CHAPTER 45
In the light of early dawn, the vault hunters stood amongst the carnage they had caused at the second outpost. Although they were expected this time, they had taken the second outpost in much the same way as they had taken the first.
Now, Willy and Brick were dumping bodies into a skip, Zareb and Salvador were hastily collecting any ammunition they could find, to restock their depleted stores. Death trap was undergoing a few minor repairs from Gaige, and Axton was similarly doing the same for his turret. Mordecai. Lillith and Maya were standing at the centre most point of the outpost, as Lillith held two ECHO recordings in her hands.
'They are badly damaged.' Mordecai pointed out the obvious. 'But do we wait for Angel to decode them, or keep on?'
'Well' Lillith turned the devises in her hands, examining them as she already had dozens of times. 'Thats the million dollar question now isn't it?'
'If we sit around waiting, we run the risk of being picked off like flies. We still hold the upper hand. Waiting around here would definitely change that.' Maya pointed out.
'Not to mention that we dont even know if they hold anything of value, OR if the data on them is even retrievable' Lillith admitted.
'Give up our position, and the highest card, all for the sakes of some Hyperion soldiers wife telling him how her day was? No thanks!' Mordecai joked. It was true though, there was no certainty that the recording held information that would be of any use to them.
'I guess that settles the matter then' Lillith confirmed, just as Brick joined the three 'We'll let everyone have a break for an hour or so, then press on!'
The troops stood waiting patiently, at the entrance to the Hyperion stronghold. Angel was attempting to hack the system, and override Hyperions current defence system. It would then allow them easy access into the many locked buildings that would await them inside. Only two amongst them were not familiar with the area. Willy and Zareb. Maya, Axton and Salvador had had to perform a rescue mission of Roland, the previous year, before they had defeated Jack. But Angel had provided them with accurately detailed maps of the area, and recent satellite footage had shown many new developments within the fortress. Axton was studying one of the maps as they waited.
'Hey, Lillith, what do you suppose this grey area is?' He moved his finger in circular motions above the area he referred to.
'Hmm,' she said as she studied it closely. 'Perhaps an underground building. Too hard to tell. But I would put money on a below ground storage facility'
'I reckon you're right' He agreed, tucking the map away again. No sooner had he done so and the electronic keypad to activate the doors locks began beeping and flashing.
'Security systems infiltrated. Downloading authorization codes now' Angels voice came out of the small speaker box below the keypad.
'Good work as always Angel!' Axton praised, reading the data the was beginning to flash up on a small screen above the locking device on the doors.
'This is all going too smoothly for my liking' Willy stepped forward as Lillith punched in the key-code to open the high steel doors.
'He has a point, we haven't met any resistance yet' Maya agreed. But no sooner had the large grey metal doors began sliding open, and the shower of bullets came to great them.
'Way to go to jinx us Pops!' Axton yelled as he lunged for cover.
The team had finally all taken cover, as the Hyperion robots flooded out of the stockades gates. The loader bots, typically a couple of feet taller than the average human, and built with similar style framing, were the bulk of Hyperions last army. Each arm held different purposes. Typically the right side wielding a firearm of some sort, the left was free for throwing grenades. There bodies were shaped in a capital T type frame, featuring a single sensor eye to the left of the top and centre. These eyes picked out there targets with ease, using infra-red technology, turning from a deep blue, the vibrant red when a threatening target was detected. The vulnerable linkage joints that pieced the arms and legs to their main body, were a good choice of target, crippling the bots weapons made them easier to take out.
The vault hunters were pushed further and further backwards as more and more loaders poured out of the gates.
'We need a better plan!' Axton yelled towards Lillith and Mordecai, who were crouching behind on of their vehicals, which was beginning to ignite.
'If I phase myself and Mordecai in, maybe we can take them from the inside too' Lillith said into her her echo, so that everyone was able to hear her thoughts on a plan.
'I dont have much ammo left, but should be able to take a few of these nasties down with a blast or two' Willies voice came over the echo. 'Should give you guys time to get into a position'
'Sounds good' Lillith agreed 'Wait for my signal, I wanna make sure I'm well supplied before we head in'
