Dead Cities and Deader Men (Operative Title) Day 20 of 30 12/10/2020

Dead Cities and Deader Men (Operative Title)

Day 20 of 30

12/10/2020

The communication machinery is working, decoding a second message just as a contact appears on the radar. The one will take a while, so focus on the potential target. Slew all available Cameras in the direction, and it is a monster out there.

Not seen that type before, multilegged, taller than the usual, maybe about five meters in height, with a dozen meters in length. Does not look too armored, that much weight that high in the air, it is likely fast and not so armored. Since the recon and patrol routes I am normally on do not pass this way, it must be more local or native to here.

With it being a lot flatter than most, that might make sense. Still does not feel like a usual run at all. With the illnesses and tap outs, along with a substitute driver, none of it feels like it should.

Check the feeds again, looks like it is turning more in our direction, like an intercept course. Will be about five or so minutes before in range of the Side Guns. Give it a minute or so more before alerting the Gunners.

By the Landing, it looked right into the cameras, no way past it now.

“All Gunners, man weapons. Target inbound approximately three minutes or less. Prepare for Deployment as last resort. This is a ride and shoot instance, no automatic deployment. Repeat ride shoot.”

It only takes a minute for the Kid to get back up here. He sits and pulls out the Aux Panel and preps it for the coming battle. Look over at the Deploy Panel and all Green across the board. Look and the thing has sped up, my estimate was long, going to be in range way sooner.

“Main Guns fire when ready, Side Guns wait till closer. Tail Guns, we plan to just keep going so you will have free fire once behind us.”

The lights dim to almost off when both Main Guns fire at the same time. I can see both rounds hit and the light weight of the monster, compared to many, rocks it back on its legs. I can see and almost hear a roar from it. Rocks about shatter around it from the sonic vibrations and I can see dust raised up from the response.

Suddenly the Side Guns chatter and I see rounds impacting as well. It flinches, in obvious reaction, and I hope we can just drive it off this easily.

Of course, it shrugs and continues to race towards us, and then the Mains hit it again and it is definitely hurt in the exchange. Might this be first one I see actually die from our fire. That would be a difference. Good thing all of this is recorded automatically.

It gets close enough that it roars again and the sounds waves wash over the Track. The whole place shakes and rings from the action. I hear vibrations all over the place. All the Guns open up on it again and I can see gore splatter off from the impacts. The chaff, IR, and other distractors all go off in effectively it’s face and it rears back again.

I can tell we are making a difference and are hurting it. This is perhaps the most damage done in all the fights I have been in on missions. This is almost going to be a success at this rate. I can feel it is going to happen for us this time.

A third and fourth sets of rounds impact from both Main Guns and it is hurting obviously. More Side Gun impacts show up and I contemplate using one of the remaining missiles and decide not to use it. The first message said to conserve supplies as well as the time limit. Doing well enough so far this time.

There is a fifth dimming and at the near point blank range the two Main Guns do the trick. One round inpacts up close to the head, the other one right in the head and the whole thing is envolped in a cloud of ichor and gore. I see parts splatter off and suddenly it stops moving.

All the guns stop firing as one as we all watch the beast stop still, and fall sideways into what I presume will be its death. I have never heard of a large one being killed before. Have taken out the smaller ones, track size or less. Not something this large. A good thing to have happened to us.

I look and the internal cameras show the gunners all cheering. The Kid next to me is speechless. Hopefully the leaders back in The City will be able to analyze and get good intel from the records. We are not slowing down to collect any trophies. That is too dangerous and would use up valuable time.

“Cease fire, guns in standby. I have never seen a big one go down before. Great work to everyone, great work. Remember this day, we beat one of the monsters on its own terrain. We are heading home everyone. Staying at full speed, only a few days left.”

I close the internal communications and about this time the external communications end receiving and decoding and a second message starts to print.

::MSG FOLLOWS:: Priority Concern. All Tracks make all speed. Return NLT 4 days from receipt.  Maximum Spd possible. Conserve supplies. Return NLT 4 days from receipt. IMPERATIVE, NLT 4 days from receipt. This is the final reminder of this imperative. Sent by the City Leaders.::

Just a reminder of the time frame. This speed, and the different route, we have about 3.5 days left, so we have some leeway in the tasking. Must be something really big going on to warrant this. Really big.