New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
13 August 3051
Joshua drew his pistol and crouched behind the foot of the Pen-Y-Cat. Nearby were three guards, all wearing different degrees of uniform and warming themselves by a barrel fire.
"Well, Lisa's mech is here, so I assume she's nearby." thought Joshua to himself.
Joshua took a step forward, trying to get a better look at a nearby building that he assumed might be the guards' origin. His foot hit a patch of compacted snow and went right out from under him. Joshua hit the ground with a thud and his pistol went flying off into the air.
Joshua scrambled to his feet, but it was too late. He found himself facing three heavy rifle barrels before he could retrieve his pistol. One of the guards snatched it up and they unceremoniously motioned him towards the building.
“Why are you here and not at your post?” snapped Sebastian.
"We found this intruder outside by the captured mech. We believe he may be the other mechwarrior."
The guard stepped aside to reveal Joshua. Lisa leaped forward and threw her arms around him.
“My God, I thought I’d lost you.” She said, burying her face in his chest.
“I’m a bit tougher than that. Are you alright?”
“She is unhurt.” Answered Sebastian. He motioned to his guards to lower their weapons and return to their post.
“And who are you?”
“James Sebastian. I apologize for the attack. We did not know you were Fed Com. Thankfully, my efforts were less successful against the two of you than they had been against the Clans.”
“You took out two Clan-tech battlemechs without serious damage to either one. That’s actually quite impressive.”
“I was just about to send out a team to retrieve your Stormcrow from its entrapment. I’ll see to that and leave you two to a happy reunion.”
Sebastian exited and left Joshua and Lisa alone.
“You came looking for
“And I, you. You genuinely thought I was gone, didn’t you?” said Joshua with surprise.
“You’ve been so distant these past few days. Even if you’d gotten out, I didn’t know what you’d do.”
Joshua darkened. “I…I buried my regrets about my father’s death very deep. What I shared with you the other night opened a very old wound. I’m sorry…”
“No, I should apologize to you. I forced that out of you and then allowed it to make me doubt you. I should never have done that. We’ve all done things we’ve regretted.”
“Equal to my crime? I doubt it.”
“I cannot give you the absolution you seek, Joshua. But I can hold true to the promise I made.” She paused. “When I saw your mech buried under that rubble, I realized there are far more important things. What you told me about your father, all that’s happened to me with O’Malley, none of it matters anymore. We are husband and wife and we’re in this together.”
At that, the door opened and Sebastian walked back inside. Behind him were a muscular young woman and a man in his mid-thirties.
“
“It is good to see you, Lady Lisa.”
“I regret having to break up your happy reunion.” Said Sebastian, “but time is of the essence. These are my colleagues. Duncan O’Brian, I see you know. The other is Kacey Doran, my bodyguard.”
"There's a Falcon stronghold 30 kilometers west of here.” Said
"Why haven't they attacked?" asked Joshua.
"The heavy snow between here and there prevents any lighter mechs from traversing the distance. The rarity of heavy and assault designs in their garrison is what gives us our defense."
“Neither Lisa’s nor my mech are heavy designs and we had little trouble.”
“Precisely why,” said Sebastian, “time is becoming so essential. I already outlined a bit of a plan to Lady Lisa. Your being here is all the more helpful.”
“And that plan is?”
“Bait.” Said Lisa. “The Clans are looking to make an example out of a high ranking noble to quell the populace from rebellion. And here I am.”
“And you’re going along with this?”
“The planetary governor,” said Sebastian, “I think would do anything to get his hands on Lady Lisa.”
Lisa shivered again at the oblique mention of O’Malley.
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“The governor is Robert O’Malley.”
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
14 August 3051
The small patch of woods did a fine job of hiding Ryan and Amanda's mechs from the frequent patrols they were encountering. Too wary to continue their approach in their mechs, fearing seismic perimeter sensors and the like, they had decided to continue on foot the next morning.
Ryan had lit a fire and the pair were warming by it, hoping that any passing patrols would assume it to be a party of civilians out hunting whatever game the woods supported. Ryan kept looking up at the beautiful night sky.
"What do you see up there?" Amanda asked.
"Stars." said Ryan with a quirky smile.
"You seem to be lost in thought."
"Maybe I am."
"What were you thinking about then? The mission?"
Ryan leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Isaac was calling this mission a romantic getaway, since Joshua assigned three couples to the force assignment.”
“Yes, I remember. You have something in mind?”
“I was just wondering what kind of reaction I will get when I tell Isaac that I took this opportunity to ask you a very important question.”
“Oh? And that is?”
Ryan dropped to his knees and crawled over beside Amanda. He took her hands in his and spoke. "Amanda, will you marry me?"
Amanda face gained an incredulous visage. "I can’t believe you just said that to me.”
Ryan looked a little taken aback. Amanda continued. “Here, on a mission, out in the middle of nowhere, on some frozen dirtball, you just proposed to me.”
"Well, I like surprises." said Ryan childishly.
Amanda fell over backwards onto the blanket, laughing. "Only you.....I always envisioned what it would be like when I found the one for me, getting proposed to and all that. I must say you've completely destroyed any and all of my previous ideas by 'popping the question.'"
"Well, I have to add my own flair. Otherwise, it wouldn't seem sincere."
"No, I don't suppose it would." She sat up and smiled. "And by the way, the answer is yes."
Ryan threw his arms around his new fiancée. Their embrace, however, was to be cut short when the ground began ever so slowly to vibrate.
“Uh, oh.” Said Ryan.
“Yeah, so much for celebration.” Said Amanda.
Ryan bounded from his position to the foot of his Mad Cat, where he had the main computer feeding its information to the maintenance monitor. The seismic sensor showed several signals just south of the woods, moving northward, roughly four kilometers away.
"A lot of them too." said Ryan, "Moving north. They're not coming anywhere near us fortunately."
"Let's go have a look." said Amanda, heading into the woods.
It was a five minute dash to the edge of the forest. By the time they reached it, they could barely keep their footing from the tremors caused by the massive war machines.
Across the vast New Belfast plain, they could see the mechs that still lay three kilometers distant. Using a set of IR binoculars, Ryan easily identified most of the designs: Mad Cats, Thors, Loki, a Masakari, a few Grendel, a few Ryoken. Nearly all were Omnis and all bore a different unit insignia than the garrison patrols they'd been dodging for days.
"Omnimechs, a trinary of them, two second-lines mixed among the Omnis and only those with the garrison insignia. The rest are different."
"Ryan, could these be garrison reinforcements?" said Amanda.
"No. Those mechs are designated for an assault force. The garrison force is not the only thing we'd face if we hit this planet. No, I fear that the Clans have renewed their invasion. And this frozen dirtball as you so eloquently put it is where they're gathering at least some of their forces."
"Ever felt like you'd just been caught in an enemy trap?"
New Belfast System
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
"Two more ships have just materialized at the zenith jump point. I recognize them as Invader class transports."
Erik Iolair spun to face Mechlanthon. "More Falcons?"
"Warships are not that common in our fleet, Colonel Iolair." he said slowly. "They could be merchants, but I doubt it. What we are seeing is the return of the Jade Falcon invasion fleet."
"I was afraid of that, and Joshua and the others are stuck on New Belfast."
"He does not know." said Mechlanthon.
"What?"
"A warrior's instinct, Erik." said Mechlanthon. "General Messer would have sent the recall signal by now. Only one dropship has touched down on New Belfast from the invasion fleet, at most 20 Battlemechs aboard, probably less, but still more than a match for our scouting party."
"So what do we do?"
"More contacts, this time at the nadir point.” Said the helmsman. “I have IFF codes, new ones. Identifying them as Soyveski Soyoz class cruisers. Designation Rattler and Iron Fang."
"They have brought up the reserve Clans." Said Mechlanthon with a hint of fear. “Those are Steel Viper warships.”
"Reserve Clans?"
"When the invasion was planned, four Clans won the right to invade: Jade Falcon, Wolf, Ghost Bear, and Smoke Jaguar. The runner-ups got reserve status, to be called upon if the Inner Sphere proved to be too tough to handle. There Steel Vipers and Nova Cats held those positions."
One of the Clan helmsmen got a disgusted snarl on his face. Erik, noticing this, looked at Mechlanthon. "I take it the Falcons are not fond of the Vipers?"
"Neg. They are hated rivals. Someone has tried to saddle the Falcons with their enemy to check their progress. My guess is that the Wolves now control the invasion."
"Is that bad or good?"
"They have progressed much farther than the previous controlling Clan, the Smoke Jaguars. But they are not as harsh as either the Jaguars or the Falcons. Decide from that."
"Are the Vipers launching dropships?"
"No, sir. No other activity reported concerning the planet itself. All we have are Clan forces assembling at the jump point. Twelve ships in total: ten Falcon, two Viper. Four warships, eight transports."
"We wait for Joshua’s signal. If my guess is correct, we shall hearing from him shortly. I doubt he will wish to remain on New Belfast once he has learned the invasion fleet of two Clans have arrived."
"Can't blame him there. I'm nervous enough with millions of miles of empty space between me and them."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
The helicopter touched down on a pre-fab landing pad. Behind it marched a huge Marauder IIc BattleMech. The crew and passengers of the helicopter disembarked and headed for one of the buildings nearby. A group of men glad for battle met him halfway.
Star Colonel Kenichi brushed back his long jet-black hair. His sharp Oriental features had an intimidating effect on his men, who now stood before him garbed for battle.
"Star Colonel Dal Pryde and his Alpha Trinary are thirty minutes away. In fifteen minutes, we will be meeting with the rebel scum James Sebastian to bargain for the release of his prisoners. Unfortunately for him, the Clans do not bargain." Kenichi smiled. "We will wipe out his rebels and display our victory before Star Colonel Pryde. Board your mechs."
One of the mechwarriors with Kenichi smirked. "Star Captain David would have Pryde believe that he is the only competent warrior among us. His honey tongue will be hard to overcome."
"The burned corpse of Sebastian will be enough to speak for
Kenichi walked to the base of his mech, a Nova, better known to the Inner Sphere as the Black Hawk. All of the other designs were garrison designs, considered inferior to Omnimechs, but still quite potent.
The fifteen minutes passed quickly. A large helicopter came over the hilltop and touched down in front of Kenichi's Black Hawk. James Sebastian stepped out of the chopper, but kept his distance from the Clanner.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Sebastian." called out Kenichi.
"Hello, Captain Kenichi."
"Where is the hostage? I wish to see her."
"Not until I see my men."
"Very well." Kenichi waved and two Clan-uniformed standard infantry men ushered thirty men in prisoner garb out onto the snowfield. Their clothing was little more than rags, so the cold weather caused all of them to begin shivering in the snow.
"Now where is she?"
"Right behind you."
Kenichi spun on his heel. Lisa's Fenris was over 500 meters away, but it was firing on the stationary Black Hawk with a PPC. The blast struck the stationary mech dead in the center of his back, blowing through to the engine. The Black Hawk erupted in a miniature super-nova and lurched forward. The mech toppled down onto top of its pilot, crushing the unfortunate Kenichi underneath it.
Two squads of infantry, lead by Jean and Marcus, unloaded from the helicopter and proceeded to rush the command center's main bunker. The prisoners, who quickly overwhelmed their two guards, bolted for the chopper, where they were handed heavy coats and assault rifles.
"Malcolm!" cried Sebastian, tossing the massive sniper cannon to the young man. "Find a perch and go to work."
Malcolm pulled back the bolt on the rifle, setting the first round into the chamber. "Can do!"
Sebastian headed for the buildings, bringing his assault automatic shotgun off his shoulder.
The rest of the garrison binary was closing on the infantry and Lisa's Fenris. Suddenly the huge Marauder IIc exploded and crashed into the snow. The Galileo II appeared out of a nearby snow dune and tore into the thick of the enemy mechs, almost all of which were much more powerful than Joshua's damaged Ryoken.
Lisa opened fire with her PPC into the next mech. It was one they'd never encountered before on the battlefield, but the Emerald Hawk had carried several aboard her. The Star Swords called them Hellhounds.
Joshua proved to be a tenacious fighter. The Clan warriors, originally stunned by the ambush and the death of their commander, were now recovering and were beginning to drive Joshua back.
"Speed it up, Sebastian." cried Joshua. "We can't hold them much longer." Around the feet of his mech sped several of the rebel’s vehicles, led by Kacey in a stolen Clan Asshur Scout tank. All of them either adapted to the cold and snow or, like Asshur, hovercraft.
Sebastian looked up towards Joshua's Ryoken and nodded. A Jenner IIC stepped up to challenge Joshua next, firing a lethal barrage of missiles at the weakened Ryoken. They hit hard, Joshua watching his damage control board go red in several places.
"Fuck." swore Joshua. The Jenner fired again, only a few missiles hitting this time. Suddenly a dark shape flew over Joshua's mech, landing in front of him. It was a Loki.
Amanda!
"Pull back, General. This one's mine." she said.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Ryan, Juan, and the others are not far behind me. My jump jets let me get ahead of them." Amanda paused to blast some large holes in the Jenner with her weapons. "The invasion force is using this planet to stage the renewal of the invasion. There's a unit of Omnimechs closing on this position as we speak. I'd say we've got maybe ten minutes before they arrive."
"How many?"
"A trinary. Fifteen."
"Damn, Sebastian, time to get your men out of here. We've got Clan reinforcements 10 minutes out."
"Fuck!" swore Sebastian. "What are they?"
"A trinary of Omnis."
"A trinary? There are only five Omnis on the planet, one of which your girlfriend just turned into space dust."
"Not anymore." said Joshua as Amanda finished off the Jenner with a blast of her PPCs.
Most of the Clan mechs were in a rout. What Amanda and Lisa weren't doing to them, the tenacious rebels with their inferno launchers and their jury-rigged vehicles. The Clan personnel on the ground had been all but wiped out and Sebastian's men were planting explosives inside the bunker to destroy it.
Juan, Ryan, and Kelly crested the hill and opened fire into the remaining Clan mechs. Joshua and Lisa had teamed up to destroy another Hellhound and Amanda had dropped another Jenner. That made their kill tally six, leaving only four enemies on the field.
Now outnumbered three-to-one, and that wasn't counting the increasingly potent rebel infantry, the Clan mechs began to withdraw. Joshua took that as a good sign, his Ryoken was very badly shot up. It had taken a hit in its left knee joint, which slowed him considerably.
"They're on the run, General." said Sebastian. "Let's blow this joint."
Sebastian's pun was explained as the bunker exploded in a bright flash of light. His men ran for their transport helicopter. Joshua and his mechs headed northwest, moving out onto the
The vehicles moved to picki up the last of the infantry. Sebastian and his helicopter kept back to wait on them.
Joshua hit the red recall button on his Ryoken's control panel. It would be six hours before the Shadow class would reach them on the surface for pick up. "What are you doing now, Sebastian? Those mechs’ll come after you sooner or later."
"I’m hoping for later. With your knee out, you’ll not get far before they catch you."
"That’s my problem."
"Wrong. It’s our problem. This was my mess that you got entangled in, and if I can get you out, then I will."
"That’s downright noble of you, Sebastian, especially from someone who once tried to have me killed."
"Excuse me?"
"O’Malley hired some of your thugs to off me some time ago."
“Oh, that was you? I probably should have guessed, you being married to Lisa and all. Anyway, there’s not a lot of time to reminisce.”
"Let’s get out of here." Said Joshua.
New Belfast System
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
"I've just received a red recall signal." said the bridge communication's officer.
"Fire all thrusters. Report on enemy warships around New Belfast." ordered Erik.
"Just one in orbit. The Frost Falcon, an Aegis class."
"That’s the 2nd Jaegers’ ship." Said Mechlanthon. “Pryde.”
"Oh, wonderful." Said Erik sarcastically. He moved beside the helmsman. "Plot a parabolic course to take us to Lagrange point L-1 here. You can plot a jump while the ship is in motion?"
"Aff."
"Launch the Shadow at this point here. Give it a full squadron escort. I will personally command the escort. Mechlanthon, you will have command in my absence."
That order got some disgruntled whispers from the Inner Sphere bridge crew. Erik ignored them. "Deck officer," he said into the conn intercom. "I need Alpha squadron outfitted with FAE bombs and brought to ready five status."
"Roger, General."
"ETA to planet?" asked Erik of the helmsman.
"Three hours." Said the helmsman. "Sir, you will not have a very wide launch window with this ship continuing on course past the planet."
"I am aware of that." said Erik softly. "But if the Falcons bring the rest of their ships into this…."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
A massive white-painted Warhawk came to a stop near the burning bunker. All around lay the wreckage of mechs and the bodies of dead Clansman.
"These are no ordinary bandits. The damage to these mechs was caused by PPC and laser blasts." said one of the subordinate warriors.
"Star Captain," said Pryde. "You reported the rebels had access to mech-class weapons, quiaff?"
"Aff, Star Colonel." Said David.
"PPCs require too much power to be fired effectively from a civilian craft." Said Robert. "There are mech footprints about."
"That was to be expected, Star Captain." Said Pryde with amusement. "Please note the burning wreckage of the Marauder IIc over there. Those are our footprints."
“With respect, I think not, Star Colonel. This footprint pattern is reminiscent of a Stormcrow, an Omnimech.”
“The garrison had no Omnis besides Kenichi’s own Nova.” Said David, looking at the burning hulk of a mech. “And that one is accounted for.”
“Then we have visitors. The Steel Vipers launched no forces upon their arrival.”
“Someone else is in the system. And on world…” said Robert.
“Indeed.”
"There are tracks leading from the city and off towards the peninsula." Said Robert. “Whoever they are, they retreated in that direction.”
"Star Colonel," said Robert. "We have vehicle tracks leading towards the city, and both vehicle and mech tracks leading off to the northwest. We must pursue one group or the other."
"David, take Gamma Star and retake the city." Ordered Pryde. "Robert, you are with me. Alpha and Beta Stars fall in."
Robert’s Stone Rhino took a place near the lead, just ahead of Dal's Warhawk. As he looked at the tracks on his computer monitor, he realized something about one. "That mech is limping. It must have received leg damage. If they have to keep back with him, we'll catch up within a few hours. The rebels will be ours."
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
Helios shot out into the blackness of space, New Belfast looming big and green above him. He checked his relative velocity to that of the planet (which was for all intends, stationary.) He was going to be coming in very fast.
"Be careful, folks. We’re going in for a high velocity reentry." Said Erik. The other ships of Alpha squadron kept with him. Behind him, the Shadow was detaching from the Star Sword.
"I’ve got the Frost Falcon on intercept. She’s launching fighters." Said Michelle. "We’ll pass right over her."
"She’s an Aegis." Said Erik. "No anti-aircraft."
The six fighters roared over the white surface of the Jade Falcon warship. Erik triggered his lasers as they passed, ripping laser bolts into the super-heavy armor of the ship. It was an pointless gesture, but it made Erik feel good; his first shots at the enemy since the loss of New Belfast a year before.
The Falcon fighters curled around the outside of the Aegis. "Do not intercept." Ordered Erik. "Run the gauntlet and get to Joshua and his group. That’s priority."
Another squad of fighters came out of the Star Sword to engage the Falcon ships. "That little bastard." Swore Erik to himself. "Mechlanthon’s brought us cover."
Erik flipped up his blackout screen as the surface of his fighter began to heat up on reentry. "The recall beacon is registering near the city of
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
"I'm picking up fifteen mechs ten klicks to the south and closing." Ryan's monotone frightened Joshua.
"We can't outrun them with Joshua's mech damaged like it is." said Juan.
"Move on to full speed. Get away." said Joshua. "No sense sacrificing all of us for me."
"No can do, General." said Ryan. “We can’t leave you behind. They’ll dissect you and discover what you are.”
"I'm ordering you."
“Fuck your orders.” Snapped Lisa. “We stand and fight.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” Interrupted Sebastian. “Now it is time for me to repay my debts, Star Swords. Continue your withdrawal. We’ll hold them here.” The helicopter flew a little ahead of the Star Sword mechs and then touched down. The rebel infantry began disembarking and taking up defensive positions. Their vehicles spread out into similar positions.
"Sebastian, what are you doing? You'll be just as dead as us."
“Please, why do you think we followed you out here? You can’t take us with you and I wouldn’t go anyway. We each have a job to do. You, to escape so you can come back and free this iceball from those bastards. And me, to make sure that happens.”
“You’ll be killed.”
“Better like this than by some ambitious subordinate looking to take over the ‘business.’ We all die somehow. Now, go.”
The Star Swords left their courageous, or perhaps foolish, partners behind. Five minutes later, there was a huge explosion. Joshua paused to look back. A huge wall of fire could be seen on the horizon. There were flashes of energy weapons fire. Joshua shook his head.
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
Dal Pryde frowned with disgust. "If that is all the resistance we will face, this is a waste of good warriors." He looked out the viewscreen at Robert’s Stone Rhino. "More appropriate for the likes of you, freebirth. Do not tell me that these rebels actually kept your forces tied up for over a year?"
“They didn’t normally fight out in the open.” Said Robert as his Stone Rhino stepped over the wreckage of an Asshur scout vehicle. “This was a diversion, meant to buy time for the mechs we are pursuing.”
“Then ignore the retreating survivors. I want to know who these thieves are, who flee us in Battlemechs of our own making.”
"Still, we have been setback by the infantry attack." said one of Dal's subordinates. "I now estimate they are two hours ahead of us."
"They made good time." Said Robert.
"Full speed after them then!" said Dal. "They must pay for the deaths of Jade Falcon warriors with their own blood."
"Oh, come now. After all, they were just freebirths." Retorted Robert slyly.
"Very good. You have teeth after all. I was hoping that worm David had not pulled them all."
“Oh, no,” thought Robert. “He hasn’t pulled them. He’s just reminded me that I have them.”
New Belfast
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
15 August 3051
Joshua brought his mech to a halt. Ahead of him were the grey waters of the
“So this is why they call it the
“Enemy contacts closing fast.” Said Kelly. “They’ve caught up.”
“Come
on, Erik, get that dropship here.” Said Joshua aloud, turning to face the
closing force of BattleMechs.
Dal Pryde surveyed the enemy force. Six mechs, all Omnis of Clan manufacture. One, a battle-damaged Stormcrow was separate from the rest of the group. Dal could tell it was the one that had been limping. "That crippled one is yours, Star Captain. Show us again the skill that earned you Star Captain rank in your trial."
Robert fired his Stone Rhino’s jump jets and rocketed towards it. On the way down, he had a startling revelation. "I know this mech." The green emblem of a man with a telescope on the left breast of the Stormcrow was instantly recognizable.
"It can't be. Where did he get Clan designs?"
Nearby, a Ice Ferret began to move in on the Stormcrow to protect it. "Hello, Lady MacLeod. Your affection for him is still present, even on the battlefield. Too bad, it has exposed your to Mechwarrior Harr." Lasers, cannon fire, and PPC bolts flashed out in the cloud grey sky. The battle was joined.
Suddenly, those same clouds parted to reveal a squad of aerospace fighters. Four of the ships stayed high, two tore down for a strafing run.
Unsuspecting, Mechwarrior Harr and his Grendel closed with Lisa's Ice Ferret. A blast of concentrated laser fire came from the lead strafer, burning a furrow in the snow and going right through Harr's mech. The Grendel exploded.
"Aerospace attack!" said Robert .
The four upper fighters roared past at high speeds. From beneath them came several black canisters. Several dozen meters over the ground, the canisters burst open, spraying a fine mist over the battlefield. A half second later, the mist detonated with the power of a small atomic weapon.
The combined power of the Fuel-Air-Explosive bombs obliterated three of the Clan mechs. It knocked both Dal and Robert’s machines off their feet. On the other side of the blast, the shock wave also knocked over Joshua and his associates.
Dal jerked his mech to his feet first. The FAE had burned away all the snow in the area. The fighters pulled around for another pass. He turned his mech and fired his four PPCs skyward. Two struck home on one of the marauding Star Swords fighters. It peeled off and returned to space, nursing its heavy damage.
"Destroy these invaders." he ordered, barely able to contain his rage.
"Star Colonel!"
From the clouds came a sleek streamlined dropship. It touched down and opened its bay doors. The Star Swords mechs began loading aboard it. Joshua's Stormcrow was the farthest from it and he was backpeddling towards it, slowly.
"Oh no, you don't!" said Robert, firing his jump jets to close with the fleeing Stormcrow.
Joshua saw him coming and opened fire with his lasers. The dropship also saw him and also fired. The Stone Rhino soaked the both barrages and landed less than 200 meters from the limping Stormcrow.
"Did you really think you could escape me, Messer?" snarled Robert over his radio. "You’ll not escape me again!"
"There you are, you son-of-a-bitch." said Joshua in reply. “I wondered how long it would take before you’d slither out in the open.”
The dropship fired again as the Stone Rhino tried to close. The mech sidestepped to avoid the shot, which only blasted the already scorched soil. Robert began watching the dropship, so much so he forgot Joshua temporarily. Joshua's laser barrage reminded him that there were two enemies to worry about. Four medium lasers tore the armor and most of the skeleton beneath to scrap. Robert’s mech lurched forward slowly.
"You little prick!" said Robert, his infamous temper flaring.
Another blast of the dropship's weapons passed near the Rhino, striking a Jaeger Nova and peeling back its armor. Robert fired his heavy pulse lasers into the weapons blister on the dropship, turning the twin PPCs mounted there into molten steel. He then fired the twin gauss rifles at Joshua's Ryoken. Both connected at the elbow of the laser arm, destroying the last of the skeleton there and blowing the arm off.
"Now to finish you, Leftenant Messer.” Taunted O’Malley. He switched his radio to widebeam. “Star Colonel, the one you seek pilots the Stormcrow.”
“Still the hot tempered fool.” Said Joshua. "You should pay more attention." The gauss rifle on the Stormcrow spun around. A single gauss blast destroyed the rest of the Rhino’s damaged leg. The mech crashed over on its back. Joshua, satisfied that his opponent was defeated, turned around and boarded the dropship. PPC blasts from Pryde’s Warhawk pounded against the dropship door.
“Damn you, Star Captain. The Not-Named escapes again.” The dropship roared skyward.
New
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
16 August 3051
"Glad to see you, Joshua." said Erik Iolair through the communications monitor. "How was your little vacation?"
"Rough. Personally, I'd not recommend a trip here until after the Jade Falcons are gone."
"Does that mean?"
"For the time being, yes. But the planet’s not going anywhere."
"True."
"Status report?" asked Joshua.
"Seventeen Clan jumpships in the system as of 2300 hours yesterday. Some are Star League vintage warships, although none match the Star Sword in size and splendor. Others are similar to Inner Sphere ships, mere transports."
"Any change?"
"None, appears they are just sitting there. Perhaps waiting."
"Probably waiting for more arrivals. My guess is the invasion isn't going to be launched for at least a few more days. It gives us some time."
"Time to do what?" asked Erik curiously.
"Warn the Inner Sphere. How long to the jump point?"
"We’ll dock with the Star Sword an hour before she hits the Lagrange point. Intercept with her is in five minutes."
Mechlanthon's voice pierced through from the background. "We have you on our screens now. We are ready to receive you for high speed docking."
Joshua sat back and scratched his chin, making a mental note to shave the week-old beard that had appeared there. "Erik, where are we jumping to?"
"Twycross. If Marshall Steiner kept to her word, we’ll be able to pickup our fourth dropship there. She had it shipped out via command circuit. You can relax now. Your job is over."
"Hardly, I want a list of all possible jump destinations from this system that are within our hands. I want to know where they are going to hit first."
"That’s easy. Aside from Twycross, there’s Danzili, Devin, and Appolikia."
"Twycross is the only one with a vital military target. You can bet we’ll be seeing more of these guys very soon."
Next Chapter
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