The wind had grown silent.  Nothing stirred on the open plain.  The
three foot tall grass stopped swaying, and even the insects stopped their
chirping. Something was wrong in this peaceful scene.  Something was about
to happen.
    "What do you think it is, Major?" asked one of the young soldiers.
    "I don't know.  Someone must be planning an attack on us.  Johnson,
turn on the main security systems.  I want the fences, barriers, and all
other laser systems on line in five minutes.  Millan, get the rest of the
guard suited up and ready for action.  Also, get the mechs on line.  I want
at least ten of 'em ready in five.  Okay men, let's get to work."  Major
Striker turned back to the plain, scanning the field with infra-red
binoculars.  Nothing was in his view.
    From behind a hill a huge head suddenly rose up, and a blast, sounding
like an airhorn, sounded from it.  More robotic heads popped up,
completely surrounding the compound.  The first mech, an Excaliber MK VI,
rose to the top of the hill, it's armored body glinting in the sun.  Fully
36 feet high, the robot dwarfed the rows of borgs that climbed to the top
of the hill next to it.  It's shoulder missle pods flipped open, and scores
of medium range plasma missles flew towards the Fort.  Explosions rocked the
compound as rubble rained down upon the men.
    "Get the mechs out there NOW!" shouted the Major.  As he said this, a
Spartan mech launched a volley of reflex multi-nuclear warheads at the
walls, blasting huge gaping holes in the twenty foot thick concrete walls.
The gates opened, and the Fort's own mechs stomped out.  Ten fully armored
M.A.C. II's dubbed "Monsters", walked out upon the battlefield.  They raised
their 40cm automatic cannons, and blasted the Excaliber into fragments.  The
men on the walls cheered.  Half of the M.A.C.'s turned towards the Spartan,
and fired blasts from their tri-laser cannons, blowing the torso off of it.
The legs stumbled about, splurting oil and smoke, and finally collasping on
the ground. At this display of power, the men rushed out to attack the
borgs. After ten minutes of heated combat, the enemy was devastated.  The
borgs had been ripped apart by the Fort's artillary, and were finished off
by the troops. The mechs hadn't stood a chance against the "Monsters".
After years of careful planning, the attack had failed in less than
half an hour.  The remaining mechs were ordered to fall back and
retreat, and cannon fire followed them.
    The Fort's army turned back and headed into the compound, the huge
gates swinging shut with an enormous clang.  The Major inspected the
battlefield, and received the report from the mech pilots on the damages
sustained.
    "Excellent work, men.  Let them come, but nobody can break our defenses.
Nobody can stand a chance of entering FORT KNOX!"

Creeping Death [CHAOS CT] '93