Episode 9: Sudden Stand

New York City

The Army Major jumped behind the police cruiser, nodding to the officer who was cowering behind the vehicle's wheel. Overhead, more energy blasts sliced through the air, accompanied by the sound of the metal construct lumbering down the boulevard. The public clamour to see what was happening rang in the Major's ears.

"What the hell is going on, Officer?" Major James yelled.

"I don't know, Major! That things just showed up in the middle of the intersection, blathered something about 'transport complete' and then just started firing at everyone!"

"Don't worry, Lieutenant Munroe," James said, reading the man's name off his uniform, "Heavy artillery is on the way."

As if to punctuate the point, the sound of rifle fire echoed in the air, along with the sound of shells bouncing off metal. James and Munroe peeked over the car's hood, watching as the metal construct's armour sparked slightly, flattened rifle slugs sliding off it. The robot adjusted its sight and fired off several bolts, two rooftop snipers instantly becoming caldrons of plasma fire, their weapons dropping to the ground below.

"Jesus Christ!" James exclaimed.

"We had SWAT in the area but it didn't do any good. Whatever that thing is we don't have the firepower to penetrate its armour," the officer scanned the sky above him, then added, "We need some help here."

"Gunships are on the way," James said, hitting a button on his radio and procedding to yell orders into it. Around the two men, the street filled with heavily armed soldiers, quickly surrounding the construct. The ground rumbled as tanks began to creep towards their target.

"Open fire!" James yelled. Rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapon fire poured out at the construct. To the soldiers dismay the robot seemed to be withstanding little more than a mild rainstorm. Two soldiers rang over to the car, carrying a massive rocket launcher. Balancing the weapon and taking careful aim, the soldiers fired, the sound of the explosion shattering windows around the block.

"No effect," the Corporal said.

"Keep firing, dammit," James ordered.

On the shoulder of the construct, a slim tube swivelled up and out, sweeping the area and centring on the police cruiser. Munroe's eyes opened wide as he turned and began to run, yelling for the soldiers to follow him. The construct fired a ball of energy, striking the cruiser's gas tank and sending the vehicle flying into the air in a massive blast. Munroe and James hit the street hard, along with several soldiers and police officers, dazed from the detonation.

"Move! Move!" Munroe yelled, grabbing the Major by the arm and dragging him behind a dumpster. The two soldiers with them vanished in plumes of plasma energy, their clothes and weapons dropping to the ground.

"No," Major James muttered, "gotta lead the assault."

"This is no assault," James replied, peering around the corner, "this is a slaughter."

James shook his head, clearing the cobwebs, "Have your officers clear the area as best they can. We'll try to draw the robot's attention."

Behind the metal machine a tank swung into view, its turret aimed square at the robot. With a colossal blast, it fired its main gun on the robot. The construct staggered under the blast, then circled its torso around and returned fire, the shoulder cannon peppering the tank with blast after blast. Overhead, three attack helicopters dived down, firing their auto cannons on the robot, the slugs ripping the pavement to shreds. The construct swivelled upwards, blasting two of the helicopters with its energy cannon as the third copter quickly swung around a building, out of range. Nearby, the tank exploded, its crew running for cover.

A calm descend on the little scene, as the soldiers regrouped themselves, each realizing the futility of another assault but knowing they had to buy time for the public to escape the area. The construct plodded forward, its weapons aiming at the dumpster. Major James and Officer Munroe swallowed hard, each raising their sidearms in a final show of defiance.

"That's enough," an authoritative voice rang out.

The robot turned towards the voice, focusing on a lone man dressed in blue, a red cape fluttering around his shoulders. On his chest was emblazoned with a proud red "S"

"That's as far as you go," the man said firmly.