61 Book 4 - Chapter 119 (1/2)
Y:2142
Inter-Academy Round 4 Fortescue Points: 418, Rank: 6, PR: 0.5225
Term: 3, Round: 4
Daedalus Operating Capital: +1,600,000 bitcreds
”They're blocking our primary connection,” Mace stated after a few minutes of checking her systems. ”One sec, I'll reroute and use one of our alternates.”
Mace smiled in satisfaction, ”Our neighbour's connection is coming in handy, the organisation overlooked it again.”
The pair were sitting close together, Daedo and Myrmidon were attempting to track the remaining operatives while keeping a close watch on the tunnel network. Mace leaned her back to Daedo's while testing the security of their internet connection.
”It's ready,” she announced and waited expectantly for what he would do next. It was typical that Daedo would not ask for advice or approval unless he was not sure of his chosen action.
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”Can you keep watch while I make calls?” He asked.
”Swap positions,” she said because was facing the wrong way.
They slid around in the dirt, the exos doubling their normal mass.
Daedo messaged his first contact asking for voice comms.
”Well,” the deep voice said as the way of introduction, ”You've stepped in it now haven't you.”
”Yes Sir, Sorry Sir,” Daedo replied. ”Colonel do you have any advice, or is there any way the EUDF can intervene?”
”Sorry Cadet. My hands are tied. I tried to organise maneuvers in your vicinity, but that was immediately quashed. I've never heard of this so-called organisation, but they seem to have pull with command. The O10 General contacted me directly and told me to stay out of it. If I were to offer advice,” Colonel Martin went quiet.
”I'm not sure where to begin. Has surrender been ruled out as a viable option?” He asked.
”Yes,” Daedo replied without going into details. Even if he had changed his mind, it was likely that surrender would not reverse the recently applied death warrant on Mace and her parents.
”Your perimeter is secure?” Colonel Stanley asked.
”It's under control,” Daedo replied. ”Our current situation could be classified as a stalemate with a few intruders that need to be nullified.”
”Mm,” the Colonel grunted non-committedly, ”And, is your supply line open?”
”No Sir,” Daedo replied.
”You enemy could bring more forces to bear, and I assume their entire capability is unknown to you. Is this correct?” The Colonel asked.
”Yes Sir,” Daedo confirmed.
”It's not wise for you to send me any data. There is nothing I can do on my end to secure it, as its all open and accessible to command. Including his conversation cadet. With that in mind, I suggest you break out and leave the area. Lose your pursuers. Understood?”
”Yes Sir,” Daedo replied, ”Understood. Thanks for the advice,” and after a short pause he added, ”Out.” And with that Daedo ended the peer to peer voice connection.
”What was that?” Mace asked guessing something was up.
”We feint an escape for a diversion …” Daedo trailed off leaving out what they would use the diversion for.
Mace chuckled lightly, ”He must know you well.” Her brow creased, and she became more serious.
”He was right with one thing, we have no idea what else they can throw at us,” Mace said. She sounded concerned which was a change from her aggressive stance up until now.
Daedo sent his next message. ”You need to ensure this voice chat isn't monitored,” he asked Mace.
”And watch the corridor?” Made queried.
”I thought you were good? And Myrmidon will help watch the corridor,” Daedo replied.
”Did you just tease me?” Mace was startled.
”No. That was issuing a challenge designed to activate your instinctual drives,” Daedo recited leadership communication basics coursework.
”Pfft, like I need motivation. They are trying to kill me … my parents now don't forget,” Mace said with lightly humoured disgust.
”Daedo, we're here,” Vannier said over the comms, and the rest of Daedalus appeared in the list of participants.
”I need to make this quick, the last thing we want is for this to be intercepted,” Daedo stated.
”What's going on are you ok?” Ikaros asked.
Daedo nodded, ”We are fine, but they have us hemmed in with six mechs which wouldn't be an issue, but Mace's Father is injured, and we have no way of treating him.”
”Can you get him to the Wadan village?” Axelzero asked.
”It's possible, but we would need diversions. Otherwise, it's an obvious location for them to hunt for us,” Daedo stated.
”I'm an expert at diversions,” Barran declared. ”Can we bring out all seven mechs?”
”We need to bring them up to the latest desert specs and procure a first-class medilab. Also, Father, can you check the design platform and construct seven PPC rifles, the mech variant 2.5?”
”I can, and Etana, the mechs have already been prepared. It was all we could do to keep some of your friends here,” Ikaros replied. It went without question that only Ikaros had access to the latest PPC design, it wouldn't show for anyone else.
”That's great, get on the guns now, they will take time to manufacture,” Daedo requested. ”Vannier can you an Axelzero get a mobile medilab that will fit in the carrier and before the PPCs are finished.”
”Can do,” Vannier replied. Axelzero was already searching through models and availability.
”We are tracking the mechs, which are patrolling just out of range of the PPC sentry guns. We also have infantry hostiles in the base, but they are under control at the moment. It may be possible to land on the base, or you may need to walk in from 50km. I will contact you in twenty-four hours for an update, any questions before I go?”
”What's the extent of Mace's Fathers injuries?” Axelzero asked.
Daedo flicked the squad some images, then a added a brief verbal description of the injury, status and treatment.
”Wait!” Barran exclaimed, ”Can I see vids of the PPC sentry guns taking out hostiles?”
”No,” Daedo replied, ”It's not important.”
”It is to me,” Barran replied and even received some moral support from Picard.
”When everything is over. Daedo out,” he said before cutting the voice connection.
Daedo: we'll be back online this time tomorrow.
Mace cut the connection and inspected her trace and security program dashboards.
”Looks clean,” she stated. ”Nothing I can detect.”
”You've been in front of them so far, your Mother confirmed they only found us using old school methods.”
Daedo: Myrmidon, bring up the 3d virtual map. Good.
Daedo zoomed in on one of the sentry guns and moved it west dragging it virtually with his finger.
Daedo: can we move it here?
Myrmidon: tunnelling won't be an issue, but we would need to extend the power conduit.
Daedo: Mace and I will engage the operatives. This will enable you to bring in the working bots to repurpose the unused conduit between reactor 002 and 001.
Myrmidon: Digger 003 will start now. Do you need 002 for your attack?