Mission 3: Destroy Artillery Installations
Shortly after 621 returned to the mobile base Walter had arranged for her, she received a notification while resting in her AC during maintenance.
"One new message," 621's computer said.
"This is a notification from ALLMIND, the mercenary support system," the message began.
621 pouted. This message didn't even play the strange logo notification, instead presenting it flatly in the same manner Handler Walter's emblem appeared when he spoke.
"Registration Number Rb23, callsign Raven. Your return to mercenary activities has been acknowledged," the message continued. "Restoring access to the Parts Shop…"
621 perked up at that, watching as a small loading bar flashed across her screen indicating ALLMIND's activity within her computer systems.
"Access restored. Additionally, a new training exercise has been provided. ALLMIND looks forward to your development," the message concluded.
621 wasted no time starting a call to Handler Walter, her mind already starting to review her AC's combat performance thus far.
"621. Is something wrong?" Handler Walter asked.
"Got Parts Shop access!" 621 said. She paused, realizing she had just raised her voice. Taking a breath, she spoke in a less excited and much quieter manner. "Can get… COAM?"
Handler Walter hummed. "I was wondering why that wasn't available earlier. Must be a two-step process that requires job validation… Doesn't matter. Now you can replace that broken shield unit," he said.
"So… get COAM?" 621 asked.
"I'll give you control over your personal account. This is all your money excluding necessary operating fees," Handler Walter said. Shortly after he spoke, 621 saw a small notification appear near the bottom of her HUD. "A word of advice, 621. Don't spend it all on weapons."
621 giggled. "Only want… maybe two?"
"Good. Loader4 is cheap and built to survive atmospheric re-entry. There are better parts on the market," Handler Walter said. "I doubt you'll be able to replace your entire frame right now but keep that in mind."
"Already… thinking about," 621 said.
"One more thing," Handler Walter said. "The Parts Shop repurchases functional AC parts at full value, so don't be afraid to experiment with weapons. But that only applies to legally obtained parts or uncontested parts claimed under the law of salvage. You won't be getting any COAM out of Loader4."
"Will… consider," 621 said. At that, the call ended. Checking her notifications, 621 saw the funds she had available: roughly 230,000 COAM. She also noticed there were pay stubs linked to it, listing the jobs she had already undertaken and a breakdown of payments. Notably, she was paid a 20,000 COAM bonus upon completion of her previous mission, listed as a bonus from Handler Walter for destroying the unknown craft.
She smiled at that for a moment, stroking the leash around her neck.
Sighing, she accessed the Parts Shop from her AC's computer. Checking the catalog, she seemed to have extremely limited options. Perhaps the verification process was more than two steps. Regardless, she decided what to do first.
Her priority was replacing her left back unit, which remained unused now that the maintenance team had removed the broken pulse shield. The available options she saw were:
a much weaker pulse shield than she originally had, the SI-24:SU-Q5
a left side variant of her right back missile launcher, the BML-G1/P20MLT-04
an expensive four-cell pincer missile launcher, the BML-G1/P31DUO-02
Balancing efficiency and cost effectiveness, 621 settled on getting the twin to her current missile launcher. Being able to effectively cycle between each launcher while firing would allow her to rapidly destroy weaker targets or keep up the pressure against tougher foes. 74,000 COAM spent. 156,000 COAM remaining.
Next came the improvement she felt was most important. During the previous mission, she found that she often wasted multiple shots with her Ludlow, firing the weapon when she focused on the enemy but before they were fully locked-on, and needed to drift around her opponents for longer than she liked to effectively acquire a multi-lock. The current Fire Control System equipped to Loader4 came from an outdated frame designed for mass produced models. The average person probably wouldn't notice any problems with her FCS other than its mediocre range, but 621 was annoyed by its targeting speed. Her firing system needed to keep up with her own senses if she was going to pilot to the best of her abilities.
The only FCS available for purchase to 621 was the FCS-G2/P10SLT, whose specifications initially didn't impress her. Being one generation ahead of her current unit, its target lock assistance was slightly better across the board, but not enough for a 97,000 COAM price tag. 621 was about to move on to a different part before she noticed the main selling-point of the FCS: missile lock assistance. While the standard range assists were nothing impressive, this new FCS would effectively halve her missile lock time and more than double her current multi-lock capabilities. Considering that she now used dual missile launchers, the improvement was too good to ignore. 97,000 COAM spent. 59,000 COAM remaining.
Given her low COAM balance, 621 realized she'd realistically only be able to afford one more part. Considering everything that had happened so far and realizing most AC body parts would be beyond her means, she decided that the best part to invest in was her boosters. Like her original FCS, the boosters she currently used came from an older generation of AC, making them extremely light and energy efficient in exchange for overall performance.
Again, 621 only saw one part currently available for purchase. Like the FCS, it was a generational step forward. The BST-G2/P04 boosters outclassed her current boosters in every regard, requiring a negligible amount more energy and weight capacity. She practically made up the difference in advance by switching from the Turner to the Ludlow, making the purchase an obvious choice. However, she quickly found a problem.
BST-G2/P04 boosters cost 72,000 COAM. 621 had 59,000 COAM left in her account. The upgrade would have to wait. Or would it?
Attempting to use the 'Sell' section, 621 saw that she could sell her Ludlow for 45,000 COAM.
621 got her Ludlow for completing a training exercise.
There was a new training exercise available.
She would get a part to sell.
Closing out of the Parts Shop, 621 quickly booted up the newly loaded training exercise, titled 'Combat Fundamentals'. She read that as 'Free COAM'.
"Simulation: Combat Fundamentals – Loaded. Virtual Systems - Ready. Safety Lock - Engaged. Main System: Activating Combat Mode," her computer announced.
Peering into the virtual world yet again in another unfamiliar AC, 621 advanced while following the provided instructions. She dispatched a few shielding MTs by making use of the charged shot function tied to her right-hand linear rifle, piercing their shields and eliminating them with ease. A few tougher ones were quickly dispatched with a combination of charged shot and missiles or pulse blade.
She found it interesting that so many training programs incorporated the pulse blade.
The program continued to teach her about the fundamentals of maintaining pressure as a tactic to overload an opponent's ACS, which she already knew. The funnier lesson was on surprise attacks and the benefits of ambushing opponents, something 621 felt should be obvious to any sensible pilot.
Next, it taught her how to use a pulse shield and the concept of initial guarding, which she had mostly trained into instinct by this point. The strange part about this training was that none of the attacks she was asked to guard with really needed the shield, as 621 was certain even a beginner could dodge them. Regardless, she blocked the attacks somewhat successfully. The simulation aspect of the fight dulled her danger sense, so she didn't put too much effort into timing her shield usage.
Finally, it covered the use of assault boost in combat and the various tactical benefits it provided. Considering that style of fighting was one of 621's go-to tactics, she found the exercise enjoyable but not particularly informative.
Given how the exercise went, 621 predicted she'd either receive the pulse shield or the linear rifle used in the training program, both of which she had no problem selling.
It would take some time for the parts to arrive, meaning 621 had more free time. Unsure of what to do, she considered how her improved AC might function. As she began to think of hypothetical situations, she paused, remembering there was an additional open call mission she could view the specifications for. With that in mind, she opened her jobs list and played the briefing.
"Got a job for you, 621," Handler Walter's recorded voice began. "This is an open call from the Balam Group, one of the corporate forces occupying Rubicon."
The familiar logo came up on her screen alongside a new loud voice, this one almost shouting as it spoke.
"Attention, all independent mercenaries!" the Balam liaison began. "This request comes from our affiliate, Dafeng."
She had just murdered a Dafeng MT squad.
They probably wouldn't care.
"The Rubicon Liberation Front has deployed BAWS artillery throughout the contaminated city," the Balam liaison continued as images of large, armored artillery platforms hastily set-up on various buildings appeared on her screen.
She recognized a few places in the images from her initial crash landing, meaning she knew the lay of the land for this mission. That would come in handy when trying to approach artillery.
"The city itself has no strategic value, but we cannot allow them to hinder expansion of the Coral survey. Show us your ambition – destroy the Liberation Front's artillery!"
Her guess was right. Properly navigating the land could minimize the risk of heavy fire.
"Bonus pay will be awarded for destroying their MTs. We want the enemy weakened."
Talking like that would make 621 weak, the augmented human's eyes widening as her face contorted into an ecstatic smile.
"Consider it an opportunity to prove yourself. Impress us, mercenaries!" the Balam liaison finished.
621 accepted the job the moment the briefing ended. She would be paid to have as much fun as she could.
Once she got her new parts, she'd also see if she had enough money for a left-arm Ludlow. The pulse blade could be too risky to use while under artillery fire, and the briefing's images showed purely MTs and helicopters fighting alongside the artillery. She would be able to blitz through the area and mow down her opponents quickly and efficiently with smart use of her missiles and machine guns. She could picture it now, her AC dancing across the shallow water-logged streets and destroying MT after MT.
Unable to contain herself, 621 had to get out of her cockpit. Handler Walter had previously reminded her that meals and exercise were important for a pilot, and not to exercise immediately after a meal. She didn't remember hearing anything about exercising immediately before a meal, so she did just that.
Handler Walter's transport chopper was mostly utilitarian, the bulk of its size dedicated to the hangar bay which housed his current AC's, extra AC parts, and all the machinery needed to customize and maintain an AC. That left plenty of extra space for 621 to run around without disrupting the maintenance team, who were running damage checks on Loader4's legs. She had overheard Handler Walter mention something about electrical attacks being dangerous to internal systems, but 621 doubted a single swipe from an electrified whip could do much. Her AC controlled perfectly fine when she was dealing with Dafeng's reinforcements.
After a bit of running around and trying some of the exercises she had seen, 621 took a meal bar from the refrigerator in the office section near the back of the hangar. The office was meant for Handler Walter's use, but she had only ever seen him inside while she was on missions. He had told her that she could use it as she pleased when he wasn't around, so she had taken to filling the refrigerator inside with her meals. It was more convenient than needing to traverse the transport's main living area, passing by the maintenance team's various quarters, just to eat. She preferred to do that as infrequently as possible, usually when all of them were working on her AC.
Deciding she could wait until the office's notification for the hangar opening went off, she sprawled out on the singular sofa braced against one side of the room, once again thinking of how she'd approach the mission.
A short time after finishing her meal bar, the office's notification for hangar door opening went off. She hurried outside to her AC, eagerly halting them as they brought the parts in to inspect each container. She singled out the one from the training, marked as LR-036 Curtis, and had the crew leave that one outside as she quickly re-entered her mech.
Accessing the Parts Shop's sell button, 621 grinned. The LR-036 Curtis could be sold back for 65,000 COAM. That would give her 124,000 COAM, just enough to purchase both her new boosters, the BST-G2/P04, and her left arm weapon, the MG-014 Ludlow, with 7,000 COAM to spare.
Good thing she was about to make a killing.
Making her second set of purchases, the transport's sensors quickly picked up a retrieval drone outside. The maintenance crew barely got a moment to view the large craft as it dropped a crate containing her Ludlow before taking the Curtis and rapidly ascending.
With all her parts acquired, 621 helped the maintenance crew integrate her new missile launcher, FCS, and boosters before swapping out the pulse blade for her second Ludlow. Now prepared for battle, the transport helicopter made its way over to the contaminated city once more.
With Loader4 rising up for deployment, 621 established her usual comms link with Handler Walter. "The client doesn't care who does this job…" Handler Walter said.
621 smiled. Walter could always address what was on her mind, even if she didn't say anything about it.
"… So long as it gets done," Handler Walter finished.
"Yes, Handler," 621 said.
"Awake already? Hmm… this is your kind of job," Handler Walter said. "Just remember to prioritize your objective."
"Understood," 621 said. At that, her AC dropped out of the transport, boosters activating to slow her descent to the contaminated city's outskirts.
Landing on a small outcropping of mountain interlaced with scrap, she prepared for battle.
"Main System: Activating Combat Mode."
"Commence mission. Destroy all of the Rubicon Liberation Front's artillery placements," Handler Walter said.
Wasting no time, 621 activated her assault boost. The new boosters showed their improvements immediately, covering more ground much more quickly. She noticed a small group of helicopters patrolling the area just as her missiles began to lock onto them, something she knew her previous FCS could never have done. She fired off her right back missiles as her assault boost ended, the multi-lock making short work of the helicopters.
"We got a corporate merc!" a Liberation Front MT pilot screamed over the radio. Seeing two directly in front of her, 621 wasn't sure which spoke. It didn't matter. The one on the left received the full four missile payload of her left back missile launcher while the one on the right was quickly dispatched by combined burst fire from her Ludlow's. Boosting past them, she saw the main street entrance to the contaminated city, leading directly into the line of fire for the first set of artillery installations.
Noticing the mass of wreckage lining one side of the city provided ample cover from the artillery's line of fire, 621 assault boosted to that area before the artillery could hope to aim at her. Rushing forwards, she saw a few more MTs patrolling the path.
"They're onto us already, the sneaky bastards!" one of the MT pilots said. 621 didn't really care which one. All she cared about was that two took one of her missile launchers' salvos each and the other two fell to burst fire from her Ludlows. Slowing her assault boost to a regular boost, she quickly reloaded both guns, extra mechanical limbs in her AC's arms completing the motion without needing to make the machine handle cartridges directly or have the machine stop moving.
Emerging from the area shielded by wreckage, 621 found herself boosting along the same wall she had first seen the SG craft during her initial landing mission. She recognized that as an area far behind where the initial artillery had been placed, prompting her to jump and boost over the wall. As expected, she emerged behind the first line of BAWS artillery, finding two MTs behind them that were quickly turning to try and stop her.
She laughed, firing her missiles yet again, one rack per enemy, to destroy them well before they could resist. The artillery began its slow turn backwards to try and stop her, but her machine guns shot much quicker than they could turn. The artillery exploded one after another, massive bullets tearing through their unshielded backs with ease.
"We're clear here. Move on to the next site, 621," Handler Walter confirmed.
"I thought there'd be more," 621 said, stopping to scan the area in case she missed any enemies. Finding nothing, she sighed, activating her assault boost once more and flying over to the other outer wall of the contaminated city. While flying, she could vaguely make out that the defensive lines the Liberation Front had made out seemed to involve an expectation that an attacker would destroy one set of artillery to infiltrate the city and then move to the others, thus placing them within firing range of the other two.
What an oversight of theirs not to prepare for an opponent that could exploit city limits.
Traveling along the ground to let her generator charge, 621 leapt into the air and boosted up, getting a clear line of sight on three artillery guns with their back to her.
"Deploy for combat! Destroy that AC!" a Liberation Front pilot yelled.
Her FCS picked up helicopters behind the artillery attempting to take off, but sitting targets were even easier to catch in a multi-lock burst than flying opponents. Once she took them out, her Ludlows got to work, emptying their clips as she took out the next three artillery emplacements.
"How'd it get past us?! Isn't this just one AC?!" another pilot yelled over comms.
"Radar's only got one… but it's fast! We can't track it!"
621 sighed dreamily at her description, her Ludlow's completing their reload as she quick boosted into the city streets and destroyed another two MTs with her missiles. The enemy had barely gotten a shot off against her so far, and her AC was still unscathed. Gliding along the ground, she and her FCS detected more MTs patrolling on bridges and buildings, seemingly trying to line-up shots on her.
"You're up against mass produced MTs. They won't be a problem for you," Handler Walter said.
621 giggled as she quick boosted out from behind a building, opening fire with her Ludlows on an MT that had no chance of tracking her at street level. Even her Handler was proud of how well she was doing.
"Fight back! We can't let the artillery be destroyed!" another pilot yelled.
Boosting up to the top of one of the larger buildings, 621 rained missiles down on two MTs trying to shoot her out of the sky. She easily avoided the shots, her improved boosters heightening her already impressive aerial mobility even further as she gracefully landed on a platform high enough to overlook the contaminated city.
Taking stock of the area, she saw the final set of artillery in the distance now aimed in her direction, the trail of destruction she left likely giving away her general location to the enemy. Guarding it was a squad of MTs occupying the various rooftops each gun had been placed on, and she could see other bazooka wielding MTs positioned on the roofs of various buildings along the path to the final set of artillery.
They would make fine stepping stones.
Boosting into the air again, 621 approached the first bazooka MT.
"There! That corporate dog!" her next victim yelled, their MT taking aim at her with its bazooka. "Don't give them another inch! We have to defend the artillery!"
The MT fired, only for 621 to quick boost out of the way and quickly land next to the MT in question. She unloaded a burst from both Ludlows, downing it before quick boosting backwards in response to an alarm going off in her cockpit. She turned as another bazooka shot flew past her, catching a glimpse of her next stepping stone. One set of back missiles for them.
She boosted over to their roof as they exploded, taking a moment to pre-emptively clear stepping stone three out of the way with her second set of missiles. Sliding along the edge of stepping stone two, she peered down at a few other MTs on the highway and street level, raining bullets down on them and easily dispatching them before reloading once again.
Alarms went off in her cockpit again, and she knew the artillery could now attempt to take shots at her. Wasting no time, she assault boosted to the far end of the contaminated city away from the main combat area, skimming over completely flooded streets that lacked any cover. As she expected, the artillery lacked a good angle on anything approaching from this side, allowing her to throw her AC into a roll that placed her behind cover from them once more.
Skidding to a stop as she landed, she fired both sets of her shoulder missiles, hoping to catch two nearby MTs with a single lock. The first was blown apart as she expected, but the second managed to dodge out of the way, only taking one missile as a direct hit. 621 mopped up with her Ludlows, quick boosting to avoid a counter burst from the MTs own machine gun while dispatching it.
"Clear out the artillery here and our work is over. You'll just have MTs to hunt if you want," Handler Walter said.
"Will do," 621 said, a massive smile reaching her face. She stopped moving momentarily, allowing her generator to fully recharge before moving towards the edge of the wall leading to the final artillery placements. Activating her usual boosters, her AC slid into view of all three artillery installations, each immediately trying to aim at her.
"Fire! Surround that AC!" a Liberation Front MT pilot yelled as a squad of them hopped down from the buildings to try and intercept 621, readying their guns.
"Show that interloper what makes the Liberation Front strong!" another yelled.
"Forged in ash, we stand as one!" the entire group of pilots yelled.
621 assault boosted straight over them, her new boosters propelling her too quickly forward to allow them any time to properly aim at her. Zooming into the air past two artillery installations, 621 pulled up, stopping her AC mid–flight while attempting to turn as quickly as she could. When her FCS locked onto one artillery installation, she fired both sets of missiles before swapping targets to the second. As she began to descend, she opened fire with her Ludlows.
Bullets and missiles struck simultaneously, taking out two bits of artillery simultaneously. Landing, she quick boosted backwards and shifted her attention to one of the final targets, situated on a tower further back than the other two. Staying low to the ground forced the artillery to attempt an arcing shot with an explosive, something far too slow to catch 621 when she clearly saw it coming. Emptying another set of her Ludlows' clips to take out two more MTs, 621 got right up to the artillery's elevated tower.
Laughing as she boosted into the air behind the artillery, fully aware it was defenseless as her Ludlow's completed their reloading during her ascent, 621 hovered directly behind the artillery and aimed both machine guns at its unprotected back. She could faintly make out people inside panicking through the few view holes at the back. Just as she hoped.
Unloading more bullets than necessary, her machine guns utterly tore through the final artillery installation, the structure exploding right in front of her before she let her AC fall back to the ground. Bits and pieces of the destroyed artillery fell to the ground around her, breathing some detail into the scene as she began approaching the final artillery installation.
Using the last of her somewhat wasted clips on two MTs in her path, she noticed the group of five MTs that tried to stop her before now moving to fortify the artillery's position. Feeling a little inspired, 621 assault boosted towards them, firing both of her missiles one after the other to instantly destroy two as her Ludlows reloaded. She raised her guns but didn't fire, instead boosting along the ground as close as she could to them while avoiding their own attempts to track her. Fighting at ground level, she expected the artillery to only have one real option against her.
As her AC's alarms went off, 621 glanced upwards and grinned. The artillery launched an arcing, explosive round in her direction. 621 quick boosted back and allowed some of the Liberation Front's machine gun fire to scratch her AC, goading them into giving pursuit before she suddenly jumped up and quick boosted away, the artillery's explosive shell passing by her.
The resulting blast went off just out of range of her airborne AC, but she could tell that at least one of the MTs pursuing her had been struck and destroyed. She hummed giddily, using her missile launchers once more to take out the other two MTs before landing.
Boosting over to the artillery and escaping its firing range entirely, she boosted up alongside the building it had been placed on and readied her machine guns. Unlike the previous installation, this one had an MT stationed next to it.
A shame their mass produced FCS took more than a full second to lock-on to a target. Her Ludlows could fire ten rounds each in that time, more than enough to destroy both the MT and the artillery it was supposed to defend.
"Confirmed. All targets destroyed," Handler Walter said. "That's it for this job, 621. You can return to base once you've had your fun with the remaining MTs. Don't take too long."
"I won't," 621 said. She activated her scanner, picking up a few MTs who had arrived too late to try and stop her from destroying the last of the artillery.
She licked her lips.
They were just in time for the after party.