Artificial

Defense

Operator Evo

It's so weird being out of my armor, being on the defensive. I feel so vulnerable, so naked.
I look down and remember I'm constructed of Kevlar and titanium. Far as vulnerability goes, I think I'm alright.
I need to take point.
Or you could distract the enemy with that rifle while they run for the armory.
It's risky, but if it works, it'll be worth it.
I turn to the team.
"Make a break for the armory, I'll distract them."
"With what? That rifle?" Velox replies. "You'll die!"
"I'm pretty tough, Vel. Kevlar-and-Titanium tough, remember?"
I take her in my arms and hold her.
"I'll be fine. You need to get to the armory and grab your armor so you can come help me."
"Okay." Her expression hardens with a newfound determination.
I slip on my cross-com and remove the magazine.
My hud begins racing.
Analyzing magazine material:
Generation 2 BakeLite
Dimensions:
9" x 2.625" x 1"
Weight: 0.269 kg
Measuring ammunition:
7.62x39mm, 122gr FMJ
Weight: 0.0165 kg
Total weight of loaded magazine:
0.7475 kg
Remaining ammunition: 29 rounds. No reserve munitions detected. Make 'em last.
It seems like a long list, but our HUDs are able to process this in a matter of seconds. Okay, twenty-nine rounds. Twenty-nine potential kills. Let's make these shots count. I break from the far side of the dropship depot, firing three shots to get the attention of the soldiers on patrol.
26 rounds remaining.
As soon as I reach the cover of the next building, I lower the rifle and start sprinting away from my friends.
I need to get more distance.
You need to make them chase you.
Right.
I peek out from the right side of the building and take careful aim. I pull the trigger, and an enemy soldier's head snaps back as he crumples to the ground.
25 rounds remaining.
I fire three more shots into the crowd to scare them, and bolt for the next building.
22 rounds remaining.
I make it to the last building, and kick in the door. A few Recruits cower inside, guarded by Saclarian troops.
14 rounds remaining.

With the Recruits freed and escaping out the back, I peek outside and see Ayala wave the squad through the half-open garage door of the armory. Velox talks to her, and she waves to me before closing the door.
Good.
Now you just have to hold out.
Easier said than done.
I've attracted the attention of a few heavy troopers, who spray the windows with a hail of lead from their belt-fed machine guns. A soldier kicks in the door, and the machine guns stop.
Move now.
I tackle one to the floor, and hold him there by the throat as I take his sidearm. I turn back and aim it at the doorway, emptying the magazine into another close-quarters specialist as they enter. I toss the empty weapon to the floor, and slam my trapped adversary's head into the ground. I stand and shoulder the rifle.
13 rounds remaining.
The heavies are closing in. You can tell them by the sound of their gunfire and their loud, labored breathing. The heavies' armor is a lot like my DRAGON armor, and is designed to allow them to push through anything. To further this end, they are equipped with their own air supply. As such, they sound a bit like muffled Darth Vader.
I notice some exposed piping attached to the ceiling, and jump up to grab two parallel ones in my hands. I swing up my legs, and hook my feet on the same pipes further down. I hang there and wait for the heavies to enter.

They enter the open door at the same time, swinging their machine guns left and right. They walk directly under me, totally oblivious. Thank god the heavy helmet kills peripheral vision. I let go with my legs, hold on as I swing back, then swing forward and let go. I plant my foot on the back of the left heavy's head, sending him to the ground. I keep moving, and use my augmented strength to rip off the protective cover on the right heavy's air supply. I push my rifle into the oxygen tanks and fire until it punctures. The tank depressurizes with great force, taking the heavy off of his feet and slamming him headfirst into the concrete wall. The left heavy is on his feet again, but without his gun. I raise my weapon. Will he go for the weapon, or for me? I hear movement, and watch as the other heavy begins to rise to his feet, weapon in hand. I open fire on him, and the other heavy tackles me to the floor. We roll, and when he stop, we're lying on the floor across from each other, and I still have my rifle. I aim for his visor.
Click.
I look down at the corner of my HUD.
0 rounds remaining, seek resupply.
Fuck.
I throw the weapon to the floor and face off against the other heavy trooper. He charges at me, and I draw my knife. The other heavy raises his weapon, but it's too late. We're in close combat now, and those machine guns aren't accurate.
The heavy throws a punch that I duck under, and as I pass below I grab his air hose. I pull it hard, turning him around, and slice it open. He growls as he detaches his mask.
"Wrong move, abomination."
He gestures to the other heavy, who raises his machine gun to fire. I hear heavy footsteps to my left, and watch as Riot slides in front of me, shield deployed. The rounds flatten harmlessly against the blue pane, sparing me a lot of damage.
I hear footsteps from the front door, and watch as Velox leaps up, grabs the doorframe, then swings through it to pounce on the unarmed heavy.
"That armor will buy you ten, fifteen seconds tops."
Her prey screams.
The armed heavy swings his machine gun around, and Riot drops his shield. Before the heavy can fire, a grappling hook clamps onto the barrel of the weapon and rips it away. The massive belt-fed weapon hurtles through the air toward Reach, and he quickly ducks out of the way as it narrowly misses his head. He lets out a sigh of relief, sprawled out on the floor. The now-disarmed heavy runs for the back door, only to be clotheslined by an Operator I've never seen before. Their armor looks standard, besides some extra plating, but what really confuses me is that it looks worn, like it has already seen years of combat. The Operator cuts off the heavy's air hose and uses it to tie his hands behind his back.
"Go sit in the corner!"
Their voice is female, but I can't place it. The distortion her helmet is causing certainly doesn't help. She walks over to where Velox is straddling the other heavy and pounding him into submission.
"Don't you think this is a little... unnecessary, Vel?"
She stops punching and sits up on the man's stomach.
"No. He tried to kill my man."
"Honey, this is a war, and your boyfriend is a soldier. If you do this to everyone who tries to kill him, this war will take a century."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Velox concedes as she removes the heavy's helmet. "There are a lot of asses to be kicked." She knocks him unconscious with a single blow to the jaw. The female Operator offers her hand, and Velox takes it, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet.
Wait a minute, only two women have earned enough respect from Vel to change her mind on anything, and that sure as hell ain't Shock.
Ayala?
The Operator removes her helmet.
Yup, Ayala. I'd know her contradiction anywhere. A soft-spoken voice that commands a legion of near-superhumans. A compact frame that I once saw bench-press Shockwave as a joke. Ayala shouldn't be possible, and I think that's what makes her so easy to look up to. She approaches me.
"You alright, Evo? We came as soon as we could."
I pound my chest.
"Kevlar and titanium, ma'am. I'm not exactly fragile. That's why I volunteered to do it."
"You're a good kid, Evo," she says as she hugs me.
She turns around.
"Riot, come here."
He walks over, and drops a duffle bag at my feet. I open the zipper and see the Omni-Armor 2.0, dismantled into segments, as well as the compacted Omni-Rifle.
"Gear up, bro. We got work to do."