P.I.T. III, Utah
May, 1996
Hawk entered the lab facility in a lower level of the P.I.T. to see the GI Joe team?s resident inventor Gears standing at a workbench waiting for him. Dressed in stained coveralls, the inventor nonetheless managed to snap to attention and salute. Hawk returned the salute and said, "At ease."
Resting on the workbench was a small vehicle; it was about three feet square, with large tracked wheels on either side and a turret on the top. Two thick, rigid aerials at the back suggested it was remotely operated, Hawk thought.
"So, what have you got?" the general asked.
"Do you remember the PAC/RATs?" Gears asked.
Hawk thought back, then nodded, "Sure, the programmable robot things we had back in the early '80s. One with a flamethrower, one carried four rockets and one armed with machine-guns. I seem to remember they were abandoned after only a few months of use because they were prone to being jammed."
Gears nodded. "Right, they also had a limited capability; being limited to set patrol routes or extremely short range remote operation. This little monster however is better than them. Using the latest in computer and communications technology, I've given this thing a super-encrypted radio link that operates on ultra high frequencies for a much-reduced chance of it being hacked. The hull is made of a new composite of titanium and Kevlar making it resistant to up to 20mm rounds. The tracks can withstand up to a fifty-cal round."
Hawk held up his hand halting his recitation. "Whoa, hold on. Go back to the control system. What's the range like and how is it operated?"
"The UHF system is the same as that used by TV sets, whilst it can be blocked by hills or large buildings, it's got a range of around four to five miles. In fact, part of the control system is a TV camera to relay imagery back to the operator," Gears explained. He pointed to the camera on the turret. "The camera is strictly visual light, but there's a FLIR camera here," he flipped open a small panel, "which is usually covered up to protect it. The operator controls it via a rugged laptop using the keyboard and a small flip-up control stick."
"You steer this thing like a video game?" Hawk asked.
"Essentially, yes," Gears answered. "Anyone who's played, I dunno, a Need For Speed or Test Drive game could easily drive this thing. The control stick is used to steer the turret with a trigger switch on the front for the gun and a thumb switch on the back to fire the grenade launcher. The vehicle?s controlled by standard keys, W to go forward, S to reverse, D turn right and A to turn left. A couple of other buttons can be used to activate the small lights on the front, the FLIR camera and if needed, can fire out either a single smoke grenade or a flash-bang."
Hawk moved closer and looked over the vehicle. Mounted on the turret was the recognisable shape of an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Behind the two cameras, were small silos, which Hawk realised were obviously the mounts for the two grenades. At the front of the vehicle?s main hull was a larger, shorter barrel. Behind it partially visible was the rotary drum of a multi-shot grenade launcher.
"Is that a SAW?" he asked, to confirm what he thought.
"Yes, the 7.62mm light machine-gun is the largest weapon it can mount. It could also be fitted with an M16 assault rifle, M40 sniper rifle or the M240 LMG." Gears indicated a part of the turret. "The ammo is in the turret in a special belt feeder, carrying a total of two hundred rounds. The gun is limited to firing in five-round bursts to both conserve ammo and to mitigate against overheating the barrel."
Gears moved around the workbench and pointed to the grenade launcher barrel. "MM1 multi-shot grenade launcher. It's a fixed mount so it fires straight ahead, but it gives the unit that little bit of added firepower, ideal for blowing off doors or clearing an enemy gun-nest or engaging a bunker." He indicated the hull of the vehicle. "It's protected by the armoured hull, and is loaded with six rounds."
"What's the power plant?" Hawk asked.
"Standard 12 volt car battery. Drives the tracks and provides power to the turret and the cameras. The battery's readily swappable and has the advantage that it produces minimal heat, considerably lowering the vehicle's IR signature and it barely makes any noise. Both quite handy for a covert recon platform, right?"
Hawk nodded. "Okay, I take it you want to put it through its paces?"
"Yeah, I heard you had a group of Joes going to Yuma Proving Ground for some training. I want to take this puppy along and test it out."
Hawk nodded, "Fine, but I'll be telling the Joes in question to provide a complete report on it. For unbiased opinions."
Gears nodded. "Fine."
"Report to Major Storm in the motor pool at oh-nine hundred tomorrow."
Gears saluted and Hawk left.
The following morning, Gears entered the motor pool before 09:00, pushing the unmanned vehicle on a flat trolley. He found a corner to wait in as the other Joes began to arrive. Finally, Major Storm approached him.
"Gears, I presume?" The Major asked.
The inventor nodded and saluted. Major Storm returned the salute. "Over here," he added, curtly.
The officer led him over to where several vehicles were waiting to be moved up to the surface level via an elevator. Various Joes were leaning against them, some Gears vaguely recognised.
"This is Rampage," Storm began, gesturing to a lean, Black guy in a light brown outfit, a ski mask in his hand. "He's driving the Striker. That's Side Track, a new Ranger on the team. He'll ride with Rampage."
Side Track raised his hand in a brief wave.
"Next we have Cross Country, driving the HAVOC and Heavy Duty, who'll man the guns."
Gears nodded, "Hi, guys." He'd met both men before the Joes had been closed down.
"I'll be driving the truck, where we'll have Mirage, Leatherneck and Bazooka." Mirage was a Joe Gears had yet to meet. He was blonde haired, with goggles on his forehead, wearing camouflage utilities. He was cradling an M249 SAW in his hands. He'd met Bazooka and Leatherneck before.
"Bringing up the rear in the Armadillo, Thunderwing. New tank driver."
Thunderwing looked vaguely familiar, Gears thought, like they'd met before. He was dressed in green coveralls, with a helmet in his hand. Short brown hair covered his head.
"Alright, get your damn toy on the truck and let's mount up!" Major Storm said.
Leatherneck and Bazooka helped Gears load the UGV aboard and then took seats near the front of the truck, whilst Mirage watched with interest as Gears opened up the bag carrying the control unit and began running tests.
Gears noticed Mirage's attention as the truck rumbled forward on to the lift.
"What's up, Staff Sergeant?" Gears asked.
"Nothing, sir," Mirage replied. "Just curious about the device, sir."
"Sit yourself down, Sergeant and I'll show you how it works. Might even fire up the sim programme and let you take a try."
Mirage grinned like a child in a toy store and sat down.
Several hours later, the convoy was still wending its way to the Yuma Proving Ground along the back-roads of Arizona as Leatherneck was taking a turn at the simulation programme for the UGV. Mirage had proved adept at the controls and now Leatherneck was taking a turn to prove to Gears anyone could use it.
Suddenly, the Joes in the truck heard the scream of incoming fire.
"Mortars!" yelled Leatherneck and Bazooka in near unison. The truck picked up speed as the explosions sounded somewhere near by.
In the AWE Striker at the front of the convoy, Side Track was holding the dash with one hand and yelling into the radio with the other.
"Taking fire! Taking fire! Mortars left side, on the hill! Incoming fire!" he yelled as another shell arced overhead and detonated in the sandy ground.
"Stop yelling in the radio and return fire!" Rampage ordered. "We've got a 40mm gun on the top, use the damn thing!"
Side Track quickly dropped the radio handset and grabbed the small control unit, which allowed the light vehicle's gun to be used by someone in the seats. The Ranger swivelled the gun around and fired off three return shots in the general direction of the mortar firing points.
The shells exploded among the rocks, seconds later, 40mm cannon fire from the Armadillo mini-tank began ripping across the hillside as Thunderwing opened fire.
Suddenly anti-tank rockets rippled out of four different positions on the hillside, Rampage accelerated before throwing the AWE Striker jeep into a power-slide turn to avoid one of the missiles. Another slammed into the side of the HAVOC, the assault vehicle's armour absorbing much of the hit, as Cross Country accelerated to try to avoid the third. The fourth missile flashed over Thunderwing's head, causing the tank driver to reflexively duck as he swerved the tank off the road.
Both Thunderwing and Side Track began firing into the hills, even as Major Storm tried to avoid more anti-tank missiles and mortar shells. One shell hit the road near the truck, causing the officer to swerve, to avoid the detonation. The truck rumbled off the road and back on as the major fought for control. An anti-tank missile struck the HAVOC's forward articulated tracks. The tank-style treads were shredded by the missile. The HAVOC quickly ground to a halt.
Heavy Duty didn't hesitate to throw himself out of the open gunner's seat atop the vehicle and scramble off the vehicle as three more rockets hit the immobilised HAVOC. Cross Country quickly opened the canopy, which had starred with the impact of shrapnel, and scrambled free. Both Joes ducked behind the bulk of the vehicle as automatic weapons fire began to rain down on the HAVOC.
"I think we really ought to reconsider using the HAVOC," Heavy Duty said to Cross Country in a remarkably calm voice. "The main armament doesn't traverse, the gunner is incredibly exposed to hostile fire and the canopy is frankly a bullet magnet"
Cross Country's face flushed, he was very attached to the big hunk of iron, but then he seemed to calm down. He shrugged, "There was talk the Mean Dog was supposed to be the replacement, but the damn thing was plagued with problems with the articulation system. There was also talk of replacing it with the Persuader, with the laser cannon replaced by a conventional gun." He shook his head. "Neither idea ever happened."
Thunderwing continued to lay down fire at every firing point he could, but there fact was, he was running low on ammo and there were too many positions. He instead steered the Armadillo across to the HAVOC, slipping behind it.
"Get on the back," he ordered Heady Duty and Cross Country. "Let's get out of here!"
Before the three could move out, the Striker took a near-hit and was flipped over, before gunfire shredded the truck's forward wheels.
Thunderwing hunkered down in the Armadillo's cockpit. "Major, you copy?" he radioed. "The HAVOC and Striker are immobilised and you've lost your left front wheel."
"I read you, Lieutenant," Major Storm answered. "What's your status?"
"Low on ammo, taken two hits to my armour, but still running. I'm positioned behind the HAVOC, with Heavy Duty and Cross Country."
There was a brief pause.
"I just ordered Mirage to radio for help," Major Storm said after a moment. "We're being jammed. Short-range radio only."
Seconds later, Bazooka and Mirage scrambled out the right side of the truck. Mirage, carrying his M249 SAW, looked angry. Bazooka had his Carl Gustav recoilless rifle over his shoulder and a small bag of reloads.
Mirage took up a firing position and began laying down suppression fire. Seconds later, Leatherneck leaped from the back of the truck, carrying a medical kit, before scurrying across to the AWE Striker. As Leatherneck ran, Bazooka fired his Carl Gustav toward a group of rocks where several muzzle flashes could be seen.
The Marine reached the Striker, which was leaning to the right on its side. Side Track and Rampage were sitting next to the jeep. The Ranger was holding his M4 carbine, whilst Rampage was holding his Colt pistol in his hands. Leatherneck dropped next to them. Rampage had pulled off his balaclava, Leatherneck noticed. A gash decorated his forehead.
"You need a dressing on that," he commented. Leatherneck opened the med kit and pulled one out.
"Any help on the way?" Side Track asked. "Our radio was totalled."
