hatch levers open. The titan offers a hand and Lawrence walks down to the sand, giving the titan's arm an affectionate pat as he walks to his sibling. The helmet he took hangs from his hip small and grey in color. His own helmet is clipped to the other side while he smiles at his brother.
"First mission is a success" Lawrence remarks
"Yeah it is!" Shouts Jacob
There's a brief bout of silence
"I feel so fucking badass right now man!" Barks the stoat, fists clenching
"You should, you stabbed that Vanguard like it was your destiny" snorts the wolf
"Yeah man, it looks like this whole fightin' the Militia thing is gonna be boring as hell, might have to give you some just have any damn fun" Jacob chirps, long tail wagging under his jump kit.
Lawrence's smile grows into wicked grin as he looks down at his brother "oh really Jacob?"
Jacob slips his helmet off revealing his weasel like features, he tosses the helmet over his shoulder; Sheng catching it without effort. "Yeah..." With a short laugh he suddenly lunges at his brother, throwing his full weight into the tackle. They roughhouse in the sand, wrestling and kicking, Jacob's agility balancing against Lawrence's greater size and strength. The titans simply standby, giving the occasional glance at the pair as the roll around in the dirt. That's when the Galantan finally came into the sight rumbling the air under the power of its propulsion. All the open dessert gave the frigate more than enough room to touch down
It was enough to get the elated brothers to finally detach. They both shook their bodies, rattling their equipment and shaking off most of the dust. The IMC squad finally came into with a about four titans less, however four pilots were riding on the backs of their squad mates. Francis open his cockpit as they lumber on board the Galantan. "How'd things go on your end?" Said Francis as the bay door shut
The wolf gives him a measured smile, to be frank Lawrence still didn't fully trust the man; or anyone in the IMC really. "it went well, we've destroyed two more Vanguard class titans, and..." Lawrence reaches back and unclips the helmet and hold it up for him to see "a trophy"
Francis jumps down from the NorthStar giving him a lazy grin "not bad there Scoob, gonna have it scanned for anything useful?"
The wolf nods "of course and..." He rotates it to look into the visor...he could still smell the pilot's terror. "I'm going to start a collection..."