Carl is in shadow team, which is about to enter the area where this happens. Based on what little research I managed to do, radars usually operate between 3 MHz and 100 GHz range, which means passive radar doesn't pick up the signal after all. From that Carl can postulate that if the effect is electromagnetic in origin, it is outside of that range.
Hunting team doesn't have luxury to perform spectral analysis or anything like, because those three soldiers turn around in twitching manner and start marching northward. Right behind them walks armored man in a back heavy exoskeleton from behind the container. He seems unarmed otherwise, but has a machine gun mounted on his left shoulder and possibly a grenade launcher on his right. In front of his eyes is hanging gutted remains of video camera and bunch of IR leds are shining on his helmet like a flashlight. Very crude hackjob, done by absolute amateur. He seems completely unharmed so you are certain he's not the one you were tracking. Well, might as well get a kill.
Pair of pins fall on ground and corresponding number of frag grenades are flying into their direction. Throwing a grenade is much more complex maneuver than shooting autocannon and far more prone for mistakes, even with help of SPU (which isn't very helpful in actual throwing phase). Alex's throw sucks, but that was excepted from a person without functioning fingers. The grenade does however roll just close enough to have the group within damage range, even if not in lethal range. Gunther on the other hand lobs the grenade like a baseball straight into face of the supersoldier in exoskeleton. The grenade most definitely breaks his cheek bones before exploding on his face. The man drops dead missing half of his face. Two of three soldiers gain very serious lacerations on their necks, but they keep walking northeast, completely ignoring what happened. Disturbing, to say at least, but then again everything here is disturbing.
Sniper party is out of communication range and have no functional ears left, so they are blissfully unaware of events taking place.
A moment later out of the container comes a figure closely matching shape and size of the invisibility field you witnessed earlier. Except this one is uncloaked. Two and half meters tall heavily armored human. His left arm is tied to his body with a couple metal bands wrapped around his torso and arm. You identify back half of HATAK arrow stuck into his left shoulder, which probably explains state of his arm. His feets are both gone from bit above ankle and replaced with a handmade
prosthetics. Couple of metal strips bended into shape. Left one is clearly better than the other. Under his right arm he's carrying a massive gun, which is otherwise identical to the one he left behind except this seems to lack handles meant for carrying it. With only one hand you imagine it's hard to aim. On his chest plate is number of dents, matching number of autocannon HATAK rounds fired on him on the first exchange of fire. His head is adorned with an array of optical sensors, an active radar coupled with what seems to be UV lidar.
He also looks like a walking armory. An anti-materiel rifle is slung over his shoulder, an assault rifle, machine gun, three quick release grenades (smoke or flash, judging by shape), mortar and a bunch mortar rounds and ammo boxes on his back. You can imagine that load making a lot of noise when running around. You can't see his drones, but it doesn't mean they aren't here.
Why he's not invisible, you do not know. Perhaps you damaged his cloaking device earlier? Coupled with loss of his primary weapon it makes sense for him to make hasty retreat. Anyway, it makes perfect moment to shoot him. Alex naturally takes triple shot with his autocannon. Distance is mere 70 meters, missing is impossible. First HATAK goes in one centimeter above the point where the arrow is. Second shot little above and third glances off his chest plate. At this point recoil has pulled Alex back on normal standing position.
Gunther takes entirely another approach. The theory is simple; if his particle cannons are as destructive as they seem, he probably won't use flying ones to shoot someone on him. The only problem is getting close fast enough without getting killed. Even with running as fast as possible it still takes about four seconds to reach him. The plan is formed and communicated in a mere moment. Gunther throws primed TOC grenade up and ahead with his full might and Alex shoots it in mid air. That should give you just enough air coverage to block most detection methods from his drones if they are around. And why not do guns akimbo while you are at it? Absolutely no reason not to, even if APSA bullets are not effective against him. Well, maybe his sensors and his big fucking gun are more vulnerable? If he isn't a full robot, going for eyes is guaranteed to rouse primitive reactions. Two seconds from Alex's first shot and you are already playing matrix minus slow motion.
The supersoldier falls on his knees swinging his particle cannon in position to fire at Gunther, but you dodge to side and jump on his head making maximum use of your teeths, claws and revolvers at melee distance. You are not light, but he's even heavier. Your full speed body slam barely makes him budge. Alex's transmission stops in middle and a moment later a shockwave follows.
Everything is still feeling very wrong here, by the way.
In meanwhile shadow squad turns to east from one intersection where hunter squad went straight south. This road leads them north of the supersoldier and Gunther.
Sniper camp detects flash of ultraviolet light and familiar line of superhot air. No sign of actual cannons, but that's good enough information to shoot at. Perhaps you will hit something. One hypersonic HATAK arrow and HATAK bullet from autocannon later you still have no idea of your success... Wait did something fall from the sky? It's hard to see, but... yes, something did. One something.
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Topic: Roll to create a supersoldier! Bloody air resistance (Read 139006 times)