Distress

High winds were blowing dust and tumbleweeds all about the desert canyon. The only signs of life came from three man-like mechanical objects soaring toward the north. The machines were traveling close to a long running ravine to their left as they hovered yards above the ground. The triangle formation they held formed three parallel contrails of dirt behind them.

“How much further LB?” The man in the front mechanized suit asked over their three way intercom.

“It shouldn’t be that far now PM. The distress signal wasn’t moving since we first caught it.” The man in the rear left position answered.

“Just keep tracking it LB. RB, you keep your radar pinging close range. It won’t do any good trying long in this storm. I know this is neutral territory, but something doesn’t feel right. Both of you stay on your toes.”

“Roger.” The two echoed.

Each machine was about eight feet tall and reflected very human like physiques for being comprised of alloy metals, pistons, and gears.

“It should be just over this next rise PM.”

“Aegis systems off. RB, fire a signal enhancer by the downed transport once we hit the top of this hill.”

“Roger PM.”

The trio ceased gliding over the rock and sandy terrain to begin walking instead. At the top of the next hill they stopped and vaguely made out a large light armored transport truck through the sandstorm. The mechanic suit on the right attached a spherical object to the end of a rifle and fired it in the direction of the truck.

“Anything?” The front man asked.

“Nothing PM. Just the transport and two biological signs within it.”

“I’m not seeing anything in the area either PM.” The third man added.

“Ok. RB hold position here. LB cover from the rock formation over there.” A long gleaming finger pointed forward and to the left.”

“Roger PM.”

“Roger.”

Half way toward the transport the LB broke away from the other man to the rock cover on the left. The front man stopped only a few feet from the back of the truck and began speaking on the distress signal frequency.

“This is First Lieutenant Simms of the Aestrom army. I picked up the distress signal and have come to assist.”

From where the man was, he noticed bullet holes scarred the transport as well as some compression marks about it.

“Oh thank god! We were attacked by a large group of men, armed with a pair of suits. I don’t know if they were just marauders or deserters from Coroden, but they took almost everything and left us to the storm.”

“How long ago was this?”

“Well they ended up damaging the 2omm.. Systems, so we had to fix that before sending the signal. They were gone probably about an hour before that.”

“Which way were they headed?”

“West I think.”

The front man cut off communications with the transport and went back to the team channel.

“RB to rear of transport. LB put as much juice into a long range scan to the west as you can. An hour and a half ahead of us, with compressions this size still in the sand during a storm must be a couple of SS units or something. Means they’re probably not as far away as I would like. I’ll check out the driver and find the second biological.”

“Roger.”

“Aye aye.”

The lieutenant moved to the front of the vehicle on the left side and tapped lightly on the door with his mechanical unit’s hand. The door swung open slowly to reveal a haggard looking man and a Doberman in the passenger seat. He switched over to external communications.

“Sorry to ask you this sir, but I need to request some ID.”

The man looked confused only a moment before rummaging through his pockets and holding out a bent and barely legible identification card.

“Just wanted to make sure, thank you. So give me a run down here if you can.”

“Well lieutenant, me and the dog here were on a run to the north, heading for Chiord when these guys came from the east with their guns blazing. Took most everything of value and even blew out the back end. All I had was short range radio and medium range beacon after I fixed the damn thing.”

“What about the engine?”

“The engine’s fine, for all the damn good it’ll do without back wheels.”

“It may be enough sir.”

“PM.”

“What’s up LB?”

“I can’t get anything concrete. Some blips a ways to the west, but the signal is still too static.”

“Alright, join RB at the back of the truck, you two will have some lifting to do.”

“Roger that sir.”

“Alright sir, my two colleagues will hold the back end but I need you to run the engine so they don’t have to carry all the weight and push at the same time ok?”

“I can do that much for you surely soldier. Thanks so much!”

“I’ll keep point. Aegis systems back on.”

The three mechanical units lifted into the air slightly. Simms positioned himself at the front of the vehicle while the other two each took up a back corner in one metal hand and the group began their trek north.

An hour later and over 70 miles north of where the transport was stranded, the sandstorm had subsided, but the three soldiers’ signals were still scrambled.

“I can’t explain it sir, we’ve been out of the storm for a good twenty minutes, but we still can’t read clear.”

“Chances of it being instrumental LB?”

“I highly doubt it, but I can’t be sure without looking over the suits fully.”

“Right then…”

“Can it wait till we reach the outpost fellas? We’re really close now, and I’m sure they have some mechanics who can help with those.”

“I appreciate the offer sir, but we’ll decline the help. And I’m not so sure about putting off an instruments check right now. An hour plus without decent radar, we can’t tell…”

“Oh hell man, I’m sure it’s fine. You’re in neutral territory after all.”

“Simms?” The LB’s voice came over a secure line.

“What is it?”

“Our signal hasn’t only been messy since the storm, it’s actually getting progressively worse.”

“What?”

Just ahead, a group of suits emerged from the sand and stone covering the terrain. The troupe came to a quick stop and soon realized that they were surrounded. Simms brought the man in the truck to the front screen. He was smiling wildly while strapping into his large seat. The moment the roof opened up, Simms’ steely hand shot out and grasped the seat firm as flame shot out from beneath, attempting to take to the sky. A look of fear washed over the truck driver’s face a split second before the mechanized hand brought the pod, man, and dog together into a crushed and bloody ball of steel.

“There it is.” The LB spoke out, tearing open a large hole in the side of the armored truck. “He’s been turning it up gradually as we were in the storm.”

“Dammit…”

“Soldiers of Aestrom, throw down your arms and surrender yourselves to the Colphar nation. We promise you will not be harmed.”

“So much for neutrality.” Simms said. “RB.”

“Sir.”

“Decline his offer.”

“Aye sir.” He replied with a chuckle.

Before the Colpharans returned fire, three perfect shots punctured a single hole in the cockpit of the man telling them to surrender. All three men’s screens were lit up with gunfire as they pushed themselves with minimal cover to avoid direct hits. It seemed as though for each enemy downed, another was quick to rise in its place.

“Sir! We got packers to the Northwest.” LB reported before dispatching an enemy unit.

Simms focused to the direction of the reinforcements and spotted a dozen enemy suits flying toward them.

“How far away was that deep ravine LB?”

“Not very, but going down there…”

“Is our only chance at this point.”

“There’s no cover down there sir.”

“Cover only really matters when there’s a gun fight. That ravine will lead us the hell out of here. The only suits we’ll need to worry about are the packers.”

“Yes sir. We’ll need to make our way to the southwest, it’s not very far, but…”

“We better move quickly then. RB!”

“Aye sir!”

The three got into low crouched positions as they sailed just above the ground toward the ravine. The RB cut the path for their escape taking the most fire. Once at the ravine the RB and LB both stopped for just a moment before a barrage of rockets from the flying suits flung the three men in different directions. When Simms regained his bearings, there was no sign of his two companions. Soon the enemy was closing in on him once more, and the groups of airborne suits were pulling about for another run. Taking heavy fire he attempted to stay focused on his enemy, and staying alive, but all he could think was one thing. A single word pushed all other things from his mind and consumed him just as a barrage of rockets enveloped him in flame.

“Rose.”