"Raven, I've sent for supplies and some extra weapons. The supply lander should be down here relatively soon." Ayre said. "In the meantime, we have a mission request. It's from the Liberation Front's Central Ice Field Command, Middle Flatwell. Bringing it up now."
Raven took his partner's hand as they sat together in the quiet belly of OBSIDIAN WING, hidden out of the way further in the tunnel system.
"Raven. I'll get straight to the point." said Flatwell, "Now that the entrance to Watchpoint Alpha is clear, the corps have resumed full scale war above ground. Arquebus was the first to make it down the lift, and we expect they will be fighting tooth and nail to keep Balam from making it down as well. With the stocks of PCA technology they seized, they're in a good position to defeat Balam... But they're still human. Tired from the endless conflict between powers. Open to an attack on their key forces. We want you to eliminate two of the Vespers' numbered officers."
The display switched from diagrams of troop movements and tunnel routes to AC dossiers.
"V.V Hawkins. Their officer overseeing the transport corps. V.VIII Pater. His adjutant." Flatwell continued, "We know what their assigned route is for Arquebus' planned Depth 2 survey. When they enter the communications deadzone, we'll ambush them. I will assist you on this mission, it'll be a good opportunity to catch up with a veteran. I look forward to your favorable response, Raven."
The briefing ended as the icon of Middle Flatwell's AC, a soaring bird, winked out.
"There's also a request Walter sent over, from the Arquebus Group." Ayre explained, "They want you to ambush the Redguns that are attempting to get inside Watchpoint Alpha."
Ayre seemed to hesitate.
"It's your choice which mission we take..."
<<We need the corps as weak as possible. The best outcome would be Balam smashing the opposing Vespers, so we should leave them alone to skirmish with each other.>>
...
"Raven, we've received a set of coordinates," Ayre said. "I'm marking it on your map now. The room you fought the Enforcer in is where Middle Flatwell has determined to be a communications deadzone. He requested that we wait in the rafters to ambush the Vespers as they arrive."
Raven guided OBSIDIAN WING to stand next to the door that led back toward the entrance to Watchpoint Alpha. The supply sherpa that had arrived after their last survey section had allowed her to repair the damage OBSIDIAN WING had sustained and restock her ammo, though he'd elected not to change his weapons at all. His contemplation was broken when the door hissed open to reveal an Elcano AC, FIRMEZA model.
<<There's Middle Flatwell.>>
"I'm pinging him with the crypto key you used at the Gallia Dam. Handshake successful. Routing the communications channel to you." Ayre went quiet as the channel stabilized.
"I barely managed to make it down in time, Raven." The Liberation Front commander was as monotone as ever. "They're not far behind me, though I think I avoided being detected. We should still be safe to ambush them. Whenever the moment is right."
Flatwell retreated to the opposite side of the door, standing and waiting. OBSIDIAN WING stood opposite the door from TSUBASA, both machines still as could be.
"Raven, I'm detecting radio chatter on the Arquebus frequencies. Patching it through to both of you now. The Vespers we're supposed to ambush must be close," Ayre warned.
YOU ARE READING
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
General FictionIn a future where humanity has developed an interstellar civilization. On the frontier planet of Rubicon 3, a substance called, "Coral" was discovered that could be used as both an energy source and a data conduit. Coral was hailed as the key to hum...
