Although the Metal Slug's moon god titanium alloy shell had kept it from taking much damage, its weight had to meet strict limits to preserve its jumping ability. Unfortunately, that meant Kraft and the others were blasted into the air.
The blast wave hurled the Metal Slug into the air. After tumbling several times, it crashed heavily to the ground, landing upside down like an overturned turtle in the huge crater it had made.
"Oh, shit!"
Caught off guard, Kraft bounced around inside the Metal Slug like a pinball. Fortunately, his Nanoweave Armor kept him from getting hurt.
"That took care of them easily enough." Baron Strucker took a sip of red wine and sighed, shaking his head. "Sacrificing a tank's all-important stability for agility. Kraft is still too young."
Baron Strucker belittled the Metal Slug to cover his embarrassment at having been stunned by it earlier.
"Tch! These guys can't play fair. They actually used AOE..."
Kraft, who had been shaken dizzy by the fall, climbed to his feet and worked the controls.
The upside-down Metal Slug wriggled, flipped itself upright, then sprang smoothly out of the crater with an effortless diving leap.
Watching all this on the surveillance feed, Baron Strucker looked as though someone had punched him, his expression twisting grotesquely.
"Bwahahahaha! A mere area attack can't do a thing to me!"
Laughing wildly, Kraft continued driving the Metal Slug toward Hydra's base.
"Deploy every powered squad! And the First and Third Special Operations Teams! Capture them all!"
Enraged by his humiliation, Baron Strucker abandoned further testing and sent out his strongest troops.
Pietro, who had long since grown impatient, rushed out first as soon as the order came. His younger sister Wanda hurried after him, while the other powered individuals began making their way toward Kraft.