The storm broke before dawn. Prescott’s rare tranquility shattered with the roar of explosions and the wail of alarms. The Iron Tide had struck with brutal precision, their reinforcements arriving like an unstoppable wave. Enemy craft tore through the skies, their contrails streaking across the horizon as key sites came under siege.
In the command center, General Patton stood at the central holo-table, his imposing frame dominating the room. His voice cut through the chaos with practiced authority. “Reports from Sectors three and seven. They’re targeting the mines and production facilities. If they take those, Prescott is finished.”
An officer nearby grimaced. “Sir, we’re already stretched thin. The Goblins are holding, but the enemy’s reinforcements outnumber us.”
Patton’s steely gaze swept the room. “We don’t have time to dwell on what we don’t have. Mobilize all available units. The mines are the priority—without those resources, we won’t last a week. And get me Kovacs. Now.”
***
Back in the workshop, Kovacs’s heart pounded as the alarms echoed faintly through the thick walls. The urgency of the situation was unmistakable. His gaze darted to the Gremlins, standing silent but imposing on their platforms, their sleek designs a stark contrast to the heavier Goblins that had been the backbone of Prescott’s defense. He knew these prototypes could tip the scales—but only if they were ready in time.
The doors burst open, and a runner from Command called out breathlessly, “Kovacs! General Patton says the Gremlins need to be combat-ready now! Sector seven is about to fall!”
Kovacs nodded sharply, his focus narrowing. “They’ll be ready,” he replied, his voice steady but urgent. “Tell the General two hours, no less.”
The runner hesitated for a moment, then bolted out. Kovacs turned to his crew, already gathering at the foot of the platforms, their expressions a mix of tension and determination.
“Listen up!” Kovacs called, his voice cutting through the din of machinery. “We’re skipping the last tests. These mechs are going live, and they need to function perfectly. No errors, no oversights. If you see something wrong, fix it—immediately.”
He gestured toward the lead engineer, Mira, who was already scrolling through diagnostic data on a nearby console. “Mira, double-check the targeting systems. Make sure the neural interface is calibrated properly—we can’t afford misfires in the field.”
“On it,” Mira replied, her hands flying over the console.
Kovacs turned to another crew member, an older mechanic named Davis. “Davis, inspect the engines on all units. The power cores are untested under sustained combat conditions, so monitor the thermal output closely. If there’s even a hint of overheating, I want to know about it.”
“Got it,” Davis said, grabbing a toolkit and heading toward the first Gremlin.
“And Kelly,” Kovacs continued, addressing a younger technician near the assembly bay, “get those weapon loadouts finalized. The quad-barrel laser and missile racks need to be synced with the targeting systems. If there’s any lag in the response time, you’ll be the first one out there testing it.”
Kelly gave a nervous laugh. “I’ll make it perfect, boss.”
Satisfied with the pace, Kovacs strode toward the control console, his eyes flicking between the schematics on his screen and the Gremlins towering over the team. As he reviewed the status reports, a thought struck him. He turned back to his crew.
“Where are the test pilots?” he asked, his voice cutting through the buzz of activity. “I need them here now.”
Mira looked up from her station. “I thought they were already assigned.”
“They were,” Kovacs replied, his tone firm. “But I want them here, prepped, and debriefed before we launch. These mechs are different. They’re faster, more responsive—if they’re not ready to handle that, it’s going to be a disaster.”
Kelly glanced up from her work. “I’ll grab them, Mr. Kovacs. Should I have them suited up?”
“Yes,” Kovacs said. “And make sure they’ve reviewed the neural interface protocols. If they can’t sync with the system, they’re not flying.”
Kelly nodded and sprinted out of the workshop.
Kovacs let out a breath and turned back to the team. “This isn’t just another mech,” he said, his voice quieter but no less intense. “The Gremlins are the edge we’ve been waiting for. But if we rush this and something goes wrong, that edge will cut us instead. Stay sharp. Let’s make this work.”
The team redoubled their efforts, the hum of tools and the clang of metal echoing through the workshop. Kovacs felt the weight of the moment pressing down on him, but he refused to let it show. This wasn’t just about machines—it was about Prescott’s survival.
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As he returned to the console to review the deployment plans, the distant sound of artillery fire reminded him that time was slipping away. But with his team and the test pilots soon on-site, the Gremlins would be ready. They had to be.
***
On the front lines, Jackie’s squad was dug in at Sector seven, where the enemy was making their heaviest push. Smoke billowed across the battlefield, and the ground trembled with the impact of artillery fire. Her Goblin’s sensors pinged incessantly, warning of enemy units closing in from multiple directions.
“Steady!” Jackie commanded over the comms, her voice sharp but calm. “Let them come. Rina, keep an eye on the left flank. Quinn, don’t let them box us in.”
Ahead, the Iron Tide’s mechs emerged from the smoke—a wave of light and medium units, their black and crimson markings unmistakable even through the haze. Jackie’s HUD pinged repeatedly as it identified at least a dozen hostiles. The odds weren’t good—far more than her squad could comfortably handle.
“Command, this is Stewart,” she said into her comms, her voice clipped but controlled. “Sector seven is engaged. We’re heavily outnumbered. Requesting reinforcements.”
The reply came quickly, this time from Captain Voss, her immediate superior. His voice was steady, but urgency edged his words. “Sergeant Stewart, reinforcements are en route. A squad of Shermans is moving in from the eastern ridge. Their orders are to harass the enemy from the rear—scatter their formation and disrupt their momentum. They are not to engage fully. The Gremlins will follow to reinforce your position. Hold the line.”
“Yes, sir,” Jackie replied, her mind already calculating how to coordinate the additional support. The weight of his orders settled heavily on her shoulders, but she pushed the tension aside. “You heard the Captain,” she said, switching back to her squad’s channel. “Hold the line. No retreat.”
The Goblins moved into a tighter formation, their laser systems humming as they prepared for the Iron Tide’s advance. Coordinated bursts of fire lit up the battlefield as Jackie’s squad engaged the enemy, slowing their momentum but unable to halt the relentless push.
Jackie’s Goblin shuddered as it absorbed a glancing hit to its side, the impact rattling her in the cockpit. She adjusted her position, returning fire with pinpoint accuracy, taking down one of the lighter mechs that had broken too far ahead of its formation.
“Quinn, watch your right!” Jackie barked into the comms as an enemy unit circled toward his flank. “Rina, cover him and hold that side!”
“Yes, Sergeant!” Rina’s voice crackled back as her Goblin shifted to intercept, a precise burst of laser fire driving the enemy back into cover.
The seconds dragged like hours as Jackie’s squad fought to prevent the Iron Tide from breaching their defenses. Then her comm crackled again, this time with a new voice.
“This is Lieutenant Harlan with the Sherman squad,” came the call. “We’re in position on the eastern ridge. Beginning harassing fire.”
Jackie’s HUD updated as the Shermans came online, their heavier weapons targeting the enemy from behind. Flashes of fire lit up the rear of the Iron Tide’s formation as the Shermans opened up with concentrated bursts, scattering their lighter units and forcing the heavier mechs to reposition.
“Sherman squad, keep up the pressure,” Jackie called over the allied comms. “Disrupt them, but don’t over-commit. We’ll clean up what you push our way.”
“Understood, Sergeant,” Harlan replied. “We’ll keep them distracted.”
The shift in the battlefield was palpable. The Iron Tide’s advance faltered as their formation splintered under the Shermans’ harassing fire. Jackie seized the opportunity.
“All units,” she called to her squad, “tighten up and focus fire on the lead units. Make them regret coming this far.”
The Goblins surged forward in coordinated bursts, their lasers and missiles cutting through the chaos. Jackie’s squad held their ground with grim determination, bolstered by the disruption caused by the Shermans. For the first time since the battle began, the Iron Tide’s relentless push began to slow.
***
Back in the workshop, Kovacs watched as the first wave of Gremlins powered up, their engines humming with an otherworldly resonance. The sleek machines moved with a grace that belied their deadly purpose. Their smaller frames and advanced targeting systems made them perfect for hit-and-run tactics, and their enhanced weapons load out promised to turn the tide of battle.
A commlink activated on his terminal. General Patton’s face appeared, resolute as ever. “Kovacs, the Gremlins are cleared for deployment. We’re sending them to Sector seven to reinforce Sergeant Stewart’s squad.”
“They’re as ready as they’ll ever be,” Kovacs replied. “But tell the pilots—they’re built for speed and precision. They’re not brawlers like the Goblins.”
“They’ll get the message,” Patton said firmly. “Good work, Kovacs. Now let’s see what they can do.”
***
Jackie’s squad was on the verge of being overrun when the Gremlins arrived. Their sleek frames darted across the battlefield, their speed and agility an immediate game-changer. Equipped with heavier weapons and advanced neural targeting, the Gremlins struck with surgical precision, cutting through the enemy’s lines.
Jackie’s comm crackled. “Sergeant, reinforcements have arrived. The Gremlins are in the fight.”
She allowed herself a small, grim smile as she watched one of the new mechs take down an enemy unit with a well-placed salvo. “About time,” she muttered. “All units, coordinate with the Gremlins! Push them back!”
The Goblins and Gremlins worked in tandem, exploiting gaps in the Iron Tide’s formation. Jackie’s squad held their ground as the reinforcements tore through the enemy ranks. By the time the battle ended, the field was littered with the smoldering wreckage of Iron Tide mechs. Prescott had survived—but just barely.
***
Back in the command center, Patton surveyed the battlefield reports with a critical eye. His comm buzzed, and he opened a channel to Kovacs. “Your Gremlins made the difference today,” he said. “Good work.”
“They held up,” Kovacs replied, his exhaustion evident. “But they’ll need refinement. This pace will wear them down fast.”
“Then get back to work,” Patton said, his tone gruff but approving. “Because this war isn’t over.”
As the comm went silent, Kovacs leaned back in his chair, staring at the schematics still open on his terminal. The Gremlins had bought them time, but the Iron Tide wouldn’t stop until Prescott was theirs—or destroyed.
For now, they had won. But tomorrow, the fight would begin again.