Snippet #2041268

"Stressed out?" Victor asked as he entered the tent. The sole occupant was Farin, who was busy running patches through the bore of her dissembled rifle.

After finding the cotton patches came out clean, the merc finally set down her weapon to reply. "No. Just thinking about the new blood." She dipped a toothbrush in solvent and started to clean the gas tube and bolt of the rifle, wiping most of the carbon fouling from it. "The big thing is if that little slaughter was really a test. When that armor attacked most of us froze up like bugs. Those grenades were useless."

Victor winched. "Ja. I know. I think I have a stopgap solution though."

"We should have RPGs Vic," Farin sighed. "Or are we really operating without a budget?" The man's silence confirmed her question. "I guess we've been through worse shit before." Farin examined her AK as she spoke.

"Still keeping that old rifle, eh?"

"Ja. Better rifle than most of those AKMs, and I have a history with it. You know that." The furniture on the AK had been refinished several times, and there were gouges visible in the light despite restaining and repair. The recent mission had marred the flat black finish it had - it would need some more paint later. It was a big, heavy rifle that only barely fit Farin. It had been through several hands and killed a lot of people. In a sense, the weapon had gone through as much abuse and hardship as the girl who carried it. "Wouldn't mind some real antitank stuff, that said."

"I understand," Victor said distantly. If Farin was annoyed there was generally a damned good reason. "You know, one of my buddies brought up the idea of making our own antitank. We could make some Panzerfausts in house for one. Another idea is to cut down those Russkie recoiless rifles we find so often. Or make our own by converting mortar shells."

Farin stared at Victor. "Ideas won't do us much good if we don't put them to use." She replaced the gas tube and bolt into the AK, then hooked the spring guide in behind it. After slapping the bolt cover into place, she racked the rifle sharply. "I know this gun works right now, and that's what matters, mate."

"Was trying to tell you Farin - we have a few prototypes I'd like you to test out, if you have a sec."

"Hm." Farin set down her rifle and stood up. "Worth trying once."

Victor sighed in relief. "Thanks."

~~~~~~

Luce wiped the sweat from her face as she dropped the wrecked piece of armor onto the floor. Ever since they had brought back the BMP, it had been her job to get it into some working order, lest someone else take over the job and give it to another platoon. She didn't mind working on it, as she had little else to do. But it was still pretty weird compared to any car she had ever worked on. Everything was packed into it with little space for anything, like the engine bay of a German sports car, but with more grease and cheaper parts.

The shaped charge they had used to blow it open had wrecked most of the turret assembly and the feed system - Farin had said they were lucky the thing didn't just explode entirely. They would need a new turret, a new roof and definitely some interior work. Though while they were at it, Luce thought working on the engine might be a learning experience...