Book 4: Chapter 178: Excessive Force

Book 4: Chapter 178: Excessive Force

USD: A moment laterThe source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Location: Meltisar, Groundside, Rogue Ertan NAI Targets Mining Tunnels

Around the very next corner, Elis caught a glimpse of another vehicle taking a turn ahead of them. There he is!

Were gaining. Thea answered back. The sighting encouraged a bit more speed. The NAI took the curve sharply, banking as they went around it.

Elis clamped her gauntlets around the grab bar hard enough that the metal might have threatened to yield. Before she could consider another grip, her suits diagnostic system restored her magnetic limb units in her arms and undamaged leg. A sudden clunk sounded over the whirr of the hover tanks engine as she suddenly stuck to the vehicle tightly.

It was just in time, because a mining drone burst out of a blind intersection and slammed into the tanks side. The miner was twice the size of the tank, and its tracks ground into the rock as it surged forward, shoveling their tank into the wall before pinning it.

An uttered curse from Thea exploded over the comms as she tried to wiggle out of the other vehicles maws. Two heavy drill bits on lever arms began to extend toward them.

Releasing her recently engaged magnetics, Elis tossed herself up onto the back of the tank. Her HUD highlighted weak points on the mining unit. Her first instinct was to blast it with a rocket, but it was much too close, and the explosion likely would have damaged her and their own tank. Raising an arm, she began to blast away at the heavy metal chassis with her energy shotgun and assault rifle configured for maximum penetration.

Most of the bolts ricocheted or deflected anyway, causing no effective damage. The tanks turret suddenly began to turn and Elis staggered as she almost lost her balance. Watch it!

The barrel of the energy cannon knocked into the mining vehicle, but failed to dislodge it. For a brief moment, Elis felt a bit of panic when she thought Thea might fire it anyway; the blast would definitely have done indirect damage. But it was close enough to qualify for Danger Close for them as well.

Instead of firing, Thea popped out of the top of the turret and leveled her morphed arm at the vehicle.

What Eliss words cut off as her suits audio and optical cut out for a second as the mini-railgun lanced the vehicle. It cut through the heavy metal like a spear, punching all the way through and into the wall behind it. A second and third shot killed the miners engine and power and the spinning drill heads clanked to a stop.

Not bad, Elis said, a bit impressed.

Thea grunted, then pulled herself the rest of the way out of the hatch. Hold on to something.

Elis wasnt sure what there was to hold on to, but she activated her one good magnetic foot clamp before the tank began to waddle back and forth. The attempt to dislodge itself took on a more frantic turn as the engine revved louder. Steel shrieked suddenly, and they lurched forward; Thea almost lost her balance and Elis reached out to grab her shoulder and help her stay upright.

Dont fall off. Elis said.

Im making more magnets. Thea answered.

Elis wanted to laugh at the idea of magnets on demand, but her eyes slid over to the next corner in the tunnel. If we keep getting stopped like this, we arent going to catch him.

Thea nodded. I have drones shadowing the side tunnels and keeping pace, but we need to bring him to bay before he finds a way to slip the net and out of detection range.

The tank continued to pick up speed, and both she and Thea knelt to put a hand down on the chassis to maintain their balance. The next intersection led into another open area.

He stopped. Thea warned.

Elis suit highlighted the vehicle on the other end of the chamber at the top of a slight slope. As soon as they came into view, it punched it and disappeared down another tunnel. The reason for the pause soon became apparent as shrieking incoming munition alarms erupted.

A trio of anti-tank missiles flashed towards them. Elis laser cut one down immediately, but the angle was wrong for the other two. Thea reached out and a spike of nanites impaled the second one, detonating it several dozen meters away.

Elis only had a half second to realize that the third one wasnt being stopped. Theas nanite cloud curved inward after it, but it had already gotten inside the clouds turn radius. Elis wrapped an arm around the NAI and jumped off the vehicle.

Thea held onto her as their ride suddenly detonated. The munition had been an anti-tank missile designed to take down much heavier armored vehicles. The relatively light armor of the hover tank might as well have been paper, because it caved inwards before the explosive payload detonated and set off several secondary explosions throughout the vehicle.

The entire turret popped off and slammed into the cavern chambers high ceiling. The rest of the vehicle bulged outward like an over-inflated balloon, sending shrapnel and parts flying in every direction. Metal pelted Elis suit harmlessly and the two of them landed nearby.

My fucking tank! The permit for that cost twenty million credits! Thea shouted, her fists clenched at her sides.

Yeah, I dont think youll be able to put that back together without building a new one. At least you were smart enough to take cover in my arms. Elis said.

I was the one making sure you were safe. Thea shot back.

Hmm? Are you sure? You were holding on pretty tight. Elis said, a sly smile forming on her face.

One boulder was too large to break apart easily, and the tendril from Theas left hand took on the shape of a giant hand, holding it from collapsing in their way. The NAI grunted with the apparent effort of controlling the nanites, but the hands fingers pressed into the ceiling and formed a net.

Elis considering attempting to lance a tire with her PD laser, when their prey reached the end of the long straight. It took the turnmuch too quickly. It disappeared from sight, but her acoustics picked up a shrieking crash of rock and metal and dust erupted outward.

Hes stopped! We got the bastard! Thea shouted at her excitedly. Elis nodded, focusing on their speed and maintaining the loping gait until she needed to slow to avoid a similar fate.

As they turned the corner, a silver-green hued cloud of nanites speared for them, but a counter tendril from Thea impacted it several meters away and quickly began to drill down its length. A second one snaked in, but Elis raised her shotgun arm. The weapon reconfigured its discharge into a directional nanite-stunning EMP pulse that obliterated all the nanites in front of them.

Theas free hand clamped down on Elis helmet as she almost lost her balance. Watch it! Thats friendly fire!

They pushed forward toward the wreckage that was becoming visible as the dust cloud slowly cleared. An auditory alarm flared as Elis suit picked up the whine of a charging railgun. She allowed the suit to swerve evasively as it directed, just as the loud crack of a miniature railgun erupted. The lance of light punched through the trailer body and struck her thigh.

Pain blossomed before disappearing completely as her suits medical suite clamped down on the pain. Her leg servo was mangled, though, and Elis fell to one knee. Thea hopped off immediately as Elis raised her assault rifle. She aimed for the trailer and returned fire, penetrating energy bolts working their way from the rear to front of the tipped over vehicle.

Another whine filled her acoustic sensors, but this time from much closer. A focused look filled Theas face as she aimed carefully at the truck's engine block. Sure enough, Elis HUD highlighted a silhouette of the target just before the railgun sent a deadly bolt forward. The entire front end of the vehicle detonated, but the man didnt seem to be hit as he began to strafe sideways, still behind cover.

A munitions warning sounded, and her suit highlighted a dozen small balls flying through the air toward them. A label instantly appeared with the EMP designation.

There was only one second to think. They were much too small for her suit to aim at; Theas nanite cloud was already streaking at them, but EMP was bad for them. Elis reached out and grabbed Thea by the front of her uniform and pulled her into a bear hug before turning her back on the explosives.

They detonated midair a moment later, the discharge of energy sending electric sizzles down Elis suit, but the close in energy field mitigated most of the damage.

Thea hissed at her. Thank you, but I can handle myself.

What do you suggest, then? Elis asked pointedly.

Thea huffed, clearly irritated, Throw me over there, itll be the fastest.

What?

Throw me over!

Elis blinked, but the simple command was clear.This is hidden text, if you are reading this text, and the story is not on /fiction/36308/ it is a stolen work and not authorized by the author. Please support the work by reading on RoyalRoad!

She grabbed Thea with both hands around the womans torso, then threw her like a javelin. A very heavy NAI javelin. Thea arced over the vehicle wreckage and disappeared into the gloom. Almost immediately, the sound of fighting erupted. Elis HUD propagated an exact location for the target, relaying from Theas connection.

Elis looked down at her mangled suit leg. She tried to stand and move, but the joint was busted completely and dead. There was only one thing to do; she punched it. Repeatedly. Metal bent until it was completely seized up, and Elis managed to stand. She hobbled as fast as she could toward the NAI scuffle.

It wasnt very fast. By the time she rounded the front end of the truck, both NAI had out vibro blades and were locked in an acrobatic display of sparking metal while silver-green and blue clouds sparked and mixed in a violent wind around them.

Ignoring that, Elis limped toward the target. Thea glanced at her, but her focus remained on her opponent. Her attacks and counters were redirected, however, and she began to push the other NAI toward Elis. Despite the loud clunky gait, nearly made it to arms reach before he noticed her.

Shock appeared on the mans face, and he jumped away, but Theas free hand snatched his wrist and arrested his escape. A snarl and slash was the rapid response and his short blade skewered Theas arm.

But the delay was all Elis needed. She reached out with a metal gauntlet; green nanites sizzled and died as they came into contact with her suits energy field. Her metal fingers clamped down on the side of his head.

Then she power slammed him into the ground hard enough that the rest of his body bounced. She lifted him back up into the air; he frantically stabbed her forearm, but she slammed him into the rock again.

And again.

His arm went limp, and his weapon disintegrated at some point. She only stopped when his head had cracked and embedded itself in the rock.

That was a bit dramatic. Thea said from nearby.

Elis froze, realizing the violence of her attack and let go. She felt like she was a poor animal caught in the headlights of a vehicle as the sudden anger evaporated.

The core is in the truck? asked Elis, quietly trying to change the subject.

Thea nodded quietly, but the look she was receiving didnt make Elis feel any better.