A/N
Like my Rwby story, a short(-ish) chapter for today. An important one, however, as this story is now transitioning into it's next major arc.
As much as I hate to say it, after the next few chapters Tigress might need another temporary hiatus. I have a lot of blanks left to fill in the plot before I can properly begin writing the next arc. But even then, it won't be a long hiatus... hopefully...
Anyways...
Chapter 53…
Ashley was feeling the pressure before… but now things had reached a fever pitch…
Using her hands to manipulate Big Ivan's arm clamps; Ashley articulated her wrist to spin Big Ivan's arm attachments. His massive pincer claws were still digging into the trashed remains of a pickup truck - using the two shredded halves of the vehicles as shields.
Bullets fell like hail from all directions. The small caliber gunfire was not powerful enough to pierce through the thick protective plating on Big Ivan's chassis; instead shattering on impact, leaving only small scratches of paint and minor denting.
Inside the cockpit, Ashley felt sweat pouring down the sensitive skin of her temples…
Was there any possible way to get out of this situation?
Big Ivan was slow and unwieldy - even when Ashley wasn't using his standard safety protocols. Every step, every punch, and every minor change in direction sent waves of pain through Ashley's battered body. She had neither the energy nor speed to react to threats.
'I have to try…' Ashley grit her teeth, the pain she was feeling an ever-present reminder of her poor chances. 'I need to buy the doctor time…'
That was it… her only goal…
Ashley raised the mangled pieces of truck to cover the plexiglass viewscreen, flinching when bullets ringed against the metal.
Gritting her teeth again and feeling her molars grinding, Ashley went on the offensive. She slammed her arms against the clamps, feeling her muscles strain as Big Ivan swept out his metal fists. The two halves of the pickup trucks dragged along the ground - smashing against both bandits and vehicles alike.
From what Ashley could see, her maneuver had overturned several of the parked trucks. The few bandits who had not been mangled scrambled away to build some distance from Ashley.
'Chaos it is then…'
"Come back here!" The woman roared into the mouthpiece of her helmet, her voice ringing around in her ears. "Titan! Activate loudspeakers!"
"Acknowledged."
Warning lights flashed on the outside of Big Ivan's chassis as his loudspeakers crackled to life.
"Where are you running!?" Ashley spat, feeling venom in the back of her throat. "Huh!? How about I show you what a real pilot can do!? Unlike your joke of a leader!"
More bullets rang against Big Ivan's chassis… perhaps Ashley had struck a nerve…?
Good…
"Jameson was a joke… just some guy playing soldier!" Ashley spat into Big Ivan's mic. "The same goes for the rest of you! I'm tearing this place down!"
Pushing her legs forwards, Ashley sought to prove her words through action. Big Ivan's metal feet smashed into the ground as Ashley maneuvered the archaic titan into a lopsided jog. Bandits screamed and ran as Ashley romped around the interior of the outpost, scrapping whatever vehicles remained.
The rattle of MG fire caught Ashley's attention so she whirled around Big Ivan's chassis. Some of the bandits had clearly realized that small arms fire wasn't enough to penetrate the titan's armor; as a solution, they had jumped into one of the armored technicals.
One single bandit was manning the mounted Spitfire - Ashley spotted a second in the driver's seat…
Under no circumstances could Ashley allow the bandits to start up that truck. Big Ivan had no ranged weapons to speak of… and a truck of that size would run circles around Ashley in a deadly game of chicken.
It would take approximately ten steps for Ashley to reach the truck… but the plexiglass shield covering the cockpit would shatter under the stress of gunfire. The two halves of the pickup truck Big Ivan was holding were beyond shredded - merely lumps of twisted metal that hung off of his pincers.
Looking down, Ashley spotted another truck that looked almost untouched. She scooped the rear bumper underneath Big Ivan's pincer - hoisting the vehicle upwards so that it was rolling on its front wheels.
With a heave, Ashley pushed Big Ivann forwards into a jog. Light machine gun rounds tore up the cabin of the truck in the titan's hand; but none of the rounds slipped through to strike the cockpit.
Ashley could feel spittle forming on the edges of her mouth. The stress of operating four clamps simultaneously was indescribably painful…
'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale… buy the doctor some time…'
"Fuck you!" Ashley spat into her helmet's mouthpiece. She wasn't exactly sure who she was speaking to…
The gunfire had reached a fever pitch… Ashley was right on top of the enemy technical. With a heave, Ashley pushed up Big Ivan's arm to flip the truck hanging off of his pincer. The heavy vehicle teetered forwards before landing on the enemy technical - immediately crushing it's occupants.
This wasn't over… a Kraber round had just rang against Big Ivan's plating…
'One thing after another…'
Using Big Ivan's pincers, Ashley once again picked up the remains of the truck she had just used as a battering ram. From her limited point of view, Ashley could not easily see the enemy sniper…
… which was kind of the point.
Another round smashed into Big Ivan's hull. Unlike the previous armaments, the fifty caliber had more than enough power to leave a fist-sized hole in the armored plating; it would only be a matter of time before a sniper round struck something important.
'Fuck… where are you?'
Another round… this one sneaking past Ashley's shield and striking the plexiglass cockpit. The dark haired woman felt the glass sprinkle around her foot…
… there was a sizable gap in the cockpit shield… and a smoking hole inches from Ashley's boot…
… and a smoke trail leading towards the squat collection of barrack buildings…
'Got you…'
Kicking Big Ivan off of the ground, Ashley held her makeshift shield high. The barracks were close - a small figure dressed in white armor making their presence known as they scrambled from their perch. Blowing some air out in an exhale, Ashley watched as the man abandoned his hefty Kraber and tried to flee off of the roof.
Jerking her arms, Ashley swung Big Ivan's hands low. The pickup truck clenched in his claws broke free from the stress and began to roll like a bowling ball. There was the horrific sound of screeching metal as the battered truck demolished the barrack buildings - coming to a rumbling halt in the middle of the foundation.
Spying the Kraber on the ground, Ashley reared up her titan's foot and delivered a downwards stomp onto the weapon. The fifty caliber was reduced to scrap by Big Ivan's heavy foot; it's owner was nowhere to be found.
"Titan!" Ashley gasped as she whirled around to face her next threat.
"Awaiting input."
"What is our reserve power?"
"Power reserves are sitting at fifteen percent…" Big Ivan's speaker rumbled. "A recharging period will be required."
"No time for that…" Ashley spat, twisting the chassis to avoid a hail of small arms fire. The few dozen bandits that remained were regrouping - aiming for the hole in the cockpit hatch that the sniper had made.
"Titan!?"
"Awaiting input…"
"Deactivate all non-essential systems and reroute power to movement!" Ashley instructed.
"Acknowledged, prioritizing locomotion…"
With the titan running low on battery, Ashley began more desperate maneuvers. She moved Big Ivan forwards, whirling the titan's arms back and forth to blindly smash whatever she could. The neatly organized outpost was quickly being reduced to a field of scrap and stone.
Ashley did not hear the radio crackling…
Shutting off her conscience for a minute, Ashley swept Big Ivan's arms along the ground to sweep up several unlucky bandits. She drowned out the noise of their screams being cut short…
The radio continued to crackle…
Big Ivan's pincer claws articulated to scoop up another gun truck. The vehicle was squeezed, it's metal denting and popping as if it was nothing more than a tin can…
The radio crackled one more time… and Ashley finally took notice…
Looking down at her feet, Ashley noticed the second two way radio that she had left in Big Ivan's cockpit. The small device had clattered around in the chaos, but was now resting against her foot.
Using her few seconds of breathing room, Ashley pulled her left arm out of the clamp and snatched up the radio.
"… coming….. sight now…."
"Hello!?"
"... confirmed movement…. running like ants down there…"
"Hello!?" Ashley desperately yelled into the receiver. "Is anyone there!?"
For a moment, the radio crackled.
"... interference? Tell Tal to… gumming up my damn communications…"
"Please-" Ashley's voice hitched when something large slammed into the side of Big Ivan's chassis. Reality hit the dark haired woman like a truck - she was still under fire. "Anyone!?"
"... who is this?"
Ashley wanted to ask the same question… but she had a sneaking suspicion that she already knew...
"If you can hear me…" Ashley panted. "Don't shoot the titan!"
"...what…?"
Ashley hoped that her message was good enough. Swiveling Big Ivan's chassis around, Ashley looked towards the orange glow of the early morning sky. Although they were difficult to see through the light… Ashley could spot the running lights of approaching aircraft…
Her being happy to see the frontier Militia… there was irony in all of this…
"... who the hell is this-"
Ashley didn't bother answering, instead dropping the radio into her lap. The dark haired woman slammed her arm back into the controlling clamp - feeling the metal implements put pressure against her flesh.
Slamming her legs to the left, Ashley sidestepped Big Ivan to protect her vulnerable cockpit. Air whistled through the hole that the fifty caliber round had left in the translucent plastic; and Ashley wasn't eager to let the spider web cracks grow more pronounced.
Up above, the small fleet of Militia aircraft moved out of the way of the rising sun. Their running lights now shone clearly against the orange sky, drawing the attention of the surviving bandits.
Green, yellow, and orange painted Goblin dropships began circling the encampment like vultures - some of them slowing down a stop to begin releasing their drop lines. Ashley could only assume that they were planning some sort of hot entrance into the fight.
"... titan lady..?" The radio crackled again, capturing Ashley's attention. "... Barker... hear me down there…?"
"Titan lady" was an interesting moniker… and not one Ashley particularly liked...
Ashley grit her teeth as more bullets pinged against the metal plating of Big Ivan's chassis. A single small-caliber round struck the hatch, widening the spider web cracks.
"... fuck it…" The voice on the other line of the radio crackled with interference. "... give me… sign…"
Ashley thrust Big Ivan's arm straight upwards, painfully moving her arm back and forth in the clamp to create a waving formation.
"...good enough… hang tight-"
The man on the other line was abruptly cut off. Ashley wasn't sure what he said, but it sounded like some form of expletive.
She'd be swearing too if she was in his position… because a tracking rocket had just streaked through the sky - heading in the direction of the Goblins. The speeding ordinance only narrowly missed the lower hull of one of the Goblins - the aircraft tilting dangerously to avoid the hit.
"... archers!" The male voice cried over the radio. "Damn rocket nearly spilled my drink… titan lady, do something!"
Ashley's mind was already racing… and that was before the rude order had been given to her.
'What can I do?' Ashley thought to herself. 'Just one of those will be enough to destroy me…'
It was true. Big Ivan's heavy steel plating could shrug off gunfire - but a tracking rocket was out of the question. Archer ordinance was designed to shred mechs that were two times the size and two times of weight of old Ivan.
Whirling around the chassis to view the nearby area, Ashley desperately searched for the wielder of the rocket launcher. After a few moments she found her mark - a pair of lone figures standing atop the roof of the three-story command building. It was an intelligent spot to set themselves up.
Taking them out would be the easy part… but getting to the building would be hard. Big Ivan did not have the speed of a Stryder class nor the survivability of an Ogre class…
"Titan…" Ashley frowned. "Commence automated walking pattern, proceed forwards."
"Acknowledged…"
Big Ivan's scratchy voice… Ashley wondered if she would miss it or not...
The titan assumed direct control of movement, so Ashley removed her hands from the clamps. With her hands free, Ashley snatched the crackling radio off of her lap and tucked it into her vest. She pulled open the shattered remains of the cockpit hatch with the manual release and stuck her body out of the cabin.
On the roof of the building - now perhaps only thirty feet away from Ashley - the glowing red lasers of two Archer launchers activated.
"Y'know… I had a proper titan once…" Ashley murmured - perhaps to no one in particular. "For a long time I thought that he was just a machine… and he was…"
The two targeting lasers zeroed in on Ashley… like the gaze of two malevolent eyes...
"But despite my first impressions of him…" Ashley paused. "I suppose he grew on me…"
Only seconds now…
"I never really had the chance to say goodbye to him…" Ashley gently ran a gloved hand along the smooth metal around the cockpit hatch. "But his sacrifice wasn't in vain…"
The rockets fired, the moving projectiles lighting up the morning air with twin tails of fire. They were not as slow as they looked…
There were only seconds now…
"And neither will yours…" Ashley removed her hand and clenched it into a fist. "Thanks Big Ivan…"
For a moment, Ashley could swear that she heard the loudspeakers in Big Ivan's chassis crackling.
"Acknowledged…"
The rockets were ten feet from impact… so Ashley wasted no time in activating her jumpkit. Becoming a rocket in her own right, Ashley sailed between the two deadly projectiles as they moved to strike the much bigger target behind her…
There was an ear-ringing noise as the rockets collided with Big Ivan - tearing up the metal of his chassis and annihilating the loading titan.
But everything had a silver lining…
Because despite the heat on Ashley's back, the concussive wave generated by the blast carried the woman further than her jumpkit ever could. Ashley tore her SMART pistol from her vest as she cannonballed through the air - shining her own targeting laser down at the two figures on the rooftop…
'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'
'FWIP! FWIP!'
Two bodies clattered to the gravel floor of the roof. One of the bandits, who had already reloaded his Archer, reflexively squeezed the trigger as he died. The rocket impacted the ground at his feet - tearing up the roof in a blooming inferno of flame.
Ashley could land it… she could land this…
Her legs touched down upon the roof - her jumpkit sputtering as it tried desperately to slow her momentum.
She could do this…
There was a shooting pain in Ashley's knees, then up her thighs, then to her hips… she had never felt pain like this before. It was as if every single muscle in her legs had turned to stone.
There would be no landing… Ashley crumpled… her remaining momentum tossing her along the roof like a limp ragdoll. In the rolling confusion her SMART pistol was lost… and then her kit…
No moment to breathe… no nothing…
She came to a stop, eventually; her head was spinning so badly that she couldn't stand up even if she wanted to...
Ashley felt air on her face… she had lost her helmet…
"... holy shit! Get down there already…" A voice crackled. "Move!"
Not all was lost… the radio was still clipped to her vest…
Up above, the Militia ships circled like birds of prey…
Ashley weakly reached up hand to grab the radio off her vest. Black spots danced in front of her eyes as she lifted the receiver to her lips.
"I-"
Her hand fell limp, the radio clattering to the floor and falling over the edge of the roof...
