Resist the Red Battlenaut

by Robert T. Jeschonek

  "They must be on the planet's surface," said Perseid. "That explains the lifeforms."

  "And the weapons fire," said Scott. "We need to get down there now."

  "You'll be flying into a death trap," said Brahma. "The ghosts will tear you to shreds! I'm telling you, they're completely undetectable!"

  "Not anymore," said Perseid. "We're ready for them."

  "You mean you know about these things?" Brahma's eyes flew wide open. "What the hell are they?"

  "The enemy," said Perseid. "The real enemy. The reason we're out here."

  "Enough." Scott's moment of stopped time ended with a roar of blood in his ears. Adrenaline blazed through his body in a fiery surge, and his heart hammered like a hypercharged solo by an out-of-control drummer in a band. He was seized by the overwhelming urge to race to the surface of Oberon and open fire on the Reds, blasting away indiscriminately until every last one of them lay dead and smoking in the sun. "We need to go. We need to get down there."

  Perseid clapped him on the shoulder. "Agreed." When their eyes met, it was crystal clear that they were on the same page.

  Without another word, Perseid marched clear of the crowd around the lifepod and broke into a run. Scott did the same, propelled by the continued flow of adrenaline in his bloodstream...and visions of Bern in his mind.

  He could see her as he ran, under fire by the Reds, firing back but hopelessly outnumbered and pinned down. It was only a matter of time until they pressed all the way in and trapped her in a crossfire of slugs, lasers, and missiles.

  It was only a matter of time until she died, with her grandson so close yet so terribly far away.

  Galvanized, Scott ran faster down the corridor, passing Perseid on his way.

  *****

  The drop ships were loaded, fueled, and ready by the time Scott and Perseid charged into the launch bay. Crew members ran and shouted in all directions, making final preparations for departure.

  It was all just static to Scott. He was focused only on getting to the surface of Oberon, leaping into his armor, and saving Bern.

  Storming through the chaos, he stopped a running crewman in red coveralls and asked where they'd loaded his Battlenaut. The crewman pointed at one of the drop ships and darted away, intent on his duties.

  Scott was just about to bolt toward the ship that held his gear when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Whirling, he expected to see Perseid--and found himself staring down at Azimuth instead.

  As always, the blustering engineer looked like a devil, complete with arched eyebrows, crooked nose, and dark hair drawn to a point on his forehead. But for once, he also managed to look half contrite. "Sorry for what I said about your grandma," he said. "I was just trying to goad you into cranking that bolt."

  Scott looked around nervously. "I have to go..."

  "She's a wonderful woman, that Bern." Azimuth nodded sincerely and squeezed Scott's shoulder. "Good luck bringin' her back."

  "Thanks." Scott broke free of Azimuth and headed for the drop ship. The clock in his head was ticking loudly, counting down the seconds that remained until he could get to his grandmother.

  Perseid met him at the base of the gangplank, and they rushed into the drop ship together. As soon as they were inside, the gangplank rose to meet the rest of the hull and clanged shut.

  "We'll get her," Perseid told him as they strapped themselves into side-by-side flight couches. "We have to. She's the Commandant, for flux sake."

  Scott cinched his last strap with a hard yank. "Those bastards are dead. Every last one of them. Don't even try to stop me."

  "Why would I do that?" Perseid said with a smirk. "We'll kill the sons of bitches together."

  With that, the engines roared to life, and the drop ship hurtled from the launch bay into open space.

  *****

  Chapter 29

  After the drop ship had landed and the squad had donned its armor, Scott ran down the gangway in his Battlenaut, first to leave the ship. He was dying to charge straight into the heart of the action...at least until Perseid's voice blared from the cockpit speaker. "Corporal, wait!"

  Scott told Frank the A.I. to stop running, and his Battlenaut came to a halt in the powdery orange sand at the base of the gangway. The whole time, all Scott could think about was Bern, fighting for her life among the desert dunes of Oberon. The clock in his head was ticking louder than ever now, almost loud enough to drown out Perseid's voice.

  But not quite. "We are sticking to a tight formation with you in the middle," said Perseid. "Protecting you is still a priority--especially until we see how well the inoculations work in the field." His Battlenaut stormed down the gangway past Scott, then stopped and raised its left arm. "Alpha Squad, form on Scott!"

  When Perseid said it, the other five Battlenauts aboard the drop ship stomped down the gangway and surrounded Scott. He only knew two of the pilots--García and Taggart--though he knew more in Beta Squad, which was debarking from the second drop ship fifty meters away.

  "Now listen up!" said Perseid. "We're half a klick due east of the battle zone, so we don't have much ground to cover. We'll be in the thick of it in nothing flat, and we don't know what exactly to expect. So lock and load and be ready for anything."

  Almost everyone offered up a "boo-yeah" or a "hoo-rah." Only Scott remained silent. The hell with war cries; he just wanted to get down to the killing.

  "We're going in there to get our Commandant," said Perseid. "So let's blow the hell out of anything that looks like a Red and give her a chance to fight her way clear."

  Again, everyone but Scott let out a war cry...though he did feel the urge to say something. Specifically, he wanted to tell Perseid to shut up and get moving or else get the hell out of his way so he could go save his grandma.

  But it didn't come to that. "Move out!" Perseid barked the words and started marching forward. As he went, his Battlenaut's arms sprouted guns, a laser cannon formed from each shoulder, and a missile launcher grew from his back.

  "Fall in, Frank." Scott followed with the rest of the squad, calling up weapons of his own for the fight to come. "While you're walking, form a large-bore gun on the right shoulder and a high-powered laser on the left. Mount them both on turrets."

  "Yes, Solomon," said Frank.

  Scott thought for a moment, then got an idea. "Frank, are you able to manifest new forms that are not yet part of your morphic inventory?"

  "Explain further, please," said Frank.

  "If I describe a new form to you, can you create it without having done so before?"

  "Perhaps." Frank sounded thoughtful. "As long as the specifications don't require me to exceed available mass constraints."

  "Good." Scott nodded. "Then let me tell you what I want." He proceeded to describe the new form he had in mind, taking care to be as precise as possible. "So what do you say? Can you do it?"

  "Yes," said Frank. "But this new configuration will require me to channel significant mass away from the weapons. I will only be able to maintain a single projectile weapon, sonic projector, or laser emitter. Missiles, biofilm, and drone pods must remain offline."

  "What if we go with none of them?" Scott thought of something and smiled grimly. "Can you reallocate all weapons mass and energy into a single instrument?"

  "What kind of instrument?" said Frank.

  Scott told him, and Frank said it could be done. "Would you like me to implement the configuration you've described?"

  "Not yet," said Scott. "Wait for my order."

  "All right," said Frank. "In the meantime, would you like me to use my prognostication software to calculate the likelihood of success of this new configuration?"

  "No thanks," said Scott. "Just be ready. The order's coming any minute now."

  *****

  Alpha Squad continued forward over the orange dunes, heading southwest as Beta Squad went northwest. The two squads would converge on the battlefield from the south and north, catching the Reds in a pincer movement. At least that
was the plan.

  "Stay sharp," Perseid said over the comm. "We're almost there."

  He didn't really have to say it, as the sounds of battle were roaring up ahead. Scott heard volleys of slugs chattering against Battlenaut armor, missiles exploding, sonics shrieking, lasers screaming. A cloud of black smoke erupted into the sky, and the torso of a Battlenaut--a Commonwealth model--skidded along the dune's crest, broken and burnt.

  Scott switched off the comm with a flick of his eyes and spoke only to his A.I. "Move, Frank! Break ranks and run toward the action!"

  Without a word, Frank jolted the Battlenaut into action. Pushing between the Diamondbacks, he lurched out of formation and ran hard toward a nearby dune.

  "Scott!" shouted Perseid. "Get back here!"

  Scott switched the comm back on. "I'm adding a prong to the pincer," he said. "Coming in from due west."

  "Negative, Scott!" said Perseid. "Stick to the plan! That's an order!"

  "I can't hear you. You're breaking up." Scott closed the comm channel completely, shutting out all traffic from Alpha Squad. "Keep going, Frank. Manifest the new form I told you about."

  "Yes, Solomon." As Frank said it, the holographic wireframe diagram in front of Scott changed shape, becoming bigger and blockier. "Manifestation complete."

  Watching the wireframe, Scott nodded with satisfaction. His armor no longer looked like a CORE Battlenaut; thanks to Frank, it had taken the shape of a Red Battlenaut, identical to the computer renderings generated from Scott's descriptions.

  "Now bring up that instrument I requested," said Scott. "Reallocate all weapons mass and energy as needed."

  "Done," said Frank.

  Scott glanced at the wireframe to verify that the job was done, then turned his gaze to the frontside feed and the battle ahead of him.

  Through the feed, Scott saw a ring of battered Commonwealth Battlenauts standing back to back, under siege by a pack of towering Reds. The Reds were hammering away while the Commonwealth forces fired blindly, missing most of their shots because they couldn't see the enemy.

  The dozen or so Commonwealth Battlenauts didn't look like they could hold out much longer against the Reds. Most of them were heavily damaged, venting smoke, barely standing; less than a third of them seemed to be intact and fit to fight.

  But every last one of the Commonwealth Battlenauts was still shooting, determined to protect whoever was tucked away in the center of the ring.

  Bern. That was where she had to be--in the middle of the ring of defenders. Scott's heart pounded as he strained for a glimpse of her but came up empty; she was too well shielded.

  He would just have to wait until the fighting was over. "Charge, Frank! Run toward the nearest Red Battlenaut!"

  Frank complied. Scott's disguised Battlenaut raced across the sand to the closest Red, which was pounding the Commonwealth Battlenauts with hails of slugs.

  As Scott approached, the Red stopped shooting and turned to face him. Scott slowed down, but the Red didn't open fire; apparently, he couldn't quickly tell that the newcomer was not a true Red.

  That was exactly the reaction Scott had hoped for. Running straight at the Red, he swept back the instrument he'd specially requested from Frank: an enormous scarlet sword formed from both arms merged together.

  "Slash through his midsection!" When Scott got the words out, he saw the wireframe figure swinging its sword...also watched the electrified carbon fiber blade sweeping toward the Red on the frontside feed.

  As expected, the sword ripped right through the Red's armor in a shower of sparks and flashed out the other side without slowing. The Red jerked and sputtered, then split along the gash, its top half shunting forward. The top stopped sliding, held in place by struts and cables--but then its weight dragged the whole unit headfirst to the ground.

  By then, Scott had already moved on to the next Red. This one didn't even turn or react when he strolled up beside it, just fell toward him as the giant blade cut through its left leg. Frank backed away just in time to avoid being taken down with it.

  "Take that, you bastards." Scott spotted his next target. "There's another one at ten o'clock, Frank."

  "On my way." Frank sounded as calm as ever. "Also, Major Perseid is calling."

  Scott considered ignoring the hail, then gave in and reopened the comm channel so he could hear the incoming transmission.

  Perseid's voice exploded in the cockpit. "...-or the last time, is that you, Corporal?"

  Scott heard a round of slugs rattle off his armor from behind. "Frank! Who just fired at us?"

  "That was friendly fire at minimum intensity," said Frank. "It came from Major Perseid's Battlenaut, which is located thirty-five meters away at six o'clock."

  Scott checked his backside feed. Sure enough, Perseid was back there with guns pointed in his direction.

  Scott opened his mic over the comm channel. "Hold your fire! Yes, it's me!"

  "I thought so," said Perseid. "The fact that you look like a Red and you're killing Reds kind of gave it away."

  "You going to keep talking about it?" said Scott. "Or help me slaughter these mother-fluxing Reds?"

  Perseid's answer was to launch a brace of missiles at an oncoming Red. The missiles kicked the Red through the air when they blew, driving it deep into a nearby sand dune.

  As Scott scanned his feeds, he saw that the rest of Alpha Squad was doing its part, too, hitting the Reds hard with missiles, slugs, sonics, and lasers. The attacks seemed to take the Reds by surprise, sending some of them staggering and taking others out of the fight altogether. For once, Commonwealth forces weren't firing blind or dependent on a single Red-spotter to call out enemy coordinates.

  At least that was the case with Alpha Squad. On the other hand, the Battlenaut Marines in the heart of the fight were still in dire need of help.

  Breaking away from Perseid, Scott stormed toward another Red who was blasting away at the Marines. On Scott's orders, Frank raised the sword overhead and took aim at the Red, preparing to cleave it from head to toe.

  Before he could swing, another Red hurtled up from behind and spun Scott around with a bolt of golden energy. The bolt sent Scott's Battlenaut stumbling away from its target, fighting to stay on its feet.

  "Damn!" shouted Scott. "Keep your balance, Frank!"

  "I will do so," said Frank. "Then what?"

  "Then carve up the Red that shot us!" said Scott. "That's what!"

  Frank did as he was told. Scott's Battlenaut teetered briefly, then steadied itself. As the Red who'd shot it let loose another energy bolt, Frank dodged left and lunged forward, swinging the sword around. The blade sliced through both cannons mounted on the Red's chest, leaving gaping cavities roiling with golden energy. Seconds later, the unleashed energy blew, throwing the Red back and down in a smoking heap.

  With one opponent down, Scott whipped around to go after his original target. It was then he realized the Reds were storming the Marines' defenses; every Red who wasn't already battling a Diamondback converged on the ring of Marine Battlenauts at once. The Marines, who still couldn't see them, went on firing wild as the Reds--who made every shot count--advanced inexorably.

  The time for Scott's Red disguise was over. He needed firepower more than camouflage now. "Return to original configuration, Frank! And form every weapon you can, set to maximum intensity!"

  "Yes, Solomon," Frank said smoothly.

  The Battlenaut clanked and clacked around Scott as it shifted shape. On the wireframe, he saw it change from a Red to a Diamondback model, becoming more compact and adopting more humanoid outlines.

  When the conversion was done, Scott saw weapons grow from the skin of his Battlenaut, popping up almost everywhere. When they'd finished forming, the wireframe diagram was studded like a porcupine with projectile guns, laser emitters, and sonic projectors.

  Scott's Battlenaut was good to go. "Maximum intensity, Frank!"

  "Thank you for the reminder," said Frank, "but you did not even have to tell me t
he first time."

  Scott's heart hammered in his chest. "Then do you know what I'm going to tell you to do next, Frank?"

  "Yes," said Frank. "Attacking the enemy now."

  Scott didn't even have to give the order. His Battlenaut broke into a run, charging hard toward the Reds who were assaulting the ring of Commonwealth Battlenauts.

  As the Reds kept up their fire, Scott blasted away at them with everything he had. He went after three at once, laying down a triple barrage of slugs, lasers, and sonics. The tactic worked, scoring a flurry of direct hits that left the Reds on their feet but ended their fire against the Commonwealth forces.

  Then, one of the three lurched toward Scott, charging its energy cannons...but a missile from Perseid knocked it out of the picture. That left Scott free to focus on the other two.

  When both of them unleashed energy blasts in his direction, Frank automatically dodged them. Then, at Scott's order, he formed a biofilm launcher and pumped a load of the stuff at one of the Reds' energy cannons. The green substance quickly clogged the weapon's muzzle, causing it to backfire and blow a hole in the Red's armor. The Red went down hard after that, smoke pouring from its chest.

  As that Red dropped, the other opened hidden ports on its torso and launched a surprise of its own--a volley of high-powered arrows. Instead of bouncing off Scott's armor, six of them penetrated and stuck...then emitted some kind of pulse that flashed through every square centimeter of the Battlenaut. Instantly, the cockpit went dark.

  "What the hell was that?" said Scott, but Frank didn't answer.

  Something crashed against the armor from outside, and Scott felt it teeter backward. He looked around frantically, wishing he had some kind of emergency manual override controls. Diamondback Battlenauts didn't need overrides, except for a manual release on the cockpit ejector mechanism; that was what he'd been told, anyway. In the event of primary power loss, the unit would tap its batteries to spark all systems back to life.