?


    [Do you want to hunt aliens?] Max''s message made Huntress Khan smile behind her smooth golden mask.


    [Why, what a charming offer. What did you have in mind?] She replied happily, then read the data that Max had sent along with the message.


    Max waited a few minutes while she read over his proposal, which was deliberately tailored to allow her toe along with some of her most trusted huntingpanions. One group wouldn''t upset the bnce by much, but the effort might be enough to lessen the burden on the camp, and Max intended to rece the units he was taking, so it was no real loss to their defensive abilities.


    Finally, Khan finished reading the details and sent out the message to gather her hunting team for the mission.


    [When do we set out?] She asked.


    [If you can have everyone here in ten minutes, I can have the new Androids on the front lines and ready to defend by then. They''re already made and waiting for orders.]


    The shuffle of the Command structure was no big deal to the Hunters, who were used to splitting off into smaller groups at a moment''s notice, and a simrly experienced Huntress stepped up to take Khan''s ce as soon as she gave the order for her team to assemble. They were running across the camp within seconds, securing their masks and gear as they made their way back to their Hunter Suits with cheerful thoughts in their mind.


    Once they were assembled, Max pulled up a map and addressed the group. "Wee, everyone. As you likely know, I am Commander Keres Max of the Terminus Trading Company, and I will be your tour guide today.


    Our drone bombers have identified several groups of potential targets for today''s hunt, starting with this one at grid C5. It''s not a long trip, but they are around arge water source, which is presumed to be a valuable resource to both sides of the conflict."


    Nico and the Huntersughed at his tour guide routine, but the Androids were carefully calcting what orders they were likely to get in order to take that position. There was no need for the others to do that. They already knew all of the most probable tactics, and if Max intended to try something oundish, he would have sent it to them in advance so they could analyze it.


    They began to move out as soon as Max finished his spiel, headed for the smallke where the drones had detected arge group of Myceloid warriors gathering. They weren''t going to try to sneak up on them or anything. The n was to find them, shoot at them and start charging.


    It was exactly what the Myceloids did in their offensives against the Hunters camp, so Max was reasonably sure that it was their preferredbat style, and it should get them engaged in the battle instead of running away.


    Nico''s thoughts were way too happy about this n of action, and she already had a sword in her hand when they left the camp, though they weren''t expecting to be inbat for another fifteen minutes.


    That was about the usual for her, but the Huntress team wasn''t far behind her enthusiasm, and they were all eager to repay some of the insult that they had suffered by being trapped in their camp and forced back off the majority of the through their own misunderstanding of the nature of the enemy.


    [Targets sighted. Six hundred metres ahead, just over the rise.] Nico reported, rying the data from her Drone Bombers, who were still patrolling the area around the base in case of another attack.


    The Android Army was right behind them, all five hundred units in five lines behind the five mortal piloted Mecha. They kept an easy pace until Nico crested the final hill between them and the enemy, and the Myceloids stopped their activities to prepare for an attack.


    Nico sounded her war horn, and the keening wail of the modified loudspeaker echoed through the valley and across the river. It was an unmistakable challenge, and the Myceloids roared right back before starting a battle chant and charging toward the wall of Mecha.


    [All units, fan out and fire at will. Maintain maximum firing rates until we reach the melee range.] Max ordered.


    The line expanded, with Mecha moving to the sides to create a wedge-shaped spearpoint formation charging down the hill. The Myceloids showed no such organization, but they were happily firing every weapon that they had in the general direction of the Mecha as they ran with various des and clubs in their hands.


    A few of the Line Mecha fell to lucky shots, but more than half of the Myceloids were down before the first sounds of de on de rang out, and the bark of the Mass Drivers fell silent.


    [Those serrated des you have sure are effective against flesh.] Khan mused as Nico managed to finesse her de through a wide arc to take three heads with one swing.


    [We will show you how to make themter if you like. They have be a fan favourite with the followers of the closebat doctrines.] Nico replied with dignity.


    Khanughed over the inte. [You could just say they''re your personal favourite. But those forearm des aren''t bad, either. They''re very sharp. I think I might have to change the angle of my own defensive des to try out that attack pattern.] Khan mused.


    The melee scrum was a bloody sh of metal on overgrown flesh, and blood flew everywhere, mixed with some hydraulic fluid as the two sides met. The Mecha were slightlyrger, and much heavier, which let them shield m through the first rank of Myceloids, which they handily chopped apart after knocking them to the ground.


    But the next rank put up a much better fight.


    The Androids knew a lot of closebat theory, and they had some experience. But today, they were really putting it to the test. The fights were mostly one-on-one, with the Myceloid reinforcements still iing, instead of the confused mass of bodies that the attack on the camp had been.