Act I
Chapter 9-3
The Fire
Week 1 - Day 4
Team Qualifiers Round 1
Black Raven vs Fireflies
The gate flew open and the White Wolf II rushed out of it, slightly scrapping the AC's head in the process. The city was empty and it's partially destroyed buildings welcomed the combatants. Cael took in the sight of the city battlefied and the false sky with it's false sun overhead. The White Wolf II sped through the streets of the city, making a beeline towards the center of the battlefield.
"Cael, you're going to far," Noland warned. Cael ignored his friend's warning and pressed forward, turning a corner, then another, then another, as city flew by his screen. He searched the city for the enemy Firefly ACs but he saw no sign of them.
"The center is clear," Cael told Noland.
"You sure?" Noland asked.
"No sign of them," Cael said.
"I'm on my way. Keep an eye out," Noland said. The Black Wolf headed towards the center of the city along a different route than it's comrade and when it had arrived at it's destination, it took cover inside a building. A large capsule dropped from the side of the Black Wolf's cockpit, planting itself on the ground. "Detection equipment set," Noland reported. The capsule opened up to reveal a radar device and the bottom of the capsule used clamps to dig into the ground to keep the radar upright.
"You see anything?" Cael asked.
"One to the north," Noland said, looking at the radar now on his screen inside his cockpit.
"I'll get him," Cael said. The White Wolf II was about to dash off but Noland stopped him.
"No!" Noland shouted, "It's a decoy,"
"I know," Cael said driving the White Wolf II away to the north.
"Not the plan, Cael!" Noland scolded.
"They're gonna try to seperate us anyway," Cael pointed out, "I'll lure it into detection range,"
The White Wolf II approached the edge of the city and Cael could see a Firefly moving from left to right just outside the city. The White Wolf II's hands went down to it's sides where they grabbed the machineguns mounted on it's legs and then Cael took aim at the Firefly that was acting as bait. His AC's computer calculated that the Firefly was out of the machineguns's range.
"Damn..." Cael said. He thought for a moment then said, "Screw it. I'm biting the bait!"
"Cael, don't!" Noland shouted.
The White Wolf II dashed towards the Firefly and the Firefly stopped moving from left to right, moving backwards instead. Cael chased it until he realized he was going too far out into the open.
"Cael..." Noland said, "They're here,"
"What?" Cael asked, confused. "You see them on the radar?"
"No! They're using chaff! The radar's useless. Two of them just passed the building I'm hiding in. Get back here!"
"Damn," Cael cursed. The White Wolf II turned around and headed back towards where the Black Wolf was hiding. Cael was caught off guard by the Firefly that shot at him just as soon as he arrived at the intersection. Cael scoffed as he got the White Wolf II to recover from the surprise attack and ignored the Firefly as he continued heading towards the center of the city.
After a brief second, the White Wolf II did a 180 degree turn and fired one of his machineguns at the Firefly that was pursuing him. Many of his shots landed and Cael could see that he had managed to disable the Firefly's left arm, the arm with the rocket launcher. He had no time to celebrate as the Firefly immediately started firing it's machinegun and rifle in retaliation.
Cael dodged most of the bullets but one of the rifle rounds knocked off the White Wolf II's shoulder armor. Cael retreated around a corner and prepared to fire at the Firefly if it pursued however, he took a hit from behind. The Firefly that had been acting as bait had joined the fight. Cael quickly went around another corner to save himself but on the opposite street, the injured Firefly kept pace with the White Wolf II, firing it's rifle immediately after clearing a building. Cael tried to return fire but realized most of his shots were being blocked by the building.
"Damn...!" Cael said to himself. "Nol! There're two on me!"
"These two're still near me," Noland said. "I have an idea. Go through the building I'm in. Straight through! Don't stop!"
Noland used the mine launchers on the Black Wolf's legs to place mines on the floor of the building he was in. Cael did as Noland asked and made a beeline for the Black Wolf's location. The bait Firefly had taken up position to Cael's right while the injured Firefly was to Cael's left. Realizing his predicament, Cael brought the White Wolf II to an abrupt stop, just before the two Fireflies met at the upcoming intersection and when they saw that the White Wolf II had stopped, they charged down the White Wolf II's street, firing their guns wildly. Cael turned the White Wolf II around and went back the way he came.
"I can't get to you...!" Cael shouted at Noland.
""Ah, screw it. The plan's gone to hell anyway. You still remember how to dance?" Noland asked.
"I might be a bit rusty."
"We'll have to manage. See ya on the dance floor," Noland said. The moment when one of the Fireflies passed the building the Black Wolf was hiding in, Noland fired a barrage of rounds through the wall at it. He then crashed the Black Wolf through a different wall to exit the building and the two Fireflies that had been patrolling the center of the city began pursuing the Black Wolf, firing a barrage of bullets at it.
Noland fired the Black Wolf's back mounted rifle at buildings to create openings. He used the openings to throw off his pursuers and eliminate their speed advantage. He went through the buildings but the pursuing Fireflies didn't follow him in. Instead they went around the buildings and circled them until the Black Wolf emerged, resuming the chase.
The Black Wolf fled, blowing a hole in another building and entering before the pursuing Fireflies caught up. The Fireflies circled the buildin instead of following the Black Wolf in and waited for the BLack Wolf to exit again. Noland blew a hole in the wall from the inside of the building on the wall opposite to the one he entered in causing the Fireflies to converge on that wall anticipating the Black Wolf to rush out but Noland left the way he came. When they realized that they had been decieved, the Fireflies quickly relocated the Black Wolf and continued their pursuit.
"Rookies..." Noland mocked, laughing when he caught sight of the two Fireflies a ways behind him, still pursuing the Black Wol but catching up.
Noland attempted the same maneuver twice but this time one of the Fireflies followed him in however Noland was not attempting to deceive them this time. He blew a hole in the building and entered it, blowing a hole in the wall directly ahead of him and as he made his way to the exit he had created, he launched a mine on the floor. The Firefly that followed him into the building didn't have the space to avoid the mine and it was going too fast to stop. The mine detonated and the Firefly was covered in a thick adhesive that prevented it's wheels from spinning and it's legs from moving. The Firefly skid across the floor, crashing into the wall and the impact put a deep indentation in the AC's Core, causing the AC to shut down.
"One down," Noland said as he caught sight of the second Firefly continuing to pursue the Black Wolf but being cautious of Noland's tactics.
The White Wolf II raced the pursuing Fireflies around the edge of the city while constantly exchanging fire. The bait Firefly broke off from pursuing the White Wolf II directly and when Cael saw this he took the opportunity to return fire to the injured Firefly. Cael grunted as his cockpit shook violently. The bait Firefly had flanked him faster than he anticipated. The White Wolf II was bombarded by the Firefly's bullets and flash rockets. Shaking off his surprise, Cael quickly regained his composure then focused on avoiding the Fireflies' attacks as he continued fleeing from his pursuers.
"Nol...!" Cael cried out.
"Keep it together, Cael...!" Noland shouted.
"Nol!"
"Almost...!"
"Noland!"
"Let's dance!"
The Black Wolf tackled one of the Fireflies pursuing the White Wolf II. The injured Firefly tumbled across the ground violently as Cael turned around and began engaging the bait Firefly. Within seconds the Black Wolf and White Wolf II were engaged in a firefight with the two remaining Firefly ACs. The Fireflies attempted to circle the two wolves but they were moving in a figure eight motion, constantly switching between their two targets while covering one another. When they realized they were at a possible disadvantage, the Fireflies retreated deeper into the city. Cael and Noland were both panting, their blood pumping from the excitement.
"Whoo...!" Noland yelled playfully, "That got hairy!"
"It's not over yet. What happened to the fourth one?" Cael asked.
"Got him with a mine," Noland replied.
"I'm almost out of ammo," Cael said.
"All I got are mines and a few rounds in the rifle. Dam', they shot out one of my wheels," Noland said.
"The gate's on the other side of the city..."
"Think we can make it if we take the long way 'round?"
"They'll have the buildings as cover and pick us off..."
"Really wishin' Alessia was here right now," Noland joked.
"Vai would've been the better choice," Cael laughed. "Hold on..."
The White Wolf II holstered it's machineguns as Cael accessed the AC's weapons systems. Moments later, a blade erupted from it's hidden location in the White Wolf II's arm.
"Whoa... Remind me to ask the doc to fix up the Black Wolf," Noland joked.
"I think I have a plan..." Cael said.
""You? With a plan? This I gotta hear!" Noland mocked.
"You remember those old MT League playbacks Alessia watched of Lewis and her parents?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Trucks ready to go, but..." Lewis said as he entered the operation room. He took a seat next to Alessia and they watched the match.
"The last two Fireflies are ready for them. There's no way they'll make it back to the gate," Alessia said. On the screen, Cael and Noland headed towards the center of the city. The move surprised both Lewis and Alessia. "What're they thinking?" Alessia asked, shouting.
"Looks like they're gonna make a beeline for it..." Lewis said as he stood, "I'll get the truck to the gate -"
"Wait a sec... this is...!" Alessia said. Alessia watched as the White Wolf II took cover inside buildings while the Black Wolf moved through the streets and Lewis stopped to see what Alessia was so worked up about.
"Usin' Nol' as bait... Smart," Lewis said.
"This is the end of Vertex vs Tracers...!" Alessia said in awe.
"What do you mean...?" Lewis asked, confused.
"Look at how they're advancing. It's just like how you and my dad did it,"
"Ya seein' things, Alessia -"
"No...! Get the truck to the gate, quick!"
On the screen, the Black Wolf continued to move in through the streets in the open while the White Wolf II only rarely showed up on camera as it hid in building after building. The Firefly ACs had already spotted the Black Wolf but were hanging back, not engaging.
"They've seen me but they're not shooting," Noland reported.
"They're looking for me," Cael pointed out. "I don't remember everything that happened after they got to the center."
"We'll wing it," Noland said, grinning.
"I'm counting on you," Cael said. The White Wolf II cautiously distanced itself from the Black Wolf and the Black Wolf ducked inside of a building to hide. Noland made his way towards the gate that he and Cael deployed from. The Fireflies knew where he was but they still had not engaged him yet.
"They won't fire at me without knowing where Cael is... smart..." Noland thought aloud.
One of the Fireflies moved towards the gate and the other soon followed. Noland scoffed when he saw this. They were moving slow enough to keep an eye on the Black Wolf while at the same time looking for Cael and keeping them both from reaching the gate for their resupply.
Noland moved the Black Wolf back onto the open street. He could see the Firefly ACs watching him from cover and the gate behind them. One of the two Fireflies acted as a satellite, searching for Cael and the White Wolf II. A minute passed and Noland could see the gate open as the supply truck entered the arena. Noland readied the Black Wolf's back mounted rifle and fired a shot at one of the Fireflies.
The moment that the Black Wolf fired, the White Wolf II dashed from it's hiding place and headed straight towards the supply truck at full speed. The Fireflies ignored the Black Wolf and focused on the White Wolf II. The Fireflies didn't attack the White Wolf II immediately but instead they waited for it to begin resupplying so they could take it out with the league's Ambush Clause.
Cael pressed down hard on the White Wolf's pedals as he made a beeline for the supply truck. The onscreen speedometer clocked the White Wolf II's speed, 116 miles per hour and slowly climbing. Cael could see the Fireflies waiting to attack him but kept going. The White Wolf II slid to a halt as it arrived at the supply truck. That's when one of the Fireflies made their move and approached the White Wolf II at full speed.
"Well I'll be damned..." Noland whispered to himself, "Alex this is your dam' job,"
The Black Wolf fired a shot from it's rifle at the Firefly approaching the White Wolf II. The Firefly began slowing down as it drew closer to the White Wolf but this was a mistake as the White Wolf II hadn't been resupplying. The White Wolf II sped away from the supply truck just as the Firefly was hit by a rifle round from the Black Wolf. This stunned the Firefly temporarily as the White Wolf II closed in on it and stabbed it in the leg with the blade hidden in the White Wolf's arm. Cael quickly finished the Firefly by piercing the Core, then it backed away and sped towards the last remaining Firefly.
Noland fired at the incoming Firefly as he backpedaled but the Firefly dodged the rifle rounds, returning fire with it's machineguns. As it got closer it attempted to use it's flash rockets. Some of the flash rockets managed to disrupt Noland's targeting but Noland continued to backpedal, taking refuge in a building. It was a building that Noland knew the building well.
Noland stopped and held his ground as he was bombarded by machingun fire. The Firefly came to an abrupt halt after seeing that it had followed the Black Wolf into a building where a mine had been planted and attempted to back out of the building just as the White Wolf II tackled it from behind, knocking it into the mine's detonating range. The mine went off and one of the legs of the Firefly was covered in adhesive although the AC was still able to move.
It fired at the White Wolf II but Noland quickly came up and planted a mine on the Core of the Firefly then backpedaled as he detonated it. The Firefly was covered in adhesive but it continued struggling, trying to shoot down the White Wolf II. Cael closed in and cut off the Firefly's arm as Noland shot it's good leg causing the Firefly fall forward, defeated. A loud buzzing sound played throughout the arena. The match was over and Black Raven had won.