Chapter Twenty - Nanomachines, Son


    Chapter Twenty - Nanomachines, Son


    Fuck logistics.


    Corporal Dimitry, Russian Eastern Incursion Front, 2029


    ***


    First, nanomachines. Specifically nanobots that can be used in an offensive capability.


    I need a catalogue for that? I asked.


    The only nanomachines youve used previously were specifically designed to dispose of antithesis corpses. This is an entirely different use-case.


    Yeah, but those were also nanostuff, I pointed out.


    Cat. The ones you want to buy for this hive are as different as a doorhandle is to a spacecraft. While both could technically be called machines, the degrees of complexity between them makes keeping both in the same general categorization idiotic and misleading.


    I raised my hands in surrender. Okay, yeah, fair enough. I imagined the nanobots we were preparing to deploy were going to be somewhat more complicated than those Id used before. They needed to travel to specific places and wait for a specific signal before they started anything. Any other catalogue I should look into? I asked.


    Two come to mind. Basic Defensive Infrastructure for quick-to-install defences. Then, Civilian-Grade General Combat Equipment. That last one is for the civilians, obviously.


    What does Civilian-Grade mean, exactly? I asked.


    The catalogue mostly has helmets and armour thats relatively cheap, capable of keeping a civilian informed and connected while also keeping them safe from the weakest antithesis. These are not rated for the level of combat a Vanguard would expect to face, and arent designed to last very long. The catalogue includes weapons that are meant to be so easy to use that a child could operate them with barely any instruction without harming themselves or others.


    I reached the top of the escalator, then nodded along. Alright, fine. Grab the catalogues.


    New Purchase: Class I Nanomechanized Warfare


    Current Points: 94,564


    New Purchase: Class 0 Civilian-Grade General Combat Equipment


    Current Points: 94,464


    New Purchase: Basic Defensive Infrastructure


    Current Points: 94,264


    Nice, I said. Hold off on buying stuff for a minute, though, I said. There was a predictable number of militia men loitering around a set of shops that had been taken over. Someone installed steel plates before the windows and blocked the rest off with planks, leaving only one way into the area, with hip-high sandbags stacked up around it. Anyone coming in would have to get past the guys with rifles by the entrance.


    Fortunately, I had someone running out to meet me already. A fresh-faced woman, maybe three or four years older than me, who came to a stop next to me and snapped a salute. Second Lieutenant Smart, maam, she said. The General said you would need some assistance.


    Hey Smart, I said. I think we all need a bit of help right now. She laughed and I stared at her for a long couple of seconds. That hadnt been funny. Was I dealing with my own yes-man? Yes-woman? Yes-cute-girl-in-tight-uniform?


    I rolled my eyes. Right, I see what you mean.


    Lieutenant Smart ran back over, with two guys behind her dragging along one of those plastic-topped tables with unfolding legs. Maam, were bringing every table we have, she said. Itll take a moment though.


    Thats fine, I said. So, Myalis and I were thinking. First things first, the box here is full of nano-shit thatll melt the aliens for us. The general should have the outline of the plan already. Give this to whomevers heading out to the museum. I tapped the case on the ground next to me with the end of my boot.


    Thank you. Well bring it over now.


    Good. Now, well be equipping the civilians, right?


    She nodded.


    So... yeah, Myalis, ideas?


    You can either buy a few hundred samples of each piece of equipment separately, or you could buy kits of them. Theres no real point saving either way, but the kits might make it easier to distribute to the civilians.


    I like that, I muttered. So, a Hummingbird, something that packs a bit more punch? Then armour and a helmet with coms?


    Thats most of what I would suggest. Id also like to add a small first-aid kit and to include a rig with the armour for additional ammunition and supplies.


    That seemed perfectly logical to me. Doesnt have to be pretty, just needs to work and be idiot-proof.


    It should be. For a main weapon Id suggest the Alley Purr, its a suppressed smart-rifle with an IFF targeting lock to prevent accidental friendly-fire. Perhaps we can add some explosives as well, since you have the catalogues for those?


    I grinned. Spread the love? Sure. But... maybe Resonators? Theyre a staple of mine and theyre hard to mess up. The worst collateral theyll deliver is deafness.


    Certainly. Each kit will cost... ninety four points.


    I nodded slowly, then took into account how many points that was. Hey, Smart, how many civilians will we be equipping here?


    There are eighty thousand in Downtown, or close to that, we dont have exact numbers. Only about two percent are volunteering for guard and combat duty though.


    Thats a thousand six hundred.


    And a thousand six-hundred times ninety four was... a lot. I opened a calculator app and punched into the numbers, then winced. That was way, way beyond my budget. How many people volunteered to do guard duty already? I asked.


    You mean the green bands? she asked. We have two hundred of those per rotation. Three rotations a day.


    I punched in that number and liked it a lot more.


    Okay, so lets get half of them equipped then, I said. We might be in this for the long haul, so lets not go too far. Oh, and Smart, this is expensive. Lets not have anyone running off with our gear, yeah?


    Yes maam, she said.


    ***