Chapter 373 - Dirt-Hog

Karl, Boone, and Anja were all waiting outside the garage for Afton and Josie to reveal what they'd been working on. Karl himself was tapping his foot impatiently as they'd been standing there for ten minutes now, and the other's hadn't bothered to show up yet. "This better be worth the wait, I've got better things to do you know?"

Boone just shakes his head at him, "Right."​​

"What, you don't believe me?" Karl asks.

Boone at him, "I seem to recall the last time we were in Novac... You're idea of 'things to do' included the bitch who sold my wife."

"Oh, come on. It was a mistake that anyone could make, how's I supposed to know she was a psycho..."

Ever since they'd gotten back into Novac, Boone had been taking shots at Karl for what he'd done previously... Most thought it was just fun banter, but those who knew Boone wondered if he really was angry.

Course, Boone just wanted to take the chance to tease the older man. He wasn't all that fun to be around when Afton was gone, and there was no better jape than his relationship with Jeannie May.

*DooooOOOO*

The garage doors sound out as they begin vibrating and eventually moving upwards. As it's halfway up the sound of a reactor engine hums to life, the group are forced to take steps back as something exits the garage...

It looks like a large light-blue metal box, with dark, almost black windows on the front. The front of it looks like a truck, but the rest looks like a prewar military cargo truck. Sitting forward on its roof was a peculiar looking gun that held a small brain in a jar. A piece of metal flicked up and down as if it were smelling them... Also, it seemed to be making dog noises?...

Behind the weird dog-gun was a large turret and a hatch you'd presumably exit to gain access to it. Other than that, it seemed to be plated entirely by thick metal pieces, enough so that the tires were digging into the earth from the weight.

*HOONK HOOONK!*

The door is kicked open as Afton jumps out, grinning as he gestures at the vehicle, "I present to you... Dirt-Hog! Dirt-Bird's big little brother!"

...

"Shieet, kid! That thing's a monster!" Karl exclaims, clearly surprised at the new vehicle.

Boone just nods blankly, but it was obvious to everyone present that he was equally shocked... The only one who seemed to have been expecting this was Anja, who was running a finger across the cool metal in wonder.

The doors at the very back of Dirt-Hog are kicked open as Josie gets out, "You should all take a look inside, this's where you guys'll be sitting as we travel."

They nod and poke their heads in, spotting a number of seats lining the sides and a small panel showing a sort of radar. Other than that, it seemed cooler than the outside, meaning it had some degree of air conditioning.

"I have to say... I'm impressed. The bike was surprising, but this? If you weren't already, most organizations would be hunting you down for your expertise... Imagine a whole squadron of these things driving through an army..." Karl mutters.

Afton grins, "But we haven't even gotten to the best part of the showing... Everyone get in." he says as he climbed into the driver's seat.

He drives the large vehicle to the outskirts of town where he'd previously set up a number of red-painted concrete blocks. He steps before it and has the others get out as he and Josie ready the weapons.

First, they test the K9000. The operation of the gun is a bit finicky, but that's what you get for innovation... Or something. Afton had sprayed some blood on the blocks so the gun would be able to smell them. Once it'd detected it, some dots appeared on the radar-screen in the back. Josie selects them and designates them as enemies, causing the K9000 to immediately begin firing at the concrete blocks.

.357 rounds pepper them and absolutely annihilate the one targeted. Once the K9000 is out of ammo, a mechanism drops the empty magazine, stuffs more rounds into it, before loading it again. Once the targeted concrete block is reduced to nothing but rubble, the gun stops firing, and the sound of a satisfied dog can be heard...

"That's one weird gun..." Karl mutters, looking the metal attachment that seem to mimic dog ears.

"From that 'ThinkTank' if I had to guess." Anja adds, knowing that most of the freaky shit Afton possesses is from that place.

Next was testing the .308 machine gun on the back, Josie opens the hatch on the top and grabs ahold of it, pressing a carefully hidden safety switch to activate it. Once she's done with preparation she begins firing at the nearest target, doing even more damage than the K9000 had managed.

Once the concrete blocks were pulverized into dust, Josie stops firing and looks at the group, "So... Whatdya think? Amazingly cool, or cool and amazing?" she asks with a huge grin on her face.

"Can I say terrifying?" Karl mutters, causing the others to chuckle.

"Sure you can, as long as you're polite about it." Josie says with a smirk.

She'd previously asked Afton to use .50 calibre rounds for the turret inside of .308, but he'd denied simply because the cost was far too much. They weren't poor, but using a .50 calibre machine gun for an extended period of time would most likely bankrupt them, not to mention the fact that they'd be hard-pressed to find enough ammo for it... They'd probably have to hire the entirety of the GunRunners to construct all the ammunition they'd need.

Afton gives a mock bow to everyone, "And that concludes my presentation, I'd ask for you opinion but I neither want, nor need them... Who's up for drinks?"