44 Loose!

44 'Loose!' The Big X finished its deafeningly loud ignition cycle and, piloted by the newly revived RAZERs, started to move slowly, but ominously, towards the Resistance. Peanut stood up and reached for Little Tail, but was immediately told to sit back down by Tony and Dora. ' Our orders are to make sure you're safe at all times,' said the woman.

'But Mr White and Alan must have arrived back in Chroma!' shouted Peanut. 'I'm sorry, but you can't be directly involved in combat. It's too big a risk. Reluctantly, Peanut sat down, but made sure to check that the canvas flap at the rear of the truck wasn't tied shut. Meanwhile, a panicky Rockwell picked up his dropped earbuds from the floor of the truck and put them back in just in time to hear Mrs M shout, ARCHERS, IN POSITION!' Dozens of Resistance operatives emerged from canvas- covered transporters and arranged themselves, with military precision, into a large crescent shape just ahead of the convoy. Each one was carrying a large graphite longbow and wearing a narrow quiver fully stocked with neatly drawn arrows. Then a second wave of artillery operatives appeared, carrying tins of pink and blue paint which they placed in front of each archer. A third and final wave followed, this time carrying crossbows. They knelt just behind the first wave that was now making up the front line. 'NOCK!' bellowed Mrs M. In perfect unison, the standing archers took an arrow from their quivers, loaded it on to their bowstrings, and drew them back. 'DIP!' They leaned forward at a forty-five-degree angle and

dipped the tips of the arrows into the paint tins. 'AIM!' They leaned back. 'LOOSE!' The archers let fly. The volley of colourful arrows flew high through the air, leaving a perfect arc of speckly pink and blue paint droplets in its wake. They soared past the siege tower and over the slow-moving Big X, clearing the Rainbow Lake and the crayon fence before exploding in a riot of colour against the White wall of the Spire. Peanut's heart leaped. The sight of the previously pristine building getting splattered was extremely powerful, and it restored some of the hope that had disappeared when she'd seen the Big X and RAZERs come back to life. A few seconds later, the kneeling second wave of archers stood up and, as one, moved

smoothly past the first, taking the tins of paint with them. 'NOCK!' They knelt back down and loaded their crossbows. 'DIP!' They dipped their bolts in the paint. 'AIM!' This time they kept their bows low. 'LOOSE!' The paint-covered bolts flew horizontally across the open concrete plain and hit their targets hard, smashing into the Big X and the RAZER platoons, turning them a fetching shade of pinky blue and knocking several of the robots clean over. 'Nice shooting!' shouted Little-Bit. 'It didn't work though,' said Rockwell. Look!' Sure enough, the gigantic Big X was still advancing menacingly towards them, flanked by the remaining RAZERs on either side. 'INFANTRY, TARGET TO YOUR FRONT. ENGAGE! AIR DIVISION, ENGAGE BIG X! TAKE HIM OUT!' ordered Mr M, a more urgent tone to his voice. Another deployment of brave soldiers raced forward and started to paint several enormous spiky anti-tank obstacles

known as Czech hedgehogs. They were working a few metres in front of the archers, who were preparing to fire another high volley at the Spire. Suddenly the children felt a strong downdraught as three Resistance helicopters from the rear of the convoy flew over them. They hovered directly over the advancing Big X and started to drop a barrage of ink bombs. Several RAZERs were disabled by the inky explosions, but the huge vehicle was unaffected. It just kept rolling forwards on its gigantic tracks. 'They'll never stop it,' howled Rockwell. 'We're done for!' 'Nonsense!' shouted Peanut, who was itching to get involved in the action. 'We just need to strike harder ourselves. Surely attack is the best form of defence!' 'Don't forget the trebuchet and the siege towers, said Little-Bit, surveying the battleground. 'We've still got those and they're ready to go!'