Tinker turned to face the larger mech, and Jessica13 didn't have to see his face to know he was angry. Even in a mech, it was all about body language, and his body language screamed all kinds of pissed-off.
"What about us, Hammerhand? Have you thought about that? Will you have the rest of your Knights and the people of Auburn die on that hill of yours too?"
"My guess is that the hill is a metaphor and not a literal hill?" Jessica13 asked privately for only Mini to hear her.
"That is correct. It refers to the military strategy of finding high ground or an equally defensive position and being prepared to give it up only once you are dead."
"Understood."
"Every one of these men and women is willing to fight for what they know is right," Hammerhand continued.
"They fight for you and believe in you because they trust that you, as their commander, will make the right choice for their sake. And in this case, the right choice is to get the fuck out!"
The disagreement was cut off when the alarm was raised by those who acted as sentries to watch for their enemy’s advance.
"We will talk about this later." Hammerhand was quick to turn away and he marched toward the front lines, hefted his hammer, and rested it on his shoulder.
"Damn fucking right we will, and if we die, you can be sure that I'll hound your ghost for answers, you hulking shit-ton of useless fucking scrap metal!"
The other man either didn't hear Tinker still shouting at him or didn't deign to respond as both returned to the front of the combat lines.
The opposing squads had now begun a forward push and in the distance, the artillery mechs started to close as well when they realized the Knights had fortified their positions once more. Jessica13 had never thought it would be an easy fight, but at this point, surviving felt like a dream that seemed to slide farther and farther away from a very harsh reality.
The sense of impending doom strengthened when her gaze settled on something larger than the Guardians and Argonauts that moved closer. The flapping cape on the mech's shoulders and the spear in its hands told her that the most dangerous of their enemies now approached as if she had smelled blood in the water.
Athena strode forward and lightning crackled brightly from her spear as she advanced and motioned for the other mechs to follow her lead.
"Let's get this started," Jessica13 muttered, tightened her grasp on her rifle, and checked to make sure she had enough ammo for their last stand.
Chapter Forty
Things hadn’t exactly gone according to plan.
Not that anyone had expected them to, of course. They had fought against Lady Hoot and done better than anyone could have thought they would, given the circumstances, but the end was approaching and it was time for them to accept it.
This didn’t mean that anyone had to accept living under the woman's boot any longer. But Auburn wasn't the only place for them to live, and as the fighting began to escalate inside the town, there was no place for women, children, the sick, or the elderly. They wouldn’t be able to help in the fight either.
Even the mighty Hammerhand had agreed and those who were able to prepared for a final attack, which would hopefully prove enough of a distraction for the rest to make their escape.
It was the only kind of hope someone like Karina could dream of. Surviving an onslaught like this was likely not in her future, not if she stayed and fought. She had helped them set the traps up and even carried barrels of fertilizer to where they would be used to blow up the buildings that had been their homes and places of work only days before.
They had all been swept into this fight by the Knights Mechanica, but in this moment, it was best to simply call the end of their ability to help. The Knights and those capable and willing to fight would remain, and everyone else scrambled into what vehicles they had available and headed out on the other side of town. The enemy had bombarded the area but rather than hinder them, the smoke and fires would only help to cover their retreat better.
A handful of mechs were directed to help them, mostly selected from those that had been salvaged from among Lady Hoot's fallen. They were damaged and some were still stained with the blood from their previous pilots, but it was hopefully better than no escort.
No one could honestly say it was a pleasant situation but heading away from the shooting and explosions was something Karina appreciated, especially with the little one on the way.
The ATV continued to move over the bumpy roads that led away from Auburn. They moved quickly, but there was nothing that would make the vehicle comfortable. She and the other ten Auburn citizens were strapped into narrow, hard seats. The rest of the space was dedicated to giving the driver enough space to operate and the couple of assault mechs that rode with them enough room to fight should anyone be sent to pursue them.
All Karina could feel happy about was the fact that they were still moving. Every bump made her back ache and her shoulders tense as her eyes looked out the small round windows. She tried to keep herself calm and held her midsection, praying to something—anything—that would keep her little one safe from all this.
The fires were closer now. Hammerhand had assured them that the invaders wouldn’t bomb any of the buildings inside the town. They had all believed him when the missiles soared overhead and beyond the town to start fires that would keep going thanks to the woodlands that
