The Mech Touch

n ’t take this lying down! They ’ll certainly investigate the bombings after this is over! ”

”I know you ’re angry, Melkor, but this isn ’t the time to focus your attention on those bastards hiding in Orinoco.
We have to get ready to meet the Vesians. ”

The two lagging transports that previously headed towards Orinoco caught up to the main formation that flew towards Freslin.
A tense hour went by as the transports reached a flat and uninhabited plain well outside Freslin.
The Vesians deployed jammers at that moment, making detailed observation impossible with the equipment at hand.

”They ’ve set down around forty kilometers away from our base. ” Melkor noted as he changed the center projection to a plot of the local terrain.
”After their mechs embark from the transports, there is a chance they will stop by Freslin first.
However, it doesn ’t have anything in particular worth destroying, so it ’s likely they ’ll go for the Mech Nursery as soon as they are deployed. ”

It did not take long for the Vesians mechs to move.
After a brief period of organization, over eighty-five mechs set off in the direction of the Mech Nursery.
Long-ranged sensors hidden in the forests around the Mech Nursery caught the broad strokes of the Vesian movements, but lacked the power and sophistication to observe any detailed information such as the type and models of the individual mechs.

”Eighty-five mechs is more formidable than we thought. ” Ves frowned as all of the readings tentatively concluded there was definitely more than eighty mechs on the move.

”The numbers are never exact.
The amount of mechs in a standard Vesian company always fluctuates for some reason or another.
Forty mechs is just a guideline. ”

The addition of five additional mechs mattered a lot to the defenders.
It meant that they might have to beat at least five mechs more in order to make the Vesian commander lose heart in his raid.

If some unknown organization hadn ’t decided to blow up Orinoco ahead of time, then the Mech Nursery wouldn ’t have faced more than seventy-five mechs.
Melkor couldn ’t help but boil up inside at the thought.

Still, he finally managed to get a grip.
He adjusted his visor on his head, which maintained a blue glow for now.
He started to issue some commands, directing most of the mechs from Sanyal-Ablin and the Mudriders to man the section of walls that faced the incoming threat.

The projected plot showed several dots moving into place.
Most of them congregated at or behind the walls in spread out patterns several lines deep.
Other mechs stationed themselves in the center or on the other sides of the walls.

”What ’s going on right now? ” Ves asked.

”Before the Vesians come into range, they ’ll definitely try to soften us up. ”

It didn ’t take too long for Melkor ’s prediction to arrive.
A swarm of missiles approached the Mech Nursery from a great distance.
The Vesians had staggered the launches of the missiles so they would all arrive at their target at roughly the same instant.

”How many missiles? ” Melkor barked to a sensor operator working behind a nearby console.

”Five-thousand missiles sir! They are all of a light design! ”

Both Ves and Melkor relaxed a little.
Light missiles packed the least amount of punch.
That was not to say that they didn ’t feel threatened by the swarm of missiles, but at least it did not match their worst fears.

”Inform Sanyal-Ablin and every rifleman mech to intercept the missiles. ”

”Done sir, though Sanyal-Ablin says they ’ve already moved. ”

Even though Melkor acted like a base commander, the truth was that none of the forces defending the Mech Nursery answered to him.
Except for the Avatars of Myth, every other outfit involved in the defense listened to their own commanders.

That was why Ves considered Melkor to be a coordinator instead of a commander in this battle.
He could only make suggestions that others might not follow up upon if they thought they knew better or if it harmed their interests.

”The upcoming battle hinges on the Mudriders. ” Melkor explained.
”The mech pilots of Sanyal-Ablin are professional enough to do their duty, but your friends from the Whalers need a lot of encouragement in order to convince them to attack the Vesians from their flank.
If the Mudriders can ’t hold off the initial push, everything else will fall apart. ”

”I ’m confident Commander Husaan knows what ’s best for his mercenary corps, but I ’m not sure if all of his mech pilots follow suit.
Last I heard, a big argument erupted at their mech stables. ”

They no longer had any time to do anything about it.
With the Vesians about to arrive at their doorsteps, they needed to trust in the measures they already prepared.

At this time, the high-flying missiles finally arced into view of the Mech Nursery.

At this time, the manufacturing complex had retracted almost all of the non-essential structures underneath the ground.
The only structures that remained above ground consisted of defense measures.

The turrets grabbed the most attention.
Over a hundred different turrets installed and control by Sanyal-Ablin automatically swiveled towards the incoming swarm of missiles before unleashing a rain of lasers and projectiles.

The anti-air fire struck a lot of missiles, but plenty more made it past the initial volleys.
Even as the missile swarm visibly decreased, too much had been sent their way.
Less than a thousand made it through and began to impact the entire surface of the inner perimeter.

Ves didn ’t look to worried at the explosions happening above his head.
Most of the missiles landed on empty soil or impacted the walls and reinforcement enclosures that sheltered the defending mechs.

”Sanyal-Ablin ’s ECM is top-notch. ” Melkor nodded in satisfaction.
”Over ninety percent of the missiles have been led astray.
As expected of a subsidiary of a faction from a second-rate state. ”

Perhaps the Vesians hadn ’t expected the missiles to end up damaging barriers and clumps of dirt, because the eighty-five Vesian mechs suddenly slowed down their pace.

”They ’re beginning to realize we might not be the pushovers they thought we were. ” Melkor guessed what went on in the enemy ’s minds.
”After all, hardly any company invests so much of their resources into fortifying their manufacturing complexes. ”

The two Larkinsons waited with baited breath at what the Vesians would do next.