Credits[]
- DIRECTOR, EDITOR, COMPOSER, AUTHOR: Juro Watari
- CHARACTER DESIGN: Hajime Katoki
- ORIGINAL 3D CG MODEING: Yashuhiro Mori, Hiroshi Yoshida, Taku Sato (Robotic)
- CG ILLUSTRATION: Hoichi Ozaki
- DESIGN: Nobutaga
- PUBLICITY: Taku Sasahara
- CHARACTER CREATION: Hidero Hasamoto
Bad News[]
"Sergeant Pronger?" Salpen asked with a confused look on her face "I don’t understand what you mean by this."
"You don’t need to understand it, just follow your orders." The Sergeant said with a cold, icy tone "I’ll repeat again, Captain L’Tow of area 3-81 has been overwhelmed. His force has been totally destroyed. Our line now has a hole in it and we need reinforcements to cover that hole."
"But we have an advantage in numbers."
"Doesn’t make much of a difference."
"But if there’s movement on this side too…"
"The three RAIDENs have been wiped out, it only lasted about 3 minutes."
"What about the captain?"
"He’s dead. You are now the highest-ranked officer in this division, Lieutenant Salpen. We await your orders."
"Wait, don’t we need to confirm this with DNA’s HQ?"
"We don’t have that kind of time."
"Pronger, if we don’t follow protocols and make careful decisions at times like this…"
"Lieutenant Salpen," Pronger cut in "do you know who the enemy is?"
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?"
"RNA, they’re coming."
"WHAT?" Salpen gasped "how did…DNA…they didn’t know what the enemy was doing?"
"That is correct."
"How are we looking?"
"We are retreating, in front of you are the primary divisions if the enemy. Now the questions is when will our ‘guests’ from DNA arrive. If those reinforcements don’t arrive within 30 minutes, we’re dead."
"What ever the enemy is, we need to hold our ranks for at least 20 minutes."
"We can’t make any guarantees, we’ll try though."
Salpen grabbed her helmet and walked away with Pronger’s words still echoed in her mind…RNA is coming! We know nothing of their goals, their commander etc. The VR armies famous for their awesome performance in combat, why did they appear here?
………
Salpen, while sprinting towards the temporary VR hangar in the bush lands, yelled out across to the DNA communication officer "Captain Glens, we spotted RNA. I’m going to assist our troops at area 3-81 but I need more hands, can you send in any reinforcements?"
"Do you have proof there’re RNA?" the Captain stared at Salpen coldly.
"My people from the front line think so."
"Oh, well they could be mistaken. Our spy satellite company has decided to terminate their contract with us, so no help from them on this. Look, we don’t have any confirmed data on this. Under conditions like this we need to sit tight and not make any hasty decisions."
"What? Are you calling this a ‘hasty decision’?"
"That fact that our satellite company terminated the contract on its terms is most likely a violation of the warfare law. We have contacted the chiefs of DNA and we are currently collecting evidence. Protests have been sent to the International Warfare Company who organized this limited war, once we have enough evidence we will stop the war. Although it might be wrong in the first place to start this war with the ‘emperors’ of the 8th plant, we still have to follow the laws of the limited warfare."
"Oh, how long does that usually take?"
"3 days at least, usually about a week, sometimes a month. There was one occasion where it lasted for 3 years."
"Now is not the time to discuss those longwinded laws and regulations!" Salpen began to lose her temper.
"Lieutenant Salpen, we belong to different divisions. You do not have the authority to interfere with other military unit’s orders."
"I am the commander of this region. I will use the commanding authority given to me by the law of limited warfare. Captain Glens, you’re relieved of your command!"
"To use that sort of authority, you need to concur you are the field commander, to concur, there are three steps, first…" Salpen didn’t have the patience to listen to the captain’s lecture. With the scream of her pistol on Stun Mode, the captain’s body felled face down. In an instant people around became noisy and alert.
"Shut your trap," yelled Salpen, "to put it in short, RNA is here. The front line under my command has been annihilated. We can’t retreat before we rebuilt the line. We need to make time for them. Now I’m going there myself, who’s coming with me?"
………
The RAIDEN unit 207, piloted by Salpen, emerged from the bushes and pushed onwards to the bolder covered wastelands. Behind her, 4 DNA BELGDOR units numbered D13, D14, D15 and D16 from the D Company followed.
The current temperature hovers at 48ºC. The raining season of this region has ended. The ever-diminishing water level meant that many rivers are drying up, giving the land a brown, sandy wasteland feel. The speeding VRs fanned up a long trail of sand and dust up to 100 foot long behind them.
At 1630 hour, they arrived at the designated regroup area. A few VRs are already waiting. They include Sergeant Pronger’s RAIDEN unit 189 and seven BELGDOR units.
Pronger’s Suggestion[]
Dash Pronger does have talent.
Not only did he arrive before Salpen, reestablish communication with the division members who were lost after the death of their captain, but he also brought with him the remaining BELGDORs units of the A Company.
"On the brink of death, those DNA people are finally doing something." Said Pronger as he came closer.
"I still can’t believe the captain want just like…"
"L’Tow was a careful man. But we simply didn’t have enough information on the enemy. They ambushed him, not even pilots like him could hold out."
"What VR did the enemy use?"
"APHARMD, the usual."
"New type? Did you notice any differences?"
"Hmm, just think of it as a whole new type. Terribly fast, no chance at all of winning in a head on fight.
"Numbers?"
"4, one of them retreated after I took out his arm. This time around they will probably attack with the remaining 3."
"Any suggestions? Let’s hear them."
"The seven BELGDORs that came with me are useless in this situation. But if we don’t utilize them, we’d better start digging our graves now. We got to give them some jobs, they will help out a little."
"So, you have a plan already?"
"Yeah, there’s a dry river bed close by. Best if we hide and ambush them from there."
"Is that really effective?"
"The ground is mainly made out of clay and sand. It’s only the start of the dry season so there should still be some moisture left in the ground. It’s very fragile and unstable. Once they’re in it they will be dramatically slowed down."
"But…Doesn’t that place us at an even bigger disadvantage?"
"Actually no, on the surface of the river bed everything looks the same, but there are some rock plates underground. I’ve send out recons to pinpoint those plates, if we can stand on those plates our RAIDENs should have reasonable maneuverability."
"Alrighty then, let’s go."
With Pronger as the leader, the group of VRs traveled 15km to the north. Once there, the locations of the plates were mapped out, along with local geological features. The data was uploaded to the shared G.I.S. of the VRs. Based on this data, the VRs were given different missions. Sergeant Pronger’s RAIDEN unit 189 and BELGDOR A Company will be on the shore ready to attack any enemy who entered the riverbed. Although it’s only an average tactic, Salpen seems confident.
Encounter[]
"Enemies are approaching!" At 1648 hour, the foremost BELGDOR gave the signal. Soon enemy units 1, 2, and 3 came within visual range.
"Roger," Pronger replied, " APHARMD, two A and one C, beginning attack!"
The seven BELGDORs under his command fired at the enemy as they approached the 5000 metre range. Countless numbers of projectiles instantly lanced out across the sky at the APHARMDs.
"!…DEFLECTION?"
"It’s…" Pronger was momentarily stunned.
"V-ARMOUR?"
"Probably."
The APHARMD used by RNA are known as second generation VR. It easily outperforms the DNA units. Especially the V-ARMOUR, which can reduce the effectiveness of enemy fire made it a threat to the DNA force.
"The distance is too great for a BELGDOR!"
"Shit, they’re coming in," yelled Pronger "company, fall back!"
But it’s already too late. The first in the line of fire was the foremost unit 23. The rest of the company watched helplessly as the VR exploded into a fireball. Their company commander was compromised.
Salpen took in a lung full of cold air, she just could not believe the standards of piloting shown.
The remaining six BELGDORs ran like scared children all over the battlefield in a pitiful attempt to retreat.
Unit 24 was running too quickly, as it approached the riverbank, its feet were unable to neutralize all of the massive momentum of the mecha body, with a loud crash sound it fall into the riverbed. Unit 21 and 27 crashed into each other, unit 21 fell flat on the ground where as unit 27 span around 180º and ran head first into the enemy. The battle quickly turned into a massacre: unit 27 was tailed by APHARMD A, and with a swift swipe of the butterfly sword in its left hand, the cockpit of the BELGDOR was sliced in two. A rifle was pointed at the fallen unit 21’s chest, with a point blank burst of fire the BELGDOR disintegrated into countless fragments. The retreating unit 22 was cut off by APHARMD C, the two VRs stared each other down in silence. As the BELGDOR stood there trying desperately to figure out how to escape, the silence was interrupted by a bazooka shell from an APHARMD A. As the bazooka hit home, the BELGDOR fell.
"Unit 25, 28, get in the river bed quickly!" Pronger ordered the two remaining BELGDORs.
The two ran as fast as they could, however they’ve mistaken the route and arrived at a cliff face. As the three APHARMDs closed in for the kill, there was nothing more left for the pilot to do.
A Company was wiped out, Pronger had no other choice but to activate his RAIDEN unit 189 and ran towards the river bed by himself. The enemy noticed the movement and one APHARMD A pursued him, with the other two APHARMDs covering the riverbank.
"Hit’em now!" With the order from Salpen, the four BELGDORs ambushing in the opposite shore opened fire with all they had. The bank directly opposite collapsed under the heavy fire. The APHARMD formation was broken, and the APHARMD who first entered the riverbed fell on the ground. Pronger did not let this chance slip, with a bright flash of laser fire from one of the shoulder mounted laser projector cannons, the APHARMD’s right arm was pulverized. However the APHARMD C, after adjusting its posture, once again rained fire down on to the battlefield. The undamaged APHARMED A took this chance and charged in to block Pronger’s access to its downed teammate. Pronger managed to dodge most of the enemy fire while maintain running in a zigzag pattern down steams on the plates. Both VRs were unable to close the distance, neither side is gaining an upper hand.
"Cover me, please!" said a desperate Salpen as she left the four BELDGOR behind and rushed into the riverbed herself. With impeccable timing, twin blue beams of death lanced out at the pursuing APHARMD A, but miraculously the enemy was able to dodge the incoming laser beams.
"!" Salpen could not believe her eyes. The enemy was able to easily dodge the lasers fired with in 200-metre range. No enemy has ever done that before.
"Calm down Salpen. There is no quick and easy victory here." Pronger’s words shook Salpen out of her shock-induced daze. Her RAIDEN maneuvered out of APHARMD A’s attacking range and blocked Pronger’s movements from the enemy’s view. Pronger utilized the positional advantages provided by Salpen to the full. A blast of laser hit the single armed APHARMD A.
The enemy fell.
"Not bad, Sergeant."
However, Pronger’s reply carried fear.
"Lieutenant, upper-right!"
"New enemy?"
"No, ours!"
"!?" Salpen was confused for a moment, but she understood in an instant. Next thing she knew BELGDOR unit 13 fell into the riverbed, landing on her RAIDEN unit 207.
"What the…?" this was not a part of her plan. The four BELGDORs who she ordered to cover her decided to leave their positions and follow her. Except they choose the wrong place to enter the riverbed. Unit 13 fell into the riverbed from the cliff. Its head, after crashing into her, smashed into a bolder and malfunctioned. Both VRs fell from the impact.
The enemy witnessed all of this, of course they would not let a chance like this slip past them. APHARMD A immediately rained bazooka shell on unit 15 and 16 who where scrambling to get back up. Both units turned into a pile of burning rubble under the attack. Unit 14 finally got back on its foot. In an attempt to cover Salpen, it charged ahead and tried in a brave attempt to engage the closing APHARMD in melee. However only one glance was needed to tell who have the edge. Using its lighting footwork, the APHARMD dodged the lunging BELGDOR. It circled to the back of the BELGDOR. The first chop of the sword came and took out BELGDOR’s right arm, then a bazooka shell was fired at the upper body to take the kill. Finally APHARMD A raised its left arm with the butterfly sword to finish off the sitting RAIDEN unit 207. At this instant, Pronger lunged in with dash jets on full. With his body side on to the enemy, he rammed his shoulder into the APHARMD. As the laser projector cannon exploded, the APHARMD was thrown off its feet. Salpen stood up and fired her Flat Launcher repeatedly into the downed APHARMD. Second APHARMD out of the fight.
But it’s no time to celebrate yet, the APHARMD C charged in from the back with a VR sized katana in its hand. A swift swipe and RAIDEN unit 189 was decapitated.
Desperate[]
"Pronger!"
No reply came from the RAIDEN unit 189 on the ground. The APHARMD C advanced towards Salpen. Salpen tried to snip at the enemy’s foot, but the enemy dodged it with its acute footwork without slowing down. To gain distance, Salpen moved her RAIDEN to another rock plate. But the enemy knew about her little plot, not only that, it seem to know the precise location of each plate as well. The original plan of using the riverbed to slow the enemy’s movement failed!
"Oh, so he knew before us…" Salpen stuck out her tongue.
With no more terrain advantage, the two VRs got closer: 350, 300, 250…
Salpen’s attacks had no effects on it, short of using the laser cannons, there is no other way of winning. From what she saw before, unless the lasers are fired under 100-metre range, the chances of scoring a hit are nil. But at that distance, the enemy’s katana is also effective.
While Salpen can’t decide what to do, the APHARMD flinged a bomb at her. The bomb exploded in front of her, leaving her no way to go but backwards.
"!" A careless maneuver by Salpen, RAIDEN’s left leg, with help from the bomb blast, stepped outside of the plate. The weak sandy ground could not support the enormous weight of the mecha and gave way. Salpen’s piloting skills prevented a fall, but there was nothing she could do as her RAIDEN kneeled on the ground to keep the balance. The enemy saw this opening and leaped at her, its upraised katana ready for the slaughter. Time came to a stop for Salpen in that instant. With out thought, she raised her flat launcher on her right arm. No shots came as battery has already been drained. The katana, originally aimed at the cockpit, caught the flat launchers between its twin barrels. The sword sliced all the way down the right arm. But the damage wasn’t enough to take out the RAIDEN. Salpen had enough time to fire her laser. The point blank laser cut though the APHARMD’s body, separating it in two and blowing it away.
"Excellent, Lieutenant."
Salpen, still in a bit shell-shocked, received the direct connection message. She looked down and Pronger was there, waving at her.
"Pronger! Your okay?"
"Lucky for me what wasn’t a fatal hit." Pronger said. He left his mecha after it went off line and came over on foot. "I’m still in one piece."
"…12 units, Pronger, we only killed three of them, and we lost 12 units…"
"Usually, the combat ratio against RNA is 7:1 to 10:1. I think we’ve done pretty well."
Salpen opened the hatch to the cockpit and took in a breath full of fresh air. The air was a mixture of heated winds, burning heavy oil fume and the distinct smell of anion. With out wearing her helmet, her hair flowed with the air and gave off a special shine.
"We’re lucky," said Salpen, shaking her head. "We’re probably dead next time, right?"
No reply came from Pronger.
[To Be Continued]