Chapter Seventy-One - Tail

Chapter Seventy-One - Tail

Chapter Seventy-One - Tail

The average pre-Invasion soldier had two and a half months of basic training. A lot of that was spent with whatever the standard arms of the time were. Then they would receive advanced training on the use of various specialty arms.

In peacetime, that training could go on for months (with the training of more specialized troops spread over a year or more), perfecting their use of a particular weapon or weapons platform until they reached a level of base competency.

Modern PMCs vary greatly. Some give week-long crash-training courses, similar to the training pre-invasion police received in some parts of the former United States. Others have training that lasts for upwards of six months before theyre considered ready to use a specific weapon in the field.

A Samurai will often pick up a weapon, use it with no training, and discard it for another just as rapidly.

--Major Hunt of Clenze PMC, on the subject of weapons expertise

***

Just one thing, then we can head out, I said as I crushed the can Gomorrah had given me and flung it towards a trash can. It bounced off the nearest table, missing it by about a meter.

Whats that? the nun asked while eyeing my incredible throwing prowess.

I need to replace my back mounted weapons, I said. Theyre kinda handy to have and Id rather not get neck deep in crap without them.

She nodded. Certainly then. I think we should be off after. The break is nice, but we have places to be.

I stood up and wobbled a bit, my legs surprisingly weak. Or maybe not all that surprisingly. It had been a long day already. Once Id gotten my feet under me, I pulled off my jacket and tossed it onto the table nearest us. Then I pulled off my auto-holster jacket too and flung it on top of that.

The air was a bit breezy once Id divested myself of pretty much everything I was wearing.

I noticed Gomorrah staring at me rather hard. I wondered if she was checking me out or if she was more interested in the burns that marred the skin from just under my right ribs all the way over to the right side of my face.

Burns, I explained.

She snapped her attention away, face immediately turning red. I wasnt... she began but trailed off. A moment later she was fumbling her mask back on.

They get stared at a lot, I said. You learn to ignore it.

Of course, she said.

I shook my head and shifted my now exposed back. Alright Myalis, lets get this busted up thing off.

Of course. One moment. The Hydra will fall off in a few seconds.

I felt the little attachments, those following along the line of my spine, warm up for just a moment before the entire device peeled off my back and crashed to the floor behind me. Ah, thanks, I said. The hydra hadnt been heavy, but it was a bit of a drag to have it hanging off me for so long.

I turned around and picked up the hydra from the floor and spun it around a few times. It... wasnt in the best of shapes. A few of the parts that went over my back were bent and one entire arm was a mangled mess.

Are you going to put a shirt on? Gomorrah asked.

I blinked up at her. Huh? What, dont you nuns have communal showers or something?

Ill need something with some kick, and something thats got a decent rate of fire for all the little, weaker aliens, I said.

Two separate weapons? Thats certainly doable. Might I suggest a fully automatic plasma caster for one mount and perhaps a light sabot-firing railgun for your opposite shoulder.

Now youre talking.

New Purchase: Rapid-Fire Plasma Caster

Points Reduced to... 4583

New Purchase: Farsight Light Railgun Canon

Points Reduced to... 4483

Two more boxes appeared before me. One much thicker than the other, but neither of them were all that big.

I popped open the first to reveal a rather... chubby weapon. It was the only way I could think to describe the gun. It didnt have any proper handle on it, and looked like someone had smashed two oranges together and stuck a small eggplant out the front.

Okay? I said.

Thats the plasma caster. The large protuberances are for the pellets the weapon fires and for its liquid cooling system.

I didnt argue, just feeding the gun to the waiting arm over my left shoulder.

The other was a lot cooler looking, at least. Long and sleek and matte black, with a forked barrel that glowed a faint pink from within.

The lights are RGB based and are purely decorative. Vanguards seem to think that a weapon isnt truly dangerous unless it glows.

The plasma caster doesnt glow, I said with a thumb pointing over my shoulder.

The projectiles it fires are literally as hot as the surface of your local sun. Please trust me when I say that it does, indeed, glow.

Fair enough, I said. Does this thing fire anything special?

It fires sabot-rounds. The rate of fire is rather low, but the rounds can be equipped with all sorts of interesting and dangerous heads. I suspect youll enjoy them.

I grinned wide. Well have to see. Lets get some ammo for these guys and well be off.

I got to work and tore one of the Lancejets from the hydra mount, the one that didnt look like it had been dropped in a blender. Then I picked a few magazines for it and slotted them in my auto-loaders harness. The gun itself went in the sheath that Id been using for that plain old gun Id gotten from the PMC.

Are you done? Gomorroah asked as she watched me toss my invisibility coat on.

Yeah, I guess I am, I said. Myalis, got some meds I can take to heal me up while were on-route?

Yes. But I suspect a few hours--or perhaps a day--of rest would do your body a lot of good. It has been through a lot.

Well see what we can do once were out of this spot.

***