Scarlet Steel

I dash through the streets, turn the corner, and find a Switchblade sprinting at me, both daggers already drawn and ready to attack.

Being in Mnemosyne space hasn’t changed our jobs all that much. Over the last few months I haven’t so much as seen one. Most of them don’t trust humans, and with how different our biology is, even in their stations we’re separated from each other.

I pivot Hoppy on her foot and sprint back the way I came, back towards my group.

“Graff! Switchblade left!”

“It’s dead when it turns the corner.” He reassures me.

I keep running, crossing past our defensive line. Barricades have been constructed across the main street, and Juno is standing front and center, her shield constantly under fire, and the gun built into her arm fires back every few seconds. Thick wires connect her to extra generators hidden in the buildings surrounding us. From the floors above, people fire from hidden encampments at the mechs and vehicles slowly approaching our location. Janus occasionally jets upwards to rain down lasers over the shield before quickly crashing back down to safety.

“Fox-1.” Graff calls, and a rocket soars over my head. A shockwave rips through my body, but I keep moving. “Good contact, he’s out of the fight.”

I trust his call and keep running. A small amount of metal peppers my hull as I pass the shield. 

“Exa, how long until they’re evacuated?”

“Last civilian ship is being loaded now.” She says.

“Great.”

We weren’t even supposed to be here. We caught an emergency broadcast while we were in the system, and moved over to investigate. A research base hidden in the ruins of an abandoned city was sending out an SOS, asking for help from bandits trying to raid them. They already had a defensive force in place but were slowly getting pushed back. After a brief discussion, they hired us to hold until they can manage to evacuate.

I check the right flank. The existing defenses are still holding. A few turrets and vehicles using the remnants of a truly ancient Elephant, the bigger sister of a Rhino, as cover. I can only imagine the mech was destroyed when the city fell. The defenders managed to partially activate its shield generator, casting a weak dome of energy across the road. Enemy ground forces are still pushing, but the defenders aren’t about to fail.

“Right flank yellow.” I report. “Should hold long enough.”

“We shouldn’t need the humans.” Exa adds.

“Copy.” Juno grunts. “This is Apollo-1 to all defenders. Begin falling back to point Beta, group on me. Continue fighting as you move.”

Exa filters out any responses.

As I run back to check the left flank again, one final ship jets into the air, safely escaping.

“That’s the last civilian ship.” Exa says. 

I let out a sigh of relief as I approach the flank. The Switchblade is missing, not destroyed. It must have been able to retreat.

I sprint across the street and watch my right side cameras as I go. A few vehicles are heading my way, and they open fire in the few seconds I’m visible. Shit, how’d they get here so fast?

“Left flank red!” I announce.

“Get out of there Kid. Graff, cut it off.” Juno orders.

“On it!” I turn around and sprint the way I came, taking fire once again. My capacitors hold out and my shields stop most of the potential damage. 

“Missile out.” Graff warns, and a moment later the building collapses behind me. 

The world roars and dust fills everything. Exa automatically switches my cameras over to full-spectrum, letting me see through the dust. The remnants of the building fill the streets, entirely blocking off the intersection.

“I don’t think they’re getting through that. Left flank green.” I announce.

“Not secure, delayed.” Janus corrects. “Left flank yellow, but we have time.”

“Confirmed. Defenders, move! Ship won’t wait forever! Get a gun watching left flank!”

Slowly the human and AI defenders make their way to us. They take defensive positions around Juno, offering cover fire to their retreating allies. All the while I keep scouting, sprinting past defenders and towards the attackers. I keep everyone updated on every approach, but never fire back. Not just because Juno directly ordered me not to, but also because I don’t have time. Facing the enemies to fire would just make me take magnitudes more fire in return. I’m not going to risk getting hurt.

“All survivors accounted for.” The leader of the defenders’ voice comes over the radio.

“Confirmed. Graff, final two missiles, close off everything.”

“Fox-1, fox-1.”

The world erupts again as two more buildings collapse. 

“Defenders, evac. Apollo-3, Apollo-4, get to the dropship.”

“Moving.” Graff confirms.

I hesitate for just a moment. The two of them aren’t going to fall back until every last soldier is safe.

“Call me back if you need me.” I turn around and head into the compound we’re defending. I think this was a park at one point, surrounded by crumbling and fallen buildings with just three entrances remaining. Directly beneath the ground is a hangar. Large portions of the ground have been upturned by large doors swinging upward, giving access to landing bays.

Our dropship is instead parked directly on the grass, crushing trees below it. I take the left bay, and Graff takes the right. If Juno and Janus need help, we’ll be able to deploy.

“Hopper secure.” Andromeda helpfully informs me.

I can do nothing but watch the screens, both the view of the other mechs and the cameras on the outside of the dropship. None of the cameras are entirely trustworthy, a powerful enough AI could interfere and falsify the video, but Exa and Janus haven’t noticed any interference yet.

I watch the soldiers rush underground where a lone ship still remains. Juno doesn’t take a single step backwards until the last soldier has begun to move. Even if the rubble is still blocking off all enemy soldiers, Juno is still ready to defend them.

I hold my breath until the defenders reach the entrance down into the hangar. Finally, both Juno and Janus head towards the dropship, but still keep their aim towards the blockades.

“We’re loaded.” The leader announces. “Taking off.”

“Confirmed.” Juno turns towards the dropship, but doesn’t step inside until after Janus is locked in place behind Graff.

As soon as the other dropship lifts into the air, Juno gives the order.

“Take us up.”

“Copy.” Janus responds.

My stomach drops as we reach into the air. I can’t be dropping already. I clutch at my stomach as nausea claims my body.

“You’re alright.” Exa says gently. 

An error flares on my console’s screen reporting gunfire hitting the bottom of the ship.

“Status!” Juno barks.

“Small arms fire from three soldiers.” Janus reports. “Expect a small amount of damage and necessary repairs, but it won’t stop us from getting to orbit. One antigravity generator at 80%, a second at 95%.”

“Bastards.” Juno mumbles. “How’s the other transport?”

“Taking a small amount of fire as well, same situation.”

“I’m going to wring them for all they’re worth. Andromeda, set a route to the nearest station with an Argenta outpost.”

“Confirmed. Route planned to Mnemosyne station, ETA four days.”

“Confirmed.”

It’s not long before we’re out of gun range and speeding into orbit. It does little to reduce my nausea, however. My stomach still churns.

“You going to be sick?” Juno asks.

“I’m fine.” I insist, and force myself to let go of my stomach. 

“Talk to me, Kid.”

“I said I’m fine.” I grab on to the accelerator to hide my shaking hand.

“Scarlet.” She says gently.

“I’m fine!” I repeat. I reach for my canteen. Drinking water always helps a little. “It’s just the combat drop. I just need to relax. Repairs will help.”

I’m left waiting with nothing to do as we approach orbit. This planet is small, it’s only thirteen minutes to our ship. The moment we’re docked, I walk towards my bay.

As soon as I’m locked in I climb out of Hoppy and head down the ramp, taking in her damage. It’s just a few dents, I’m good at moving between cover quickly enough to not take too much fire.

The ship shakes as the rest of them walk past me. Of course Juno took most of the damage, as always. That’s her job, after all. Graff is spotless, and Janus just has some light dents.

I wait until everyone else is docked before heading to Juno’s Rhino. Her repairs come first. I already have the first damaged panel off her leg before Juno exits the mech.

I hate the concerned look on her face as she passes. She gives me a nod and continues on, only to be intercepted by Luna. She’s heavily modified the body she bought from Juno, engraving designs across every bare piece of metal she can find. She’s in the process of installing a few mods, none of which she’s modified her external plates to accommodate and are randomly jutting out of her.

“Got a report, boss.” She reaches for a modification jutting out of her shoulder to fiddle with a few settings. “Had our own little war up here. Couple of AI came knocking, trying to activate the engines while you were planetside.”

“Did they give feedback on you and Andromeda’s system?” Juno walks straight past her.

“No. I know what probing a system feels like, and this wasn’t it.”

“Then you earned your keep. They were trying to block our way out, force us into surrender rather than evacuating. It’s typical with the more pragmatic groups. A surrender means they can get our mechs.”

The two of them continue their conversation as they enter the living room. Janus, Graff, and Xenia follow them, leaving just Exa and I alone. She joins me in my work.

“Not working on Hoppy first?” She asks.

“The Rhino is more damaged.” I keep my eyes on my work.

“Still nauseous?" She asks.

“It’s lessening.”

The two of us burn the day away working. All the damage disappears beneath sweat and blood. I tighten Hoppy’s last bolt and step back. She’s perfect, as always. I swallow my emotions.

“I’m going to get some sleep.” I say.

“If you need to talk, I’m here. You’ll need to eventually.”

“I know.”

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