Post by Kavid on Apr 16, 2004 3:39:53 GMT -5
Chapter One
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Let's just say keeping a forty-six-ton robot quiet isn't easy. It's especially difficult in a forest, covered with trees, branches, and rocks. Steel feet the size of a small bed are not going to be able to avoid the crackles made from crunching such obstacles.
I'd had enough time in this metallic creature's head to know that stealth maneuvering was impossible. Man, I wish I could get promoted to the Shadow Fox Brigade. Those guys somehow know how to keep a fifty-two-ton mass of walking steel quiet. Fortunately for me, stealth was not of importance this day.
And what a fine day it was. The sky was nearly cloudless, with the sun beaming out in all directions. It was so bright that there was little shadow from the tall trees scattered across the land. Driving was easy thus far. It was a simple patrol around the mountains, with no reports of any negative activity.
"Oh-Dub-Three to Oh-Dub-One. Jeremy, what say we take a break up at the top of that hill. It's too nice of a day to be searching for bugs. Let's take a lunch." I’d been wondering when Kavid would get bored and break radio silence. He was an excellent soldier in the Republican Army, but endurance was not one of his finer traits.
"Sergeant Deen, you will refer to me by rank while we're on duty, understand? And as for a break, it'll be noon in thirty-five minutes. Lunch will take place then."
"Ouch. I mean, yes, sir, Lieutenant Kelt, sir!"
I didn’t enjoy being authoritative to my friends, especially my buddy Kavid, but I knew that respect was something a good commander insisted on. Besides, all conversation on a patrol is recorded. But as soon as we were off duty, Kavid would make me pay.
My Command Wolf patrol unit, the Orions, consisted of four Wolves. Our simple daily duty was to patrol the base of Mt. Hoploy. Although it did not appear of any importance on the outside, the mountain hid the largest sub-surface Republican Army base on the Southern Frontier. It would make a delightful target for Imperial Forces.
Naturally, as Patrol Commander, I drove Command Wolf OW-1. It was armed with a long-range single-barreled cannon. Kavid piloted OW-2, the heavily armed Wolf. It carried large double-barreled 50mm long-range cannons and needed leg thrusters just to get around. Its cannons were not something to be trifled with; Kavid was an excellent shot. Corporal Sifen and Private Mansod piloted lightly armed Wolves, OW-3 and OW-4. Their Wolves were old, but although they did not carry much in firepower, they were easily the most maneuverable Zoids in the group, even without leg thrusters.
Unfortunately this was just Private Mansod's second patrol with my unit. He was still in training under Corporal Sifen. He showed enough natural ability, but his comprehensive skills were thus far disappointing.
"Oh-Dub-Four, stay in formation." It was Corporal Sifen trying to keep Mansod in line.
"Sorry, Corporal, I thought I saw something."
Although under-experienced drivers always seem to "see something," I’ve learned that it was a good idea to follow any suspicious sign. Imperial Zoids were very stealthy.
"Command Wolf unit, hold up." Our formation came to a smooth stop. My OW-1 turned around and trotted back to Private Mansod’s Wolf.
“What do you think you saw, Private?” I asked.
“Um…well, kind of a flash then a short streak of black. I ran a scan in the area but nothing was over there. Maybe the sunlight’s just getting too…”
“Unit, pull your Zoids around and head towards the disturbance.” I’d seen this before. “Weapons and scanning systems at full power.”
Helcats. There was no doubt about it. Apparently the Private hadn’t completed his research on the cloaking Zoids. Whenever a cloaking device is activated, there is a brief flash from reflecting light, then a colored blur as the Zoid’s image fades away. Helcats were the smallest Zoids equipped with cloaks. Anything bigger would have easily been seen.
“Lieutenant, I’ve found fresh footprints over here.” Reported Corporal Sifen. “Something had been sitting here a while, then took off quickly. I’d guess a Helcat.”
“No doubt in my mind, Corporal.” I replied. “We were being watched.” Looking down the hillside I saw a line of Helcat footprints heading away from the mountain. About 500-meters aways new footprints were being added to the line, two-at-a-time. Kavid’s Zoid was 50 meters behind me. Couldn’t wait for him. My single-barreled cannon was all I had time to use.
I quickly jumped over Sifen’s Wolf, climbed to the top of a boulder and took a firing stance. It was almost too long of a shot for my Zoid’s gun. The targeting system would help, but wouldn’t be perfect.
600 meters.
Aiming the best that I could, I strained to avoid the questions coming in from the other Wolf-Unit drivers.
First shot… off by 50 meters.
700 meters.
The Helcat took a fifty-degree turn east and sped up.
Second shot… looked like it may have singed the backside of the escaping Zoid; the tracks stumbled for a few meters then sped up again.
800 meters.
I gave the target a little more lead, then fired.
A small explosion lit the mountainside as the cloaking device shorted out, followed by a red burst and puff of black smoke. The now barely-visible Helcat flipped and rolled 20 meters before it finally stopped.
I couldn’t help but cheer out “Yes!” It was a lot of stress, and I was happy. I was just thankful I’d shut my microphone off.
“Jeremy! What the hell are you doing?” called out Sergeant Kavid. I could tell he was pissed that he didn’t get the shot.
“Lieutenant, that was incredible!” cheered Private Mansod.
Corporal Sifen didn’t say anything, he just kept up a searching position looking for other intruders, as the training manual would require.
“At ease, team, at ease.” I wiped the sweat from my brow. “Sifen, Mansod, come with me to inspect the intruder’s wreckage. Deen, stay up here and cover us. I trust you can protect us with your superior cannons from way up here?”
“What is that? A joke?” Kavid huffed.
Barely able to talk because of the big grin on my face, I ordered, “ C’mon, guys. Lets go before the pilot gets away. Deen, relay the information to headquarters immediately.”
“Yes, your highness!”
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Let's just say keeping a forty-six-ton robot quiet isn't easy. It's especially difficult in a forest, covered with trees, branches, and rocks. Steel feet the size of a small bed are not going to be able to avoid the crackles made from crunching such obstacles.
I'd had enough time in this metallic creature's head to know that stealth maneuvering was impossible. Man, I wish I could get promoted to the Shadow Fox Brigade. Those guys somehow know how to keep a fifty-two-ton mass of walking steel quiet. Fortunately for me, stealth was not of importance this day.
And what a fine day it was. The sky was nearly cloudless, with the sun beaming out in all directions. It was so bright that there was little shadow from the tall trees scattered across the land. Driving was easy thus far. It was a simple patrol around the mountains, with no reports of any negative activity.
"Oh-Dub-Three to Oh-Dub-One. Jeremy, what say we take a break up at the top of that hill. It's too nice of a day to be searching for bugs. Let's take a lunch." I’d been wondering when Kavid would get bored and break radio silence. He was an excellent soldier in the Republican Army, but endurance was not one of his finer traits.
"Sergeant Deen, you will refer to me by rank while we're on duty, understand? And as for a break, it'll be noon in thirty-five minutes. Lunch will take place then."
"Ouch. I mean, yes, sir, Lieutenant Kelt, sir!"
I didn’t enjoy being authoritative to my friends, especially my buddy Kavid, but I knew that respect was something a good commander insisted on. Besides, all conversation on a patrol is recorded. But as soon as we were off duty, Kavid would make me pay.
My Command Wolf patrol unit, the Orions, consisted of four Wolves. Our simple daily duty was to patrol the base of Mt. Hoploy. Although it did not appear of any importance on the outside, the mountain hid the largest sub-surface Republican Army base on the Southern Frontier. It would make a delightful target for Imperial Forces.
Naturally, as Patrol Commander, I drove Command Wolf OW-1. It was armed with a long-range single-barreled cannon. Kavid piloted OW-2, the heavily armed Wolf. It carried large double-barreled 50mm long-range cannons and needed leg thrusters just to get around. Its cannons were not something to be trifled with; Kavid was an excellent shot. Corporal Sifen and Private Mansod piloted lightly armed Wolves, OW-3 and OW-4. Their Wolves were old, but although they did not carry much in firepower, they were easily the most maneuverable Zoids in the group, even without leg thrusters.
Unfortunately this was just Private Mansod's second patrol with my unit. He was still in training under Corporal Sifen. He showed enough natural ability, but his comprehensive skills were thus far disappointing.
"Oh-Dub-Four, stay in formation." It was Corporal Sifen trying to keep Mansod in line.
"Sorry, Corporal, I thought I saw something."
Although under-experienced drivers always seem to "see something," I’ve learned that it was a good idea to follow any suspicious sign. Imperial Zoids were very stealthy.
"Command Wolf unit, hold up." Our formation came to a smooth stop. My OW-1 turned around and trotted back to Private Mansod’s Wolf.
“What do you think you saw, Private?” I asked.
“Um…well, kind of a flash then a short streak of black. I ran a scan in the area but nothing was over there. Maybe the sunlight’s just getting too…”
“Unit, pull your Zoids around and head towards the disturbance.” I’d seen this before. “Weapons and scanning systems at full power.”
Helcats. There was no doubt about it. Apparently the Private hadn’t completed his research on the cloaking Zoids. Whenever a cloaking device is activated, there is a brief flash from reflecting light, then a colored blur as the Zoid’s image fades away. Helcats were the smallest Zoids equipped with cloaks. Anything bigger would have easily been seen.
“Lieutenant, I’ve found fresh footprints over here.” Reported Corporal Sifen. “Something had been sitting here a while, then took off quickly. I’d guess a Helcat.”
“No doubt in my mind, Corporal.” I replied. “We were being watched.” Looking down the hillside I saw a line of Helcat footprints heading away from the mountain. About 500-meters aways new footprints were being added to the line, two-at-a-time. Kavid’s Zoid was 50 meters behind me. Couldn’t wait for him. My single-barreled cannon was all I had time to use.
I quickly jumped over Sifen’s Wolf, climbed to the top of a boulder and took a firing stance. It was almost too long of a shot for my Zoid’s gun. The targeting system would help, but wouldn’t be perfect.
600 meters.
Aiming the best that I could, I strained to avoid the questions coming in from the other Wolf-Unit drivers.
First shot… off by 50 meters.
700 meters.
The Helcat took a fifty-degree turn east and sped up.
Second shot… looked like it may have singed the backside of the escaping Zoid; the tracks stumbled for a few meters then sped up again.
800 meters.
I gave the target a little more lead, then fired.
A small explosion lit the mountainside as the cloaking device shorted out, followed by a red burst and puff of black smoke. The now barely-visible Helcat flipped and rolled 20 meters before it finally stopped.
I couldn’t help but cheer out “Yes!” It was a lot of stress, and I was happy. I was just thankful I’d shut my microphone off.
“Jeremy! What the hell are you doing?” called out Sergeant Kavid. I could tell he was pissed that he didn’t get the shot.
“Lieutenant, that was incredible!” cheered Private Mansod.
Corporal Sifen didn’t say anything, he just kept up a searching position looking for other intruders, as the training manual would require.
“At ease, team, at ease.” I wiped the sweat from my brow. “Sifen, Mansod, come with me to inspect the intruder’s wreckage. Deen, stay up here and cover us. I trust you can protect us with your superior cannons from way up here?”
“What is that? A joke?” Kavid huffed.
Barely able to talk because of the big grin on my face, I ordered, “ C’mon, guys. Lets go before the pilot gets away. Deen, relay the information to headquarters immediately.”
“Yes, your highness!”
