"Can you see it?" Alex Montgomery—call-sign Alpha—touched his earpiece.
"Yeah," the speaker cracked on and off.
"Alright! All call-signs report ready." Alex looked at his watch, checking the time. His Team was on a tight schedule for this mission. Everything needed to happen on the dot.
"Bravo is in position." Diana Toff—call-sign Bravo—the squad's Designated marksman and was a singer until it was well-known she was from a frontier colony, which ruined her career in IMC controlled space. Found a second natural talent and "enlisted" with the malitia as a crack shot.
"Charlie is ready." Charlie Vick, call-sign Charlie mostly as a joke. A former IMC engineer who went rouge after his brother was murdered for trumped charges of espionage for the militia.
"Delta is awaiting command." Charlie's "personal" MARVIN, an autonomous robot that served as a extra pair of hands for him during his work for the IMC. Delta is now—after being upgraded with spectre AI protocols and amour plating added by Charlie capable of waging war like the best spectre AI's.
"Echo reporting in." Marie "Eris" McCabri—call-sign Echo—is in charge of heavy ordinance and suppression. Archer rockets and Spitfire LMG's are her bread and butter.
"That's it! Operation Long-shot is a go. I'll follow you on the security cameras for as long as I can. Eris, would you be so kind as to kick things off?" Alex checked the chamber on his carbine, making sure he would be prepared for any resistance he faced.
"A pleasure."
Off in the distance, the sound of a Rocket launching was followed by a flash of light and a loud explosion.
"Fence electrical current is down." Eris sounded proud.
Alex commanded the squad. He was sent behind enemy lines with the other operatives to secure a prototype Atlas Titan equiped with some adapted technology that enabled long-range warps similar to the type used in space ships. Supposedly capable to jump straight from one surface of a planet to another. "North Gate has been breached, and the security spectres are moving towards the front. Charlie and Delta, your up next. Take out the ones left at the east gate and move to through the facility to the test control room."
"Got it."
"Command confirmed, Alpha."
"Alright, Eris and Brandy, you two keep the spectres occupied as long as you can. When we give the signal, meet up with us as soon as possible."
"Got it Alex." Again the sound of a rocket floated over to his position, followed by numerous shots from a DMR.
Alex jumped from his hiding space in the foliage just outside the fenced compound of a Hammond Industries Test Facility and took his bolt cutters and began working his way though the fence.
"I'm on my way to the pilot bay, stay in touch."
And so was the plan. Eris and Brandy provide a diversion, Charlie and Delta make their way to the Test Control Room to break through security and release the safeties that keep the Prototype from jumping to far. Alex was to breach the facility fences and replace the Prototype pilot who was supposed to be working the Titan during the presentation.
After all of this, Delta will move to support Alex while Charlie wreaks havoc on the security spectres which will allow Brandy and Eris to move in and support the retreat back to the drop-ship that is waiting cloaked just outside of radar range.
Needless to say the pressure was on.
Alex finished his work on the fence and crossed the southern no-man's land between the fence and the complex. With a press on his wrist, his uniform cocooned itself in a energy field. His hands disappeared as the suit rendered him near invisible. The night was cold and damp, and as Alex sprinted across the open field he could see the water vapor condense from his breath.
As he approached the first of the outer buildings of the complex, he jumped and jet-boosted his way to the roof.His suit reappeared as he drew his silenced smart-pistol from its holster and assessed the layout of the compound.
Spectres equipped with flashlights jogged by bellow him on the far side of the building he was occupying.
"I have another squad of spectres moving to the front of the complex,"
"Copy."
"Charlie, have you made contact with any spectre squads yet?"
"Not yet. We're making our way into the facility now."
"Good, the distraction is working. Keep up the good work everyone."
Alex propelled himself to the next building's roof and kept climbing. His target was in the tallest building near the testing dome.
He planned his path and reached the top of the building thanks to the plethora of nearby buildings and structures that gave him multiple possible paths to the roof. Pilots were trained to manipulate the battlefield and to fight on the move, and gaining the high ground advantage was invaluable.
The emergency roof access hatch was meant to be opened from the inside, but the housings that held the detonating charges that blew off the door could be breached by bullets. The only problem was on the inside four people are supposed to pull the four latch releases at the same time. An alarm would sound if Alex couldn't replicate the same effect from the outside.
Alex knew this. The Smart-pistol was his ticket in. He needed to find an elevated position on the roof so he would be clear of the detonation charges when the panels blew out.
The Hammond Robotics sign was the best he could do. Sweat broke on his fore-head as he pulled himself up the "I" and took aim at the panel.
"Delta and I have reached the ground floor of the security server building."
"Good. Charlie, get in there and set up the wireless virus. Delta, move the test facility and take the test control room."
"Command confirmed."
One by one, red lines centered on the casings. Confirming their lock-on with a low frequency beep.
Alex squeezed the trigger. The handgun fired and recoiled in quick succession, the pistol's technology compensating for the movement and landing the bullets on target in blinding speed. Each casing was compromised and the panel blew off as designed. Alex leapt from his perch atop the "I" and descended quickly into the building.
"Alpha, I have good news, bad news, and worse news."
Alex slid up to the nearest corner and scanned the hallway ahead.
"What's the bad news?"
"This server isn't responsible for the spectres, they must have some other mobile one on base somewhere. Like a vehicle of some kind or another."
"Could it be a Spyglass?" Alex slid down the hallway and eased the stairwell door open. He quickly descended floor after floor, looking for the Test Prep room on the signs that designated the floors
"That's the good news. If it is a Spyglass, Echo and Bravo should be in a position to eliminate it."
"Is there any way to pinpoint the location of the server form where you are."
"Not immediately, but I'm working towards that. The only advice I can give is it is most definitely high up near an antennae or dish, using it to boost it's bandwidth so it doesn't get bogged down from all the combat data. But even if I do find it, that still means the IMC are more invested in this project than we thought. That's the worse news."
"Well we'll just have to work around it. Bravo, did you get all that?"
"Yes sir."
"Delta is nearing checkpoint. Alpha, has the test pilot been subdued?"
"Not yet. I'm nearing the pilot bay now."
"Call-sign Delta has reached point of entry. Standing by."
Alex was going too slow. Delta was already at the checkpoint, and every second extra meant another second a bullet had a chance to rip through his team. He abandoned stealth and began to sprint; half on the floor and half on the walls. A good pilot was in peak physical ability, able to run on walls for extended periods of time with assistance of their jump-packs holding them to the wall.
He saw his floor and came to a stop. Adopting his stealth training techniques again. The door opened, and he quickly moved into the corridors and followed the signs to the titan bay, where his target would be.
The locker room was his objective, if the pilot was still there.
"Alpha going radio silent," he said as he tapped another combo on his wrist.
He cloaked himself again and eased into the titan bay. Red lines formed automatically and notified him that all of the bullets in it's magazine had a target. There were enough spectres and titans in this room to defend this facility indefinitely. Luckily none of the titans were active and most of the defense force wasn't either. Those that were, were arming themselves and moving out. probably to defend against the frontal assault.
Alex moved quickly but silently, the camouflage kept him out of sight and he took quiet steps. His door was across the bay, and he stepped off with the stealth timer.
The door wasn't locked, and he entered the room. The air was humid, and the shower was still running. He had made it in time. The pilot was singing in the shower.
"...the wallpaper sticks to the wall. Like the seashore clings to the sea. You'll never get rid of my shadow, and you'll never get rid of me.."
His pilot uniform was sitting on the bench near an open locker. Water from the shower was overflowing and half of the locker room was soaked.
"Before we're finished will make the town roar..."
The pilot began humming, probably forgetting the words. Alex pulled the pin on an arc grenade and threw it in the water. He jabbed his knife into the wall and planted his feet out of the water. The pilot continued.
"Life is gonna be a wow-wow-wheeee. For my shado-" The arc grenade discharged to the obvious displeasure of the musical pilot.
Alex swapped uniforms and placed his belongings in an IMC duffle-bag he stole from another locker. The suit was a bit large but with the tactical vest Alex had been wearing, it looked normal. He was also able to fit his earpiece under the IMC helmet.
"This is Alpha, objective complete. We have a green light. Bravo, Echo, disengage and pull the spectres away."
"Delta is taking control of command center."
"Good."
Alex synced the smart-pistol to his new helmet and exited the locker room.
"Captain Newman, you took your time." The spectre before him stood taller, slender. A large telescopic eye in place of an average spectre's "head".
The spyglass unit was in charge? Alex panicked.
"You can't rush perfection." He blurted, wishing he could recall his words immediately.
"If I recall Captian, you placed 92nd out of the 92 pilots of your class. The fact you didn't die horrendously like the other 408 in your testing is impressive, but you are far from perfection. Come with me Captain." The spyglass heel-toe turned and began striding away.
"Yes sir."
The spyglass didn't talk as they walked. Alex observed it, the thing controlling the robotic forces outside in the process of trying to kill his friends. They walked for minutes, Alex sweating out what he would do when he got in the titan. He switched the helmet microphone off and tapped his wrist to activate his earpiece.
"Delta has taken the control room, and is overriding the safety measures in the titan software."
"Good Delta. Keep it locked down and be ready to transfer."
Then they reached it. The titan was hooked up to panel after panel by wires and cords of every sort. The foot locks disengaging as he approached.
"Your titan, Captain." As Spyglass motioned, the titan opened, exposing the electronic insides of the metal titan.
Alex climbed in and checked the monitors.
"Pressure?" Spyglass inquired.
"Green."
"Motor control?"
Alex drew the XO-16 Chaingun and took a few steps. "Check."
"All fragile instruments ready. Releasing leash." The titan shuddered as the many inspection tools broke away. With a cacophony of slams the atlas was free of it's bonds. A literal killing machine, even this prototype was prepared to lay waste to all who came against it.
And the IMC didn't know who they just let drive.
"Alpha, Delta has completed task. Has taken the liberty of readying a wireless jump into the Titan's system. The IMC will be aware of our plan as soon as I jump. Are you ready?"
"Team! Mission is progressing to final stage, prepare to le-"
"STOP THAT TITAN!" Spyglass turned, it's camera eye focusing on the derelict pilot. He had recovered quickly from his electrocution.
"Delta, NOW!"
The XO-16's slugs ripped into spyglass and the floor around it. The spectres blinked out and back, rerouting their AI trough the base's servers which charlie had compromised.
"Jump complete."
"Give me a path to your body and then find us the fastest way out of here!
"Done, captain."
"The virus has been planted, make it out safe Alex."
The security spectres began to fire on one another. Bullets fired by automated platforms filled the air
"You're not going anywhere!" A voice rang over the Titan's intercom.
Another Titan, bulkier than an atlas, closed in on him. An Ogre, designed by Hammond robotics to be a walking tank, pounded it's fist against the hull of the prototype.
"An enemy titan is engaging you, Captain." Delta stated matter-of-factually.
"Thanks, I didn't know." Alex said sarcastically, throwing off the IMC helmet.
The ogre commenced pounding on the smaller titan. Alex was clearly outmatched in close proximity with his opponent, and he knew it.
"Delta, what else does this thing have?"
"The Atlas prototype, mostly stock, is equipped with a few specialty items. It has a cluster missile and...interesting...this titan appears to have both the vortex shield and electric smoke, though there is not enough power in the system to use them both at the same time."
"Alright."
Alex fired a cluster missile, point blank, at the ogre. His opponent disengaged for the moment, giving Alex the space he needed.
The ogre hesitated, deterred slightly by the pocket of small shrapnel explosions separating it from its prey.
