Chapter 167: Mobilized


    56 and Dixon split off from the main group of Hunters returning to the city after passing over the sma wall. The bloody mess of Twisted, artillery holes, smoke and dust still resonated heavily over the sand strewn battlefield. 56 couldnt imagine what that kind of fight it might have been like if they had to face the monsters at ground level. Undoubtedly the human side would have faced gravel casualties.


    They were headed for therge gathering of oversized semi-trucks that had taken over the former ICADs assembly point. There were 23 trucks in total, each one being colored differently and with their own unique symbols of identification. One unique feature that 56 noticed was that each trailer had a QR codebeled on each side of it.


    Orville, you can cut the recording now. 56 called to his little floating buddy. Once you do, tell me what the QR codes are saying.


    Understood boss 56! Orvilles chipper voice replied.


    Dixon started to descend towards the middle of the trailers, slowing considerablypared to the breakneck speeds they had been traveling during the battle. 56 then saw that the one they were headed for had a symbol of a Badger wearing a red, feathery carnival mask and matching glittery cape. 56 also saw that Sam and Tammy were just thening out from the trucks cab.


    The QR code says that this truck carries the Party Badger, a Hunters ss Military Mech (HCMM). Its officially registered with the Hunters n and allowed to cross over country boarders with proper intent. Orville answered. Do I need to give more information?


    Party Badger? That surely is a unique name. 56 mused to himself before replying to Orville, No, thats enough information for now. Stand by.


    Already to go Dixon! Tammy shouted as she bounded excitedly towards the hover bike as itnded. Quick, do your mechanics check and let me get out there. Im ready to get personal with one of those Demon Kodiak!


    Calm down Tammy, I am getting old and cant move that fast. Dixon chided as he stiffly got off the bike.


    In the meantime, Sam had climbed onto the roof of the trailer and was unlocking four code locks that ran down the roofs center. Then once done, he jumped down the trailers backside and entered amand onto a control monitor mounted to the trucks frame before he stepped back carefully. With an angry sounding hiss of air escaping, the trailer walls spilt in two as the sides fell away slowly as the air brakes controlled its decent, to reveal a humanlike designed Mech lying on its back.


    Start recording. 56 murmured urgently to Orville.


    The HCMM was over 5 meters tall, with a ck colored base tone with three big white stripes running vertically along its chest and back. Just like how a Badger might look or an Adidas tracksuit. The Party Badger symbol was stamped right over the cockpit hatch as well as a serial number marked just below it. The Mechs wingspan was equally as wide and the overall appearance looked rough, but experienced was the better term to use.


    The head wasnt as pronounced out from the torso like a human might look andcked a neck to look more like a turtles head instead. The head featured a more streamlined look with where the shoulders met with the torso to make the whole appearance look more defensive. Likely the whole body had to be turned to look around, but guessing from the thick, orange tainted ss running three-fourths of the way around the head, Tammy could likely see her surroundings simply fine.


    The body, arms, and legs were covered in thick armored tting, not all that much different to how police or military riot gear looked or protected. The joints were not covered, save for the widened armor tes on the legs near the knees. This design showed that Tammys Mech was made to be a medium, ground-based variation of Mech, which focused on being sturdy and agile to take on the heavy Twisted. If it were being used for true military purposes this design was much too unarmored and wouldnt hold up well in a prolonged firefight.


    Then 56 saw the weapons lying next to the hands and alongside the legs of the Mech. There were two that were obvious, one being a double-edged sword that looked to be two hands width in size and impossible for any human to even consider carrying. The length had to nearly half as long as the Mechs body too! The de was thick and chipped in several ces, but it was far from being useless to cut or in danger of breaking.


    The other weapon interested 56 far more. It looked like a cross between an oversized M1 Carbine rifle and a mini artillery. There was no doubt that this weapon was specially designed to be used exclusively by Mechs. The rifle wasbeled in white lettering as a Mechanized 76.2 mm Rifle. It had a top feed magazine to supply therge rounds into the absurd rifle and looking over the body, 56 could see multiple areas where extra magazines were being kept. This gun looked terribly simr to what the AFR used with their Mechs in their attempt to quell the cyborgs rebellion.


    Thest weapon, or so 56 assumed it was a weapon, was unfamiliar to him. The device resembled a bow-staff, but it wasnt fused together. Rather it looked like it was intended to split apart for some reason that 56 could not yet surmise. Its length was also mysterious because it was one meter shorter than the entire Mech was.


    Just as the two doors thumped softly onto the sandy ground Dixon spoke to Tammy, Alright, get in there and settle in.


    Tammyughed girlishly and a bit too manically as she dashed for the cockpit near the top of the HCMMs torso and smooshed head. As she tied a Hello-Kitty pink head band to hold back her frizzy afro, Tammy urged Dixon to hurry. Dixon joined Sam at the monitor and picked up a tabloid that had wires running directly to the frame the Mech wasying on.


    All systems are warming up nicely and no error messages have popped up yet. Sam called out looking at the monitor and selecting various tabs and features.


    Alright, Tammy, start it up. Like before, please start with testing the cockpit and head areas first this time. We dont want the legs kicking Sam again. Dixon ordered.


    Ya, that really hurt! Sam shouted out.


    56 looked at Sam curiously. The HCMM being 5 meters tall, and the feet looking to be over a meter in size, meant surviving an unprotected kick from the Mech was impressive. Sam noticed 56 looking at him and pulled back the hair covering his forehead to reveal a hand sized chunk of flesh missing off his forehead. It looked like a boiled egg that had a portion of the shell missing.


    Nice scar! 56 said with sincerity.


    Fine! Tammy shouted back to Dixon and Sam rolling her eye dramatically as she closed the hatch to the cockpit.


    It looked like her body fit snuggly into the body shaped shell that ounted for the pilots means of controlling the Mech. Her hands, arms, legs, torso, and head were nestled into separately crafted motion sensor tes that wirelessly tracked her movements in the cockpit, which then controlled the Mech to move ording to her own motions in real time. 56 wasnt able to see anymore of this cockpit in further detail because of his angle and that she closed the hatch much to quickly.


    Testing head. Tammys electronic voice called out through the HCMMs speakers.


    The HCMMs orange tinted ss lit up with a pale orange glow and then proceeded to sit up with the torso following along with the motion. The heat exhaustion fans were noticeably quiet, and it was as if they werent even on at all. The only proof they were indeed on and running was the hazy heat waves shooting out from behind the Mechs head.


    Good. Now right hand open and close, twice. Dixon called out to the Mech.


    As the Mech sat fully up, Tammy followed his order and did so with the right hand. Then doing the same with the other arm and legs, Tammys Mech ended up passing all the tests.


    Alright, everything is good. Dixon shouted to both his partners.


    Sam nodded and pressed a big red button next to the monitor. There was a loud click and what sounded like wires automatically coiling.


    Tammy, the Party Badger is dislodged from the truck frame. Dixon announced. Lets do one more test with the maic repulsion packs.


    56 perked up upon hearing this. Robotic advancements aside, the technology around utilizing human created maic fields to repulse against Earths natural maic field to create a new form of travel, was like discovering a new to him. The possibilities that it offered, not only for a military use, but for easing travel and transportation of any object, were endless. Now here was a live example of using maism to move a Mech that was easily over a thousand kilograms. 56 could hardly contain his excitement and felt like geek-ing out.


    Tammy, jump normally first and then the second time use the maic pack. Dixon ordered.


    The Party Badgers head nodded slightly before casually jumping straight up. Even though she only jumped two meters high, 56 braced himself for the impact. Yet when shended there were no vibrations. The HCMM hadnded no differently than a human would have, despite the weight difference.


    56 peered at the soles of the HCMMs feet and realized his folly. There were high grade shock absorbers, both in and outside of the Mechs heels and calves. Before he could admire them further, Tammy jumped casually again.


    Just as her feet left the sandy ground, an orange-colored electrified pulse irrupted with a muffled womp sound from the t shaped backpack on the Mechs back. This pulse, no wider than a meter, caused the Mech to triple in height and leave a light imprint in the sand below!


    As the HCMMnded with this time a noticeable thud, Sam called out from the monitor, 30% error readings. Seems like a coil malfunctioned. Same error asst time.


    70% is still eptable. Dixon replied waving off the warning. Its going to cost a fortune to repair though. Considering that, Tammy, get out there and earn the repair fees!


    Finally! Tammys electric-toned voice cheered.


    Then the Party Badger stood up like it was getting out of bed, just before reaching back down to grab the sword. She slung its massive girth over her onto her back where a U shaped hook locked the hand guard into ce. Which secured it to the Mech forter use. The Bow-staff device she did likewise, only this time the weapon was sticking much farther above the Mechs body, like some kind of radio antenna.


    The Party Badger then picked up the gun and checked both the safety and that the magazine was loaded. Satisfied, she slung the heavy rifle onto her shoulder with a metallic ng. The movements she performed were so fluid and urate that 56 would have guessed she was looking at a flesh and blood giant instead of a pilot controlling a mechanical machine.


    That took forever! Look everyone else is already mustering by the sma wall! Tammy whined as she pointed with her free Mech hand.


    56 looked that way and was surprised to see that all the other Mechs had already deployed. He had been too focused on Tammys Mech that he failed to notice the other Hunters Mechs were doing the same thing. Seeing the group of giant Mechs he felt like they almost looked like a bunch of Spartans from Halo gathering to take on the Covenant. In a way, that guess was not all too far off.


    There then came a beep from Dixons watch. Dixon took one look and then shouted up to Tammy. Tammy, it has just been announced that the bounty for killing the Demon Kodiaks will not be spit. Its firste, first kill! So, no need to y nice or share.


    The Party Badger looked down at Dixon and with her free hand she clenched it excitedly, Perfect. I hate sharing!