Solace & Taproots

3.2

There was a sharp THUMP below accompanied by a bang overhead, showering Rebecca and Ronnie with chunks of plywood, drywall, and metal framing. This repeated twice more as they scrambled frantically into the next room and risked a peek. The searchlight snapped to their new location as the quad mech's turret turned to their new position.

They were already moving by the time it fired. Their allies on the ground cracked off a few shots at it, and the women saw through a floor length bay window as the mech's return fire detonated against the checkpoint barricades. Fortunately for those below, more than one of their layers were thick steel plates like construction crews would put over holes in the road, tilted upwards and laterally, and the explosions seemed to splash off at a deflected angle.

Ronnie muttered as they caught their breath... "Well, now we know what the fucking 25 millimeter ammo was for."

Apparently she was on VOX for the 'family' channel, because Sam's voice cut in sharply over the background chaos (which included Seb's voice arguing with Lassart in the background). "Wait, what the fuck? What's going on up there?"

Rebecca filled her in on the autocannon mech as she and Ronnie ducked out of that condo and into the next. She heard scuffling movement and swearing from Sam, and then, "Stay alive, love. I'm on my way."

It took a second to parse that, and then alarm set in. "Sammie? What? Sam?!?" No reply came, so her mind was split between nervous confusion and taking alternating potshots at the mech, trying to wing its spotlight or some optics next to it, but either they were protected or she couldn't get a bead on it with the glare. She and Ronnie settled into a fast enough 'shoot and scoot' rhythm that they only caught occasional return fire, and they were always already moving away when it hit. Meanwhile, gunfire continued to echo from the east.

After several minutes of that dance — Bex wasn't sure just how many — Sam's voice came back on the radio. "Oscar Whiskey one-two, Sam Conroy, do you read?" Huh. Formal. She must be on the tactical channel, business talk. Bex switched to reply.

"Conrad, go for one-two."

"Do you have a laser designator up there? Not just a sight, but the chunky dual emitter guidance ones."

Rebecca glanced up at Ronnie, who chimed in. "Negative, no painters up here."

"Damn. I can disable that wanna-be AT-AT but need to lase it, and all these ground positions are pretty exposed or soft cover."

Rebecca broke in, some of her professionalism slipping. "Sam... don't stick your head out. Where are you?"

"Down and to your right. I can see what's left of the floor you've been firing from. I'm on the stairs."

Rebecca peeked out in that direction, and sure enough, spotted a tiny glimpse of red hair that had escaped Sam's cap and the very edge of her face reflecting some of the perimeter's lighting. She was three steps from the top of a staircase set into the underpass wall, leading up to the bridge and frontage road. The concrete wall serving as a railing for the upper street she was bunched up against was too thin for Rebecca's comfort, but she thought of something. "Sam, do you have a designator?"

"Yes, the one on my SMG." Bex saw the movement of Sam wiggling the gun where it was cradled close to her.

"Okay, hang on. Ronnie, can you go next door to distract it?"

Ronnie looked up at her questioningly. "Sounds like you got a plan, kid?"

"Most of one."

"'nuff for me." Ronnie thumped her on the shoulder and hustled back out into the interior hallway. Bex ran to the bathroom, and having learned her lesson at the pet store, used Felicia's stock to smash the vanity mirror — hoping she didn't mess up the rubber shoulder padding. Grabbing a good-sized shard, she returned to her prior position.