The hydraulic sound of the A.S.P literally tearing rock and earth asunder filled the forest. It was an odd sight, the rifle propped up against a large rock as the metallic walker was reduced to menial labour in order to excavate enough earth to force entry into the cave system. Great scoopfuls of rock and dirt were thrown behind the machine as it worked tirelessly. In just a matter of minutes it had widened the entry point considerably, making a mess of the wilderness while it was at it. With a certain smug satisfaction Higan rubbed the Mech’s palms together to brush off the dirt, and oddly manlike it re-acquired its heavy rifle in its right hand. 

“Alright, into the depths then.” He shook his head with a mock frown. “This is not one of my smarter ideas.” 

It was tough going, of course. The Mech was not huge, standing at just over twelve feet it was roughly double the height of a man, but its weapons were an added hindrance. For some distance the tunnel was just too low to allow the Mech to walk properly, so it shuffled in a humiliating fashion on its butt, fortunately able to point its weaponry down into the darkness. However, though it looked incredibly stupid, it was a machine, and so even with truly horrible form it made good ground. With each passing shuffle the tunnel widened and deepened and night vision cameras betrayed the secrets of the darkness to Higan as he and his machine descended into the lair of the Magna Pater. 

Eventually the ceiling was high enough that the Mech could walk in a slightly hunched slightly half crouched fashion. Once again, were it a man the conditions would be intolerable, but anything possible for a machine could be completed without complaint. Higan himself almost winced though in mock sympathy for his metallic ally’s joints. The going was still tough though, it was dark, there were terrible things in the cave and the path ahead wasn’t particularly clear. Higan had made the executive decision to track the creature using its blood, the only substance he expected wouldn’t be too common down in its cave system, unless it was routinely attacked by angry townsfolk. It was a good decision by all accounts, for until the Pater had reached its main cavern to feed it had been wounded and bled all the way.

Time passed slowly for the Mech as it traversed the caverns, and Higan couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to be able to find his way out again afterwards. As long as he was inside his Mech there wasn’t much to fear, he didn’t have to smell the caves, nor Slimy, after all. The Mech was not hugely behind Slimy by the time its echoing footsteps brought it to another narrow entry-way it couldn’t possibly fit through, perhaps an hour at most. However, Higan had no reason to suspect he had reached the end of his hunt, not immediately at any rate.

“Solid rock, even the A.S.P is gunna have trouble getting through that.” Higan had a tendency to vocalise everything aloud, it helped stave off loneliness and insanity on long scouting missions. Though now he was thinking about it, maybe it was just a sign he’d gone a little crazy a long time ago. He laughed at the thought. 

The solution was simple, the door wasn’t big enough, so he’d make it bigger. There was a slight clunk as the Mech, able to stand up pretty much straight in the adjacent chamber to that which he was attempting to enter, settled into a braced stance. It wasn’t necessary to brace to fire but if time wasn’t of the essence taking precautions was always wise. Then, startling in the relative silence of the cave, there was a great burst of air. Swiftly following it came a great roaring and cracking as the HEAT round impacted just inside the Pater’s chamber a little off to the right, and half the rock around the door way disintegrated into nothingness. Dust flew up into the air and fragments ricochet off the Mech’s hull and into the cave beyond. Higan whistled appreciatively.