Chapter 13 The Fire Spider
Eastern Belius / Wednesday, Trajan 19th, 3175 (R798) – Six Months Ago
/HOUNDS: NOW ENTERING COMBAT ZONE
/INITIATING PHASE: 2
The three 2000 series Armored Cores glided over the sand covered glasslands, as they rapidly approached the PCA defense line, defended by a heavy laser artillery cannon.
C4-617. C4-619. C4-620. Hounds of Handler Walter.
Jumping over a ridge that overlooked the distant defense line, 617 was forced to dodge as the heavy laser beam almost tore them apart. Continuing their high-speed run, they all charged head on.
619 opened up their dual twelve cell VLS launchers on their back, firing a barrage of missiles into the enemy lines. They were immediately punished as the heavy laser cannon targeted them, melting through their core, leaving it to collapse and spin to a stop.
/619: VITAL SIGNS LOST
Even dead, 619 had done their part, their missiles smashing the outer wall of the PCA fire base, allowing their allies to fly through, and carry out their mission.
Leading the charge, 617 deployed their forward-facing pulse-buckle shield, covering their advance and that of 620. However, the intensity of fire that slammed into the pulse shield tore it off, leaving them exposed. Heavy ordnance ripped 617's left arm off, leaving them with just two right side weapons. Nearly staggered, 617 recovered, and continued the mission, even as the PCA laser cannon fired over their heads.
/RECALCULATING APPROACH VECTOR
The laser cannon was just in sight, exposed and without support, when a new terror made itself known.
AAS02: Cataphract. A PCA super high tech battle tank. Two thousand tons of heavy armor and weapons as maneuverable as a jet fighter. It was armed with two hull-mounted 150mm gatling guns, while it's turret contained two 50mm gatling guns, a heavy plasma shotgun, and a multi-cell guided missile launcher. The Cataphract lunged forward, almost crushing 617 under its treads. 617 managed to maneuver away, losing their back weapon in the process, and turned around to confront the threat.
Severely outgunned, 617 stood their ground, and fired on the Cataphract with a 50mm gatling gun, the rounds harmlessly pinging off the Cataphracts heavy armor. It prepared to finish the Hound off, when 620 jumped in front of 617, drawing the attention of the super heavy tank towards her, allowing 617 a chance to flank it or evade.
620 managed to evade the fire from Cataphract's forward gatling cannons, as she drew it's attention with dual handguns. Still, it's turret mounted plasma shotgun tracked her closely, and with dual 50mm gatling guns boxing her in, fired once with it's plasma shotgun, tearing her right arm off. Momentarily staggered, 620 pointed her left handgun up at the Cataphract, only for the plasma shotgun to fire again, and tear into her core, burning her to dust.
/620: SIGNAL LOST
Using it's bow mounted 150mm gatling guns to track 617, the remaining Hound turned into the oncoming fire, and assault-boosted against the front of the Cataphract.
The super heavy PCA tank tried to run him over, but 617 held his ground, pushing the super tank back. Raising the gatling gun high, 617 shoved the whole weapon into the neck of the control MT at the center of the Cataphract. 617 held the trigger down, and shoved the gatling gun down Cataphract's throat, bypassing it's heavy armor, and cutting through the cockpit block.
Unfortunately, taking on the high-tech tank head on had overwhelmed 617's AC, causing the heatsinks to burst into flames. It's gatling gun damaged from having been forced inside of the Cataphract, 617 was down an arm, critically damaged, and with no weapons remaining.
There was still a job to do.
Forcing air through it's heatsinks to extinguish the flames, 617's AC stood, ready to finish the mission.
/UPDATING TARGET PARAMETERS
/PHASE 3: PATTERN E
617 still had an Assault Armor capacitor equipped, though given the depleted state of their heatsinks, survival was non-existent.
So be it.
Without question, 617 boosted into the PCA fire base, and detonated their Assault Armor at the base of the heavy laser cannon, destroying it. Without heatsinks to cool the AC, 617 burned to death inside the cockpit.
/617: DOWN
/REPORTING TO HANDLER WALTER:
/MISSON COMPLETE
Grid 073 - Independent Mercenary Hangars – Central Belius / Monday, Tiberius 26th, 3175 (R799) – Present Day
Anxiously looking up, V quickly spread her hands. "Stay calm, and everything will be okay."
"No, no." 621 shook her head. "Like this."
Holding two fingers forward on each hand, she made a cross near her stomach, then spread them gracefully to her sides, palms open and pointed down. "Stay calm, unte kowlting gonya gut, to pochuye ke?" At the end of the statement, she turned her palms up, one over the other above her stomach, as if offering something.
"Stay calm…" V tried to copy the motion, but just ended up pointing her fingers forward, too close to her waist.
"Hands big." 621 chastised softly, grabbing V by the wrists, and spread them wider, beyond the width of her hips. "And when you talk, in and before is weak." She brought V's hands together, above her midriff, palms up.
"Okay, um…" V built up her confidence, pointing her fingers forward again in a cross, then spread her hands wide and palms down. "Stay calm…unte kowlting gut-"
"No." 621 cut her off as V butchered the Creole. She repeated the motions with her hands, and enunciated slowly. "Stay calm, unte kowlting gonya gut, to pochuye ke?"
"Okay, ah…" V nodded a bit more confidently. Using her hands for sign again, she said, "Stay calm, unte kowlting gonya gut, to pochuye ke?"
"Better." 621 nodded with a smile. "Every time better."
V smiled widely, her tail wagging eagerly while her fists shook cheerfully.
Of the three androids under 621's care, V was learning Belter Creole the quickest. She still had a ways to go, but she showed promise.
Uzi was also learning, but nowhere near as quickly as V. Her specialty was, obviously, in maintaining the AC. That came naturally enough to her, that 621 had made the short machine girl her chief engineer.
N…wasn't practically good in either capacity. He picked up some Creole, but always stumbled over the grammar, often making critical mistakes that might otherwise get him shot they were so offensive. He was strong enough to assist Uzi in maintaining the AC, but he quickly got lost in it's numerous systems and subsystems, such that it was best he stay away from the more complicated or explosive components.
It turned out that N's specialty was in cleaning and repainting the AC after a mission. It wasn't much, but he enjoyed it. And despite what his art and writing would imply, he could in fact paint within the lines, and deliver satisfactory results.
As for 621…it was work as usual. She tried not to think about the fact that she was changing up her schedule to accommodate these little machines. Tried not to think about how Uzi would time V and N getting their oil rations in order to force 621 to eat an MRE. Tried not to think about how putting them to work and offering protection made them decently happy. Tried not to think about what V reminded her of…
And most recently, tried not to think of the weird voice in her head.
"…" Ayre hummed pleasantly, somewhere in the back of 621's mind. It seemed to be in response to V's happy expression, the voice often expressing it's opinion that she found the Strays cute. 621 shivered as feelings not her own threatened to put a smile on her own face.
She wasn't trying to make them happy. She was just teaching them the skills they needed to survive Rubicon, and using them for her own ends until that debt was paid, so that…
So that…
Admittedly, 621 didn't plan that far ahead. Taking on the Strays had been a debt of honor. Beyond that? She had no idea what she was doing. It went against the whole reason she had sold herself to Handler Walter. Against the whole reason she went to Rubicon in the first place.
It wasn't something she could afford to dwell on. She'd deal with it, one day at a time.
Speaking of Handler Walter, it sounded like he'd finally sent a message, having let her rest and recover for a whole day.
"Keep practicing, Stray One, you're doing great." 621 encouraged her as she went to go take that message.
"Yes ma'am!" V answered eagerly.
Making her way up to her room, 621 opened the console and read her message.
/ONE NEW MESSAGE:
/SENDER: Handler Walter
"621, I've got some business to attend to. I need to hawk some intel to the corps and secure a backer for our trip to the ice field. One job for you while I'm out…rest up. And that's an order."
/END OF MESSAGE
"…" 621 hissed in annoyance. Despite the abuse she'd been through, she didn't want to rest up. She wanted to get back into the field, taking on dangerous jobs with little hope for survival.
"…Raven." Ayre's soft voice snapped 621 out of her annoyed daze. There was a sense of purpose in her tone. "I see your Handler's away on business for now. About that 'trip' to the ice field…we've received a job from Balam already. Let's take a look, shall we?"
Infiltrate Grid 086 – Balam / Reward 160,000 COAM
"Here's the request from Balam Industries." Ayre, the schizophrenic voice in her head, delivered the mission briefing.
Huh.
"They want you to carry out an advanced survey of the Central Ice Field…to confirm the information Walter brought to them about the Coral convergence. As for how to cross the Alean Ocean…This is the intercontinental cargo launcher installed on the upper level of Grid 086. You could use it to launch your AC to the ice field." Ayre casually suggested loading herself in a mass driver designed for trains. It must be nice being noncorporeal and unaffected by G-forces. Stupid voice. "Grid 086 is occupied by Dosers…outlaws who treat Coral like a drug. It's also the territory of a belligerent group of arms dealers who call themselves RaD. Be prepared for a perilous journey. I'll be here to support you, Raven."
"…" 621 rubbed her head tiredly. Things were about to get interesting. For this mission, she decided to buy a six-cell missile launcher to fill her empty slot, and replace her laser blade with a VP-67LD laser dagger, a smaller, shorter weapon with a very high cooling efficiency and quick attack speed. While most other blades had to cool and recharge for several seconds, the laser dagger had less than half a second of down time between uses. She'd pick these weapons up enroute to the target zone.
Stepping out of her private room, 621 regarded the Strays. "Stray Squad!"
"Yes ma'am!" Uzi, V, and N were always a bit surprised when she shouted new orders for them, as they stood at attention.
"Pack your ready bags. We'll be moving around a bit this week." 621 informed them. "Got a job over in Grid 086, and from there we'll end up in the Central Ice Fields, across the Alean Ocean. Time we explore Rubicon."
"Copy!" Uzi, V, and N nodded confidently, though were anxious as they grabbed their few belongings. 621 had assured them they should only grab what they absolutely need, and that anything else could be replaced. Additionally, 621 would keep the tab for the hangar open, since it was in an optimal part of the continent.
621 also had to go through her things, taking a handful of weapons and tools. Anything else would be-
"…" Handler Walter must have a sick sense of humor. She hadn't gone through her personal effects since she had come down the well, and found a few of her belongings he must have kept for her. She'd told him to get rid of everything when she sold herself, since she had no intentions to buy her name back. Taking the two bits of metal, she tossed them over her shoulder.
"…?" Uzi looked up, seeing 621 throw something behind herself with uncaring dismissal. While she was distracted, Uzi picked up the two items.
One appeared to be an award, a five-pointed metal star on a black ribbon. In the center of the star was an image, a blindfolded woman in robes holding a scale, hand in hand with a knight…no…a machine holding a sword.
The other item was a pin, a name tag, with one word on it.
KLEIN
Uzi grimaced sadly. Why would 621 throw these away? Though she didn't recognize the award, she pocketed it and the name tag, and followed 621 towards their next mission.
Climbing into the cockpit of her AC, 621 prepared for a long mission.
"Let me handle getting us into the Grid." Ayre assured her. "I'm fairly adept at analyzing systems…and manipulating them, too."
Infiltrate Grid 086 – Balam / Western Belius / Tuesday, Tiberius 27th
At the bottom of the Grid, near the sand covered glass surface, numerous mining operations continued, feeding the corporation far above.
"Commencing infiltration to Grid 086." Ayre announced.
"…" 621 landed on a vertical catapult, that would rapidly propel her up the length of the Grid. Stray Squad were right beside her. It annoyed her that only she could hear Ayre, so she'd have to split her own time between combat and organizing the Strays. "Best you lay down, Stray Squad."
"Uh…why?" Uzi wondered.
"That catapult is going to put us under more G's than you can stand." 621 explained briefly. "Stray Three, you'll have to straddle your escort."
"Ah…" Uzi hesitated. While N was a good friend, sitting on him like that was a bit much for her. "Uh…V…?"
"…Really?" V grimaced, but spread her arms while she laid on her back, wrapping them around Uzi as the smaller machine girl laid on her chest. "D-Don't get too comfy." V hissed, her embarrassment obvious.
"Bite me!" Uzi hissed back. She and V were on unusually good terms, all things considered. Since they had a bad habit of being forced into uncomfortable situations together, they were kind of used to it. Still, they tried to resist being friends every now and then, for appearances sake.
"I'll pick you up after we land." N gave Uzi a thumbs up.
"Creating back door into system." Ayre announced to 621 as the voice accessed the catapult. "Deactivating lock on vertical catapult." Alarms blared as the platform lurched. "Connecting steam cylinders. Launching."
The catapult slammed up under them, quickly accelerating to just under the speed of sound, as they quickly ascended from surface level to the end of the catapult 2.5 kilometers above the surface. Launched into the air, 621 activated her thrusters, pushing her further up and gliding as her acceleration bled off, so that she could land on a platform 2.7 kilometers above the surface.
Uzi, V, and N screamed the entire time up the catapult, and even louder once they were in the air, tumbling through the sky. V and N deployed their wings, allowing them to bleed off all their speed, and glide down beside 621.
"Ah, I hated that!" N shouted. "Let's do it again!"
"Oh what the fuck…?" Uzi held her head as V let her down. "I want to throw up. Who the fuck programmed that?!"
"I think my head's still spinning." V complained while frowning.
"Hmm." Ayre laughed softly at the antics of Stray Squad. "Alright Raven. Let's get to work, shall we?"
/MAIN SYSTEM: ACTIVATING COMBAT MODE
They'd landed on a long and wide train line, hung between several of the industrial stalactites surrounding the Grid 086 megapillar. Considering this area was controlled by RaD, they made an effort to utilize it's surrounding industry and manufacturing capabilities for their own ends.
"Stray Squad, be advised this area is pretty heavily occupied. We'll be going in and out of the megastructures as we ascend the Grid. Stray One, you'll be on scout duty. Stray Two, escort Stray Three. Stray Three, keep your eyes open for any valuable components laying around." 621 ordered.
"Copy." Stray Squad answered back. V then took off while N caried Uzi on his back.
Scouting ahead, V plotted out the enemies standing in their path. "Counting several squads of RaD MTs, Buzzsaw and Missile subtype, above and below the bridge."
RaD MTs were an entirely unique kind of weapon on Rubicon compared to what BAWS or the PCA would produce. Retrofitted unmanned civilian model construction tetrapods, they lacked the basic flight boosters provided from the other fractions, but made up for it with a high ground speed and the ability to walk upside down across a ceiling. The "Buzzsaw" variant was armed with a two-shot bazooka launcher on it's left arm, and a large demolition saw on it's right arm. This variant had a large catwalk affixed to it's back, a leftover from it's previous ability to line up with several of it's kind and create a temporary bridge in construction zones. The "Missile" variant was built on the same tetrapod chassis, but was more than doubly armed, with a two-shot bazooka on each arm, a four-cell guided missile launcher on it's right shoulder, and a cruise missile launcher on it's left shoulder. Otherwise, RaD MTs were just a bit tougher than the manned MTs produced by other corporations, not that they would last long against an AC.
"We'll focus on the ones blocking our path for now." 621 declared. She engaged the first set of enemies, two Buzzsaw MTs, crossing the wide rail line to do so. Dodging between their bazooka rounds, she destroyed the first with her shotgun, and used her new laser dagger to slash at the second repeatedly, cutting it down. Behind these two MTs where two Missile subtypes, already firing on her with guided ordnance. Sending six missiles towards the first enemy, she gained altitude and fired on the second with her mortars, destroying it.
"Three more Missile types, Raven." V advised, staying far above.
"…" 621 grunted in acknowledgment, and targeted the furthest two MTs with missile and mortar fire, taking them out. Staying low, she managed to get close to the third MT from behind the cover of several train cars, only to pounce on it and tear it apart with her blade.
"Be advised Raven, there's an AC ahead…though it seems minimally armed?" V wondered. "It's covering the path ahead, no way to avoid it's attention.
"Acknowledged, stay back and observe." 621 ordered, jumping up to the next level, an industrial void space for trains and heavy manufacturing.
"Who's this tourist?" A man demanded hungrily. "You think you can just waltz straight in here?"
His AC was a combination of Defang and RaD parts. A heavyweight, box shaped Tian-Qiang Core and flat, cyclopean head part from the same model. The arms and legs were from a heavy duty 3000 series demolition mech, repurposed for combat by Coral-raving RaD engineers. He was armed with only two weapons, and inefficiently at that. A "Sweet Sixteen" shotgun, which was really more of a heavy handgun with thirteen 50mm barrels it fired at once, and a "Double Trouble", a demolition chainsaw with two four-meter-long blades, which could be used to carve into enemies. Both weapons were produced by RaD. However, since he was not using "reserve slots" on his back mounts, he couldn't utilize his fist for close range combat, not that he could engage from any range but that.
"Hope you're watchin', boss. Leave it to 'Invincible' Rummy to show our guest a good time!" The man identified himself enthusiastically.
"Arena registration found. AC identified as 'Mad Stomp'." Ayre noted, then added in mildly amused disbelief, "…Ranked dead last."
"…" 621 engaged, firing a volley of missiles that tracked him closely, and gained altitude to fire from above with dual-mortars. Rummy tanked the missiles to the face, but did dodge away from the mortars, still being caught at the edge of their blast radius, slowly destabilizing him.
"Me and Mad Stomp can't be beat!" Rummy boasted loudly.
"…" 621 got in close, landing both shotgun and missile hits that left Rummy staggered. She rushed him and delivered several heavy blade strikes, and kicked him for good measure, doing serious damage to his armor.
"Argh…!" Rummy grunted, then exclaimed excitedly. "You're no ordinary tourist!"
Firing on her with his own shotgun, Rummy managed minimal but decent damage against her armor, not enough for her to worry about at the moment, however. He also activated his chainsaw, and dragged the spinning blades along the ground, kicking up sparks and screeching loudly as he swung up, just missing 621 as she kept her distance from the heavy melee weapon. It was over five and a half tons, and not something she wanted to be knocked around by.
Wanting to finish this fight quickly, 621 fired her mortars and shotgun at close range, staggering him again, and finished him off with multiple, fast blade strikes that cut into his armor.
"N-No! MAD STOOOMP!" Rummy screamed as he died.
"Hostile AC destroyed." Ayre announced, before she pinged the next location for the Hound to follow.
"Stray Squad, on to the next area." 621 ordered. "Eyes open."
Flying up to the now opened door that would take them deeper into Grid 086, 621 led the way.
"Looks like you're having fun…tourist." A woman over the loudspeaker spat with annoyance. "Y'know, RaD loves a good welcome party. Come on in and let's get acquainted." There was an underlying threat in her tone.
"How courteous." Ayre commented confidently. "Let's take her up on the offer, Raven."
The area before them was filled with large, grated platforms loaded with cargo and materials, train lines extending from the Grid 086 megapillar directly into it's adjoining industrial stalactites, and dozens of busy cranes that pivoted and pulled materials from three kilometers below. There were smokestacks and refineries, exposed conduit and piping. It was an inverted industrial valley a kilometer and a half wide.
Above, was the RaD symbol, three large, yellow recycling arrows pointing clockwise behind the "RaD" name. Reuse and Development.
"Stray Two, Stray Three, sit back while I clear the area. Stray One, stay evasive and scout ahead."
"Copy!" Uzi, V, and N answered back.
"I've gathered data on the woman from that broadcast." Ayre announced. "That was Carla, leader of RaD, a formidable Doser fraction. She joined them three years ago, bringing with her a crew of junk wizards and hackers. Within half a year, she seized total control and greatly expanded their operations."
"Counting lots of dispersed MT squads ahead Raven." V alerted. "Buzzsaws and Missiles across from you. Even a few BAWS MTs on the bridge."
"Copy. Engaging." 621 confirmed, assault-boosting across the open gap to engage the RaD MTs.
In the opposite direction, N hovered above while Uzi looked around curiously.
"Let's check out the area back there, N." Uzi suggested. "Towards the megapillar."
"Alright, hang on tight." N agreed, swooping in low, in between the large industrial buildings and along another long rail line.
And right into the side of two unmanned BAWS tetrapods.
"Oh shit! N!" Uzi warned him, a second too late.
Both heavy tetrapods were armed with a double-barreled auto-shotgun, heavy laser blade, and hyper-velocity 155mm sniper cannon. The lead tetrapod managed to get a shot off with it's shotgun, damaging N's wings.
"Ack!" N cried out, managing to roll into a landing that kept Uzi from harm. Still, with two massive BAWS tetrapods nearly on top of them, they were far from safe.
"H-Help! We need help here!" N begged.
"Two tetrapod's on us! Can't evade!" Uzi shouted more helpfully, but no less worriedly.
"…Stray One, get in there and extract them. I'll be right behind you." 621 advised, finishing off one of the RaD MTs by kicking it off the platform, towards the ground three kilometers below.
"On it!" V replied confidently, flying towards N and Uzi.
Even without his wings, N was quick enough to evade the shots from the two tetrapod's while he carried Uzi, but it wasn't a game he could keep up forever. Too far away, and the tetrapod's would use their heavy cannons on him. Too close, and they would lunge at him with their heavy blades.
He only had to keep it up for a few seconds, as V soon arrived and fired two of her missiles into the sides of the tetrapods, distracting them. Though against their heavy armor, it didn't do much, but it did stop their pursuit of N and Uzi. Then it was just a matter of picking up N while he carried Uzi, flying back towards the platforms that 621 had cleared.
"Is saving you two going to be a habit for me?" V sarcastically asked.
"T-Thanks V." N smiled appreciatively.
"Yeah, thanks!" Uzi added honestly.
"…" Covering their retreat, 621 dropped down on the two tetrapod's as V carried off N and Uzi. It took quite a bit of work, using all her ordnance and heavy use of her blade, but she'd cut them down to size, and even managed to kick one off the platform, down to a lower level where it folded in on itself.
"…Stray Squad, report." 621 demanded.
"Condition green." V answered promptly,
"I-uh…I'm better." N answered sheepishly. "Wings just grew back, I'm good to go. I should have been more careful."
"I'm good here." Uzi answered, then followed up. "It…it was my fault. I suggested scouting that area out."
"…That mistake was on both of you." 621 declared. "You changed position without alerting me and flew too close to a patrol route. Think next time."
"Y-Yes ma'am." N and Uzi answered shamefully, while V smiled, proud of herself.
"Using Laconian strays as scouts?" Carla noted. "Curious choice, tourist."
"…" 621 ignored the loudspeaker, and repositioned on the bridge leading to the industrial stalactite, knocking out several unmanned BAWS tetrapods along the way. "Stray Three, start working on getting that next door open."
"Copy!" Uzi answered as N flew her down towards a large door. V kept high and to the rear while 621 boosted across the bridge.
"Raven, from above!" V warned. "Two…uh…something!"
621 turned around and found two strange cylinders falling a hundred meters behind her. They looked a bit like large metal wheels, each ten meters tall.
"Kept us waiting, tourist." Carla announced with cruel excitement. "Told you we love a good party."
The two wheels ejected four outer panels along their circular sides. What stood up were by far the strangest MTs on Rubicon. Each was over twenty meters tall, stood on three short, stumpy legs, and had a long, thin body utterly covered in weapons. In each hand was a large, sideways facing circular shield, which were lined with eight three-barreled 30mm gatling guns each. On their body were sixteen short-barreled 50mm cannons, which could be fired all at once like a shotgun. On their back were two six-cell guided missile launchers, and also along their front were ten, thirty-six cell rocket pods.
This utterly bizarre cyclopean contraption was one of Carla's personally designed creations. She called them her "Toybox" mechs.
"…" 621 immediately opened fire with her dual-mortar on the closest enemy, only to grunt in irritation as the artillery failed to destroy the hunchbacked MT. It did leave the MT staggered, allowing her to finish it off with her shotgun. Dodging the plethora of fire from the many guns of the other MT, she fired on it with her missiles, only for the tall MT to curl back into a ball, charge at her, then jump up to fire it's chest-mounted cannons to try and surprise her. 621 dodged around the obvious attack, and kicked the MT, then repeatedly struck it with her laser dagger, cutting into it's thick armor and killing it.
"Well! You're no slouch, are you?" Carla commented. She didn't expect her Toybox MTs to get the better of the AC, but 621's speed and brutality was still noteworthy.
"I got the doors open, Raven." Uzi announced.
"…Stray One, scout cautiously, we're going indoors here, less room for you to maneuver. Stray Two, keep Stray Three close." 621 ordered.
"Copy!" Uzi, V, and N answered back promptly.
The space beyond the door was a relatively "small" loading dock, with a twenty-meter-tall fluid car on the train tracks, sitting underneath a loading crane. The door beyond was locked, but the "crawlspace" fifty meters above was open.
Of course, the crawlspace was more than large enough to accommodate an AC, even with all the conduit and support rafters. V flew in close to the top, of the rafters, carefully scouting ahead.
"One MT in the rafters, Raven." V called out. "Two more in the room past that."
"…" 621 assault-boosted through the rafters, kicking the first MT before it spotted her and finishing it off with her blade. The second was below, through a hole in the rafters, which she fired on with her dual-mortars, destroying it. Jumping down through the hole, she turned around and shot the third MT off the roof before it could turn around.
"Raven, I'm getting a sensor ping behind us. Might be equipment Uzi could investigate." V advised.
"Copy. Stray Two, get Stray Three in there while we continue ahead." 621 ordered.
"Copy!" N and Uzi answered, as N flew behind several large canisters, finding an armored container hidden away behind the storage area. Uzi marked the container and checked it's contents.
"This is a head part to a 3000 series AC. Good call V!" Uzi announced.
621 continued ahead, with V flying through the narrow halls inside the area. The twisting lines of conduit and support led to a vertical lift area. V flew up, and noticed a minor ambush.
"Another weird MT, about to drop on you Raven!" V warned as the container for another Toybox MT dropped down the lift, opened in front of 621 and fired on her with it's many guns.
"…" There wasn't a lot of room to maneuver, but 621 managed to dodge most of the incoming weapons fire, and returned fire with missiles and shotgun, doing decent damage to the strange MT. She got in close and kicked it, then finished it off with her blade.
V continued up the vertical shaft, and after another short hallway found an active metals foundry, an expansive room with a large pit in the center, a loading area about a hundred meters deep, with the left side of the room actively smelting metal, a small molten lake of it being purified. The area was patrolled by a few enemies occupying the space.
"Counting one Buzzsaw and one Missile MT ahead, and two light MTs."
"…" 621 grunted in response, and made short work of the MTs. Their dispersed pattern made it easy to deal with them one by one.
With the room cleared, V noticed more open areas near their position, and more containers.
"Raven, there's salvage and a few MTs behind the foundry, and one of the metal outlets appears to show signs of recent activity." V noted and reported.
"Copy that. Stray Two, be prepared to bring up Stray Three to my position. Stray One, permission granted to scout down the pipe." 621 coordinated with her Strays.
"Copy!" Uzi, V, and N called out. V slowly flew down the cold smelting pipe while N brought Uzi up just behind 621, waiting for her to clear the next room.
621 dropped down behind the foundry, and fired her dual-mortars into a pair of RaD MTs, one of the Buzzsaw mechs being outright destroyed, while the other was disoriented. She finished it off with her shotgun.
N dropped Uzi near the container, allowing her to check it's contents.
"Oh! This is another part to a 3000 series AC." Uzi announced.
"Wow, you're finding lots of stuff, Uzi!" N added cheerfully.
"Eh…I'm just following V's reports and Raven's orders." Uzi dismissed.
Meanwhile, V followed the smelting pipe through two turns, and came out in a room with a relatively deep pit. Still getting sensor pings, she dropped down the pit to investigate closely.
The pit led down into a long room, a decrepit and forgotten storage and industrial area, with several large containers for something deep inside the industrial stalactite.
"Oh! It looks like another AC part container!" V called out. "It's quite a bit out of the way, so I'll move in and mark it myself."
It was her wide-angle peripheral vision, from her extra eyes lining her head that saved her little machine life. She noticed a bright red AC made up with high performance Balam and Arquebus parts, hiding in the corner, with weapons trained on her as she passed.
"Shit!" V screamed as she dodged laser and rifle fire. "Help!"
"I've got you now!" The AC pilot shouted on an open channel. "Sending a little Laconian rat to collect from me? What idiot came up with that one? Either way, I don't owe you a damn thing!"
"I've got an enemy AC! Pinning me down! Help!"
"Stay evasive, I'm inbound." 621 calmly ordered as she followed V's flight path through the cold tunnel, and down the pit.
"There's no affiliation for that AC. It's an independent mercenary." Ayre reported calmly. "Rank 26/E. Callsign: Nosaac."
"…" 621 came into the room from behind, but purposely wasted her ambush opportunity by firing her shotgun far too early, in order to distract the AC and get it away from V.
"Tsk! So that was just a scout for an AC? Whatever! You made a big mistake coming here!" Nosaac hissed, turning to engage 621 with his mix of Balam ballistic weapons and Arquebus laser weapons.
621 fired her dual-mortars, but Nosaac blocked them with a forward facing pulse buckle shield, that extended from his left back slot, causing considerably less damage than usual. That certainly complicated things, but she could overcome it.
"I think he was expecting someone else…let's deal with him and be on our way." Ayre suggested.
"…" 621 agreed, and attacked with her blade, getting in close and breaking down his energy shield. This left him staggered for a moment, so she fired at point blank range with her shotgun, and kicked him back, doing plenty of damage to his armor.
"Don't worry. I put your money to good use." Nosaac bragged. "Just take a look at what my new AC can do! My credit score is only going to go up!"
Nosaac recovered and fired his spread bazooka, a kind of multi-round artillery cannon, inside of the narrow room, catching 621 with some splash damage. It wasn't much, but 621 could not afford to let her guard slip, even against this idiot.
Dodging his laser and rifle fire, 621 fired again with her Songbirds, that Nosaac once again blocked with his shield. Even so, 621 was far more aggressive, and quickly dealt further damage to his armor.
"Ngh!" Nosaac grunted in frustration. "Get it through your thick skull! Why would I return what I borrow!?"
"…" 621 ignored his comment, and moved to finish him off, piercing his armor with her blade.
"You gotta put that shit to work!" Nosaac cried out. "Every last credit…"
"Hostile AC destroyed." Ayre announced. "Let's move on."
"T-Thanks Raven." V sighed, seeing her master kill again with her usual, brutal efficiency.
"Report, Stray One." 621 demanded.
"I'm good." V assured her. "Still, what was that about?"
"…" 621 waited a moment, allowing Ayre to spit out an answer that she then retold. "That was Nosaac. Rank 26/E. He apparently had a bad habit of taking on debts he had no intention of paying off. If he was hiding here, I'm betting that Balam and Arquebus must have active bounties on his head. Good work Stray One, you managed to find good salvage and a bounty. I'll be sure to split that reward with you. Just…next time, remember to check your damn doors and corners."
"Yes Raven." V nodded solemnly.
"Lead the way back, Stray One." 621 ordered.
After marking another part for a 3000 series AC, V and 621 returned to the room with a foundry, reconvening with N and Uzi, as they prepared to exit the industrial stalactite and move on to the next area.
"We're only about two-thirds of the way through the target area. Still a ways to go." 621 warned as they opened the next door, currently at an altitude of 3.2 kilometers above the surface.
"Can't get good help these days, can you?" Carla complained over the loudspeaker. "It would have been cheaper to just hire you and your strays instead."
Their path had caused them to do a U-turn, and approach the Grid 086 megapillar's outlying industrial platforms. They were still well short, and had to fly up another three hundred meters to get to the next vertical catapult, which finally left them at an altitude of 3.8 kilometers above the planet's surface, just over halfway up the side of the megapillar. There were several interconnected levels and train lines that split off from this point towards the many surrounding megastructures.
They must be nearing their objective.
While V scouted out ahead, N drifted off with Uzi and checked the right flank, down another trainline that led into a lower level.
"Oh! Raven!" Uzi exclaimed. "There's another storage container on the right flank, down the train tracks. It's guarded by three MTs."
"Copy that. Clearing the way." 621 replied, following the path they found. She noticed two of the MTs, powered down and upside down, in an ambush position if she got close. She fired on them with her dual mortars, destroying one and causing the other to fall off, the second landed on it's head and exploded. The third MT she destroyed with her blade, opening the area for Uzi and N to swoop in and mark the salvage.
"This is the fourth piece to a 3000 series AC! We have a whole spare now!" Uzi cheered.
"Good job, Stray Two, Stray Three." 621 nodded to them, then returned to her objective.
"Raven, I'm counting five MTs and one BAWS tetrapod, defending a door." V reported. "Although…"
"What is it, Stray One? Spit it out." 621 demanded.
"There are four large gas containers, directly over the enemy position." V noted.
"…Investigate further. Report what you find." 621 ordered.
"Copy!" V answered back, looking more closely at cluster of flammable containers. "Raven, be advised these containers are fastened in place with explosive bolts. It looks like an ambush."
"Hmm." 621 nodded. "Stray One, cut them down. Earn your keep."
"Yes ma'am!" V replied enthusiastically. She deployed her sword hands and cut through the thin metal holding the explosive containers in place, causing them to fall on the enemy position.
"Oh. You noticed the fireworks I left for you." Carla announced over the loudspeaker. "You're a smart cookie, aren't you little drone?"
"Good hits!" V reported. "All MTs destroyed! Be advised, BAWS tetrapod is banged up, but still active."
"Acknowledged, Stray One. Sit back and relax for a moment." 621 ordered, as she jumped down to engage the heavy tetrapod. This model was different, armed with a heavy machine gun and a heavy three-barrel bazooka, while it used a physical shield to increase it's protective posture.
621 pounced on the tetrapod, firing on it with dual mortars, then tearing into it with her blade. Left staggered, the heavy tetrapod was vulnerable, so she kicked it, and shot it through the cockpit block. Though, without a human pilot, all she shredded was silicon.
"Interesting. Seems our tourist is a cut above the rest." Carla noted. "And those little strays are no joke either. Alright tourist, that's enough. You've made your point. I surrender. It's just not worth the losses. C'mon, I'll let you through. Hop along now."
"…" 621 knew that Carla had something in reserve. She was curious to see what it was.
"Let's see what she has up her sleeve." Ayre was of the same mind, cautious of what lay ahead. "Shall we, Raven?"
"…Stray Squad." 621 announced. "Form up. There's likely one more threat. Time to see what's what."
"Copy!" Uzi, V, and N shouted, a little tired and a little worried.
Before continuing down the end of the hallway that Carla had just opened for them, 621 stopped and ordered a Sherpa, replenishing her ammo and repairing her damage.
She'd need it.
At the end of the hall, up a very heavy transit line, was one more door, that Carla conveniently opened for them.
"You're not afraid of anything, are you?" Clara noted approvingly. "I like that in a tourist."
The room opened to reveal a very wide train loading area with extra large train cars along the sides, and a metal smelting foundry in the middle of the room.
"Uh…were is the enemy?" V questioned, scouting ahead.
N posted near the top of the room with Uzi, wondering as well.
"Nothing coming behind you Raven. All clear." N added.
"I…don't understand. There's nothing…wait." Uzi stared across the room suspiciously. "Why is there a metal smelting foundry in the middle of the train lines?"
The two massive shredders sitting beside the foundry, large blocks filled with spinning blades lined with crushing teeth, shifted forward, as the entire, seventy-meter-tall metal smelting foundry surged forward, the shredders held out as claws that launched towards 621, intending to crush her.
"…" 621 took flight, barely dodging out of the way as the claws of a molten metal mountain tried to smash her under their oppressive weight.
"Too bad that this is goodbye." Carla announced bitterly.
"So it was a trap." Ayre realized calmly. "The Dosers are certainly living up to their reputation."
As for Uzi, V, and N, they could only stare slack jawed as 621 faced another machine horror beyond their imagination.
EC-0804: Smart Cleaner. A barely sapient, unholy combination of vacuum cleaner and metal foundry in the shape of a crab. It was comprised of four major sections. A circular tower-shaped body filled with molten metal, behind a massive square head with a pair of heavy mortars on it's face, besides it's square shaped maw filled with fire. And those two massive arms, super-heated cutting claws that glowed in the large, dark room.
"It's some kind of autonomous demolition mech…a rather well equipped one." Ayre analyzed. "Those grinder arms can easily destroy an AC…be careful."
"…" 621 got behind the massive mobile metals foundry and fired her shotgun at it. She sighed watching the pellets bounce harmlessly off it's thick industrial armor. As she backed off to reassess the situation, the thing turned around, and lunged at her again with it's massive claws, intending to chew her up.
"Look out Raven! It has thrusters on it's back! It's very fast!" V warned.
"Raven! Try shooting it in the mouth and from above!" Uzi suggested. "There's no armor there!"
"…" Well, that wasn't the worst idea. 621 took off, hovering above the Smart Cleaner long enough to fire her dual mortars and missiles into it's exposed back. While it worked, and she could see it's stability start to deteriorate, it retaliated by shooting clumps of burning metal out of it's funnel, trying to knock her out of the sky.
As she tried to land, to recharge her capacitors, the Smart Cleaner violently vomited boiling molten metal from it's maw, covering the ground in liquid fire.
"…" Well, at least it wasn't actual fire. 621 could deal with this, as she boosted away from the burning puddle. The Smart Cleaner fired it's facial cannons at her, so she returned the favor, sending two mortar rounds down it's throat. She then got close enough to stick her shotgun into it's mouth and fired, causing the RaD super weapon to falter, hanging it's head limply. 621 took the opportunity to forced her laser dagger down it's throat, doing damage to it's fragile insides.
621 backed off as the Smart Cleaner recovered, raising it's head in time to eat two more mortar rounds from the lone AC. Something this large wouldn't go down easy.
"Nice!" Carla praised. "I heard you were good. But the Cleaner's going to have the last laugh."
As 621 took to the air again to shoot down at it, the Smart Cleaner raised it's claws, and started spraying dozens of projectiles up towards the AC. Tons of burning metal scrap disgorged from it's molten bowels to discourage her from shooting it in it's weak spot.
"It's behavior pattern has changed…watch out." Ayre warned.
"…" 621 dodged and weaved through the burning scrap flung at her, getting several shots off into it's exposed back, then tried to land far away from the burning beast. In response, the Smart Cleaner held it's claws vertically, and sprayed molten scrap across the room, leaving her few places to hide from the burning rain.
Uzi, V, and N huddled fearfully at the top of the rafters, the heat from the Smart Cleaners attacks setting off overheat alarms in their own systems.
"Ack! It's too hot!" N complained.
"Gah!" Uzi gasped painfully.
"Raven! We're cooking up here! Kill it quick!" V begged.
"…" With that request made, 621 focused all her effort to killing this thing as quickly as possible. Staying on the ground, she kept to the front of it, trying to send as much ordnance down it's throat that she could. In response, the Smart Cleaner swept wide with it's arms, turning it's face away from her while it tried to attack. She'd managed to get enough shots through to stagger it again, and thrust her blade deep down it's throat.
Thoroughly annoyed, the Smart Cleaner shook her off, and vomited more molten metal across the ground, forcing 621 to back off. Out in the open, the Smart Cleaner charged her, first with one claw, lunging it forward across the ground as it churned up sparks, then with the other claw, coming at her from a different angle. Finally, it raised it's claws high and smashed them down, trying to crush her flat.
All the while, 621 kept her distance, slowly bleeding it with her ordnance, just for the chance to kill it, once more. Then, she noticed something. The armored lump on top of it's head, a platform protecting three beady machine eyes, glaring down with imperceivable hate.
Taking a chance, 621 fired her mortars down it's throat, forcing it to stagger once again, boosted towards it's head, and thrust her blade through it's middle eye, sinking the blade to the hilt inside it's machine brain.
Lobotomized, the Smart Cleaner shook and shuttered, death throws shaking it apart as it's massive head twitched, before it hung it's head, dead against the ground.
"Enemy system offline. Complete shutdown confirmed." Ayre announced.
"…Enough, tourist." Carla called again over the loudspeaker. "It's been miserable knowing you, but…I guess playing nice is the smart choice here. You and the little ones want to go up top, right? Let me show you the way." She promised honestly. "Guided tour from 'Cinder' Carla herself."
"…" 621 sighed, and considered the offer. "Stray Squad."
V and N flew down from the rafters to meet her, Uzi on N's back. They all had pseudo-electric sweat beads rolling down their visors, their eyes hollowed to show their discomfort.
"Let's go check in. Then we'll see about new work." 621 announced.
Grid 086 - Independent Mercenary Hangars
Putting the lease down for a new hangar, Uzi, N, and V found a nearly identical tunnel as the one in Grid 073, except without all their accommodations.
Sending their report up of the mission earned them all a hefty paycheck of 600,000 COAM, which after expenses for ammo and repair came out to roughly 550,000 COAM. Additionally, reporting the kill against Nosaac earned them an additional 40,000 from Arquebus and Balam, as part of the bounty they had out on him for his debts. So, in total, Stray Squad had earned 177,000 Coam.
As for the 3000 series AC they had salvaged, it would be going to storage, as something held in reserve.
621 told them to stand by, as she checked in at the central control console for any new messages.
/ONE NEW MESSAGE
/SENDER: "Cinder" Carla
"Getting comfortable, tourist?" The woman asked with a playful, sensual voice. "I hope so. Because I've got something for you. Don't worry, I'm not one to hold a grudge, in fact, breaking all my toys means I'm in a bit of a pinch. Now…where could I find a mercenary ready to do some dirty work? Hmm, can't think of any off the top of my head. But hey, why don't you come up and chat about it with me. You wanna ride that mass driver, right? Going to need some help setting it up, and while you're waiting for that, I have some work that needs doing. See ya soon, tourist."
/END OF MESSAGE
"…" Interesting.
"An invitation to meet RaD's leader…" Ayre realized as well. "This could just be another one of her traps…but after the impression you left on her last time, I think that's unlikely. Still, you should take the Strays as back up."
"…" 621 agreed, and went to collect her property. "Stray Squad!"
"Y-Yes ma'am!" Uzi, V, and N answered tiredly, but promptly.
"No mission, just need an escort." 621 advised. "We'll be meeting with 'Cinder' Carla, leader of RaD. Seems she has some work for us."
"Wait…you mean the lady who was yelling at us over the loudspeaker?" Uzi realized. "The one who's stuff we blew up?"
"Yes."
"Uh…won't she be mad though?" N wondered. "Cause we uh…blew up her stuff?"
"Not necessarily." 621 explained. "In fact, our exploits today have served as a sort of…resume…of our ability. She's more inclined to hire us to fill in for the losses than to seek revenge. It's just more economically viable."
"Uh…" V raised a question. "Why is she called 'Cinder'?"
"Mmm." 621 hummed. "It's a Rubiconian honorific, like mister or misses. Except that it marks her, as a survivor of the Fires."
Grid 086 – Reuse and Development Headquarters
Just a few kilometers wrapped around the megapillar, past various shanty towns and rudimentary residential facilities, they found the headquarters to the independent Doser fraction.
"Hey uh, Raven?" V complained. "How come we have to go around with our weapons locked? You let us use them on missions."
"…" 621 sighed. "Technically speaking, you're not supposed to be going around using your weapons at all. Since I can only rationalize it while on mission, against valid enemies, it's the only time I'm allowed to leave your collars unlocked. The rest of the time, outside of combat, it's expected that I keep you locked down…sorry."
"Oh…it's fine." V pouted, but accepted the explanation.
Entering the headquarters, there were of course Dosers, men and women who shared an interest in doping up on Coral. Those of RaD were noted to be the moderates, however, since they cut their Coral. For the most part, they could be reasoned with.
There was also a surprising number of AI, both humanoid and more specialized, working alongside the Dosers. They worked in equal parts, either as soldiers or engineers. Their export was dumb combat AI piloted MTs, after all.
However, the most surprising residents and employees, were the Jenson model Worker Drones.
"Wha…What?" Uzi stared dumbfounded, confused, and mildly concerned. She wasn't concerned that RaD had enslaved Worker Drones, marked by their Coral control devises on their necks. She was concerned about why the free Worker Drones were working here, side by side with the enslaved ones. "Raven…what's going on?"
"No idea…" 621 answered, as they were led by an escort to the main office space.
It was a custom combination office-hangar area, with a messy slew of blueprints and workbenches loaded with contraptions overlooking a wide warehouse and storage room. Brightly lit and playing pleasant Jazz, they found the two leaders of RaD. "Cinder" Carla and "Chatty" Stick.
Carla was a cheerful woman who managed to look both younger and older than 621, streaks of grey running through her messy black hair, and unmarred chocolate skin. She wore a crop shirt under her work overall, exposing her midriff, with high work boots that extended up to her knees. There was a tattoo of a pink spider, spinning it's web on her neck. Behind her square glasses was her most prominent feature, two unnaturally bright red eyes, that marked her as a Doser.
She stared at them as they approached, smiling with her eyes.
"Chatty" Stick was the affectionately given name to one of Carla's inventions. He was a sentient AI of Carla's own design, placed within an Armored Core tank, thirteen meters tall, painted in pale yellow and light blue. His "legs" were a set of high maneuverability tank treads designed to look like a wheelchair, while he used a 3000 series Core and 2000 series arms. His head was a BAWS produced part with high defense, a flat, square box with seven triangular eyes in two rows across his face.
Standing on the lower level of the hangar, his torso towered over the office space, allowing him to stare down at his master, and her guest.
"Welcome to my humble abode, tourist." Carla greeted excitedly. "You too, little ones."
"Greetings, tourist." Chatty uttered flatly, as he waved stiffly with his massive arms. Though he was sentient, Carla hadn't quite figured out how to get him to express emotions.
"…C4-621, at your service." 621 announced. "Accompanied by Stray Squad, units One, Two, and Three."
"I'm certain." Carla nodded. "But that's not their names, are they?"
"…" 621 shook her head, and gestured her Strays forward.
"Oh…uh…I'm Uzi."
"V."
"N! Nice to meet you!"
"That's better." Carla smiled. "Now, you're interested in using the mass driver to cross the ocean, right?" She surmised. "Want to be boots first into the Coral survey?"
"That's the plan." 621 confirmed.
"Well, sucks for you, because it's not hooked up to anything." Carla reported. "Now, it would be simple for me to spin up some reactors, and set up fire control to get it working. That's going to take a few days at minimum though. So, while you're here, it would stand that I could use some help with a few projects. You punched a nice AC shaped hole in my defenses, and that's undermined my ability to do business in these exciting times. I need some time to rebuild the MTs necessary to exert control over the Grid. Plus, there's that thing about you killing my lieutenant, Rummy, and stealing an entire AC out from under me."
"…" 621 stared quietly.
"Ah…sorry?" N sheepishly apologized.
"Hmm, it's no mind." Carla dismissed casually. "If I wasn't actively hacking his messages, he would have betrayed me for the Coyotes months ago. Plus, I'd rather you take the AC and keep it in storage, rather than letting the Coyotes have it. While those losses are of some concern, it's something I have covered. But I'll need some help."
"So you have work?" 621 demanded.
"A few jobs here and in the neighboring Grid sectors." Carla confirmed. "The Coyotes are going to be making moves now that a bunch of my assets are scrap, so I need you to fill in defensively until I can get my reserves set up."
"We'll take what we can get." 621 agreed.
"Excellent." Carla confirmed. "I look forward to working with you, tourist."
"Chief." Chatty announced, turning his many eyes towards her. "We have confirmation. Balam took the shipment."
"…" Carla deflated just a tiny bit, and closed her eyes. "Yeah, I expected something like that."
"Uh…what shipment?" Uzi curiously questioned.
Carla looked down at Uzi sympathetically. "A bunch of your kind. About three thousand Worker Drones."
"What!?" Uzi screamed. "What happened!?"
"Stray Three-" 621 hissed.
"It's fine." Carla spoke up. "I'm happy to answer any questions. Now, what happened was you lot. A whole bunch of MTs and one of my few ACs got smashed up good, leaving a big hole in my defenses for the sector. Balam sent a raider force in behind you, and snatched up all the containers filled with Worker Drones."
"Why…why were you transporting Worker Drones!?" Uzi demanded. "Why do you have free Workers working alongside enslaved ones?!"
Carla smiled sadly. "You're quite the little spark plug, aren't you? I like that. Not many of your people are that passionate about anything. The truth is, I've taken a keen interest in your kind. While the other corps and fractions are happy enough to use your kind as slaves, as extra hands for manufacturing, I decided I wanted to do something different. I recognize you for the sentient beings you are, so I've made an investment. I've opened up the manufacturing sectors of Grid 085, and turned them into a sanctuary for your kind. A place where uncollared Workers can live freely."
"You…you're protecting Workers?" Uzi looked up in shock. "Why?"
"Because it's profitable." Carla answered. "Make no mistake, I'm no saint, I have plenty of my own enslaved Workers. But I don't take pleasure in treating them as such. Now, maybe I won't be making as much scrip paying the slaved and the free a working wage for the hours they put in for me, both here and in Grid 085, but I find that I can live with myself a little better. It also saves me the time and effort of getting my hands on more. Words going round to some of the still undecided, roaming groups of Workers wandering across Rubicon that I'm hosting a sanctuary for them. I've already got thirty thousand Workers in Grid 085, and another ten thousand here. I'd like to get more, but events like today put a hold on those plans."
"So…today…the job for Balam?" V realized.
"Yep. You guys helped Balam get their hands on more Workers. I'm certain they will put them into heavy manual labor. Hopefully…just manual labor." Carla hissed.
"No!" Uzi screamed. "I…I helped enslave my own kind?! What the fuck!?"
"Uzi..." N placed his hand on her shoulder sadly.
"You!" Uzi yelled at 621. "Did you know!? Was this another one of your fucking lessons!?"
"No…but it seems like it will do as one." 621 sighed, as she knelt down to Uzi's level. "Sometimes we get jobs that are too good to be true. Sometimes we should have read the fine print. Sometimes we don't know what result our actions will have until it's too late. Today…we screwed your people over. I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Uzi cried, bowing her head shamefully. Of all the things that could happen to her on Rubicon, helping a corporation put her own people in chains was the furthest from her mind. She burned with shame and disgrace.
"Uzi…" V ran her fingers through Uzi's hair.
621 grabbed Uzi by the head, forcing her to look up at her master. "Don't sulk in it. Don't wallow in shame. Carla is offering work to make this right. To protect her business interest, and by extension, your people. That's a good trade, don't you think?"
"Okay…okay…" Uzi nodded fiercely, glaring up with determination. "What would you have us do, Ms. Carla?"
"Rest, for now." Carla dismissed. "Taking on the Smart Cleaner probably took a lot out of each of you. Tomorrow, I'll have worked lined up. Like your master says, protecting my interest will help your people in the long run. Don't wallow in shame, Sparky. Fight to make it right."
"Okay. We will." Uzi announced forcefully, her little purple eyes narrowed with determination.
"…Stray Squad. Wait outside a moment." 621 ordered.
"Y-Yes ma'am." Uzi, V, and N nodded.
Carla looked curiously to the Hound, eyes wide with interest.
"I meant to ask you the reason you put a certain Worker upgrade on the market." 621 demanded coldly.
"Oh…that." Carla nodded in understanding. "I take it they don't know?"
"It would only frighten them."
"Yeah. It would." Carla sighed. "When I get to heaven, I'm going to remind them about this little thing I made, and the innocence it destroyed, so I can go to the other place. As you've no doubt noticed, I like machines, even the relics of Laconia. So…the things that have been happening to them on this world…" Carla stared off distantly. "Too many little machines were being hurt. Too many dying to depraved and cruel injuries. So I made an upgrade to make the reason for those injuries unnecessary, and the coding to understand why they need it. I'm not…proud…with what I've done. But at least I can argue that it has saved machine lives, and spared them unnecessary suffering. I'm disgusted with what I've done, but I've found a way to live with it."
"Mmm." 621 nodded, and turned to walk away.
"Hey tourist." Carla called 621, forcing her to turn around. "There are only a handful of us on this scorched damned world to take sympathy on their kind. If we don't do something, they will be wiped out, or worse. Protect your Strays, and keep them close."
"…I'll try." 621 nodded. "But I still won't forgive them."
"You don't have to forgive them. Just make sure they don't suffer. Just make sure, that they can still find hope." Carla argued.
621 stared at her, confused and annoyed.
"There is no hope on Rubicon."
Grid 086 - Independent Mercenary Hangars
There hadn't been time to get supplies to make the night comfortable. It was late and they were all tired.
Though 621 preferred her privacy, until she got around to setting up a proper bed for the Strays, they were comfortable enough to huddle together in her room, pressed to the wall behind her cot.
621 pulled the tarp up to their chest, tucking them in. They stared up at her with quiet intrigue and concern, as well as looming exhaustion, as they took the tarp and held it close. Uzi was once again pressed between N and V, comfortable enough with them, trapped on this world and enslaved together.
"…" 621 sighed, sleep calling her, lulling her to lay and rest for what few hours they could manage.
"Raven…?" Uzi called shyly.
"…" Or, she would sleep when she could. "Hmm?"
"Can you…tell us a story?" Uzi requested. N and V also turned their eyes up to her, hopeful.
"It's not going to be a happy story. I told you that before."
"I don't care." Uzi grumbled. "A sad story or more history…I just…don't want to think about today."
"…" 621 sighed, but acquiesced. "What would you like to know?"
"You uh…never told us who The League were?" N suggested.
"Right…The League." 621 sat up, facing them. "That story begins in the late twenty fourth century. Earth and Mars fought a war, and Earth lost. Trapped on their world, sanctioned and at the mercy of Mars, the mega corporations of Earth became restless and resentful of their governments, and sought a change. They developed a form of technology based on a newly discovered source of energy, Kojima Particles. It was the most advanced technology every conceived by man, and to this day, we've yet to match the power of this technology. From this new source of energy, two weapons would be created to work in tandem. The fourth generation Armored Core Next, and the augmented super-soldiers known as Lynx."
"Next…and Lynx?" Uzi wondered.
"The Next were terrifyingly powerful. You remember that weapon we fought, Balteus? Imagine that, but as small as my AC, with three times the speed, and ten times the strength. Able to move in any direction at the speed of sound, instantly and multiple times a second. Able to take the full force of a nuclear weapon to the face, and then deal that force back multiple times over."
"That's…terrifying…" V squeaked.
"Yes, but these machines were so powerful, no human could pilot them, so they created a new species of soldier to do their bidding, the Lynx. You see, I am augmented, but I am still human. I can bleed, I can die. Lynx on the other hand…they were augmented to such levels…every inch of them torn apart and recreated, integrating high-tensile materials into their skin and bones, such that they were highly bullet resistant, and monstrously strong as well. As for their minds, they were twisted and reprogramed, becoming depraved killers who desired only war and death, and had extensive cybernetics installed in their bodies and their brains to make each and every action devoted to taking life performed perfectly and without remorse."
"So…they created monsters?" N summarized sickly.
"They did. In 2440, these mega corporations constructed twenty-six of these Lynx and Armored Core Next, and went to war with the nations of earth. They called it the National Disarmament War."
"How…did that war end?" Uzi questioned, but could guess by the name.
"In six days, the corporations had entirely conquered the earth, and subjugated all fourteen billion humans as their slaves. Thus, they built a new world order, Pax Economica, the economic peace."
"Six days…!" V's eyes hollowed. "How?!"
"The Lynx were fast and merciless, and cut down all who would oppose their master's will."
"The corporations…enslaved humans too?" Uzi wondered sickly.
"They did. But it only gets worse."
"How could it get worse!" N shivered, fearfully.
"Unsatisfied with only controlling half the world, some of the corporations sought to use Kojima Particles as a weapon, to destroy their enemies. In less than a year, the corporations fought each other, in a terrifying conflict known as the Lynx War, that sterilized the planet, and left billions dead."
"Sterilized…that's the Third Great Destruction, that you told us about before?" Uzi recalled.
"Yes. Six billion humans died, and another two billion starved to death with nothing left to eat. In the ashes of this Great Destruction, the surviving corporations would form The League of Ruling Corporations. Such was their control over the Earth, that they started an 'Economic War', treating battles and death as just another business transaction. For a time, no one could oppose them, and the only reason their empire of greed did not spread to the stars was because they had trapped each other on the Earth, underneath an absolute defense network of orbital stations, that they had long lost control of."
"But…The League is gone now." Uzi realized. "So how does their story end?"
"Over time, The League began to distrust their Lynx, and invested heavily in Arms Forts, massive, mobile battle stations that trampled upon the ashen world, representing their will and their power. Still, they created Lynx, to be their enforcers, and their slaves. However, they desired to create a creature, who's only job it was to kill, and to be most excellent at it. They wanted a slave built for culling, and thus created a Lynx worthy only of the darkest contempt, to do their will."
"So…what is so special about this…contemptible Lynx?" V watched entranced.
"Because it did it's job too well." 621 glared. "This detestable Lynx culled tens of thousands of humans for it's corporate masters without complaint. But it was still so hungry, so depraved, that it desired more worthy prey. It began to hunt it's own kind with fervent desire, spilling Lynx blood across the vast and cold wastelands of Earth, making it's name by taking many lives. The League only ever created a few hundred Lynx, and this beast nearly wiped out it's own kind. It was even responsible for the destruction of the Cradles, flying cities that were home to over a billion people, all of them dead by it's hands. When the revolution against The League began, this thing joined their cause, and it alone turned the tides, and left the Earth in further ruins. It satiated it's bloodlust by ending The League."
"What…did they call this monster?" Uzi wondered frightfully. She just wanted to forget about this day, not imagining that she would learn that humanity had once been stalked by such a dreadful beast.
"Though I was born many centuries later, even I dare not speak it's true name. It did, however, earn many titles, revered and feared by all. Some called it the 'black blade beast', and some would call it the 'blood soaked blade fucker'. Others called it El error de Dios, and Belters called it Da Biyalowda de Caçadas. However, the title that most know this thing as, is The Butcher."
Author's Note: Pretty much nothing changed from the original "Infiltrate Grid 086" mission. But don't worry, because "chapter 2" of AC6 is driving me insane. If I was just going to copy AC6 beat for beat, then chapter 15 would be the C-Spider mission and we'd move on, right? But no, I'm utterly insane, and I'm going to expand this part of the story drastically. Just checking my notes, if everything goes to plan, the C-Spider mission won't appear until chapter 24. That's right, I made up enough bullshit to drag out the "Grid 086" arc of this story for ten whole chapters. Some of the chapters will be on the shorter side, while others will be more than 10k words. So look forward to that.
As far as my progress, I'm on schedule. I managed to complete chapters 16 and 17, and am now on chapter 18. Things are getting very exciting!
For the Belter Creole in this chapter, the phrase "to pochuye ke?" has appeared several times already, and I just wanted to clarify that it translates to "you understand?" So even this time when it's used and it can be inferred that "Stay calm, unte kowlting gonya gut, to pochuye ke?" means "Stay calm, and everything will be okay.", the translation isn't one to one. Another word I have to mention is "Biyalowda." In Belter, the sufix "-lowda" is used to when refencing people, sometimes in a group, and sometimes as a singular person. For instance, "Beltalowda" means "the people or a person of the Belt". "Biya" means "monster", so a "Biyalowda", a word that I created, literally means either "monster people", "the people who are monsters", or "monster person". If you have any questions about the Belter I use, that's great, because I have several questions too!
Otherwise...I think that's it. Nothing else to note. No revelations this chapter. Right? So stay tuned mi beratnas, and abide with Rubicon!
EDIT 3/7/24: I was in such a drunken no sleep state I forgot to mention the citation. The entire "621 teaches V Belter" scene was taken from The Expanse...unsurprisingly.
To Antialpaka: Oh trust me, this story is going to be VERY grim. I just don't intend to perform any character assassination's like I did in my last story (whoops). Pretty much all the characters are going to be close to their cannon interpretations, at least initially, but will deviate as the story progresses and I throw new challenges and horrors their way. Some characters might change pretty drastically as things get more serious, but don't worry, it's all for a good cause. I don't hate any of the characters of either AC6 or Murder Drones, unlike when I wrote DBB and pretty much openly hated Infinite Stratos, so I'm going to make this very interesting.
As far as interpretations of Ayre? Well yes the human looking Ayre is lovely. As for my story, we'll go through a few visual interpretations of her as the story progress, including one no one will expect that might prove kinda funny when it happens.
Oh...another IP I know next to nothing about. Thanks. If for some reason I ever accidently stumble down the Arknights lore, I'll be sure to give you a call and let you know if I have the sanity left to write another crossover for James to fuck up.
To WarmasterXI: So...kinda? On one hand the entire plot of ACV and ACVD has been abandoned, but that doesn't mean that technology from those games or enemies won't show up. I don't think N-WGIX/v will show up, but maybe some of the other bosses and enemies might make an appearance in flashbacks. And yes, Nightfall will play a much larger role in this story than they did in AC6.
To TwlightScarlet: So I'm glad that your immediate reaction is revulsion against the Sol Alliance for their unquestionable genocide of Laconia and the Worker Drones. That's fair and, in hindsight, kind of my intention for making the Sol Alliance appear questionable. That being said, they didn't just decide at the end of the war to commit genocide on a whim. There are a lot of details about the Sol-Laconia War that have yet to be revealed, such that both sides should be made out to be very much unredeemable. Did Laconia and the Worker Drones deserve to be cut down? Probably not, but like I said, it's part of the mystery that's going to be revealed over time.
As to your other question, "Will Sol get punished for their crimes against Laconia?" That's complicated. The short answer is no. The long answer is we will probably get some flashbacks that show some of the more intense scenes from the war, because I did say that Laconia was able to rival Sol, meaning that the war was fought on near equal footing. The other answer is, for reasons not yet revealed, that Sol has no interest in Rubicon, so we will only see them and their forces in flashbacks.
One last thing I'm going to have to point out, is that when I called Admiral Duarte a "God Emperor", that wasn't me being metaphorical or something, he literally tried to become a god in the later books of "The Expanse", and also tried to...start a war against alien gods in another universe? So...some of those thoughts and motivations probably persist in my interpretation of his character for this story.