Black Feather: Episode XXXIX
"Synergy"
Global Cortex Surface Base GCWC-SB/02
10:20 p.m., 03/21
"Your mission is to intercept Sphere's newly developed Mobile Supremacy War Engine. We have reason to believe that it is heading to Iosden County, south of Wyndon City, where old century records of The Controller are held. Several Ravens have been hired for this mission, so we're leaving you with a substantial extra fund. Choose your consorts carefully, as this is a mission we cannot fail. Once you're prepared, a high-speed transport will be waiting for you."
I signed the contract with eager strokes. Sphere had gone too far, and taking down their most prized weapon would surely lower their spirits. Rose was present, sitting to my left and her new friend, Egret, to her left. I handed the contract back, tapping the pen flat on the polished wooden table. Reuer Hillard, Union's mission director, personally came to ask me to participate in this crucial mission, most probably due to my Raven rank. A generous 50,000c were included as my rest of funds. Rose whispered to her new friend and he nodded in reply.
"I apologize for not being able to see you off, but important matters await. Good luck." Reuer bowed deeply, which I returned cordially. His associates followed him out of the conference room.
"Need any help?" Rose got up with me. Egret seemed nervous, striking his fingers rhythmically against the table surface.
"Thanks. I'll call on Legionnaire also." I called him up by cell phone, but he was asleep. It was 10:23 p.m., and a lot of the Ravens were in slumber. "He's asleep. I don't think the others are awake either..."
"Just us then." Egret nodded, getting up last and fitting his gloves on. I noticed his hands were tremulous.
"Iris, think we can pull this off?" Rose glanced about the room.
"There'll be other Ravens fighting alongside us, so there shouldn't be much to worry about, right?" I tried to sound confident, but the 200,000c reward did cast a shadow of a doubt. Missions are pricey for a reason.
"Are we ready?" Rose inquired in the quiet hallway.
"Not yet." Egret bought a soda from the adjoining lobby and chugged it all down at once. He withdrew the can, shook his head wildly about, crushed the can, and slammed it into a garbage can. "Now I'm ready."
_____________________________
Ringing... ringing...? Damn phone... I snatched it with irritability.
"WHAT!?" I hated night calls. That's why I turn mine off whenever I go to sleep, but this one belonged to the hotel.
"Qastor, it's Lucifer." I twitched at the sudden strike of his voice.
"Good cheese, man! How did you reach me!?" I sat up.
"Nevermind that. I need you to do something for us again."
"I did my job. Now, leave me alone. I have to sleep, you got that?"
"It's Sphere. They're headed through Wyndon City." Sphere... I gripped the phone tightly... And Wyndon City! If I don't do this, Iris might be in trouble... "Qastor?"
"*sigh*... Tch, fine... Yeah... I'll do it." I felt like a puppet in a great, ominous world of scheme-weavers. I was fully convinced someone out there is pulling me into a scheme I never want to be a part of.
"Good. I need you to get to Zunix Point just outside of the town you're in. A transport's waiting for you there. Infiltrate and attack Sphere's Mobile Supremacy War Engine. My forces will arrive shortly, so hang on until then."
"Whatever..." I was scrambling out of bed and getting my things ready while the wireless phone was clamped between my left shoulder and ear. "The war engine thing, what's it look like?"
"You'll know when you see it, trust me."
"And infiltrate it?"
"We're working on it right now. Just get there and we'll guide you through."
"Alright, I'm on my way."
"Qastor."
"Yeah?"
"You're our only frontline. Don't screw this one up."
"Whatever you say, boss..."
"I'll probably meet you later."
"What? Wa-" The dial tone moaned. I slammed the phone back on the dresser. Jacket put on, wallet in my pocket, keys grabbed, the door closed shut as I bolted out.
I quickly checked out of the hotel and sprinted to the nearby civilian MT hangar, where my AC was stored in their largest warehouse, since there weren't any hangars that could accommodate an AC. I breezed past the check- in point and climbed into Xanthippius.
"Main system. Engaging normal mode."
"Alright, let's get outta here..." My AC jogged out of the warehouse. I leapt into the air and overboosted towards the Zunix Point. A thunderous boom jarred the town, but I was out of sight before anyone caught me.
_____________________________
"Iris, look..." Rose pointed out the window. Other high-speed transports were visible and closely knit together. A few fighter planes and helicopters rose from beneath us. Their job was to defend the transports until all of the Ravens were deployed.
"Transports 00-05 are present. All vanguard units are in position. Sphere Mobile Supremacy War Engine is visible."
I unlatched my seat belt and walked to the pilot's cabin. It was dark inside, where the only source of light was the web of glowing buttons, gauges, monitors, and switches. The two pilots stared in consternation at the Mobile Supremacy War Engine (MSWE). The war engine was a ponderous shadow in the night horizon. Red, beeping dots studded its exterior. As we approached closer, it became more and more gargantuan, until its size shook out very beings. It had a long, massive hull, with a flat, circular surface at its back, resembling a landing platform, guarded by several turrets, and four unwieldy cannon barrels with a light stirring from within. It was a rough estimate, but the monstrosity could have easily housed an entire city, with plenty more room to spare. From its back sprouted a multitude of sky scraping spikes, which rotated around a central axis, an evil bouquet of catastrophe. Deliberately, the MSWE shifted towards us high above the plains.
"Good... man... How could such a monster exist...?" The auxiliary pilot wondered, the other snapped out of it. He turned to me.
"Ms. Iris, we're almost there. Please gather your comrades and get in your ACs." I nodded in reply and walked out nervously. I stopped a little when... "And Ms. Iris... We wish you the best of luck. Millions of lives rests on your shoulders." I looked down on the floor. I rose my head again and ran to the hangar. The pilot cabin hatch whispered to a close. Rose and Egret got up when I blurred past.
"Iris, where are you go-"
"It's time!!"
I heard their rapid footsteps in response.
_____________________________
"Get in! Hurry!!"
I walked backwards into the high-speed transport. Mechanical stalls held down my AC as the transport lifted off.
"Stay in your AC. We'll get there soon." The transport jolted. The metallic equipment around me clamored and I lurched forward from the sudden change in force. I felt my blood rushing to the front of my body, my eyes felt full and my fingers were pink-red under my gloves. I looked at my altimeter. Altitude was increasing rapidly. The pilot was kind enough to put a view-screen of my target. It was a gigantic titan of a machine in the sky. Its dark silhouette blocked off the stars, while tiny red, beeping eyes leered on. Late clouds receded and exposed the moon. The MSWE's immaculate, smooth armor shimmered in lunar essence.
Explosions and artillery fire popped in front of the war engine. I contacted Lucifer.
"Boss... We have company..."
"I know. Union has launched an interception campaign, including several of the best Ravens. But, even I don't think that's enough to take it out, much less hinder it, if they're going to launch a full-frontal attack."
"Then why are you sending me?"
"You're an Omnis. You're taking this thing out from within, so don't blow this chance." With that, the connection dropped. Another connection opened.
"This is Garnet. Do you copy?" It was somewhat weird hearing her voice again.
"Yeah, this is Qastor."
"Our forces will arrive shortly. Just get into the MSWE and destroy its generators. Once that is done, the MSWE should be vulnerable to a full- scale assault. We're cooperating with Union in this effort. Please make the best use of their forces."
"I hope I will. What about you?"
"I'll be arriving with Lucifer, Diana, and my sisters as soon as possible."
"I'll see you then."
The mechanical manacles released their hold of Xanthippius and the hatch lowered. Next thing I knew, I was descending in the moon-chilled wind.
_____________________________
"Transport 02 is down!! Emergency deployment of ACs initiated!!" The operator tragically informed us.
"Iris."
"Yes, Egret?"
"Think we could finish this thing off now?" I was silent in response. "Let's hope you're wrong..."
"Target area detected. Deploying ACs."
Mission: Destroy Massive Weapon
Operation Name: Gembaku
Client: Union
Advance: 0c
Reward: 200,000c
Requesting Figure: Reuer Hillard
Opponent: Sphere
Enemy Forces: Unknown
Time: 10:46 p.m.
Theatre of Operations: Ytoell Prairie
I landed on the circular surface of the war engine. There were fourteen turrets, two of which were down and smoldering. A cannon shell barely missed my right arm. I fired three rockets at the nearest turret, all of which hit home. The turret exploded when another ACs laser cannon fired. I strafe boosted to the right closer to the center of the circle, allowing more room for maneuverability. I stopped when one of the helicopters crashed and caught on fire. Egret mowed down another turret with his quartet cannon and Rose, with the help of another Raven, was busy with another. Several panels on the floor blasted open. A mass of miniature MTs bursted from the holes. Rose turned around and dispersed a section of them with her shotgun and spread howitzer. Seven other ACs defended themselves against the scores of enemies, while another twelve were busy attacking the turrets and airborne MTs. I boosted away from the MTs and found myself next to a turret. I leapt up and charged in with my blade. A thick haze of flames ensued from the gash. A transmission... It was Egret.
"Iris, the giant cannons are activating. You have to find a way to take them out of commission! It's aiming for Wyndon City! I'm sorry I can't help you right now..." I looked up.
Looming above were the four enormous cannons, which made ACs look like people compared to a skyscraper. Stars were being swallowed and regurgitated by the cannons silhouettes, slowly aiming for Wyndon City.
A quaking groan of machinery shook the constellations...
_____________________________
"Qastor, there's a corridor in a large niche in the northwest terrace below you. You should be able to break in from there. Find the generator plant deep inside the war engine and put it out of commission!" Garnet guided me as I fell from the transport. I landed on a terrace below a large flat circular surface and spotted the large corridor immediately. I sliced it in half with my laserblade and discovered a drafty tunnel within.
"Qastor, I've acquired a map of the entire interior from our hackers. Follow my directions and you should arrive there in no time."
"I'm listening."
"Follow the tunnel until you see the first door on your left..."
_____________________________
The cannons hummed with more intensity than ever. I had followed the hole from which the MTs had originated and allowed my instincts to take over. I made it to the circuitry alcove of the cannons. I drew my laserblade, but slashed the wrong circuit.
"Aaaaaahhhh!!" It was... Rose?
"Rose!? What's wrong!?"
"Iris, one of the cannons... It's going crazy!!----" A deafening boom dropped the connection. That circuit I destroyed had overloaded one of the cannons and must've exploded. Four switches in the far corner caught my eye.
"Switch released. Deactivating cannons." I sighed in relief.
"Egret, are you there?"
"Yeah, be quick about it! I'm busy... damn..."
"Can you give me a damage report?"
"Aarrgh... Let's see: Three Ravens are out of commission from the explosion... and that blast from the exploding cannon just disintegrated a mountain... that's all." I didn't know what to feel...
A transmission came through. "Iris, a rebel group is cooperating with us. Since you're inside, I need you to assist a Raven in shutting down the MSWE's generators. Their hackers have uploaded a map from Sphere. I'll tell you where to go, but you'll have to be quick." It was Reuer. I didn't know he'd personally participate in the mission.
"What's the Raven's name?"
"We don't know at this time. Just get there as fast as you can!"
_____________________________
"Qastor, it's just up ahead. There are ten generators, five on each side of the wall. Once you destroy them, get out before the MSWE collapses!"
"I will-" The generator room was expansive and hot. The generators themselves were octagonal skyscraping towers, with lines of lights waxing and waning as they hummed. But, it was what was waiting for me in the center of the room that caught my attention.
"Yes, you must be the 'Raven'..."
"Who are you!?"
"I'm known as Kenneth Gregson."
"You're the one... that bald guy with the mission for me from before!"
"Hahahahah... You..." His titan MT, pointed a finger at me. "You have hindered our plans for much too long. Your very EXISTENCE is a threat to Sphere..." His MT resembled a heavyweight AC in appearance, but not in size. It boasted weight and size over any AC. In both of his hands, he held a long cannon resembling the Karasawa rifle. Attached on its back were massive twin, cylindrical missile bay towers. "Behold! The perfect fusion between man and machine!!"
The titan MT dashed forward with incredible agility towards me. I charged in with a blade attack, but Gregson leapt up with humanoid suave. I instinctively strafed boosted to the right, gradually turning as I went. I looked up and Gregson plunged towards me, striking my left shoulder with his cannon as he landed. I countered with firing my rifle at point blank range while starting to boost back, but the bullet glanced off his impregnable armor. Gregson knocked my rifle off to the side, nearly sending it flying from my hand as I retreated. He aimed his cannon, releasing a dense, swarthy ray of energy. I strafe boosted to the right again, but was struck down when the energy ray landed on and exploded one of the generators.
An alarm sounded. Gregson didn't seem to care about the generator. My left arm was temporarily off-line from the recent strike. I activated my chain gun and fired wildly at the titan, not worrying about aim since he was just a big target. Most of the bullets bounced off while some lodged themselves in the thick armor. I switched on my Stealth extensions and twisted the controls to get back on my feet.
"AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Gregson guffawed as he charged up another shot. I boosted backwards, swerving to and fro as a barrage of death waves shrieked from his cannon. Two of them incinerated my Stealth extensions, and all the generators of the right wall erupted into hollering flames. I feather boosted in the air as to not be knocked over again by the force of the vibrations. There were only four more generators. I suddenly remembered my mission here. I turned away from Gregson and finished off the last four with my grenades, keeping my distance from the blast radius of the generators. Gregson stood in the center of the room again. I found myself perfectly parallel to the walls and facing the culprit.
"WARNING: GENERATOR ANOMALY DETECTED. LOCKING ALL CORRIDORS. ACTIVATING COUNTDOWN TO SELF-DESTRUCTION. Ten..."
"Hahahahhahah..." Gregson chuckled quietly to himself as the missile bays activated.
"Nine..."
Two towers of launchers rose from the bays. The shutters detached themselves and clicked on the floor, revealing a hive of missiles. They peeped from the launch holes.
An immense web of missiles scattered from the bays.
_____________________________
"Iris, the generators are destroyed, but the rebel leader requests that you find the Raven. He's in the last door to your right." Reuer sounded relieved at crippling the war engine. A prodigious shock jarred the entire place. Burning, the thick metal door blasted open, followed by a swirl of flames. I balanced myself and proceeded.
"Five..." A muffled PA voice whispered.
I stopped in front of the corridor. A familiar AC knelt on the ground, both of its arms were charred and dismembered. Half of the head was completely blown off and its armor was damaged beyond repair. I noticed the emblem on its remaining left shoulder.
"Four..."
"Qastor... Is that you!?" I jumped with surprise.
"Iris!? IRIS!! Get out of here NOW!!! The place is about to..." His voice was overshadowed by the PA.
"Three..."
"I'm not leaving without you!!" I boosted towards Qastor and noticed a giant, humanoid MT cackling in the center of the room.
"Iris, please get OUT of here now!! Forget about me!!"
"This is it..." The MT pilot mused himself. It pointed a large cannon at me.
"Two..."
"Qastor..." My heart thumped faster and faster. I couldn't think.
"One..."
"IRRIIIIIIIIIIS!!!!"
"Synergy"
Global Cortex Surface Base GCWC-SB/02
10:20 p.m., 03/21
"Your mission is to intercept Sphere's newly developed Mobile Supremacy War Engine. We have reason to believe that it is heading to Iosden County, south of Wyndon City, where old century records of The Controller are held. Several Ravens have been hired for this mission, so we're leaving you with a substantial extra fund. Choose your consorts carefully, as this is a mission we cannot fail. Once you're prepared, a high-speed transport will be waiting for you."
I signed the contract with eager strokes. Sphere had gone too far, and taking down their most prized weapon would surely lower their spirits. Rose was present, sitting to my left and her new friend, Egret, to her left. I handed the contract back, tapping the pen flat on the polished wooden table. Reuer Hillard, Union's mission director, personally came to ask me to participate in this crucial mission, most probably due to my Raven rank. A generous 50,000c were included as my rest of funds. Rose whispered to her new friend and he nodded in reply.
"I apologize for not being able to see you off, but important matters await. Good luck." Reuer bowed deeply, which I returned cordially. His associates followed him out of the conference room.
"Need any help?" Rose got up with me. Egret seemed nervous, striking his fingers rhythmically against the table surface.
"Thanks. I'll call on Legionnaire also." I called him up by cell phone, but he was asleep. It was 10:23 p.m., and a lot of the Ravens were in slumber. "He's asleep. I don't think the others are awake either..."
"Just us then." Egret nodded, getting up last and fitting his gloves on. I noticed his hands were tremulous.
"Iris, think we can pull this off?" Rose glanced about the room.
"There'll be other Ravens fighting alongside us, so there shouldn't be much to worry about, right?" I tried to sound confident, but the 200,000c reward did cast a shadow of a doubt. Missions are pricey for a reason.
"Are we ready?" Rose inquired in the quiet hallway.
"Not yet." Egret bought a soda from the adjoining lobby and chugged it all down at once. He withdrew the can, shook his head wildly about, crushed the can, and slammed it into a garbage can. "Now I'm ready."
_____________________________
Ringing... ringing...? Damn phone... I snatched it with irritability.
"WHAT!?" I hated night calls. That's why I turn mine off whenever I go to sleep, but this one belonged to the hotel.
"Qastor, it's Lucifer." I twitched at the sudden strike of his voice.
"Good cheese, man! How did you reach me!?" I sat up.
"Nevermind that. I need you to do something for us again."
"I did my job. Now, leave me alone. I have to sleep, you got that?"
"It's Sphere. They're headed through Wyndon City." Sphere... I gripped the phone tightly... And Wyndon City! If I don't do this, Iris might be in trouble... "Qastor?"
"*sigh*... Tch, fine... Yeah... I'll do it." I felt like a puppet in a great, ominous world of scheme-weavers. I was fully convinced someone out there is pulling me into a scheme I never want to be a part of.
"Good. I need you to get to Zunix Point just outside of the town you're in. A transport's waiting for you there. Infiltrate and attack Sphere's Mobile Supremacy War Engine. My forces will arrive shortly, so hang on until then."
"Whatever..." I was scrambling out of bed and getting my things ready while the wireless phone was clamped between my left shoulder and ear. "The war engine thing, what's it look like?"
"You'll know when you see it, trust me."
"And infiltrate it?"
"We're working on it right now. Just get there and we'll guide you through."
"Alright, I'm on my way."
"Qastor."
"Yeah?"
"You're our only frontline. Don't screw this one up."
"Whatever you say, boss..."
"I'll probably meet you later."
"What? Wa-" The dial tone moaned. I slammed the phone back on the dresser. Jacket put on, wallet in my pocket, keys grabbed, the door closed shut as I bolted out.
I quickly checked out of the hotel and sprinted to the nearby civilian MT hangar, where my AC was stored in their largest warehouse, since there weren't any hangars that could accommodate an AC. I breezed past the check- in point and climbed into Xanthippius.
"Main system. Engaging normal mode."
"Alright, let's get outta here..." My AC jogged out of the warehouse. I leapt into the air and overboosted towards the Zunix Point. A thunderous boom jarred the town, but I was out of sight before anyone caught me.
_____________________________
"Iris, look..." Rose pointed out the window. Other high-speed transports were visible and closely knit together. A few fighter planes and helicopters rose from beneath us. Their job was to defend the transports until all of the Ravens were deployed.
"Transports 00-05 are present. All vanguard units are in position. Sphere Mobile Supremacy War Engine is visible."
I unlatched my seat belt and walked to the pilot's cabin. It was dark inside, where the only source of light was the web of glowing buttons, gauges, monitors, and switches. The two pilots stared in consternation at the Mobile Supremacy War Engine (MSWE). The war engine was a ponderous shadow in the night horizon. Red, beeping dots studded its exterior. As we approached closer, it became more and more gargantuan, until its size shook out very beings. It had a long, massive hull, with a flat, circular surface at its back, resembling a landing platform, guarded by several turrets, and four unwieldy cannon barrels with a light stirring from within. It was a rough estimate, but the monstrosity could have easily housed an entire city, with plenty more room to spare. From its back sprouted a multitude of sky scraping spikes, which rotated around a central axis, an evil bouquet of catastrophe. Deliberately, the MSWE shifted towards us high above the plains.
"Good... man... How could such a monster exist...?" The auxiliary pilot wondered, the other snapped out of it. He turned to me.
"Ms. Iris, we're almost there. Please gather your comrades and get in your ACs." I nodded in reply and walked out nervously. I stopped a little when... "And Ms. Iris... We wish you the best of luck. Millions of lives rests on your shoulders." I looked down on the floor. I rose my head again and ran to the hangar. The pilot cabin hatch whispered to a close. Rose and Egret got up when I blurred past.
"Iris, where are you go-"
"It's time!!"
I heard their rapid footsteps in response.
_____________________________
"Get in! Hurry!!"
I walked backwards into the high-speed transport. Mechanical stalls held down my AC as the transport lifted off.
"Stay in your AC. We'll get there soon." The transport jolted. The metallic equipment around me clamored and I lurched forward from the sudden change in force. I felt my blood rushing to the front of my body, my eyes felt full and my fingers were pink-red under my gloves. I looked at my altimeter. Altitude was increasing rapidly. The pilot was kind enough to put a view-screen of my target. It was a gigantic titan of a machine in the sky. Its dark silhouette blocked off the stars, while tiny red, beeping eyes leered on. Late clouds receded and exposed the moon. The MSWE's immaculate, smooth armor shimmered in lunar essence.
Explosions and artillery fire popped in front of the war engine. I contacted Lucifer.
"Boss... We have company..."
"I know. Union has launched an interception campaign, including several of the best Ravens. But, even I don't think that's enough to take it out, much less hinder it, if they're going to launch a full-frontal attack."
"Then why are you sending me?"
"You're an Omnis. You're taking this thing out from within, so don't blow this chance." With that, the connection dropped. Another connection opened.
"This is Garnet. Do you copy?" It was somewhat weird hearing her voice again.
"Yeah, this is Qastor."
"Our forces will arrive shortly. Just get into the MSWE and destroy its generators. Once that is done, the MSWE should be vulnerable to a full- scale assault. We're cooperating with Union in this effort. Please make the best use of their forces."
"I hope I will. What about you?"
"I'll be arriving with Lucifer, Diana, and my sisters as soon as possible."
"I'll see you then."
The mechanical manacles released their hold of Xanthippius and the hatch lowered. Next thing I knew, I was descending in the moon-chilled wind.
_____________________________
"Transport 02 is down!! Emergency deployment of ACs initiated!!" The operator tragically informed us.
"Iris."
"Yes, Egret?"
"Think we could finish this thing off now?" I was silent in response. "Let's hope you're wrong..."
"Target area detected. Deploying ACs."
Mission: Destroy Massive Weapon
Operation Name: Gembaku
Client: Union
Advance: 0c
Reward: 200,000c
Requesting Figure: Reuer Hillard
Opponent: Sphere
Enemy Forces: Unknown
Time: 10:46 p.m.
Theatre of Operations: Ytoell Prairie
I landed on the circular surface of the war engine. There were fourteen turrets, two of which were down and smoldering. A cannon shell barely missed my right arm. I fired three rockets at the nearest turret, all of which hit home. The turret exploded when another ACs laser cannon fired. I strafe boosted to the right closer to the center of the circle, allowing more room for maneuverability. I stopped when one of the helicopters crashed and caught on fire. Egret mowed down another turret with his quartet cannon and Rose, with the help of another Raven, was busy with another. Several panels on the floor blasted open. A mass of miniature MTs bursted from the holes. Rose turned around and dispersed a section of them with her shotgun and spread howitzer. Seven other ACs defended themselves against the scores of enemies, while another twelve were busy attacking the turrets and airborne MTs. I boosted away from the MTs and found myself next to a turret. I leapt up and charged in with my blade. A thick haze of flames ensued from the gash. A transmission... It was Egret.
"Iris, the giant cannons are activating. You have to find a way to take them out of commission! It's aiming for Wyndon City! I'm sorry I can't help you right now..." I looked up.
Looming above were the four enormous cannons, which made ACs look like people compared to a skyscraper. Stars were being swallowed and regurgitated by the cannons silhouettes, slowly aiming for Wyndon City.
A quaking groan of machinery shook the constellations...
_____________________________
"Qastor, there's a corridor in a large niche in the northwest terrace below you. You should be able to break in from there. Find the generator plant deep inside the war engine and put it out of commission!" Garnet guided me as I fell from the transport. I landed on a terrace below a large flat circular surface and spotted the large corridor immediately. I sliced it in half with my laserblade and discovered a drafty tunnel within.
"Qastor, I've acquired a map of the entire interior from our hackers. Follow my directions and you should arrive there in no time."
"I'm listening."
"Follow the tunnel until you see the first door on your left..."
_____________________________
The cannons hummed with more intensity than ever. I had followed the hole from which the MTs had originated and allowed my instincts to take over. I made it to the circuitry alcove of the cannons. I drew my laserblade, but slashed the wrong circuit.
"Aaaaaahhhh!!" It was... Rose?
"Rose!? What's wrong!?"
"Iris, one of the cannons... It's going crazy!!----" A deafening boom dropped the connection. That circuit I destroyed had overloaded one of the cannons and must've exploded. Four switches in the far corner caught my eye.
"Switch released. Deactivating cannons." I sighed in relief.
"Egret, are you there?"
"Yeah, be quick about it! I'm busy... damn..."
"Can you give me a damage report?"
"Aarrgh... Let's see: Three Ravens are out of commission from the explosion... and that blast from the exploding cannon just disintegrated a mountain... that's all." I didn't know what to feel...
A transmission came through. "Iris, a rebel group is cooperating with us. Since you're inside, I need you to assist a Raven in shutting down the MSWE's generators. Their hackers have uploaded a map from Sphere. I'll tell you where to go, but you'll have to be quick." It was Reuer. I didn't know he'd personally participate in the mission.
"What's the Raven's name?"
"We don't know at this time. Just get there as fast as you can!"
_____________________________
"Qastor, it's just up ahead. There are ten generators, five on each side of the wall. Once you destroy them, get out before the MSWE collapses!"
"I will-" The generator room was expansive and hot. The generators themselves were octagonal skyscraping towers, with lines of lights waxing and waning as they hummed. But, it was what was waiting for me in the center of the room that caught my attention.
"Yes, you must be the 'Raven'..."
"Who are you!?"
"I'm known as Kenneth Gregson."
"You're the one... that bald guy with the mission for me from before!"
"Hahahahah... You..." His titan MT, pointed a finger at me. "You have hindered our plans for much too long. Your very EXISTENCE is a threat to Sphere..." His MT resembled a heavyweight AC in appearance, but not in size. It boasted weight and size over any AC. In both of his hands, he held a long cannon resembling the Karasawa rifle. Attached on its back were massive twin, cylindrical missile bay towers. "Behold! The perfect fusion between man and machine!!"
The titan MT dashed forward with incredible agility towards me. I charged in with a blade attack, but Gregson leapt up with humanoid suave. I instinctively strafed boosted to the right, gradually turning as I went. I looked up and Gregson plunged towards me, striking my left shoulder with his cannon as he landed. I countered with firing my rifle at point blank range while starting to boost back, but the bullet glanced off his impregnable armor. Gregson knocked my rifle off to the side, nearly sending it flying from my hand as I retreated. He aimed his cannon, releasing a dense, swarthy ray of energy. I strafe boosted to the right again, but was struck down when the energy ray landed on and exploded one of the generators.
An alarm sounded. Gregson didn't seem to care about the generator. My left arm was temporarily off-line from the recent strike. I activated my chain gun and fired wildly at the titan, not worrying about aim since he was just a big target. Most of the bullets bounced off while some lodged themselves in the thick armor. I switched on my Stealth extensions and twisted the controls to get back on my feet.
"AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Gregson guffawed as he charged up another shot. I boosted backwards, swerving to and fro as a barrage of death waves shrieked from his cannon. Two of them incinerated my Stealth extensions, and all the generators of the right wall erupted into hollering flames. I feather boosted in the air as to not be knocked over again by the force of the vibrations. There were only four more generators. I suddenly remembered my mission here. I turned away from Gregson and finished off the last four with my grenades, keeping my distance from the blast radius of the generators. Gregson stood in the center of the room again. I found myself perfectly parallel to the walls and facing the culprit.
"WARNING: GENERATOR ANOMALY DETECTED. LOCKING ALL CORRIDORS. ACTIVATING COUNTDOWN TO SELF-DESTRUCTION. Ten..."
"Hahahahhahah..." Gregson chuckled quietly to himself as the missile bays activated.
"Nine..."
Two towers of launchers rose from the bays. The shutters detached themselves and clicked on the floor, revealing a hive of missiles. They peeped from the launch holes.
An immense web of missiles scattered from the bays.
_____________________________
"Iris, the generators are destroyed, but the rebel leader requests that you find the Raven. He's in the last door to your right." Reuer sounded relieved at crippling the war engine. A prodigious shock jarred the entire place. Burning, the thick metal door blasted open, followed by a swirl of flames. I balanced myself and proceeded.
"Five..." A muffled PA voice whispered.
I stopped in front of the corridor. A familiar AC knelt on the ground, both of its arms were charred and dismembered. Half of the head was completely blown off and its armor was damaged beyond repair. I noticed the emblem on its remaining left shoulder.
"Four..."
"Qastor... Is that you!?" I jumped with surprise.
"Iris!? IRIS!! Get out of here NOW!!! The place is about to..." His voice was overshadowed by the PA.
"Three..."
"I'm not leaving without you!!" I boosted towards Qastor and noticed a giant, humanoid MT cackling in the center of the room.
"Iris, please get OUT of here now!! Forget about me!!"
"This is it..." The MT pilot mused himself. It pointed a large cannon at me.
"Two..."
"Qastor..." My heart thumped faster and faster. I couldn't think.
"One..."
"IRRIIIIIIIIIIS!!!!"