Chapter 9 – Desperate Measures
"ETA to drop forty-five seconds." The STORK pilot reports.
"Understood." Diana replies. "Remember: Do not drop below fifteen-hundred feet, or you will be targeted by AA fire."
"You don't have to tell me twice." The pilot replies before signing off. Nodding, Diana looks around and sighs. With the MBUs now parked at the extraction point, Thom and Thim, the two robotic units created by the late doctor Andel Killian, are with her managing the C&C. Checking the perimeter map, Diana sees that Maya is still on patrol. Checking the long-range radar shows that the behemoth has almost cleared the basin.
"Doctor, we are receiving a system warning form AC Dark Knight." Thim calls out.
"What kind of warning?" Diana asks as she goes to his side.
"Level Five part destruction." The robot replies.
"They took out the SHIFTERs?" Diana exclaims in shock. "Damnit, this is getting worse by the minute. What's the status of the UEG withdrawal?"
"43% of the UEG remaining forces have moved beyond the projected range of the target's primary weapons." Thim reports from across the room. "The unit is within optimal firing range of the remaining forces, but has showed no signs of continued aggression against UEG forces."
"Hopefully because Kain's annoying them too much." Diana says. "Alright, activate the glider. It should be in operational range of Kain's current location. I just hope it stays together long enough to reach him."
********
Cursing profusely under his breath, Kain tries to get the SHIFTER's under control, DK working behind the scenes on damage control.
"The left side unit isn't responding!" DK tells him frantically.
"Can you do something about the power build up?" Kain asks. "If that thing blows, it's going to hurt like hell!" Seeing Belial coming towards him, Kain starts to boost away from the NEXT, but is forced to stop when several warning lights go off.
"The capacitor's not responding!" DK warns him. "I can't shut it down!"
Straffing left to avoid around from Belial's sniper rifle, Kain sees it punch through the HEP shield, taking it out and causing the console before him to spark. "Damnit!" He curses. "We've got to take that thing out before it fries all our systems! Can we at least fire the damn thing?"
It is a few long seconds before DK replies. "Firing mechanism is still responding, but I have no idea what will happen if you pull the trigger."
"Can't be any worse then what we're stuck with now." Kain replies, aiming at Belial and firing the cannon. Still running, Kain sees the tip of the barrel start to glow ominously, and after a few seconds, the cannon fires. Kain's relief quickly turns to shock when the cannon continues to fire, the energy taking on a bluish tinge.
"Booster malfunction!" DK shouts before the AC suddenly starts flying backwards. Cursing, Kain risks using the boosters, feathering the throttle in a desperate attempt to regain control of his AC. Finally, the cannon stops firing, an explosion ripping through the barrel, distorting it, but otherwise keeping it in one piece.
"Shit!" Kain exclaims. "Are we still in one piece?"
"For now." DK replies. "The capacitor's fused. The cannon won't fire anymore, but I think I can get it back to booster mode."
Nodding, Kain looks over at Belial and starts. "Whoa!" He exclaims when he sees the NEXT: its right side badly burned and partially melted in some places, its right arm a melted stub half of its original length. "Talk about your lucky breaks." Kain says.
"Not so lucky for us." DK warns him. "That power surge from the SHIFTER took out the tracer rocket's fire control, the HEP shield, and put the OB out of commission for a few minutes. I've managed to switch the SHIFTER back to booster mode, but they're in such bad shape, they might blow up if we try and use them."
"Can you purge them?" Kain asks.
"Negative." The AI replies. "I'm trying to manually purge, but the weapon clamps on the hard points aren't responding."
"Any more good news?" Kain asks, sighing.
"The generator's giving off some funny readings." DK says after a second. "It's starting to generate heat. It probably means that that the internal cooling is damaged, so be careful."
A heat indicator appears on the HUD in the upper-left hand corner. "Great." Kain sighs. "At least we took Belly off-line, I think." Turning to face White Glint, Kain is surprised to see that she is just standing there, weapons lowered, watching him.
"Why didn't you finish me off when you had the chance?" Kain asks.
"There is no need to." White Glint replies. "Your weapons are disabled or destroyed, your AC has taken substantial internal damage. I was surprised that your gambit did such damage to Belial, but it seems to have cost you more then you had anticipated."
"Lady, that wasn't a gambit." Kain grunts. "That was just us trying to save our asses from your cheap shot."
"No matter." White Glint points her assault rifle at Kain. "You have lost. I offer you the chance to surrender. Allow yourself to be taken prisoner, and I will see to it that you are unharmed."
"Nothing personal, but I've seen what Alliance does to some of their POWs." Kain tells her.
"You are my prisoner, not theirs." White Glint counters. "You are a great warrior, and a worthy opponent. Only because of this do I give you the chance to surrender honourably, so that you may have a chance to one day redeem yourself from this defeat. Make your choice."
"Do we at least have quick boost?" Kain asks, cutting the mic at his end.
DK replies. "But I don't know what kind of strain it will put on the generator. You can't seriously be thinking about taking her on with just the KAWASARA and a laser blade do you? I mean, I really don't know how long the generator's going to last."
"We've got to do something about this chick before the others get here." Kain growls. "And I sure as shit am not surrendering."
"Then maybe just buy me a few minutes to slap some repairs together." DK urges him.
"No time." Kain tells her. "We got to finish this here and now."
"You're crazy, you know that right?"
Kain chuckles. "Crazy works sometimes."
"What is your answer?" White Glint demands.
Looking around, Kain sees the massive legs of the giant they are standing under, and gets an idea. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to have to pass." Kain tells her. "Never surrendered before, and I'm not going to start now."
"I see." White Glint says, clearly sounding disappointed. "It is unfortunate that you chose this course, but I will honor your decision."
"Don't think I'm going to make this easy on you." Kain tells her. Firing the KAWASARA, Kain boosts towards the nearest leg.
"We don't have the firepower to take her out!" DK tells him.
"I know." Kain replies, going around the massive leg.
"Without the HEP shield, she's going to take us out with two shots, if we're lucky!"
"I know."
"I don't even know if I can keep the generator going!"
"I know damnit!"
"How are we-"
"Look! If you're not going to say anything useful, keep your trap shut!" Kain snaps. "I'm thinking here!" Keeping the leg between himself and White Glint, Kain watches as she starts to come around, and moves accordingly.
"Wait." DK says suddenly. "Kojima particle emissions just dropped down to next to nothing. She's taken her primal armor offline!"
Stopping, Kain watches the radar as White Glint mirrors his movements. "So that's her game." Kain mutters.
"Which is?" DK prompts. Ignoring her, Kain checks the comm. For any signs of the others, but still sees no sign of them.
"I'm guessing Belly over there never gave you much of a challenge." Kain says. "You don't really care who wins do you?"
"My mission is to protect The Spirit of Motherwill and terminate your threat." White Glint replies. "I have completed the first objective: You no longer have the capability to damage Motherwill. Now, I will defeat you. You are a worthy opponent Last Raven, and I will honor you by fighting on equal terms. Your death, will be long remembered in the Order's archives."
"Don't start writing that chapter just yet." Kain warns her.
"OB just came back online." DK informs him. "But its power readings are fluxuating, so watch for flare-ups." Nodding, Kain watches the other NEXT on the radar intently. After almost half a minute, they both hear a loud, ominous-sounding moan. "This leg's starting to lift!" DK exclaims. Nodding absently, Kain keeps one eye glued to the radar, the other on the leg in front of him.
********
Falling through the air, Megan watches as the EMP bomb below them detonates, releasing a large bright white cloud of static energy. "I hope this works!" Sumika exclaims, the first to pass through the cloud.
"We can still be targeted visually." The warlord warns them. "Remember the plan and stick to it."
"Understood." Megan replies just before she too reaches the cloud. Falling through it, Megan sees her systems flash briefly, the internal shielding around her AC's systems protecting them from the EMP. Falling clear of the cloud, Megan checks her trajectory, and makes several small corrections.
"So far so good." Sumika says. "I've just cleared the runways. Looks like the light show's got their attention." Looking out towards the giant unit as she falls by, Megan shivers slightly, its massive size and destructive potential fully evident before her.
"Touchdown!" Sumika calls out, Backlash echoing the word a few seconds later. Giving her head a shake, Megan focuses on the task before her. Firing her AC's boosters, Megan slows her descent, landing hard, but already on the move as soon as her feet touch the ground. "I've got visual on the two NEXTs." Sumika says as Megan boosts towards the target leg to join the other two. "Belial looks like he's offline. White Glint's having a face off with Kain from the other side of a leg. I'm getting data from DK. Damn, they're in bad shape."
"How bad?" Megan asks, her heart leaping into her throat.
"Stay focused on our objective." Backlash warns them.
"They're still in fighting shape." Sumika replies. "Barely. Looks like both NEXTs have lost their primal armor though."
"Amazon, Sumika cover me." Backlash orders them. "Keep an eye on the red NEXT. If it moves, finish him off."
"Roger." Sumika replies.
"Understood." Megan replies hesitantly, her eyes unconsciously wandering towards the White NEXT.
The warlord meanwhile, boosts forward and into the air towards the first join in the massive leg. In his left hand, he carries a large rectangular device made of patchwork pieces of metal. "Beginning placement now." The warlord tells them. Checking her radar, Megan sees that Kain and the NEXT have begun moving, the two backing away from each other before coming together quickly. Surprised, Megan looks out towards the two, and sees Kain land a blow on White Glint with his laser blade. She then sees the NEXT raise up her rifle, aiming it at Dark Knight's core at point blank range.
"No!" Megan shouts fearfully. Turning her AC, she hits her OB.
"Amazon, what are you doing?" Backlash demands. "Get back into position now!" Ignoring the order, Megan goes shooting towards the two.
"Look out!" Sumika shouts. "Belial just came back online!"
********
"Looks like the others finally got here." DK tells him.
Seeing them appear on radar, Kain nods. "Good. Now they just got to do whatever it is they're supposed to do fast." Seeing the leg finally starting to rise, Kain starts boosting backwards. Keeping his eye on the radar, he sees White Glint also do the same.
"What are you doing?" DK asks worriedly.
"We're gonna play chicken." He replies, punching the OB.
"What?" DK manages to get out before they go shooting forward towards the foot. With enough clearance to move under, Kain flies towards White Glint, the NEXT's OB also sending her flying towards him.
"Now!" He shouts, suddenly cutting the OB. Sliding across the barren ground, Kain fires the KAWASARA as fast as he can at the approaching NEXT. Cutting her OB, White Glint tries to move sideways to fly past him as she fires, but Kain boosts, dodging the rounds and keeps himself directly in her path.
"Collision alert!" DK shrieks. Ignoring her, Kain continues firing, and White Glint finally quick boosts backwards to stop herself from slamming into the smaller AC. Seeing this, Kain boosts forward towards her and strikes with his laser blade, the energy blade slicing upwards, scoring a deep blow from crotch to chest on the NEXT.
Seeing the rifle pointed at his core, Kain quick boosts right to avoid the shot, then runs around the NEXT to flank her. Firing the KAWASARA again, Kain hits the Next in the back before she quick boosts away from him and spins around.
"Fast Incoming from behind!" DK warns him. Startled, Kain starts to look to see what's coming, but stops himself, barely managing to boost aside to avoid fire from the NEXT.
"Kain!" Megan calls out as she cuts her OB and fires a volley of missiles from her KINNARA.
"What the hell?" Kain shouts in surprise. "Get out of here Amazon!"
Ignoring him, Megan engages White Glint, firing both hand weapons. Seeing her, White Glint quick boosts aside, easily avoiding the fire from the lightweight AC. Cursing, Kain boosts towards the two. "So help me." Kain swears over the general frequency. "If you live through this, I'm going to kill you!"
"Just shut up and help me!" Megan snaps.
"Damn that girl's got a death wish." Firing at White Glint, Kain continues to track her as she takes to the air, raining fire down on the two ACs from above. Boosting out of the way, Kain feels the AC shake slightly.
"SHIFTERs have been purged." DK reports.
"About time." Kain replies, taking to the air. Seeing Megan running around on the ground, Kain fires at White Glint to get her attention.
"Leave the stupid girl alone!" He shouts.
"She forfeited her life when she joined the battle." White Glint replies. Taking aim at Megan, Whtie Glint fires a round from her rifle at her, and three rounds at Kain from the assault rifle at the same time. Avoiding the shots, Kain fires back with the KAWASARA before dropping back down towards the ground, the generator warning lights starting to flash.
Megan meanwhile, barely manages to avoid the shot aimed at her, the pilot letting out a small scream as the round impacts on the ground beside her. "Get out of here Megan!" Kain shouts at his wife.
Ignoring him, Megan continues the attack. Swearing under his breath, Kain starts to boost towards her when DK suddenly takes over. "Docking procedure initiate." She says. "Careful, this is going to be rough!"
Before Kain can ask what she means, DK takes to the air, and a few seconds later, something hits the AC hard in the back, the force of the impact sending Kain forward, straining against his harness. "What the hell was that?" Kain demands as DK returns control back to him.
"Diana's glider thing just gave us a re-arm." DK tells him. "Klink Hammer and FOXFIRE now online!"
Checking the HUD, Kain sees the two new weapons come online: A large cannon on the left shoulder, and a missile launcher on the right. "Kain, can you read me?" Diana calls out on the one-to-one. "I've received confirmation that the glider made its drop. Make sure you are grounded when you fire the Klink hammer! The recoil compensators haven't been tested yet, and if you're not careful, you could damage the core!"
"Got it!" Kain shouts. Activating the FOXFIRE, Kain targets White Glint and fires. Eight homing laser shoot from the weapon, and go streaking towards White Glint. Seeing this, The NEXT backs away, and quick boosts several times to evade the projectiles.
"I need help over here!" Sumika calls out frantically. Surprised, Kain checks his radar, and curses when he sees Belial is back online.
"That bastard just won't stay dead!" DK exclaims.
"No kidding!" Kain agrees. "He's like a damn cockroach!" Switching back to the KAWASARA, Kain starts to boost towards the damaged NEXT, but is forced to quick boost aside in order to avoid fire from White Glint as she comes flying towards him.
"Get back there Megan!" Kain shouts. "That's an order!"
********
Dodging another round from White Glint's rifle, Megan is sweating profusely as she frantically works Choirriots controls. She's too fast, she thinks as White Glint avoids another spread of missiles from the KINNARA. Her NIX machinegun done reloading, Megan starts to boost towards the NEXT when Sumika let's out a pain-filled scream.
"Sumika's down!" Backlash shouts over the comm. Frequency. Hearing his, Megan gasps in shock, her hands briefly leaving the controls.
"Look out you stupid bitch!" Kain shouts at her. Though his words bring her back to her senses, it is too late for her to avoid White Glint's shot as it strikes her AC, knocking her back a handful of meters. Letting out a surprised shout, Megan sees her AP drop to twenty percent, warning lights flashing all across her HUD. Above her, Kain engages White Glint once more, forcing her away from the damaged Choirriot.
"Megan report!" Diana calls out.
"Boosters offline." She shouts. "System errors across the board, but they're recovering! No parts offline, but my core has been compromised!"
"Fall back to Sumika!" Backlash tells her. "That's an order!"
"U-Understood!" Megan replies, rattled by her close brush with death. Turning, she starts to run towards Sumika's offline AC, and stops when she notices Belial, now on his feet, smoke and sparks pouring from his AC, his sniper cannon deployed and aimed at her.
"And another norm dies." The NEXT pilot growls, his voice strained and dripping with hate.
Strafing, Megan desperately tries to get her boosters to fire, but finds the system offline. "No." She whispers, tears starting to form in her eyes as she closes them.
********
Landing, Kain hears Sumika go down. "Damnit, this is going all to hell now." He growls. "That stupid girl! What the hell was she thinking?" Firing the KAWASARA again, Kain avoids more fire from Whtie Glint.
"Generator's starting to get real hot." DK warns him. "If we don't stop soon, it's going to blow."
"It's not like I don't want to!" Kain retorts. Checking on Belial, Kain sees three things happen: Belial firing his sniper cannon at Megan; Backlash moving towards Megan; and Megan freezing. "No!" Kain shouts, terror building in his chest as he punches his OB.
"Behind!" DK shouts, White Glint swooping in for the kill.
********
Hearing the impact of the shot, Megan does not dare breath. After several seconds though, she slowly lets her breath out when she realizes that her AC is not going to blow up. Cautiously opening her eyes, Megan gasps when she sees Hammerfall standing before her, a large gaping hole under the left arm. "Warlord!" Megan exclaims in shock and horror. From within the hole, Megan can see Backlash wave his arm at her weakly. Beyond them, Sumika, shouting a string of obscenities, powers up her AC, and empties her weapons into the NEXT.
"I-I-" Megan stutters.
"You really did it this time girl." Backlash grunts, his voice making it clear that he is in pain.
"I'm sorry." Megan whispers, tears streaming down her face. Shaking, Megan is about to say more, when several missiles strike the warlord's AC in the back, blanketing it with fire. "Backlash!" She screams out his name in horror.