Do or Die

Do or Die is a short story written by Jamie Ibson, published in We Dare: An Augumented Humanity Anthology, from Chris Kennedy Publishing. The opening to the story overlaps slightly with conclusion of The Unlamented Death of Micah Carillon.

After rescuing the kidnapped Ridians, the Myrmidons are thrown a soiree in their honour upon their return to Rideau. Duke Sterling North, the Queen's Ridian representative, was essential in securing the writ of execution for Carillon, and thanks Bellerophon for the quick and safe return of the hostages. He introduces Bellerophon to Dan Lauzon, a Vice President with Apex Energy, a MegaCorporation based in Rideau.

The following morning, an anonymous fixer, nicknamed Mr. Johnson, approaches the Myrmidons with a contract. They must cross seven systems into the failing Republica Del Escobar and travel to the capital city, Magdalena, on the capital planet of Montoya. Once there, they must raid Paragon Savage Genetics' arcology for paydata, reach the Apex Energy superscraper, extract all Ridian and AE staff on site, and demo the building before fleeing.

Upon arrival, the Myrmidons land at the Magdalena starport, clear through security, and drive their M.A.T.T. to PSG. While en route, a vehicle veers off the road and crashes, something that shouldn't be possible with modern steering assist. The driver and passenger both show signs of poisoning. Other vehicles crash off-road as well, but the Myrmidons detect nothing on their sensors. Local news agencies and livestreams confirm there is some kind of mass casualty event downtown, where civilian rebels clashed with government forces, and the same holds true at the PSG arcology. Outside PSG's towering jungle pyramid, they find rhino and lobo genies dead outside, and no opposition within. They force their way inside and Nephilim extracts the paydata they need.

As they exit the arcology, Kratos is ambushed and knocked prone by one surviving PSG genie, a cat hybrid named Selina "Ocelot" Linares. Ocelot advises she was training at a facility inside the arcology when everyone around her dropped, unconscious and dying, but she was in her sealed rebreather suit and is fine. She begs the Myrmidons take her with them, as she's helpless otherwise. The Myrmidons reluctantly agree.

Upon arrival at the Apex Energy they are greeted by Lt. Wayne Keeso of the Queen's First Lancers in ScoutBot armor. The Ridians inside are fine, and the Myrmidons hurriedly arrange their extract from the city. Ben Faolain pulls them off the rooftop landing pad in the Pegasus, leaving just the Lancers, Myrmidons, and Ocelot on the ground.

Kratos and Thor finish wiring the superscraper for demolition - it will collapse into a nearby, uninhabited park - when radar indicates more government forces are on their way. The ScoutBots can keep up with the M.A.T.T. and everyone flees together. Kratos demolishes the scraper at just the right moment, dropping the building on some of the incoming MATTs and shrapnel taking out two vertols. One vertol and a Santa Muerte WarBot are all that's left to pursue them. When the WarBot kills two of the Lancers with a missle swarm, the Myrmidons stop and fight. Ocelot proves her worth when she single-handedly takes out half a squad of Black Jaguar troops from ambush, mid-firefight, but the WarBot is too dangerous. Kratos partly disables it with an explosive, and charges it to kill the pilot with a shaped charge. He forgets, however, that his energy shield was damaged in the battle, and has no way to shelter from the explosion. The WarBot picks him up and rips him in half, just as he detonates the charge.

The story concludes with Bellerophon writing a letter to Kratos - "Karl Jacobou's" - parents, advising them that their son has been killed in action, and paying out his shares in the company, with a note that half the money, more than 6 million Yen, is going to the Children's Hospital - Cybernetics Division on Sparta IV. Bellerophon apologizes that they cannot be there in person for Kratos' funeral, but Escobar has placed a bounty on their heads, and the Myrmidons are on the run.