Chapter 5

“Pff… What’s with the Tin Can?”

With just the operation unit and memory of a Carebot, it was amusing to see it refer to itself as a tin can while skillfully controlling so many machines.

Beep! Beep…!!

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

The number of enemy hovercraft displayed on the monitor began to increase gradually. The count… one… two… three…?

Damn. Did they hide a honey pot in the lab?! Or could it be… me?

“…Hey, Tin Can, are you watching this?”

– I’m sorry. I do not have any memory left to allocate to the lab network connection. –

“What? So you’re only keeping the communication channel open?”

– That is correct. –

Great. It’s like there’s a blind swordsman after all.

Not only had I entrusted it with hacking prevention and defense system control, but it also unabashedly passed off its own eyes and ears to me. While it frustrated me that it seemed intent on using me as a completely back-end operator, part of me felt my heart race as it finally felt like our relationship was becoming more equal.

Yeah. The one and only Neo Haven Conqueror shouldn’t be treated like a princess…!

“There are a total of 3 approaching hovercraft. There are no other buildings nearby, and judging by the sand all around… this is a wasteland area, isn’t it…? …Make sure not to destroy one of the hovercraft. We need it.”

– Understood. –

As soon as I heard the reply, I dismissed the radar screen, which had fulfilled its purpose, and accessed the systems I needed right now. There was no time to dawdle.

[ Calculating lab defense system loss rate… Loss rate 19% ]

[ Rebooting all automated turrets ]

[ Corridor control barriers and plasma barriers are operational ]

“!!”

I unintentionally let out a cry of joy.

Corporate labs can broadly be classified into two types. One that prevents what’s inside from escaping like a prison, and the other, a fortress to protect what it holds. Even if it were the former, a loss rate this low would mean it could withstand heavy bombardment, and judging by the number of turrets displayed on the monitor, this lab was undoubtedly the latter.

When they come within range, I will literally open the gates of hell…!

Beep!

With a gesture, the exterior tiles near the Tin Can flipped open in sequence, revealing the beautiful forms of hidden turrets.

The whirring sound is ominous for the enemy, but for us, it’s a reassuring sign as the turrets targeted the approaching hovercrafts.

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

– …Miss Anastasia, please pay attention to the remaining power supply. Dr. Makarovich overloaded the generator, devastating the underground levels, so resources are expected to be rather limited. –

“?! Damn it…!!”

It’s true. The warning light flashing in the corner of the monitor wasn’t signaling enemy approach; it was a protest announcing that if left alone, the lab’s systems would self-destruct.

With frantic movements, I cut off all emergency power leaking through the facility. No, aside from defense and communication systems, I basically switched everything to power-saving mode.

[ Remaining power supply 23% ]

“Ha… we can manage…!”

Just as I had barely finished the preparations, the hovercrafts entered the lab grounds as if they had been waiting for the moment.

But… something was off. I missed the timing to launch an attack while I was hurriedly adjusting the power lines, but why were they boldly entering without firing a single shot or missile?

– Enemies approaching within assault rifle range. Commencing eradication… –

“Wait! Hold on a second…!”

I halted their sudden rush into battle.

And then… as the enemies inside the vehicles began to disembark in an orderly fashion, my doubts were resolved.

The revealed enemies were not a single tracker unit. They were a unit including three trackers…!

“Hm! The Delta Sector lab is using some unfamiliar Droid models. What about the signals from the previous retrieval team?”

“They’re all stopped in the underground!”

“At least it doesn’t seem like a malfunction in the defense system. Alright, everyone. Move in! Secure the control room first!”

One of the trackers, wearing a full-face helmet and bulky combat armor, commanded the other personnel. Judging by their light armor with visors, those being commanded were likely security or backup retrieval team members.

But these punks….

Standing at the heavily fortified door of the lab without a single drop of blood, the unyielding Droids and silent turrets seemed to have relaxed them, prompting them to approach recklessly. Since there were no signs of hacking, they must have felt safe, but we… we were your enemies from the start!

“…Once they get close enough, we’ll begin. I’ll handle the response.”

– Understood. –

Clank! Clank…!

As the still Droids sprang to life and rifles aimed at them, the trackers quickly responded, directing their guns at the Tin Can.

“…What’s going on?”

– Warning. This area is owned by Enema Corporation. Unauthorized personnel will be shot on sight. –

“…What a worthless piece of junk this Droid is. The security robot can’t even perform an automatic scan.”

– Warning. Holographic scanner, malfunctioning. Failure to comply with identification may result in immediate death. –

“Ugh…”

The representative tracker let out a heavy sigh before finally removing their helmet to reveal an ugly face that matched their demeanor for the sake of identification.

“I’m Tracker Barnes from Enema Corporation. Employee number ECS-6549422. Is that enough? Now get lost…”

– Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Barnes. –

Bang—!!

Thud!

Up close, Barnes’ head exploded like a ripe watermelon, struck by a high-caliber assault rifle.

An AI that has manifested its ego is this dangerous; make sure to remember this in hell.

“!! Contact!! Contacck—!!”

“What the hell!!”

Rattatatatat!!!

Boom!!

Kaboom—!!

Both sides unleashed a torrent of fire upon each other.

As befits the field agents of Enema Corporation, their body modifications were top-notch, and they quickly spread out to find cover. But my target was only the two remaining trackers. The little minions wouldn’t pierce through Goliath, so I could easily suppress them with my superior size.

Whirring!

One of the trackers activated a turret hidden behind the cover where it was hiding. No matter how monstrous its strength and speed are, I thought it wouldn’t be able to dodge while the Droids unleashed a hail of gunfire from the side…

“Huff…!!”

Screeeech!!

Bang—!!

“!! What is that…!”

Without hesitation, the tracker grabbed the barrel with one hand and twisted it, causing the jammed turret to explode and my speed to suffer as well. To waste such a precious opportunity and power like this…!!

[ Remaining power supply 21% ]

“Shut up…! Tin Can!! Duck your head! One of the trackers is targeting Goliath, so be careful!!”

– Understood! –

Rattatatatat!!!

I rained down suppressing fire on the grunts that were cleaning up the Droids one by one, severing the arms of those who clumsily aimed their guns at me before they could fire back. In that gap, the Tin Can burrowed between the legs of Goliath to face the tracker as warned…

Boom!!

“Damn Barnes…! To die like this!!”

– Eliminating…! –

Crack!

The punch of the tracker shot out like a cannonball, knocking the Tin Can’s rifle away. But an eye for an eye. The saw blade protruding from the back of the tracker severed the muzzle of his submachine gun.

With the distant weapon lost, the tracker’s hand reached out.

“Not good!”

A horrifying scene of his head being gruesomely squashed flashed before my eyes.

Hurry and dodge. Better to sacrifice a mechanical arm. What will he do if captured by an arm that can bend the barrel like a piece of taffy…?

But the Tin Can wisely avoided the crisis by maneuvering a larger and stronger body instead of its fragile Carebot frame.

Thud!!

“Cough—?!”

Boom—!!

In a bid to prevent the other tracker from doing anything reckless, Goliath’s gigantic foot struck the tracker hard before it unleashed a barrage of rockets, turning the air into a hell of fire. I quickly commanded the turret to fill the gap left by the empty space.

[ Remaining power supply 16% ]

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

– 20 rounds of 85mm rockets, 4L of incendiary for the flamethrower, ammunition for the rifle is running low. –

“Argh—!! This damn bastard—!!”

The armor withstood the fire, but it seemed like the flesh inside couldn’t. The tracker roared, engulfed in black smoke.

Despite having taken one out by surprise, the situation was worsening.

Most of the riffraff were dead or turned into horrific objects rolling on the ground, but the same goes for the Droids. Ultimately, the outcome of this insane battle would depend on the presence of overwhelming strength. The problem is that the enemies consist of two modified humans while our side has only Goliath, which is running low on ammunition, and a pile of turrets that are about to give out.

…We must make a decisive move.

If we continue the war of attrition like this, our ammunition and electricity will run out before the modified humans burn out. Otherwise, the already battered Carebot’s body will be destroyed. If we’re lucky enough to evade both scenarios, reinforcements from Enema Corporation will surely flood in.

“…Hey.”

– Communication status is still stable. Please speak, Miss Anastasia. –

…Still? I manipulated the surveillance camera mounted near the front door to take a closer look, and one of the scanners on the Tin Can’s face was already broken. Coolant was dripping from its chest.

I bit my lip until it bled.

Hiding safely in the control room and playing games like it’s a joke is definitely not a ‘equal’ relationship.

“Don’t just recklessly block with your body again! Let one of the trackers pass into the lab…!”

… I need to create a variable.