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Lpnet1
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Lpnet3 Sci-shorts-01
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| Lpnet3-100 Day of the Mystikon Chapter 1: The Martian Landlords Chapter 2: The Post Neutronic Era Chapter 3: The NYC and the EMDA Chapter 4: Stranded at Toyland Chapter 5: A Gem for a Raygun Chapter 6: An Isotope for an Engine Chapter 7: A Sublime Portent Chapter 8: A Hard Rain Chapter 9: Against the Wind Chapter 10. The Monster Tank Chapter 11: The Secret Agent Chapter 12: The NDX Unit Chapter 13: Fort Granite Chapter 14: Contact with the Natives |
Day
of the Mystikon
10. The Monster Tank Amalek rested on its pods with the camouflage activated, in the midst of a wide field, on a very gradual slope, overlooking the vacant highway, the river, and the lifeless city in the distance. “I think Amalek is due for a diagnostic,” Ron admitted, and swiveled in the seat to the com-console on the side. “We can’t fool around with heat-seekers, and if the natives can see us, it’s fairly certain Exo can too.” Meanwhile, Al made a sensory-sweep of the area and reported something seconds later. “Detecting faint life-signs,” he said, with sudden surprise. Ron spun about and leaned over the central sensory console. He activated the main sensory-grid and looked closely. “Up slope,” Al said, “behind us, to the south.” He activated the remote video in the central tail-fin and looked into the distance. There appeared to be a very tall, perfectly straight tree, just meters away, in the foreground, in the middle of the field. It was surrounded by a few bushes and a bed of flowers. If it had any branches, they were too high up to be seen from such a close proximity. Beyond it another ten meters was a road and a little toll-booth at the entrance to the park. In the distance was a short fence, more fields, and at the furthest point, more trees aligning the field. He probed into the distance, until the tall tree was at the right edge of the screen and the distant line of trees appeared much closer. “Beyond the trees,” Al said, “About 2 kilometers. What’s on the other side of the trees?” Ron thought back in his memory, to the parallel AB1 Earth. “I think there’s a residential section,” he said, “From what I recall, it was upper-middle class, fairly large houses.” “Shall we investigate?” Al said. “Not just yet,” Ron said. “I’d rather we run the diagnostic first, to be on the safe side.” “If you don’t need me,” Al said, “I think I’ll step outside and check the area.” “Sure,” Ron agreed, turning back to the com-console. “But stay within radio-range, and be careful. Hopefully, this won’t take very long.” Al secured his arms and com-units, and left Amalek. He stepped to the rear of the transverser and used the apex to spy all about the area. To his surprise, the thing they thought was a very tall tree was actually a native Indian totem-pole, a landmark of the park. He judged it safe and walked to it. There was a small metal plaque on a stone at the base of it, surrounded by flowers. He read it. “The Totem of Seetempotee; Indian Chief and friend of the early Europeans. One of the bravest of his kind, he was killed in 1599 during a dispute between factions that disagreed on land-deals with the strangers from across the sea. May his friendship never be forgotten and his soul rest in peace.” Al respected the monument shortly, then walked to the road and checked out the toll-booth. It was locked tight and vacant, like so many other things. He walked to the short fence and saw that it enclosed a little league baseball-field. He found the gate, walked across the field, and reached the trees. There was a path through the trees. He followed it about ten meters and sited a few structures across another road. It was an upper-middle class ghost-town, lifeless except for that faint reading in the distance. In the height of spring, it appeared as if it were a very quiet holiday or Sunday afternoon. But it was too quiet, so quiet it was spooky. He thought about checking out one of the houses, and made a scan of the area. Then he heard something, a sound like a low grinding of a machine, like a chain clicking as it moved, accompanied by a whirring whine, of a much higher pitch. It was coming from the left, down a road that aligned the trees of the park and the houses. It was very faint at first, but it was getting louder. He spied down the road and sited what appeared to be an immense tank, an armored war-machine, on the move, in his direction. He moved away from the road, back into the trees, and decided to make a run back to Amalek. The tank was moving slowly, and did not appear to have detected him. Two minutes later, he climbed into Amalek and quickly took the co-pilot seat. Ron was under the side console, working on something. “Trouble,” Al reported, as he reset the remote video and spied to the rear. “A tank, on the other side of the trees, by the houses.” Ron looked out and saw he was completely serious. “Has it seen us?” “I don’t think so,” he said. “But I don’t think we should sit here and wait. It’s pretty big, Ron.” “I’ve almost got the shields fixed,” Ron said, “Keep an eye out and give me another minute.” He ducked beneath the console while Al spied the distance. One minute later, the huge war-machine appeared to the far-right, on the road leading into the park, and peaked into the valley, from the top of the hill, between the trees. “Ron, it’s looking our way,’ Al said urgently. “Okay,” Ron said, and stepped up into the seat. “That should do it.” He entered the proper code and flipped the invisibility switch. At the top of the hill, the monster war-machine stood still in its tracks and whirled its turret about face into the valley, spying the distance. “We’re a sitting duck,” Al said quietly, fearing it would hear his voice. “Shouldn’t we move?” “If we do,” Ron admitted, “We’d do best to go up steep and fast. But it may detect us. As we sit, the screen is well-fixed over the coordinates. We should be invisible to it.” They zeroed in on it with the remote video as it sat at the top of the hill. “I don’t like the way it’s looking at us,” Al said. “You may be right,” Ron admitted. “On my mark, we will engage the engine and take it straight up, then veer to the right and swoop down beyond the trees.” |
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