Raptor One – Chapter 73
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I groan and stretch as I feel the small vibrations of the bullet train as it follow it’s route to Base Z, we managed to return with the help of the six teenage primals that decided to barge into my mind when I was somewhat helpless by the death of Lemi who used all her existence to keep me alive.
God bless her soul.
I sigh and open my eyes, finding six wolf like primals around me, Zu looks up from my lap in wonder as I sigh, their conversation somewhat broken by my awakening.
“White, morning.” Zu say to me with a smile, the beauty of her face accentuated by her droopy eyes.
“Yammw... White!” Zu blush with a moan due to the loving nibble i gave her ear before trying to go tsun on me.
She fail spectacularly as the pack laugh, so I wrap my armored hands on her waist, it’s a shame I can’t rest my head on her shoulder due to all the excess equipment keeping my neck in place.
“It was pure luck we managed to leave that safe zone.” I growl out and sigh.
“Yeah, but we did manage to escape that zerg wave.” Su’ra reply.
“And recover both the Drop module and the Viking.” Li’luk join on the conversation while humming.
“Sis, did you manage to find the fuel port?” Li’lak ask her sister while leaning back on her hands.
“Nope, that thing is still a enigma of archotech proportions.” Li’luk reply laughing.
“Still looking for the fuel port? Good thing that the fuel lasted until now.” Su’zu ask with a grunt, adjusting his posture.
“Da, I gave a look with Sigma, the motive is due to the fuel type that was loaded, even if it have 620 units capacity, with the fuel it had, the energy factor was two times as good as normal fuel.” I growl out and laugh.
“What about transport? The Viking is out of fuel.” Su’ra ask while looking at a passing cyborg.
“We can always hire a loader. ”Zu say while leaning on my chest again. “And what about the reward?” Zu ask again.
“Gruh? Da, let’s see...” I pick my personal tricorder and give it a look.
Captain Log:
Mission: Deliver - 'Refined Material Cargo' to a Gas giant's station named 'The irradiated clown'.
Complete.
Reward: 25.000(Creds) - Payment Complete.
--
Mission: Head into the frozen planet's orbital station named 'The hivemind's ice sheet' for 'Spice Cargo'.
Stalled -> Ongoing.
Reward: 50.000(Creds)
Side Mission: Rescue 'Crew' and repair 'Bullet Train' with the 'Spice Cargo'.
(Ongoing -> Complete.)
Reward: 15.000(Creds)/ Skill knowledge: (Panzer Ablenkung) - Payment Complete.
--
Mission: Return to 'Beta Stratta' with 'Spice Cargo'.
Not started.
Reward: 50.000(Creds)
--
Credits - 119.000
I also find that the colony Military CQC Codex was transferred to me, so I look back up at the guys.
“We got payment guys, and I got a variant of ‘Panzer Kunst’, also known as ‘Panzer Ablenkung’.” I growl out and smile, Zu looking up at me with question marks on her face.
I look at the rest and see the same expression.
“Huh... If it’s not too much to ask... What’s Panzer Kunst and Panzer Ablenkung?” Li’lak ask me first and I hear the ears of everyone twitching.
“Da, Panzer Kunst is a codex of techniques made for armored combat, best used by cyborgs...” I growl out my answer while reading about ‘Panzer Ablenkung’, after a minute of pause I start talking again.
“While Panzer Kunst focus on attack and stationary defense, Panzer Ablenkung, also known as ‘Art of the armored deflection’ is a variant that focus on deflection instead of taking the attack head on like a juggernaut... I like this variant, this will be very useful with my new armor.” I growl out and chuckle.
“*I also have taken note of the new codex and made a trial run of your body with the new armor using only the new combat art. The result was... Very impressive. A increase of 100% effectiveness while using the new art with the current default one.*”
We watch as sigma show two simulations in different situations, one using the Panzer Ablenkung, and the other using both Panzer Kunst and Ablenkung, the difference is very clear and very intimidating, while the first simulation ends fast with the death of my simulated self, the second one keep tearing things and beings apart even when severely damaged, rip a arm or both, take a leg or both, different types of critical damage was simulated and the combat effectiveness was never under 200%, most damage was partially deflected or fully deflected using both legs and hands.
“Whow, that’s the new armor you two where talking about?” Li’luk ask with interest.
“I like the new way of fighting, reminds me of the old Avalon Warriors.” Su’ra also say.
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“Da, a very trimmed down armor with only the necessary functions.” I growl out a reply while nodding.
“What about sensation?” Zu ask me.
“*The new armor is part of the augmentation, that means it have matter nodes made specifically for him, of which also works as sensorial nodes. White, I gave the Viking system a once over and found where the fuel port is located.*”
“Where?” I and Li’luk ask at the same time.
“*Behind the neural connector, on the middle of the Matter reactor, there’s a small port where fuel canisters can be plugged in for loading, the Matter reactor is also of high quality, that means it can accept different types of Fuel type matter, Bio fuel, Mech fuel, Nuclear cores, or plain old erchius fuel, keep in mind that each fuel type have different efficiency.*”
I nod along with Li’luk as Sigma gives us a rundown of the Viking.
“Do we have any fuel available?” Li’lak ask her sister.
Li’luk shake her head. “Nope, our ship works entirely on energy, we need to buy Erchius fuel later, let’s see the cost... 300 credits per canister... We also got lucky because there’s no tax for the fuel yet.” Li’luk say with a serious face.
“Looks like there was no Erchius horror outbreak in any of the mining bases this month cycle.” Li’lak reply, also looking at her tricorder.
“I’ll request three canisters because I don’t want to pay for transportation off world... Done, remember to collect it for me as the crew undock the drop module and my Viking.” I growl out and relax.
“Sure” Both sisters say.
“What about your new armor? How much will it cost?” Zu ask me, still leaning on my chest.
The other four also look my way again.
“Da, depends on the price, I'll need lots of components and carbon plates along with some extra stuff to reload the new augments... I did not calculate the amount of components and carbon plates yet, nor it’s price.” I growl out with my eyes closed, waiting for the bullet train to reach it’s destination.
“*The total calculation for the armor augment production is 55.600 credits total. Do I proceed to purchase the requested resources?*”
Sigma ask me, but I look at the others, that’s half of our money, and I'm sure she did not mention the restock cost.
“What do you guys think? Is it worth it?” I growl out.
“Erm... That’s half of our accumulated credits but we do need better equipment.” Zu reply after some thinking.
“Sure, I'm worried with prices way bigger than that.” Li’luk reply.
“I also agree, the price is very reasonable.” Li’lak also reply back.
“Remember to use some credits on us too Captain.” Su’ra say and i feel him nodding.
“I second my brother words.” Su’zu reply, still leaned to the wall.
“*Purchase complete, the material will be bought to the ship hangar when it docks.*”
“That reminds me, does everyone have their soldier license and it’s military grade weapons license?” I growl out my question, the back of my head resting on the vibrating wall of the bullet train.
I feel as they look at each other before nodding.
“We all do.” Zu answer on their behalf.
“Sigma, contact The Crafters pozhaluysta.” I growl out.
“*Understood.*”
“*Connection failed, they seen to be busy... A contact request as been delivered.*”
I grunt in understanding and get silent.
Falling back into sleep I find myself in front of unknown ruins, the green glow however tells me it’s no simple ruins, as I was looking around, not daring to move inside, the ruins suddenly rumbled, shaking so much that I fell into the ground.
“Unknown entity located... Scanning... Despite Entity breaking the dimensional rules it shows no hostility... Body scan complete... Despite composition entity does not break further universe rules... Conclusion: Entity is harmless... Proceeding to next inquire...”
I stay sitting, in utter silence as I feel myself being judged by something... Something big and powerful... My instincts crying tears of blood telling me to run, yet I keep myself in place, knowing I'm helpless in front of this being...
I waited my summary execution as it finish it’s analysis, but instead I find myself being released by the extreme yet controlled pressure, it’s form changing from a pulling force into a pushing one, sending me flying into the vastness of the sky and into the sea of stars so fast that I black out.
I’m startled awake by a ringing sound, my eyes open, my breath quick and erratic, the six primal wolfs that where so tranquil seconds ago spooked into aggressive reaction, taking defensive stance with me at the center.
“White, White! What happened?” Zu ask me in worry, and I force myself to relax.
“Nothing, just a nightmare.” I growl out while controlling my emotions, the primal wolfs standing down, but a keen observer will see they are ready to fight.
“*Completely awake now White?*”
I grunt, trying to relax my tense body, something that goes unnoticed by Zu because of the power armor.
“*Accepting Contact...*”
“*Hey there, did ya call me?*” One of the members from The Crafters ask me.
“Da, I want to order two scout armor, stock, and three combat exoskeleton suits, stock too, I'll pay the exo's in advance, but for the rest you’ll need to wait before we return to Beta stratta, deal?” I growl out.
“*That’s a tall order right there mister, let me ask leader...*” He goes silent for some time.
“*I’m back, I got a ok from leader, she says you’re cool, so the rest can wait, just send the credits and if you’re lucky the armors will be waiting for you when you return. Signing off.*” The guy reply before ending the contact.
I take my personal tricorder and send 60.000 credits for the three stock avali combat Exo.
“Money is running thin, but not for long.” I growl out and get up along with Zu.
The bullet train reached it’s intended destination, but further cargo transfers will need the rest to the tracks repaired, and some hive zergs dealt with, nothing a good a good orbital bombardment can’t deal with.
While walking out of the bullet train into the station of the colony we get many eyes on us because of the six primal wolfs following me.
“Did we get the... Girls? On the databank?” I growl out to Sigma as I and the boys walk to the area where the Viking and the Drop module are being unloaded.
“*Affirmative, all six female primal zergs are accounted for, they can be identified when opening your identity, there is no need for further identification due to your unique psionic wavelength.*”
I nod as Sigma finish giving her two cents.
I watch as different races group together to unload both my Viking and Drop module, one of the races in particular gather my interest.
“Ey, aren’t those the walking toasters?” I growl out in wonder.
“Hahaha, that’s a old nickname for our race, the Protogens.” I hear a female voice and see a female protogen.
“Privet, you all don’t seem to mind the nickname.” I growl out a question at the girl.
“Nope, we heard it so much from the humans that we got used to it, you can even find it on the history codex of our race.” She say while laughing, giving me a tongue.
I chuckle, a feral growl leaving along with it.
“Wow, very deep and feral voice you have for someone... Not so small.” She chuckle back.
“A perk of being a Cyber super soldier.” I growl out while shrugging, watching the Loader, a modular mech designed for hauling help get my Drop module down.
“Captain, the girls are back.” Su’ra say while pointing to the direction.
I see each of the girls carrying a canister with Erchius fuel while coming my way and waving, I wave back and give both brothers a look before heading for my Viking, the Su brothers look at each other before following me.
“Hey, Loader, job’s done here, I'll take the Viking myself.” I growl out after getting beside the mech pilot.
Don’t know if it was my voice or my words, but they did not take it with stride, but after seeing my power armor they give way.
Jumping into my Viking I give it some natural maneuvers, the metal frame keeping the cockpit and the Viking separated from one another opening manually and letting me jump inside.
While there’s almost no space to maneuver, there is enough to fiddle around, and after some try I find how the refueling works.
“Ready, just need the fuel.” I growl out loud and see Su’ra jump on the entrance of the cockpit, soon a fuel canister is bought inside by him of which I take and refuel the Viking, this process happen two more times before I start my Viking and move out of the bullet train, each step heavy.
The station crew looks with awe as I walk past the Loader, despite being the same size and all, it works so much slower than my Viking.
“Ready to return to ship?” I growl out while spinning my guns.
“Sir yes sir!” I get one heck of a happy chorus.
“THEN SUIT UP! We are leaving.” I growl out before changing into flying mode and latching to the Drop module.....