A loud pop erupted as the first of the lighter mechs found the minefield that had been placed there earlier. It was no match even for the improvised explosive that had been set in its path and it fell in smoking pieces as the others came to a halt behind it. Surprisingly, it seemed the first wave hadn’t communicated this the second, although common sense dictated that they should.
"Open fire," Hammerhand said, raised a hand, and gestured at the group that now attempted to find a way through the minefield.
Jessica13 and the Knights’ two sharpshooters selected their targets and opened fire. There was no indication that the armor did anything to slow the hellebore rounds, and while the AIs were quick to take over, they were less careful to avoid the explosives that had been set out for them.
It took her a full minute and a handful of accurate shots to register the tactic they had quickly adopted. The men who piloted the mechs didn't want to be blown the hell up and neither did they want to run headlong into the rounds that eliminated them by the dozen. Those who were already dead, however, had no real use other than to clear a path through the explosives. It was both logical and inevitable, and all the Knights did was speed up the process.
The other defenders opened fire on the group that reached the clear path that had been made through the hedgehogs and pushed toward the town without delay. The lines were closing again, and she knew her role in it.
As much as she wanted to continue doing her part in the fighting, she knew her role as a bulletfoot was far more meaningful to the group as a whole. She wasn't in this for herself but was there to help others.
It was a difficult decision to come to but once made, it became easier to back away from the group that kept the lighter mechs at bay and she rushed to join the support team. The townsfolk in their commandeered mechs seemed to have settled into the role surprisingly well.
The lightning continued its staccato bursts with unnatural regularity and each strike made the ground shudder with ear-shattering rumbles that could be felt even through the mech. Jessica13 scowled at the sky and wished the damn balloons were in range—although Athena had no doubt taken a ground attack into account. She pushed her frustration aside, grateful that they at least had protection in the form of the towers, and continued to move. There was a routine to her task that came easily, despite the challenges of having to carry the crates to the front where all the fighting took place and immediately return for more.
Trudging through the mud was slower than she was used to, but it at least appeared to slow the enemy mechs as well, which made them easier to target and eliminate or disable. A couple of Balthazars elevated to hover above the battlefield and fire on those below.
For the most part, she could tell that armor would be more relevant than mobility in a battle like this, and while they had the advantage of the Excalibur on their side, a few Guardians marched through the trees to join the front lines and their plasma rounds already impacted solidly with Hammerhand's shield.
Armor like that wouldn’t be easy to pierce.
Jessica13 delivered the ammo she had collected and turned quickly to join the group that targeted the lighter mechs. These had finally navigated through the minefield and the hedgehogs and began to rush at the sharpshooters. The intention was clear, of course. Athena had likely noted the casualties that had been suffered thanks to them and had put the lighter mechs in place to engage them, keep them occupied, and kill them while the rest of the battle progressed without their help.
It was an excellent strategy, and there was little the Knights could do to adjust for it. The Sherlocks moved quickly and maintained fire to slow their attackers, but it wasn't long before two Predators surged into their ranks with their chainswords ready to cut through the light armor and find the pilots beneath.
Jessica13 managed to shoot one before he could begin his assault and the mech suddenly slowed.
Surprisingly, a Watson lurched in front of the other and fired a series of electric filaments that quickly electrocuted it into submission. The wiring inside sizzled dramatically and left it a smoking husk that collapsed within moments.
The pilot of the Watson seemed almost surprised by the efficacy of its attack but hastily reloaded the filament shooter as it turned to find another target.
Lightning flashed suddenly and the booming roar of thunder reverberated across the battlefield. Jessica13 ducked and instinctively put her hands behind her neck.
When the flash faded and the roar moved away, a hasty check confirmed that she and the Minato were intact, although the light and sound filters still struggled to cope.
The Watson, however, had been flung aside by a bolt of lightning that blew its intended target to pieces. It was pure dumb luck that the enemy mech had surged forward and pushed the defender back to avoid its attack, effectively taking its place in the firing line. Only a few signs remained of the main chassis, and those she could identify were a smoking wreck, useless even as scrap metal.
"Shit!" Tinker shouted. "I thought that was supposed to be avoided with those towers that you put up."
That comment was directed at her, and Jessica13 turned to see why the towers now allowed bolts through. The cause was immediately apparent, and she couldn’t believe she hadn't seen it before. A light emanated from the wiring that had been set up to connect the improvised towers
