Black Market Merchant

Chapter 185: Bolstering the Ranks
Special Officer Hawkins silently pondered all that he had witnessed during the Twisted Hoard invasion. The city’s defenses had remained largely intact, the ICAD 18’s had performed within the AFRs expectations, 56 had remained alive and was still traveling in an unpredictable manner with the Hunters Clan. What remained as the most significant thing of the invasion was that the Hoard Mother had been slain by the secret weapon that Mayor Bakersfield had boasted so greatly of. That impressive display of strength of using the kinetic energy artillery strikes on the Liquid Nitrogen-soaked Hoard Mother worked too well for his liking.

“Have all the video feed from the Osprey Drone relayed to the Lieutenant Colonel. I also want to mention in the same report that 56 is still on the move but now heading in the direction of the town Queen is in. They might come into contact, and it needs to be monitored. If 56 convinces Queen to leave the town and return to wherever the Cyborg Unit is hiding out, then getting the chance to isolate and neutralize a lone threat might be gone for good.” Hawkins relayed to the soldiers closest in the room to him.

Many of the solders under his command still were working with the last of their ground crew collecting the disabled drones that 56 and Orville had blinded, while others were mopping up the last of the damage control from their unsuccessful chase. Luckily for them the media groups of Moab City had been fully distracted by the Twisted Hoard, so they were able to deal with the local officials and population with little interference.

“Gill, do you still have eyes on our target?” Hawkins asked.

The Intelligence Operator (IO) Corporal Gill was focused solely on the monitor in front of him, but he managed to raise a thumb in reply. “Yes sir. 56 has been inside the Hunters Clan for the last few hours. The Assistant Observer and I have seen no signs of him leaving any of the exits.”

“Good, let me know of any changes in his location or movements.” Hawkins ordered.

“Sir, you have another call coming from the mayor.” Another soldier sitting at a desk on his left called out. The soldier also held up the mobile phone that the Moab Mayor had called on before.

“I’ll answer it now.” Hawkins replied taking the mobile phone from the soldier. Once again, he returned to the hallway and answered the call. “Hello again, Mayor Bakersfield. What can I do for you?”

“Yes, I was just calling to update you on a few things.” The voice of Mayor Bakersfield casually replied. Though he was speaking casually, the mayor had dropped the normal formalities. Thus, making every word the mayor said from then on to hold weight to it. “As you are now aware of our newest weapon, I am going to let your forces still lingering in my city know that their time here is limited. We still wish to retain our good relations with the AFR, but your presence has been found a nuisance. I was not blinded by the Twisted invasion of your blunderings in my city’s streets. Luckily for you no casualties have been reported but serious damages to infrastructure have been made. We will be fitting the AFR with the bill.”

“I understand, the damages were not foreseen, and we will be more than willing to compensate for the damages. We too wish to still keep good relations to you little city.” Hawkins replied with a similar demeaner.

He had no other option but to comply. Any harsh remarks or denials of the situation would undoubtably cause further diplomatic harm and he was in no place to spark ill relations among two government entities. It was best for him to agree and then let the issue rollover into the political realm.

“Though I have not been given our next orders, I am sure that when they do come, we will be removed from this area. As far as I’m concerned our work here is done and was never meant to be permanent.”

“That is good to know.” Mayor Bakersfield replied. “We will also be announcing worldwide our victory upon becoming the third government force to have successfully defeated a Hoard Mother. In light of this, we will also be claiming all privileges to the possession, distribution, and hold all rights to the studies of the Twisted creatures we killed. That includes the Hoard Mother.”

“Noted. I will relay this claim to my superior.” Hawkins replied fully well knowing that he could not refute these claims.

“Very good. I thank you for being cordial with us and I hope to hear from you during more favorable circumstances. Farewell.” Mayor Bakersfield replied.

“Goodbye.” Hawkins answered just before the tone went blank.

Hawkins turned the phone off and sighed with relief. “Well, I think that went over well. I am not suited to deal with politics.”

Hawkins turned from the hall and went back into command room. Yet before he could call to a solder to write down the new report of what the mayor had told him, Hawkins saw that the Lieutenant Colonel was already on the main screen.

“Special Officer.” The stern-faced officer called out. Hawkins snapped into attention as did most of the standing soldiers. “I will be issuing your next assignments and giving you a briefing on your new units. The full report will be sent to your inbox once your enroute back to your station. I trust you will read over it in full once your back on the ground.”

“Understood, Sir.” Hawkins answered.

“Good. Now your next assignment is a duel one.” The image of the Lieutenant Colonel disappeared only to be replaced with video footage of two Light Class Robotics Transport (LCRT) hover craft.

The LCRTs were currently docked on an open sandy field at what looked to be a military base during the night. Though it was dark Hawkins could see these transport hover ships were different from normal transports. Robots did not need the same space to move or to travel in as humans would need and they could fit into the ships like cargo. Being stacked like sardines, the robotic soldier could travel in greater numbers and accommodate the hover ships to maintain a sleek, more streamlined profile.

The back hatch of the long and stubby designed LCRTs was lowered and the quadruple helicopter like blades were already spinning as if ready to takeoff at any moment. Lit up by the fields surrounding lights and marching in two lines into the LCRTs were AFR robotics soldiers. These slim, humanoid robotic soldiers looked remarkably like the standard units the American Fascist Regime currently deployed. Yet the decerning eye of the Special Officer noticed that something about them was off.

“Sir, may I ask something?” Hawkins asked before the Lieutenant Colonel could continue.

“You may.” The Lieutenant Colonel responded.

“These are not the standard generation seven robotic soldiers from Silicon Valley AI Robotics Products (SVAIRP). Are the generation eight robotic soldier ready for deployment? These soldiers have several notable characteristics that stand them apart from the generation sevens. Particularly the joints are fully enclosed, the heads are seemingly sunken into the core torso and the battery and ammo backpack is half the size.” Hawkins asked.

“Well observed, Special Officer. These are not generation sevens; however, they are not generation eights either.” The Lieutenants Colonel’s voice replied as the screen remained on the robotic soldier finishing up filling into the LCRTs. “These unnamed robotic soldiers are going to be field tested to specifically go up against cyborg units.”

“By field tested, are you saying that I will be sending them to attack 56?” Hawkins asked.

“Yes and no.” The Lieutenant Colonel answered. “Yes, if the opportunity presents itself. No, not against 56 but they are planned instead to be used against Lisa Cunningham or 24. The reason being is that 56 is primarily an Aerial Combat Cyborg, while as for 24, she is a Ground Assault focused Cyborg. We will be focusing on dealing with her type because the majority of the Cyborg Unit are also Ground based types.”

“I understand.” Hawkins answered remaining in attention.

“As I was saying, this mission is a duel one. Before these new robotic soldiers can face 24 or 56, they will be tasked with collecting samples of the fallen Hoard Mother. I was keeping tabs on the updates coming from your units posts and know mostly of what has transpired. Has the mayor contacted you?”

“Yes sir. I will be submitting the details to you of the conversation and of the battle.” Hawkins replied.

“I see.” The Lieutenant Colonel said thoughtfully while reaching up to scratch at the scar that ran across his chin. “If he has contacted you already, then this mission must be carried out with swift precision, and this is now your topmost priority. Once the new units join your ranks and you have made a faux leave of the city, you are to redirect them to covertly obtain samples from the Hoard Mother. I will send the details of the full list of requirements, but what we really want is the Hoard Mother’s impenetrable skin.”

Hawkins immediately understood why this was the case. If the AFR could determine the composition of the thick skin, deriving a new sets of unit armor and potentially vehicle armor as well, would bolster their military power immensely. Hawkins tightened his stance and answered, “I will carry this assignment out with haste.”

The Lieutenant Colonel saluted back, “Good, the details are already being sent. I wish you luck.”

The main screen then fell dark before returning to the images of the Osprey Drone circling above the semitruck 56 was in, and everyone relaxed. That is except for Special Officer Hawkins.

“Why are you all looking so relaxed?” Hawkins voice rattled the room. “Let us get everything on the ground finished asap. Start packing everything in this room and get it ready to be transported. We have a new mission, and we need to move quickly before the Moab forces create a perimeter around the Hoard Mother.”

As everyone started hurrying about to carry out these commands, Hawkins returned to Corporal Gill. “Is the route 56 taking easy to follow?”

“Yes sir, he is following the main route northwest along the river. No other vehicles are moving this way either, so tracking him back down should be easy.” Gill answered.

“Alright then, stop following him for now. I need you to observe the body of the Hoard Mother.” Hawkins ordered. Then he pointed at the Assistant Observer next to Gill, “I want you to record any of the Moab City’s forces, or the Hunters Clans forces, movements and positions around the corpse.”

“Understood sir.” The Assistant Observer replied as he picked up a tabloid to begin the task.

“Corporal, once the ground forces repair the other drones and get them deployed, go back to tracking 56.” Hawkins order just before turning around to go towards his temporary office.

Unexpectedly, however, someone was already waiting for him. It was Special Officer Welling, and he held a noticeable somber expression on his muscular face. When the two’s eyes met, Special Officer Wellings closed the distance between them to speak.

In a low voice Wellings spoke first. “I wish to congratulate you on your success for getting this position with Operation Chess. Just let me give you a piece of advice. Keep your head on a swivel and pay attention to what orders you are given.”

“What are you getting at?” Hawkins asked genuinely confused.

“I have known a few Officers that were made a part of Operation Chess and most of them were dishonorably discharged for being accused of committing war crimes or not following orders. These discharges took place only a few months after joining the program.” Wellings replied still in a low voice. “Things are not going to be easy for you.”

Wellings then turned away and marched hurriedly for the exit before Hawkins could make a reply. Hawkins had no idea why Wellings was telling him this or what he was accomplishing by doing so. The military always has had members going off the deep end, war will do that to even the best of men.

Hawkins shook his head and thought, “I bet he is just mad I got the position and not him. For now, let me focus on my job.”