Road Fury

The quiet streets of Abad Santos was disturbed by the powerful engine of an armored ten-wheeler Nu-Bishi cargo truck that carried multiple contrabands smuggled into the docks of Old Manila Harbor, which contained paraphernalias normally used for alco-petrol manufacture. Its destination was the garage of Biochemica Research Inc., whose current project was directed at production of a so-called "cutting-edge natural oil" but in fact was just another synthetic fuel like the others in market, only with a new name.

The Elected Sherrifs deployed at the docks were easily paid, allowing the corporate whores and the syndicate goons protecting the shipment to move the goods from point A to point B. The Minor Police Units attempted to intervene but were shot dead by the corrupt Sherrifs.

Surveillance Drones hovering beneath the darkened clouds of the sky had already detected the truck entering through the borders of Neo Tondo. Due to the heavy presence of enemy corporations, the cargo truck diverted its original path towards the road they are currently travelling now. The Enclave Authority watched through the eyes of the Drones in question. They soon deployed interlopers to stop the smugglers' progress.

Numerous citizens from informal settler's areas were surprised by the noise. It was just their first time to see such a foreign vehicle paying their area a visit. They looked so ignorant that they started to cheer at the sight of the truck, which they mistook for a public parade in process.

When the convoy finally left Abad Santos and arrived at Blumentritt beside the defunct Light Rail Transit Line, the scenery abruptly changed from crowded to a ghost town. In the further distance, lights from the nearest civilization could be seen. The driver of the cargo truck was relieved as he could not wait to get out of the desolate area. He peeked at the rear view mirror, paranoia slightly clung in his mind as he tapped his sleeping companion beside him.

"Hey, how far are we?" The driver asked; his companion grunted and looked out of the windshield. Still night.

"Fuck...does the sun ever shine here?" He asked through sleepy eyes. He lifted his smartphone to his face and checked the real-time map. "Still far, maybe an hour and a half before we get to the Quiapo Zone."

"Alright then--"

"Johnny, have we picked up a tail?" His companion asked this time as he pointed at two pairs of headlights to the left.

The driver craned his neck and saw that they are being followed by two vehicles. He almost scream when he saw another pair to the other side. He quickly snatched the radio on his dashboard to alert the security occupants of the cargo truck.

"Shit, we're being followed!" He said. "Bones, we got company!"

Outside the truck, a quartet of armored Rhinos followed them at equal speed, carrying full Flatliner Teams. Behind, Holoshifters riding in tandem tailed closely while another biker squad were farther ahead, away from the driver's view. Above, an aero-cargo craft carrying a Bodydropper Crew hovered at a deploying range, ready to insert the Raven's Alakdan.

They were now at the mercy of the Armed Forces of New Manila. Any second now, the full might of the Enclave Authority will fall upon them. From the cupola of one of the Rhinos, Flatliner Alvarez was seen, concluding his reloading action. The other Flatliner Commanders were aiming from the roofs of their armored vehicles, ready to exchange gunfire against whoever's inside.

"Surrender now and live!" The loud speakers issued from the aero-cargo craft could be heard but the instruction fell on deaf ears. The pilot repeated the same command.

The Nu-Bishi truck carried three large unmarked cargos that it more looked like a train than anything else. In response to the Enclave agents' command, the second cargo suddenly parted open and spat out syndicate speedpunkers with ronin ninjas on board. The dark red clad riders were armored in flak reactive exoskeletons which, at the whim of their users, would allow them to cloak from view in a limited degree. The same effect would also happen if a round had hit them. the suit will automatically engage the cloak, which could allow them to escape.

Good thing, they were on motorcycles.

Alvarez turned at the trio of speedpunkers tailing them. The back ramp of the Rhino parted open to reveal more Flatliners manning a Bishamon-FMJ rapidfire artillery propped in a tripod. The Flatliners opened fire at separate targets, lighting up speedpunkers in a series of bright orange detonations that illuminated the dark area momentarily. He celebrated the temporary victory with a mechanical laugh, which abruptly died when multiple bullets ricocheted against his chest and the roof of the Rhino.

Above the cargos, syndicate ninjas equipped with the same type of armor fired upon him and the Flatliner Commander on the other Rhino. They both turned and returned fire at them. His targets, upon receiving rounds to their bodies, disappeared in a bright flash and returned fire from random directions. The Flatliner set his rifle on full auto and fired in an arc.

"Let's see if your shit fancy moves can dodge this!" Alvarez yelled as his Bushido-Steel spoke and spat led at the receiving end. Bodies tumbled and fell to the running road, some of which were ran over by Rhinos at the opposing side. The syndicate ninjas were devastated, but corporate goons in silver tactical vests and enhanced with a pair of black cybernetic "gun-linked" arms made themselves known from the second cargo.

A quick scan from Alvarez's cyberoptics had indicated that the corporate whores were equipped with armor piercing rifles with explosive tips. This would spell end for them all. But to their luck, the Holoshifters riding with them had took action. The riders' passengers boarded the second cargo; the scene was mirrored on the other side of the truck. The corporate goons opened fire but the Holoshifters drew their Fireblades and began slicing bullets in midair.

Perdiz laughed; the corpo soldiers before them were screaming in fear. He struck and swung in intricate and elaborate movement coupled with steady footworks that indicated veterancy in what he does. The other Holoshifters did the same; not one bullet even touched them.

When the corporate soldiers had ran out of bullets, the Holoshifters charged and slaughtered them mercilessly, their cries were drowned by static as mechanical vocal cords were severed by high-temperature blades.

Above, syndicate Battle Walkers emerged from the front cargo. There were three of them, sporting the colors of their faction, which was the same as the speedpunk ninjas earlier. They raised their chainguns at the Rhinos and the aero-cargo craft above, and opened fire. Alvarez was forced to duck; a gaping hole could be seen on the roof of their vehicle.

The aero-cargo swerved in an effort to avoid the bullets while it descend on the top of the truck to deploy the Raven's Alakdan. One of the enemy Bodydroppers pointed at the disembarking Enclave Battle Walkers, which prompted the attackers to focus their attention at the unwanted guests. The aero-cargo craft lifted up and sped ahead of the convoy, entering the urbanized street of Dimasalang.

Citizens below them cheered and screamed in fear at the sight of Bodydroppers approaching one another in an aggressive manner on the top of a speeding cargo truck that, to their eyes, also looked alien. Some even started whipping out their smartphones to upload it live on SocMed feeds. The illuminated environment was disorienting for the combatants at first, after spending a few minutes in a very dark road, but they finally regained their senses.

Raven treaded forward, his Battle Walker's fists were raised and clenched. The enemy Bodydropper approached and launched the first punch. Raven raised the left arm of his Walker and lowered its head at the same time to protect it from the attack. Static washed across his viewing screen when the knuckles made contact and the impact shook the cockpit compartment. He launched his Walker's right fist upward; the mechanical hand slammed against the skull of the opposing Battle Walker.

Raven reacted quickly and landed a kick at the chest of his enemy. His right free hand drew a Fireblade that looked more like a small knife in his Walker's hand. The syndicate Bodyropper pulled out a Chrome-12 heavy pistol and thrust it at Raven in pointblank range. Raven stepped inside his guard and sliced his enemy's arm in half. It clattered on the roof of the truck before falling down to the speeding road. Blood sprayed out of the amputated part of the Battle Walker.

With a grin, the Enclave Bodydropper pointed the tip of his blade at the neck of the syndicate goon and slit his throat with a quick motion. He sent his palm against the chest of the dead Bodydropper, which clattered against the roof of the truck. As the Enclave and syndicate Bodydroppers engaged one another in a dangerous melee, Raven simply watched the dead body before it fell to the side. He walked towards the roof of the truck's cabin with a circular device at hand.

"Engaging Clampers." Raven quietly said and attached it below him. The truck gradually ground to a halt. The pursuers also stopped to apprehend the remaining smugglers on board. The Enclave Battle Walkers had no intentions of letting their syndicate counterparts live. As the last shot rang, the executed Bodydropper fell to the road with a thud.

Then peace settled.

The soldiers of the Enclave Authority disembarked from their vehicles. The smugglers were led to some alley and a few loud shots were heard. Raven glanced at the cloud-covered sky and wondered when will all the madness finally end?