Chapter 34: THE BOUNTY HUNTERS [PART FIFTEEN]

“Over there.” Eyes flash blue for a single moment, the quarry scanned and processed as vocalized words reach the ears of the twins. Auditor Manara points from their prone position, outwards towards a selected target. “Large vehicle, mounted weapon.”

“Confirmed.” Samantha answers as she spots the item through a rifle scope.

Perched at the very edge of the massive, nearly ten kilometer wide mining pit the trio of souls maintain a perfect overview of the operation below. Dozens of individual forms work in a mismatch; guards in a perimeter weidling scavenged armor and weaponry matched with laborers and engineers operating on ancient, long abandoned machinery.

Three vehicles stand out amongst the random assortment of imported material within the vehicle pool; their lethally armed forms pulling plans towards them. Two trucks, barely armored but both equipped with light machine guns on their flat cargo beds, were of minor concern. A force multiplier paled in comparison to their capstone vehicle.

A six wheeled transport truck sits at the very center of the excavation operation; on its open cargo bed a single heavy machine gun upon a mounted tripod.

Manara speaks as information is processed, bringing forth an initial engagement plan. “I am marking the armed vehicles as a primary target. Their elimination will be a priority in the engagement.”

Samantha peers through her scope, spotting the targets.

“I have also detected an unknown number of arcane items within the criminal collective’s possession.” Manara adds. “The interference they are creating in the area is preventing me from accurately establishing their owners or their effects. However, they are of differing strengths given the uneven nature of the interference field.”

“But we will not know the function of each mechanism until we engage.” Samuel notes from behind the pair. “That is concerning.”

“What weapons are these individuals capable of wielding?” Samantha asks as a counter to her brother’s words, glancing over to the Auditor within their midst.

A silence as the woman attempts to formulate an answer. “I am not familiar with the armaments of the criminal collectives here in the Federated Cities. Therefore, I will rely upon your judgment as civilia huntarus.”

Samuel answers her, intelligence brought with knowledge from newspapers and historical tomes. “Many criminal collectives that are encountered within the southlands will only have perhaps one weapon capable of terminating a Collective mage. With such an item commonly having an arcane implication to its existence.”

“Naro will also be a critical threat.” The Auditor notes her own oathed target. “However, I have yet to confirm her presence within this location.”

Pointing outward to several pitched tents among the perimeter Samuel speaks up. “There is a possibility she is maintaining an administrative practice within the criminal collective.”

“Yes, I would not dismiss such a possibility.” Auditor Manara agrees.

“What school of magic does she abide in?” The boy asks carefully.

“She was a student of danar.” The woman answers. “However, her familial collective have confessed that she was also a studier of kobari.”

“Defensive augmentation will be difficult to overcome.” Samuel thinks aloud. “But kobari is not useful in conflict.”

Adjusting the magnification lens upon the weapon, the girl speaks up. “Then we will need to terminate her with the first shot, before she is able to project gravimetric shielding.”

“No, I will terminate her.” The Auditor interrupts coldly. “I am under an oath, and she is my huntarus.”

A cultural imperative, unbroken against the necessities of a conflict to come. A promise made beneath the eyes of gods above, to be upheld in life or death.

The twins exchange glances as they process the stubbornness of the woman, Samuel speaking first. “If Samantha and I are unable to act as a priority direct-fire support asset then we will need to prioritize target elimination.”

“Naro must be first.” The Auditor echoes the girl’s plan. “She is a critical threat.”

“The heavy machine gun emplacement will be second.” Samuel adds.

“Such an weapon emplacement needs a person to operate.” Samantha issues as she finds the target in rifle sights. “Why must we prioritize such?”

“It presents a grave threat for me.” The Auditor admits. “If the emplacement is able to sustain a rate of fire upon my form I will fall. I suggest the destruction of any armaments that are able to terminate me in the opening maneuvers of the engagement.”

Samuel ponders the statement for a moment before answering. A tactical analysis played out within minds; a quantity of terminations against another alternative prioritization based on risk assessment.

A strategic keystone established, the augmented monster within their three ranked army a critical resource for annihilation in warfare.

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“Yes.” The boy agrees. “We will prioritize three assets in this order: the losethi mage, the heavy machine-gun emplacement, and finally the wielders of the arcane items.”

“Such a plan is sound.” Samantha nods. “I am in agreement.”

“I as well.” Manara echoes.

Deep in the mining pit the roar of machinery echoes through carved walls, the start of an ancient engine loud enough to perhaps wake gods above them.

A massive excavator, once a piece of the rusting landscape within the abandoned mining pit, churns to life. A form of wind-stripped paint and oxidized metal, the entire machination shakes off eons of decay to return to produced duties.

Tracks the size of homes slowly rumble to life as they maneuver the creature forth, the dredging system activating at the orders of an inexperienced operator as sunbaked earth left within the processing center is shredded into a cloud of dust.

“I have underestimated the criminal collective’s engineering capabilities.” Samuel notes carefully as he monitors the metal monster.

Air burns, the excavator’s utterly ancient fusion engine sputtering forth pure power as the digging system makes contact with bleached stone. Rows of carving plasma projects precede alloy, a revolving wheel of sharpened buckets tearing through softened rock.

A monumental arc of dust is kicked skyward, an announcement of position and technical expertise to the entire plateau.

“To present such a beacon of attraction is not a tactically sound plan.” Auditor Manara notes of the criminal collective. “Samuel, Samantha; you have noted the presence of other civilia huntarus within this geographic location correct?”

“You are correct.” Samuel answers. “We were transported to this location by them. However, we have subsequently cut ties after arrival.”

“Will they serve to be a hindrance?” Manara asks.

“They are now informed of the criminal collective’s position. Therefore, I predict they will attempt an intervention.” Samuel bluntly states as he watches the plume rise into the noon sky. “However, I believe they require a day to travel and prepare for a frontal assault of this position.”

“Then their presence will not be a factor in our engagement.” Samantha concludes.

“Their presence will be a factor in our post-engagement status.” Samuel corrects. “Once the engagement with the criminal collective is complete we cannot risk an encounter.”

“Even with Manara?” Samantha turns to the Auditor.

“I will attempt to limit my consumption of caloric resources during this encounter with the criminal collective.” Auditor Manara states. “In the case of a second encounter with Federated Cities civilia huntarus.”

Samuel blinks as he dives into a palace of hard knowledge, speaking with immense hesitation and distaste. “There is a point of extreme caution: the bounty hunters within this geographical location are specifically equipped to terminate collective mages. One of their vehicles is a wheeled armored personnel carrier equipped with a thirty six millimeter cannon modified to fire high velocity armor piercing shells made of composite materials.”

A slight shock hidden behind augmented features, the woman reorienting her internalized battle plan. “That will be a dangerous asset to face in an engagement. I see your hesitance is well founded.”

“Hesitance will not be a valuable strategy.” Samuel projects outward a calculation of conflict, deciding on a singular course of violent implication. “We will need to engage as soon as possible.”

“I will require time to prepare.” The Auditor informs as she crawls away from the rim of the mining pit. “Four hours.”

“At earliest that will place our engagement at the beginning of sundown.” Samuel breathes carefully. “Are you unable to expedite such a pace?”

“I am limited by augmentation and its ability to process imputed caloric compounds.” Manara answers.

“Then we will engage the criminal collective at sundown, spending the necessary four hours to finalize a combat scenario.” Samuel turns to the sibling. “Samantha.”

“I am in agreement.” The girl nods.

“Auditor Manara.”

Closed eyes, a deep breath taken. A calm response in the context of warfare, the augmented monster smiling at the implication of the word, of a fratrem made in the bonds of conflict. “I am in agreement as well.”