You pick your targets, and ready yourselves. You haven't shot a single round today, and neither has AA-12, so both of your magazines are full. You still plan on only as many rounds as necessary. As you ready your SMG, your companion readies her knife with the same uneasy look as always. Clearly she wanted to be the one using the "civilized method of conflict resolving" but you decided it'd be better this way. With your weapon raised in full auto mode, you both approach your targets, slowly as to not startle either. The Dragoon might be easy to take care of even if spotted, but the Jaguar firing it's explosive payload in a self-destructive attempt to wipe you out would be much more difficult to avoid. Just like with the first two hostiles you encountered in the building, it would be ideal to take out both at the same time, even if these are the last ones.
You study the Jaguar's construction as you approach. It's armor plates are mostly on its front side, the rest is fairly unprotected, due to the unit's role as backline artillery. If it's getting shot at, clearly the fault is elsewhere. Still, the placement of your shots is important, else you'll hit all sorts of non-vital spots and it'll still be capable of fire. At least several rounds will be necessary to shred all that's vital to the Sangvis unit and its operation.
Meanwhile, AA-12 prepares her knife to take down the Dragoon unit like the others before. The back of the neck was exposed, shouldn't be difficult with the unit preoccupied. She might have to lean down a little to reach her though. Unlike you, who doesn't need to crouch at all to be at the same level as your target.
You're both in position by now. The Dragoon is modifying one of the legs for stationary emplacement, removing the wheel and bolting it to the concrete floor, currently handling a wrench. You make eye contact one more time, then engage. You dash, off to the side of the machine, a side where few plates covered the internal components. You squeeze the trigger, and bullets ring out of the barrel of your gun, smoking in the cold open air. Several are confirmed to hit, the Jaguar has registered the damage and confirmed it's being assaulted, finally reacting. But you don't give it a chance, every bullet that does not make it all the way through is followed by another, constantly knocking at the metal frame until it's finally let in, right into the living room of it's combat processor. Once that was pierced, the machine froze, sparked and broke. Like a dropped phone, it ceased its, though with a more violent outburst than a T-doll, smoking and sparking. Either way, the target was eliminated, and you confirmed it's death with…
[X] A strong kick off its hinges
[ ] A few more shots for good measure
[ ] You don't, you're absolutely sure it's done for
With that out of the way, you turn around, expecting AA-12 to have taken out her target as well. However, both dolls were on the ground, struggling, fighting each other for the upper hand, knife in one's hand, wrench in the other's. One second the shotgun is overpowering the Sangvis unit, but her agility and flexibility allow her to keep evading the stabs and shield bashes, while AA-12 is well equipped to block blows by the blunt too. Neither can get a chance to reach for their firearm, and although you can't tell who's winning, you're not waiting to find out. You take aim immediately, trying to get a clear shot on the Dragoon as they roll around. One shot anywhere on its body should put it in enough of a disadvantage for AA-12 to finish the job. Miss your shot, and, well… the same is applied in reverse, and no part of your wants that.
Through your sights you see your opening, but just as you're about to squeeze the trigger, the corner of your eye catches something. Something alarming. And unfortunately, something that requires your immediate attention and action. The bipedal vehicle of the Dragoon that was parked just second ago was now charging your way, it's hard armored front threatening to ram you at high speeds. Thankfully, you're an SMG type, last second evasion is part of the kit. Your joints jolt, lightning quick reflexes allowing you to move out of the way, knees bent as the mech almost grazed your side. Evasive maneuver successful, but there's more to worry about. It seems to have registered your evasion and was about to turn. But you're as quick to run and you are quick to attack. Several rounds found themselves lodged within it's less armored backside, and registering the damage it too started to run. It was significantly tougher to hit now, running around the floor between stone pillars, always threatening to change its course towards you again should you split your focus for even a second. Or so you assumed, as it took charge at you again, fully aware of it this time. Big mistake.
This time you didn't take a dive to the side, but upwards. With the time you had this time you could prompt your legs enough to gain significant height, enough for the mech to pass right under you. The opportunity was prime, and you let loose a volley right into the rider's compartment. The bipedal speeder fell and crashed shortly after, it's long slide stopped by a concrete wall. Didn't look very different from a motorcycle incident, and you're glad you're not the victim of this nasty looking crash.
Speaking of the driver, you immediately turn back to your ally now that your own safety has been assured, just in time to witness a knife being driven deep into the other's skull. The Dragoon was on top, and shortly after its weight slumped down on AA-12. She threw the thing off of her, it's limp body flopping to the ground. She's breathing heavily, drops of red coolant sprinkled on her face. Her eyes dart from the eliminated unit to you, her intense expression soon turning sour.
"Why the hell didn't you help me?!"
Angry was one way to describe her. That tight fight for survival has spawned a lot of leftover energy, and now she needs an outlet. You are that outlet at the moment, now that the actual threat lay dead, and the shotgun isn't the kind to pummel a defeated enemy to cool off. She stared at you, waiting for a damn good excuse. But then she saw the hunk of metal you shot to death. Not just the Jaguar, but the Dragoon's walker as well. The angry expression on her face faded.
"... oh… you had your hands full too…"
"We both had."
"Yeah…" AA-12 sighed as she got back on her feet "Damn Dragoon swept my legs, then just kept hammering at me like a… fucking animal. Couldn't get my gun…" her eyes were staring at the ground this whole time.
[ ] "I'm just glad you're okay."
[X] "Sorry I couldn't help. I wanted to, I really did."
[ ] "We were both shortsighted. We must do better, or there may not be a next time."
[ ] "Quit moping. You've come out on top, and that's what matters."
[ ] Write-in
With another sigh, she straightened herself up again, leaving that incident behind her for now. She took proper hold of her gun, and it didn't seem like she was willing to switch it for the knife again. But it's fine, shots were already fired. Either nothing hostile was left alive in the area to hear it, or you'll be firing more soon enough. With the momentary threat eliminated, you reload and move on to surveying your now cleared surroundings.
The Jaguar unit was well defeated, and whatever worth scavenging within wasn't worth carrying around, or messing with the explosive shells it didn't get a chance to fire. They are usually rigged to explode were opposing forces to try and scavenge them without proper equipment, which you lack. So aside from confirming its demise for a second time, nothing to do here.
The Dragoon walker was a fine mess of once proud machinery, now looking quite beyond repair. Nothing much to scavenge here, even the repair equipment Dragoons usually have seems to have been damaged in the crash, some things even melted together due to heavy sparking.
"Nobody operated it?"
"It didn't use its ranged weaponry, so I must've been the Dragoon that's been remotely giving it simple commands."
"It managed to fight us both at the same time? Didn't know they had so much processing power to split. I ought to be more careful of Dragoons in the future…"
Speaking of the driver, it's the last hostile to check, hopefully. The wound went right through her eye, a critical hit to her critical components, disabling it instantly. It's visor was shattered, and skin bruised for several impacts. You take note of what she has on her purpose. The wrench survived, so you take it. A useful tool, or an effective blunt weapon. Either way, the rest was the pistol on her hip and her attire, including the pink, comfy looking scarf with the SF logo. You [X] take it / [ ] leave it / [ ] take it and put it on.
AA-12 stared at it for a few more seconds before the both of you moved on. Floor cleared, only the roof was left now. And getting to the very top, not much was to see there, aside from the satellite dish used by Sangvis Ferri. A few quick shots by [X] AA-12 / [ ] Veresk dispatched of it quickly. And still no more hostiles in sight, which is most likely a sign of an objective completed.
"Well, now to get the body."
"Yeah…"
--- an hour later ---
"There we go."
With as much care as was required, you placed the body within the jeep's back. It felt quite cold, not as heavy as a doll but still dead weight. You could swear you even heard it crack a bit as some of his joints were bent to fit him in. AA-12 might've shivered from more than just the cold just then.
"Well, now to just get this guy back to the town. I'll drive slow so that he doesn't get trashed around."
You nod silently. The sun is nearing the mountains, it will likely be evening by the time you get back. The mission was completed with minimal resource waste (one magazine) and adequate spoils. You rendered the Sangvis equipment that was set up unrecoverable, and in pieces. Whatever operation they had going on here, they likely won't try again, and the villagers are free to turn the place upside down. You get into the jeep with a job well done.
"... fuck." suddenly swore the shotgun, prompting you to look at her "I just realized, will they even be able to find out what happened to the guy? Hell, will they even care enough? They carry around baseball bats for fuck's sake, there's no trusting those guys."
AA-12's explanation might be plain overreacting, no doubt her already low image of the townsfolk has been worsened now that one of them might've been murdered by another human. But she seems worried about the thing even though the guy's already dead.
"They might not even believe us, thinking we're bullshitting them. Uuuugh, this is making my head hurt…"
Like a painkiller, she takes more of her favorite snack in her mouth, letting the sweet taste calm her nerves as she ignites the engine.
"She's got a point, you know."
For once you could use the advice of your brainmate, now that she showed up so conveniently. With a few hour ride to look forward to, you suppose you can have a listen to what it has to say.
"Sometimes it's best to take matters into your own hands, you know? If you're worried about someone screwing up, do it yourself. You've got time to kill, I say check the body. Scoop up that bullet and check the caliber. If you find irrefutable evidence, or even better, track down the killer yourself, nobody's gonna call bullshit on you."
Knowing what you know, it has a point. Or several. Though you cannot shake the feeling it may be wrong to search and cut the guy up. Especially if it turns out not the really be a murder-
"Oh for fuck's sake, the evidence is right there Alpha! God you're dense sometimes. I thought we were past the old Columba days."
The insults aren't helping however. What appeared like harmless suggestion now seemed like persistent convincing, and you're not sure you like that. Say what it might, the decision is yours. Not AA-12's, and definitely not your dummy's, but yours as squad leader alone.
[X] Search the body for evidence
[ ] Refrain from further touching the body
