Sigma 16 T2 - Chapter 88 - Ethical Directives (Patreon)

The enemy tanks drifted, their turrets spinning to target the Viper, but the hover tank slid behind them avoiding being shot. Turning completely around, its plasma cannon unleashed a barrage at the support vehicles continuing forward. Two more erupted in flames, their hulls reduced to smoldering wrecks before the vipers strafed sideways to continue to pummel the enemy tanks.

Seizing the opportunity, the Raptors surged forward, their gauss cannons spitting a hail of high-velocity rounds at the remaining support vehicles. The air filled with the staccato rhythm of impacts as the enemy vehicles became pincushions, their armor perforated by the relentless onslaught.

Talia’s gaze darted across the tactical display, tracking the stream of artillery fire from the Lynx-M3s as the munitions arced toward the battlefield.

[Warning: Incoming artillery fire. Recommend immediate evasion.]

“Neo, get the Viper out of there!” she barked.

The Viper’s thrusters roared to life, propelling the vehicle backwards at full speed as its shield absorbed the impact of stray rounds.

The enemy tanks swiveled, their cannons seeking to lock onto the retreating Viper. The first artillery shells rained down upon them, the shockwaves throwing off their aim. Sand and shrapnel erupted in geysers, obscuring their vision and disrupting their targeting systems.

Talia watched, her heart pounding in her chest as the Viper narrowly evaded the enemy fire, its agile form weaving through the chaos. The artillery barrage intensified, the desert crawler’s heavy cannon joining the fray, its explosive shells adding to the destruction.

Raptors swarmed the enemy APCs, their gauss cannons spitting a relentless barrage. The remaining functional MIRUs and HIRUs joined the assault, their weaponry tearing into the scattering vehicles. Artillery shells rained down, guided by active fins, their explosive payloads slamming into the convoy with merciless precision.

In moments, the enemy formation dissolved into a field of twisted metal and burning wreckage. Smoke billowed from the shattered hulls, the desert sands stained with the blood of the fallen.

Talia’s fingers danced across the command console, her eyes scanning the tactical display. The rush of victory was tempered by the toll of the battle. Half the raptors, gone. Eighty percent of the LIRUs, lost. The HIRUs and MIRUs, their numbers halved.

[Notice: Enemy convoy neutralized. Friendly unit losses are significant.]

She drew a steadying breath. “Neo, initiate salvage operations. Recover what you can from our units and see if there’s anything useful in the enemy wreckage.”

The glow of the command module’s displays bathed Talia’s helmet a muted red. Tactical readouts and resource reports flickered, a kaleidoscope of data demanding her attention.

[Notice: Salvage operations can be expedited by deploying the Desert Crawler to the combat site.]

Talia’s brow furrowed. “Will that slow down the final completion of the crawler?”

[Negative: The Desert Crawler is capable of self-assembly while in transit.]

“Do it.” Her voice carried an edge of determination. “But we need to prepare for more Blues, including those at the desert worm site.”

[Acknowledged: Replacement combat units are currently in production.]

Talia’s gaze hardened, resolve etched into her features. “We’re moving to a full war footing and we need to form a front line.” Her words carried the gravity of the decision. “The Blues won’t be slowing down, and neither can we.”

[Affirmative: Initiating Desert Crawler deployment and combat unit production.]

Vibration filled the module as the desert crawler’s engines rumbling to life. Talia watched as the tactical display updated, the crawler’s icon beginning its journey towards the battlefield.

Beyond the reinforced walls, the mobile base buzzed with activity. Fabricators whirred, churning out the components of war. Robotic arms and laser printers moved in unison, an intricate dance that began the process of fabricating a legion of combat vehicles with an efficiency that was almost hypnotic.

Rows of gleaming Infantry Robotic Units stood like sentinels, their metal forms reflecting the harsh light. The sound of machinery filled the air as Raptors were assembled, their drone wings folded neatly against their sleek bodies. A hangar door groaned open, releasing a fresh batch into the air, their departure marked by the swirling dust in their wake.

The rear gantry elevator came to life. Combat vehicles drove onto it before it descended to just above the ground. As they rolled off the platform, they formed an impressive convoy on the move, a mechanized procession under the endless sky.

Talia’s gaze fell upon the dwindling resources displayed on her monitor. The numbers were dropping at an alarming rate.

“We’re burning through resources too quickly,” she murmured to herself. She bit her lower lip. “Maybe we should consider aerial resource transport for the desert crawler.”

[Warning: Blue anti-air capabilities pose a significant threat to aerial operations.]

Neo’s warning resonated through the command module. The risks were obvious, yet so was their need for resources.

Talia frowned, her gaze flicking back to her monitor. The parade of newly minted combat vehicles continued unabated.

The Desert Crawler rumbled across the sands, its massive tracks churning up clouds of dust. The newly constructed combat units finally moved out to merge and integrate seamlessly with the damaged ones, forming a formidable strike force.

[Notice: Combined combat unit now moving toward remaining Blue forces.]

Talia nodded, her gaze shifting to the southern quadrant of the map.

[Informative: Solar scouts along the southern axis have passed the fifty-kilometer mark without further contact.]

A frown tugged at the corners of Talia’s mouth. The absence of enemy activity was both a relief and a concern. How long would this respite last?

[Update: Auto-base units have initiated construction of second and third bases.]

“Good,” Talia murmured, her eyes still fixed on the display. “Things should start speeding up there.”

[Additional report: Units in the northern sector are autonomously prospecting for resources. Durasteel, Rare Metals, and other materials located. No additional HEM sites detected.]

Talia leaned back in her chair. Everything seemed to be coming together at once.

“Maybe the HEM is only going to be found in the desert or jungle then,” she mused, her fingers tapping against the armrest.

[Theory: The major HEM site may be artificial.]

Neo’s words hung in the air.

“Yeah, but how would that be possible?” she asked. “We aren’t exactly close enough to the sun to generate enough solar output to synthesize that much HEM.”

[Unknown.]

The single word response left Talia with more questions than answers. She shook her head, her focus returning to the immediate challenges at hand.

Talia’s eyes darted across the monitors, tracking the movement of their reinforced scout platoon as it fanned out across the desert landscape. The Desert Crawler lumbered towards the salvage site.

“Neo, are we setting up for a pincer attack?” Talia asked, her brow furrowed in concentration.

[Affirmative: A pincer maneuver would be the optimal strategy in this situation.]

Talia nodded, her gaze shifting to another monitor. “It’s strange that we still haven’t seen any evidence of Blue air units or drones. That seems very unusual for a technologically advanced military.”

[Agreed: The lack of drone activity is highly atypical. This unit theorizes that the Blues either possess an undisclosed deterrent against aerial and drone units, or the environments they typically operate in prevent their use due to factors such as high winds or other phenomena.]

“Like the highly reactive EM fields on S16?” Talia mused, her fingers tapping against the armrest of her chair.

[Affirmative: If the Blues lack suitable telemetry and communication devices, it would make remote drone operation challenging, even with advanced pre-programming. However, this should not entirely preclude their use.]

Talia leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “We should question Raxion about it. Or other prisoners if we capture any.”

[Warning: Taking additional prisoners may pose significant risks to operational security.]

“They might have critical information, Neo,” Talia countered, her voice firm. “Capturing Raxion already proved that.”

[Acknowledged: Prisoner acquisition will be designated as a tertiary objective. Primary focus remains on preserving friendly units and personnel.]

Talia frowned, her gaze hardening. “Keeping our units and ourselves safe is more important, yeah. Just don’t go executing people, Neo. War crimes are bad.”

[Understood: This unit will prioritize ethical conduct in accordance with User’s directives.]