Chapter 7: the Puppet's prayer
"En route? What do you mean, SOP-II!?" still have yet to fully process the information that SOP-II had just disclosed, M4A1 asked back reflexively.
"I don't know how, but the local Sangvis Ringleader seems to have waited for the moment the Commander is away to launch an attack on your base. Anyway, there's not much time left!" it was apparent that the urgency in her comrade's voice was clear, M4A1 decided not to press any further for now and quickly turned to Tiger.
"Mr Tiger!"
"All units, we've just received intel from an onsite T-Doll that the local Ringleader has launched a surprise attack on our base. Cease all your current activity and rendezvous back at LZ ASAP."
"This is Tiger to Command Center. The Sangvis has launched a surprise attack and is currently en route to your location. Raise Alert Level to Level 1 and have all available personnel to their battle station."
Launching a surprise attack right when chain of command is away on mission, quite a cunning Ringleader they're facing this time. All the more to not dawdling about, the trio quickly made their way back to the LZ.
Sharply 20 minutes, the base was finally in sight and as the three choppers hovered in the air, the massive firefight below came into view. Thanks to SOP-II's intel, the base was given a heads-up and avoided being caught off guard. However, without a chain of command and with just sheer number alone, the Sangvis force was slowly advancing ever closer.
"Cursed! They're already here!" SOP-II grunted loudly.
"Eagle, take your Echelon and pinpoint where their deployment point is. All these troops don't just pop out of nowhere. Pilot, get us as low as you can." After evaluating the situation and devising a suitable strategy, Tiger then stood up and reached for the door.
"No! You need to take off and retreat right now! Me and M4A1 alone cannot hold off this many Sangvis alone!" disregarding SOP-II's words, Tiger then pushed the door open then just as he was about to grab the rope dangling before him, he turned to her and asked.
"And why is it that only you two should hold off the enemy or why we should even retreat in the first place?" his question caused SOP-II to flinch slightly.
"They may have a bit of a head start on us, but that's about it. They want this base, they're gonna have to fight for it and they're gonna need more than just those glorified shooting range dummies down there." Without waiting for a response from the other party, Tiger had already rappelled down the rope and quickly took control of the situation. As SOP-II looked after him still dumbfounded, Ingram's voice rung up through her headset.
"Better give it up, new girl. Our Adjutant is one stubborn guy so try as you may but nothing will change. Anyway, since this base is totally alien to you, to retreat or to fight is completely your choice. But if it's the latter, you best hurry because there will be none left soon!" with an excited shout, Ingram then leapt down from the chopper and joined the fray as all other T-Dolls also followed suit. Standing next to SOP-II, M4A1 placed a hand on her shoulder as the latter looked back to her.
"Don't worry, SOP-II. We're not on our own this time."
"You mean…we finally have comrades?" at her question, M4A1 simply nodded with a smile.
"So, how about we go and fight alongside our new comrades?"
"You bet!"
On the ground, Main Entrance.
Compared to the Sangvis force that was flooding out from the forest like swarm of locusts, the force of G&K was much fewer in number with many T-Dolls using weapons that are relics from the past two World Wars.
At the forefront most barricade was two such T-Dolls. One with short light blonde hair, the other with brown hair tied into a ponytail, both employing weapons originating from World War II-era, submachinegun MP40 and handgun P38.
"Oh no, I'm all out!" shouted P38 upon hearing the clicking sound of her guns.
"Same here!" MP40 responded, their ammo reserve had completely run dry. Noticing the period of vulnerability in their enemy, the Sangvis then pushed forward even more relentlessly.
"Aah! They're coming!" one of the Ripper managed to close the distance and jumped onto the barricade with her guns drawn. Quickly stepping in front of P38, MP40 reached for the sabre on her side just as the Ripper was about to pull the trigger. Before she could do so, however, her face was crushed by a tremendous force before being thrown back to where others were.
"You two, any injury?" shielding the two of them behind him, Tiger glanced over his shoulder and asked.
"N-not at all, sir! Thank you, sir!" instinctively, MP40 answered while giving a salute.
"Then fall back with the others. To all units currently on the field, fall back and restock on your supply. Echelon 1 and 3, push back the Sangvis's advance!" as soon as Tiger gave the order, from behind him two shadows had immediately sprung forward with abandon straight into the enemy's rank.
"Hahahaha! So much killing to do, so little of me!" on the left, was Ingram with her murderous switch flipped.
"Louder, scream louder for me! Ahahaha!" on the right, was SOP-II taking down the Sangvis before her in an extremely gruesome fashion, like cutting off their limbs with a rifle burst or ripping out their internal wirings. Now there's two war maniacs that he has to deal with, thinking that Tiger could only shake his head before picking up his shield and also charged forward.
Utilizing her superior mobility, Ingram was jumping and dashing all over the place like a bunny, spraying bullets everywhere while also causing their firepower to be used against them. Whereas, SOP-II was alternating between her rifle and the under-barrel grenade launcher, launching a grenade into a cluster of enemy as they got blown up and scattered then taking out the stragglers before they could recover.
As the two of were too indulged in the killing, they were a heartbeat later in noticing the two Dragoons bolting toward them. Finally catching up, Tiger swung his tomahawk horizontally, cutting down both walkers' legs as they lost balance and fell down. Keeping up the momentum, he spun his body once and smashed the tomahawk downward, cleaving one of the two riders in half and finishing off the other with a shotgun round to the head.
"Nice timing there, Adjutant!" seeing the remaining Dragoons had decided to stay back and unload their cannons on them, Ingram and SOP-II quickly took cover behind Tiger and his shield.
"You have a tomahawk too? That's so awesome! Hey, hey, how many weapon can you store inside that shield? Do you have anything else?" yelled SOP-II with excitement before showering Tiger with questions. Despite being under fire from at least a hundred Sangvis while also being too far ahead from other allies, these two were being unusually chipper.
Feeling the vein on his forehead nearly popping, Tiger then vented all that anger out by slamming his shield down, stirring up the dirt on the ground into a smokescreen.
"You two are getting an earful from me after this! Now get ready, we're pushing the Sangvis all the way back to their deployment point!"
"Aye aye, sir!"
By then, the T-Dolls in the back under M4A1's command had caught up with them. With the smokescreen obstructing the line of sight, they quickly rushed through and took the enemy by surprise. After seizing the initiation for more than half an hour, the Sangvis first assault company was wiped out completely. And just right on time, Tiger received a radio call from Eagle.
"Chief, their camp is about a klick east further into the forest. We're currently culling down their remaining number but it seems more reinforcements are approaching from the north."
"Copy that. We're now making our way toward you."
"Command Center, have multiple squads comb the forest for stragglers. Echelon 1 and 3 will proceed to intercept and neutralize the remaining enemy and their reinforcement."
"Copy that, Adjutant. Thank you and god speed to you all."
Sangvis Ferri camp.
After locating the enemy's deployment point, Echelon 2 had quickly descended from the chopper with Skorpion, PPSh-41 and P7 employing hit-and-run tactic to cause mass disturbance among their ranks. In that meantime, Eagle and Springfield, after rigging the enemy's communication equipment and ammunition reserves with high explosive, had taken over one of the temporal watchtower and began laying down long range covering fire for the three.
As he took down one Sangvis after another, the presence of this reinforcement was still bugging him. From what he saw while on the chopper, the reinforcement was only a single freightliner. Usually, Sangvis troops are dispatched from a Command Post and advance to their target location on food instead of conventional transportation so seeing a freightliner here was already out of the norm for them.
It's possible that what they're transporting are armored units, in which case a freightliner would totally make sense. Sacrificing mobility in exchange for stronger armor and firepower, the high-end armored unit of Sangvis Ferri is an even bigger pain to deal with than the Dragoon. Without AP rounds, large caliber weapon or high explosive, one can never hope to take down an armored unit.
"They…stopped?" Eagle mumbled. The trailer's signal had stopped completely just a hundred meters away from the camp. Were they not transporting reinforcement? For what purpose did they stop? As he tried to deduct the reason behind the Sangvis's strange movement, his goggles then warned him of an incoming projectile, from the direction where the trailer had just stopped.
"Ms Springfield!" he shouted.
"Eh-" before she could even reply, Eagle had already swept Springfield off her feet and leapt down from the watchtower. Soon as he did so, the watchtower was instantly reduced to dust by what seems to be large caliber high explosive round. In that same instance, in the general direction where Skorpion and others should be, another explosion had decimated an entire section of the Sangvis camp. The three's conversation in a frantic voice could be heard on the radio.
"Skorpion! P7!"
"I'm fine! Get up, P7! We need to get out of here stat!"
"Grrr! These Sangvis scums, to think they'd deploy Manticore on their own troops!"
"Wait, Manticore?" activating his camouflage and seeking cover the moment he landed, through the smoke and dirt Eagle could somewhat make out an intimidating silhouette appearing from the woodwork.
Military-grade heavy armored unit 'Manticore'.
A colossal body housing state of the art detection and targeting system, an assault weapon system consisting of one heavy machinegun and a single 125mm main cannon that, while certainly not of the largest caliber, can still deliver enough payload to swiftly deal with any target even from afar, all supported by four massive arachnid-like limbs that can traverse most type of terrain, with heavy armor that render most firearms useless as the icing on top.
Nicknamed the 'Walking Tank', the Manticore is ordered and employed by the army as the new addition to their arsenal of automated weapons and in the future a replacement for their line of aging MBT. With everything in one package, be it firepower, mobility or defensive capability, the Manticore is a force to be reckoned with and truly a nightmare to confront, even more than a squadron of Dragoons.
Expensive production cost that not even Sangvis Ferri could afford an entire mass-assembly line for is the main reason why these things aren't higher on the threat level chart, resulting in their appearance on the field being completely negligible. And while having the same weakness as any Sangvis unit that is an exploitable AI, a Manticore is completely capable of wiping out any T-Doll Echelon should they approach it recklessly.
"Not only one but two of them at the same time, quite extravagant of you, Ms Ringleader."
"Um…Mr Eagle?" As Eagle was thinking on how to buy time until the main force arrived, Springfield called out to him with a rather meek voice.
"Y-you can let go of me now…" she said and only then did Eagle realize he was still holding Springfield tightly by her waist.
"Ah, right. Pardon my rudeness for that."
"I-it's fine, really!"
From behind the cover, Eagle observed the two Manticores for a few more minutes to make sure their position is still good before contacting the other three.
"Eagle to all unit, damage report."
"Skorpion here, I'm still okay though can't say the same for one of my dummies."
"This is Pah-Pah-Sha, just a few scratches and bruises, I can still fight."
"P7, nothing major. So what now, Advisor?"
2 Submachineguns, 1 Handgun and 2 Sniper Rifles, no matter how you put it taking down two Manticores with only a handful of troops and without specialized equipment is just completely out of the question. But they still have to at least take out or weaken one of them before the main force arrived.
Rummaging through his pouch to see what he still has left, then performing a quick scan on the surrounding environment for anything that can be used to his advantage, in less than a minute Eagle had formulated a plan with the highest chance of success even in the current situation.
"Alright, here's the plan…"
As the two Manticores split out to sweep the camp looking for their targets, one of them had spotted a set of fresh tracks and was following it. Two different sets of footprints both leading straight into the forest and, as its scanner zoomed in, a tripwire attached to a stash of ammunition. With one single shot from its machinegun, the Manticore cleanly severed the wire before proceeding forward.
Unbeknownst to it, there was nothing connected to the tripwire as it was merely for distraction. Right when the Manticore got within range still thinking that the threat had been removed, a small high explosive charge that was carefully hidden between the ammo box was detonated.
During the same time, the other Manticore had come across Skorpion's destroyed dummy. Just as it got closer to scan the body for any clue leading to the main body whereabouts, the explosion on the other side diverted its attention for a brief second and the dummy sprung back to life.
Holding a grenade with a white stripe in her hand, the dummy got as close as possible to the Manticore before pulling the pin. The grenade exploded into a cloud of grayish smoke that, beside the presence of dense metal composition as indicated by the scan, did not cause any kind of interference whatsoever as the Manticore stomped on the dummy with relative ease.
"This is for my dummy, now burn you walking oversized tin can!" from behind the wall, Skorpion, the real one, jumped out and threw her incendiary grenade. The very moment a single spark of flame made contact with the smoke cloud, the entire thing with the Manticore still inside ignited into a glorious fiery blaze.
Caught in the center of explosion, the Manticore's scanner went complete haywire rendering it immobilized for a brief second, during that time the fire which temperature exceeding 2000'C had melted through a large proportion of its armor. Now, the defensive capability that the Manticore is known for was reduced to no superior, if not worse, than a normal armored unit.
The time for them to strike has come. Coming out of their covers, Echelon 2 then began their counterattack. Still having its colossal enveloped in flame, the Manticore stood up and turned toward the enemy, putting up what is probably its last struggle.
Detecting three targets strafing to get behind it, the Manticore quickly turned around after them despite the damage its frame had sustained. With the heavy machinegun suitable for this kind of situation no longer usable, it could only resort to its main cannon.
Fortunately for it, the detection and targeting system was mostly unscathed and operable as it took only 2 seconds to achieve a full lock-on on three moving targets. Then as the dreadful 125mm about to discharge, the Manticore's entire body slanted to one side and the shot went completely off the mark.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Six consecutive and synchronized shots from two different directions, all aimed exclusively at the lesser-protected joints of the limbs. With the frame already greatly weakened by the fire, the joints soon exceeded their damage threshold and collapsed under the weight of the body.
Quickly repositioning themselves while chambering the next round on the move, Eagle and Springfield then repeated the same tactic, this time completely stripping the Manticore off its ability to mover and maneuver.
Trying to stand up with great difficulty only to drop back down helplessly as electrical sparks flew out from the damaged joints. The Manticore, boasting the firepower, defense capability and mobility rivaling that of a MBT, now reduced to no more than a giant bonfire.
System: critical. Hull integrity: compromised. Frame integrity: compromised. Detection and targeting reticle: malfunction. Reactor core breached, power output dropping. Warning. Warning.
As these warnings kept popping up one after another, the onboard system soon went into overload and initiated a forced shutdown. With 5 seconds left on the counter, the last image that the camera captured was three barrels pointing straight at the lens.
"And this, is for all our comrades that you've killed. Now die and perish, you Sangvis scum."
About 20 minutes after that, Echelon 2 then rendezvoused with the main force after the latter had taken care of the other Manticore. Being caught in an explosion like that, an entire right side of the Manticore's armor was in total tatter with its antenna was completely trashed so for the main force it was a total cakewalk.
Surely enough, the moment they regrouped Skorpion and P7 just won't stop bragging to others on how their team took on two and destroyed one Manticore on their own surprise assault. With all enemy forces eliminated, the Sangvis assault on G&K FOB of District S09 was successfully repelled. Then just as they were about to return, from the destroyed Manticore came an unfamiliar voice.
"Hmph, I must commend you all, you're even more of a threat than I've anticipated, taking out both Manticores like that." Hearing the voice, everyone was put on high alert as they backed away from the Manticore, with SOP-II suddenly baring her fangs.
"That voice…It's Hunter! That damn bitch!"
"Oh, so you're there too, brat? Not that it matters, the only one I'm after is M4A1." Hearing her name being called, M4A1 then stepped forward.
"You're Hunter? What do you want from me?"
"Isn't it already easy enough to see as is? As you've probably guessed, I have AR-15."
"Struggling till your last breath, bitch?!"
"More like it's part of my strategy. No matter how hard you fight, this is a battle that you cannot win. So how about a deal? Drop your weapon and surrender yourself to me, then you can have AR-15 back. Still not believe me? Then here, some proof…"
"Don't listen to her, M4! It's all my-" the transmission was then cut off before the one on the other side could even finish her sentence.
"I believe her words will convince you to give the response that I want. Don't put your money on the G&K, for even this stalemate is simply a setback to their inevitable demise."
"So, think it over and give me your answer, soon." End of transmission.
An hour later, after all attack Echelons had returned the base remained on high alert as security on the immediate vicinity was greatly increased. It was a long and tough battle, but to some this was only the beginning.
As night falls and all other T-Dolls are already dismissed for the day, four individuals remained on duty as they gathered in the Command Center, strategizing about the next course of action.
"Model SP721, call sign 'Hunter'. She's the new local Ringleader and according to intel, unlike the previous two, Hunter is in charge of an entire tactical base with thousands of troops including the elite ones at her disposal." Said Eagle standing next to the main terminal.
"While we do not have the exact location of the base yet, if it's something that can house thousands of troops and the supply necessary to maintain such number, it should be impossible to miss."
"But if this base is as big as the intel claimed, and with Hunter commanding it directly, it's going to be hard no matter what we do." M4A1 voiced her worry.
"Since we just took down the communication outpost, other bases in the area might be able to lend us their assistance although it will take time to prepare troops and organize an attack plan." Tiger added on.
"We can't afford to waste even a second for that! Who knows what that bitch will do with AR-15 if we wait around!" yelled SOP-II slamming her hands on the table. While her restlessness is understandable, this time they're going up against an entire base with thousands of troops and possibly even more of those Manticores. Even with proper preparation and a well-thought plan, the probability of success is still very low to be accepted by anyone with common sense.
"I know that, SOP-II! I too want to rescue AR-15, but we cannot do this sloppily! Now it's not just us, but also other lives that we're putting on the line!"
"Then it'd fine if it's just the two of us, right?!" a small quarrel then broke out between M4A1 and Sop-II. On one side, is the life of their comrade at stake, on the other, is hundred other T-Dolls. Standing on the sideline, Tiger then said something to Eagle as the latter flipped through the tablet in his hand. At first, he raised an eyebrow probably because of something Tiger said, and after a while of discussing, an agreement was reached.
"So Commander, your call." Tiger asked, causing the two girls to stop their quarrelling.
"We can ask for other bases' help, it'll certainly take time, but the operation will have the highest chance of success and we'll be taking the fight to them. Or, we can throw at them everything we've got, while it's not a guarantee, there certainly is chance of success."
"…"
"M4…"
"Is it okay if I make a selfish request?"
"There are no requests, only orders. You're the Commander, and we're your Adjutant and Advisor. If it's your call, then we will carry it out, to the utmost of our abilities."
"I see…Then here's my order. We will conduct an assault on the Sangvis Ferri tactical base where the local Ringleader, Hunter is currently operating. This operation shall take precedence above all else. Mr Tiger, Mr Eagle, I'll entrust the preparation to you two. Do what must be done and as soon as possible." With an adamant voice, M4A1 issued her order. It was the same voice that M4A1 always use when they're on mission, the same voice that SOP-II was already too familiar with, yet this time there was something different that she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Then it shall be so. Now, get some rest for the night. Tomorrow, we strike at dawn." Giving their salute, the two then left the room and immediately got down to making the preparation. It was unclear whether because they take their job and sense of duty seriously, or because they're already used to this kind of thing, being mercenary and all, but their efficiency and overall performance far surpassed anything that one would come to expect of a normal human being.
That night, even though they were told to get some rest, neither M4A1 nor SOP-II could get even a blink of sleep. Lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, SOP-II suddenly spoke up.
"Today…sure was a crazy day, right M4?"
"Hm? Ah, it surely was…"
"You know M4? When you told me that we finally have comrades, I was overwhelmed with joy. At long last, we won't have to fight alone and suffer the pain by our lonesome selves anymore."
"Huuh…"
"But at the same, I was scared, very scared. Back then, you, me, AR-15 and M16, just the four of us, we can pull through anything as long as we're together. But now, with so many comrades and sisters with us, what if what we're doing tomorrow is just leading them toward destruction?"
"…"
"Hey M4, it's still not too late. If we go now, we can sneak out unnoticed and rescue AR-15 without involving anyone. What the Sangvis wants is us, so it's best if we-"
"SOP-II." M4A1 suddenly cut her off as the room fell into silence again. The two stared at each other for a while before the former reached out of her blanker to hold SOP-II prosthetic hand.
"I won't ask you to not worry when I too am. But I want to ask you, to place your trust on them. They're our Adjutant and Advisor, they're here to help us, so the only thing we can do right now is to rely on them..."
"And pray for a miracle."
When a Manticore going all gung-ho on you in CUBE and it's the squad you forgot to bring AP