CHAPTER 17: ONSLAUGHT (iv)

Sud was thrown about in the control seat. The plexi glass of the turret cracked. Grunting, he clutched the controls tightly with his two hands. And stared out.

There were figures moving out on the plains, moving towards Blue Base. One was a huge shadow, and Sud knew it was the Goliath heavy tank. Others would be the Blood Fist infantry. Things were not looking well. They had to finish the tournament now, and get Lee to a medical unit.

Sud aimed the turret at the tank. The turret was like a bubble, with two huge shock cannons at either side. The operator would sit within the bubble and control the guns. The base turret had a three hundred sixty degree view of the battle field. Being on top of the base walls, Sud could see way beyond the horizon of arriving enemy units. The only weakness the turret had was it could not shoot straight down.

And that was exactly where one of the bloody robots was hiding. Sud heard a loud clanking, like something knocking on the plexi glass of the turret. Sud looked down. Three red glowing balls were sticking to the turret. Grenades.

Cursing, Edmund quickly exited the turret. The grenades and the turret exploded.

Sud quickly opened the comm link. "Rita! Turret four is down! I'm heading towards Turret Five! Can you provide cover while I get there?"

"Yes. I'm in Turret Two. Taking heavy damage but I think I can hold for a while."

Sud quickly readied himself, then dashed across the walls of the base towards the next turret. Immediately, the air around him was filled with bullets and bolts as the robots tried taking pot shots at him. Sud ran for all he was worth.

A round of bullets slammed into Sud's side. The armor absorbed the damage, but Sud felt at least on bullet pierce him body. Sud screamed in agony.

"Rita! Where's my god damned cover fire!?"

"Just run you moron. I'm giving them all I've got!"

Sud jumped into Turret Five and slammed the door shut. With practiced precision, he toggled the system online and charged up the shock cannons. Putting on his helmet and grabbing each control stick with a hand, Sud targeted the tank.

"Rita! Combine fire on the tank!"

"But then the infantry will slip in the base!"

"We have to take that chance! The tank will chew our entire base defense to bits!"
"I'll take care of the infantry."

"Edmund?"

"You!? What are you doing here? I thought you were off with Aaron and Steven?"

"Yes Sud. But the fact is I'm now here. Take down the tank and I'll deal with any intruders."

"I copy that."

Sud squeezed both triggers. The shock cannons bucked and shook as it unleashed mega joules of energy into the tank. In her own turret, Rita added her fire power to Suds. Unable to take the punishment, the tank shook, then exploded as the shock beams breached the armor and touched off the ammunition.

Renegade and Thorax had taken the opportunity to slip into Blue Base. From behind some crates, Edmund took aim with his minigun. The robots had not seen him. Edmund smiled. So much the better.

Edmund opened fire on full auto. The robots each dodged in a different direction and the rounds missed them both. Edmund cursed and decided to track Renegade. Edmund turned trying to follow the fleeting shadow that was Renegade.

Rounds from the minigun stitched a trail of destruction on the reinforced walls but failed to catch the robot. Something swept Edmund off his feet, then knocked him down hard. The minigun flew from his grip. Edmund turned around spitting dirt and dust.

Thorax's gauntleted fists were raised. Edmund rolled aside just as the fist came down. The punishing blow that was meant for his head instead smashed into the ground, leaving a cracked cement floor. Edmund lashed out with his leg. Thorax grabbed his ankle and swung him into the opposite wall. Edmund collapsed beside his minigun, leaving behind a shattered wall. Edmund groaned in pain. Thorax took a step forward to deal the killing blow.

"Edmund! This is Aaron. We are in the enemy base! We are planting explosives at the Power Core now. Give us five minutes."

This ends now! Edmund pushed himself up, minigun primed and ready. "Come on Thorax. Let's dance."

"Human bravado. Foolishness."

Edmund whirled around, swinging the minigun as hard as possible. The gun smashed into Renegade's torso, driving him backwards and into the wall where he had just been thrown into. His strength, being augmented by his armor, was able to throw knock Renegade through the wall. Plaster and brick buried Renegade waist deep. Edmund thrust the minigun into Renegade's face. "Human bravado this!"

Something hard struck Edmund at the shin, sweeping him off his feet. Edmund landed hard on his shoulder. Something snapped and Edmund screamed. He clutched his shoulder painfully. Thorax picked up the mini gun. Renegade held out a palm as he picked himself up from the rubble.

"Do not kill him."

Thorax nodded. He shifted his aim quickly before Edmund could react. Armor piercing bullets cut through Edmund's left knee. Pain lanced up his leg. Armor as well as blood flew into the air. Edmund screamed. Thorax released the trigger. Edmund clutched his almost severed leg.

Thorax shifted his aim to the other knee.

High Templar Soun Rill. I need you most now. I need your help. Fear coursed through Edmund's mind. He had heard of the more brutal tournament matches. You retain the condition of your body when you leave the tournament. If the game ends before Edmund can somehow respawn and become whole once again, he would definitely lose his legs. High Templar! Help me!

I will help you, Edmund.

Edmund's heart exploded. His lifeless body slumped.

"Fool! I said not to kill him!" Renegade screamed at his teammate.

Thorax looked bewildered, if a robot could ever look bewildered. "I did not kill him."

Edmund respawned on a platform next to his team's Power Core overlooking the two robots position, good as new. He raised the only weapon he currently had. An assault rifle. At the same time, Thorax and Renegade detected Edmund's presence. Renegade drew a Redeemer atomic missile launcher.

No. We've lost.

In desperation, Edmund squeezed hard on the assault rifle on full auto. From so far a distance, Edmund's shots were easily dodged by the robots. The atomic missile was launched at Edmund and the Power Core behind him. There was only one way to salvage this. Destroy the incoming missile. Edmund shifted his aim to the incoming projectile of death. Shot, and missed. Shot, and missed. Come on damn you! Come on!

"Your species is inferior," came the robotic voice of Renegade.

Edmund continued shooting. The missile flew over his head, straight at the Power Core.