A Displaced Samurai

June, Friday 4th, 2048

I wanted to do some digging in the higher level Mack wreckage around town. For that, I wanted better tools.

“Elya, I’d like something better suited to cut through that Mack plate. In particular for a quick raid of the Mack scrap still lying around.”

The Omni-Cutter Mark I from the Class One Power tools catalog would be suitable. Prices are 50 points for the catalog and 300 points for the blueprint.

I had learned by now to trust Elya’s recommendations, and I could afford to splurge a bit.So I agreed. “Yes please.”

Class I Power Tools unlocked!

New point balance... 4537

Purchased: Omni-Cutter Mark I (Blueprint)

New point balance... 4237

My new tool went through Mack plate like a hot knife through butter. From one Type 21 I brought an undamaged eye home, from another a pair of emitters from a strange distortion force field thingy.

I also managed to get a sample of the mysterious filling of the Type 32’s armor. A jeweler determined that it was Lonsdaleite, after digging in his textbooks from university and doing some measurements.

Probably for blunting kinetic penetrators. When reasonably free of defects in the crystal structure, It works better than one might expect from a “brittle” crystal.

In between making more stuff for the military, I dissected the parts from the Twenty-Ones. The distortion field emitters appeared to be part of a “simple” teleportation gate, which was in theory described in the Lorekeeper Tome of Teleportation Technology. In practice I managed to read out the memory of the eye-computer hybrid and found evidence that it was actually part of such a gate. I was, however, still missing a few pieces of the puzzle.

On the internet, conspiracy theorists were claiming that a new breed of female cyber-demons were about to rise and devour us all. Which I would have dismissed as bullshit if I had not also found photos of a badly mangled robot girl on the net. Photos that appeared to be from the Emergence in Sooke on the first of June.

Overall, however, I was still running low on interesting facts. It was time to do some more personal digging.

June, Friday 12th, 2048

There was interesting news. From my contacts in the military, I heard that some Magical Girl strike teams had taken out a Mack underground base near Mount Olympus. At least something had been taken out, there was a column of smoke that looked too oily for a forest fire.

But as it was hidden behind the mountain as seen from Victoria, I could not be sure. Even with my Spectracopters, I could not get a good look.

I knew that B.S.O.D. was against me going off on my own, so perhaps I could wheedle some concessions out of her if I was willing to go with an organized expedition to the wrecked base. So I called.

“SHOCKS, Eliza Brooks speaking. What can I do for you?”

I recognized the voice of B.S.O.D.s middle-aged secretary. A competent lady, but a bit prone to being caught off guard in conversation.

“Caitlin MacCallan here. I was planning a research trip to the wrecked Mack base near Mount Olympus. Perhaps I can find some useful stuff there that the girls have not completely smashed to dust and rubble.”

“I am sure Omega Lily have not… wait, how did you know about that operation?”

“I did not. But thanks for confirming.”

“Ohmygawd. But Miss B.S.O.D. told me about you, and you going off into the wilderness unannounced would be exactly what she is worried about. I’d better connect you to her.”

Only one minute later I heard the somewhat stressed voice of B.S.O.D.

“Hello Miss MacCallan. I hear you are planning another, well, spontaneous endeavour?”

“It is either planned or spontaneous, not both. But yes, I’d like to dig through the remains of the Mack base at Mount Olympus.”

“Good that you didn’t spring this on us completely unannounced, but why the change in attitude?”

“To be honest, I expect you will start such an expedition anyway and I hoped I might be able to hitch a ride.”

“You and how much luggage?”

At least she did not immediately say no. She still might once she heard my next statement.

“Me and a modified Type Three as logistics vehicle.”

“WHAT??”

“Remember the Type Three you requisitioned four months ago? And how I had figured out some of the function?”

“Yes, but that was still at the Xenotechnological Institute last time I checked.”

“I found another one, bought it from a guy up near Lake Cowichan. I managed to get it going again, this time all of it, and modified it for use by a driver.”

I heard a heartfelt sigh over the telephone.

“And what other modifications does that thing have?”

“I upgraded the fabricator to a version of what I sold you three months ago. Also, it will have a small point defense turret specifically against the Type Six.”

“So you have a mobile fabricator and want to bring it along. Why?”

“In case I need to build something on the fly. The fabricator is equivalent to the one in the shelter, anything I can build at the shelter I can build at the logistics vehicle.”

“There might be an opportunity soon. But there will be a price. A complete documentation of your new logistics vehicle, including that surprising new point defense system. Arthur of SHOCKS will call you to arrange details.”

“Deal!” I had no independent transportation to the mainland yet, and building it would break my various budgets. Both in terms of points and credits. The documentation was an expensive, but acceptable fare for the expedition. Also, I was not really averse to sharing, I just did not want to be sidelined and stifled in my own progress.

The following day, Arthur called and announced the start of the expedition for the following Tuesday, 08:00.

With only three days to prepare, I was busy again. Organize some XXL duffle bags to hang off the side of the vehicle. Weld hoops to the hull for attaching the bags to. Print another Avian Eliminator and mount it on the roof. Buy a bunch of camping equipment and extra food. Make some last minute improvements to the Mack cockpit, in the form of an AC system. Non-Protector stuff, though I might reverse engineer it for my blueprint collection eventually.

June, Tuesday 16th, 2048

08:00

I had packed everything for the upcoming expedition and climbed into the cockpit of my modified Mack. As I started walking it towards the harbor, most people stayed cool but I also could see some running in panic. One of them straight into a lamp post. Ouch.

At the harbor, a landing boat was already waiting. One guy was already there and discussing the loading of some equipment with the seamen. As I climbed down from my mount, I recognized the voice. “Hi”, I said, “you must be Arthur.”

“Yup, and that metal bug says you are Caitlin?”

“Right. Are we using this thing for the entire trip?”

“Yes. Taking a long trip in a landing craft may seem weird, but I have been assured that this model can handle the trip.”

The guy who seemed to be the captain of the boat addressed me “You must be Miss MacCallan. We have been expecting you. And the MSV(L) is more than able to make the trip without a mothership!”

He pointed to one of his seamen who was already directing the loading of equipment “Seaman Higgs will direct you in walking your, uh, metal spider, aboard.”

We managed with a bit of difficulty. It was the first time I maneuvered the Type Three backwards onto a ramp.

Shortly after, Team Battle Bug and two boys I did not know showed up. Arthur introduced them. “These are Benjamin and Mark, experts in computer science and mechanical engineering respectively. And I’m told you already know the Battle Bugs.”

From the Bugs came mixed reactions when they saw my vehicle.

Ladybug: “That thing is so cool! Does it have a name?”

Pink Orchid: “I wonder how this thing moves compared to a spider. Can’t wait to see it crawling.”

Longhorn: “I understand hijacking Macks is useful to you, but these things still give me the creeps. This one is not as bad though, with the cockpit and the Canadian flag it looks a lot more friendly.”

Mantis wanted to know everything about my metal bug, especially how to drive it. When I was halfway through my explanation, she asked “Can I try driving it? Please?”

“Sure, once we are in a reasonably safe practice area!”

Ladybug kept pestering me about naming my Mack, until I gave in. It ended up being ”Herbie” as in Herbie the Love Bug. I learned it was the name of a sentient Volkswagen Beetle from a 20th century comedy movie.

Finally, four HANAF Rangers showed up, one of them guiding a lone pack mule.

17:00

In a warm summer breeze, we were approaching the small village of Queets west of Mount Olympus and on the Pacific coast. The plan was to land at Queets and make our way up the river.

That arduous approach was partly my fault as HANAF had no helicopter that was suitable for airlifting the Type Three. I almost had a guilty conscience because I would ride comfortably in my mech while others were walking. But I also overheard comments about the wooded area being unsuitable to land with a helicopter. So it might not be solely my fault that the others could not travel comfortably by air.

Eventually, we arrived at Queets and disembarked. Longhorn, who was in command of our little expedition, decided that marching into the evening, only to have to make camp soon, did not make sense. “We sleep here tonight, but be prepared to get up at 6:00 tomorrow!”

The village had been evacuated many years ago, but a few buildings were still intact enough to sleep in.

I gave Mantis some Mack driving lessons before it became dark. We started with moving around. I explained “You strap your legs and feet in here, then you put on the five-point harness. That way you won’t slide around. Which is important because you cannot brace yourself with your feet as usual.”

Once she was strapped in, I continued “Now, you switch on the walking mechanism here. This is also your emergency off switch. The lever below it is the quick release for the leg straps and also triggers the emergency-off.”

Mantis strapped in and switched walking mode on. Her first steps were rather clumsy, including one moment where I was concerned she might tip us over. But she proved a fast learner, and half an hour later she moved Herbie around as fluidly as I, despite the advantage Elya’s discreet support in driving gave me. The girl had talent. Lots of it.

“Hey, you're a natural!” I commented.

“I have always played with new ways to move around. Stilts, rollerblades, I would have loved snowboarding if there were decent winter sports opportunities left! And by the way, I am Crystal.”

“Hi, nice to meet you Crystal. Next, let's try the arms.”

There was a similar system with gloves to stick your hands in and control the big hands of the Mack. It was a lot more intuitive than controlling the legs. Mantis mastered it right away and made cheeky hand signs at the others.

Pink Orchid was watching with interest. Once we parked Herbie and got out, she started to criticize Crystal’s performance.

“These first moments were abysmal. No self-respecting spider would walk like that, unless drunk. But you improved a lot. Keep training, and in a month you might walk almost as well as a real spider!”

Far too early in the morning, we had to get up. After a hearty breakfast, we started towards Mount Olympus. The landing boat would return to Victoria and return after ten days, unless agreed upon otherwise. Despite the captain’s assurances, it was considered unwise to keep a landing boat at sea longer than necessary.

We had food for two weeks. Most of it was distributed among the humans, because the pack mule had to carry equipment for the SHOCKS scientists. But the team soon discovered that my Model Three made an excellent pack mule too. While everyone in the expedition was reasonably fit, not everyone was used to hiking and people were glad to offload a few kilograms. The animal pack mule was glad to have its load reduced too.

Four days later in the afternoon, we reached our destination. A hole was gaping in the south flank of Mount Olympus, as if someone had set off a massive explosion. The roof of the hole was black with soot, but the fire seemed to be out. Massive rubble was strewn down the mountainside and had uprooted some trees in the process.

Longhorn and the HANAF Rangers examined the surroundings, then decided to establish our camp at a reasonably flat spot nearby. The next morning we climbed the mountain towards the big hole. Fortunately the mountain slope was not too steep and we could take the Type Three with us. It might be convenient for moving heavy stuff.