New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
5 April 3052 (Day 5 of the Invasion of New
"Viper incoming, Star Commander." said the deck officer on the Clan dropship Black Barracks.
"I wonder why Star Colonel Anu has sent an envoy in person rather than simply contacted us via radio." said the Star Commander. "The rebellion must be going poorly if she can afford to dispatch a mech to deliver this message to us. I will be greeting our guest. You have the bridge."
"Aye, Commander."
The Star Commander took the elevator down to the cargo bay of the dropship, where the newly arrived mechwarrior had just arrived.
"Star Captain, what brings you out to the dropships?"
"Rebels have captured several of our communications stations. I have come to code new encryption into the dropship’s communicators."
"Our communications have been breached. Then, the uprising goes against the Star Colonel?"
“Neg, these rebel scum are tenacious, crafty, and clever. But we are winning. Do not fear for that."
"That is good news. This way."
"You said that about the raid on the munitions too as I recall. We didn’t lose a single rebel in that endeavor."
"The Clans’ll spot an infiltrator instantly. They’re too alien for us to mimic them. He’ll never even get close to the dropships’ communications arrays to knock them out."
"Miranda’s spend a great deal of time with Clanners. He knows how they behave. If this works, we’re cutting the 5th Battle Cluster’s hamstrings. No way they can be an effective fighting force with our rebellion and the Star Swords on them, with no means of escape."
Daisaku Hayakusora moved up with the pair. "Or means to reinforce their friends elsewhere on world." Daisaku looked out across the snow plain at the massive dropships nearly a kilometer away. "If we pull this off, we remove one cluster from the game."
"Well, looks like he pulled off the first dropship, now he’s going to the other." said Sebastian.
"This might actually work."
"Oh, ye of little faith." said Daisaku. "We didn’t become the premier anti-Clan fighting force without a little skill. Just give Juan a few minutes."
After those few minutes, Juan switched to the third and last dropship. A few minutes after that, he came out and headed for his mech.
"Wait until he gets in and then attack." said Sebastian. "Now!"
A force of nearly 100 rebels erupted from the snow and rushed towards the dropship. The rebels spread out into small 6 man squads, making it nearly impossible for the surprised dropship gunners to target them.
It took the rebels nearly four minutes to reach the dropships. Juan charged the rebels in the Dragonfly, pretending to intercept them, but just before he reached them, he fired his jump jets and rocketed back within the dropships. He opened fire, blasting holes in the dropships’ armor and drawing attention to himself. That bought time for the rebels as the gunners retrained on the easier-to-hit mech.
The rebels rushed the dropships, opening up with their hand weapons on the handful of dropship personnel outside in the cold. The defenseless Clanners were cut down almost immediately, leaving the access ramps in place and hatches open. Five squads stormed each dropship.
Juan rocketed his nearly destroyed mech against the surface of one of the Overlords. He ejected clear as the mech smashed alongside the huge dropship and exploded. Daisaku, who was about to enter the Union class, swore.
"Damnit, I stole that for him and he has to go destroy it."
"Quit complaining and fight." said Kacey, letting off a burst from her rifle into a Clan guard.
"Fine. Watch me." Daisaku twisted around with his Rouynex submachine gun and held down the trigger as he ran up the corridor. Every time a Clanner popped out to open fire, Daisaku cut them down. Kacey sat there dumbfounded.
“You are insane…and damn good.”
“I’ll take lucky over good any day.” Daisaku tossed the gun across his shoulder.
"Come on, the bridge can’t be far."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
5 April 3052 (Day 5 of the Invasion of New
"Sir, they appear to be continuing their retreat into the city." said Leftenant Fredericks. "Two trinaies."
"The 305th has lost its will to fight us in open ground." commented Kou Fairchild. "Mike, what do you suppose our chances are if we fight them in the streets?"
"Not good. They’ll even the odds somewhat." answered Mike Koren.
"Then we hit them now when they are on the move. Go!"
"Alpha One, I’ve got a Black Hawk coming in close." said one of Mike’s lancemates.
"I see him," said Mike. "Team up on him and we’ll take him. He should have a hard time fighting one-on-two."
"Roger."
Mike’s company, leading the attack of 3rd Battalion on the city of
Mike cut loose with twenty LRMs on the Black Hawk. Twin lasers from Alpha Two’s Ryoken burned across the armor of the Falcon mech. Alpha Three joined in, firing a lethal Class 20 autocannon at it as well. The Ryoken blew apart from the withering barrages of three Swords mechs.
"Good shooting, boys. Keep that intimidation factor up." said Kou.
The rest of the Black Hawk’s star moved to cover their trinary’s retreat. Alpha Three’s Ryoken C fired its heavy autocannon again, shredding through the light armor of a Falcon Dragonfly. Mike’s LRM launcher lobbed another volley, not aimed at any mech in particular. The Swarm rounds it carried showered the enemy star with submunitions, sanding armor off of every mech there. Alpha Two’s Ryoken Prime fired its lasers at a Falcon Grendel, almost cutting the mech in half.
Seeing their holding action on the verge of collapse, the three surviving mechs of that star began to pull back, a Fenris, the Grendel mauled by Alpha Two, and a second Grendel that was still intact.
"They’re getting closer to the city proper." warned Kou. "Stop them!"
"We’re trying." responded Mike. "This isn’t that easy, you know."
Shoring up their fighting withdrawal, a star of assault mechs moved up to replace the medium star Mike had hit. "We’ve got problems." reported Mike, as he cleared the corner around a gasoline filling station to see a Daishi bearing down on him.
A stray laser detonated the tanks in the station, showering Mike’s Black Hawk with burning gasoline and shrapnel. Blinded, Mike backpedaled to get away from the Daishi. He used his radar to identify his foes. Aside from the Daishi, the assault star included two Masakari, a Man O’War, and one of the lethal new Kingfisher fire support mechs. At 90 tons, it normally carried four LRM-20 launchers, making it brutally effective in long range combat. In the close quarters of this suburban neighborhood, Mike was only slightly less concerned about it.
The Daishi lined up his right arm with Alpha Three and fired every weapon on it. The withering barrage of lasers and autocannon tore into the unsuspecting Ryoken. It tipped precariously for a second, then crashed into a nearby residence.
"Kou, I’ve got an assault star bearing down on
"Pull back. I can’t get to you."
"Damn. They’re going to get into the city."
"Don’t worry about it, Mike. We’ll think of something. Just get out of there."
"No argument here." Said Mike, bringing his mech up to a run.
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
5 April 3052 (Day 5 of the Invasion of New
"You mean
"My good Colonel, we’ve had control of most of the city for nearly 48 hours. Just a few places where their mechs refuse to budge. Now with your forces here, we’ve got them on the run. We should have the 5th
Ryan tapped Joshua on the shoulder. "This just came in. Looks like
Joshua nodded. "Sebastian. The First Falcon Strikers are based a few thousand klicks south of
"Thanks for the tip. Hopefully by morning we’ll have the 5th
Sebastian stood up and Daisaku sat down in his place.
"Daisaku! You’re alive."
Daisaku appeared to wipe the grit off his fingers. "You seem surprised, sir." he said casually.
"How did it go? I know Sebastian pulled you out."
"We got them. Blew the whole wad to kingdom come."
"I know. I’ve seen the crater. What are you guys planning?"
"Well, we’re hoping to capture the rest of the 5th
"It’s risky for less than a binary of machines."
"Everything’s in place. There’s no turning back now."
"Good luck then.
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
5 April 3052 (Day 5 of the New
"What the hell am I doing out here?" said Marcus in indignation. "I can’t pilot this piece of junk." He marched Miranda’s beaten and battered Ryoken behind the rest of Fourth Battalion.
"Cool it, Marcus." said Daisaku. "You wanted to pilot a mech. You got your chance."
"This isn’t what I had in mind."
There were some flashes out the window. "Looks like we’ve found the bad guys."
"Don’t see any baddies."
"We’re in the rear ranks. Our mechs are scrap and we’ve got mostly inexperienced pilots driving them. If we’re lucky, we won’t see any fighting."
"I hope not." said Marcus. "I feel like a nudist walking through the Black Quarter in this mech."
"I won’t argue with you there." said Daisaku. A bewildered look crossed his face. "By the way, where’s the Black Quarter?"
"Crime ridden section of
"Sounds like fun." said Daisaky sardonically.
"Oh yeah, a whole lot of fun."
"Then we flee to the dropships and wait for the Strikers." said the frustrated Star Colonel. "Transmit the order."
"Yes, Star Colonel."
Diane Anu marched her Thor to the lead of the cluster. Over 12 hours of non-stop fighting the Star Swords had only worsened the fatigue of the 5th
"ETA to dropships 20 minutes."
"Are the Swords following?"
"Neg. Looks like they’re satisfied with just the city."
"The city can be retaken once we get some help." she said. Asking for help was humiliating, but at least she knew the commander of the 1st Striker hated Dal Pryde nearly as much as she. He would not let the Second Jaegers win the day again.
Diane’s thoughts wandered as her mechs trudged the 20 minute trek to their dropships. A light snow was falling and one of the things Anu reflected on was how much she hated the weather on this planet. "I pray the glory of victory does not grant me a station of garrison on this planet at any time. I would sooner become dispossessed that live here."
"Dropships ahead."
"Fifth
"Roger that, Star Colonel." said the dropship skipper. "We’re ready for you."
It took several minutes to load the mechs aboard the dropships. Diane herself was the last to load. She parked her mech inside a repair center. Techs swarmed her mech to lock it in place. She opened the hatch. A hand reached in to help her out. She took it and climbed out, only to face the barrel of a submachine gun.
"What the....."
"Allow me to introduce myself, Star Colonel. I am Kommandant Juan Miranda, Fourth Battalion, First Star Swords. If you will please come with me....."
Diane looked around and noticed none of the techs aboard the dropship looked familiar. Most where unshaven and dirty; Rebels.
Exhausted by days of fighting and the humiliation of defeat, Diane Anu surrendered.
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
5 April 3052 (Day 5 of the Invasion of New
"Looks like they don’t intend to hold the city. They’re regrouping on the southern limit of the city for a march towards their dropships here." said Mike.
"Joshua’s not considered much the possibility of what happens after we win this battle." said Kou.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Mike, curious.
"We take this planet and they’ll just come back again. I want to give the Falcons a whipping they’ll not soon forget. Make them think twice about ever coming back here again."
"So how do we do that?
"I want the 305th Assault cluster completely combat ineffective. I want them to retreat off-world with barely an elemental functioning."
“Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
"Perhaps. But the 305th is a full scale assault unit. Crush them, and it’ll send a message."
"So how do we do that without them making mince-meat of us? They’ve got the initiative for the time being."
"This forest." said Kou, pointing at a patch of green on the map in front of them. "It’s a redwood forest."
"Can we make it in time?"
"Aye." said Kou with a wink. "But we’d best be moving if we’re going to catch them. Mount up. I’ll figure out the details en route."
"Roger."
"I’ve got contact. They’re here." said Mike. He dropped the sight for his lasers onto the center torso of the mech, waiting for his Black Hawk’s advanced targeting computer to register a lock. When it did, he fired, boring through the light mech and scrapping its gyro. A Thor came forward, knocking the crippled mech out of the way in a mad scramble to get at Mike.
Mike pulled back, his provisional lance in position. "Fire lance, fire at will." he ordered. With Mike were three other Omnimechs, a Vulture, a Mad Cat, and a Ryoken. All sported LRM launchers, which whistled past Mike and into the front line of the enemy mechs. Two enemy stars were caught completely unawares as LRMs sanded the armor from their bodies.
Mike laid down suppressing fire with his sextet of lasers. Elementals began to pour into the woods, released presumably by back-line mechs. Mike became unnerved to see dozens of the armored soldiers moving on him.
‘This is Mike. I need artillery cover-fire in zone 4514. Kou, can you help me?"
"Roger. It’ll be 30 seconds to get the Arrow IV’s aligned. One minute flight time."
"I don’t have that long."
"Man, how many times are you going to whine at me today?"
Mike ignored him. "Fire lance, fall back. We’re going to be overwhelmed." He stabbed laser fire at the elementals, but for everyone he killed, two more seemed to take its place.
Mike’s computer accepted the data feed from the Arrow IV carrying Masakari’s in the back line. "Kou, we’ll be behind the fire line in thirty seconds. Fire at will."
"Roger."
Mike took the risk of turning his back on the elementals to put his mech into a full run. The air filled with the horrid whistle of Arrow IV rockets. Mike winced, hoping that none of the powerful artillery missiles were coming down on him.
It was only six volleys, but confined to a narrow passage. The shells blasted the soil to vapor and many of the enemy mechs and elementals as well as they struck. Mike looked back to see at least two of the massive 50 meter tall trees begin to topple. Those trees were large enough to crush a light mech under them, and Mike had no doubt that they would get at least one.
Star Colonel Evelyn Buhallin snarled in anger. "Do they mean to trap us here? I thought they wanted us to leave." Deep down, she knew what this meant. "What they want is to destroy us utterly."
"What are your orders, Star Colonel?"
"Dispatch our Grendels to burn the woods. We have no choice. We must break through."
Three Grendel mechs advanced, firing their plasma flamers at the needle covered forest floor. Immediately, flames spread like wild. Marching forward behind the Rats were the remaining 12 mechs of the 305th Assault cluster.
"We’ve got a wildfire on our hands here, Kou." said Mike apprehensively. "It’ll make fighting in these woods unpleasant."
"Hold the line! Take Alpha company and flank them. I want to trap them between me, the flames, and you."
"Roger that."
Kou, holding the back line with three Masakari’s refitted for artillery and his own Vulture in its primary configuration, scanned as the flames moved closer to his position. Sure enough, just beyond the flames, actually in the thick of them, were Clan mechs. A Daishi turned the corner and raised one of its ugly multi-barreled arms at Kou. Kou, undeterred, let loose with his pulse lasers. They tore ugly scars along the arm of the Daishi as its autocannon fired.
Kou switched to his LRMs as he and the Masakari began to back up. Forty LRMs rained down on the machine as a volley of Arrow IV missiles struck it from point blank range. Not designed to be fired directly, Arrow IV were nearly impossible to use in a close combat like this. Still it worked, and the Daishi was nearly crippled as a result.
Kou fired his pulse lasers again, as a warning went off. "Heat level critical." The fire had reached the feet of his mech and was rapidly taxing the already overworked heat sinks of the Vulture.
"This is not going to be easy." thought Kou.
"Kou, we’ve got them cornered." It was Mike.
"Just what I wanted to hear." said Kou with relief and joy. He switched his radio to widebeam. "Jade Falcon commander, you are defeated and surrounded. Further resistance would be suicide. I offer you hegira according to you custom."
"You are Not-Named. We will not honor your offer."
"Alright, Kou. How would a Clansman argue his way out of this one?" Kou thought. "Negative, Star Colonel. I am Kou Fairchild, son of Tan Fairchild of Mallory’s World. I am freeborn of House Davion. I am not of the Not-Named, as you so claim." He paused. "Look at your situation. If you will not accept hegira, then I ask for surrender. Deny both, and I will destroy you to the last mech."
"You are Not-Named, by adoption if not by birth. We will not honor your hegira. But we ask for your terms. We will surrender."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
6 April 3052 (Day 6 of the Invasion of New
"You’re letting them go?" said James Sebastian in disbelief.
"Yes, what good are they as prisoners." said Juan. "They fought and were defeated. All we want is their mechs. We can let the warriors go."
"They’re Clanners. If you don’t want to deal with POWs, then just shoot them. No one will care."
"I’m not a murderer and despite your reputation as a criminal and scoundrel, I don’t think you are either. Do you want their blood on your hands?"
Sebastian looked down at the floor. "Alright. We let them go. Right now, I think we have other matters to worry about. The First Strikers are on their way in as we speak."
"I know. I have a plan to deal with them too. But I want the members of the 5th
"We don’t have enough time."
"Star Colonel Anu is on her way here now. I will inform her of my decision and then we move on."
"Alright." A knock came at the door.
"Enter." said Juan curtly.
Star Colonel Anu was there with two armed guards. All three attempted to enter the room at the same time. One guard stumbled and Diane seized her chance. She grabbed his auto-pistol and slammed the heavy weapon back into his stomach. The guard catapulted backwards into the hallway.
Juan and Sebastian reached for their guns, but Anu grabbed the other guard and placed the gun against his head. "Drop it. I know your type, Kommandant Miranda. You do not have the stomach to let me hurt this pitiful excuse for a guard. Drop your weapon."
Juan did as she said and watched as Sebastian did so.
"Alright, Star Colonel. You have us. Now what?"
"I will not be dishonored. You have beaten me at every turn. You, pitiful freebirths. Most of you are not even warriors. I will not go back with this defeat over my head." With that, she moved the gun to her own chin and pulled the trigger.
Juan winced as Diane’s lifeless body slumped to the floor. The shaken guard passed out. Sebastian shook his head in disgust.
"What a pitiful excuse. She didn’t have to die for that."
"Get a team in here to clean this up." said Juan emotionlessly. "Honor is everything to them, Sebastian. I don’t understand what just happened any more than you."
"I wonder if the rest will do the same."
"Maybe, maybe not. Get them aboard their ships."
"Okay, Major."
"The latest reports indicate that the 1st Striker has abandoned
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
6 April 3052 (Day 6 of the New
The sleek Stingray fighter rolled to a stop at MacLeod City Spaceport. Erik Iolair opened the canopy as tech crews moved in to begin refueling the ship. Mike Koren ran up to greet Erik. Mike had arrived that afternoon with several mechs from 3rd Battalion to shore up the capital in preparation for the assault on the Jaegers, now scheduled for that evening.
A large black limousine with the paired flags of the
"They didn’t?" said Mike with disbelief.
Erik nodded. "
"You said you’d contact me the instant the Clanners were gone. I had heard no word."
"So you bring your family down here in the midst of a battle zone." said Joshua, frustration burying his manners. "We’ve cleared out the Clan from one city. Only one. That’s all."
“Three.
"Not yet, it isn’t. Your station entitles you to a great deal. But it also my sworn duty to protect you, your grace. How can I do that if you keep making it impossible? I cannot guarantee your safety once my forces begin their march northward…" He checked his watch. “Which is scheduled to begin in less than an hour.”
"The castle should be quite safe.”
“You do realize that we are going north, in part, to rescue my wife. Your daughter.”
“That is why I am here.” He said grimly. “She will need her family, once you set her free.”
“You take great risks.” As if on cue, there was a muffled explosion and the room shook. “What was that?" said Joshua.
"Sounded like a missile impact." said Ryan.
"Contact the military base and the port. Find out if either are under attack."
"Yes, sir."
"Sergeant, please show his grace and his family to their chambers. They are confined there until we sort all this out."
The sergeant took the Duke and his family down the corridors they knew so well. He realized that they could go without his presence, but with a possible crisis going on outside, it was better that he was along. He reached down and patted the barrel of his sawed off shotgun.
Up ahead, the wall of the castle crashed inward, filling the corridor with dust. The sergeant drew his shotgun and recoiled with horror as he saw a massive Elemental in battle armor. Its emerald green paint scheme told him it wasn’t friendly.
"Run! Run now!" he screamed at the royals. They turned and bolted. He was about to follow them, but Marian stumbled. on the debris and fell. The elemental advanced on her.
"Oh no you don’t." said the sergeant, filled with new found courage. He leaped at the armored trooper, ramming his shotgun into its viewport. He fired and was horrified when the blast did nothing. He realized too late that buckshot didn’t have enough power to penetrate the armored glass.
The elemental grabbed him with its pincer and slammed him against the wall. It raised its other arm, mounted there was a wicked looking anti-mech machine gun.
"Run, Lady Marian."
The elemental fired, blowing his body apart as dozens of heavy depleted uranium slugs roared out of that machine gun. Gore sprayed everywhere, all over the elemental and all over Marian. Terrified beyond reason, Marian fled. The elemental, blood making it even more horrific to look at, charged after her.
"They’ve bagged another on the west tower." called his driver.
"That leaves three left. They’re inside. Along with everyone else."
"Your grace! What happened?"
"Big robot-like thing......It came after us. It came through the walls like they were baby blocks."
"Elementals." said Ryan, reaching for a gun.
"Headhunter unit. Damn!" said Joshua. "Where’s Marian?"
"Sir, we’ve got enemy mechs in sector 17. It’s the 2nd Jaegers."
“They’ve taken the initiative to advance on us.” Joshua looked at Ryan. "I seemed to have misjudged the good Colonel. Sound general quarters. I think, however, he’s going to find us a bit more ready for battle than he anticipated."
"Marian?" asked Duke MacLeod. "You’ve got to save my daughter."
"Where is she?"
"She stumbled and fell behind. She’s with that sergeant."
"Ryan, toss me a gyro-rifle."
"You’re not going out there alone with elementals prowling about."
"I just told the Duke about my duty. That includes all the members of his family."
"I want to go too. I know how to shoot." said Christopher.
"Get a rifle then."
"You just preached to me about duty to protect the royals and you’re letting him go?"
"It’s his sister that’s in danger. I have one too, you know. So did you. You think either one of us would have been able to sit by if one of them was in danger?"
"I’m ready." said Christopher.
"Okay. Now you do exactly what I say. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Let’s go."
Mike heard the sound of bare feet running on the cold stone coming from the left passage. He stepped out and saw Marian barreling down the hall as if the devil himself were after her. He grabbed her and tried to pull her aside. She was frantic and covered with blood. She struggled with him, trying to pull free from his grip. Before he could ask her anything, her pursuer came around the corner. The elemental raised its machine gun to fire.
Mike propelled himself backwards, taking the still struggling Marian with him, Mike closed his eyes as the stones around him exploded from the bullet impacts. Miraculously, neither he nor Marian were hit.
He hit the floor with a thud. Marian worked her way free and fled down the hall he had come in by. He knew it was safe that way.
Mike looked for his gyroslug rifle and saw it was lying against the wall opposite his position. He dove for it, only to feel the elemental’s pincer clamp down on his leg. He grabbed the rifle by its strap, just as the elemental picked him up and slammed him against the ceiling. That knocked the wind out of him, but he held on to the rifle.
The elemental dropped him onto the floor and tried to stomp his head flat. Mike rolled away and into a firing position. The elemental charged him, knocking the rifle aside and grabbing Mike by the neck with its pincer. It hoisted him up and pinned him to the wall.
Another elemental came up the hall behind the first. "Have you found the command center yet?"
"Negative. But I believe it may be down that hallway." The elemental pointed down the hall that led to the ballroom with its machine gun arm. "I will deal with this pest and join you momentarily."
"Yes, Point Commander." The second elemental marched down the hall.
Mike grew desperate. He still had hold of the gyrojet rifle. He spun it up to rest the barrel on the base of the elemental’s pincer and fired. The rocket propelled shell blasted through the metal pincer. Mike promptly fell to the floor as the surprised elemental drew back.
"You will pay for that, freebirth."
"Don’t bet on it." gasped Mike. He rushed after the second elemental, firing several shots from the rifle back at his opponent. The point commander charged after him. Mike darted down a side corridor as the elemental opened fire with its machine gun. Dust filled the hall as the stone walls were chipped and smashed to powder by the heavy slugs.
"You run too much, freebirth. Why not give in to the inevitable?" said the elemental as it approached the corner.
Mike, who was crouched just beyond that corner, opened up his belt pouch and pulled out his mini-grenade. Almost useless against the heavy armor, Mike knew that in order for his plan to work, he had to land it perfectly.
The elemental spun the corner and Mike threw. He dove for the floor as the elemental sprayed the hall with its machine gun. The grenade struck the elemental on the helmet and exploded, blinding the warrior inside. Mike seized his chance. He came up on one knee and held down the trigger. One by one, the finger-sized rockets in his rifle’s clip emptied out, striking the elemental around the face and shoulders. Finally the last rocket was emptied and Mike tossed the rifle away. The elemental crashed over backwards, destroyed.
Now weaponless, Mike didn’t know what he was going to do to stop the other one. He charged after it, hoping he would think of something before it was too late.
"This way. It was just down this hall, " said Christopher, entering the intersection. Joshua grabbed him and pulled back just microseconds before a hail of bullets came roaring past their position.
"Found one." said Joshua. "You go low. I’ll go high. Got it?"
"Got it." Christopher dropped to his knees and darted around the corner, opening fire with his rifle. Joshua stretched over him and opened up as well. The elemental took a few hits, and responded by launching its last SRM.
"Oh shit!" swore Joshua, grabbing Christopher and pulling him down. The missile exploded, shaking the whole castle and filling the corridor with debris. The ceiling caved in and buried Joshua and Christopher.
The elemental, satisfied that its opponents were eliminated, marched on past them to the defenseless command center. Once it was out of earshot, Mike came running up.
"My God."
"Mike, is that you?" said a voice from within the debris.
"General!" said Mike, looking down and seeing his commander half covered with rubble. "Are you alright?"
"I think. Just bruised and battered a bit. Here, take my rifle. Go get that bastard before he kills everyone."
Mike took the undamaged rifle and charged down the corridor after it.
"Hauptmann Smith, what was that we just heard?"
"That was a missile explosion, your grace. Probably from one of the elementals you encountered. It was awfully close."
"Christopher, my son....." said Duke Jameson, the full impact of impulsiveness finally hitting home. "I’ve killed my son."
A loud thump came from the door a second later. Ryan spun. Several of the Star Swords raised their weapons to open fire.
"Hold you fire!" ordered Ryan. Firing now would only weaken the door. "Wait until it’s in here."
Another thump as the elemental battered the door. The heavy doors shook from the impact. "Those doors are made of four inch thick oak. Even an elemental will have trouble bashing through." said Jameson.
“Not that much trouble.” Said Ryan grimly. He took aim at the door.
With another smash, the door snapped off its hinges and fell inward. The elemental stepped inside. As it did so, a hail of submachine gun fire roared from the troops assembled inside. The elemental returned fire, dicing the Star Swords infantry like they were paper. Ryan and several others dove for cover behind some computer equipment, which the elemental proceeded to shoot at after all other living targets were eliminated.
Ryan crawled across the floor over to where the Duke was cowering. Suddenly, the elemental stopped firing.
The cavalry had arrived.
"No!!" screamed Mike in rage. He raised the rifle and fired. The first shell ricocheted off the elemental’s helmet, but it got its attention. It turned, turning off its heavy machine gun for a moment. But only for a moment.
Mike dove for the floor when it raised its machine gun arm to fire on him. It fired a short burst over his head and then stopped. Mike was dumbfounded. The elemental was out of ammo.
That didn’t stop it. It rushed after him with murder in its eyes, reaching out with its battleclaw.
Mike fired shot after shot into the elemental, but he couldn’t place them right. Gyrojets could penetrate elemental armor, but only if they hit right. The elemental grabbed him and slammed the claw into his gut. Now with Mike impaled on it, the elemental raised him into the air in triumph.
Mike felt almost no pain; he knew he was going into shock and would pass out within seconds from the blood loss. He dropped the gyrojet rifle’s barrel onto the top of the elemental’s head and held down the trigger. The rifle jammed after the second shot, but no more shots were needed. The elemental fell over onto its back, tossing Mike off of its claw. He rolled across the floor for a few feet and lay still.
Ryan came rushing out into the hallway. "Get me a medical team here immediately." he ordered as knelt down beside Mike. "Thank God you showed up when you did."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
6 April 3052 (Day 6 of the New
"Face me, you cowards." screamed Mechlanthon.
The Second Jaegers looked like ghosts in their white camouflage. Unlike
Nearby, Amanda charged her Loki towards a nearby enemy Vulture. She had a 5 ton advantage on her opponent, but it was an even match. Mechlanthon, fearing for her safety despite that, charged after her. His Clansman sense of honor clashed with his sense of duty to his subordinates. He would not rob her of the kill, but he would move in to protect her if she found herself in over her head.
The first barrage showed that Amanda was anything but overpowered. She landed both PPC hits in the Vulture’s right torso. The shot disintegrated that section of the mech, destroying engine shielding and a heavy LRM launcher. Also lost was the mech’s right arm with its paired lasers.
With one well placed shot, Amanda had given herself the fight. The Vulture had but one flaw in its design: poor armor.
"You needn’t be so protective of my spouse, Star Colonel." said Ryan, his Mad Cat coming forward. "But I appreciate the gesture."
“Glad to see you, Hauptmann. I heard what transpired at the castle.” Said Mechlanthon.
"The others will soon catch up.”
A Ryoken moved up to their position.
"Joshua," said Mechlanthon. "Are you all right?"
"Still a bit sore from nearly getting buried alive. Mike's in pretty bad shape, but the doc thinks he'll recover." reported Joshua. His new Galileo III fired its gauss rifle and pounded armor off of a nearly Falcon Loki as Joshua joined the fight.
"That's good to know."
“Alright, everyone, this is what they pay us the big bucks for. Go to it and make the Jaegers regret their impulsiveness.” Said Joshua. He focused on the Loki, firing his lasers into its right leg. Aimed by Galileo III's targeting computer, the azure beams melted the armor to slag and then the skeleton beneath. The Loki pitched over, out of the fight.
"Good hunting." Mechlanthon marched his mech away as Joshua pulled up alongside Amanda’s Loki.
Ryan and Mechlanthon went to work. Joshua was amazed. Within a minute, the two had destroyed almost an entire star of light mechs between them.
"Going for the numbers. Lights are easy targets in this terrain."
"How about a harder target, Messer?" said a voice. Pryde!
Joshua scanned ahead of him for Dal’s Masakari as Pryde’s grinning face was projected onto his HUD. Two Star Sword mechs, a Ryoken and a Koshi, were blasted apart by PPC barrages. As their carcasses fell away and the smoke cleared, Joshua saw the lethal assault mech staring him in the face.
"Get clear, Amanda." warned Joshua. "This one’s mine."
"You’re seriously outmatched, Joshua. I can’t do that."
Joshua triggered a barrage of lasers at Pryde’s machine. They tore an ugly gash in the frost white paint on the huge 85 ton mech.
"We meet again on the field of battle." said Dal, his face filled with his overbearing self-superiority. "This time I will be the victor. You are no match for me when my mech is at full strength."
"Where’s Lisa, Pryde?" snarled Joshua. "I know you have her. You’re too much of a braggart not to be flaunting her corpse to me if you killed her."
"She is Robert’s concern. Not mine. She and his sibling."
"She is alive!" thought Joshua, finally receiving confirmation of both his greatest hope and his greatest fear.. "And in O’Malley’s hands." He launched a gauss slug at Pryde. The shot slammed into the Masakari’s left leg, smashing armor to powder.
Pryde adjusted his footing and let loose with the weapons of his right arm. Two pulse lasers flashed out from it, striking Galileo III in the shoulder. There was a flash of flame as Joshua saw his left arm, and its gauss rifle, go flying off.
"Forgot, he’s got the advanced targeting computer too." thought Joshua. "This could be painful."
"Give it up. She belongs to Robert now and your life is forfeit. As it should have been four years ago on New Vision."
"Today, we finish our vengeance for that day, Jade Falcon." said Joshua, forgetting himself and the stricture that prevented him from speaking of his origins. It didn't seem to matter anyway.
"Neg, Not-named." said Pryde, making no sign of delight at Joshua’s admission. "I still live, as does Marthe Pryde. It was we who ordered the attack. The murderers you seek live still." With that, Dal let loose with his PPCs. Both connected in a line across the Ryoken’s right arm and torso. Nearly three tons of armor evaporated in the plasma streams and Galileo III was tossed backwards by the impact.
"Watch as I take you apart piece by piece." Dal fired again, blasting armor off of the Galileo III’s left leg with a pulse laser.
“Damnit!” Joshua swore to himself. “I just got this new mech and he’s pounding it to scrap already!”
"It is too bad you have coupled with Lisa. If she has conceived another of your tainted kind, I will be forced to destroy her."
"What does he mean by that?" thought Joshua. "Could it be....." Fury tore through him as his first guess came to his mind: Lisa is with child, my child.
"Never!" swore Joshua in rage. He pressed down the triggers for all his weapons. Four lasers slammed into the frost white Masakari. Dal’s huge mech reeled from the impacts, but it was not enough. The Masakari was just too powerful.
Joshua backed Galileo III away. "The game ends now, Messer." Dal let loose with everything. Both PPCs and both large lasers smashed into the already badly damaged Ryoken. The other arm snapped off, right at the elbow. The lasers cut through what little torso armor was left and then proceeded to burn through Joshua’s engine shielding and gyroscopic balance system. With its sense of balance damaged, Galileo III teetered for a few seconds before crashing over on its side. Joshua’s cockpit went black.
Desperate, Joshua unstrapped himself and crawled over to the hatch. He forced it open and crawled out. As he stood up, he noticed the scene around him for the first time. Battered mechs from both sides were scattered about. The green grass of summer had been burnt black by the lethal weapons of the battlemechs still slugging it out outside of
The ground shook and Joshua turned to see Pryde’s massive mech towering over him. As Joshua expected, the huge barrels of the mech’s four big guns lowered to point at him.. Joshua looked about. It was open ground. Nowhere to run.
"This ends here. It is too bad you are of the Not-Named, Joshua. You are one of the few worthy opponents I have had in this invasion. It is almost a shame to waste you like this." said Pryde over a loudspeaker.
Dal's Masakari shook as two blue-white PPC blasts tore into it. Joshua spun to see Amanda's Loki moving in for the attack. Behind her, he could see Mechlanthon's Grendel and Ryan's Mad Cat.
Dal swore in rage, knowing he was soon to be overrun. The Masakari began to move. "All Jaegers retreat. We have done enough for one day. The battle is ours. And soon so will the war."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
6 April 3052 (Day 6 of the New
"1st Strikers are roughly 45 klicks south of the city." said Kacey. "They are closing rapidly and will be here within the hour."
"Is everything in place?" asked Daisaku..
"Yes, and they’ve undoubtedly seen the 5th
"Yes, one Overlord class dropship has left for orbit." said Juan in a matter-of-fact manner. "Who’s to say that wasn’t the Star Swords’ sole dropship? Once we are hailed, that’s what the Strikers are going to find out. We’ve pulled off one good hoax so far. I think we’re on a roll."
"Hard to believe you’re the voice of reason here, James." said Kacey to Sebastian.
"These Star Swords are crazier than I am. Okay, so the Strikers think that only Clanners are left in the city. What will that accomplish?"
"A false sense of security. We’ve set up a pseudo-camp on the southern perimeter of the city. All the Star Sword mechs are there, hidden. The 5th
"Now wait a minute." interrupted Sebastian. "You are putting my rebels, totally inexperienced in mech combat, on the front lines against Clan pilots. It’s virtual suicide for them."
"They aren’t going to fight, at least not for real, and all my men have standing orders to obliterate at all costs any Clanners who try to pick fights with the rebels."
"What do you mean ‘not for real?’"
"Their mechs have a preprogrammed fire sequence built in. It’ll just shoot off the weapons for show and convince any casual observer that they are in the thick of the fray."
"It’ll never work." said Sebastian.
"I hate to agree with the porno producer, Juan." said Daisaku. "But this one’s a stretch."
"I know. But it’s this or the city is destroyed. It can’t take another mech battle within its limits. The civilian casualties from the battle are already astronomical. I don’t want those numbers to get any larger."
"Better to kill rebels and Star Swords than innocents." agreed Sebastian. "Bloody ugly tradeoff."
"Hopefully, it won’t come to that. Let’s do it."
"Those rebels are still giving you trouble. These people are tenacious." said Star Colonel Rand Hoyt. "By the way, Star Captain, why is Star Colonel Anu unavailable?"
"She has received severe battle injuries and has placed me in command. We have made a temporary camp on the south perimeter of the city. Please have your mechs join us there. Fifth Battle out."
The 1st Strikers commander pulled up the satellite data on the area around
"Stravag, we still bear the scars of Garrison. Gyrfalcon Galaxy will be little more than a single cluster if this war of attrition continues." Hoyt opened his channel for all his cluster to hear. "Star Colonel Anu’s victory is hard fought, especially considering that she may be on her deathbed. The Star Captain wants us to shore up his defenses, but I do not like the idea of massing all of our forces in one place. Star Captain Andrew."
"Yes, Star Colonel."
"Take your nova and scout the east perimeter. Take up position in Sector 14 and hold there until ordered otherwise."
"Sir, the Star Captain said....."
"He is just that, a Star Captain. I command this cluster, not him. Your unit will separate. The rest of us will move in." He lowered his voice. "This smells like a trap."
Sebastian’s voice piped in. "Get my men out of there. They’re on to you."
"Hold tight and shut up, Sebastian. War is often times an elaborate game of chicken. If we blink too soon, this whole operation is blown. Let’s sit tight and see what they’re doing."
"Wait a minute. The secondary force has broken off completely and is heading northeast."
"He’s spreading out, trying to weaken us by forcing us to divide our forces. Too obvious, I should have suspected he’d be cautious."
"What do we do now?"
"Stick with the plan. Breaking up may keep us from hitting him all at once, but it weakens the force he sends to rendezvous with us. A easier kill for us."
"Divide and conquer." added Sebastian. "He’s setting himself up for it."
"Exactly. This only prolongs the inevitable for them."
"Radio silence in thirty seconds. Enemy force ETA 5 minutes."
"You heard him. Shut up and sit tight."
Over the flat plains that surrounded
"Wait until the lead mechs are within 300 meters and then give the signal." thought Juan to himself. His hand hovered over the radio switch that would transmit the signal to his forces to begin the attack.
Largely oblivious to the trap they were marching into, the 1st Falcon Strikers lumbered forward in the snow. "Star Captain, what is the overall condition of your unit?"
Surprised to be contacted again, Juan spoke up. "We are fairly beat up, sir. Our repair supplies are almost gone and we’ve dwindled our ammunition stores away." He paused. "Our forces remained weakened by Garrison. We did not have the power to defeat such an organized resistance."
"I did not request commentary, Star Captain. I am fully aware of what Garrison has done to our clusters. Your ammunition condition?"
Depleted. Energy only at this point."
"Our stores are still full, but we have not received any of the surplus stores we were supposed to from
"That’s because the Star Swords blasted them to kingdom come." He slammed his fist down on the switch and the snow around him seemed to explode as the 30 Star Sword mechs revealed themselves. Juan opened fire on the leader, throwing everything Diane Anu’s Thor could throw into the enemy Daishi.
The barrage of fire from the initial attack all but devastated most of the 1st Strikers’ forces. Most light mechs were blown apart like firecrackers and many mediums were severely damaged. Only the handful of heavy and assault mechs present came through without too much trouble. Confused and in total disarray, the Clanners fell back.
"Press the attack! Charge!" Juan brought his mech up to a full run. He glanced to one side to see Daisaku in a stolen Black Hawk running alongside him.
"This one’s for Miranda." he heard Daisaku say with a grim anger to his voice. With that, he knew they would win the day.
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, Federated Commonwealth
7 April 3052 (Day 7 of the New
Duke Jameson knocked on the door of Joshua’s quarters. "Enter" was the response. He stepped inside to see Joshua holding his old laser blaster in one hand and a photograph of Lisa in the other.
"I certainly hope you don’t intend to do anything drastic with that." said the Duke, pointing to the gun.
"No." said Joshua, setting down the photo. He reached over and began to disassemble the pistol. "I was about to clean my weapon when I noticed the photo."
"I know what you are going through, Joshua. She may be your wife, but she is also my daughter. I somehow get the sense though that you blame yourself for what happened to her. She knew....."
"She’s alive." Joshua retorted. "I know for sure now."
"You never doubted that." Said the Duke. “Is it as we feared?”
“Yes. Pryde told me. She’s alive and O’Malley has her."
"Dear God in heaven." said the Duke aghast.
"I am going after her." Joshua set down the pistol and picked up his sword. He swung the blade up to examine it closely. "You didn’t come here to talk about Lisa." he said without looking at the Duke.
"Actually I did." He held up the sheet of paper in his hand. "I was just using this as an excuse. It’s a report from Juan Miranda. It appears that he and the rebels have all been successful.
"Only the 2nd Jaegers remain." said Joshua, continuing his examination of Anduril. "Pryde won't leave, not until he has finished what he tried to do earlier. So much the better. He has what I want." Joshua stood up, holstering his gun and sliding Anduril into its scabbard. "The final battle is at hand."
“What are you proposing?”
“Trust
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, Federated Commonwealth
7 April 3052 (Day 7 of the New
Galaxy Commander Marthe Pryde paced the floor in frustration. "I am losing patience quickly, Dal. I will not be handed the greatest defeat in Jade Falcon history because of some mad vendetta of yours."
"It is not over yet."
"Three clusters are defeated, plus a garrison unit nearly annihilated." snarled Marthe with indignation. "It all falls on you. Sometimes, I think you arrange things that way."
"Be careful what accusations you levy, Commander." said Pryde sternly.
"Without resupply, our forces are impotent against the Star Swords." said Marthe, changing the subject. "Like it or not, they are facing us on our terms and defeating us soundly."
"And they are wearing themselves out. Half of
"You are mad. The Star Swords are drunk with victory, not wallowing in sorrow at the countless civilians their war of liberation has killed."
"Drunk men make fatal mistakes." said Dal, twisting her argument. "I have Messer right where I want him. If you do not have the stomach to deliver his head to the Khan, then you can leave and I will take that honor."
"If I leave, your cluster goes with me. I will make my decision by morning." With that Marthe stormed out, nearly knocking Robert O’Malley over as she did so.
"What was that all about?"
"She is right." said Pryde with dejection. "The Swords have won the day. New
"We're not done yet." said O'Malley. "Messer lives."
"Oh, yes. We need him, or one of the others to prove the survival of the Not-Named. But I am not worried."
"Messer will come to us." said Robert, finishing Dal's thought.
"Exactly. We have his whore." said Pryde. "He will chase us to ends of the universe to free her, and when he does I will have him." Pryde stood up and looked at Robert. "Prepare the cluster for withdrawal. Once we have our proof, I can convince Marthe to authorize orbital strikes from our warships. The Swords may win, but they will suffer the fate of all those under the Bloodrite. They will die, all of them."
A conditioned response of complete terror took Lisa as she saw him move closer. He stopped short of the bed and stood there, watching Lisa’s panicked face. She forced away her fear and looked upon him with loathing.
"You're angry because I stopped you from killing him." He said flatly.
Lisa's hateful eyes spoke her affirmative. “You son-of-a-bitch. You watch him do what he does to me and yet you do nothing. Robert is right about one thing. You are a coward.”
“You mean nothing to me, Lady Lisa. My brother is all that matters.”
“You don’t have much time.” Warned Lisa. “My husband is coming. Your brother will die.”
“Have you so much faith in him? The entirety of a Clan galaxy stands against him.”
“A battered and beaten galaxy, led by a man obsessed who is advised by your mad brother. Yeah, I have faith. The Star Swords will win and your brother will die, and by God, I hope you as well.” Her voice broke. "You're as much a monster as he is." She began to cry.
Robert marched in and Lisa recoiled to the edge of the bed automatically. “Crying?” he said. “I see my discipline has been working."
“Hurry, Joshua. I can’t hold out much longer.” Lisa prayed silently.
"Come here, Lisa." Robert said sternly.
Lisa stood up. It was difficult, but not impossible with her hands tied behind her. She walked over to Robert. She looked down to the floor, avoiding his gaze. "We will soon have company. You cannot go about dressed like this. Turn around."
Lisa did so, and Robert released the shackles that kept her arms behind her. She rubbed her wrists and contemplated wrapping her hands about Robert’s neck, but in her weakened condition she knew she would not be fast enough before either Robert or Richard would restrain her again.
Robert looked at Richard. "In that chest, you shall find some of her things that I took from the castle. There is a nightgown among them. Bring it to me."
Richard turned and did as told. He brought the pale white nightgown over to his brother. Lisa recognized it. It was made of a silk-like material spun by the Giant Harvester Spiders of the Lyran world of Alarion. It was nearly transparent and Lisa remembered the day she’d gotten it. It had been the Christmas of 3047, the one time she’d managed to get home during her time at NAMA. She’d spent a great deal of time with Daniel, but at one point her sister Miranda pulled her aside and handed her a present. "Wear it for Dan." she told Lisa. She did, for the first time they’d made love. The brief thought of Daniel’s tender touch was immediately dashed by an violent memory of Robert, any of several, violating her. She recoiled at it.
“Damn you. That was a gift.” Said Lisa weakly.
"From Joshua?" queried Robert. "Or Daniel?" He smiled wickedly and whispered in her ear. "How does it feel to know my taint is everywhere now? Even within your memories, you will find me. There is no refuge. You are mine, and always will be."
The ripping sound of the tent door being pulled open interrupted Robert. He turned surprised. Dal Pryde and his lackey David entered with two giant elemental soldiers.
"Naked and helpless as a babe." said Dal in reference to Lisa.
"What do you want, Star Colonel?" said Robert indignantly.
"It is almost nightfall. There is no sign. I expect him to arrive then at dawn."
Lisa let out a sigh of relief.
"Your precious knight in shining armor comes.” said Robert in a taunting voice. "He is walking right into our trap."
Dal moved over to her. "She is a wreck. You have done well in breaking her spirit."
"A work of art." said David maliciously. "I knew you were capable of it. A work of pure genius." Richard glared balefully at both men.
Dal responded. "Come, David. Robert has preparations to make. So do we."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, Federated Commonwealth
8 April 3052 (Day 8 of the New
Joshua worked through his practice routine, wincing periodically as he strained a bruised muscle here and there. He stopped as he saw others approach. He walked over to get a drink of water. It wasn't exactly a graceful walk; more of a limp.
"Joshua, are you alright?" It was Mechlanthon.
"I'll be fine, Mechlanthon. I just had a few hundred pounds of brick and mortar land on top of me the other day. I'm pretty sore."
"You're going after her, quiaff?"
"I promised her I would protect her, and that bastard O'Malley has her."
“Pryde will kill you if you go.” Said Mechlanthon flatly. “And then he will know. He will have his proof. All that seeks. Is the life of your wife worth seeing every world between here and Terra burn?”
“I made a promise to her, Mechlanthon. A word of honor. That I would stand with her no matter what happens.”
"This is suicide."
"I don’t believe so."
“You are suspected rightly of being Not-Named. You are dezgra. Pryde will not honor any parley, any safcon you ask of him. He will kill you on sight.”
“O’Malley will not let him.”
“And you put your faith that your worst enemies will restrain one another enough for you to bid for Lisa’s freedom?” asked Mechlanthon. “It is an unwise gamble.”
“Then what should I do? Leave her to die? Pryde will kill her once her usefulness to him is ended, assuming O’Malley doesn’t do it himself.”
“No,” said Mechlanthon. “You must go. Honor demands it, as you say. But do not go alone. You will need an advocate. One who will speak for you. One that Pryde will listen to.”
“And you have someone in mind?”
“I do.”
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