Black Feather: Episode XXXII
"Golem"
Galistone County Outskirts
7:10 p.m., 03/19
"Missiles approaching! Two kilometers!!"
"Damn! They're expecting us!! All units activate stealth coats!! ECM units-"
"It's no use! The ECM units are shot down!"
"Missiles imminent at one kilometer!!"
"All squads branch out! Everyone stay in your unit!"
"Missiles incoming!"
A cloud of missiles shining in moonlight dived toward us. My enhanced guided projectile interception system took out a swarm of the missiles like a hot knife through butter. I was unscathed but many weren't. The night screamed with jarring conflagrations.
"Scout! Report damage!!"
"Five allied MTs shot down! Thirty-five remaining!"
"The bomber units!? What about them!?"
"They're one kilometer behind us... We have to break the defensive line before the bombers get here!!"
I gripped the controls. My eyes narrowed. Overboost activated.
"What are you doing!? That's suicide!!" Diana didn't want anything to go wrong on this mission.
"No thanks, Diana. At this ra-" The overboost shot me forward before I could finish my sentence. I activated my Stealth extensions. Leaving my squad behind was against orders, but at this rate, all of them would be annihilated.
"Qastor~!!"
I plowed through the defensive line with a quick swipe of my blade and broke left. I ended up at the end of the line. I aligned myself with the defensive line of artillery turrets. My railgun positioned, a suicide bullet shrieked through the defensive line. They all exploded in perfect rhythm while my rail bullet created a small but deafening sonic boom.
"Enemy defensive line is down! All units, protect the bombers!! AC units, take out the enemy guards!!" I was proud of my accomplishment. An entire defensive line destroyed in one shot.
"This is Lucifer. Reinforcements have arrived." He was calm as always.
"It's about time!"
"Scout, come with me. We'll have to keep an eye on the keep."
"I'm coming t-"
"You stay here with the bombers until I say you could move."
"Tch! Have a nice time!" I veered back with the reinforcements and distracted the guard MTs until the bombers got here.
Stars slumbered in their blankets of shadow. The moon was a spectator of the raid.
"Bombers approaching! All units move out!" The hum of the bombers echoed in the night sky.
"B-03 is down! I repeat, B-03 is down!! Three bombers remaining!! Two units down!!"
"Damn... All long-range units! Fire at will! Aim for the plant!!" I ordered my troops, and was amazed at the result.
The plant exploded into a performance of sparks and flames. Some of the city lights flickered into darkness along with all of the outlying structures.
"All raid units! Follow me! Diana and Markham, you too! All bombers to the keep!! Remaining units, clean up the area!!" Thirteen units stayed behind and dealt with the remaining forces to keep them away from the bombers, while twenty went with me.
With that, I followed Lucifer's trail. I could see the dome keep from here. It resembled an alien pearl shimmering in lunar rays.
"This is Qastor. What's the situation over there?"
"Enemy units are being deployed. Awaiting further commands." Scout responded first.
"Lucifer, are you gonna blow it up or not?" A glance at his AC and you know he's all dynamite. He was outfitted with over ninety grenade shells.
"They're not letting up. Looks like we'll use Plan B." Lucifer waited for the bombers. "All bombers, aim for the black spot on the dome! All units attack! Qastor and Diana, don't go near until we punch a hole!!" He sounded more excited now.
Lucifer aimed one more shot at the black spot fired. Immediately after it struck its mark, he and seven other MTs charged in. Markham, another AC rebel, led thirteen MTs. Diana and I waited behind some hills near the target entrance. We spoke in whispers, even though our transmission was encrypted.
"Any units near us?"
"Not any that I know of. Bombers almost there." Diana seemed nervous.
"I though you'd be used to this kind of thing."
"Used to what?" She was more serious now.
"Nevermind... There, the hole is weakening. We should get going." I boosted ahead, but she overboosted. By the time I reached the keep, the hole could be clearly seen. Battles were taking place on the other side of the keep.
"You ready?"
"Let's just go."
"Ladies first." Exasperated, Diana went ahead, boosted up, and dropped into the hole. I took a deep breath. What have I gotten myself into?
A chilling draft cooled down my armor as I descended.
Mission: Rescue Rebel Colleague
Operation Name: Dance Macabre
Client: Laevaentteinn
Advance: 0c
Reward: 0c
Requesting Figure: Lucifer
Opponent: Sphere
Enemy Forces: Unknown
Time: 7:23 p.m.
Theatre of Operations: Gardens Accord Keep
"Computer, systems check."
"All systems functioning at full capacity. Warning: Temperature Decrease. Current Temperature: 6 ?C."
The computer was right. It was getting cold down here.
"Diana, do you copy?" I waited for a reply. "Diana...? Computer, what's the altitude?"
"6750 meters and dropping. Landing imminent at 7500 meters."
"Damn that's deep."
_____________________________
Large splashes of blood smeared across the freezing metal walls as dim lights guided me through the tunnel.
"How the hell...? Blood? This much?" I proceeded with utmost caution. A disturbing noise rung the abandoned catwalks on the wall. Bugs...
"Oh noooo..." An AC was backstepping from an adjoining tunnel.
"Diana!? What's wrong!?" I boosted my way to her.
"Ahead... It's..." I turned right and saw what Diana saw. Ahead was a colossus, one twice the size of an AC. Some of its armor panels were hanging loose, which exposed its throbbing flesh. It left massive footprints of blood in its wake. It traipsed slowly with its back slightly hunched over, its spinal spikes ran down the center. Half of its face was covered with a metallic mask, while the other half was demonic flesh with a popped-out eye dangling as it trudged. Saliva and white foam ran from its drooping mouth, full of serrated layers of fangs. In its right hand was a ponderous cannon, about three times the size of a Karasawa rifle. The massive rail barrel scraped against the frosty floor, leaving trails of sparks.
I stepped back also, but my back soon met the wall. Diana was in the same predicament.
"Where the hell did it come from!?"
"I don't know... It jumped right out of that door and started walking towards me..."
It pointed its cannon at us.
"Oh sh-" I reacted immediately and attacked with my rail gun. Blood bursted from its left shoulder as the bullet ripped through and ricocheted 30 times in the tunnel behind the giant. I found its left arm hanging by a strand of flesh from its armpit. Watching it fall to the ground made Diana queasy. The giant bellowed in pain and pointed the cannon again.
"Ah, attack now!!" I fired blindly at the giant's body with my rifle and chain gun. The giant's body shook as the bullets penetrated. Its cannon was still pointed. Diana fired and a green shroud of energy and electricity concealed its right hand, knocking the cannon off balance. Angered, the giant quickly aimed and fired its cannon.
"MOVE IT!!! GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!" I strafe boosted to the right and Diana broke left. A burning flash jarred the tunnel. I turned around and found a smoldering hole in the previous wall, dripping with liquid metal. I've had it with the pile of standing crap and boosted forward, slicing its legs. I was amazed at how fragile the giant was, and how it lost both legs. Diana was standing on the other side of the giant with her laserblade heated. We had both sliced the giant's legs.
It wasn't the end, however. As the giant screamed lying on the ground, it managed to turn around, grab its cannon, and aim it at me. I was too stunned to react, since its enormous flesh and muscles gave it more maneuverability over any AC. A roaring flash of fire engulfed the giant's hand. The tunnel shook as the giant's cannon flew and landed away from its owner. Its right hand was missing and the entire right arm was charred. It shrieked.
"What are you two doing!? Get in and save Garnet now! I'll finish this freak off." Lucifer's AC, Grenadier, tremored the tunnel with its heavy footsteps. Diana and I listened and made our way through the tunnel behind the giant.
Almost finished. Almost home.
"Golem"
Galistone County Outskirts
7:10 p.m., 03/19
"Missiles approaching! Two kilometers!!"
"Damn! They're expecting us!! All units activate stealth coats!! ECM units-"
"It's no use! The ECM units are shot down!"
"Missiles imminent at one kilometer!!"
"All squads branch out! Everyone stay in your unit!"
"Missiles incoming!"
A cloud of missiles shining in moonlight dived toward us. My enhanced guided projectile interception system took out a swarm of the missiles like a hot knife through butter. I was unscathed but many weren't. The night screamed with jarring conflagrations.
"Scout! Report damage!!"
"Five allied MTs shot down! Thirty-five remaining!"
"The bomber units!? What about them!?"
"They're one kilometer behind us... We have to break the defensive line before the bombers get here!!"
I gripped the controls. My eyes narrowed. Overboost activated.
"What are you doing!? That's suicide!!" Diana didn't want anything to go wrong on this mission.
"No thanks, Diana. At this ra-" The overboost shot me forward before I could finish my sentence. I activated my Stealth extensions. Leaving my squad behind was against orders, but at this rate, all of them would be annihilated.
"Qastor~!!"
I plowed through the defensive line with a quick swipe of my blade and broke left. I ended up at the end of the line. I aligned myself with the defensive line of artillery turrets. My railgun positioned, a suicide bullet shrieked through the defensive line. They all exploded in perfect rhythm while my rail bullet created a small but deafening sonic boom.
"Enemy defensive line is down! All units, protect the bombers!! AC units, take out the enemy guards!!" I was proud of my accomplishment. An entire defensive line destroyed in one shot.
"This is Lucifer. Reinforcements have arrived." He was calm as always.
"It's about time!"
"Scout, come with me. We'll have to keep an eye on the keep."
"I'm coming t-"
"You stay here with the bombers until I say you could move."
"Tch! Have a nice time!" I veered back with the reinforcements and distracted the guard MTs until the bombers got here.
Stars slumbered in their blankets of shadow. The moon was a spectator of the raid.
"Bombers approaching! All units move out!" The hum of the bombers echoed in the night sky.
"B-03 is down! I repeat, B-03 is down!! Three bombers remaining!! Two units down!!"
"Damn... All long-range units! Fire at will! Aim for the plant!!" I ordered my troops, and was amazed at the result.
The plant exploded into a performance of sparks and flames. Some of the city lights flickered into darkness along with all of the outlying structures.
"All raid units! Follow me! Diana and Markham, you too! All bombers to the keep!! Remaining units, clean up the area!!" Thirteen units stayed behind and dealt with the remaining forces to keep them away from the bombers, while twenty went with me.
With that, I followed Lucifer's trail. I could see the dome keep from here. It resembled an alien pearl shimmering in lunar rays.
"This is Qastor. What's the situation over there?"
"Enemy units are being deployed. Awaiting further commands." Scout responded first.
"Lucifer, are you gonna blow it up or not?" A glance at his AC and you know he's all dynamite. He was outfitted with over ninety grenade shells.
"They're not letting up. Looks like we'll use Plan B." Lucifer waited for the bombers. "All bombers, aim for the black spot on the dome! All units attack! Qastor and Diana, don't go near until we punch a hole!!" He sounded more excited now.
Lucifer aimed one more shot at the black spot fired. Immediately after it struck its mark, he and seven other MTs charged in. Markham, another AC rebel, led thirteen MTs. Diana and I waited behind some hills near the target entrance. We spoke in whispers, even though our transmission was encrypted.
"Any units near us?"
"Not any that I know of. Bombers almost there." Diana seemed nervous.
"I though you'd be used to this kind of thing."
"Used to what?" She was more serious now.
"Nevermind... There, the hole is weakening. We should get going." I boosted ahead, but she overboosted. By the time I reached the keep, the hole could be clearly seen. Battles were taking place on the other side of the keep.
"You ready?"
"Let's just go."
"Ladies first." Exasperated, Diana went ahead, boosted up, and dropped into the hole. I took a deep breath. What have I gotten myself into?
A chilling draft cooled down my armor as I descended.
Mission: Rescue Rebel Colleague
Operation Name: Dance Macabre
Client: Laevaentteinn
Advance: 0c
Reward: 0c
Requesting Figure: Lucifer
Opponent: Sphere
Enemy Forces: Unknown
Time: 7:23 p.m.
Theatre of Operations: Gardens Accord Keep
"Computer, systems check."
"All systems functioning at full capacity. Warning: Temperature Decrease. Current Temperature: 6 ?C."
The computer was right. It was getting cold down here.
"Diana, do you copy?" I waited for a reply. "Diana...? Computer, what's the altitude?"
"6750 meters and dropping. Landing imminent at 7500 meters."
"Damn that's deep."
_____________________________
Large splashes of blood smeared across the freezing metal walls as dim lights guided me through the tunnel.
"How the hell...? Blood? This much?" I proceeded with utmost caution. A disturbing noise rung the abandoned catwalks on the wall. Bugs...
"Oh noooo..." An AC was backstepping from an adjoining tunnel.
"Diana!? What's wrong!?" I boosted my way to her.
"Ahead... It's..." I turned right and saw what Diana saw. Ahead was a colossus, one twice the size of an AC. Some of its armor panels were hanging loose, which exposed its throbbing flesh. It left massive footprints of blood in its wake. It traipsed slowly with its back slightly hunched over, its spinal spikes ran down the center. Half of its face was covered with a metallic mask, while the other half was demonic flesh with a popped-out eye dangling as it trudged. Saliva and white foam ran from its drooping mouth, full of serrated layers of fangs. In its right hand was a ponderous cannon, about three times the size of a Karasawa rifle. The massive rail barrel scraped against the frosty floor, leaving trails of sparks.
I stepped back also, but my back soon met the wall. Diana was in the same predicament.
"Where the hell did it come from!?"
"I don't know... It jumped right out of that door and started walking towards me..."
It pointed its cannon at us.
"Oh sh-" I reacted immediately and attacked with my rail gun. Blood bursted from its left shoulder as the bullet ripped through and ricocheted 30 times in the tunnel behind the giant. I found its left arm hanging by a strand of flesh from its armpit. Watching it fall to the ground made Diana queasy. The giant bellowed in pain and pointed the cannon again.
"Ah, attack now!!" I fired blindly at the giant's body with my rifle and chain gun. The giant's body shook as the bullets penetrated. Its cannon was still pointed. Diana fired and a green shroud of energy and electricity concealed its right hand, knocking the cannon off balance. Angered, the giant quickly aimed and fired its cannon.
"MOVE IT!!! GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!" I strafe boosted to the right and Diana broke left. A burning flash jarred the tunnel. I turned around and found a smoldering hole in the previous wall, dripping with liquid metal. I've had it with the pile of standing crap and boosted forward, slicing its legs. I was amazed at how fragile the giant was, and how it lost both legs. Diana was standing on the other side of the giant with her laserblade heated. We had both sliced the giant's legs.
It wasn't the end, however. As the giant screamed lying on the ground, it managed to turn around, grab its cannon, and aim it at me. I was too stunned to react, since its enormous flesh and muscles gave it more maneuverability over any AC. A roaring flash of fire engulfed the giant's hand. The tunnel shook as the giant's cannon flew and landed away from its owner. Its right hand was missing and the entire right arm was charred. It shrieked.
"What are you two doing!? Get in and save Garnet now! I'll finish this freak off." Lucifer's AC, Grenadier, tremored the tunnel with its heavy footsteps. Diana and I listened and made our way through the tunnel behind the giant.
Almost finished. Almost home.