"There is no way 5 dogs could ever take down a yao guai." Salvatore said as the ramp to the back of the APC was lowered upon arriving at their destination, only a short distance away from the FRS itself.
"You underestimate Legion training methods. Our mongrels were able to take down even the toughest yao guai if sufficiently trained." Deccanus returned as he too disembarked, engaged in a debate with Salvatore.
"All I'm saying is I ain't ever seen a dog win that fight, and trust me, it happens more than you think."
"What are you guys talking about?" Adam asked as he watched the three robots disembark from the APC right behind Deccanus.
"This mad man is claiming that legion dogs were tough enough to fight a yao guai with only 5 of them." Salvatore said with a dismissive tone.
"I am not claiming, I am simply speaking the truth." Deccanus asserted and then turned to Adam. "Legion Mongrels were one of the Legion's greatest assets, a unit deployed with war dogs could take down a heavy encampment even if outnumbered."
"And I call bull. Sounds like the fantasies of a guy dressed like a roman soldier." Salvatore scoffed.
"Alright alright, calm down. Honestly, who cares?" He looked at Salvatore. "It doesn't matter anymore does it? Even if it is hyperbole it just means their wardogs were good, that's all, you don't need to get up in arms about it."
"It just ain't that easy to train dogs is all I'm saying."
"Fine, fine." Adam said with a sigh just wanting the argument to end. Though he was secretly grateful the two of them were conversing, they may have been arguing but it didn't seem to be in bad taste, just a difference of opinion. He was glad, because the two of them were his partners, it was important that they learned to get along. Otherwise he would have a lot of trouble in the future.
"Well now that your dick measuring contest is over are we free to follow the plan?~" Eve said, injecting herself into the conversation to end it. Adam nodded at her and then lifted up his binoculars to get a look at the FRS building from afar.
Adam had been in there once before, shortly before his active service was up. So he did have a mental map of the place to work off of which they used to plan, he didn't have a very great idea of the layout, just bits and pieces. But he assumed there would be super mutants camped outside the only entrance in and out if they had even a little bit of intelligence. Turns out he was right.
Sitting outside were 3 Super mutants, all wearing rags, huddled around a fire, loudly talking to each other about something that Adam, at this distance, couldn't make out. Not that he felt he was missing out on much.
"Yup, there they are." Adam said as he handed off the binoculars to the next person.
"You sure you want to go through with this kid? You got the APC working, doesn't mean you need to do something incredibly dangerous like this. There's no telling how many are in there."
"Yes. But isn't it that much more exciting when you don't know what lies ahead?~" Eve said with a sultry and excited tone.
"Not all of us can just pick a spare arm off a dead robot and be good as new." Salvatore said to her.
"Oh boo, you are no fun~"
"I didn't stay alive this long by being stupid." Salvatore said with a sigh.
"I say we smoke them out." Deccanus said as he handed back the binoculars to Adam after everyone had taken a look.
"This isn't exactly in the middle of a forested area, and the way the FRS is laid out I'm not sure the smoke would even reach far enough. Besides, fighting in the hallways is actually more advantageous for us since the Super Mutants are big." Adam said.
"Which means the only way to do this, is to do this, yes?" Eve said now. Adam looked at her and then nodded.
"I think we just fight our way in, secure the central room like we planned, ensure the second stairway is unusable and then work our way down."
"As planned." Deccanus said softly.
"I still think there are smarter ways of going about this." Salvatore grumbled.
"I'm open to ideas." Adam said back to him. Salvatore remained silent and then sighed.
"Alright, let's do this then." Salvatore said finally.
"Oh~ Mind if I do the honors?" Eve said excitedly. Perhaps if she could smile she would be grinning ear to ear.
"By all means, on your cue then." Adam said to Eve and then turned back to his robot companions.
"Buddy, enter combat mode and stay close to the group. Rae fire at will and stick close to me, Protectron, you are to stay here and guard the APC until we return."
"Entering Combat mode"
"Oh yay! I'm so excited! Combat is fun!"
"Request processed, staying near the vehicle."
Once all three had heard his commands he turned back to Eve.
"After you." He said to her in a cordial way.
Eve then led the group closer, them all still sort of hiding as they got close enough so it wouldn't be a long range engagement. Then, when Eve was close enough, she stepped out from the side of the building, waved playfully at the Super Mutants who were lazily standing by the fire, and then let loose the full power of her head laser.
A brilliant beam of red light, far greater than the power of any laser rifle cut through the air and caused ripples of heat in its wake. The super mutants, who had only just noticed Eve and had yet to fully process her presence, barely had time to stand up before the full might of the head laser blast completely obliterated the upper half of one of the super mutants in one go.
This was why Assaultrons were so feared. Of course there were many other traits that gave assaultrons the edge. Speed, maneuverability, the lithe frame, claws that could hold weapons. It was the head laser, however, that made it such a powerful weapon, and, for these mutants, such a fearsome foe.
The greatest weakness of the head laser is that it takes a solid few seconds to charge up and then, after it is fired, the emitters are temporarily overheated so it takes some time before it can be used again. As such at the moment Eve's head laser was currently still glowing a brilliant bright red and almost sparking with overcharged energy. Of course Eve had, intelligently, stayed behind the building in cover charging up the head laser until it was ready before initiating combat. She was not just any assaultron, after all.
As soon as the head laser was fired off and made contact with the super mutants the other two sprang to their feet, reaching for weapons nearby, however neither of them had the time to react as a hail of bullets and laser fire was shot from the various members of the group riddling them with injuries and killing them only moments after the first shots were fired.
"Alright! Let's move in!" Adam yelled, taking the lead, gripping his laser pistol, and charging in at the front.