Armored Core: Full Circle

by aserothbw

This story was formerly named Missing Links. Set roughly a century after the Vertex/Alliance showdown, the story brings together elements of all the story lines from the AC games up to Last Raven as humanity continues it's struggle for survival.

37. Chapter 30

Chapter 30 - The Hunted

Crouched behind a small hill, Kain watches his radar as the three contacts move past him. "Are these guys tracking us?" He asks DK. "This has to be the eighth group in the last hour we've almost run into."

"I am detecting no signs of tracking." DK replies. "However, extrapolations based on our encounters with the various groups encountered so far indicate a tight search formation of numerous units." Kain grunts, watching as the three contacts finally disappear from his radar range. "Three hours and they're still hunting hard." Kain mutters, getting Dark Knight to its feet. "Any idea what kind of force we're up against?"

"Preliminary analysis indicates a minimum of 120 units of various compositions." DK replies. "What about the encryption? You crack that yet?"

"Negative. Alliance forces are using a high level rotating encryption frequency. Any further attempts to decrypt transmissions may result in detection." Kain sighs. "Wonderful. What's the AC count now?"

"Eleven ACs have been confirmed in the area." DK replies. "Those two we fought at the airfield were decent, but even if the others are worse, we'll still get our asses kicked against eleven ACs. Any sign of BladeEdge?"

"Negative." DK replies. Nodding, Kain starts moving east, boosting behind hills, large rocks, and anything else big enough to hide his AC. "At least there aren't anymore choppers in the air." He mutters. Since leaving the airfield, Kain has had to take out four MTs, Seven choppers, and tangled with one of the ACs briefly before loosing him. "That invisible trick of yours." Kain says, remembering how DK was able to make them appear invisible. "How long can you hold it?"

"Unknown." DK replies. "The enhanced stealth system was recently brought online with the inclusion of the HEP shield. Analysis of the energy drain from the previous use indicates a possibility of sustaining full stealth for one minute, eight seconds before complete energy depletion."

"You mean the condenser running out?" Kain asks. Seeing another contact at the edge of his radar, Kain stops and boosts backwards a bit. Fortunately, the contact is mowing the north, away from his current path. "Negative." DK replies. "Complete energy depletion occurs when all available energy has been expended, resulting in a system-wide shutdown until sufficient energy has been generated."

"How long does that take?" Kain asks. "Unknown. Complete energy depletion has never occurred, and was not part of the original design specifications." Kain nods, thinking. "What's the safety margin on the time limit?"

"Estimated forty-three point six seconds. Past this time index, the main condenser will be fully depleted, and will require approximately seven point one seconds in order to charge enough energy to re-activate key mobile, defensive, and offensive systems."

"Little too risky for my tastes." Kain says. "Alright, we'll save the cloak for emergencies. Anything else I should know about?"

"We appear to have reached a flat expanse of land." Turning his attention to the screen, Kain curses when he sees that she is right; a large dusty plain stretches out before them. "Perfect." He mutters. "Just great. Check the local map data and see if there's a safer way then boosting like hell into the sunrise." There is a short delay before DK replies. "Negative. Our optimal course of action would be to boost like hell into the sunrise." Hearing this, Kain looks up at the ceiling of the cockpit. "Did you just try and make a joke?" He asks. "Affirmative."

"Just checking. Alright, let's see if we really do have infinite boosting." After checking to make sure there are no contacts in the immediate area, Kain boosts around the hill, and like DK suggested, boosts like hell eastward.

"You sure we're still on course?" Kain asks. Three hours later, the two are still boosting across a seemingly endless expanse of flat, barren land. "I could have sworn we had passed that same scrawny little tree twenty minutes ago."

"GPS system indicates we are on course." DK assures him, currently controlling the AC. "If you say so." Kain sighs. Leaning back in his seat, Kain shakes his head. "Why the hell would Alliance fire ballistic missiles at a civilian location? They can't want me dead that much can they?"

"Analysis indicates that the Alliance may not have fired the missiles." DK point sout. "Though Alliance forces were encountered, I believe that another unknown group was responsible for our attempted destruction."

"You mean Controller forces." Kain says. "That is the likeliest conclusion." She agrees. "However, this region is currently neutral, also suggesting possible UEG involvement." Kain shakes his head at the idea. "No, not UEG's style. Sides, they aren't supposed to know anything about me. And that airfield wasn't a priority target of any kind. Had to be Alliance or Controller. No one else has that kind of firepower to waste."

"Your reasoning is valid." DK agrees. "Good." Kain says, yawning. "I think I'm going to take a nap."

"Negative. Long range sensors are detecting incoming contacts."

"Finally, something interesting." Kain mutters, taking the controls. "What are they?" Checking the radar, Kain still sees nothing. "Doesn't this thing show long range?"

"Negative." DK replies. "Analysis indicates five GUSHAWK fighters inbound on our location. IFF signals indicate Alliance units."

"Took them long enough to find us. Anything on the ground?" Checking the radar again, Kain can now see the fighters. "No ground units detected. Additional air contacts detected. Velocity of new contacts indicates possible transport vehicles."

"Makes sense." Kain says. "Don't think they'd be able to keep up with us on the ground." Seeing the fighters now in firing range, Kain spins around, raising the KAWASARA to fire a shot off. The shot misses, the fighters apparently reacting as soon as he made his move. Activating his HYDRA, Kain switches off the FUNIs before firing at one of the fighters. Not keeping track of the missile, Kain boosts sideways to avoid missiles from one of the other fighters, machinegun rounds bouncing off the HEP shield to his right. Drawing the ZWC, Kain goes on the offensive, firing both guns at the fighters as they pass by.

"All fighters destroyed." DK reports when the last one drops. "Multiple ACs detected. AC Swordfish detected. AC Reborn detected. AC BladeEdge detected." Hearing the last name, Kain curses. "Persistent little shits." Turning, Kain starts to boost away from the drop point of the three ACs. "Well, hopefully they won't be able to keep up. Keep an eye out for any-" Only Kain's instincts warn him as he suddenly quick boosts to the right. Checking his radar, he sees an AC go shooting by, OB active. "That was fast!" Kain exclaims in surprise. Raising the KAWASARA, Kain fires at the AC, but it swerves to avoid before cutting it's OB. "I got you now." Sergeant Chris Vorden shouts over the general frequency.

Seeing the Pegasus back boosters, Kain winces. "Damn that was fast." He says on the general frequency. "I mean, that was really fast." Raising the KAWASARA, Kain fires at BladeEdge, but the lightweight AC boost hops out of the way. "Let's see if you're as good out here as you were in the arena."

Activating the HYDRA, FUNI, and inside orbit cannons, Kain fires at the lightweight. "AC BladeEdge is equipped with a JIREN extension unit, and a I03RN-CORAL napalm rocket launcher." DK warns him. Evading the missiles, BladeEdge ignores the orbit cannons as they fire on the AC, and boosts towards Kain, firing rockets from his shoulders. Seeing them, Kain manages to quick boost out of the way, then quick boosts again to avoid a slash from BladeEdge's MOONLIGHT. Boosting and quick boosting backwards, Kain puts some distance between them as he holsters the KAWASARA and ZWC. "Going to have to go blade to blade." He mutters. Suddenly switching directions, Kain boosts towards BladeEdge, his right arm blade activating.

Seeing this, BladeEdge boosts aside at the last second, his MOONLIGHT grazing the HEP shield. "HEP Shield at 68." DK reports. "Analysis indicates that the MOONLIGHT Laser blade has sufficient penetration to bypass HEP Shield protection."

"So does that parrying blade of his." Kain adds, the orbit cannons returning to their docks. Once they are secured, Kain activates the OB, quick boosting past BladeEdge as it fires. Seeing this, BladeEdge turns on his own OB to follow him. "We can keep outrunning the other two." Kain mutters, watching them quickly reach the edge of his radar. "But he's got the speed to keep up with us." Cutting the OB, Kain spins around and fires the HYDRA again. Missiles come ripping out of the launcher and the FUNI extension, but only two or three find their mark in the nimble AC.

"Tactical analysis indicates that AC BladeEdge is attempting to engage us in order to allow additional AC forces to arrive at our position."

"You think?" Kain asks sarcastically, quick boosting to avoid another slash of the MOONLIGHT. "You're good." Chris says. "But is it your skill, or that AC your piloting?"

"Both!" Kain shouts back, going on the offensive, activating both blades as he goes boosting towards the other AC. Activating his orbital cannons on the way, Kain gets them out before he gets in melee range of BladeEdge. Slashing with his MOONLIGHT, Chris manages to get through the shield, but misses hitting Kain. Kain meanwhile, lashes out with the right hand blade, but also misses, the lighter AC easily skipping aside. Bringing his left arm blade into play, Kain manages to score a hit, nicking the right arm.

Boosting away from Kain, Chris tries to shake the orbit cannons, but has to turn his attention back to Kain when he comes boosting after him. Slashing with both blades, Kain manages to score another hit on the right arm before the AC boosts out of range again. Seeing the JIREN activate, Kain boosts backwards as the orbit cannons once more return to their docks. Activating his own OB Kain turns as it starts to fire. BladeEdge activating it's own OB to follow him. "Got you now!" Kain shouts, cutting his OB. Seeing this, Chris tries to react, but his OB fires, propelling him forward. Sidestepping to avoid the AC, Kain lashes out with both blades in a simultaneous swing, and hits the lightweight as it goes flying by, the blades raking across the AC, taking out the left Leg and Pegasus back booster.

Screaming, Chris tries frantically to control his AC as it goes crashing to the ground. Seeing the other two ACs are almost in firing range, Kain re-activates his OB and starts boosting away from the group. "You know." Kain says as they go shooting away from the combat zone. "Now that I can actually move this thing in about as many ways as I can think, laser blades are really damn good."

"You have become quite proficient in the use of the modified AMS piloting system." DK agrees. "Yeah, this whole piloting with your mind thing is kind of cool. Still helps to have the controls though. Are they following?"

"Negative." DK replies. "However, I am detecting additional long range aerial contacts inbound on our position."

"These guys are persistent." Kain mutters, cutting the OB before the condenser fully depletes. "Alright, let's keep going. I just hope we can find some sort of cover soon."

An hour later, Kain finally sees the cover he is looking for. Unfortunately, according to the radar, between him and the cover are a large group of ground contacts. "AC Swordfish detected." DK tells him. "AC Reborn detected."

"How the hell did they get here ahead of us?" Kain asks, surprised at the appearance of the two. "Never mind, what about the rest of those contacts?"

"Analysis indicates several MT09OE-OWL MTs, twelve ground assault tank units, and six SSG803-WALNUT emplacements. Confirmed STORK transports on long-range sensors. Transports are inbound on our location from the west."

"Guess there's no way we're going back." Kain says, drawing both guns. "Analysis indicates that Swordfish is a lightweight hover AC equipped with dual CR-WH-76S shotguns, and WB260-HARPY cannon. This unit also equips a SIREN4 radar unit. AC Reborn is a Heavy quad-legged unit equipped with CR-WA69BZ weapon arms, a CR-WB69CG chain gun, and WB20M-EMPUSA2 missile launcher. Neither unit equips inside or extension parts."

"Probably figure they're going to need as much speed as they can get." Kain muses. Reaching firing range, Kain fires both rifles at one of the OWLs. Seeing this, the ACs, start to move to attack as the OWL takes both hits and goes down. Coming around to his left, Swordfish fires both shotguns at Kain, the HEP shield taking the full impact. Ignoring the hover for the moment, Kain starts to turn his attention to Reborn, but has to quickly dodge fire from the OWLs as they start to advance on him. Re-targeting the heavy quad, Kain sends the orbit cannons at it while he quick boosts out of the way of a barrage of artillery fire from the gun emplacements.

"This is going to be tricky." Kain mutters, watching more shotgun rounds hit the shield. Twisting around to face Swordfish, Kain fires the ZWC at him while taking a shot at one of the gun emplacements with the KAWASARA. As he is doing this, Bazooka round slam into his right side. "HEP Sheild at 37." DK warns him. Cursing, Kain boosts back from the blockade, firing at the gun emplacements while avoiding more salvoes from Reborn's weapon arms. "We can't fight them from all sides." Kain growls. "Is there any way to punch through this thing?"

"All possible escape routes are blocked by MT or AC units." DK tells him. "Then we're just going to have to try and punch though the weakest point in the line." He grunts, quick boosting to avoid more fire. "If there is one." Checking his radar, he sees the tanks starting to roll in on his position, adding their fire to the gun emplacement's own. "Transport detected." DK reports. "They here already?" Kain asks, checking behind him. "Negative. New transport contact detected bearing in from a south-western vector."

"Where the hell did that thing come from?" Kain mutters. Firing the KAWASARA, Kain takes out the last of the forward gun emplacements, and grunts when several missiles slam into him from behind. "HEP Shield down to 8." DK reports. "Charging."

Activating his OB, Kain quick boosts to avoid more rounds from Reborn, turning towards the blockade at the last second. Seeing what he is about to do, the OWLs start to move into a closer formation to try and block his way through, but Kain punches a hole through the line, taking one of them out with his KAWASARA. Unfortunately, the action costs more energy then he could afford, forcing him to cut his OB just as he reaches the rear line of gun emplacements and tanks. Boosting left and right, Kain avoids several grenade rounds, and curses when he sees one of the guns has a bead on him. Before it, and he, can react though, several missiles slam into the emplacement from above, destroying it.

"Where'd those come from?" Kain shouts, taking out another emplacement. "Spectre!" Megan's voice comes over the general frequency. "Transmission source detected from the STORK transport vectoring on our location from the southwest." DK says. "What the hell are you doing here?" He shouts at her. "Later, get in!" Looking towards the SOTRK, Kain sees it unleash another volley of missiles. Seeing this, the two ACs start to raise their weapons to fire at the transport, but Kain dissuades them with fire of his own. Avoiding the fire, Reborn turns his attention to Kain while Swordfish tries to fire at the approaching transport. "Choirriot deploying!" Megan shouts before jumping her AC out of the transport.

"We got two minutes before those transports get here!" A new voice shouts. Landing, Megan quickly boosts right to avoid Swordfish's fire, unloading her own NIX and ROC at the AC. Taking out one of the OWLs with his ZWC, Kain turns the KAWASARA on Reborn, forcing him back from the two lightweights. "Find me a private frequency so I can talk to her." Kain tells DK. "Searching." The AI replies. Activating his GREYON3, Kain fires at Reborn as he lands from a boost hop, Blowing holes in the left arm, but not destroying it altogether.

"HEP shield online." DK reports, a blue nimbus briefly filling his screen. "About time." Kain mutters. Holstering the ZWC, he boosts towards Reborn, activating the left arm laser blade. Seeing this, Reborn deploys and fires his chain gun, but the bullets are not strong enough to punch through the fully-charged shield. "We're out of here!" Kain shouts when he sees the comm. frequency change. Slashing at Reborn, Kain finishes off the left arm, and then fires at the core with the KAWASARA as he boosts back. Checking on Megan, he sees that she has managed to disable the Hover's hover legs, grounding him. "Come in for the pick up." Megan calls out. "Roger Amazon, clear out to the escape point."

Drawing the ZWC, Kain starts firing both laser rifles as he boosts backwards. Using his cover, Megan boosts past him. "Go!" She shouts at him, firing her KINNARA. "Keep going!" Kain tells her. "I got our backs." Seeing Reborn starting to approach, Kain deploys the GREYON3 again and fires it. Unable to dodge, Reborn takes the hit hard, his core starting to smoke. "Better stay down buddy." Kain mutters, the shoulder cannon folding back as he turns and fires his quick boost several times to catch up to Megan. Ahead of them, the transport is flying some twenty feet above the ground. "Hurry up!" The male voice shouts. "We got fighters incoming!"

"You first!" Kain tells Megan. Moving ahead, Choirriot takes to the air, and with a little work, manages to get into the transport. "I'm in." Megan tells him. Turning her AC to look out, Megan starts to back further into the transport, but suddenly raises her guns. "Look out!" She shouts. Having already seen the fast moving contact on his radar, Kain easily avoids BladeEdge as it comes up behind him, slashing with the MOONLIGHT. "Persistent little shit." Kain growls, taking to the air. Activating his JIREN extensions, Chris tries to follow him up, but Megan fires a spray of lead from her NIX machine gun, forcing him to dodge.

Quick boosting forward, Kain lands hard on the mouth of the transport's cargo bay. "Back up!" Kain tells Megan as she quickly back pedals. Kain meanwhile, turns around to face the outside and fires several shots from both guns at BladeEdge. "We're in!" Megan shouts. "Get us out of here!" Seeing that BladeEdge is not trying to follow them, Kain backs away from the open doors. "That was close." He mutters. "How we doing DK?"

"AP down to 76." She reports. "All systems functional. Beginning repairs." Nodding, Kain watches as the transport's cargo bay doors close, plunging it into darkness for several seconds before the lights come on. "You okay?" Kain asks Megan over the comm. "Minimal damage." She replies. "Reloading now."

"Wasn't talking about the damn AC." Kain mutters, taking off his helmet. "Coming out." Pulling himself out of the cockpit, Kain sees a gantry has already lowered into place for him to climb onto. Making his way across to the edge of the bay, Kain finds a lift and makes his way down to the floor. "What's the status on those Alliance forces?" Kain asks DK, not bothering to lower his voice. "Alliance forces appear to be regrouping for transport." DK replies. "However, analysis indicates it will take approximately twenty minutes before they can effect pursuit." Kain nods, watching as Megan comes out of her core. "They dug themselves in pretty good back there. We might have been toast if these boys hadn't come along."

Walking over to the lift Megan takes down, Kain meets her as she reaches the bottom. "I was afraid we were not going to make it." She says, throwing herself into Kain and embracing him. Caught by surprise, Kain staggers slightly, but manages to hold her up. "What the hell are you doing here?" Kain asks. "I thought I told you to-"

"We were betrayed." Megan explains. "Commander Batten was going to use us as a scapegoat."

"For what?" Kain asks. "I do not know." She admits. Seeing that he is not going to return her embrace, Megan lets go of him, taking a step back. "We barely managed to escape before the Internal Affairs unit found us. Come." Kain follows Megan to the front of the transport, where they find the young man Billy, and another man, the pilot, waiting for them. "You should have heard the chatter." Billy says, grimacing. "Sergeant Vorden's super pissed that we managed to get away."

"I was lucky you guys came when you did." Kain admits. "If he had managed to join the fight, I might not have made it out."

"But you were running circles around them!" Billy objects. "Numbers will affect the outcome of a battle." Megan tells him. "No matter how good the AC and the pilot are." Kain nods in agreement. "Even if I had managed to take them all down, I would have been in pretty bad shape afterwards. Thanks for the rescue."

"You're welcome." The pilot grunts. "Name's Kevin. This is Wild Goose One." Hearing this, Kain winces. "Yeah, sorry." He apologizes. "Not your fault." Kevin grunts. "We heard the chatter about the missile strike. Managed to get a hold of WG3 before he went down. You did what you could to get them out of there, but not even a super AC can stop ballistic missiles."

"Next." Kain corrects. "What?" Billy asks. "DK's not a super AC." He tells them. "Well, not completely. It would be better to say she's a Next."

"Like next generation." Billy says. "It sure does look next gen. What was that blue bubble thing? It knocked out a few of the OWLs and guns that were near you when it, well, snapped."

"Heavy Energy Particle shield." Kain replies. "Don't ask me how it works, I don't know. It must have put out another EM discharge when it snapped." Billy nods. "It did. It wasn't heavy enough to fry circuits, but it did scramble things in the immediate area for a few seconds." Kain nods. "I'll have to keep that in mind."

"Where have you been?" Megan asks him. "And what happened to your arm?" Kain looks down at his arm in surprise. "Oh." He says when he realizes what she means. "You mean how'd I get it back? As far as I can tell, they grew me a new one."

"They?" Billy asks. "Yeah, long story." Kain sighs. "But, if I tell you, your going to be committed to the shit that's going to be hitting the fan later."

"I think that it is safe to assume we have already committed ourselves." Megan tells him. "You got a point there." Kain admits. Going to the communications console, Kain takes a seat in the chair. "Alright, let's start with the Controller."

"You mean the one that used to run Layered before it was destroyed?" Billy asks. "No, I mean the one that's running right now, and the same one responsible for all the shit that's been going on lately. See, this is what I figure is going on . . ."