Sharron called seconds after I backed away from the street. “You still alive? We lost track of you during the skirmish.”
“I’m alive, I’ve retreated in to the back of an office building. How about everyone else?”
“We had to evacuate the street, we’re currently hiding in some stores on the west side.”
I paused, “All of you?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Because I’m on the East side and that thing is still out there.”
“Fuck…” The call went quiet for a minute, she was probably discussing the situation with the others. “Wait for us, we’ll work our way around to you.”
I shook my head, not that anyone could see it. “No, our priority needs to be the hives.” Reaching out with my Augs I connected with my bears, they were mostly intact despite the model fifteens spraying them from above. “I’ll send you the majority of my regular bears, and call my main squad to back me up. I’ll try and make my way towards the farms myself and hook up with you there.”
“Are you sure?”
I stared down the hallway and out the smashed door. The massive Antithesis was pacing back and forth, and numerous lower models were beginning to flood the streets. “Positive, the longer we wait the worse things are going to get.”
The call went quiet again, when she came back on her tone was a lot more subdued, “Alright, the others agree with you. Don’t do anything stupid out there.”
“Stay safe.” As soon as the call ended I sent most of my bears into cover on the West side of the street. “Nyx can you please give command of the bears I just sent into cover to Aeonys or one of the other AIs?”
Are you sure you want to do that? You’re kinda isolated out here.
“Do I want to do it? No, but it’s the right choice. I just need to hold out until I can get Spooky and the boys to my location.” I paused, sending a command for my boys to make their way East. Rather than staying put I moved further back into the building, looking for a rear exit. “By the way… I can’t connect to Bob.”
I’m not surprised, those blows exceeded anything I have on record.
Will he recover?
I’m unsure. If either his primary or backup processor survived, and the auto repair doesn’t fail, he may be able to get back on his feet.
“Fuck… what the hell was that anyways?”
I don’t know.
“You don’t know?”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Believe it or not I don’t have all the answers. Remember I said the Antithesis can integrate DNA from lifeforms to create new models, well now you’ve seen the results.
I stopped, “That’s from earth? Bullshit.”
Peacock Mantis Shrimp, south pacific habitat. Should have been extinct.
“Fuck, you’re not joking.”
No, no I’m not. According to my records they grew to an average of six inches long. Considering the habitat, and extreme size, the Antithesis must have assimilated the DNA quite awhile ago.
“Shit… suggestions?”
Find a place to bunker down until your reinforcements arrive. Without that mech clearing the area the lower models are going to flood the area.
While we were talking I found my way to the back of the building. I decided to risk a quick glance out the window, the street was absolutely covered in Antithesis. I could even see a couple double digits rushing around out there. I immediately ducked down, I didn’t want to get spotted by some random Antithesis right now.
“I’m not going out there without a plan, and maybe some heavier weapons.”
If you fight in the street you’ll open yourself to the fifteens up on the tanks, you’re better off fortifying this location.
I glanced back towards the front of the building. I was currently in some sort of waiting room, fairly open and there was only one hallway leading further back into the building. From what I’d seen of the rest of the building it was mostly narrow corridors, cubicle farms, and tiny offices.
“I’ll fortify the entrance to that hallway, fill this room and the hallway behind me full of mines, and try to hold out until reinforcements arrive.” I checked on my backup again. They were making their way through some buildings further south, but had to make a major detour due to that monstrosity. It was probably going to take them thirty minutes to cut their way to me at their current pace. “Nyx, can you adjust my mines so that only the Antithesis will trigger them? I may have to get out of here fast, and I’d rather not blow myself up.”
Easily. What types of mines do you want?
“AP as far out as you can place them, shards closer to my barricade. Do I have enough for an XR, or is there maybe an upgraded model available in the new catalog?”
There are better rail and anti-armor cannons available, but they’re all heavier emplacements which would be nearly impossible for you to move solo. That being said, when you have sufficient forces there are a couple options which could probably take down that new Antithesis, or other models in the mid twenties, quite easily.
“That’s great. If I survive long enough for my bears to get here I may consider them.” I sighed then gestured at the back of the room. “Please create a sandbag wall surrounded by razor wire around the entrance to that hallway, but leave me enough space to get in. Then block up the other side with whatever obstacle works best.”
Purchased
Six feet of Sandbags and Razor wire - 6 points
Installable Bulkhead door - 10 points
Conventional AP Mine 15 x 2 - 30 points
Cryo Shard Mine 5 x 5 - 25 points
Auto redeployment enabled
Points remaining: 995 points
The sandbags appeared, further down the corridor a huge metal plate appeared, it looked similar to the bulwark Sharron and I used at the police station. It wasn’t much to work with, but it’d have to do. Looking over my meager defenses I made one last decision. “Nyx if I have the points please give me two basic bears, two Rippers, and XR.”
Purchased
Class I modular autonomous combat unit x 2 - 300 points
M-93 Ripper Heavy Machine Gun x 2 - 100 points
XR-42 Heavy Railgun - 50 points
Points Remaining: 545 points
As my backup popped out of their packaging and set up their guns I brought my LCARS up and aimed at the street. “Here goes nothing.”