WCGW Chpt 120

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==Chapter 120 - What Could Go Wrong==
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23 May 3043
Wokha (Former Outworlds System)
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The massive door was 10 meters thick, 20 meters wide and 20 meters tall and took every bit of 5 minutes to fully open the corresponding sized tunnel. Those that had not been on Joshua stared at the brightly lit tunnel now clearly visible, while those that had been on Joshua traded high fives amongst themselves. Captain Harold Croyle advanced down the "entrance" ramp until he could see all the way down the tunnel itself. Every 10 meter or so, on either side of the brightly lit tunnel he could clearly see small half circle dome hanging from the ceiling, a shiny black in color. They had not been on the Joshua tunnel entrance. He stood up and walked back up the ramp to where Colonel David Mitchell stood.
"This tunnel entrance is different than the one on Joshua. That was a cache site, this was an active base, I actually think we should let a Battlemech lead us inside. Call it a funny feeling." Captain Harold Croyle said
"If that is what you think we should do, then that is what we will do." Colonel Mitchell replied reaching for a hand radio "Colonel Woodall, please send a Battlemech inside that tunnel."
It only took a couple minutes for a Wolfhound WLF-2 to reach the site from it's position on the large perimeter and enter the tunnel itself. As it entered the tunnel, the base security system scanned the Battlemech for an IFF signal, not getting a SLDF code in response, it triggered the the base's defense systems. Each small dome contained a trio of small pulse lasers, while at the far end of the tunnel, larger turrets that had been recessed into the walls now popped out, one on each side that contained four medium pulse lasers. In seconds, the WLF-2 Wolfhound was staggering back from the massive barrage of fire it was receiving, once back outside, the firing stopped and the Wolfhound, it's armor in tatters retreated further back up the ramp.
"Holy shit, now what do we do?" Colonel Mitchell asked
"Some sort of active defensive system. Back on Inner End, I read up on anything and everything I could find on SLDF forts or what they called Castles. There were citations about troops coming under fire when entering a former SLDF base. It was a hunch, but better that Wolfhound gets beat down some and not us. We can always try and force our way inside." Captain Harold Croyle replied
First Lieutenant Nathan Davis walked over "That was an impressive display. But, I think I have an idea."
"Well, don't just stand there, spit it out Davis." Colonel Mitchell said
"Have Colonel Woodall bring his Thunderbolt over here. We know it was once a SLDF Battlemech, even if it's own IFF code is changed, the onboard computer still stores the old codes. Maybe it will recognize one of it's own and not fire. I can ride the jump seat inside. Get to the computer and maybe shut down the defenses." First Lieutenant Davis replied
Another radio call was made "Colonel Woodall, need you and your Thunderbolt over here."
When Lieutenant Colonel Woodall arrived, a quick briefing was held and First Lieutenant Davis climbed aboard. Strapping himself securely to the fold down jump seat he said "Just walk inside, Colonel. I need to find the security computer."
Lieutenant Colonel Woodall throttled up his TDR-5Sb model Thunderbolt to a walk and entered the entrance tunnel, but he was ready to pull back at the first sign of danger. The base security system again scanned the Battlemech only this time the Battlemech's IFF returned a SLDF code in response. Already past the point where the Wolfhound had been fired on, Lieutenant Colonel Woodall continued down the bright tunnel until they reached the end. Where the tunnel ended, it opened up into a massive chamber, the tunnel itself centered on the long edge at least 300 meters wide, the far wall was 100 meters away. He could see multiple tunnels branching off the large chamber.
"Pop the hatch, Colonel, it's time for me to earn my pay." First Lieutenant Davis said
"What if the base kills you, then what the hell do we do?" Lieutenant Colonel James Woodall replied as he popped the cockpit hatch.
"I doubt it scans an individual, we do not broadcast a IFF signal. But I always have one of the security keys with me. Maybe it works the same way." First Lieutenant Davis said as he exited the now kneeling Thunderbolt. Once on the ground, First Lieutenant Nathan Davis took a minute to look around. He knew from the Joshua cache that the SLDF labelled everything and it only took him a few minutes to spot the laser engraved "Security" sign on a steel door beside a large plasti steel window that looked out on the large chamber. He had also take note of quite a few skeletons laying around, some still had scraps of clothing on them. It sent a shudder thru him.
The door was locked but he pulled out his security "key" and inserted it into the small slot. The door slid open effortlessly and he slipped inside. Four skeletons were inside, two still slumped over the long desk facing monitors, though the monitors were active, they were badly blurred. As he moved deeper into the room, he was watching where he stepped to avoid the skeletal remains he spotted another security key. He carefully removed it from the skeletal hand that grasped it. He pulled out the dust covered keyboard and blew the dust off it, he then wiped the computer display off. Already displayed on the screen was:
<<<--6 June 2765-->>>
<<<--Security Protocol Activated-->>>
<<<--Full Lock Down Initiated-->>>
<<<--Automated Defenses Activated-->>>
During his cleaning, he spotted the small slot and inserted the security "key" he had just recovered. After playing with all the other recovered SLDF computers, he had a firm grasp of how to navigate the various systems and while this was a new one, it was not that much different. It only took him a few minutes to deactivate the bases automated defenses. He pulled out a small radio "Davis to Mitchell. Come on in, Colonel, you have got to see this for yourself."
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