New Danzig, Brest-Litovsk World State, 2 months after loss of all contact with other Polish star systems
The raid sirens soared through the anachronistic capital of the frozen planet, as people evacuated through transport tubes their homes and workplaces built as a combine of 1930s architecture with technology centuries ahead of such epoch, going way deep through the sublevels and underground streets of New Danzig to reach its fallout shelters. Nobody knew why, or what was going to attack the massive metropolis.
"I seriously hope someone at the control tower is making a prank of very bad taste. And what a smart fellow, to have timed the exact time no satellite pass through this region!" the finely dressed officer commented to his mate, as he walked through the floor of a towering vehicle hangar, where bays at each of its sides housed several classes of Polish Worlds most prized ground and naval combat units: the Tripods. He was one of the few who had the honor of piloting such massive robots, reverse-engineered from the very technology of those who once nearly defeated humanity.
"I'm afraid nobody would dare making such prank, Admiral" his second-in-command replied back, the somewhat young for a Vice-Admiral but skilled man having climbed through the Amphibious Forces rankings during the PZL Corporation Wars as a gunnery officer. He wasn't particularly optimistic about it being just a false alarm or sort of joint civilian-military drill.
"I will keep my hopes up until we make visual contact. I hope you are ready, Jared, because this might be another one like PZL, let's move!" Antoni advised, as they stood close to the elevator that would take them all the way up to the tripod hull, which was quite low profile, with a quite sloped front covered in thick armor, looking like a very large, oval tank hull strapped to those massive spider-like legs and high-altitude hover engines, with a large turret above the hull that seamlessly fitted with it and four smaller gun turrets at its sides.
"Yes sir!" he answered, standing to his officer side, and immediately pressed the elevator button.
There were only eight tripods in the city, four assault-class and four long range support class, for they were extremely costly to build and maintain, and albeit powerful enough to justify such costs, armored vehicles still were more cost-effective in comparison and had enough power to take them down, except they lacked the same amphibious, anti-orbital capabilities and raw firepower that justified the tripods, and due to the high costs of dropping units in other planets, it was cheaper to drop tripods than the amount of tanks in equivalent firepower.
The inside of the tripod was quite impressive. The commander seat faced directly the lens-shaped, transparent armor that followed the hull slope, giving a very wide field of view. Turning on the machine, its HuD began to shine, although many analogic instruments contrasted with the dynamic black and white HuD display. Antoni remembered quite well. His left hand controlled the hull height and allowed for the tripod to strafe sideways, while his right hand control stick was the main driving control, and also had the fire button to the powerful ray gun. The Black Widow assault tripod, named after one of many species of spiders which shared the most noticeable feature of tripods, began to thud over the reinforced Hangar floor, as its towering doors opened.
"Tanya Flota, prepare for departure." Antoni instructed while his gunner began to turn the five turrets around to check them. A Tarantula, featured by its turretless, energy guns heavy build, and two Joros, that could be considered mobile radar towers with more missiles than any feasible ground vehicle could pack, followed him, with the latter two allowing a distance that would eventually reach one or two dozen of kilometers. At the same time, the lone tank batallion stationed in the city advanced towards the detected menace, while six other battallions nearby were ordered to move towards the city, and all aircrafts were ready to take off at any time.
Despite the sense of urgency, the threats that were detected were stil forty kilometers away from the city's outskirts, The four-tripod flotilla began to hover through the city, their legs retracting near the hull to avoid damage to its streets. When they finally arrived to the outskirts of the city, just ten kilometers away from the mountain range to the west, behind which the threats were detected, the two tripods took distance, as Antoni issued another order.
"Activate shields."
