14: War of the Worlds

The huge machine lurched, as the high up joint Dust had targeted sheared, the mechanisms inside the body for maintaining balance attempted to compensate. Unfortunately Starbolt had begun weakening the joints on one of the other legs and that failed to take the strain or weight and shattered. Massive shards of the second leg flew through the air, an uprooted tree driving by focussed hurricane force winds collided with one of the impromptu metal spears before it skewered Starbolt.
The swirling form of sand that was Dust swirled and materialised beside Starbolt for a high five. Shakeel's toothy grin was evident as he shook sand from his mass of curly hair, it was immediately reabsorbed by his body.
Firestar and Wind Dancer kept up their assault from the air against the bulk of the machine which had fallen behind buildings a couple of streets away so it was out of Starbolt's view.
A gore splattered Colossus strolled up shaking the viscera of the weed off her hands. "Welcome to the fight. We have to survive four hours in this scenario."
"This is Tom's second time, he is designated leader," Shakeel (Dust) said. "And he needs a win. We aim to get him one."
Alchemy, aka Tom, came jogging up, gave Ethan (Starbolt) a smile and a welcome hello.
"What are we going to do with comms down Al?" Shakeel asked.
Tom tapped behind his ear, and everyone got a response. "Must be localised jamming. Firestar, Dancer you see anything?"
"One sec," came Angelica's (Firestar) voice, "getting some altitude for a look see."
"This one is down and burning," Sophie (Wind Dancer) said. There was a huge crash as a warehouse collapsed. "And buried."
"We have the two machines from this one's cohort heading this way and it looks like three across the river have changed direction."
"There's a park about a kilometre that way, and a load of pretty much intact warehousing that way."
"Good intel Dust," Tom said. "Other options?"
"Fire and chaos that way," Illyana said pointing towards the river.
"Anything up top look good Firestar?"
"Shit sandwich boss."
"Language."
"Sorry boss."
"Right," Tom said, "park it is then warehouses. Star... oh wait we have two stars now. Firestar and Dancer take point and get us some where in that area of warehouses by the river."
There were clearly spoken affirmatives and the team headed out.

ROLL CALL

Thanks for your input Sam.