The gauss cannons power up, and a blue spark is emitted from the barrels of the Valkyrie tank cruisers. They each launch a grappling hook at the first container behind the train engine with an immense supersonic blast that shakes the air. The sharp bang of the gauss cannons surprises Echo, who was still attempting to wake up his unconscious father. Echo spins away from his dad to look out the conductor’s side window to find a tank cruiser firmly attached to the locomotive.
The grappling hooks are composed of four titanium carbide claws that latch onto the container and pierce its thick steel. A dense steel cable protrudes from the back of the grappling hooks and leads to the inner barrel of the gauss cannons. Both tanks begin spinning their wheels in the opposite direction in an attempt to slow down the train. The engines of the tanks roar as they throw their transmissions into full reverse. The locomotive begins to slow down and the hydraulic driven wheels under the train engine squeal in protest. Massive sparks of metal are thrown up around the train as it struggles to break away from the grappling hooks.
In his moment of panic, Echo slams his fist into a large red button on the conductor’s console that read ‘Emergency Release’. A loud pop shakes the train engine as the pin holding the containers to the locomotive is blasted upwards and over the back of the train. Hissing noises resound from inside the cabin as a tremendous amount of air pressure is released to pop the pin off the connector between the engine and the containers. The train lurches forward, and the locomotive engine begins to outrun the chaos that Echo had just caused.
The eight shipment containers that were being hauled behind the locomotive engine finally topple over when released from the train. Without the engine to weigh down the empty containers, they are thrown off the tracks by the intense hurricane force winds. All of the containers fall to one side as they bunch up and are tossed about like a ship on the open ocean.
One of the tank cruisers failed to break away from the shipment containers in time and is instantly crushed under the immense weight and momentum of the wreck. A container lands on top of the tank cruiser, crushing it with devastating force, and the jet fuel inside detonates with a massive shockwave. An enormous jet fuel fire begins to engulf one side of the crops behind the train engine as it leaves the wreckage in its wake. The wind and rain are unable to put out the intensely blazing jet fuel fire, and it spreads quickly across the fields.
The other tank cruiser had luckily detached its grappling cable just in time to avoid being pulled into the wreckage. The Valkyrie spins and darts forward, quickly gaining speed and catching up to the locomotive engine. The tank rotates its barrel to point at the wheels underneath the train. Another supersonic shockwave breaks the air around the gauss cannon with blue sparks. It fires a colossal titanium slug through the wheels and punctures the hydraulic reservoir located on the bottom of the engine. Low-pressure amber hydraulic fluid flows out of the holes on each side of the reservoir and covers the tracks underneath.
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Raising its gauss cannon at a high angle, the Valkyrie lets loose another titanium round into the engine compartment behind the train cabin. The round punches a hole right through the hydraulic powered engine block, shredding pistons and gears like soft tissue paper. High-pressure amber fluid begins spraying out the sides of the engine block, and onto the walkway on each side of the engine. With a loud clank and a bang, the engine throws a piston through the top of the engine block, further causing irreparable damage to the locomotive. The hydraulic pump begins to whistle at a low frequency as it struggles to pump the fluid from the reservoir and into the engine. The engine system is completely drained of liquid in a matter of seconds, and the hydraulic pump begins whistling at a deafening pitch and volume. Echo is forced to cover his ears due to the high-pitch of the struggling pump.
The wheels on locomotive seize up, and the brakes lock without notice. The Valkyrie fires its gauss cannon for a final time, striking the wheels on both sides. The round pierces through the two steel discs. Various wheels below the engine wobble and the axles shatter in half. One of the shafts gets pinned between the locomotive and the rails. The train engine derails as the back end of the locomotive is vaulted up and off the tracks.
The Valkyrie tank cruiser slows down to avoid getting caught up in the chaos of the wreckage. The train is thrown to its side and begins careening through the crops. With no signs of stopping, the train engine slams into a wooden house near Launch Central. The impact of the train against the building causes the house to erupt in an explosion of wood that flies in all directions. The derailed locomotive flips end over end, essentially performing a roll as it tumbles through building after building. Debris left in its wake spills out onto the ground, but thankfully no one was in the buildings as the area in front of the train had already been evacuated.
Grinding to a halt about a half of a kilometer from the Launch Central tower, the locomotive was in shambles. Echo and his father had been tossed about in the cabin but were miraculously still alive. Beaten and bruised, Echo groaned from inside the cabin. Opening his eyes, Echo observed that the train engine was lying on its side. He was currently laying on top of his father’s chest. Vikta’s torso rose and fell slowly to the rhythm of his breathing. Echo sighed in relief that his father was still alive, but there wasn’t much time left. He still had to pull Vikta from the wreckage and get him to a medical facility as soon as possible. There was still a chance to save his father, but their ordeal was far from over.