Iron Hearts Idea (2022)

Anna Fitzgibbons awoke from her slumber to a deep rhythmic pounding.
 Thump-
 The dolls that lined the shelves of her walls rattled.
 Thump-
 Her mirror shook in the corner, and the new electric lamp flickered.
 THUMP-
 The whole house shook as dust rained down from the rafters above.
As the thumping grew louder, shockwaves rippled through her family home and through Anna’s bones. Out of a morbid curiosity, she jumped out of bed and raced to the singular window that allowed streaks of sunlight to pour in. Throwing the window open, the brown-haired girl gaped in wonder at the titanic metal monstrosity that had woken her up.
It was one of those new-fangled machines of the Prussian armored corps. A machine that thundered through the countryside on two massive hydraulic legs. It had the face of a dreadnought, and the guns to boast as if it were one. IT had to have been at least a hundred meters tall, and belched a sickly seafoam green smoke into the surrounding air.
“Must be heading for the front.” Chirped a voice behind Anna.
She squeaked and whipped around, steely blue eyes meeting the bemused grin of her older brother.
“Frederick! You know better than to sneak up on me like that!” She cried as she shoved the boy back.
Fred raised his hands defensively as another tremor shook the family’s farmhouse,  “Then don’t be so inattentive to your surroundings! If you want to be a soldier, then-”
“I know, I know! A soldier always must be aware of their surroundings…” Anna grumbled as she pushed her way past her brother. As she was about to leave her room, she turned, “Oh, and next time-Do knock, it’s never polite to intrude on a lady’s privacy.”
Frederick rolled his eyes and followed his sister down the stairs. “As the birthday queen wishes…”
Anna nearly tripped going down the ancient wooden stairs, “Birthday? My goodness, how could I have forgotten!” She raced down the stairs at the rate of a steam liner before her brother could respond.
She peeled into the living area and nearly ran into her father, who was busy setting logs into the fireplace.
“Woah-ho-ho there Anna banana! Don’t want to drop these on your toes!” Her father laughed heartily, dropping the logs into the fireplace as Anna giggled. He opened his arms and embraced his daughter. “Happy sixteenth birthday, my girl, I love ya.”
Anna returned her father’s embrace and got a kiss on the forehead in turn. Her father released her and turned around.
“Are you ready for your present, Anna?” He asked with a coy smile.
Anna squeed and clapped her hands, “Yes, yes! Oh yes!” She practically vibrated with the energy that engulfed her.
Her father smiled and walked over to the fireplace, pulling out a foot tall wooden crate that was craftily hidden behind a cluster of logs. He hauled the box over to an eagerly anxious Anna, who had plopped herself into a hand carved mahogany chair.
“Alright, my sweet, here you are!” Anna’s father huffed as he finished dragging the heavy thing, placing his hands on his sides.
Anna’s grin switched into a frown as she pouted, “But father, how am I to open this? I’d need a crowbar or-”
Her spiel was interrupted as her father procured a fire-poker and jabbed it into the top of the crate. His sly grin disarming her argument.
“Or… A fire poker… Thank you father!” Anna finished as she grabbed the iron stick with both hands, and began to unsteadily pry at the crate.
Her brother returned to the living area, eating a slice of toast with apricot jam. “ You know there’s- Oh, opening it already?”
Their father shot him a look and pressed a finger against pursed lips, silently hushing Frederick.
Fred made a motion of zipping his lips shut, and swallowed.
After some effort, Anna managed to pry some of the wooden cover off, which wasn’t an easy task for her. It seemed to be almost bolted shut!
“I think… That I… Almost… Got it!” Anna shouted gleefully as the wood let out a final resigned crack, falling to the varnished hardwood floor with a finalistic thud.
The inside of the crate revealed a tall metallic object that was nearly the size of the crate that it was encased in, albeit covered in straw.
Anna gasped as her father chuckled, and hauled it out of the crate it had come in, carefully brushing the straw off.
“Oh, thank you father!: She bounced  up and once more squeezed her father tightly.
“Do you like it, my sweet? Your brother and I saved to make sure you would get nothing but the finest craftsmanship.” Her father whispered to her as he returned the hug.
“Yes! I love it! And… Well… Thanks to you too, I guess, Freddy bear.” Anna pulled away from her father and hugged her brother, who pulled away his toast in protest, but half-hugged her with a free arm.
“Yeah, you’re welcome Anna banana.” He rolled his eyes, but smiled to himself. Their father winked at him and mouthed a silent thank you.
Anna rushed over to the object to examine it after hugging her brother. What came out of the crate looked to be a foot tall iron and steel replica of the Prussian M1919 Mechanical Laundnaught. The original being ten meters tall, and able to destroy bunkers with massive dual arm cannons, as well as being able to mow down lines of enemy soldiers with fifty caliber machine guns poised on its shoulders. It was typically piloted by three men, one man for movement, another for the cannons, and another for the machine guns. The earlier models were more cramped and seated five men, two of whom operated the reloading modules, but automatic reloading mechanisms rendered their positions obsolete.
Anna inspected every detail that she could make out and found that the craftsmanship was indeed supreme. It was clear this wasn’t just any ordinary toy. She noticed a mantrap at the top, where it looked like something went in, as well as a key on the back of the replica.
“What on Earth is this for?” She mused as she opened and closed the mantrap.
Her father picked up a can of kerosene that had been set next to the fireplace, and kneeled next to his daughter.
“That-” He started as he opened the mantrap, “Is where the kerosene is poured in.” He began to pour a modest amount of kerosene into the chamber, then stopped.
Anna stared in wonder. “So it’s an-”
“Automata, yes.” Her father finished as he set the can down. “To start it, turn the key.” He ruffled Anna’s hair and stood back.
She almost tipped the little meka over with how thrilled she was, but then carefully caressed the steel grooves of the hydraulics before coming to rest on the key. She held her breath as she turned it, and heard the tiny piston engine inside whir into life.
A small amount of smoke rose up out of the vertical exhaust as the machine clicked upright, and began to steadily trundle its way forward on its hydraulic legs. For being so small, the mini-meka sur was loud.
Anna clapped her hands in excitement, “It’s just like the real thing! Oh how I wished the cannons weren’t for show…”
“Yeah, I’m glad they are, otherwise you might blow my shin off while I’m reading the papers.” Frederick teased, crunching on the last bit of his toast and heading back into the kitchen.
Anna stared at the little behemoth as it moved about in figure-eight circles.
“I can’t wait until I can really pilot one of these beasties…”