Chapter 16

The Drop Pod violently shook on entry. The friction from Caledon’s atmosphere flared a bright red around them as it tried to slow their descent. Heavily shielded, the pod barely reacted to the increased temperatures, and the interior remained cool and dark.

Talha, safely ensconced in the recently repaired Light Class ‘Scout’ Mech, ran another system check while she waited to land. Looking at the HUD, she scanned the list of systems, everything was well within parameters, the components they had retrieved from Luna had been fully compatible.

The jostling of the pod scarcely registered to her. She could barely feel it within the cockpit of the Scout.

She had only recently been promoted to a Light Class Pilot, the extensive testing requirements were arduous, but she had finally become the youngest Pilot in the Sun’s Marauders at 24. Seeing no issues with her machine, she waited impatiently for the pod to release her from her restraints.

With a rattling ‘Bang,’ the pod walls released, separating from the main body and freeing her and her two companions. Wrenching her Mech free of the shoulder clamps that secured her to the hull, she leapt from the pod while it was still in midair, the thrusters on her Mech’s back and legs propelling her away.

The Scout couldn’t fly, its thrusters were too weak, but it could glide gently toward the ground. Carrying a long-barreled, heavy Lasgun in her hands, she drifted towards the surface when thermal warning notifications suddenly obscured the edges of her vision.

“Contact!” One of the other pilots shouted, alerting his companions.

A streak of crimson light shot out from behind her, striking the drop pod and burning a hole through the thick metal plates. Spinning around, Talha cut off her thrusters, increasing her velocity toward the ground to gain some distance.

Just a moment after her maneuver, the Pod exploded, sending shrapnel and debris flying toward her. Talha could hear the metal striking her Mech’s exterior with small ‘pinging’ sounds. The force of the explosion sent her reeling, her mech spiralling towards the ground as she re-engaged her thrusters to right her descent.

Talha restored her equilibrium just as she struck the ground. The Mech’s long legs left twin furrows in the soft soil, ripping grass and some small brush from the earth.

To her left, her companions, piloting similar Light class ‘Scouts,’ faired better. They landed near a small thicket of trees, taking cover immediately. The trees wouldn’t stop a powerful beam weapon, but it would obscure them from their attackers.

Burning debris fell all around them, setting small patches of grass on fire.

They were just outside the city limits of New Antioch. The Free City was a sparkling beacon in the distance, a dozen or so kilometres away.

“Did either of you see where that came from?” Talha asked, raising the Lasgun and directing it towards the city. In her Hud, the aiming reticle danced about, gradually adjusting to the environment. Gravity, heat, the planet’s atmosphere, everything could affect their weapons, and it could take a while before they could adapt their aim.

“Top of a building on the left of side of the city. We can’t hit it from here with Lasguns. We need to get closer.” A man’s voice sounded out over their squad's communication channel.

“Let’s move.” Talha said, her Mech already dashing forward.

A Scout could reach a couple of hundred kilometres an hour on a flat plain, and she used every ounce of speed she could muster. The trio separated, keeping their distance from each other as they ran to reduce the likelihood of being targeted.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Talha received another Thermal Warning Notification as a new beam of crimson energy shot directly toward her. She threw herself to the side just as the attack struck the ground behind her, leaving a long gouge and burning the earth in a straight line.

The attack came from a large building on the city outskirts. Her Suit’s Hud automatically highlighted it, zooming in to show a cluster of local security forces wearing Powered Exosuits. In the center of their group was a large Particle Projection Cannon, its barrel glowing red from the heat generated by its discharge.

“PPC!” Talha called out, raising her Lasgun to fire. A PPC could burn a hole through any Mech the Marauders deployed in New Antioch. They had to remove it immediately before it could do any real damage.

Before she could aim, a streak of laser fire shot toward the building from the sky. Like a lightning bolt, it split the air in a bright, bluish-white energy line. Talha watched it accurately strike the PPC, the attack vaporizing the weapon and the crew operating it before burying itself into the street below harmlessly.

Above her, hanging motionless in the sky, was a Mech.

Over forty feet high, the humanoid machine was similar to her Scout, lean and slim. Its frame was painted black, with red highlights on its body and limbs. Gripped tightly in its hands was a Lasgun, its barrel still smoking from the laser discharge.

From its back, two winglike thrusters protruded, keeping the Mech aloft and sending reddish-orange flames behind it, like a cloak billowing in the wind.

“Seraph.” Talha called out.

The ‘Seraph’ was a Medium class mech, identifiable by the angel-like wings of its namesake. Lightly armoured, it was highly mobile and suited for long-range combat. Talha could see the telltale shimmer of a personal shield surrounding the machine, protecting it from energy weapons.

“Impressed?” Gareth responded, and she could hear his voice's playfulness and pride at the remarkable shot. Not many Pilots could fire a Heavy Lasgun at that range and accurately strike its target while avoiding collateral damage.

“Hmph, I was until you opened your mouth. What are you doing here?” Talha retorted, her Mech racing across the open field toward the city again. Above, Gareth followed, watching over their progress while looking for further threats.

“You’re falling behind. The other teams are already in the city, so I thought you could use a hand.” He answered. In the distance, Talha could see Lasgun fire, Ultra Light Battle Armor and a few Mechs of the Marauders fighting against the Security Forces of New Antioch.

While they focused on the PPC, other drop pods had landed on the surface. Transports, finished dropping off their troops, were strafing the city, their accurate fire hitting the city's entrenched forces.

“We’re fine!” Talha responded, her Scout leaping across a small building and running down the street toward the office tower of Ellis Morrow. The plan was to seize the man as soon as possible while clearing a path for their Ground Combat Troops to enter the building while the Mech secured the perimeter.

Talha had just passed a building when a barrage of missiles landed in the intersection, hurling debris and chunks of concrete. Like a dancer, she swerved and pivoted, her Mech narrowly avoiding the falling rubble. Time seemed to slow down to her awareness as her Pilot’s instincts took over.

Piloting puts a tremendous amount of strain on a Pilots body and mind. Typically, there was a slight delay between the thought to move or act by the Pilot and the Mech responding. It took years to learn how to operate a Mech, and each successive Class added to the difficulty of forming a connection, a link between human and machine.

For Talha, nothing brought her closer to perfecting that link than danger. She moved and dodged, all while carefully raising her Lasgun and aiming. Whatever delay was removed, she acted like the Mech was part of her body.

With an ear-splitting crack like thunder, the Lasgun fired.

A bluish-white beam of light shot out of her rifle, streaking down the street and slamming into a half-concealed Mech. A squat-bodied Light Class with thick, stubby legs and a broad torso sporting a missile launcher and a pair of autocannons, the beam splintered into multiple light rays as it hit the Mech’s torso, inflicting minor damage.

“Shit!” Talha cursed, preparing to fire again when the Seraph sped towards the enemy Mech.

Swerving amongst the debris, Gareth piloted his machine until it nearly scraped the ground, swiftly closing in on the enemy. He smashed into it with his shoulder and knocked the lighter Mech to the ground before firing his Lasgun directly into the cockpit.

The beam cut through its torso, leaving a smoking husk behind. Kicking it away, Gareth turned to look at the stunned Talha behind him.

“I’m amazing, I know. Just don’t go falling in love with me. Your Grandparents would never approve.” With that, the Seraph returned to the skies, leaving Talha’s Scout behind.

“You just had to ruin it.” She muttered, glancing at the ruined Mech before setting off again, rejoining her companions.