“I assume that I unlocked new mines with the Class II Area Denial catalog, anything useful?”
To destroy Antithesis, yes. To keep the surrounding area intact, no. Most of the mines in the Class II catalog are designed to deal with even larger models than you’re currently facing, but do a lot of collateral damage. You do, however, have access to several other options.
“Like what?”
Traps that can make an entire section completely impassable to low level models. Things like Tesla coils, gas dispensers, and laser grids.
“Neat.”
Indeed
“So if I closed off the street with a laser grid…”
It would kill anything weaker than a model twelve, and injure most models under twenty.
I cracked a smile, “That’s just what I want. How much?”
Depends on how large of an area, and how long you want them running. If you want to survive a siege from all those hives I’d say ninety points to block off the street for six hours. I feel like I should mention if you want to use mines in the future you COULD deploy self replicating minefields if you unlocked the Class II Matter Reconfiguration Machines.
I shrugged, “That’s good to know, but I’m completely out of tokens.”
I’m aware. Since you’re assisting your team in destroying these hives I’m giving you half credit to you for every hive they get rid of.
I felt my eyebrows raise, “That’s actually really helpful. I still have a ton of catalogs I want to unlock, but that can wait until after we’re done here. For now points are the priority.”
If you manage to draw the Antithesis away from those hives I imagine you’ll be swimming in points before long.
I ran my hand through my hair, trying to prioritize everything I’d need in the next few minutes. It was an extensive list. “Alright Nyx, this is what I think I need right now, at a minimum. Wall off the other three sides of the intersection, laser grid off all the streets, and put an APS on the three new walls.” I paused, inspecting the metal wall in front of me. “And then we need something to deploy flesh melters to keep those grids clear.”
That’s a lot of hardware, I assume you have a plan?
“I do, I’m going to plant a lure right in the middle of this intersection and keep the Antithesis attacking until the hives are all dead, or the team falls back.” After a few seconds I threw my thumb back towards the truck, “Also, make a note that I need a secure storage area in the truck that I can leave a lure in. Spending a thousand points every incursion might not be a ton of points, but it adds up.”
Noted. If you want, I can repurpose a Class I APS system to fire flesh melters whenever you want. They’ll cost forty points a piece.
"Totals Nyx, can I afford it all?"
The defenses will cost you 874 points, and another thousand for the lure. You just need a few more kills.
“Fine, don’t buy the lure right away, but make sure you reserve the points. Put everything else up when I have enough.” I once again pulled up Spooky’s view and examined the street below. “I’ll also want a mix of Shard mines and Adhesive mines beyond the wall, and a couple more drones to find that oversized shellfish before it shows up.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Adhesive mines?
“Yeah, if something survives the laser grid, the bears, and the shard mines I need something to hold it in place long enough for me to bring something bigger to bear.”
That’s understandable. You just passed the threshold.
Purchased
36m Bear-acade wall (12 x 3m section) - 108 points
24m Bear-acade wall with gate (3 x 8m section) - 96 points
High Frequency Laser Grid x4 - 360 points
PAWS APS system x3 = 150 points
Automated Flesh Melter delivery System x4 = 160 points
Points remaining: 1000
Almost instantly the intersection where I was standing went from a barren roadway to a veritable fortress. Each side of the intersection was now blocked off by five metal wall panels. Four heavy wall panels, split into two sections, with a heavily reinforced gate in the middle. Outside the wall there was a steady, low pitched hum.
I sent a quick command to the three artillery bears to man the three new walls, then climbed up on the north wall with the rest of my squad. There was still a steady stream of Antithesis coming down the street, but now instead of being shot they reached a point approximately fifty feet down and literally fell apart.
The Model Threes bounded through the nearly invisible laser wall, only to be sliced into several equal parts. The fours were slower, but thankfully they had a lot of mass so when they hit the grid the momentum carried their corpses straight through. There was quite a pile of sliced up alien plants building up in the middle of the road.
I eyed the side of the street, there was a metal structure there but it was hard to make out any details from this distance. “How high does that go?” I asked.
About ten feet. They CAN target the emitters and attempt to disable the wall, but that would require a level of intelligence we haven’t seen in this incursion so far. I think you’re more likely to see some of the more agile models try and go around once the street gets a little busier.
“You make it sound like the Antithesis are just going to flood the area trying to get to me.”
When you set up your lures before you were just pulling the dregs out of the surrounding area. What you’re attempting to do now is simulate a hive emergency signal, within an Antithesis controlled area, while who knows how many hives pump out new models. This is going to be a whole other level compared to anything you’ve experienced before.
That being said… Between the catalogs you’ve unlocked, and the preparations you’ve already made, you’re in an excellent position to repel the antithesis.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, I guess.”
Just pay attention, the Antithesis will take advantage of any weaknesses in your defenses. All it’ll take is one momentary lapse and they’ll break through.
“Thanks, that NEVER occurred to me." I paused, taking in a deep breath, "This isn’t my first time fighting the Antithesis, I know it’s not going to be straight forward.”
Your sarcasm doesn’t help the situation.
“It makes me feel better, and this is a VERY stressful situation right now.”
The two of us fell into silence, and I just watched the Antithesis rip themselves apart on the lasers for a minute. Once I felt that I had built up enough nerve I turned away from the edge of the wall and jumped down.
“I want a call out when I get the points from the convoy, every time I hit a thousand points, and every time I unlock a token, but keep the chatter minimal otherwise. Just deploy the mines and drones the instant I have the points.”
Understood.
After a couple steps I reached the middle of my little fort. “Lure.”
Purchased
Large Antithesis Lure - 1000 points
Points Remaining: 64 points
I stared at the device for a moment, hesitating just for a moment before flipping the switch on the side. Almost immediately a new hum filled the area, the air changed, and from the north I could hear a veritable stampede approaching my location.
Grabbing my rifle I rushed back to the wall. As soon as I reached the top I saw a veritable wave of Antithesis pouring down the street, they were packed together so thick that when a model stumbled it was instantly trampled by its peers. It was more than a little intimidating.
I slowly raised my rifle, aiming at the middle of the oncoming horde. They were just moments away from hitting the fence. “Nyx, if I try to do this in the future remind me how much of an idiot I am.”
Noted