ch5

“Tch… What do you mean, ‘tin can’?”

Barely a care bot’s processing unit and memory. Yet it’s pulling off the feat of controlling all those machines, and it calls itself a tin can just because I insulted it. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Beep! Beep beep…!!

I manipulated the control panel to expand the detection radius of the lab’s radar.

The number of enemy hovercrafts displayed on the monitor gradually increased. The count… one… two… three…?

God damn it. Did they hide a honey pot in this lab or something?! Or is it… me?

“…Tin can, are you watching this?”

• I apologize. I do not have enough memory to access the lab network at this time. –

“What? So you just have the communication channel open?”

• That is correct. –

Seriously. It’s like dealing with a blind swordsman.

Not only did I leave it in charge of hacking and defense systems, but it’s also unreservedly dumping its role as eyes and ears on me. I’m furious at the thought of it completely using me as a rear operator, but on the other hand, my heart pounded because it felt like our relationship was finally becoming equal.

That’s right. You can’t treat the one and only Neo Haven conqueror in the world like some princess…!

“There are a total of three approaching hovercrafts. There are no other buildings around, and judging by all the sand… is this the wasteland area…? …Don’t destroy one of the hovercrafts, no matter what. We’ll need it.”

• Understood. –

As soon as I heard the reply, I pushed the radar screen aside and accessed the systems I needed right now. There’s no time to hesitate.

[ Calculating the loss rate of the lab’s defense system… Loss rate: 19% ]

[ Initiating reboot of all automated turrets ]

[ Blast doors and plasma barriers for passage control are operational ]

“!!”

I let out a cry of joy without realizing it.

Corporate labs can be largely divided into two types. One is a prison to prevent those trapped inside from escaping, and the other is a fortress to protect what’s inside. Even if it were the former, a loss rate this low would mean I could practically carpet bomb the place, but looking at the number of turrets displayed on the monitor, this lab was definitely the latter.

When those bastards come within range, I’ll open the gates of hell for them…!

Beep!

With a flick of my wrist, the exterior tiles of the lab near the tin can flipped over in sequence, revealing the beautiful figures of the hidden turrets.

With a whirring sound. Ominous to the enemy, but reassuring to us. Dozens of turrets targeted the approaching hovercrafts.

“Tin can…! What were you so worried about? With this overwhelming firepower!”

• …Miss Anastasia, please be aware of the remaining power. Dr. Makarovich overloaded the generator and devastated the underground floor, so resources are not expected to be plentiful. –

“?! You son of a…!!”

It’s true. The warning light in the corner of the monitor wasn’t signaling the enemy’s approach, but rather protesting that the lab’s system would commit suicide if left unattended.

With frantic movements, I cut off all the emergency power leaking from various parts of the facility. No, in fact, I put everything except the defense and communication systems into power-saving mode.

[ Remaining power: 23% ]

“Hah… It’s manageable…!”

Just as I barely finished preparing. As if waiting for it, the hovercrafts entered the lab grounds.

But… something’s strange. I was too busy adjusting the power lines to attack, but why are they entering so confidently without firing a single bullet or missile?

• Enemy approaching within assault rifle range. Commencing elimination… –

“Wait! Wait a minute…!”

I stopped him from immediately engaging in combat.

And… as the guys in the vehicles began to disembark in unison, my question was answered.

The enemies that appeared weren’t just a Tracker squad. It was a squad that included three Trackers…!

“Hmm! The Delta Sector lab is using a droid model I haven’t seen before. What about the signal from the preceding recovery team?”

“They all stopped underground!”

“So it’s not a defense system malfunction, at least. Good, everyone. Enter! Secure the control room first!”

One of the Trackers, wearing a full-face helmet and bulky combat armor, gave orders to the other personnel as their representative. Judging by the light armor with just bulletproof vests and visors, those being ordered were probably security team members or reserve recovery team members.

But, these bastards…

They saw the lab’s front gate without a single bloodstain, the ironclad droids standing firm, and the silent turrets, and they were relieved and just approached recklessly. They must be relieved that there were no signs of hacking, but we… we were your enemies from the start!

“…When they get close enough, start right away. I’ll respond accordingly.”

• Understood. –

Clang! Clang…!

The stopped droids moved, and as soon as the rifles were aimed, the Trackers reacted like lightning and pointed their guns at the tin can.

“…What is this?”

• Warning. This is the private property of Enama Corporation. Unauthorized personnel may be killed immediately. –

“…What a crappy droid with such poor performance. A security robot that doesn’t even do automatic scanning.”

• Warning. Holographic scanner, malfunctioning. If you do not comply with identity verification, you may be killed immediately. –

“Hoo…”

The Tracker who stepped forward as the representative sighed deeply, then took off his helmet and presented his face, as ugly as his way of speaking, to make identity verification easier.

“Enama Corporation affiliated, Tracker Barnes. Employee number ECS-6549422. Is that enough? Get lost quick…”

• Thank you very much for your cooperation. Mr. Barnes. –

Bang—!!

Splat!

At point-blank range. Barnes’ head, directly hit by a large-caliber assault rifle, exploded like a ripe watermelon.

AI that has manifested a self is this dangerous, so be sure to remember it in hell.

“!! Contact!! Contaact—!!”

“You son of a bitch!!”

Drrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Bang!!

Thud—!!

Both sides’ guns frantically spewed fire at each other.

As expected of Enama Corporation’s field operatives, their body modifications were also top-notch. They quickly scattered and sought cover. But my only target was the remaining two Trackers. The other small fries couldn’t penetrate the Goliath, so I could overwhelm them with size.

Whirr!

One of the Trackers activated the turret behind the cover where he was hiding. I thought that even if he had monstrous strength and speed, he wouldn’t be able to dodge elsewhere while the droids’ bullets rained down on him…

“Hup…!!”

Screech!!

Crash—!!

“!! What the hell…!”

Without hesitation, he grabbed the turret’s barrel with one hand and crushed it as it was. Thanks to that, the turret with the blocked barrel exploded, and my insides exploded along with it. To waste this precious opportunity and power like this…!!

[ Remaining power: 21% ]

“Shut up…! Tin can!! Duck! One of the Trackers is aiming for the Goliath, so be careful!!”

• Understood! –

Drrrrrrrrrrr—!!

After sweeping the small fries who were taking out the droids one by one with a cool suppressing fire, the arms of the guys who were trying to return fire with only their guns awkwardly separated from their bodies. In that gap, the tin can burrowed between the Goliath’s legs and tried to deal with the Tracker as warned, but…

Bang!!

“Barnes, you bastard…! To die from something like this!!”

• Eliminating…! –

Crack!

The Tracker’s fist, ejected like a cannonball, blew away the tin can’s rifle. But an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The chainsaw that came out of his back severed the barrel of the Tracker’s submachine gun that was aimed at him. The Tracker’s hand, having lost his ranged weapon, stretched out.

“No!”

I could already picture the scene of his head being horribly crushed.

Get out of the way quickly. Just give up one of your mechanical arms. What are you going to do if you get caught by an arm that can bend a turret barrel like taffy…!

But the tin can wisely avoided the crisis by controlling not its weak care bot body, but a bigger and stronger body.

Thwack!!

“Cough—?!”

Fwoooosh—!!

To prevent the other Tracker from doing anything reckless, the Goliath’s huge foot, which had been pouring out multiple rockets, kicked the Tracker away with a bang, then scorched the trajectory with a hellfire flamethrower. I quickly filled the resulting empty fire net by controlling the turret.

[ Remaining power: 16% ]

“Damn it…! Goliath’s ammunition! How much is left?!”

• 20 85mm rockets, 4L of fuel for the flamethrower, rifle bullets are running out soon. –

“Kaaaaaah—!! You fucking bastarddd—!!”

The armor withstood the fire, but the flesh inside didn’t seem to. The Tracker, with black smoke rising from him, screamed and roared.

Even though we started by eliminating one with a surprise attack, the situation is getting worse and worse.

Most of the riffraff were either dead or turned into gruesome objects rolling on the floor. But that was the same for the droid side. In the end, the outcome of this crazy fight would be determined by the presence or absence of an overwhelming powerhouse. The problem was that the enemies had two modified humans, and we only had one Goliath running out of ammo and a pile of turrets about to die.

…I have to make a gamble.

If we go for a war of attrition like this, our ammunition and electricity will run out before the modified human runs out of calories to burn. And if we manage to avoid both cases by some miracle, it’s obvious that more support troops from Enama Corporation will flock in.

“……Hey.”

• Communication status is still good. Please speak, Miss Anastasia. –

…Still? I manipulated the surveillance camera attached to the front gate and took a closer look. Before I knew it, one of the scanners on the tin can’s face was broken. Coolant was flowing from its chest.

I bit my lip until it bled.

Hiding alone in a safe control room and playing around with the feeling of playing a game is definitely not an ‘equal’ relationship.

“Don’t try to block it with your body again! Let one of the Trackers through into the lab…!”

…I. Have to create a variable.