I never expected our landscaping team to become national assets, but here we are.
Welcome our new “Alternative Tactical terrain adjustment consultants.”
-lockheed executive introducing “A.T.T.A.C.” 2032
***
The moment I popped out of the slurry I looked around amazed at just how much had changed over the past few hours. I could see tracers flying across the skies cutting through clouds of the Bird models with the telltale black POOFs of flack. I watched as a couple of Samurai in flight suits flew about helping to gain air superiority alongside some other flying suits proudly bearing government military colors that had been clearly gotten from said Samurai.
Well, we were super close to what was left of DC so it did make sense there would be more fun toys here. Not like DC could do anything for itself anyway since you couldn’t protest, debate, bribe, or crazy the antithesis to death, not that DC was super important anymore anyway. I remember a couple of times they tried the protest idea though. The hive nearby was a bitch to deal with afterwards according to reports.
Anyway, just as I knew there were not many Samurai in the area. I could see the red white and blue of Uncle Sam’s missiles and rockets flying about, the HUGE plumes of flack from Sally Shrapnel, and the huge line leading to Arsenal’s setup. I chuckled knowing that Arsenal’s REAL nickname was Arse-and-all, but kept it to myself. They did good work.
“Alright Anachronist!” Eager Eagle cawed out. “Let's get you where you would work best. Considering how you handled that machine gun, maybe we could put you on the front line so you can farm even more points!”
I paused and listened. I could hear the roar of rockets, the clatter of guns, and the booms of cannons that drowned out the screams and yelling of men and women. There was one sound that I could not hear though:
Artillery.
“We got any howitzers in the area?” I asked Eager Eagle who sighed.
“No, not yet.” He confessed as he rubbed his head. “The missiles are having limited effect as well. Something is guiding the Model 1s to block any incoming missiles so we can’t hit the hive directly. It's not too far out, but it's buried in the ground by impact so direct fire can’t hit it either. What limited artillery like mortar systems we have are not penetrating the ground enough.”
Oh. It's time. “I need a large open area.” I start walking towards Arsenal’s area. There had to be a few idle soldiers waiting to be upgraded to steal for manning what I was about to buy.
“We have a few areas since the logistics teams are still setting up. We thought we would need more room but some of the bunker system is proving to be already what we needed so there are lots of open areas.”
I bet the owner of the bunker was having the best day of his life PR wise.
“Alright. Byllona what are my options?”
~Your tier two catalogue has a few options that would prove to be very effective. There is the Ground render mark two, the Nest cracker 3, and the one I bet you will pick is the “Affront to the old gods.” It would be a tier three or four with its destructive abilities but it is fully immobile and takes some time to be adjusted. On top of that its ammo is not cheap either.~
As I saw the image flick onto my augs I couldn’t help but laugh. “Price?”
~10,000 points. 100 per shot.~
I let out a long whistle. It would eat into my funds for sure, but I was armored up and we needed a solution more than I needed points.
“Let's do it. Hey, Eager Eagle. This is how much room I need.”
I had Byllona send him the dimensions and he audibly squawked. “YOU JUST BECAME A SAMURAI! How can you afford something that flocking big!?”
~Oh he was just getting cuter and cuter~.
“I spent over an hour just killing.” I pointed out. “I’m willing to splurge on this.”
He let out a long sigh and looked up. I tapped the side of my head to join in on the conversation I knew was going on.
“-the fuck!? He became a Samurai?” An all too familiar voice piped in.
“You know him?” Eager chirped in confusion.
“Yes the family is WELL aware of him.”
I beamed in pride at hearing that.
“And he is probably in the conversation already. JACK-“ there was a pause and a sigh. “-fuck this is going to take some getting used to. Anachronist. Do you really need ALL that space?”
I chuckled a bit. “Rodger dodger Bobber.” I cooed, enjoying the ability to annoy the shit outta him at long last. “And I will be leaving what I put there. Both for static defense for the future and so that the Family R and R team can get a goooood look at it.”
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
He grumbled a bit before sighing. I think there was a curse under that breath, but whatever. “Alright. Cleared. And make sure nobody is near that area since I don’t know what Ari- I mean ANACHRONIST is putting down, but it's Samurai tech so lets err on the side of caution.”
I gave a nod and Eager Eagle gave me a thumbs up.
“Alright. Over here should work.” Eagle guided me to a huge open field by Arsenal’s distribution point. It was clear it had been set aside for a tent city, but with the bunker system so well done it was left unneeded.
I waved to Arsenal who was passing out guns and armor to soldiers. A nice- okay a nice gal today judging by her chest plate who specialized in logistics. They got their points by passing out Samurai tech to soldiers who did the killing for her. She allowed the Family and some of the mil corps to buy those weapons from the soldiers in exchange for them running background checks on anyone about to be armed.
That meant a long line of trained military personnel currently doing nothing.
“Byllona, start setting up while I get a crew.” I cooed as I walked up to the line. “OI!” I yelled out getting everyone’s attention. When a Samurai demanded your attention you gave it after all.
“Who is trained in ballistic artillery? I’m bringing the fuck off gun and need a crew of strong bastards to help me run it!”
The line looked at each other for a while. It was a dangerous thing to volunteer in the military, and now a SAMURAI was asking for volunteers. After a bit a few people shrugged and stepped forward.
“Alright, what we handlin’?” One dude that clearly had body mods to help him lift heavy things.
“That.” I smugly stated pointing behind me with a thumb just in time for the ‘purchase’ to be ‘delivered.’”
A spine tingling crack later and all talking stopped. I looked around taking in the sights of everyone’s heads looking at the same spot and slowly moving up almost in unison.
“The ‘Affront to the Old Gods.’ I stated as I turned to admire the canon so large it would make the Gustav from world war 2 blush. Its massive barrel almost a middle finger to the world as the dark metal clashed with the blue skies.
The barrel itself had two massive supports under it to help keep the barrel from bending under its own weight with built in hydraulics to act as shock absorbers. The main part of it was like an old school artillery gun with two huge triangular mounts to let the gun tilt up and down with the base featuring massive tracks to allow the cannon to turn. The breach was at the rear with a crane and elevator to help load what would have to be MASSIVE shells with everything clearly able to angle itself so that the crew could load without the gun having to return to a “resting” position.
The controls were in a small metal box on the right of the cannon well up in the air with a ladder leading up to it. While it did have a window as big as the gun was I bet there was some sort of screen system inside for targeting.
“Niiiiiice.” I heard Arsenal whistle out before she hopped up and jogged up to me. “Soooooo. Got ammo?” She asked as she stood next to me.
“You just want a chance to shoot the big gun.” I countered pretending to be cross.
“Duh.”
“Fair enough. I got ammo but I bet you have something juicier. Wanna split the hive points?” I offered as I motioned to the canon.
She just looked at me as a huge shell appeared next to the loading ramp. It was twice the height of a normal person and made of a dark metal with a red spiral down the side.
“Bunker buster round. Goes deep then pops with a dash of incendiary.” She explained.
“Alright boys!” I pointed at the strongest men. “You four, load.” I pointed at a couple of others. “You handle the breach.” I then started to climb up the ladder before pointing at the last man. “I don’t wanna babysit this thing so you get to come and learn how to aim and fire.”
The man squeed and rushed for the ladder. I can’t blame him at all really. How often do you get to be the one that gets to be the main gunner for such a gun. Sure his life after the fight was going to be a nightmare of documenting things, but a promotion was in the bag for sure.
I settled down in the hard metal seat watching as the mono color screen in front of me flashed before quickly calculating a trajectory. I grabbed the control sticks and slowly started to adjust the gun, shivering as I felt the big beast shuddering as it slowly turned towards where the hive was.
On the screen I could see the arch and the projected impact circle slowly get closer and closer to the mound before it finally lined up and flashed indicating it was ready to fire. I looked over at the screens showing a live feed from the loading area watching as the men and women strained pushing the massive shell into the breach before a breach that could probably withstand a nuke was swung into place.
It was nice that it was designed to be loaded no matter where it was aiming. As slow as it moved it would have been a bitch and a half to put it in a loading position after every shot.
~Target is aligned. Ready for firing. Lets give these boys and girls a show.~
I laughed and started to record things with my Aug. “A part of me wishes the plants were smarter so we could actually shock and awe them.” I gripped the firing lever and took a breath. “But ah well. Now. Cool line…. AH!”
I tensed getting ready to pull the lever.
“From dust you came-“ I yanked the lever back. “-and to dust I shall return you fucks!”
The ground shook and the clouds parted as the gun fired. Shit. “firing” felt like a goddamn understatement. The gun infernoed as it fired its shell into the heavens. The barrel letting out a cloud and ball of fire that probably would have shredded upper level antithesis on its own as it flung its shell into the sky.
“Byllona, binocs.” I called out.
~10 points. Here you go.~
I felt the binocs drop into my hands and slammed them against my mask to see the hole-to-be.
I watched seeing model 1s and some bigger flying fucks trying desperately to gather above the hive to block the shell. I got to see in beautiful gory glory as the shell slammed right through the cloud spraying the ground below before it hit the mound. A gyser of earth flew into the sky knocking a few more of the smaller bastards out of the air as well.
Then the mound heaved.
Then the fire came forth.
I watched as the hill split open and fire, earth, antithesis, and whatever else was in that hill was flung into the air.
~Massive damage has been done to the hive, but it still needs a few more hits.~
Good. I wanted to get some front line fun. Judging by the swarm pouring out of the hill I was going to have quite a lot of fun.
“Alright, have fun!” I told the new gunner as I had Byllona spawn them some more basic high explosive shells to hammer the hive with.
“I am going to help out the front lines.”