TBoB - Book 7 - Chapter 67 - Heavy Artillery (Patreon)

I watched impatiently as Heavy and about a dozen moose slowly sank towards me. A number of smaller Antithesis must have figured they’d be easy targets, because a large swarm of them broke away from the existing fight to try and intercept the bots.

While most of the bots seemed to have a problem targeting the creatures while plummeting towards the ocean floor, Heavy didn’t. He fired a rocket directly into the heart of the horde, shredding a large number of Antithesis before dropping the launcher and switching to the rotary laser cannon he had hanging off his shoulder. 

Heavy somehow managed to keep himself stable as he fired the heavy weapon directly into the remaining monsters, scything them down as he plummeted downward.

It was an impressive display, and by the time he landed I kind of felt like applauding. I probably would have if another swarm hadn’t immediately come streaming around the rocks, charging directly at me and the bots.

Thankfully there didn’t seem to be anything larger than a Model Six-O, so heavy and I were easily able to keep the creatures at bay until the moose were able to recover, and rejoin the fight, finishing the aliens off.

“I thought the laser cannons didn’t work under water,” I said, once there was a break in the fight.

“They lose a lot of range and effectiveness when fired through the water, but they still work. I’d rather use something I’m extremely familiar with than the rifles you’ve armed the otters with, or relying upon fragmentation missiles, especially when facing the hordes down here,” Heavy grunted. “I got a look at that mess on the other side of the ridge. You said you have an idea on how to deal with it?”

“I do. The Antithesis around here seem to be hardwired to target me, irregardless of whatever threat is around,” I said. “So I’m going to get their attention while you help Sharron and the others gun them down.”

Heavy just stared at me for several seconds. “I thought you said you had a plan,” he finally said.

“That IS a plan,” I replied. “It’s just not a detailed one.” 

“I’d argue that it’s neither detailed nor particularly good,” Heavy muttered. 

“Well, sometimes you don’t need a detailed plan,” I argued. “Besides, there are still a lot of samurai unaccounted for, so we need to bring this fight to an end as quickly as possible. The problem is there are some pretty big Antithesis hanging around, targeting me as soon as I pop my head around the corner. What I need you to do is suppress, and take down those fucking things once I have their attention.”

“Why haven’t you asked your friends to do that?” Heavy asked suspiciously. 

“Because the comms are unreliable, they’re currently engaged with the Antithesis, and everytime I try and go around this fucking rock those stupid snake-heads spit at me!” I grumbled. 

Heavy frowned, then turned to look at me, eyebrow raised. 

“You’ll see soon enough,” I said. “Take your troops around to the right side of the outcropping. I’ll wait a second before stepping out, then I’m sure you’ll see what I’m talking about. I need you to concentrate on the snake-heads so I can contribute to the fight.” 

“If you say so,” the big polar bear muttered as he walked over and retrieved the missile launcher he’d dropped earlier. “I guess I’ll go on ahead.”“Alright, I’ll prepare and step out once I hear you engage,” I replied, backing towards the left side of the rock. “I really hope this works,” I muttered once I was out of earshot. “I’m getting sick and tired of looking at the backside of this fucking rock.

So, do you actually have a plan? Nyx asked.

“The start of one…” I said. “Will lures work down here?”

They will, but the synthetic pheromone will be heavily diluted, limiting the effectiveness, just like most compounds, Nyx replied.

“Well, that’s fine, I’m not looking to attract the attention of every Antithesis in the pacific, just attract the attention of the ones on the other side of the rock,” I said. “Can you put together a drone that has both a holo-emitter, which can project an image of me, and a light lure?”

So, you want a decoy, Nyx said.

“Yeah. I don’t expect it to attract everything in the area, but if the Gene Tender has hardwired everything to focus on me it should draw some of the lower tier ones away from the fight,” I said. “If we release three or four of them, and stagger their activations it should cause some confusion.”

They won’t be enough to fool everything, Nyx said.

“I know. That’s why I want to be ready to slam down a bear-a-cade wall so I have some cover if I attract too much attention,” I said, before pausing. “Actually… could you create a modified bear-a-cade that wraps around me, and has a slot that a window I can open and fire out of?”

So you want a bear cave? Nyx asked.

“If that’s what you want to call it,” I grumbled. “Can you do it?” I asked.

Easily. I could have done it back when you first went to Seattle, you just never asked for a stationary firing position, Nyx replied.

“Well, I didn’t need one then. I’m usually setting up a defensive position meant to defend an area, so personal bunkers aren’t as useful as setting up a wall,” I muttered. “So about those drones?”I can make them, but if you really want to include a lure feature, they’ll be expensive. Over a thousand points a piece, Nyx said.

“Do I have enough?” I asked.

Yes… but you’re not bringing in a ton of points anymore. You’re starting to run low, Nyx replied.

“That’s fine, I can always make more points, and considering the situation the cost is worth it,” I said. “Warn me if I come close to ten thousand, so I can keep a decent point reserve for emergencies, but otherwise… points are meant to be spent.”

I paused, and turned my head to the side. There was a ton of noise coming from the far side of the outcropping, which probably meant that Heavy and his team had engaged, so I raised my rifle.

“Okay, I’d like four drones, set them to travel to different areas on the outskirts of the battle, and stagger their activations so they keep the Antithesis busy as long as possible,” I said, letting out a long breath. “Now… let’s hope I don’t get cut in half in the first three seconds.”I waited until the drones appeared and started moving before stepping out myself. The instant I revealed myself the nearest snake-head turned towards me and opened its mouth. “Motherfucker! Nyx!” I shouted as I dropped into a crouch. I swear that I saw the liquid leave the creature’s mouth before the new firing position materialized. 

The sound of the liquid hitting the front plate of my new hidey hole sounded like a sandblaster. Thankfully the bunker seemed to be holding out fine.

I took a quick look around, checking my options. The position wasn’t fancy, it was like someone took a bear-a-cade wall and folded the side and top of the wall to wrap around the central point. It was like the impromptu defense I’d assembled before, but made out of a single wall panel, and a roof to protect me from above. 

There was a set of armored windows set around the shelter, so I stepped up to the nearest one and peeked out. Most of the Antithesis were still focusing on my friends, with the exception of the snake-heads and hunter-killers who all seemed to be bearing down on my position. When the first decoy activated most of the hunter-killers veered off, but the snake-heads didn’t even flinch. 

I waited until I saw the first volley of weapons fire slam into the side of the creature before stepping back again. It took me a moment to realize that the sliding armored compartments under each window were actually the firing slots, so I waited to make sure the creature wasn’t firing dirrectly into the nearest one before sliding it open and sticking my weapon through.

“Alright you oversized worm,” I muttered. “I’m done getting spit at. Lets see how you like being suppressed.”