C. A. Reed Jr.
2nd January 2005, 06:07 PM
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Part 3 - Endgame
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Bubble Gum Crisis is copyrighted by Artmic Inc. and Youmex, Inc. I am
just borrowing the characters for a little while, and promise not to
bend, fold, or staple them - unless I can come up with a good reason to
do so. I can be contacted at the Email address above. C&C will be
accepted, out and out flames will result in a Boomer or two being sent
after you, once they get around to inventing them.
Please, enjoy my take on the Bubble Gum Crisis universe.....
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Chapter 37
Gulf and Bradley Biomechanical Research Institute
District 5
December 23, 2035
4:55am
Skeeter glanced at his watch. "Gawaine Six to all units," he
said quietly into his transmitter, "Move out on my command. Rattler
Four, we need a foot in the door. South side, near the parking lot."
//Understood,// replied the gunship's pilot. //One doorknocker
coming up in thirty seconds.//
From the alleyway, the giant stared across the street at the
large, multistory building that rose up into the night sky. The Gulf
and Bradley Biomechanical Research Institute was an ugly mass of steel,
concrete, and glass that reminded Skeeter of a overweight pyramid. It
occupied a three block section of the city among the slowly decaying
apartment buildings and office towers of the district, like a diamond
on a pile of rags. A five meter tall white wall separated the Research
Institute from the surrounding decay, with watchtowers in each corner
of the rectangular boundary. Almost like a fairy-tale castle.
That image is about to change, the Gang leader thought. He
stepped back into the alley and adjusted the modified heavy machine gun
slung across his back. He l ooked at his other members of the strike
team waiting with him in the alleyway. Twenty-five of his people were
going in with the Black Knight team, while the two armored cars, their
crews, and a squad of snipers would stay outside and guard their backs.
He looked over at Doc. "They still snoozing?"
The weaponsmith looked up from a hand-held monitor. "What
passes for defense patrols inside those walls has no conception that
we're about to accost them," he said softly. "Their astonishment should
be complete. Also, Rodent has communicated that his clansmen have
severed the communications lines conveying out of the institute."
"What about the jamming?"
Doc gave him a look of suffering. "In position and arranged to
commence on your utterance."
"Are your people in place?"
"Any vehicles that try to abscond from the complex will be
eradicated."
"Hey, Boss," said Hosokoawa, who was standing next to Doc.
"What happens if the ADP show up? We've got enough on our plates
without having to dance with them too."
"If our luck holds we're be free and clear before those bums
show up. If they or the N-police show up, we pull the plug and get the
hell out. Disengage and run, clear?"
The troops nodded. Doc smiled. "Mr. Phillips is presently
fabricating preparations to dampen any hasty rejoinder of our actions
by the public constabulary."
Hosokoawa scowled as he tried to make sense of what Doc had
said. Skeeter smiled slightly at Hosokoawa's expression. "Phillips is
setting up some delaying obstacles just in case the Police do show up."
"Oh."
Skeeter held out a fist to Doc. "Well, good luck and good
hunting, brother."
The two friends slapped fists just as Rattler Four said,
//Making my attack run now -- fifteen seconds. Still no reaction from
the target's defenses.//
Doc dashed down the alley, through the assembled strike team,
heading towards the armored car at the far end. Skeeter watched him go,
then turned and looked at the Research Institute with it's gleaming
white walls and glittering glass.
//Birds away!//
"Everyone down!" shouted Skeeter, and the entire team dropped
onto the damp concrete, patches of snow, and cold mud. Without being
order to, they covered their heads and flattened themselves as much as
possible.
The first two missiles came screaming in from about Skeeter's
head, sounding like banshees as the passed over the alley and slammed
into the perimeter wall, taking a twenty meter stretch of the barrier
and the corner watchtower apart in the blink of an eye. As the sound of
the explosion tore through the night sky, two more missiles crashed
into the wall, ripping another breach in the wall.
//Knock, knock. Rattler Four to Gawaine Six, the door is open.
Oh boy, is it ever open!//
Skeeter surged to his feet. As he did so, he saw the Black
Knight team dropping into the street and start charging for the first
hole. He stepped out into the street and unslung his machine gun.
"Squads One, Three, and Five -- take the far breach! Squads Two and
Four with me!"
In a matter of seconds, the street was filled with armed
warriors surging for the destroyed walls.
********** ********** **********
G&B Research lab G-46
MegaTokyo, Japan
December 23, 2035
4:57am
Mclaren felt someone shake him roughly out of a sound sleep.
"What the hell is it?" he shouted. "Stop shaking me!"
"We got problems," replied Jiro Kurokawa. "Explosion up at
ground level."
Mclaren opened an eye to glare at him. "So?"
"The phones are dead, as are all communication links to the
outside. Also, all access ways to the surface have been locked down.
We're trapped."
Mclaren sat up. "Are you sure?" Kurokawa nodded.
"Damm it," Mclaren growled. "The first decent night's sleep
I've gotten in six months, ruined because of some idiot set off an
explosion! Where are the boomer guards? Their link with the fellows
upstairs should still work."
"We haven't seen any."
"Then go find one! Where's the most secure place on this floor?"
"Storage room in the northwest corner."
"Start getting everyone organized, just in case it's something
more then an accident. Any chance to maybe reviving a boomer quickly to
give us a hand?"
Kurokawa shook his head. "It'll take three hours minimum, and
that's with cutting all safety measures."
Mclaren ran his hand through his hair. "How many techs do we
have down here?"
"Close to a dozen."
"Right. See if we can jury-rig a couple of the spare Boomer
weapons, in case we need them to break out of here or to fend off an
attack."
A distant explosion occurred for somewhere over their heads.
Kurokawa looked up. "That sounded closer then the first one," he said,
looking worried.
Mclaren felt his blood crow cold. "I think we are under attack."
"But who?"
"How the hell should I know?" snapped Mclaren. "But if it isn't
related to those two damm fool idiot Bradleys, then I'll become a
monk."
Another explosion echoed thorough the building above them.
Kurokawa heading for the door. "I don't know about you becoming a monk,
my friend, but I think you might want to start practicing your praying.
We may need it."
********** ********** **********
ARNPTSE Storage Compound
District 9
December 23, 2035
4:57am
"Galahad Six to all teams -- status check."
Chika Kamayawa waited for her squad leaders to check in. As she
did so, she stared out over the compound before her through a broken
window. She had chosen an abandon factory across the street from the
main entrance of the warehousing complex for her observation post. The
factory was a gutted eyesore, like so much of the area, but still sound
enough for her purposes.
The storage area was near the docks, brightly lit and fairly
secured. It was mostly just a large, level place where consignments
that were in transit were stored in large, sheet-iron structures until
the were loaded onto the next ship going to the shipment's destination.
Around the boundary, a pair of thick, chain mail fences, four meters
apart and topped with barb wire, prevented all but the most determined
attempts. A pair of squat, three story-tall office buildings, dubbed
Chalice One and Chalice Two in the plan, occupied the front two corners
of the land.
As an wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf and Bradley, ARNPTSE
handled mostly G&B cargos. But the intelligence reports indicated that
this was probably where the twins stored the Boomers they were
stockpiling for their attack on GENOM. Chika's mission was locate all
Boomer stockpiles and destroy them. Unlike her leader's attack, hers
was suppose to be more finesse then brute strength. But Chika was a
great believer in Murphy's Law, and expected trouble.
//Galahad Red -- In place.// That was the attached Black Knight
team, positioned in the wasteland to the south of the warehouses. They
were making the recon run, their hardsuit's sensor systems superior to
anything Doc could come up with.
//Galahad Blue -- ready.// Two squads of her people, carrying C-
9 and RDXI plastique explosives charges, stationed with the Knights.
Once the Knights had pinpointed a storage location, Blue would move in
and plant the charges while the Knights guarded them.
//Galahad Green -- ready.// Three more squads of her people and
two of the homegrown armored cars, located in the factory below her.
They were functioning as both security and a reserve force, in case
things went to slime.
//Galahad Black in position.// Chika couldn't see the gunship
in the night sky, but she knew it was there, ready to supply an
offensive punch if needed. Until then it would circle and watch out for
any areal threat to the operation.
//Nightlight will be ready in one -- wait, Nightlight is
green.// That was one of her people stationed outside the nearest
electrical relay station to the storage yard. As soon as she gave the
word, several blocks of plastique would turn the main relay board into
electrical scraps, hopefully shutting down the lights and electrical
alarms long enough for her team to do the job.
"Anyone see the guard boomers?' Chika asked, peering through a
pair of binoculars.
//Negative, Six,// said the leader of the Black Knight team.
//Do we wait?//
Chika thought for a moment. "Negative. We go in one. Green, be
ready to move on my say-so."
//We're close, Six.//
//Blue to Six. Two-boomer patrol, at two-thirty, four hundred
meters, near the crane.//
The raven-haired women swung her binoculars over to where the
report mentioned. She saw the pair almost at once, moving slowly and
carefully on all four feet. "I've got them," she said. "They look like
standard K-9 types. Can you avoid them, Red?"
//It shouldn't be too hard, Six,// replied the Knight's leader.
//I'm more concerned abut the ones I don't see.//
"Red, is there any way you can tap into the storage system for
this place to see if we can narrow down the area?"
//Negative Six. The system is limited to the offices in the
main buildings, plus these shipments are very likely not in the system
anyway. We're going to have to do this the hard way.//
"We've wasted enough time. Nightlight, go."
There were several seconds of delay, then the sound of a
distant explosion reached her ears. The light in the compound
flickered, then went out, plunging the entire area into darkness.
"Six to Red - go"
//Already on the way.//
Chika picked up night vision goggles lying on the windowsill in
front of her and put them on. The view was eerie, a mix of black and
green that outlined all objects in the goggle's view with varying
success. A flicker of movement in the corner of the goggle made her
shift her head slightly to focus on it. The flicker became a figure in
a hardsuit, moving carefully along the roof spine of a warehouse. Two
more hardsuited figures, on other warehouse roofs, came into view
"Six to Red," she said calmly. "I have you spotted."
//Copy, Six. And sign of Boomers?//
Chika scanned the rest of what she could see of the compound.
"Negative, Red." She saw movement near one of the office buildings.
"Hold it, I have unknown movement near Chalice Two."
Not waiting for any acknowledgment, she watched the man walked
away from the building and peer around with a flashlight providing him
with a weak light to see by. Someone, probably one of the human
security guards, had come out to take a look around. After several
seconds, the guard turned and walked back to the nearest office
building, speaking to something in his hand as he did so.
"The guards are wondering what's going on."
//I don't doubt it,// replied the Knight's leader. //Give then
another three minutes to try and call someone before they start
thinking of a possible attack.//
//Red two to Galahad Six,//cut in a new voice. // I'm picking
up a possible concentration of deactivated boomers below me.//
"Where's your location?" asked Chika, staring back out at the
figures on the rooftops.
//Building Alpha Four.// One of the trio stuck it's arm into
the air and moved it back and forth. //Permission to investigate?//
"Granted. Red team, cover her."
//Understood.// The other two figures leapt to the target's
roof and knelt next to the third figure. A brief flash of light from
the middle Knight was the only signal that an opening had been cut into
the roof of the building. One by one, the hardsuited team slipped
inside.
It was silent for ten seconds, then twenty. Chika continued to
look at the ware-house for any activity, but nothing happened. It was
another minute before something happened.
//Green Six to Galahad Six,// came the voice of Suyuri, Galahad
Green's team leader, from the floor below. //We've got multiple bad
guys coming out of the Chalices.//
Chika directed her attention back to the office buildings just
in time to see another half dozen armed security men come charging out
of the main doors of each building, joining another dozen already out
in the night. They were armed with rifles and machine guns, not
standard issue weapons for the time and place. "What the hell...."
//The Knights might have set off an alarm.//
More security types came running out of the office buildings.
There was upwards of thirty now, in a complex that wasn't suppose to
have more then six human guards at any time. "Where did these goons
come from?" Chika growled.
//I don't know, Six,// replied Suyuri, as the Gulf and Bradley
men started to spread out among the warehouses. //Somebody screwed up
on the intel for this one.//
Just then, several pops were heard, coming from the warehouses.
Those were followed by several small explosions in rapid succession.
Several of the guards still in sight slowed, then starting running hard
towards the warehouse where the sounds were coming from.
"Damm!" Chika snarled. "Galahad Six to Red Six. Unwelcome
company on the way. Can you abort?"
There were several seconds of static, then Red Six snarled,
//Negative! We are under attack from several C-class-type Boomers. We
cannot withdraw right now!//
It's a fucking trap! Her mind screamed at her. "Are the Boomers
extra security?"
//Negative!// Red Six shouted. A burst of static scrambled part
of his next transmission. //...be setting some charges of their own!//
Chika frowned. "Say again!"
//The Boomers are setting demo charges of their own! They're
planning to blow this place sky-high!//
What the...GENOM! The Gang leader's mind raced furiously. She
couldn't leave the Black Knight in trouble. Too many problems would
occur if she turned tail and ran, the least of which would be Skeeter's
anger. Which meant having to commit to an attack. But how, where? The
answer came almost as fast as the question.
"Galahad Six to all Galahad teams!" she shouted into her radio
as she starting running for the stairs. "Orders as follow: Blue team is
to move up and support Red. Use the demo charges if you have to, but
Red needs the support ASAP! Green team, We're hitting the front gate
and draw off the security goons. Black team, cover Green! All teams,
EXECUTE NOW!"
She hit the top of the stairs and started down, taking the
steps three at a time. By the time she'd cleared the last step, the two
armored cars were already clear of the building and charging for the
warehouse complex's outer fence. Chika raced after them, her orders
sharp and clear as she directed the improvised attack
The screams and battle cries of over a dozen people were mixing
with deep throated roar of engines and the solid 'thud' of a heavy
machine gun. At Chika's command, several of the gang members stopped
long enough to arm and throw satchel charges at the fence. The roar and
exploding light tore through the night air, tearing several large holes
in the outer fence, but it didn't slow the charge any. A pair of
security men staggered out of the smoke and darkness. They opened fire
at the attackers, but were quickly cut down by return fire. A pair of
K-9 Boomers suffered the same fate as they tried to follow their
programming.
A black shape roared out of the night sky and fired several
rockets at a warehouse closest to the office buildings. For a split
second after the rockets slammed through the concrete walls and
detonated, the walls bulged as if to try and contain the explosion. The
effort failed and the entire building exploded in a ball of light and
flame. The Rattlesnake swung around and held position over the
attacking force, firing missiles and mini-guns at anything moving in
the darkness near the office building.
Several more satchel charges eliminated the inner fence as an
obstacle and the attackers, led by the armored cars, stormed through
and into the compound. The machine guns in the armored cars began to
rake the office buildings with streams of lead, shattering windows and
wreaking havoc on anything in their path.
"Secure the buildings!" Chika shouted, then in radio, "Red
Team, Blue team, Status?"
A muffled thud of an explosion answered her first. //We're up
to our asses in Boomer parts,// said the Knight's team leader.
"Can you pull back towards the main gate?"
//We can sure as Hell try. Blue team should meet up with us in
about a minute. We'll move then.//
"We're keep the goon squad and pet Boomers busy for as long as
we can. Don't be late."
//Wouldn't think of it, Six. I --"//
A series of explosions ripped through several of the far
warehouses, sending large fireballs of smoke and fire into the night
air. Chika and most of the assault squad staggered as the ground shook
and a fast moving wall of air flew by them, sounding like an express
train. "What the fire of Hell is that?" she shouted, her own voice
distant and weak.
//Somebody must have set of some charges around the flammable
materials bunker!// someone shouted back.
"Who?"
//It must be those damm Boomers!//
"Shit," Chika growled. "Six to Black. Can you see anything?"
//Only that the far end of the place looks like Dante's
Inferno.// The pilot's tone was cold and brisk. //At lest five
Warehouse are on fire and it's spreading rapidly.//
"Any Boomers in site?"
//Negative. Do you want me to make a low pass?//
"No!" Chika shouted. "Between the fires and the Boomers, it's
too great a risk. Stay clear and be ready to make strafing runs if I
need them."
//Understood Six. Black is standing by.//
//Green Six to Six. Chalice one and two are secured. Do you
want us to press on?//
Chika looked at the flames that reached into the night sky.
"Negative, Green. Have your people hold here. We're holding the door
open only long enough for Red and Blue to dive through."
//Understood Six. We're holding.//
Tearing her attention away from the glowing sky, Chika dashed
towards the nearest office building. As she ran, she wondered how the
other parts of the operation were doing....
********** ********** **********
Above Gulf and Bradley - Japan Headquarters
December 23, 2035
5:00am
The KnightWing was packed with people and supplies, so much so
that Sylia was forced to stand just inside the cockpit. Both Priss and
Mackie were staying in the cockpit, Priss in her back-up hardsuit,
while Mackie was wearing a flight helmet with the visor up. He glanced
back at his sister. "Four minutes," he said softly.
Sylia nodded, then looked back into the cargo area. There was
Nene, Linna, Greg Mallory and his team, five of MALCORP's black ops
people, and Leon. Everyone was making last-second check of their
equipment.
The leader of the Knight Sabers looked at the pod at the far
end of the cabin. Cryotechnology wasn't an area she had much
familiarity in, but she knew enough about the basics to understand the
purpose of the device and why it was coming along with them.
The idea of using Cryotechnology to place humans into suspended
animation wasn't a new concept. The theories themselves were sound, but
no practical systems were yet in place. MALCORP, a leader in the field,
was the closest to the actuality. The pod, designed to transport
critically injured people to advance medical facilities over a great
distance, was less then eighteen months from going into production. The
pod was Janie's one chance to get out of the building alive.
"Are you all right?" asked Greg on their private channel. She
looked over at him, but the visor hid his expression.
She motioned with her head to the pod. "I'm worried about that.
Are you sure that's the only way?"
"If you have another way, I'm all ears."
"A bit late for that," she said pointedly.
"I'm not too happy about using it either," said Greg. "But my
people have sworn up and down that it'll work, and I believe them." His
tone changed slightly. "I have to."
Sylia looked at the ugly rifle Red Four was making final
adjustments to. "What is that weapon your EW member is carrying?"
"EMP rifle," replied Knight One. "Shoots an armor-piercing
shell that scrambles a Boomer's internal circuits. Red Four still has
his EW capability, but he's geared up for Boomer hunting tonight."
"An interesting concept," the White Saber conceded. "Any chance
of you sharing the design with me after this?"
She could hear the smile in his voice. "I think I can see
myself clear to do so."
"Two minutes," said Mackie over the loudspeaker. "No sign of
the diversionary attack yet."
"How long can we hold?" asked Greg, his voice all business now.
"No more then five minutes," replied Sylia, her voice also
efficient. "With the extra passengers and cargo, I want at least ten
minutes of fuel in reserve.
"Right." He turned to one of his team. Sylia didn't hear the
conversation, as it was on the Knight's private channel. After several
seconds, the second Knight nodded in response to something Greg had
said. Knight One looked back at Sylia. "Five minutes it is."
Sylia nodded. All they could do is wait.
********** ********** **********
Gulf and Bradley - Japan Headquarters
December 23, 2035
5:01am
Cora came running into Carlton's office, her expression a mix
of shock and anger. "We're under attack again," she said.
Carlton looked up at her. "Where?"
"The Biomechanical Research Institute. They hit the place about
five minutes ago. The reports are sketchy, all land lines are down, and
radio communications being jammed."
The chairman of Gulf and Bradley stood up. "Is it GENOM?" he
snarled.
Cora's face harden. "MALCORP."
Carlton strode around the desk. "Is the girl ready to move?"
"She is, but Kyso thinks she has only a twenty percent chance
of making it to the island alive."
"In that case, Doctor Kyso have a twenty percent chance of
reaching the island. Make sure she knows that."
Cora's smile was chilling. "I already told her as much. There's
a helicopter waiting for us on the pad."
"Everything else in place?" asked Carlton, picking up a
briefcase off the desk with one hand and a large semi-automatic pistol
with the other.
"Yes."
"Good." He smiled at his sister. "We're not beaten yet,
merely... delayed. Get the girl and I'll meet you at the helicopter."
********** ********** **********
Outside Gulf and Bradley - Japan Headquarters
December 23, 2035
5:03am
Dailey watched as the large building that housed Gulf and
Bradley's Japan headquarters grew even larger through the windshield.
While it wasn't anywhere near the size and imposing presence of GENOM
Tower, it was still a structure designed to impress the visitor.
Dailey wasn't impressed. Rather, he was tired, irritated with a
headache and a sour stomach, and in no mood for any grand gestures.
"What makes you think the Bradleys will be here?" Ko asked as
he turned into the building's driveway.
"Where the hell else are they going to be?" Dailey asked. "They
live in the damm -" His sentence was cut short as he saw the group of
armed men clustered around the building's front doors. If the rifles
and machine guns weren't enough to send the message that somebody was
nervous, the way they pointed their weapons at the unmarked police car
make that point clear.
Ko saw them too. "How do we play this?"
Before Dailey could answer, a low rumbling started. Several of
the guards started looking around. One of the pointed into the night
sky, just as a spread of missiles came out of the night and slammed
into the Gulf and Bradley headquarters building.
Several explosions rocked the front of the building, turning
night into day. Men and rubble went flying and sheets of flame rolled
out what use to be the lobby. Ko slammed on the breaks and sent the car
into a skid, as chunks of rock and metal bounced off the vehicle with
sufficient force to dent and crack the windshield and hood. The car
stopped short of the inferno.
Get us out of here!" Dailey shouted, all trace of his mood
washed away in a sea of adrenalin. Ko slammed the transmission into
reverse, wheels skidding as the car shot away from the wreckage. Not
until the car had reached a 'safe' distance from the explosions did he
slam on the breaks and stop the car.
Eyes wide, he shouted, "What the hell was that?"
"You're asking me?" counter Dailey.
Something low and loud roared over their heads. Dailey managed
to see the lean outline of a helicopter gunship as it came in for
another pass. Another one joined it and they both turned and fired
another volley of missiles into the maelstrom of fire and destruction.
"Drive us back to the corner," he directed the younger man.
Ko did so quickly, though not as fast as he done before. "Do we
call for backup?"
Several figures dropped out of the hovering helicopters and
started up the stairs. Dailey peered hard at them, cursing under his
breath as he saw they were wearing black hardsuits. A couple of the
hardsuits were carrying what looked to be multi-barreled chain guns and
short-muzzled cannons. "Against a couple of military-grade gunships and
heavily armed hardsuits?" Dailey pointed to the helicopter as it opened
fire on the lobby with several cannons in support of the hardsuits.
"We have to do something!" Ko shouted back, his face pale and
drawn
Dailey exhaled slowly. I am getting too old for this shit!
"You're right. Call Lars and get him and his people out here. Tell them
to expect trouble and to bring any heavy stuff he can get his hands
on."
"Without the chief's permission?"
"Fuck the chief's permission." He wanted a cigarette, but his
mouth was too dry. "The city's going to hell and I'm getting sick and
tired of it." Now I know how Leon feels.
Ko nodded and started speaking into the radio. Dailey watched
the hardsuits move in against the Gulf and Bradley security force.
Finally, he opened the door and got out. Ko leaned over and asked,
"Wait a minute! Where are you going?"
Dailey pulled out a stomach rifle from behind his seat. "I'm
going to check out the situation."
"Not without me you're not!" He spoke rapidly into the
microphone, and shut off the radio and got out.
Dailey gave him a tight smile. "Then grab your rifle and come
on. Maybe we can figure out something for Lars to do when he gets
here."
Ko looked at the fire wreckage and bodies. "Assuming there's
anything left."
Dailey nodded. "Assuming there's anything left."
C. A. Reed Jr.- drop everything after.com to Email
http://www.geocities.com/trboturtle -- My Fanfics (updated 8/11/03)
http://pub29.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=2453643558&cpv=1
Part 3 - Endgame
=================================================
Bubble Gum Crisis is copyrighted by Artmic Inc. and Youmex, Inc. I am
just borrowing the characters for a little while, and promise not to
bend, fold, or staple them - unless I can come up with a good reason to
do so. I can be contacted at the Email address above. C&C will be
accepted, out and out flames will result in a Boomer or two being sent
after you, once they get around to inventing them.
Please, enjoy my take on the Bubble Gum Crisis universe.....
=================================================
Chapter 37
Gulf and Bradley Biomechanical Research Institute
District 5
December 23, 2035
4:55am
Skeeter glanced at his watch. "Gawaine Six to all units," he
said quietly into his transmitter, "Move out on my command. Rattler
Four, we need a foot in the door. South side, near the parking lot."
//Understood,// replied the gunship's pilot. //One doorknocker
coming up in thirty seconds.//
From the alleyway, the giant stared across the street at the
large, multistory building that rose up into the night sky. The Gulf
and Bradley Biomechanical Research Institute was an ugly mass of steel,
concrete, and glass that reminded Skeeter of a overweight pyramid. It
occupied a three block section of the city among the slowly decaying
apartment buildings and office towers of the district, like a diamond
on a pile of rags. A five meter tall white wall separated the Research
Institute from the surrounding decay, with watchtowers in each corner
of the rectangular boundary. Almost like a fairy-tale castle.
That image is about to change, the Gang leader thought. He
stepped back into the alley and adjusted the modified heavy machine gun
slung across his back. He l ooked at his other members of the strike
team waiting with him in the alleyway. Twenty-five of his people were
going in with the Black Knight team, while the two armored cars, their
crews, and a squad of snipers would stay outside and guard their backs.
He looked over at Doc. "They still snoozing?"
The weaponsmith looked up from a hand-held monitor. "What
passes for defense patrols inside those walls has no conception that
we're about to accost them," he said softly. "Their astonishment should
be complete. Also, Rodent has communicated that his clansmen have
severed the communications lines conveying out of the institute."
"What about the jamming?"
Doc gave him a look of suffering. "In position and arranged to
commence on your utterance."
"Are your people in place?"
"Any vehicles that try to abscond from the complex will be
eradicated."
"Hey, Boss," said Hosokoawa, who was standing next to Doc.
"What happens if the ADP show up? We've got enough on our plates
without having to dance with them too."
"If our luck holds we're be free and clear before those bums
show up. If they or the N-police show up, we pull the plug and get the
hell out. Disengage and run, clear?"
The troops nodded. Doc smiled. "Mr. Phillips is presently
fabricating preparations to dampen any hasty rejoinder of our actions
by the public constabulary."
Hosokoawa scowled as he tried to make sense of what Doc had
said. Skeeter smiled slightly at Hosokoawa's expression. "Phillips is
setting up some delaying obstacles just in case the Police do show up."
"Oh."
Skeeter held out a fist to Doc. "Well, good luck and good
hunting, brother."
The two friends slapped fists just as Rattler Four said,
//Making my attack run now -- fifteen seconds. Still no reaction from
the target's defenses.//
Doc dashed down the alley, through the assembled strike team,
heading towards the armored car at the far end. Skeeter watched him go,
then turned and looked at the Research Institute with it's gleaming
white walls and glittering glass.
//Birds away!//
"Everyone down!" shouted Skeeter, and the entire team dropped
onto the damp concrete, patches of snow, and cold mud. Without being
order to, they covered their heads and flattened themselves as much as
possible.
The first two missiles came screaming in from about Skeeter's
head, sounding like banshees as the passed over the alley and slammed
into the perimeter wall, taking a twenty meter stretch of the barrier
and the corner watchtower apart in the blink of an eye. As the sound of
the explosion tore through the night sky, two more missiles crashed
into the wall, ripping another breach in the wall.
//Knock, knock. Rattler Four to Gawaine Six, the door is open.
Oh boy, is it ever open!//
Skeeter surged to his feet. As he did so, he saw the Black
Knight team dropping into the street and start charging for the first
hole. He stepped out into the street and unslung his machine gun.
"Squads One, Three, and Five -- take the far breach! Squads Two and
Four with me!"
In a matter of seconds, the street was filled with armed
warriors surging for the destroyed walls.
********** ********** **********
G&B Research lab G-46
MegaTokyo, Japan
December 23, 2035
4:57am
Mclaren felt someone shake him roughly out of a sound sleep.
"What the hell is it?" he shouted. "Stop shaking me!"
"We got problems," replied Jiro Kurokawa. "Explosion up at
ground level."
Mclaren opened an eye to glare at him. "So?"
"The phones are dead, as are all communication links to the
outside. Also, all access ways to the surface have been locked down.
We're trapped."
Mclaren sat up. "Are you sure?" Kurokawa nodded.
"Damm it," Mclaren growled. "The first decent night's sleep
I've gotten in six months, ruined because of some idiot set off an
explosion! Where are the boomer guards? Their link with the fellows
upstairs should still work."
"We haven't seen any."
"Then go find one! Where's the most secure place on this floor?"
"Storage room in the northwest corner."
"Start getting everyone organized, just in case it's something
more then an accident. Any chance to maybe reviving a boomer quickly to
give us a hand?"
Kurokawa shook his head. "It'll take three hours minimum, and
that's with cutting all safety measures."
Mclaren ran his hand through his hair. "How many techs do we
have down here?"
"Close to a dozen."
"Right. See if we can jury-rig a couple of the spare Boomer
weapons, in case we need them to break out of here or to fend off an
attack."
A distant explosion occurred for somewhere over their heads.
Kurokawa looked up. "That sounded closer then the first one," he said,
looking worried.
Mclaren felt his blood crow cold. "I think we are under attack."
"But who?"
"How the hell should I know?" snapped Mclaren. "But if it isn't
related to those two damm fool idiot Bradleys, then I'll become a
monk."
Another explosion echoed thorough the building above them.
Kurokawa heading for the door. "I don't know about you becoming a monk,
my friend, but I think you might want to start practicing your praying.
We may need it."
********** ********** **********
ARNPTSE Storage Compound
District 9
December 23, 2035
4:57am
"Galahad Six to all teams -- status check."
Chika Kamayawa waited for her squad leaders to check in. As she
did so, she stared out over the compound before her through a broken
window. She had chosen an abandon factory across the street from the
main entrance of the warehousing complex for her observation post. The
factory was a gutted eyesore, like so much of the area, but still sound
enough for her purposes.
The storage area was near the docks, brightly lit and fairly
secured. It was mostly just a large, level place where consignments
that were in transit were stored in large, sheet-iron structures until
the were loaded onto the next ship going to the shipment's destination.
Around the boundary, a pair of thick, chain mail fences, four meters
apart and topped with barb wire, prevented all but the most determined
attempts. A pair of squat, three story-tall office buildings, dubbed
Chalice One and Chalice Two in the plan, occupied the front two corners
of the land.
As an wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf and Bradley, ARNPTSE
handled mostly G&B cargos. But the intelligence reports indicated that
this was probably where the twins stored the Boomers they were
stockpiling for their attack on GENOM. Chika's mission was locate all
Boomer stockpiles and destroy them. Unlike her leader's attack, hers
was suppose to be more finesse then brute strength. But Chika was a
great believer in Murphy's Law, and expected trouble.
//Galahad Red -- In place.// That was the attached Black Knight
team, positioned in the wasteland to the south of the warehouses. They
were making the recon run, their hardsuit's sensor systems superior to
anything Doc could come up with.
//Galahad Blue -- ready.// Two squads of her people, carrying C-
9 and RDXI plastique explosives charges, stationed with the Knights.
Once the Knights had pinpointed a storage location, Blue would move in
and plant the charges while the Knights guarded them.
//Galahad Green -- ready.// Three more squads of her people and
two of the homegrown armored cars, located in the factory below her.
They were functioning as both security and a reserve force, in case
things went to slime.
//Galahad Black in position.// Chika couldn't see the gunship
in the night sky, but she knew it was there, ready to supply an
offensive punch if needed. Until then it would circle and watch out for
any areal threat to the operation.
//Nightlight will be ready in one -- wait, Nightlight is
green.// That was one of her people stationed outside the nearest
electrical relay station to the storage yard. As soon as she gave the
word, several blocks of plastique would turn the main relay board into
electrical scraps, hopefully shutting down the lights and electrical
alarms long enough for her team to do the job.
"Anyone see the guard boomers?' Chika asked, peering through a
pair of binoculars.
//Negative, Six,// said the leader of the Black Knight team.
//Do we wait?//
Chika thought for a moment. "Negative. We go in one. Green, be
ready to move on my say-so."
//We're close, Six.//
//Blue to Six. Two-boomer patrol, at two-thirty, four hundred
meters, near the crane.//
The raven-haired women swung her binoculars over to where the
report mentioned. She saw the pair almost at once, moving slowly and
carefully on all four feet. "I've got them," she said. "They look like
standard K-9 types. Can you avoid them, Red?"
//It shouldn't be too hard, Six,// replied the Knight's leader.
//I'm more concerned abut the ones I don't see.//
"Red, is there any way you can tap into the storage system for
this place to see if we can narrow down the area?"
//Negative Six. The system is limited to the offices in the
main buildings, plus these shipments are very likely not in the system
anyway. We're going to have to do this the hard way.//
"We've wasted enough time. Nightlight, go."
There were several seconds of delay, then the sound of a
distant explosion reached her ears. The light in the compound
flickered, then went out, plunging the entire area into darkness.
"Six to Red - go"
//Already on the way.//
Chika picked up night vision goggles lying on the windowsill in
front of her and put them on. The view was eerie, a mix of black and
green that outlined all objects in the goggle's view with varying
success. A flicker of movement in the corner of the goggle made her
shift her head slightly to focus on it. The flicker became a figure in
a hardsuit, moving carefully along the roof spine of a warehouse. Two
more hardsuited figures, on other warehouse roofs, came into view
"Six to Red," she said calmly. "I have you spotted."
//Copy, Six. And sign of Boomers?//
Chika scanned the rest of what she could see of the compound.
"Negative, Red." She saw movement near one of the office buildings.
"Hold it, I have unknown movement near Chalice Two."
Not waiting for any acknowledgment, she watched the man walked
away from the building and peer around with a flashlight providing him
with a weak light to see by. Someone, probably one of the human
security guards, had come out to take a look around. After several
seconds, the guard turned and walked back to the nearest office
building, speaking to something in his hand as he did so.
"The guards are wondering what's going on."
//I don't doubt it,// replied the Knight's leader. //Give then
another three minutes to try and call someone before they start
thinking of a possible attack.//
//Red two to Galahad Six,//cut in a new voice. // I'm picking
up a possible concentration of deactivated boomers below me.//
"Where's your location?" asked Chika, staring back out at the
figures on the rooftops.
//Building Alpha Four.// One of the trio stuck it's arm into
the air and moved it back and forth. //Permission to investigate?//
"Granted. Red team, cover her."
//Understood.// The other two figures leapt to the target's
roof and knelt next to the third figure. A brief flash of light from
the middle Knight was the only signal that an opening had been cut into
the roof of the building. One by one, the hardsuited team slipped
inside.
It was silent for ten seconds, then twenty. Chika continued to
look at the ware-house for any activity, but nothing happened. It was
another minute before something happened.
//Green Six to Galahad Six,// came the voice of Suyuri, Galahad
Green's team leader, from the floor below. //We've got multiple bad
guys coming out of the Chalices.//
Chika directed her attention back to the office buildings just
in time to see another half dozen armed security men come charging out
of the main doors of each building, joining another dozen already out
in the night. They were armed with rifles and machine guns, not
standard issue weapons for the time and place. "What the hell...."
//The Knights might have set off an alarm.//
More security types came running out of the office buildings.
There was upwards of thirty now, in a complex that wasn't suppose to
have more then six human guards at any time. "Where did these goons
come from?" Chika growled.
//I don't know, Six,// replied Suyuri, as the Gulf and Bradley
men started to spread out among the warehouses. //Somebody screwed up
on the intel for this one.//
Just then, several pops were heard, coming from the warehouses.
Those were followed by several small explosions in rapid succession.
Several of the guards still in sight slowed, then starting running hard
towards the warehouse where the sounds were coming from.
"Damm!" Chika snarled. "Galahad Six to Red Six. Unwelcome
company on the way. Can you abort?"
There were several seconds of static, then Red Six snarled,
//Negative! We are under attack from several C-class-type Boomers. We
cannot withdraw right now!//
It's a fucking trap! Her mind screamed at her. "Are the Boomers
extra security?"
//Negative!// Red Six shouted. A burst of static scrambled part
of his next transmission. //...be setting some charges of their own!//
Chika frowned. "Say again!"
//The Boomers are setting demo charges of their own! They're
planning to blow this place sky-high!//
What the...GENOM! The Gang leader's mind raced furiously. She
couldn't leave the Black Knight in trouble. Too many problems would
occur if she turned tail and ran, the least of which would be Skeeter's
anger. Which meant having to commit to an attack. But how, where? The
answer came almost as fast as the question.
"Galahad Six to all Galahad teams!" she shouted into her radio
as she starting running for the stairs. "Orders as follow: Blue team is
to move up and support Red. Use the demo charges if you have to, but
Red needs the support ASAP! Green team, We're hitting the front gate
and draw off the security goons. Black team, cover Green! All teams,
EXECUTE NOW!"
She hit the top of the stairs and started down, taking the
steps three at a time. By the time she'd cleared the last step, the two
armored cars were already clear of the building and charging for the
warehouse complex's outer fence. Chika raced after them, her orders
sharp and clear as she directed the improvised attack
The screams and battle cries of over a dozen people were mixing
with deep throated roar of engines and the solid 'thud' of a heavy
machine gun. At Chika's command, several of the gang members stopped
long enough to arm and throw satchel charges at the fence. The roar and
exploding light tore through the night air, tearing several large holes
in the outer fence, but it didn't slow the charge any. A pair of
security men staggered out of the smoke and darkness. They opened fire
at the attackers, but were quickly cut down by return fire. A pair of
K-9 Boomers suffered the same fate as they tried to follow their
programming.
A black shape roared out of the night sky and fired several
rockets at a warehouse closest to the office buildings. For a split
second after the rockets slammed through the concrete walls and
detonated, the walls bulged as if to try and contain the explosion. The
effort failed and the entire building exploded in a ball of light and
flame. The Rattlesnake swung around and held position over the
attacking force, firing missiles and mini-guns at anything moving in
the darkness near the office building.
Several more satchel charges eliminated the inner fence as an
obstacle and the attackers, led by the armored cars, stormed through
and into the compound. The machine guns in the armored cars began to
rake the office buildings with streams of lead, shattering windows and
wreaking havoc on anything in their path.
"Secure the buildings!" Chika shouted, then in radio, "Red
Team, Blue team, Status?"
A muffled thud of an explosion answered her first. //We're up
to our asses in Boomer parts,// said the Knight's team leader.
"Can you pull back towards the main gate?"
//We can sure as Hell try. Blue team should meet up with us in
about a minute. We'll move then.//
"We're keep the goon squad and pet Boomers busy for as long as
we can. Don't be late."
//Wouldn't think of it, Six. I --"//
A series of explosions ripped through several of the far
warehouses, sending large fireballs of smoke and fire into the night
air. Chika and most of the assault squad staggered as the ground shook
and a fast moving wall of air flew by them, sounding like an express
train. "What the fire of Hell is that?" she shouted, her own voice
distant and weak.
//Somebody must have set of some charges around the flammable
materials bunker!// someone shouted back.
"Who?"
//It must be those damm Boomers!//
"Shit," Chika growled. "Six to Black. Can you see anything?"
//Only that the far end of the place looks like Dante's
Inferno.// The pilot's tone was cold and brisk. //At lest five
Warehouse are on fire and it's spreading rapidly.//
"Any Boomers in site?"
//Negative. Do you want me to make a low pass?//
"No!" Chika shouted. "Between the fires and the Boomers, it's
too great a risk. Stay clear and be ready to make strafing runs if I
need them."
//Understood Six. Black is standing by.//
//Green Six to Six. Chalice one and two are secured. Do you
want us to press on?//
Chika looked at the flames that reached into the night sky.
"Negative, Green. Have your people hold here. We're holding the door
open only long enough for Red and Blue to dive through."
//Understood Six. We're holding.//
Tearing her attention away from the glowing sky, Chika dashed
towards the nearest office building. As she ran, she wondered how the
other parts of the operation were doing....
********** ********** **********
Above Gulf and Bradley - Japan Headquarters
December 23, 2035
5:00am
The KnightWing was packed with people and supplies, so much so
that Sylia was forced to stand just inside the cockpit. Both Priss and
Mackie were staying in the cockpit, Priss in her back-up hardsuit,
while Mackie was wearing a flight helmet with the visor up. He glanced
back at his sister. "Four minutes," he said softly.
Sylia nodded, then looked back into the cargo area. There was
Nene, Linna, Greg Mallory and his team, five of MALCORP's black ops
people, and Leon. Everyone was making last-second check of their
equipment.
The leader of the Knight Sabers looked at the pod at the far
end of the cabin. Cryotechnology wasn't an area she had much
familiarity in, but she knew enough about the basics to understand the
purpose of the device and why it was coming along with them.
The idea of using Cryotechnology to place humans into suspended
animation wasn't a new concept. The theories themselves were sound, but
no practical systems were yet in place. MALCORP, a leader in the field,
was the closest to the actuality. The pod, designed to transport
critically injured people to advance medical facilities over a great
distance, was less then eighteen months from going into production. The
pod was Janie's one chance to get out of the building alive.
"Are you all right?" asked Greg on their private channel. She
looked over at him, but the visor hid his expression.
She motioned with her head to the pod. "I'm worried about that.
Are you sure that's the only way?"
"If you have another way, I'm all ears."
"A bit late for that," she said pointedly.
"I'm not too happy about using it either," said Greg. "But my
people have sworn up and down that it'll work, and I believe them." His
tone changed slightly. "I have to."
Sylia looked at the ugly rifle Red Four was making final
adjustments to. "What is that weapon your EW member is carrying?"
"EMP rifle," replied Knight One. "Shoots an armor-piercing
shell that scrambles a Boomer's internal circuits. Red Four still has
his EW capability, but he's geared up for Boomer hunting tonight."
"An interesting concept," the White Saber conceded. "Any chance
of you sharing the design with me after this?"
She could hear the smile in his voice. "I think I can see
myself clear to do so."
"Two minutes," said Mackie over the loudspeaker. "No sign of
the diversionary attack yet."
"How long can we hold?" asked Greg, his voice all business now.
"No more then five minutes," replied Sylia, her voice also
efficient. "With the extra passengers and cargo, I want at least ten
minutes of fuel in reserve.
"Right." He turned to one of his team. Sylia didn't hear the
conversation, as it was on the Knight's private channel. After several
seconds, the second Knight nodded in response to something Greg had
said. Knight One looked back at Sylia. "Five minutes it is."
Sylia nodded. All they could do is wait.
********** ********** **********
Gulf and Bradley - Japan Headquarters
December 23, 2035
5:01am
Cora came running into Carlton's office, her expression a mix
of shock and anger. "We're under attack again," she said.
Carlton looked up at her. "Where?"
"The Biomechanical Research Institute. They hit the place about
five minutes ago. The reports are sketchy, all land lines are down, and
radio communications being jammed."
The chairman of Gulf and Bradley stood up. "Is it GENOM?" he
snarled.
Cora's face harden. "MALCORP."
Carlton strode around the desk. "Is the girl ready to move?"
"She is, but Kyso thinks she has only a twenty percent chance
of making it to the island alive."
"In that case, Doctor Kyso have a twenty percent chance of
reaching the island. Make sure she knows that."
Cora's smile was chilling. "I already told her as much. There's
a helicopter waiting for us on the pad."
"Everything else in place?" asked Carlton, picking up a
briefcase off the desk with one hand and a large semi-automatic pistol
with the other.
"Yes."
"Good." He smiled at his sister. "We're not beaten yet,
merely... delayed. Get the girl and I'll meet you at the helicopter."
********** ********** **********
Outside Gulf and Bradley - Japan Headquarters
December 23, 2035
5:03am
Dailey watched as the large building that housed Gulf and
Bradley's Japan headquarters grew even larger through the windshield.
While it wasn't anywhere near the size and imposing presence of GENOM
Tower, it was still a structure designed to impress the visitor.
Dailey wasn't impressed. Rather, he was tired, irritated with a
headache and a sour stomach, and in no mood for any grand gestures.
"What makes you think the Bradleys will be here?" Ko asked as
he turned into the building's driveway.
"Where the hell else are they going to be?" Dailey asked. "They
live in the damm -" His sentence was cut short as he saw the group of
armed men clustered around the building's front doors. If the rifles
and machine guns weren't enough to send the message that somebody was
nervous, the way they pointed their weapons at the unmarked police car
make that point clear.
Ko saw them too. "How do we play this?"
Before Dailey could answer, a low rumbling started. Several of
the guards started looking around. One of the pointed into the night
sky, just as a spread of missiles came out of the night and slammed
into the Gulf and Bradley headquarters building.
Several explosions rocked the front of the building, turning
night into day. Men and rubble went flying and sheets of flame rolled
out what use to be the lobby. Ko slammed on the breaks and sent the car
into a skid, as chunks of rock and metal bounced off the vehicle with
sufficient force to dent and crack the windshield and hood. The car
stopped short of the inferno.
Get us out of here!" Dailey shouted, all trace of his mood
washed away in a sea of adrenalin. Ko slammed the transmission into
reverse, wheels skidding as the car shot away from the wreckage. Not
until the car had reached a 'safe' distance from the explosions did he
slam on the breaks and stop the car.
Eyes wide, he shouted, "What the hell was that?"
"You're asking me?" counter Dailey.
Something low and loud roared over their heads. Dailey managed
to see the lean outline of a helicopter gunship as it came in for
another pass. Another one joined it and they both turned and fired
another volley of missiles into the maelstrom of fire and destruction.
"Drive us back to the corner," he directed the younger man.
Ko did so quickly, though not as fast as he done before. "Do we
call for backup?"
Several figures dropped out of the hovering helicopters and
started up the stairs. Dailey peered hard at them, cursing under his
breath as he saw they were wearing black hardsuits. A couple of the
hardsuits were carrying what looked to be multi-barreled chain guns and
short-muzzled cannons. "Against a couple of military-grade gunships and
heavily armed hardsuits?" Dailey pointed to the helicopter as it opened
fire on the lobby with several cannons in support of the hardsuits.
"We have to do something!" Ko shouted back, his face pale and
drawn
Dailey exhaled slowly. I am getting too old for this shit!
"You're right. Call Lars and get him and his people out here. Tell them
to expect trouble and to bring any heavy stuff he can get his hands
on."
"Without the chief's permission?"
"Fuck the chief's permission." He wanted a cigarette, but his
mouth was too dry. "The city's going to hell and I'm getting sick and
tired of it." Now I know how Leon feels.
Ko nodded and started speaking into the radio. Dailey watched
the hardsuits move in against the Gulf and Bradley security force.
Finally, he opened the door and got out. Ko leaned over and asked,
"Wait a minute! Where are you going?"
Dailey pulled out a stomach rifle from behind his seat. "I'm
going to check out the situation."
"Not without me you're not!" He spoke rapidly into the
microphone, and shut off the radio and got out.
Dailey gave him a tight smile. "Then grab your rifle and come
on. Maybe we can figure out something for Lars to do when he gets
here."
Ko looked at the fire wreckage and bodies. "Assuming there's
anything left."
Dailey nodded. "Assuming there's anything left."
C. A. Reed Jr.- drop everything after.com to Email
http://www.geocities.com/trboturtle -- My Fanfics (updated 8/11/03)
http://pub29.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=2453643558&cpv=1