"Roger that." She eased forward to a better position at the top of the hill and kept her eye on the scope.
Athena's knights were stationed about three or four klicks away from the burning town, and their positions and combat readiness appeared to indicate that they knew the Knights Mechanica were coming. She wasn't sure how Athena had found out but given that she had lost control of a town and one of her supply trains had gone missing, it was really only a matter of time before their presence was at least suspected. She most likely had her own ways to spy on her enemies and wouldn’t be as powerful as she was if she didn’t make use of them.
Jessica13 leaned in a little closer and tried to identify the individual mechs. They were still too far away to take a shot, and as the Knights continued to move forward, they held their position and their weapons appeared to be already primed and ready for action as best she could tell from that distance.
"It definitely looks like they're expecting our attack," she said over the comms.
"I thought as much," Tinker responded. "I'd say Athena deliberately burned the town to draw us into a fight she could control. We can only hope they're still getting settled into their defenses and aren't too entrenched.”
She continued to move forward alongside the Knights, who had increased their pace. Hammerhand now double-timed them and prepared his force to fight.
Suddenly, Athena's army swung into action. A group settled into an attack formation and raced forward, possibly in an attempt to unsettle their enemy and slow the momentum of their attack.
The Knights merely held formation in response and marched resolutely forward. Their leader seemed undaunted and still held the center of the line to maintain a determined but swift pace. His team maintained their disciplined formation with quiet resolution as if they weren’t merely a handful against at least three times their number.
Jessica13 raised her rifle, took a deep breath, and shifted into a more comfortable position. Her task was to keep an eye on the remainder of Athena's mechs, and she refocused as a handful of them broke away from the main force. It soon became apparent that their intention was to circle behind Hammerhand's line, something she could not allow to happen.
Her keen eye identified what appeared to be the leader of the group and she zoomed in before she calmly pulled the trigger.
The rifle's hellebore rounds cut smoothly through the Lancer's armor and into the cockpit. Although the mech shuddered visibly, it continued to move when the AI took control and directed its functions so it could proceed.
"Shit, these fuckers will be a little tougher to destroy than the others," Jessica13 muttered. She waited a little impatiently as the rifle pushed another round into the chamber before she turned to see where the rest of the mechs were going. "You have a small group trying to take you on the left flank, Tinker."
"Roger that," he said, and the Sherlock and Watson team immediately turned to engage them. The Lancers in the enemy reacted almost immediately and assault rifles released concerted volleys while she took a handful of shots and tried to place them accurately to kill the pilots. Even with AIs in control, she reminded herself, there were only a handful of functions they could actually perform. Those that didn't have pilots soon stopped fighting and turned to retreat before they were cut down by the Sherlocks with chainswords.
Literally cut down, she thought with a grim smile and returned her focus to the main battle line. A Guardian had raised its shredder plasma cannon and delivered a series of super-heated rounds at Hammerhand.
The man brought his shield up, and the pale blue film cut into the darkness around it like a knife. The impacts were hard and crisply audible, and she almost had to cover her eyes as the plasma rounds flashed a bright white light each time.
"I’m calling up a light filter," Mini said when he noted the sudden change in illumination around them,
The Knights moved forward. Those behind Hammerhand and the shadow of the shield circled and opened fire on the Guardian in a rapid and coordinated attack. The larger and more powerful mech's armor appeared untouched and it immediately retaliated. One of the Lancers fell back and steam hissed as the plasma round cut through the armor. The pilot had, thankfully, managed to twist aside and it appeared he would make it alive, although he hastily retreated to where Tinker waited to make an emergency repair.
The remaining Lancer moved into the gap where the damaged mech had been and left the Sherlock-Watson duo to fill the other position.
Hammerhand's shield dropped and his Knights released a furious barrage. The coordination between the group was impressive and it was difficult to say whether that was training, experience, or merely the AIs still working their magic.
Jessica13 turned her attention away from the impending clash of the two lines and located one of Athena's knights as it broke away to the side. The Predator V2 was easy to identify due to the point-defense lasers on its shoulder and the sword it carried, which was similar to the two her teammate used.
"I'm breaking away," Windchime said as if the thought had conjured him and immediately drew away from the group and moved to where the Predator attempted to flank them. She could have eliminated the mech from her location but the man already seemed focused on what he had to do and his swords would save them ammo.
Besides, having him come in with his hybrid monster of a mech would certainly play to their advantage.
Although she’d seen him in action a few times already, she hadn’t lost the sense of awe he always stirred in her. The Predator saw him approach, drew his sword, and started it. It was a chainsword, an older model than the vibroblades the Knight had, and when their blades clashed, a shower of sparks was unleashed to bathe them in a powerful green-and-yellow glow as they fought.
The Predator pilot was certainly not lacking when it came to fighting skills. He twisted and glided his mech through the fight and maintained the distance that would allow him to fight his adversary’s two swords effectively. Its movements were smooth and had most likely been perfected through experience as he slashed and cut, surged forward when his mech allowed it, and drew back quickly before Windchime could take advantage.
To Jessica13's mind, however, there was really only one winner. Windchime had the superior model mech, to begin with. Balthazars were infinitely more mobile and effective than the Predators, and the added swords were merely a bonus. The combination enabled him to constantly drive the Predator back toward Athena's knights' line without endangering himself too much. He wore the other pilot down step by step.
"Windchime, I can take him from here if you want," she offered through the commlink.
He drew away from the fight for a second. "There is no need. I can take care of him and it'll let me inch in closer to their formation while I'm at it."
The rockets on his back flared. The added weight of the hybridization meant it couldn't actually fly like Balthazars were supposed to, but it could still gain some elevation.
Which was obviously what he wanted to do and he had waited for the right opportunity.
The rockets activated suddenly and launched him vertically as he hurdled a swipe at his legs. Windchime lashed his boot out in midair, drove it into the cockpit of the Predator, and shoved hard. The mech stumbled as its gyros struggled to compensate for the sudden change in weight distribution.
The Knight was quick to take advantage and landed smoothly again, only to leap forward over the ground that had been scorched by his rocket to thrust his right vibrosword into the Predator's chest. The blow was blocked, but the strike with his left hand wasn't and another flurry of sparks spiraled when the blade slashed the legs and seared into the hydraulics.
Jessica13 frowned when the power in its legs suddenly cut off. Some of them would have compartmentalized hydraulics, and it seemed to be the case in this one. It was still able to move its sword even though fluid gushed from the damaged area.
The pilot within still attempted to fight, and she could respect him for that, but the fight was well and tr
uly over.
Windchime darted back another step to avoid the chainsword. It was a sensible precaution as he wouldn’t want to be hurt or risk any damage to his mech in a fight that he had already won.
The Predator balance was totally compromised and it barely managed a few swings before it fell. Her teammate stepped in to finish it and drove his vibrosword into the back. It took a few seconds for the rapidly vibrating blade to slice through the weak places in the armor until it finally reached the pilot. The mech suddenly stopped moving and sprawled silently. Windchime used one of his free hands to grasp the pilot and haul him out.
The man appeared to already be seriously injured but still alive as he was flung aside without so much as a thought before the Balthazar kicked the downed mech and strode around it to rejoin the fight.
"Jessie, report in," Tinker called.
"Reporting," she replied.
"Hammerhand needs help with that fucking Guardian," he grumbled. "Is there anything you can do to cover for him?"
"I think so," she responded and silenced her comm for the moment while she zoomed her rifle into the Guardian that centered Athena's line.
The cockpit was fairly easy to find, despite the size and the bulk of the mech. She had worked on them enough in the past that she could probably find her way into the cockpit blindfolded. While she'd never piloted one, she knew she would be able to do it if she were given the chance.
Not that she would ever trade in her Minato for one of the hulking bastards.
She fired a couple of the hellebore rounds and attempted to hit the pilot. The Guardian was bound to have its own AI operating it, but it would still be less functional without a pilot.
Both rounds had no effect and it continued to fire its plasma cannon at the Knights.
"The armor is too thick," Mini pointed out. "Those plates were made to protect against hellebore rounds. You won't be able to kill the pilot inside."
"Is there anything I can do?" she asked. "Can you scan for any weaknesses in the armor? Someplace where I can do some damage?"
"Scanning now," he said and data scrolled as he ran through a variety of subroutine scans on the moving Guardian. "Vulnerabilities detected and highlighted on your HUD."
Jessica13 scowled skeptically as she studied the positions he had highlighted. It was difficult to understand what the AI had seen in the places he’d identified. While she could do some damage to the armor, it wasn't like hitting the cooling system in the knee and ankle joints would really achieve anything in the long run.
Then again, neither would wasting bullets on the hardened armor anywhere else.
"Fine." She hissed through her teeth in irritation, decided to trust him, and took aim. All she was asked to do was slow it anyway, and she could at least do that if not anything more important.
The rounds punched through the weaker armor around the joints and stirred a moment of satisfaction in her. A flurry of sparks drew the gazes of the men flanking the Guardian and they attempted to determine what was shooting at them while they continued to push to find a weakness in the Knights' advance.
As Jessica13 studied the battle, it became clear that Athena’s advance troops were only in place to slow their enemy. A handful of them had already pulled back and they worked in a layered defense. They made no effort to win the battle and were there to delay the Knights, which meant she had most definitely sent them in anticipation of an impending attack.
Which meant, in turn, that they would encounter far more resistance down the line. And, as Tinker had said, it was possible that Athena had set the town on fire deliberately to draw her adversaries out.
She didn't like the fact that they were pulled and drawn out into the open like this and wondered if Mini had noticed it as well. Not only that, but she also didn't want to think about what the woman might have in mind for them when her trap snapped shut.
The Guardian continued to move but it was clear that the pilot struggled to compensate for the compromised balance. It lagged somewhat on the left and almost bumped into the mechs on its flank. The change might be small but it was a distraction, and most of the shots from its cannon went wide.
It provided the opening the Knights had looked for. Hammerhand kept his shield up and moved forward as his team readied themselves behind him and used the cover to surge toward the defenders in a sudden attack that was coordinated and precise. The moment the shield dropped, they pushed forward and battered the group with consistent fire while Windchime surged in from the side and used his rifles and swords to deal with those who tried to escape the onslaught.
The Guardian attempted to contain the assault and drew as much of the fire as possible. A couple of its plasma rounds hammered home in an attempt to disable Hammerhand, even with its balance awry. The rounds made little impression on the Excalibur, fortunately, and with the damaged but determined mech focused on what they perceived as the greatest threat, the Knights were able to focus on its team with brutal efficiency.
To protect the rest of his comrades, the Guardian’s pilot fought hard to keep it on its feet when Hammerhand stepped in.
Jessica13 almost didn't want to watch but it was hard not to. Like watching Skyfall for too long, she didn't want the blaring headache that came from blinding light that accompanied it.
But Skyfall was something external and these were her teammates. She simply had to watch.
Hammerhand stepped in and swung the weapon he was known for up and over his head. The Guardian took a step forward and into the swing of the hammer.
The leader of the Knights Mechanica anticipated it and the film of blue emerged once more, illuminated the world around it, and pushed the enemy back a step. Its legs were already less than fully functional when the shield descended, immediately followed by the hammer powered into a crushing blow by a rocket blast from the back.
The mech was too sturdy to be flattened like most others would be, but the force of the weapon was still enough to pulverize the top half and leave it a sparking and shuddering mess. The pilot had no doubt been killed instantly and the AI struggled to bring the ruined mech back from the dead.
It was an effort in futility, and it wasn't long before the critical functions gave out and shut it down as a defense mechanism.
The AI core would have been undamaged, and if they opened it and plugged it into another mech, it would likely be perfectly capable of taking control and operating at the same capacity as before.
Which was why Hammerhand now called the Knights to a halt as the remainder of Athena's men beat a hasty retreat.
"This isn't the end of it," he said, his voice loud across the plains. "Those who fight for our enemies are not so easily stamped out, but enjoy the victory, my friends. Let it lift your spirits, for there are those who would drag them down and curse you for the effort."
The Knights raised their weapons in response, but there was no cheer. They understood that the battle was far from over and they did what Jessica13 had come to expect from them in these situations. Without a need for orders or discussion, they worked quickly to scavenge what they could, treat those who had been injured, and eat or drink a little as needed.
It was a practiced and efficient routine and although it seemed a little odd in what was essentially a lull in the battle, it was a necessity for them. They needed to renew their strength to keep on fighting and surviving in the Wild but also had to be sure to leave nothing their enemy could use against them.
Those whose mechs had been damaged quickly moved to Tinker to have them attended to. A healthy pilot needed a working mech. Those that could be scavenged from the fallen needed attention since they had been disabled in one way or another, but they would provide valuable resources for future repairs or possibly even become replacements if needed.
Jessica13 helped them quietly. Hammerhand consulted with Tinker before he decided to take those who were still functional and eager for action.
Tinker worked double-time to check that each of the mechs was functi
onal and cleared them for duty while those who waited gathered whatever they could as quickly as possible. The priority was on the former and the latter was a way to fill the time constructively and appease the mechanic’s insistence that nothing be wasted.
She hurried to join the support effort but he stepped in front of her.
"Hammerhand needs a support mech with him," he said.
"I'd be more useful making sure the mechs are up and running," she pointed out, unsure of why she said that. Despite her every instinct telling her to stay, she wanted to keep moving forward and fight with Hammerhand.
"I know, but you're most useful at the front, lassie," Tinker said. "You have skills that will be used best there. Hammerhand said so himself. Get going now. There's no point in being left behind."
Jessica13 nodded and shifted Mini into Bulletfoot mode. They would hopefully be able to spare some of the resources and parts for the folks in Auburn to use for their own defense. Those who manned the Beast would arrive soon and help with the advance, which was doubtless why their leader had insisted it be brought and not left in Auburn. Hammerhand had experience with an operation like this and obviously knew he now needed every available member of his team as well as their stores.
What worried him—and, of course, the other Knights—was that Athena knew him and would be very familiar with his strategies and tactics. None of them mentioned it, but it was something all of them no doubt thought about.
The smoke had grown thicker and hung closer to the landscape as more and more was pushed out by the growing fire. She could almost see the awe and disgust in the posture and attitude of the mechs the Knights Mechanica piloted. Part of it was in the way they slowed to look at the flames that had now grown to the point where they were all that could be seen ahead.
It was almost like she could feel the heat, even from this distance.
"We have no time to ponder the power of evil deeds," Hammerhand said when he noticed the dispirited silence of those around him. "Consider instead how to make them right."
Bulletfoot One Page 37
