Chapter Forty-Nine - Those Who Love Cannons

Chapter Forty-Nine - Those Who Love Cannons

Chapter Forty-Nine - Those Who Love Cannons

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***

The first thing I did once I was back on the ground floor was to check on the mecha cats. I had a handy app-like bit of software I could tap into that basically gave me a shitty map of the area and showed me where the cat-drones were in relation to me. They were all green, which I figured meant we were safe for the moment.

Then I checked on Grasshopper.

My... friend was leaning up against a wall, legs sprawled out and the nanomachine healing kit sitting on her lap. She had a granola bar in one hand and was chewing it slowly as I approached.

Hey, I said. Feeling better?

She chewed a few more times, then swallowed. Yes, she said. I suspect Im dosed with enough painkillers that attempting to operate anything wouldnt be a wise choice.

Yeah, I bet, I said.

The civilians filed into the area behind me. They were sticking close to each other, like a frightened herd of deer that had just been startled. Their eyes were open the same way, as if the first loud noise they heard would be enough to spook them. Honestly, I couldnt blame them.

Still, if they were a bit more calm, Id consider arming them up for their own safety. As it was... that didnt seem wise.

Grasshopper leaned up so that she could see the civilians better. Theres... less of them, she said.

Yeah, I agreed.

Oh.

It was just one little sound, but the way she said it carried a lot of baggage. I half turned and gestured the civilians away. They were reluctant to move until a few of the cat mechs in the area herded them away.

I knelt down next to Grasshopper. Are you okay? I asked.

She considered it, then took a bite of her granola bar and nodded. That was the most Id get out of her, I figured.

The line went dead.

I stood there for a moment, then swore. Okay, fuck. Grasshopper! Your evacs coming in a bit. I need to make room for it. Can you help the civilians get to it once it touches down? I asked.

Grasshopper blinked a few times, then she rolled to her side and climbed to her feet. It didnt look easy, but she made it. Ill do my very best, she said.

I nodded, then hesitated. Front or back? The back was a mess, the front probably had a lot more aliens to deal with. But then the front would be easier for the civilians.

Myalis, pull the cats back. Keep them close to Grasshopper. We dont need to secure the entire damned building, I dont think.

Understood. How do you intend to secure the street?

With a lot of bombs, I said as I crossed the offices on a straight path to the front of the building. How many access-ways are there on the street? I mean... theres both ends, plus how many alleys and how many compromised buildings?

One moment... I count thirty-two ways for an antithesis ground unit to reach the road within one hundred metres of this buildings exit.

I need thirty-two of those acid rain bombs. I want every passage in to cost the fuckers. As many resonators too. Well enclose the area.

There was a model four at the entrance, prying the doors open with a pair of tentacles. It was strong enough that the glass door was starting to open.

I pulled up my Bullcat and fired through the glass and into the alien. Then I stepped out onto the street.

I may have been a little hasty, I realized as I took in the number of aliens running across. They noticed me at about the same time.

My back-mounted guns snapped out of their housing and immediately started to fire. I expected them to fire single shots, but instead both of them purred, a constant wave of superheated air pouring out of them while aliens all across the street were ripped apart.

Not to be outdone, I leaned into my shotgun, flicked it back to full-auto, then swept across the horde, raining buckshot into every alien I could see.

Nades, I said.

Myalis caught on, and a large box appeared by my side. I kicked it open and the acid-rain grenades within zipped up into the air above. They darted over the alleys and to the end of the road a moment before a glowing mist started to come down over those entrances.

The immediate area around me was clear, so I dropped to a knee next to the box and started to pick out resonators from within it. I turned them on with a flick of my thumb, then tossed them out across the road. My throwing aim wasnt perfect, but the fun thing with explosives was that accuracy was optional.

Were going to need something for the air, I said.

Turrets? A bit uncreative, but they kinda worked. I had a lot of points to work with though, and it would feel kind of lame to just face a few cheap-o laser arrays on the edge of the street plucking the smaller alien birds out of the air.

Myalis, got any ideas for keeping the skies safe? I asked. Not something dinky.

I imagine you need a solution that doesnt require your direct attention? In that case, how about a Flak Cat Cannon?

***