Hachi's Last Stand

Chapter Four

"CO Max's forces have been routed! There's barely anything left!" The soldier reported hysterically.

"By who? Who is responsible for this attack, private?" Hachi asked; his self-pity replaced by concern for his comrade. Andy and Sami cringed and winced as Nell passed them the report.

"Black Hole, sir." The soldier's words echoed around the room. No one could believe it. No one wanted to believe it. Like cockroaches it seemed; Black Hole just kept coming back, no matter how hard they tried.

"This is all my fault…it's my fault" Hachi leaned against a wall for support. He was crestfallen. He lowered his gaze. He just couldn't face anyone at the moment.

"There will be time for regrets later, Hachi. Right now, we have to repel Black Hole's forces and save Max! I'm going to deal with this matter personally." Nell informed the dejected CO. She strode out of the room briskly. Andy and Sami followed her at her heels. Hachi trailed behind. The four COs walked into a ready elevator. Nell pressed the down button.

"Nell, you can't go!" Sami pleaded. "What if something happened to you out there?"

"Yeah, let me go in your place! I should take care of Black Hole!" Andy begged. Nell just looked straight ahead, ignoring the both of them.

The elevator doors opened again and the COs stepped out onto the tarmac. They stood in a vast compound behind Orange Star headquarters. All the service-ready vehicles and companies of men were assembled here. Once the alarm of an attack had been announced, all the city's available forces had been rallied here. The vehicles shone orange in the sunlight. Nell walked forward and began shouting orders at different units while Andy and Sami still tried to make her consider another option.

"I want fifty Medium Tanks ready to move by the gates! Move those Rockets into position! Corporal, have your Tanks cover the heavier units!"

"Please, Nell! Just think about what you're doing!" Andy beseeched, raising his voice just to be heard over Nell's orders.

"Andy, is that Neo-Tank ready yet?" Nell asked calmly.

"What? Uh yes, it's over…no, please listen to what we have to say!" Andy was thrown by the sudden question. Nell stopped and turned to the other COs for the first time.

"I have. I have listened to what you've both said. I'm touched that you're worrying about me, but this is my mission. Max and I, we share…a deep emotional bond between each other. I have to go." Nell explained to them. She ruffled Andy's hair affectionately and squeezed Sami's shoulder. Then she grabbed her helmet that a private had brought and dashed across the courtyard. She scrambled into an Orange Star Neo-Tank, the city's only one, and led the sortie out of the compound, out of the city, and out into battle.


Max loved a good fray, even at the worst of times, but this was something else. This wasn't even a battle – it was a tragedy. Early in the morning, he had led a small band of Tanks and Anti-Air guns on a simple combat exercise. Then, when they were about to return to the city, dozens of Tanks and Medium Tanks surrounded them on the plain. They were all black, with Black Hole insignia written on their sides. Before Max could give a single command, his forces were decimated.

His Tank had just managed to get an urgent communiqué out before their communication systems were blitzed. Probably Lash's work, he thought grimly. Now he was just trying to survive. His Tank and a few others were trying to dodge cannon-fire as best they could. Tanks aren't the most manoeuvrable vehicles and they were slowly being beaten. It was only a matter of time before they were destroyed or the machines packed up completely.

He knew there could be no peaceful truce, or merciful surrender. Black Hole could hardly be called human. No, they would only stop when there was nothing left.

"Good work, men! Keep it up!" Max tried to be encouraging, but inside his own morale was flagging. He peered out of his Tank's windows. He could just see the capital in between two Black Hole Medium tTanks. That was when he saw something amazing happen.

In front of the foremost buildings, stood a line of Rockets. They hadn't been there when Max left. He almost laughed when he saw thet they were painted orange! Then, as one, they all fired. Max watched as the projectiles arced through the air. Black Hole didn't have a clue, and now they didn't have a prayer! They crashed down on the powerhouse Medium Tanks. Some Tanks avoided the rockets but their slower, bulkier counterparts didn't stand a chance. Out of the dust that was thrown up, Max saw something approach them.

"What do you see, Sir!"

"A miracle!"


After the initial volley by the Rocket units, Nell's brigade of Medium Tanks and Tanks (led by her Neo-Tank) charged forward. When they were in position, all the units stopped. They waited for the command. They didn't have to wait long. Nell climbed out of her Neo-Tank, so everyone could see her. She surveyed Black Hole scrambling into formation for a moment. She slowly raised her arm.

"FIRE!" she screamed, dropping her hand. In unison, all the tanks loosed off their shot. The faster Tanks that had avoided the initial fire were caught and destroyed in this round.

When the smoke cleared, Nell ordered all the units to move in and attack again. They would soon save Max. Nell commanded her driver to circle the battlefield. Max had to be here somewhere.

Suddenly she spotted his Tank. It had run out of gasoline and was a sitting duck in the middle of the field. Max was cautiously looking out of his tank.

"Look! Over there!" Nell urged the Neo-Tank forward. "Max! Max!" Nell waved towards the burly CO. Max turned and looked in her direction, surprise and delight lighting up his features.

"Nell!" He laughed. He shouted something encouraging to the men in the tank now that his own morale was high again.

Suddenly, everyone in both tanks froze as a deep rumbling sound came from behind Max. Nell's eyes widened in horror. Max turned to look and instantly wished he hadn't. A group of ten Black Hole Medium Tanks came up behind the small orange Tank. They had avoided both attacks and had separated themselves from the main fighting. All ten of them were in perfect condition.

There was an edgy silence as they swung their huge cannons towards their target: Max's tank! Nell gritted her teeth.

"MAX, JUMP!" she shrieked as her Neo-Tank shot forward.

There was the clinking sound of metal on metal as ten Medium-bore shells were loaded.

Max grabbed the other two men in his small Tank and threw them onto the approaching Neo-Tank.

Sights were adjusted, prayers and curses were made…and then they fired.

"Nell!" Max roared as he jumped free of his own Tank, a split second before it exploded into oblivion. The Neo-Tank pulled an abrupt u-turn; almost throwing off the people it had saved, and sped away as fast as it could. Max screamed as fire and shrapnel alike tore into his back. The ten Medium Tanks, having brought the full attention of Nell's forces in their attack, were surrounded and completely routed. Nell reached for Max's giant hand and stroked it reassuringly.

"It's okay, Max. We've won. We'll get you home soon, I promise." She comforted him as he grimaced in pain.

"Message for you, ma'am." A soldier passed the communication headphones in Nell's open hand. She brought it up to her ear and listened.

"OH, GOOD GRIEF! IT'S AWFUL…CRZZZ…CO NEL…L…ARE YOU THERE…CRZZZ?" The voice crackled frantically over the headphones.

"Yes…what on earth is the matter?" Nell asked. This man seemed even more hysterical than the last. It just wasn't a good day for Orange Star.

"IT'S…OHH, IT'S…YOU'D BETTER SEE FOR YOUR…CRZZZ…SELF, MA'AM! RETURN…TO THE …CITY…ASAP!" The voice replied, then the line went dead ominously.

"I didn't like the sound of that," Max sighed weakly, clinging for dear life onto the side of the Neo-Tank.

"No, neither do I."