Woods' Second Experiment: Missile tech and Tracking and Targeting systems - Canon
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Location: Katinka, Little Rock, Woods' Testing Field
Date: March 22, 3022, 07:00
John Woods watched the final test of the first native-produced long-range missile launchers. The five-tube Chili Rainer is a revolutionary launcher with a total weight of one point five tons. This beauty resulted from studying the rocket launchers from the zoids he received as part of his payment. All thanks to his work on the Reggel engine and his current job on the prototype advance variant. It was easy to develop with his fellow mechtechs by sharing data and designs through the Ziputers grouping function.
Danny's daughter, Taylor, piloted the Stinger battlemech with the missile launcher attached to the shoulder. Unfortunately, missile launchers, outside of recoilless rifles, did not benefit from Reggel. So, John decided to see if the manufacturing design of the zoid's weapons could change things. This was the first live-fire test since the five virtual ones from the digital experimental pods.
"Mechwarrior Strider," John called her by the girl's callsign. "You may fire when ready."
"Roger that, Mister Woods," came the young woman's voice as five standard long-range missiles fired out. They spread out in the air before suddenly converging to the target.
"Well, it seems like the launcher still has an issue of spreading the missiles out, but they still hit the target, so that shouldn't be an issue," John muttered. He sent the data to his new head analyst, Lisa, and her daughter Riley. They had crunched the numbers to figure this out, all for the chance that Taylor could pilot the Stinger for testing. Ah, they could tell him all the lies to him in the world, but he saw how close nit Taylor, Lisa, and Aisha were. Two Mechwarriors and a mechtech planning on heading out as a mercenary team. He was still trying to figure out how Brian and Rachel would fit into that group, but he hoped they would wait a few more years. Still wonder how that mercenary group would work with that little kid Riley.
He pushed those thoughts away as the Stinger fired its entire load of missiles. Those Power Connector Ports, improved from the Power Adaptors, were so universal that adapting them to battlemech made work much more manageable. Now any weapon could be attached to any mech so long as they had the room and energy output for it.
"That's enough," John said as the Stinger moved to charge forward. This was a weapon test, not a mech test. "Bring your Stinger back for refits for the rapid firing recoilless experiment."
"Roger," she responded as the bug mech quickly moved back to the hanger, passing the next mech, an Urbanmech, equipped with a ten-tube Katinka Rainer. It was another weapon affected by the study of zoid tech. It weighed three tons, allowing room for extra ammo or armor. It is a revolutionary weapon system now but still needs a live-fire test to prove it.
The Urbanmech stood at the firing range as several drone-controlled targets flew in several basic patterns. They were slow enough for standard missile lock to occur but should be a good test to see how many missiles from the Rainer would hit. So it went on until the last few targets. That's when something interesting happens. The lock-on had split as a few rockets crashed into a nearby drone.
"Mechwarrior!" John called out. "Were you deliberately aiming for the second target, or was that a system error."
"This is Imp," the warrior responded, but John knew who it was. "And I don't know why this missile launcher did that, boss."
"You have no rights to a callsign yet, Recruit Aisha," John replied but then thought. 'What about the targeting and tracking equipment? Is it the standard one?'
"I will ask you this. Did you think about the other target at all?"
"What? Of course, I thought about the other targets, old man! If this was a real battle, I've gotta keep my eyes on everyone that's not friendly," Aisha snarked back.
"Aisha!" Brian's voice cut into their comms. "Cut the snark and tell him everything you're doing. Standard long-range missiles don't target other things unless it special ammo."
"What? Really? Why is that, bro?"
"Err. Mister Woods," John chuckled as the young man turned the question to him. "Mind explaining in detail to my little sis why those missiles normally don't do that?"
'Children,' John thought to himself as he told the young Mechwarrior. "Standard long-range missiles we use for this test should only hit the target you are locked onto. Special ones out there will switch their initial target, but only if they lose track. Unfortunately, we don't have those here."
"Well, how come I can lock onto every target here?" Ashia asked in confusion. That was an excellent question.
"Recruit Aisha," John ordered. "link the combat computer system with my Ziputer. I want to check if you are using the standard battlemech targeting system or the experimental one we plan on testing next week."
"Err, how do I do that?" Aisha asked as John could hear her typing into the computer.
"Don't worry, Imp," John heard Taylor join their line. "Lisa and I will take care of that. Bring your mech back to the hanger and avoid the Talos heading out to continue the experiment."
John saw the Urbanmech walk back to the hangar while his Ziputer began to show a connection. Then finally, he saw precisely what he thought was equipped for the battlemech. It was the experimental Pack Linker developed from the zoid's one.
John felt the familiar thumps of a medium-class mech passing below. So he contacted the Mechwarrior below.
"Mechwarrior," John paused as the name came up. It was Brian. "Please wait until I check your system before firing. It seems like some of our battlemechs have another experimental tech attached. I going to add some additional requirements if the Talos has them."
It wasn't long before John saw the experimental targeting system installed on the Talos. The battlemech was also a prototype for a new variant for the Aurigan Coalition. It was equipped with two fifteen-tube Streamer Launchers weighing four and a half tons that fired rockets quickly in a stream instead of all at once. It would be perfect for the new variable being added for this round of testing.
"Alright, Brian," John said after checking the weapons systems to ensure nothing would go wrong. "Your little sister already discovered that our new long-range rocket launchers work well with the experimental targeting system. So, now we will see how much that thing will affect our test. First, I need you to target three targets at once. Then fire a volley to see how things go."
"Understood, Sir!" The man said as the Talos's LRM cover opened but didn't fire. "Sir? There are no targets left out there."
The old Chief Mechtech looked away from the battlemech and to the testing fields. That was when he noticed that all the drones holding the targets were gone. A quick check on his device showed most had been recalled for repairs while the rest were loaded with target plates.
"Well then," John replied. "Please wait a few minutes while the drones come back. Maybe we could..."
*Hooook* *Hooook*
John looked up from his Ziputer to see several battlemech transporters and trucks with several combat vehicles on their trailer. Escorting them was a familiar Urbanmech followed by two remodeled battlemechs. John could see a Talos and Swordsman following at the group's rear.
A notification rang from his Ziputer for a call. Without hesitation, John answered it to see the familiar helmet of Pontoon, the Urbanmech Mechwarrior.
"Cornet Woods," she said while her forces stopped a kilometer from the firing range. "This is Subaltern 'Pontoon' Grace of the Katinka second defense team. I am bringing the requested targets for your weapons test. Sending you the inventory now."
John looked at the incoming data while thinking to himself. 'I didn't make this request, but who did?' A faulty Buster and two damaged Powermans among the inventory spoke volumes. Several Bulldogs, Strikers, and Scorpions were among the target practice too.
"I have received the inventory. Thank you for your speedy delivery, Subaltern," John replied and sent out commands to get the mechs and combat vehicles installed with data-gathering sensors. He had the perfect targets for the test now, so he didn't care who made the request. He could always find out later.
"No problem Cornet," Pontoon replied. There was a pause before she spoke back up, "Mind if my boys and I watch?"
John thought about the request. It wasn't as if Pontoon was unreliable and could keep a secret after all. It was her fellow lancemates that he worried about.
"Sure, but you got to keep Burger Time and Flapjack quiet. I know Stubble and Guano well enough not to worry about them."
"I'll keep them quiet," Pontoon replied as the five battlemech escorts moved to the militia hangar nearby.
The mechs and combat vehicles stationed in that hanger had already left on patrol. So the lance plus one entered while the people transporting the defective goods began setting them up in the target zone. Those at the range sent a report.
"Cornet Woods. It will take at least half an hour to an hour before we are done setting up the targets."
"Okay, people," John shouted to those on his team. "We have some free time while waiting for our new targets. So let's get some grub."
Lunch was a tense yet funny affair for the five mechwarriors from New Dutch. There were jabs and questions traded between his testing team and those newbies. Finally, they returned from lunch and arrived at the testing grounds with the Talos at the ready. All the targets had been powered up and sent feedback data to John's Ziputer. Pontoon and Guano had joined him in watching while the rest of the group was with his technical team.
"Okay, Brian," John said, full of vigor as he wanted to see if he was right about the pack linker's effect on his LRMs. "Target three of them and fire away!"
"Roger, sir! Also, sorry, sir!" John looked at the battlemech in question when both Streamer Launcher hatches opened. "Fox Masscure!" It became a shower of missiles heading for the Buster and two Scorpions. The image of the attack was ingrained into John's mind as the rocket didn't fly straight at the targets but curved around the obstacles slightly, and a few managed to course correct from hitting barriers.
A quick check on the data from the target showed that almost all thirty missiles had hit the three. The amount of damage coming off them made John ask, "Brian! How many missiles did you assign to each target?"
There was a pause before the Mechwarrior answered. "Twenty to the Buster and five each to the tanks."
A quick check on the pack linker's data showed the results John had noticed. It could be a good thing or a bad one.
"Well, son," John said while calculating the amount of armor each system was screaming at him. "It seems all your LRM hit the tanks but only half the ones you sent to the Buster strike true."
The Chief mechtech rechecked the pathing of the missing ten missiles only to find they had run short. The Buster was within one kilometer. More precisely, the damaged industrial mech was exactly six hundred meters away.
Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, John said. "Repeat the same firing pattern until you are out of ammo or one of those target blows."
"Roger that!" Brian replied and fired again, then again. Each time the Talos fired his missile launchers, John noted the fall-off point for those significantly changed by the pack linker's targeting system.
"Sir," Brian called out. "I'm on my last set, and both tanks have been destroyed. So what do you want me to do? Finish off the Buster?"
John looked at his calculations and made his decision. "I wanted you to move two hundred meters closer and fire your LRMs at the Buster. Give them all the directions you want to curve around, over, and through gaps in the obstacles."
There was a pause in the Mechwarrior's response that almost made John reconsider his order when Brian suddenly answered, "Firing!"
"Holy shit!" John heard one of the Pontoon's mechwarriors shout out from a nearby Ziputer. Probably Guano's device. John couldn't tell if Flapjack or Burger Time shouted it. He was paying attention to the pathing of all thirty missiles being tracked by his Ziputer.
Twenty-five of the thirty rockets hit home and completely destroyed the industrial mech. Its smoking wreck crashed into the ground as all signs of power ended. "Well done, Mechwarrior. Return to the hangar to refit and join the team on the observation deck."
"Roger that, sir," Brian replied as his Talos slowly moved back to the hangar. It wasn't even a few seconds later when the man's voice cut back through the Ziputer. "What the? Taylor? Lisa? What are you two doing?"
John could hear Pontoon beside him ordering her men to stand down as they shouted about seismic detecting an assault class mech on sensors. It was probably a shock, but Joyce had sent them a Guntank-P for testing the day before. It took a couple of days to add his twenty-tube rocket launcher system to the battlemech. Even with the modern power connector port equipment installed.
"Boss," It was Lisa who replied. "Taylor and I came up with an interesting experiment to run. We know the rocket systems will work, but now we want to see how well they follow those paths we can set."
"Oh," John said while thinking about what they might do with the Stinger and Guntank-P. "I guess you two want to do something idiotic but interesting simultaneously?"
"Of course," the mechtech could almost hear the grin in the woman's voice. "Just watch us do something amazing."
John shook his head but then heard the woman beside him speak up. "Cornet Woods. Just what the hell are they planning?"
John sighed before responding to Pontoon's question. "Something unplanned, Ma'am. Damn kids not wanting to do proper testing."
"But Mister Woods," A childish voice came out of his Ziputer. He recognized it as little Riley. "You already have more than enough data on your launchers. Now it should be time to get information on the Pack Linker's abilities."
The old mechtech was about to respond when he noticed where the transmission came from. "Lisa! Why the hell is Riley in the gunner seat of that Guntank!"
"Ah, lay off it, Boss," Came the causal reply from Lisa. "I rather have her learning the controls now than later. It will help with our understanding of improving the pack linker equipment to our normal stuff. Haven't you noticed that our battlefield observation is indirectly linked to the pack linker? That's how the missiles can lock onto targets behind visible range!"
"What?" John said as he noticed the Mechwarrior beside him look at her Ziputer. She looked up and replied. "She right. I just turned on the targeting system in my helmet to check, and I'm receiving targeting data from Burger Time and Flapjack. So I think that targeting system is permanently linked to the Ziputer's combat systems."
John heard the rockets in the twin Zibras firing and the stomps of the Stinger running forward. The mechtech and Mechwarrior watched as forty missiles seemed to fly around the bugmech in a pattern. Then, before Taylor's Stinger got in the theoretical optimal range of her new weapons, the missiles raced past her and slammed into the Powerman. All forty missiles registered on his Ziputer as a hit to the torso areas.
That's when the Stinger raised its right arm with its unique weapon. Created from five mass-produced BS-20 recoilless rifles. The Thunder Puncher could fire five high-velocity rockets at a time with the equivalent damage potential of two Thunderbolt A5M large lasers from the Bulldog tanks. The best part of firing the weapon comes from the little heat generated when used.
"Holy Shit!" John heard Guano shout. A loud roar of approval came from Stubble, which was weird since that guy used to be a nervous wreck. The mechtech glance at their leader, who seem to stare at the screen of her Ziputer.
The Stinger's right arm was covered in smoke for a brief moment, and the head of the Powerman vanished in an explosion. This was followed by the fist of Taylor's battlemech crushing the remains of the cockpit.
"Mister Wood," Riley's voice came through his Ziputer. "See, we can do exciting things now with these new long-range missile launchers using the pack linker."
"Yeah. Yeah. Let's clean up and get the report ready for Deputy Governness Gracia. Maybe she will fund the plans you guys have after this."
Before he hung up, he got calls he realized were coming from the two Mechwarriors, Burger Time and Flapjack, asking if they could have those weapons. John sighed as he explained to those newbies why they couldn't yet. He really wished Brook came back soon. Sure he left to stop a civil war, but with the zoids there, it shouldn't take that long.
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AN: Before anyone says medium recoilless rifles for BA weight 250 kg, why is the Thunder Puncher weighing only 1.5 tons or 1,500 kg when there are 5 of them in there? It is because it is the original rifle that weighs 32kg unloaded. So five of them is equal to 160kg. Then there are the ten rockets loaded for each (so 40 x 2k x 5 rifles = 400 kgs of ammo), with a total of 560 kilograms of missiles and rifles. Then the reloading ability. Each one uses a 100 kg loading mechanism (so 500 kg total), and the rest is just extra plating around it for protection (so 440kg of armor and structure).
The main story chapter is coming, however, I'm kinda sick at the moment, so it slows going. At 9k words but been stuck there for a couple of days due to it.
