Cherry Blossom

Novella I of the Chronicles of the 69th VXF

By Michael Todd

Cover Design by Catalyst Game Labs

Cover Art originally appeared in MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing

Game published by FASA in 1986 on page 48 and was created by Dana
Knutson.
Cover Alterations by Justin Kase
2015 Michael Todd.
All Rights Reserved. Classic BattleTech, BattleTech, Mech, BattleMech and
MechWarrior are copyright and/or registered trademarks of The Topps Company,
Inc in the United States and other countries. Catalyst Game Labs is a trademark of
InMediaRes Productions, LLC.

In case any of you missed it, this is a fan-made book and has no association or
approval, implied or otherwise, from Topps, InMediaRes or Catalyst Game
Labs. No challenge to their trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property is
implied.

No part of this work may be altered or sold for profit, nor otherwise circulated in
any form other than that in which it is published.

Published by Michael Sigil Todd

Somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia

Second Printing: 2016

 Dedication

I would like to thank each member of the BattleTech Fan Fiction

Forum who have taken the time to read the Chronicles of the 69th
Virginia Expeditionary Force, especially those of you who have
commented, pointed out inconsistencies and made suggestions. Your
enthusiasm is what kept this story going.

I would like to also thank my wife, Mariam, my five children,

Layla, Ahmad, Isha, Anousheh, and Jasper, who endured endless
hours of my chattering on about BattleTech.

Also, Captain Jochen Weddle for dragging me back into the

Battletech Universe in the first place.

To Colonel Jason Henley and Lt. Jeff Hamilton for their

inspiration and finally a shoutout to Michael Stackpole for his own
fiction work in the Universe which has served me as a guiding light.

Finally, my thanks to Justin Kase for his willingness to create

such an attractive cover for this work. As much as it pains me, I am
also guilty of judging a book by its cover and I can only hope my
story is as good as his cover.

 Chapter 1
Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
3038

I want to be transferred to the Third Lyran, sir.

Goddamn it, Sigil, I know what youre thinking. You think youre
the first person to lose a brother in the Succession Wars?! For Kerenskys
sake! Sergeant Master Tech Anthems eyebrows furrowed as he looked
away shaking his head.
Look, youre going to be up for Master Tech in two years tops.
Master Tech in, Anthem lifted a calloused finger, One, his fingers
continuing to raise one after another, Two Three Four Five. Five
years. Master Tech in 5 years! Youre goddamn gifted, Sigil, thats what
you are! I cant even recall the last Tech I knew that made Master in 5
years and I know just about every Tech serving in the Lyran Guard. Hell,
it took me 10! The Sergeant ran his hand down from his forehead,
pausing to rub his chin, eyes intent.
Your work with targeting and tracking systems is the best Ive
ever seen. His hand dropped back down to rest on his desk as he paused
for moment. I think you could make Electronics Engineer, Sigil, I really
do.
Pausing once again, Anthems eyes sparkled as a grin crept across
his mouth. Ive read your file, Sigil. The whole thing. Even the report of
your time back in Sanglamore. Including the incident involving the
Kommandants Battlemaster.
He began to laugh. Apparently, you recalibrated the laser optics
so they all fired hot pink and programmed his battle computer to broadcast
a farting sound whenever he fired the PPC! God, I wish I could have been
there to see it!
And, Sgt. Anthem turned serious, I also saw your gunnery
marks, Sigil. Frankly, you suck. You washed out of MechWarrior training
on Sanglamore and thats how you ended up on the Tech track.
Anthem shrugged. With scores like that the best you could hope
for is to be assigned to some backwater planet on garrison duty in an
ancient Stinger. He spread his fingers wide. Third Lyran, front line
combat unit? Forget about it. Those guys are all vets or hotshots, not
Techs who flunked Gunnery.
I know what youre going through. The Dragon took your brother.
You want to make them pay. But think about it. Wasting your talent on
some meaningless assignment or charging off getting yourself killed isnt
going to bring your brother back. It isnt going to do anything. Use your
talents, son, dont try to be something youre not. Im approving you for a
months R&R. Go home, see your parents, have a fling. Take some time.
Think about it.
He handed Sigil a memstick.

Vega
Draconis Combine
3039
What in Blakes Blood are you doing, Leutnant
Sigil!? Hauptmann Jason Henleys scowl was increasing by the second.
Cables were snaking out in all directions from the salvaged remains of a
Kurita Clints cockpit.
Im hacking into the T&T system, sir. This thing still has the
original Sloane 220 Lockover in it! Come on! You must have heard of it
before! Its practically LosTech! Man, Ive been freakin dreaming of
having a chance to play with one. Look at this sir! I knew it! They left
the ballistics profile of the original Armstrong Buster AC/10 in here!
Leutnant, why do I have a bad feeling about this? I remember
what happened the last time you were messing around with a T&T
system. You jacked that salvaged Tek TruTrak into your Grasshopper
and your entire Mech had to be rebooted! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
BATTLEFIELD! IN A HOT COMBAT ZONE! PUTTING YOUR
FELLOW LANCEMATES AT RISK!
The Hauptmann was about to go off like an ammo explosion of
inferno rounds.
Sir, just look at this ballistics readout on that old Buster! Notice
anything odd?
Lt. Sigil, get back to your post immediately! That is a direct
order. Nothing would please me more than to bust your sorry, scrawny
butt back to Tech.
---
Just look at this Weddle! Notice anything? Sigils eyes gleamed
manically as his friend reviewed the readout on the tablet.
Hmm, well, the damage curve at range? Looks like a good 90
meters more than a standard AC/10. Actually, looks almost exactly like a
PPC curve now that I think about it except it doesnt drop off at close
range.
Scroll down and keep looking, Sigil was practically drooling.
 Whats this curve? Leutnant Jochen Weddle paused scratching
his head and staring. I did my elective at Sanglamore in Heavy
Weapons. Looks like a cross between a PPC and a heavy
autocannon. More damage than a particle beam, more range than a heavy
autocannon. What is this?
Sigil was beaming now. Im telling you, Weddle, I just stumbled
across something that could change everything! I checked the serial
number in the cockpit of that Clint we scrapped outside the depot. Its a
freakin CLNT-1-2R! They swapped the Buster 10 for an Armstrong 5 on
the 2-3U. They only made 20 of the 1-2Rs, and, supposedly, all those left
with Kerensky in the Exodus! This one must have had a field refit to
match the 2-3U at some later point so no one knew the difference!
So? What does that have to do with this weird ballistics
readout?
Dont you see!? Thats the readout on the original Star League
era Armstrong Buster AC/10! So get this, from what I can figure out, the
Buster 10 actually has TWICE the rate of fire of a stock
autocannon. Thats what this strange curve shows. I mapped it
all. Imagine you fired TWO rounds in the time it takes a standard AC to
fire one round. But theres a catch, see. Just like missiles, both shots
might not hit the target. You might hit with the first round but not the
second, or, imagine this, you might hit with BOTH! Itd be like getting
slammed by one of the PPCs from Hamiltons Warhammer, except its
coming out of the barrel of a 40-ton mech!
Sigil whistled and grinned.
Man, could you imagine what that would look like, or sound
like? Weddle laughed. Id hate to meet that on the
battlefield. Everyone knows the Clint has paper thin armor and that little
pop gun. When we took the depot, I practically ignored that thing, even
the Jenner registered as a bigger threat. Imagine. WHAM! Taking two
medium-heavy autocannon rounds to the rear. If that doesnt wake you
up, its because youre dead.
Im telling you, Weddle, Sigils eyes filled with fervor, Im
going to bring back the 1-2R. I downloaded the specs from the Sloane
before the Hauptmann ran me off. The 1-2R didnt have the Andoran
Model JJII jump jets. Everyone knows that. But what I suspect is that it
had a 200 fusion engine, a Nissan I bet, not the Pitban 240. The Buster 10
weighed more and they would have had to double the ammo capacity to
match the faster rate of fire too. Where else could have shaved weight
from?
Weddle started laughing. Youre freaking crazy Sigil. Youre
going to resurrect some old Star League Clint design nobody knows about,
carrying some kind of LosTech autocannon no ones ever heard of
before. Youre a real piece of work. Speaking of battles, I hope the
Hauptmann doesnt assign you to guard my flank in whatever mess you
cobble together next. I saw your Grasshopper shut down when you tried
to fire your first shot at the Second Legion. If I was Hamilton, I would
have shoved my PPC up your ass to help you get moving.
Sigil glared back. Ive already put the word out that Im looking
for an Armstrong Buster 10. I think they might still make them on
Bainsville,in the Free Worlds League.
---
What!? Youre salvaging the Clint for parts! Shock was
stamped on Sigils face. But,
Hauptmann Henley cut him off with a look as hard as ferrocrete,
the one they teach in Officer Candidate School that says resistance is
futile.
Leutnant Sigil, the gyro on that thing is damaged. Its missing its
entire right arm and torso and the fusion reactor shielding is
leaking. Dont play stupid with me. We both know the Clint wasnt built
well from the start and finding spare parts is almost impossible. I cant
have you in the lance riding around in some welded together tin can we
cant field repair. And I dont care how good a tech you are. My decision
is final. Deal with it.
Sigil narrowed his eyes cunningly.
Dont think I dont know what youre thinking, Lt. And, might I
add, its dangerously close to insubordination. Go ahead. Ive been
looking for an excuse to reassign you. Make my day.
With that, Hauptmann Henley turned smartly on his immaculately
polished boots and left the Mech bay, the sharp clicks of his precise
military walk echoing off the walls.
Sigil turned back to the severely damaged 40-ton BattleMech with
an audible sigh.
Lt. Jeff Hamiltons head popped out from around the side of a
headless Shadowhawk two bays over.
Its what a Hauptmann does. Crush dreams like an Atlas stepping on a
Locust. Now stop wasting your time and get over here and help me
rebuild this cockpit.
Why is he always busting my chops!? Its like hes out to get me
or something. I mean, HE is the one who got me assigned to this unit. My
last commander told me the Hauptmann asked for me by name. Why
would he do that if all he wants to do is chew me out and shoot down my
ideas faster than a Spider sprinting for cover.
A conspiratorial look passed across Hamiltons face. You didnt
hear this from me, but, Hamilton edged closer as his voice dropped to a
low whisper.
Look at all the salvage we got from the attack on the supply
depot. Hamiltons head motioned towards a Jenner, Panther, Clint,
Shadowhawk, Griffin, and a towering Battlemaster, all tucked away in
various Mech bays. Sure, theyre all trashed except the Battlemaster
and the Shadowhawk, but the Hauptmann has a plan. A grin broke out
across his face.
See? All of us. Me, you, Weddle, and the Hauptmann? All of
our tours of duty end this year. What are you going to do after? You
going to re-up with the Guard? Head back home? Get a real
job? Hamilton was laughing now.
Not me. I was MechWarrior before. Im a MechWarrior
now. And Im going to be a MechWarrior until the Last JumpShip comes
to take me home. Hamiltons eyes gleamed brightly in the dimly lit
repair bay.
Of course, to be a MechWarrior, you need a Mech. His eyes
drifted meaningfully across all of the repair bays filled with salvaged
Mechs.
The Hauptmann is planning something. Smart money says he
wants to start his own unit. Even smarter money says hes going to start it
with this salvage right here. Hamilton crouched down as he continued,
his voice barely a whisper.
The Good Hauptmann Henley conveniently omitted the capture of
these Mechs from his post battle report. I just happened to see a copy of
it. Now, why would he do that I wonder? How incredibly un-
Hauptmann-like dont you think?
Not even the near darkness could hide the huge grin on Hamiltons
face.
Sigils mouth slowly formed into an O as his eyes widened into
saucers. A few strangled mutterings escaped from his throat.
Hamilton nodded as he continued. Mmhmm. And what does
every good merc outfit need, besides Mechs?
Techs! The word exploded from Sigils mouth like flight of
LRMs.
Hamilton stood back up. Yep. Now get your scrawny butt up
that scaffolding and help me rebuild that Shadowhawk cockpit.
---
I knew it! Sure, I was off a bit here and there, but I nailed the
basic concept! Im going to download the memory core from that Clints
Sloane 220 targeting and tracking system and take it over there. I bet with
the advanced diagnostic equipment theyve got, theyll be able to pull out
even more than I did. Im telling you, there is a magic Clint configuration
in there somewhere. And with a little help, and a bit of luck, maybe I can
resurrect it. Man, Snords got all the cool tech! By Kerensky, Id work
for them for free if theyd just give me access to their cache of Star
League electronics! Thanks, man, for getting for me an in with them. Oh,
and no need to mention it to the Hauptmann. Sigils head bobbed up and
down at Weddle in appreciation.
Sure, Sig, no problem. Just let me know if you find out anything
about that enhanced PPC Ive heard rumors about. Id love to surprise one
of those pesky Second Legion Jenners with a PPC bolt at point blank.
Weddle walked away chuckling.
---
LT. SIGIL! WHAT IN BLAKES BLOOD DO YOU THINK
YOU ARE DOING!? The Hauptmanns face was twisted with rage. I
GAVE YOU A DIRECT ORDER TO STOP WORKING ON THAT
CLINT! His face was slowly turning purple.
Sir, You said.
The Hauptmann was howling now. DONT TELL ME WHAT I
SAID! I SHOULD BUST YOUR BUTT BACK TO PRIVATE AND
ASSIGN YOU TO A COOLANT TRUCK!
His gaze swept over the partially dissembled cockpit and the rats
nest of cables running from it into a nearby terminal. Taking a deep
breath, he paused to smooth the creases out of his crisp Lyran Guard
uniform.
This is your final chance, Lt. Sigil. If I see you within LRM
range of that Clint, the next thing youll see is the inside of a military
court. Is that clear?
But, Sir
IS THAT CLEAR!?
Sir, if I could just
Suddenly, Lt. Weddles voice came from across the Mech
Bay. Hauptmann, sir. The Rhonda Irregulars liaison officer requests to
speak with you. Shes in the conference room now.
The Hauptmann snapped a vibroblade sharp 180 degree turn and
with his back turned towards Sigil, said Clean this mess up. Report to
my office at 18:30.
His boot falls echoed with a thump like mortar rounds as he exited
the repair bay.
 ---
Captain Deb HChu was lounging comfortably in the conference
room. Her Star League uniform, one of the strange affectations of the
Irregulars, was a surprise to anyone whod never dealt with the Irregulars
before. The only thing keeping it from being an exact replica was their
unit insignia, an ancient terran quarter-dollar coin. As the Hauptmann
entered, she slid her boots off the table and stood up.
Hauptman Henley. Thank you for meeting with me so
promptly. I was just getting comfortable. I know how most House Units
like to keep us mercs waiting.
She chuckled and continued. Im sure youre familiar with the
reputation of Rhondas Irregulars, both our obsession with collecting
interesting antiquities and our issues following the traditional chain of
command. Its quite refreshing to meet another commander with similar
proclivities.
She smirked.
The Hauptman pulled a chair out from the conference table and sat
down, giving the Captain a disinterested look.
HChu walked over next to him, sitting on the edge of the
conference table causally.
We had a Boomerang in your area. I watched the holovids of
your engagement with the Second Legion. Frankly, we expected the
worst. Your heavy lance against a company of Kurita veterans. She
paused whistling.
The chance for success was minimal. The Guards were just going
through the motions to support our assault on the capital. Rhonda had her
command lance on the way as soon as she had your drop coordinates to
finish the job. That supply depot had to be taken to secure our flank
before we could assault New Egypt proper.
She flashed the Hauptman a crooked smile. Of course, by the
time Rhonda got there, your lance was in full possession of the depot and
the field was littered with a company worth of Second Legion
Mechs. Mission accomplished. Give my compliments to the Awesome
pilot. Hes one serious ace. I saw the vid of him taking the head off that
Hunchback just as the engagement began and then watched those triple
PPCs cut down Mech after Mech from the bluff hed stationed himself
on.
She looked at the Hauptman curiously. The one thing that struck
me as funny was the Hopper pilot, though. Looked like his Mech shut
down early even though it was cool as ice on the IR sensors. Im not sure
I saw him land a single shot during that entire engagement.
 She laughed. And talk about tactics! When most of the
remaining Second Legion Mechs shifted their fire to the Awesome, he
charges off, scraps a Panther with a kick to its torso and then jumps into
the middle of the lake, exposing his rear to more than a lance of enemy
Mechs! And all to take the heat off his lancemate! Blakes Blood! He
couldnt jump back out since the JJs are in the legs! Looked suicidal to
me, but it got the job done.
She was laughing freely now. I dont think he managed to get out
of that lake until the battle was over!
The Hauptman regarded her coolly. Captain, if your purpose
inviting me here was to congratulate me, I was just doing my
job. Hauptmann-General Harbaugh gave me an assignment. I executed it
to the best of my ability. If that is all, I have other duties requiring my
attention.
HChu looked away and sighed, then fixed the Hauptman with a
steely gaze. Ok, fine. Ill get straight to the point. You have something
we want and we have something you need. Reaching into her back
pocket, she slid a tablet toward Henley.
Its your after action report. There is a peculiar omission in it,
Hauptman. She came down hard on his rank. Would you like me to tell
you what is it? Now, she smiled sweetly.
The Hauptman glanced down at the tablet, his eyes narrowing as
his face tightened.
She continued sweetly, Youve got an entire Mech bay filled
with Mechs that dont officially exist. Normally, she tossed her raven
black hair back and laughed, We wouldnt care. Hell, it reminds me of
something Rhonda would do herself! But, it so happens that one of them
is a Star League prototype CLNT-1-2R and we want it.
Henley looked up from the table, his face
expressionless. Interception of classified House communiqus is a Class
2 offense punishable under the Mercenary Review Board. You could lose
your AAA rating.
HChu flashed a smile as she shifted closer to Henley on the
table. A man who knows his rules. I like that. But how about this
instead? The Irregulars will transport all of your salvage back to our base
on Clinton and, once your tour with the Guard is finished, you come pick
them up. Sans the Clint of course.

And, her green eyes sparkled, a recommendation from the Irregulars

can be worth a great deal to a newly founded merc unit looking to land
their first contract.
 HChu hopped off the edge of the conference table, collecting her
tablet. Think about it, Hauptman. You cant leave those Mechs in there
forever. Oh, and you should know that Lt. Sigil was the one who
discovered the Clint was actually a 1-2R. He was walking around
showing off some very interesting ballistics profiles he pulled of its T&T
system. Quite talented, but you better keep an eye on him. I know some
people at Asgard back on Tharkard that would love to see that data.
She sauntered off.

Chapter 2
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Tai-sa Michael Heise looked at his executive office, Chu-sa

Hiyama Yamoto.
What course of action would you recommend, Chu-sa? he asked
as he stroked his graying goatee.
Hiyama paused thoughtfully, her grey eyes straying to the bonsai
tree sitting on his gunmetal desk.
New Egypt is a well-fortified position. Our Sho-sas are all
familiar with the layout and the garrison commander is a competent
man. He has already identified a number of locations where we could
mount effective ambushes. Our combat engineers can rig strategically
located buildings to collapse, destroying, delaying and/or funneling the
Third Lyran to where we want them. We hold a strong defensive position
here. The Lyrans would pay dearly if they assault. However, they do hold
a numerical advantage after the loss of Second Company at the supply
depot. Even considering that, I believe we can hold New Egypt against
them with acceptable losses.
Heise spoke softly, For how long, Hiyama, how long?
Her eyes snapped back to him and away from the bonsai tree. We
hold the StarPort, the seat of government and the HPG station. The Lyran
supply lines are longer than even are own and the population is hostile
towards them. I flip the question back on you, Tai-sa. How long can they
maintain an effective siege of us?
A good recitation of conventional military doctrine. I see your
studies at An Ting University taught you well. I ask you to consider this
Wisdom of the Dragon, Chu-sa Yamoto: Know thy enemy.
 Yamoto tried to cover her confusion. We know the unit
composition of the Third Lyran and their mercenary allies. The Third
Lyran are a fanatically loyal and battle tested unit, but the Second Legion
has fought them before and defeated them. A worthy adversary to whom
we will deny revenge.
And your assessment of Snords Irregulars?
Insubordinate, pillaging and looting dogs! Yamotos eyes flared
to life. Concerned only for their own profit and gain. Utterly
undependable. No respect for the military chain of command. But, they
do field numerous Star-League era Mechs and are considered to be
skilled MechWarriors. Their advanced equipment certainly grants them
an edge, which is undoubtedly how they have managed to survive for so
long.
Heise shook his head slowly, disappointment registering in his
eyes. Put on their neurohelmet, Chu-sa. Look at the situation through
their eyes. The Third Lyran will be overconfident from their complete
victory at the supply depot. They will be overestimating the capability of
their own forces while simultaneously underestimating the capability of
ours. We can salvage that much at least from Cho-sa Kitos abysmal
attempt at defending the depot. The Hauptman-General will feel certain
hes got us up bottled up inside New Egypt and on the defensive. A
reasonable assessment.
Heises eyes drifted over towards the calligraphy hanging on the
walls of his utilitarian office. The motivation of the Lyrans is self-
evident. Consider the Irregulars, however. I am a student of
contemporary military history. Perhaps the instructors at An Ting dont
see the value in it. Wing, Danais, Nestor, Rochelle, Shiloh, Phecda. The
Irregulars fought on all of those worlds. Do you know what all of those
worlds have in common, Chu-sa Yamoto?
Yamoto gave a quick horizontal shake of her head. No, Tai-sa.
Heise returned to stroking his greying goatee. Valuable
antiquities, he paused, then looked directly into her eyes, or lost Star
League facilities. The Irregulars consistently pick their contracts based on
the probability of a planet possessing one or the either. Rare book
collections, antique musical instruments, lost SLDF DropShips, the Jewel
of Sumatra, even the original throne of the Usurper Stefan Amaris.

Tasi-sa Michael Heise gave one of his rare smiles. Chu-sa, assemble The
Legion. Nothing is more dangerous than a wounded Dragon.
---
Rhonda Snord was aboard the Junk Yard, the units Union-class
Dropship. She grinned, remembering the story of how her father had won
it from Melvin McFinney in a poker game some 30 years ago. The unit
had come a long, long way since then. She had taken over from her
father just five years ago, finally convincing him to allow her to field the
Star League Mechs they had accumulated over their years of raiding
SLDF caches. The ComGuards had just rolled theirs out, so why
shouldnt they, her reasoning had gone.
She gazed fondly at the steel bulkheads of the Junk Yard. It had
been with them since the beginning. It was practically a good luck
charm. She still vividly remembered escaping Alexandria in it. That
campaign had been against the Dragon as well.
What have you got for me, Stephen?
The communications tech was pointing towards a large radar
display, its hand sweeping across in slow circles as it updated information.
Two Kurita Leopard-class DropShips launched from the
StarPort. Shortly after, a conventional transport wing took off from the
adjacent airfield. Three PlanetLifters. He whistled. Both had
Aerospace and conventional fighter escort. They want to be sure they get
to wherever theyre going, Id say. They just blew right through the light
air cover that was up.
Rhondas six sense began to tingle. Its something all successful
commanders needed and she was lucky enough to have. That little
sensation that lets you know something big is about to happen so youd
better be prepared. Every campaign has one, the axis point, the singular
moment when its all perfectly balanced and one little move can shift the
momentum of an entire campaign. Winners and losers arent always
determined on the battlefield, they are also decided in moments like these.
She snapped around looking for her XO. Deb, get First Wing in
the air, now! I want Nikmen, Horr and Brekner on the ass of those
PlanetLlifters. Do not engage. Repeat, do not engage. I just want to
know where theyre going.
She turned next to Shorty, barely pausing. Call in all the
Irregulars! Its time to load up and move out. I want this bucket off the
ground in 30 minutes!
She came full circle, returning her attention back to the
communications officer, Stephen. Deb and Shorty were already barking
orders to anyone and everyone nearby as they climbed the ladder down
from the bridge. Open up a comlink to the Third Lyran HQ. Put a lot of
static and interference in it.
She quickly brushed down her Star League uniform, standing
straight as the grainy image of the Third Lyran officer-on-duty flickered in
and out of the DropShips primary display. This is Commanding Officer
Rhonda Snord of Snords Irregulars. We are lifting off in pursuit of two
Kurita DropShips and a conventional transport wing. Immediately clear
the area around my DropShip. Liftoff in T minus 28.
Even the distortion of the signal couldnt hide the surprise on the
Lyran officers face. His mouth opened and closed like a fish for a few
seconds before he finally managed to get something out. You need a
release authorization for your DropShip, sir. This is highly irregular!
Rhonda couldnt keep herself from laughing, saying simply,
Youre damn right! Then she motioned for Stephen to kill the
connection. Tell Captain Quinn were leaving with whoever manages to
get on board in the next, she looked down at her watch, 25 minutes. No
waiting, period.
With that, she flung herself down the bridge ladder and sprinted off
to help secure her command lance for departure. Her voice came booming
up one final time, Keep an eye on those Kurita transports and I want
updates from First Wing the second they make contact. Patch it directly to
my comset!
----
The Junk Yards four giant altitude engines roared to life, blasting
the surrounding area with superheated plasma. The old DropShip
shuddered as it fought against the planets gravity, slowly but surely
winning. Not all of the Irregulars had made it back in time but Rhonda
had expected that. The Junk Yard could only hold a company worth of
them anyhow and every bay was full. Her command lance, along with
most of Lt. Shakes attack lance and Lt. Tomlinsons recon lance, would
make a formidable force.
She had left Captain HChu behind to take command of the
remaining Irregulars. Shorty was with her on the bridge. Rhonda
chuckled. Well Deb was the liaison officer, let her sort out the mess and
smooth the ruffled feathers. She was good at that sort of thing, anyway.
She strolled back over to the comm tech. Got anything new for
me, Stephen?
His chair spun 180 degrees to face her, his brows wrinkled and his
head shaking. I keep looking at the telemetry data on those two Kurita
flights. I also managed to pull some aerial surveillance images from one
of our Boomerangs. I swear both the Leopards and the PlanetLifters left
New Egypt empty. Theres no indication they were ever loaded and given
their airspeed and altitude I just cant help but think theyve got to be
empty! There is no way they could have loaded all those transports right
under our noses and nobody saw anything.
 He looked up at her, his face still puzzled, as he continued. The
Leopards look like theyre going to enter a low planet orbit. Their
trajectory definitely doesnt look like theyre planning to head towards the
JumpShips at the zenith point. It could be theyre going to the same place
as the PlanetLifters. As for the PlanetLifters, he swiveled back, tapped
his console and projected a holographic display of the planet. I can only
guess where theyre headed. If they maintain their current heading, maybe
this cluster of volcanic islands here, but as far as we know theres nothing
there. It just doesnt make any sense to me. There isnt anything of
strategic value anywhere near there!
Rhonda stared at the rotating planet hologram lost in
thought. Nothing we know of, Stephen, nothing we know of
She turned back, Ill be in the ready room. Let me know if
anything changes, and I mean anything! Shorty, join me.
----
Shorty Sneede looked at her. Rhonda had practically grown up
around him. A close friend of her father, Shorty was technically the most
senior combat active member of the Irregulars. Completely reliable, he
had years of hard won combat wisdom. A soldiers solider. She often
sought his advice when Cranston wasnt around, which was almost always
the case now since his heart attack. Cranston spent almost all of his time
running their operations on Clinton.
Shorty continued looking at her, a grin slowly breaking across his
face. Damn, Rhonda! A thirty-minute muster! Blowing off the Third
Lyran chain of command! First Wing in pursuit! What the hell is going
on!? And where in Blakes Blood are we going?! Youre just like your
father and dont be so sure thats a compliment! He chuckled. You
gonna see fit to fill me in or what?
Rhonda tossed a readout to Shorty. Take a look at this. Cranston
took this assignment because of that. A SLDF BattleMech weapons
research facility. He wanted us to check it out and see if there was
anything left. He wasnt sure it even existed but our Lyran friends
salvaged a Star League prototype CLNT-1-2R when they took the supply
depot. I wonder where that came from? It had been refitted to look like a
2-3T but it still had all of the original advanced electronics. Theres
something here! I can smell it, Shorty! All those Kurita transports are
empty. Theyre going to pick up something and I have a feeling I want
it.
Suddenly, the entire DropShip began to rattle violently and then
lurched dangerously to one side sending Rhonda and Shorty sliding down
the now angled floor, fighting to maintain their balance. A fraction of a
second later, the alarm klaxons started screaming. The power flickered
once in warning then failed entirely,and for just a moment, the entire
DropShip was deathly quiet. Then the backup generators kicked on and
the klaxons began to scream once more, emergency lighting filling the
room.

Chapter 3
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Leutnant Daviss recon lance was conducting a routine perimeter

check along the outskirts of New Egypt. Always wary of Legion
Panthers, he kept his lance at least 600m away from the line of now
abandoned buildings that could serve as potential cover. He was used to
seeing the Panthers by now, and sure enough there they were. Two of
them, perched like gargoyles atop a pair of derelict buildings. Not far
from them, were a pair of Jenners atop two more buildings. Of course the
JR7-Ds were strictly short ranged fighters, fast though. They topped out at
over 100kph so they could close in a hurry if they wanted. He rotated the
torso of his 30-ton Valkyrie to track them as his lance passed by.
His Devastator LRM-10 had a good 90m on the Lords Light PPCs
the PNT-9Rs carried. He painted one of them with his Sync Tracker and
chuckled. Keep em honest.
The lance was traveling in a staggered line. Daniels Wasp and
Amys COM-2D were ahead and to the left of him and Gerads COM-1D
was bringing up the rear.
Thats odd. Lt Davis hit the magnification on his sensor
display. Was there something inside the building? The -9R ought not
generate a magnetic signature that large.

He opened his comlink. Gerad, run a full active scan with your Star
Shark on that building the Panthers on. Coordinates 76.5 x 66.7. All
right, Swords! Look sharp, match my speed and stay in tight formation.
Weapons free. I got a funny feeling.
Gerad slowed his Commando, twisting his torso to the right as he
did so, initiating a full spectrum active scan of the building and
surrounding area. As the results began to paint across his HUD, his
Mechs missile lock warning suddenly started blaring, bathing his cockpit
in red from the danger lights. Reflexively, he accelerated, leveling the
heavy laser in his left arm at the Panther atop the building. Target out of
range danced over the silhouetted Kurita mech.
Lt.! I swear theres something inside of that building and its
frickin huge! The mag scan estimates 70 ton plus!
At that same moment, the light lance of Second Legion Mechs all
leapt forward in perfect concert, gouts of flame pouring out of their legs
and torsos as they sailed off the tops of the buildings. Seconds later, the
buildings themselves disintegrated as the light Kurita Mechs hit the
ground running and opened fire.
---
Chu-i Mia smiled in satisfaction as she watched the scanning
Commandos right arm vaporize in the particle stream from her Panthers
Lords Light PPC leaving it with only its SRM-4 to defend itself. Her
lancemate was enjoying similar success, his PPC destroying the entire leg
of the Third Lyran Wasp, sending it spinning in a slow circle then crashing
to the ground. Both Jenners had accelerated to maximum speed, fanning
out to either side of the Lyran Valkyrie and were closing rapidly.
Tai-i Hiro pushed his 80-ton STK-3F Stalker forward, its spherical
nose collapsing what remained of the exterior walls of the building he was
concealed in. He already had the scanning Commando locked in with his
dual Jackson LRM-10s and thanks to the Spar 3c Tight Band targeting
system, he also had a lock on the Commando with his torso mounted
Magna Mk. III heavy lasers. With grim precision he triggered them all,
his Mech shuddering as missiles leapt towards their target and the twin
lasers coalesced on the beleaguered Mech.
The other three buildings revealed their deadly contents as
well. The huge battlefist of an AWS-8Q Awesome shattered the wall,
followed by the first of its three Kreuss particle projection cannons, one of
their long barrels shoving the rest of the wall easily away from its massive
body. The night sky was lit by a trio of azure bolts streaking towards the
second of the Lyran Commandos.
The remainder of the Second Legion assault lance emerged as
well. Two Doombud 15-Racks blossomed into the sky from the shoulders
of a Kurita ARC-7K Archer, supplemented by its pair of large lasers. And
finally, a WHM-6K Warhammer, its huge arm mounted Donal PPCs
pouring forth death onto the hapless Lyran recon lance.
---
It all happened with terrifying slowness. Davis felt like a
spectator, his body refusing to react with the same speed as his mind as the
Kurita assault lance revealed itself. No sooner had Gerad confirmed the
mag scan then all four of the Kurita Mechs came roaring down from their
perches. Daniels Wasp was down in seconds, its leg annihilated by an
advancing Panther. Robbed of its mobility, it was already effectively
scrap.
Gerad, whod eased his Mech in a little closer to run the active
scan, fared even worse. The other Panthers PPC took off his left arm, but
the real damage came from the 80-ton assault Mech thundering out of the
building, belching long range misses and heavy lasers. With the right arm
already missing, many of the LRMs exploded against the right torso,
stripping away the armor in seconds then blowing out the internal
structure behind it. One of the large lasers missed wide, but the second hit
dead center on the torso. Gerads Commando, now missing its entire right
side, and showing internal on its center torso, sagged and then went down
face first into the ground, trashing the gyro as it hit. He had never even
managed to fire.
Daviss eyes darted towards Amys Commando next, just in time
to see two of the three Kreuss heavy particle cannons slam one after
another into her Mechs left torso, the third sending a geyser of dirt and
rock up at her feet. But that was all it took. The SRM-6 ammo was stored
in the left torso and the second PPCs shot set it off. In a blink of the eye,
Amys 25-ton Commando exploded like a firework, raining down flaming
steel and armor fragments where she had stood only seconds before.
Finally, his body caught up with his mind as he stared down the
pair of attacking Jenners. They split to either of side of him moving at
over 100 kph. He slammed down the pedals to the Valkyries jump jets,
turning 90 degrees in mid-air as he jumped away from the coming doom.
He knew it was too late when he heard the missile lock
indicator. Twin Doombud LRM-15s rained down on his thin rear armor,
laying the internal structure bare with the first of multiple impacts. The
two Jenners tracking him at a full run both unleashed devastating alpha
strikes. Eight Agra 3L medium lasers, and a pair of Thunderstroke SRM-
4s all reached to greet him as he tried desperately to jump away. The
Valkyrie was heavily armored for a light Mech but even it could only
withstand so much punishment. When the right rear armor was breached,
he knew it was all over. The only thing in there was his LRM-10
ammo. His last thought was, had he even fired?
---
Tai-sa Michael Heise throttled his Hatamoto-Chi into a run as he
passed through the outskirts of New Egypt. The 80-ton Mech had been a
gift from Gunji-no-Kanrei Theodore Kurita himself when hed been given
command of the Second Legion. He would never forget the Kanreis
words at the transfer of command ceremony.
Tai-sa, the Second Legion is like this Hatamoto-Chi, the Kanrei
began as he motioned to the shining, newly manufactured assault Mech
towering over them. A failed design, now reborn with the savage visage
of the Samuari, and just as deadly. Teach the men and women under your
command the code of Bushido that they may restore their honor, just as
this Hatamoto-Chi has done.
The Hatamoto-Chi was based on the maligned and derided CGR-
1A1 Charger. Originally built as a heavy scout unit, its original armament
consisted exclusively of five Magna Mk. I light lasers, limiting its threat
range to a paltry 90 meters. Shortly after Wells Technologies delivered
the Mech to the Star League, the SLDF withdrew it from service due to
its poor performance and terrible reputation. Only the beginning of the
Succession Wars saved the company and the Mech. Desperate for
BattleMechs of any kind, the Combine had bought large numbers of them.
But, over the past five years Luthien Armor Works, who acquired
the Wells Technology licenses and industrial facilities, had entirely
reworked the 80-ton design, and retooled the production and assembly
lines accordingly. The redesigned Mech carried the HTM-26T
designation. With a pair of arm mounted Tiegart PPCs supplemented with
two Bical short range 6-racks, the -Chi could punch holes in enemy armor
and then exploit those holes with a full salvo of twelve short range
missiles. Plus she carried almost as much armor as the legendary
dreadnaught, the Awesome. Shed be a hard, dangerous kill.
Heise glanced out of the side of his cockpit. Chu-sa Hiyama
Yamoto was keeping pace with him in his former CP-10-Z Cyclops. If
there was one thing he missed about his former Mech, it was the Tacticon
B-2000 battle computer. Capable of projecting a real-time holographic
topographical display of an entire battlefield right down to individual
units, while simultaneously coordinating regiment wide communications,
including DropShips in planetary orbit, it was the premiere mobile
command, control, and communications platform as far as he was
concerned. And, of course, he chuckled, any Mech with a Zeus-36 Mk.
III AC/20 demanded respect, especially when it carried four tons of
ammunition for the devastating heavy caliber cannon.
His command lance was rounded out by a pair of upgraded DRG-
1G Grand Dragons, another gift from the Kanrei. The original Imperator-
A autocannon had been replaced by a Lords Thunder PPC, an additional
Victory 23R medium laser, and two more heat sinks. The new weaponry,
when combined with the existing Telos DecaCluster LRM and two more
Victory lasers, made the Dragon a formidable opponent indeed. And with
a top speed of 86 kph, it was fast enough to guard his flanks and react
quickly to approaching threats.
Heise opened his comlink as his lance passed the still smoking
remains of a Lyran Commando. Chu-sa Yamoto. Status report. He was
still getting used to the idea that he had to depend on her to be his eyes and
ears.
Futao and Yattsu lances have penetrated the perimeter defenses
and are proceeding north-north-east. Iyorozu lance is approximately a
quarter kilometer behind them. Hatachi lance 900m behind Iyorozu,
providing anti-aircraft cover. Yasoji lance is behind us as rear guard. No
significant battle damage. A medium Lyran lance, designated Striker, is
on a vector that will bring them into contact with Fuato and Yattsu in
approximately three minutes. Four Lyran light Mechs have been
destroyed. Im also starting to pick up a lot of encrypted
communications.
Heise nodded. So, the battle for New Egypt has begun, he thought
grimly. Hiyama, triangulate the Lyran communications and route Futao
and Yattsu to the area. They are not, repeat not, to engage element
Striker. Direct them to skirt around the enemy position. The Lyrans will
launch air elements shortly. Mark where they take off and cross-reference
it with the triangulated communications position. Hatachi lance priority is
to deny them aerial intelligence. Vector Iyorozu to intercept
Striker. Keep them in a tight, supporting formation. Hatachi can provide
fire support as needed once all aerial assets are eliminated. I want the
Lyrans blind for as long as possible. Update me on the Irregulars
DropShip as warranted.
Heise had reconfigured the remaining two companies of Legion
Mechs specifically for this assault. Futao and Yattsu lances were
composed of the fastest, most maneuverable Mechs in the Legion and
most of them were jump capable as well. Spiders, Locusts, and Jenners,
as well as an odd Cicada and an Assassin. The lances could travel at a
sustained rate of over 100 kph. Once the Lyran field command post had
been located, theyd move in like lightning and knock it out.
Actually, more like fiery dragons breathe and he allowed himself
a smile.
 Chapter 4
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Leutnant Grant blinked twice at the display, then watched the radar
trace complete another full rotation. Swiveling his chair 180 degrees, he
called to the Officer-on-Duty.
Sir, weve lost contact with Leutnant Daviss recon lance. It just
disappeared. I mean, one sweep all four were there, then next, he
snapped his fingers, poof, just gone! All four of them!
Hauptmann Rachael Miless young face was creased by a
frown. Are you sure your equipment is working properly,
Leutnant? When was the last contact you had with them?
He turned his chair back to his console shrugging his shoulders, his
finger stabbing the display. Heres Charlie Lance. Theres Hauptmann
Thackerly in his Thunderbolt, Leutnant Jones in his Wolverine, Leutnant
Earlys Catapault, and Leutnant Simpsons Centurion. See? Theyre all
moving. Looks like the radar is working fine to me, Sir. The last
transmission we had from Leutnant Davis was a request for his lancemate
to run a full active scan on one the buildings on the periphery of New
Egypt. Coordinates 76.5 x 66.7.
Grants fingers flew over the touchscreen, pulling up an enhanced
aerial display of the outskirts of New Egypt. High-resolution aerial
photographs were overlaid on the topography of the area, along with
extensively labeled road and waterway navigational maps. His finger slid
across the screen pointing to what looked like a small concrete apartment
building. Right here. The image snapped larger, then larger, and larger
once more. He picked up some kind of magnetic anomaly.
Hauptmann Miless frown deepened as she leaned in for a closer
look at the display. You could hide a Mech in there, maybe even a big
one. Open a comlink to Hauptmann Thackerly.
Hauptmann Thackerly, this is Hauptmann Miles, Officer-on-
Duty, Field HQ Beta. Protocol Omega-Foxtrot-Delta-Niner. We just lost
contact with our recon lance. Im sending you the coordinates
now. Proceed to the area and report. Over.
A country twang erupted from the speakers. What a sweet voice
you have, darling! Why you could ask me to do anything and I
would! Coordinates received. In route. Over.
 Trying as hard as she could to stop it, Miless face turned bright
red anyway. Grant was trying equally hard to stifle his laughter, and
failing just as badly. Just watch your ass, Thackerly. Im going to
launch the birds, and wake the Kommandant. Over.
Thackerlys laughter flooded over the link. Id rather be watching
yours, Rach! Ill keep you advised. Over.
Her eyes drilled into the back of Lt. Grant who was trying his best
be to completely absorbed in examining the apartment building, rotating
the view slowly around. I want the Boomerang and the Warriors in the air
and en route in the next five minutes! Satisfied, she executed a precise
military turn and headed towards the miniscule sleeping quarters at the
rear of the mobile headquarters to wake the Kommandant.
Kommandant John Tomlinson was awake in an instant. Rolling
out of his bunk, he slapped the stimkit he kept strapped to his
thigh. Synthetic hormones and neurotransmitters flooded his system
snapping him fully alert in a momentarily disorienting flash.
Report, Hauptmann. He had already covered 20 feet and was
standing in the command center. She rushed to catch up with him.
Weve lost contact with Lt. Daviss recon lance which was
assigned perimeter duty. Hauptmann Thackerlys lance is en route to
investigate and Ive ordered the Boomerang and Warrior VTOLs to assist
in locating.
She gestured to the main display wall. Lt. Grant, pull up the
aerial, mark the last known location of the recon lance, a blow-up of the
apartment building and show Charlie lances present location as well.
As soon as the requested imagery appear, she explained. Lt.
Davis was investigating a magnetic anomaly in this building here when we
lost contact.
The Kommandants mind raced. A raid? A full-scale
assault? Would the Snakes really come out of their fortified positions in
the city? He narrowed his eyes as he turned to Hauptmann Miles.
Get Renfro and Don up and into their Mechs. Have Sargent
Major Velasqez form up the rest of his platoons and reinforce the
perimeter. I want the Scorpions and the Galleons out there too. We might
have some visitors this evening and I want to be sure they receive a proper
reception. Davis, get me GHQ. He wasnt taking any chances.
As if to underscore his thought, the whump, whump of the VTOLs
spinning up filtered in from outside as Miles started issuing commands.

---
Sho-sa Ayamo Uzoris ASN-101 Assassin literally flew over the
ground. With a top speed of 118 kph and a jump capability of 150 meters,
there wasnt another Mech in existence that could match her
maneuverability. As she glanced out of the side of her cockpit, much to
her chagrin, she saw the pair of SDR-5D Spiders attached to her small
command.
The Spider was the single Mech that could, in fact, claim to be
more maneuverable. She watched them pass her own Mech, racing ahead
at a full 130 kph. Its Pitban LFT-10 jump jets could launch the 30-ton
Mech a full 240 meters. Not only that, the unique jump jet control system
allowed the Mech to change direction mid-jump. It was almost
impossible to pin them down and just as hard to simply target the nimble
machines. It wasnt heavily armed, however. Sure, the single Aberdovey
Mk. II medium laser was the finest available, but even it wasnt exactly
considered a weapon capable of taking down another Mech. A pair of
short range Akrum flamers mounted one on each arm, rounded out the
armament of the -5D.
This is a sign, she spoke softly to herself. Humility. Even the
tsunami begins as a small wave far out to sea. We are the ripples that will
grow into a tidal wave of vengeance.
She opened her comlink. Futao! Yattsu! she barked. Maintain
formation! The Spiders and an errant Locust slowed and before long her
eight Mechs were once again evenly spaced, fanned out on either side of
her. She smiled. They actually looked like a wave.
They raced ahead eating up klick after klick at an astonishing rate.
---
Hauptmann Thackerlys Thunderbolt thundered across the plains
throwing up huge clods of dirt in its 65-ton wake. He thumbed his com
circuit. Jones, break formation, and get out ahead of us, you three legged
mongrel! Dont worry about your six, well be right behind you. I wanna
know whats out there ASAP! Early, take my right flank, Simpson,
left. Lets move people!
Lt. Jones throttled his WVR-6R Wolverine to its maximum speed
of 86 kph, just barely 10 kph faster than his lancemates, and began to
slowly pull ahead.
Jones kept one eye on the view screen, and the other on the sweeps
of the Garret T11b. The Hauptmann was a good two-thirds kilometer
behind him when the red pips signifying enemy units appeared far off to
the west at the extreme range of his tracking system. He automatically
adjusted his heading to a rough intercept as he toggled his com.
Thack! Ive got em! Enemy Mechs, he whistled, and moving
fast! The whole unit is moving at 100 plus kph! Im working out their
heading now! Electronics ID on a Locust, Spider, Cicada, another
Locust... a Jenner... too far for visual confirmation. The Garret gives
them a heading of 160 degress...
Jones tried to slam his throttle forward further, cursing as he
discovered his Wolverine just didnt have any more speed to give. He was
already maxed out at 86.4 kph. Im losing them Thack! Theyve
changed course! Theyve got a good 30 kph on me! The comlink filled
with his cursing.
Hauptmann Thakerlys voice was uncharacteristically
tight. Jones, let it go, return to formation. At least we have some idea of
whats out there. Im calling it in.
Charlie Lance to Beta HQ. Hauptmann Thackerly, Protocol
Niner-Delta-Foxtrot-Omega. His voice was still tense, missing his usual
good humor. Electronics ID on five, repeat five, fast moving enemy
Mechs. Coordinates 86.9 x 87.8. Last known heading 160
degrees. Speed 100 klicks plus. No visual ID. Data feed
incoming. Over.
---
Lt. Grant quickly punched up the data feed from Charlie lance onto
the Mobile Headquarters main display. It showed a small group of fast
moving Mechs at the far end of the Wolverines sensor range. They were
there for few seconds, altered course, and then disappeared once again out
of range. The Garret tracking system had labeled them in black indicating
it had only a preliminary identification.
As soon as the replay completed, Kommandant Tomlinson
slammed down the proximity danger klaxon and began barking
orders. Hauptmann Rachael Miles could hear the warning sirens blaring
outside even through the insulated walls of the HQ.
Miles, get your ass into your Phoenix Hawk! Tound up Renfro
and Don and establish a first line of defense! I want you three outside the
HQ perimeter. Go! Now!
Miles rocketed out of the HQ and into what seemed like another
world. As the door flew open, the sound of the warning klaxons hit her
like physical blow. Infantry were swarming all over the place, the harsh
clinking of the metal treads from the APCs, Galleons, and the Scorpion
light tanks adding to the cacophony. The entire scene was lit in relief
from the three quarter moon shining down, which itself looked eerily like
a spotlight. Still she managed to grin as she heard Sargent Major
Velasqezs voice booming over the clamor, bringing order to the chaos.
She scrambled up the metal ladder, taking two, three steps at a
time, flinging herself into the cockpit of her 45-ton war machine. Her
neurohelmet settled onto her shoulders, she initiated the startup sequence
bringing the miniature star to life deep from within the PXH-1Ds GM 270
fusion engine.
Seconds later, the Tek BattleCom communications system came
online and she heard the Kommandants voice on the company
frequency. This is Kommandant Tomlinson. Give em hell
boys! Transferring tactical command to Hauptmann
Thackerly. Designation Thor. Baton down the hatches! Its going to be
one helluva ride! Over.
Renfros Hatchetman and Dons Blackjack had already formed up
on either side of her Phoenix Hawk, following her as she sprinted out of
the HQ perimeter. Her Tru-Trak had already tagged the approaching
enemy Mechs. By the Usurper! she exclaimed watching the two lances
of Kurita Mechs approach impossibly fast.
She thumbed the command frequency, Estimate contact in 90
seconds. Two Locusts, two Spiders, a pair of Jenners, a Cicada and an
Assassin. Heading 331, speed over 100 kph. Good luck. Over.
---
The three Lyran VTOLs, noses down, rotors full tilt, zoomed
through the night air. Lt. Furnass head swept slowly back and forth
scanning for the enemy units he knew were out there. Hauptmann Miles
had already reported contact with a fast moving Second Legion raiding
party likely planning to attack the field HQ. The unspoken question was
whether they had taken out Daviss lance or was it someone else?
He flipped the secondary Federated Spy Camera to infrared, then
quickly reworked the Achernar Air Whistler communications system to
switch over to Hauptmann Thackerlys encrypted channel and off of Beta
HQs. The Kommandant had passed tactical command to the
Hauptmann. Now Thackerly would see whatever he saw and in real-
time. He glanced out of either side of his cockpit at the Warrior H-7
attack helicopters flanking him. Time to find out.
Moments later, Furnas found what he was looking for. He slapped
the magnification to 20x, then 50x, opening his comlink. Condor to
Thor. Electronic and Infrared ID on unidentified
JaegerMech. Coordinates 54.5 x 34.8. No visual. Going in for a closer
look. Over.
 Chapter 5
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Sho-sa Uzoris Garret 500S painted a picture of the Lyran field

headquarters defenses. They were stronger then she had hoped. Three
medium Mechs, four APCs, three light tanks, and given the APCs, at least
four squads of infantry. But only the Phoenix Hawk and the two Galleon
light tanks had anything even approaching the speed of her forces. She
opened her communications circuit.
Emiko, Hikaru, engage Galleon Alpha. Hisoka, Chiyo, target
Galleon Bravo. Hideo, Goro eliminate the infantry. Yoshio and I will
take care of the Phoenix Hawk. High-speed alpha strike pass. Regroup at
waypoint Destiny. Maintain maximum speed. For the Kanrei!
Seconds later, the staccato ring of autocannons filled the air with
their deadly streams of depleted uranium armor piercing slugs. The Lyran
BJ-1 Blackjacks dual Whirlwind-L autocannons tore up the ground as the
pilot walked his fire towards Chiyos Locust. Uzori watched as the rounds
stitched up the Locusts leg, across its torso, then drilled into its right
arm. A bright shower of sparks briefly illuminated the Mech, revealing
the arm now dangling uselessly off the Mech.
Moments later, the Scorpions Deleon 5 autocannon opened
up. Unable to move its turret fast enough, it spewed its rounds harmlessly
wide of its intended target. The tank fire was followed by a broad
cerulean beam from the PXH-1D Phoenix Hawks Harmon heavy
laser. She watched as it streaked directly towards Goros Spider,
vaporizing his Mechs entire left arm with a single hit.
Uzori heard it a fraction of a second before she felt it. The roar of
the HCT-3F Hatchetmans Defiance Killer autocannon. Her Assassin
bucked as the screeching of shredding metal filled her violently vibrating
cockpit. The deadly stream of slugs relentlessly ate away at the thin armor
covering her right torso, then began chewing on the sensitive internal
structure beneath. Her HUD flashed a warning as one of her Lox Lift
Series 1 jump jets located there was destroyed, reducing her jump capacity
to 120 meters.
Amazingly, her unit had managed to close to within weapons range
without taking any losses. Time for the Dragons Breathe, she thought
grimly to herself as she briefly opened her comlink. SRMs, fire!
 She had made one very special modification to her ASN-
101. Originally equipped with a Holly LRM-5, she had replaced it with a
Holly SRM-4. Adding that to the existing SRM-2, and she was able to fire
a full salvo of six short range missiles. As she pressed her firing stub, they
went screaming off towards the Phoenix Hawk.
The Thunderstroke SRM-4s on Emiko and Hisokas Jenners
launched their deadly cargo as well, as four more missiles erupted from
Hikarus -1S Locusts dual Bical Twin-racks. In all, eighteen missiles
went streaking off towards their various targets.
The air was then crisscrossed with medium lasers as both sides
continued to pour fire on each other. The two 30-ton Galleons fired their
Jackson Medium 17s, one going wide, the other burning a line across the
leg of Hikarus -1S. Four Intek medium lasers reached out from the 45-
ton Lyran Blackjack, a pair of them boring two more holes into the armor
of Chiyos Locust and the Phoenix Hawk fired its two Harmon mediums,
scoring another hit on Goros Spider.
Then it was the Hatchetmans turn once more. Twin spears of
light from the Hatchetmans Defiance B3M lasers melted armor from her
right leg and arm. The armor on the entire right side of her Mech had
been stripped clean away. Half of her Assassin flashed dangerously red on
the wire diagram projected on her HUD, the torso already critical. She
fought to maintain control of her hurtling machine, the loss of over a ton
of armor and the violent impact of the Defiance Killer making it a struggle
to keep the Mech upright.
Yoshio! Switch targets! Disable that Hatchetman! Its tearing
me up!
She slewed her Mech dangerously to the right, firing her single
Martell medium laser at the Hatchetman as Yoshios Cicada fired its two
Magna mediums. Two of three shots hit, but both failed to penetrate its
armor.
Yoshio, his Cicada maxed out at almost 130 kph, zeroed in on the
Lyran Hatchetman as it brought back its gleaming steel axe. Everything
slowed to a crawl as Yoshio experienced a moment of sublime clarity. His
life, all of his choices, everything that had happened which had brought
him here, to this moment, snapped into focus. This was it. What Tai-sa
Heise had promised. A chance to redeem his honor. He trigged his
remaining Magna small laser and braced himself for the impact.
Sho-sa Uzori watched in stunned amazement as Yoshios 40-ton
Cicada collided with the Hatchetman at top speed. The Lyran Mechs
cruel hatchet disappearing deep into the Cicadas boxy torso before they
both went down in a jumble of steel and fire.
 Then she was past.
The two Galleon light tanks were simply blown apart by the heavy
firepower of the two combined Jenner/Locust teams as Hideo and Goro
landed their Spiders in a hail of heavy infantry machinegun fire, their
flamers lighting up the night.
Then, the eighteen SRMs exploded. Suddenly, the entire Lyran
field headquarters was engulfed in a single, huge, raging firestorm. Great
pillars of flame rose above the swirling incendiary cloud of death, marking
were the Inferno rounds had impacted.
The Kurita Mechs sped through the apocalyptic scene, machine
guns and small lasers blazing, as they emerged on the far side of the
firestorm like avenging angels.
Sho-sa Ayamo Uzori quickly pivoted her damaged Assassin
around, surveying the hellish scene. Hold position at Destiny. Emiko,
Hisoka, Hikaru, fire another volley of Infernos! Bathe these Lyrans in the
purifying fire of the Dragon!
As the missiles took flight, a crippled Cicada, practically sheared
in half, came limping out of the flames followed by Chiyos hobbled
Locust, one of its legs entirely locked up. Amazingly, they had all made it
through.
The Lyran Blackjack rose out of the maelstrom on its Whitworth
Jetlifters desperately struggling to escape the fiery miasma below it, but its
120 meter range was not enough. It hung there suspended for a brief
moment, then plummeted back down disappearing once more into the
blazing inferno. Seconds later a huge explosion rocked the burning camp,
sending superheated metal shrapnel for hundreds of meters in every
direction as the Blackjack exploded.
Eighteen more missiles detonated over the already decimated
Lyran field headquarters, the fires now raging a blinding superheated
white. Large explosions continuously rocked the camp as various
munitions cooked off in the searing heat, throwing up great gouts of metal
and dirt in their fury.
No way anything could survive that, Uzori thought to herself as
she opened her comlink. Cho-sa Ayamo Uzori. Operation Dragon
Breathe successful. En route to waypoint Blossom. Two Mechs crippled.
Sending them back to the Lair. Over.
---
Only Hauptmann Rachael Miless instincts and lightning fast
reflexes saved her. As the Kurita Mechs charged, she loosened an alpha
strike at the leading Assassin, then stomped down on her Pitban 9000
jump jets.
 The heat levels of her Mech were already dangerously high when
the Inferno rounds exploded, dousing her Mech with a white hot burning
gel and sending the cockpit temperature skyrocketing. The life support
system groaned audibly under the overwhelming strain as warning lights
began to flash all over her HUD. She could see now that the entire Lyran
encampment was aflame. She watched, transfixed, as the two Kurita
lances sprinted right through the heart of it, leaving a swath of fiery
destruction in their wake.
Finally, understanding the true danger, she wrenched her control
stick violently to the side as she continued to lay on the jump jets. The
heat continued to dump mercilessly over her as she made a last ditch
gambit to land outside of the flames.
Her mind sluggish from the hellish temperature inside the cockpit
dimly realized the Phoenix Hawk was falling. The flames rushed up to
meet her and everything went black.
The PXH-1D fell from the sky as its fusion engine shut down,
slamming into the ground at the opposite edge of the doomed
encampment, flames still licking greedily along its torched body.
---
Lt. Bettencourt thought the N&D HandsFree had to be the most
accurate targeting and tracking system ever created, as deadly as it was
simple. Both the Warrior H-7 helicopters StarLon 30mm autocannon and
its TharHes 4-Pack missile system were slaved to it. All he had to do
was look at the target and pull the trigger. How could it get any better
than that?

Hey Furn, slow down a bit, would ya? Id hate to see that Jaeger reach
out and touch you in that glider of yours. Its a long way down, and you
know what they say. It isnt the fall that kills you, its the sudden stop at
the end. Let me and Vess soften em up for ya and give him something to
shoot at other then you, he chuckled.

The two H-7s increased their speed to over 160 kph as they swooped
down towards the JaegerMech. The thing that the really made the
StarLon autocannon stand out was its range. At 720m, it outranged every
mobile weapons platform known to the Inner Sphere, except of course,
another AC/2. Well, then again, those mercs, the Irregulars, had some
pretty interesting looking stuff on those SLDF Mechs they got from
somewhere, so who really knows?

Lt. Furnas swept his unarmored Boomerang in high and behind the
attacking Warriors, all the while cycling through various image
enhancements to the incoming video feed. His senses were tingling. A
lone JaegerMech just seemed suspicious. Bad enough it had the Garret
D2j, legendary for its ability to target even the fastest aerial unit. He
looked at its electronics profile again. Sure, the D2j was one of the
stronger radars, but seriously? That strong?
Then he saw it. Instinctively jerking the yoke back, he put the
craft into a hard, upward left bank.
Bettencourt! Vess! Get the hell outta there! Its a trap! He
screamed into the com as he ripped an enhanced still image from the video
feed, beaming it to back to Hauptmann Thackerly.
---
Tai-i Ammee Puri was waiting to see how long it would take the
Lyrans to discover the trap she had laid for them. The split second she
saw the Boomerang begin to bank, she thumbed her com open, saying
simply, Fire. Over.
As if by magic, the single JaegerMech split into four. Actually, it
was more of an optical illusion than anything else. She had stacked, ok,
more like smashed, inline, the entire Hatachi lance. Where once there had
been only a single JaegerMech, now there were four. A duplicate JM6-S
stepped out from behind the original, a RFL-3N Rifleman from behind it,
and stepping out to the opposite side, came one more Rifleman.
She fancied the effect would look vaguely like a macabre version
of the choreographed showgirl dances shed seen somewhere, probably on
a restricted holovid.
The subtle beauty of the plan was that all four Mechs used exactly
the same communications and T&T systems, both of them made by Garret
SatComm. So, it was likely either the electronic ID would identify it as a
single unit or the pilot would simply misinterpret the data. Hell, both
Mechs were even made by the same company, Kallon Industries, and on
practically the same chassis, though the Jaeger was five tons heavier.
On her command ten autocannons filled the night sky, creating a
glowing river of hypervelocity slugs illuminated by red tracer rounds. It
reached up, engulfing the Lyran VTOLs. Three explosions, like fireworks
during the NewYear celebration, briefly graced the sky, fading away like
cherry blossoms carried on the wind.
She opened her comlink. Tai-a Ammee Puri. Aerial assets
eliminated. Over.
 Chapter 6
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Lt. Sigil was busy snaking a thick power cable up through the right
arm of his GRN-5N Grasshopper when Leutnant Jochen Weddle walked
up.
Hey, Sig, whatcha doin now?
Oh man, Sigil whistled, remember that Irregular tech you
hooked me up with?
Lt. Weddle nodded as he picked up a large magnetic power
coupler.
You wouldnt believe the stuff he let slip! That enhanced PPC
you were asking me about, well, ever hear of a Binary Laser Cannon?
Sigil gave a devilish grin as he affectionately patted the particle cannon
slung underneath his Mechs right arm.
Thats right, baby! WOOT! See this bad boy right here! Well, let
me tell you something! Not only does this thing have 50% more power
than the original, he paused for effect, itll also nail your ass a good
100m further away. Mmhmm, thats right. Sigil was practically
glowing.
Weddle looked skeptical. Have you actually fired that thing?
Sigil turned back, twisting and shoving the heavy power cable
deeper up the Mechs arm.
Sigil frowned. Well, umm, not exactly. I ran a ton of
simulations though and it worked almost all of the time. Mind handing me
up that power coupler?
Weddle clambered up the scaffolding and handed Sigil the
coupler. He leaned over the Mechs exposed right arm, examining the
innards of the modified PPC. So, whatd you do to this thing anyway?
Sigil took the coupler, using it to attach the newly pulled power
feed to a high capacitive sub-assembly, which in turn ran into the familiar
electromagnetic coils that created the weapons awesome power.
Sigil chuckled. Well, there was no way I could get my hands on
the kinda capacitors and coils the Star League used, so I kinda sorta made
my own. Well, not even that exactly. Basically, Im running two sets of
capacitors and coils in parallel and combining them into a single enhanced
particle stream. Its kinda like the Binary Laser Cannon idea, just using a
particle cannon instead. The Irregular tech was explaining the power
output and timing that the Star League cannons used. As I was listening, it
just, WHAM! hit me. At first I was going to put them in-line with each
other, but, uh, the simulations indicated that may not be the err
best design. So I ran them in parallel instead. Man! I cant wait to test
this thing!
Weddle took another skeptical look at the guts of the
weapon. Those coils look way to close together, dont you think? He
laughed, I have a feeling this thing is going to give a whole new meaning
to the word hotshot!
Sigil scowled and finished securing the power coupler, then turned
and started bolting the access hatches back on.
Does the Hauptmann know about this?
Sigil gave him a flat look.
I didnt think so. Just be sure youre not standing anywhere near
my T-bolt when you fire that thing for the first time.
Shaking his head and still chuckling, Weddle clambered back
down the scaffolding.
Sigil called after him, After you see it in action, youll be
BEGGING me to modify the Kreuss thats on yours!
They both turned their heads as they heard the familiar clicking of
the Hauptmanns boots approaching.
Lt. Sigil, it is good to see you working on your own Mech for a
change. Perfect timing, too. The Third Lyran has lost contact with one of
its recon lances patrolling the perimeter of New Egypt. In case they need
assistance, I want our lance combat ready.
Sigils face was a frozen mask but his eyes darted down to Lt.
Weddle who was looking right back up at him, his look caught somewhere
between surprise and serious anxiety.
That means, NOW, soldiers! the Hauptmann bellowed.
In unison, both Sigil and Weddle responded, Yes, sir!
---
The main Lyran Headquarters was in chaos. Colonel Hanley Kay
was seething with anger as he dressed down Deb HChu, the ranking
Irregular officer after Colonel Rhonda Snords abrupt departure on their
DropShip, the Junk Yard.
I dont care what special arrangements you have with the
Archon! I dont care if there is a Star League weapons research facility! I
dont care if a fleet of McKenna battleships from beyond the Periphery
suddenly materializes in orbit! I dont care if your ass is on fire! You DO
NOT leave your post without MY authorization! IS THAT CLEAR!?
 HChu had her game face on. This wasnt the first time Rhonda
Snord had left her holding the bag and there was no way it was going to be
the last either. Sometimes she wondered if Snord had promoted her to
Captain simply because she was so good at dealing with just this kind of
situation. Which, she reflected, was beginning to happen with frightening
regularity.
Yes, sir, Colonel, sir. I understand, sir. Her green eyes sparkled
at she looked directly into the Lyran commanders eyes. She wore her
raven black hair down, cascading off the front and back of her Star League
uniform.
If I may sir, I was just as surprised as you when they launched. I
had no prior knowledge, or warning, of Colonel Snords plans. I find it
difficult to deal with her as a Commanding Officer, especially when she
leaves me in the dark like this, sir. She gave him her best wide, puppy
dog eyes.
He narrowed his eyes dangerously and got right up in her
face. You think Im going to eat up your plate full of bullshit just
because youve got a pretty face!? Im going to let you in on a little
secret, Captain. I know you were on the bridge of the Junk Yard just
before she launched. So dont stand here and try to make a fool out of me
right to my face! Little wads of spittle exploded from his mouth spraying
HChus face as he continued to rant.
NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! DISMISSED!
Captain Deb HChu turned, walking quickly out of the Colonels
office.
That didnt go too well.
---
Hauptmann Thackerly knew he was going to die. It was all there,
laid out on his InstaTrac Mk. X. Six fast-attack Kurita Mechs were
shadowing his lance like a pack of hyenas, just waiting for the right
moment to pounce, always just outside of LRM range. But they wouldnt
have to wait much longer. A Second Legion assault lance was only
moments away from cutting off his last desperate attempt to get cleanly
away.
The nearest friendly forces were the Third Lyran Expeditionary
Force. But there was no way they were going to arrive before the Kurita
assault lance. The assault lance must have been vectored to intercept them
before Beta HQ was even attacked. Normally, even in his Thunderbolt he
would have had a chance to evade the slow moving assault-class
machines, but not now.
He opened his comlink for what would probably be his last
time. Im sorry boys, I truly am. Its been an honor ridin with yall. A
man couldnt ask for a better posse. Wish I had a better plan for yall but
looks like its the Little Bighorn for us. Good luck boys, see you on the
other side! Now!
On his mark, the four Lyran Mechs all sprinted away each in a
different direction. Thackerly was charging the Kurita assault lance,
Simpsons Centurion headed straight for the pack of light Kurita Mechs,
Earlys Catapult headed east splitting the two Kurita forces, and Jones in
his Wolverine made a play for the west towards the Expeditionary Force
base.
Damn, Lt. Jones was a good man, the Hauptmann
reflected. Smart, funny, always followed orders. Thackerly couldnt help
but feel protective of the young Leutnant and since his Wolverine was the
fastest in the lance, he gave him, realistically, the only chance at escape,
and just a thin one at that.
Thackerlys T-bolt and the Kurita assault lance both achieved
missile lock at the same time.
Fifteen long-range missiles launched out of his T-bolts shoulder
mounted Delta Dart heading for the Second Legion Warhammer as he
charged recklessly ahead. Both chest missile bays of the Kurita Archer
opened as well, vomiting forth thirty LRMS as the two arm mounted
Jackson B5c LRM-10s of the Stalker added another twenty missiles to the
enemy volley.
Then the PPCs opened fire. The Awesome was first, with its
three Kreuss cannons, then the Hammer added its two Donals.
Thirty-six missiles exploded all across his Thunderbolt as four of
the particle beams gouged huge chunks of his armor off. But the TDR-5S
was built for planetary assault and in its day was one of the heaviest
Mechs available. With thirteen tons of Ryerson 150, it carried almost as
much armor as assault class Mechs that outweighed him by twenty tons.
As he emerged from the cloud of missile explosions, Thackerly
triggered his Sunglow Type 2 heavy laser just as it came into range. His
single laser was met by four heavies, two each from the Stalker and the -
2K Archer. The inevitable warnings began flashing as three of them
found their mark, one of them breaching the armor of his right torso.
He grinned like a mad man as he continued to barrel forward,
fighting to keep his Mech upright as his own LRMs slammed in the -6K
Hammer and the Sunglow carved half a ton of armor off its right leg. If
he could just make it in close, maybe, just maybe, he could at least take
the Warhammer with him.
As they closed to within 240m, the short-range weapon systems
opened fire. Two Thunderstroke six racks and four Magna Mk. II medium
lasers spewed forth from the Stalker, while the Hammer added its Holly
SRM-6 and two Martell mediums lasers to the volley.
Thackerly answered back with his Bical twin-rack and three
Diverse Optics Type 18 medium lasers. They scored hits all across the
Hammers Leviathon Plus armor, failing to breech it and none of them
hitting its vulnerable right leg.
Then the short-range missiles fell on him like rain, ten of them
exploding against his damaged Mech, as four of the six medium lasers
drilled deep into him. Klaxons screamed at him, followed by the gut-
wrenching screech of collapsing metal as the entire right side of his T-bolt
disintegrated under the concentrated enemy fire. Molten armor and
structure fragments cascaded off of him as the other eight SRMs exploded
against the ground around him. The Bical missile rack had been destroyed
and the Sunglow was gone along with his entire right arm.
He grimaced as if physically feeling the T-bolts pain but at least
he had managed to close with the Second Legion Hammer. He launched
a vicious kick at the -6K, but he already knew, even with 65 tons of heavy
metal behind it, it just simply wasnt going to be enough. Armor plates
crumpled like paper against his heavy foot, breaching the legs protection
and damaging the supporting structure underneath but failing to destroy
any of the delicate actuators located there.
The Second Legion pilot returned the favor, the Warhammers foot
crushing the last of the armor on his own left leg and damaging the
internals but miraculously the T-bolt somehow held together.
He had been granted one more chance. Slapping the overrides,
Thackerly hot-loaded the Delta Dart, his last remaining major weapon
system. Arming the warheads while they were still in the launcher, he
dropped his flickering reticle over the center mass of the Hammer and
direct fired them right into it as he simultaneously triggered his trio of
medium lasers.
The Kurita assault lance continued pouring fire into the
beleaguered T-Bolt. Another round of particle beams, heavy lasers, a half
dozen mediums and flight after flight of short-range missiles coalesced on
Hauptmann Thackerlys Thunderbolt.
And finally it went down.
---
Leutnant Simpsons Centurion accelerated to its maximum speed
of 65 kph as it headed straight for the pack of Second Legion light
Mechs. He quickly scanned the six available targets his Corean B-tech
was tracking, the Assassin drawing his attention first.
 It was the only medium class Mech, although barely that at just 40
tons. But more importantly, almost all of its right side armor had already
been stripped away. A second glance revealed the Locust and one of the
Spiders were also damaged, although not as badly. And of course,
technically, there probably should have been eight not six Mechs, to
make it two full lances. Beta HQ must have gotten in a few licks before it
went off the air.
He dropped his reticle over the Assassin, hearing the satisfying
sound of a missile lock. A second later the Luxor 3R sent a flight of ten
long-range missiles screaming through the air. As he continued his
advance, he trigged the Luxor D-series medium-heavy autocannon,
sending a stream of hypervelocity slugs racing to catch up with the
missiles already arcing overhead.
The Kurita Mechs suddenly galvanized into action. Sprinting
towards Simpsons Centurion, they began closing the distance as quickly
as possible in order to bring their short-range weapon systems to bear.
The LRMs exploded against the ASN-101s right leg, with a single
errant hit along the left arm, as the autocannon shredded three quarters ton
of armor from its opposite leg. Simpson cursed. It wasnt enough to slow
it down.
Then out of corner of his eye, he saw one of the Second Legion -
5D Spiders totally engulfed in missile explosions. The Mech came
skidding out of the smoke on its mangled torso, limbs frozen from the
destruction of its gyro.
Hey, Simpson, didnt think Id let you have all the fun, did
you!? Early almost sounded like he was enjoying himself. Just hold
together a bit longer and Ill drop them one by one like flies around you
with Cattys dual missile packs. You didnt think I was going to leave you
hangin did you, bud?
The Centurion and the Second Legion scout Mechs closed with
each other in a blur, blossoming into deadly weapons fire.
---
Sho-sa Uzori launched both of her SRM racks and her Martell
medium laser at the charging CN9-A. She was rewarded as the enemy
Mech lit up like a roman candle as three of her Inferno rounds detonated
against it, her medium scoring against its left arm. Then she laid hard
into her 100 AFVTA jump jets, sailing cleanly over its head and on
towards the Catapult that had destroyed Hideos Spider.
Emiko and Hisokas two Jenners both unleashed alpha strikes,
sending eight medium lasers and a pair of Thunderstroke SRM-4s at the
woefully outnumbered Third Lyran Guard unit. Hikarus
-1S Locust added its own Martell and twin Bical twin-racks to the
assault. Then, Goros Spider triggered its Aberdovey.
The lasers melted armor all across the Mech and the Centurion
was already burning furiously when five more Inferno rounds added to the
intense blaze. It turned almost white as Goro doused it with his Akrum
flamer, venting superheated plasma directly from the reactor core all over
it.
The Centurion was now surrounded by her Mechs. It kicked
Emikos JR7-D directly in front of it, her left leg seizing up as the hip
actuator was destroyed.
Then the Second Legion returned the favor. Kicking back, they
completely stripped the armor from the Centurions left leg, damaging the
structure underneath and causing the lower leg actuator to fail.
Uzori landed gracefully behind the Lyran Catapult. Almost the
entire wire diagram of her -101 Assassin glowed bright red, but it was still
fully functional. A single hit anywhere would likely put her down but that
was why she had positioned herself safely here.
She struck at its back as the next flight of thirty LRMs took to the
air heading for Hisokas Jenner. She drilled it dead center in the back, but
the Martell by itself just wasnt powerful enough to penetrate the rear
armor of the heavy Lyran Mech. Three more of her Inferno rounds set it
burning, adding to the heat load of enemy Mech, but a single salvo wasnt
going to be enough to bring the 65-ton fire support Mech down.
The four Martells the Catapult carried flashed across the
battlefield, meeting with the LRMs as Hisokas Jenner struggled to absorb
the punishment. Eighteen of the thirty LRMs found their mark destroying
over 25% of the Mechs total armor and opening holes for the Martells to
ruthlessly exploit. One them found the Inferno rounds stored in the
Jenners right torso.
A blinding flash briefly distracted the combatants as Hisokas
Jenner went supernova. Over seventy individual Inferno missiles
simultaneously exploded, breaching the reactor core as they did so,
incinerating 35 tons of military grade steel in a fraction of a second.
The burning Centurion turned, as if trying to shield itself from the
explosion directly in front of it, ending up facing her.
Then Sho-sa Uzori heard the missile lock.
---
Hey Early, looks like Im not the only one with company banging
at the door. Let me return the favor, buddy!
Simpson once again targeted the Assassin and this time he knew he
was going to scrap it. The Luxor autocannon simply blew its left arm off
even as the LRMs completely destroyed its right leg. Through the fire and
smoke, he watched in satisfaction as the 40-ton Mech crashed to the
ground. No way it could get back up missing two limbs. He sent his
remaining two Photech 806c medium lasers at the remaining Jenner,
exposing structure on its stubby right arm and for a fraction of a second
imagined he might yet get out of this alive.
How about a thank you, Early? I swear this mans army has
completely forgotten its manners! He laughed crazily as wave after wave
of intense heat began to cook him alive in his cockpit.
The remaining Second Legion scout Mechs scored hit after hit
with their array of medium lasers melting away almost all of his remaining
armor until finally he heard a sickening crunch and his Mech began to tilt
crazily. His already damaged left leg gave way completely sending him
tumbling to the ground.
Then a second round of Infernos hit him as the remaining Kurita
scouts mobbed him, viciously kicking his fallen Mech as the Spider
watched on, scouring his Mech from top to bottom with its twin flamers.
The last thing Lt. Simpson remembered was seeing his other leg
spinning wildly off.
---
Lt. Early had a front row seat to the entire horrific scene. Those
heartless Kurita bastards! he cursed. He could feel the tears begin
welling up in his eyes. He laid his reticle over the remaining Jenner and
let fly with everything he had as if somehow with one single strike he
could rid the entire battlefield of the Second Legion.
Thirty LRMs and his complement of four Martells ripped into the
damaged Jenner, finishing off its right arm and damaging the right
leg. His heat was already well beyond the safe level as the three
remaining Kurita Mechs rapidly advanced on him, returning fire as they
approached.
Four of their medium lasers hit Catty but she just shrugged it
off. However, the four Infernos and the Akrum flamers were a different
matter entirely. Cattys heat scale spiked, shutdown warnings began
screeching and red danger lights strobed through his cockpit.
For a split second the entire scene appeared bathed in blood from
the red danger lights and then Lt. Early realized it soon would be. Catty
was shutting down.
He yanked the ejection lever. Explosive bolts sent the glassteel
canopy flying off as he rocketed through the wicked Inferno fueled
flames. Briefly suspended in mid-air, he watched helplessly as
Hauptmann Thackerlys Thunderbolt violently collided with a Second
Legion Warhammer, engulfing both Mechs in a huge fireball.
Then the Awesome twisted and cored Catty right through her back
even as she was collapsing to the ground.
---
Lt. Jones slammed his throttle wide open and ran for his life. His
Wolverine maxed out at 86 kph as he put as much distance as possible
between himself and the company of Second Legion Mechs who were
systematically destroying his lancemates.
He couldnt help but watch the rear video feed as his Mech raced
ahead. Simpson charged the Kurita lines, his longtime friend Early
holding his position as he fired round after round of LRMs to support his
friends charge.
Damn it! Wasnt Early supposed to head east and try and get
away? Then he saw it, clear as day. They were all sacrificing themselves
for him.
The Hauptmanns Thunderbolt was shedding armor by the ton as it
closed on a lance of Kurita heavy and assault Mechs, drawing all of their
fire away from him and onto himself. Early had teamed up with Simpson
in an effort to destroy or damage enough of the quick light Mechs that
they wouldnt be able to hunt him down and kill him later.
Thackerly finally made it to the enemy Warhammer and then both
Mechs were obscured in a huge explosion. Earlys twin fifteen racks
dropped a Spider and then a Jenner as Simpsons Centurion turned back
towards his friend, blowing both the leg and arm off an Assassin that had
gotten behind him. Then everything disappeared, lost in the smoke and
fire of the Kurita Infernos rounds.
Jones just continued sprinting further and further away, his eyes
filling with tears as he watched helplessly as his friends died. He was a
good kilometer away now. His Garret T11b showed only three of the six
light Mechs had survived his friends assault. And only two of those
seemed capable of full movement. They made no move to pursue him.
He swore to himself that their sacrifice would not be in vain. Hed
make it to the rendezvous point with the Third Lyran Expeditionary
Force.

---
Hauptmann Rachel Miles awoke still strapped into the cockpit of
her PHX-1D Phoenix Hawk with a blinding headache, cracked and
bleeding lips and a throat that felt thick and parched.
It came back to her in a flash. The Second Legion attack on Beta
HQ. The swirling firestorm from the Infernos. She felt acidic bile rising
up the back of her throat and choked it back down. The utter destruction
of the mobile headquarters. Kommandant Tomlinson. Sergeant Major
Velasquez. Don. Renfro. Dead. Dead. Dead. They were all dead.
Her Hawk was laying on its back like a corpse, still
shutdown. She slapped her stimpack as she greedily sucked down water
from the nearby hydration tube. She was beginning to feel less like a
zombie now, her mind beginning to come alert.
Ok, Rachel, pull it together, girl. You can do this. First things,
first.
She restarted her Hawk. The startup sequence and post power up
checks completed, followed by numerous system status messages scrolling
by.
Miraculously, her Phoenix Hawk was only lightly damaged. She
was essentially fully functional. Thank the stars her Hawk was a -
1D. The -1D replaced the standard machine guns, along with their
ammunition, in favor of two additional heat sinks. If she had that ammo
on board, she knew shed have been dead. She must have crashed down at
the edge of the conflagration, the flames concealing the fact her Mech
wasnt destroyed. Either that, or the Snakes just figured shed been
cooked to death in her cockpit.
Then she remembered Thackerly. The Hauptmanns lance must
still be out there somewhere! Her PXH-1D rose, literally, like a phoenix
from the ashes as she got her Mech back on its feet again.
She turned around, surveying the charred crater that had once been
the field headquarters, causing an involuntarily shudder to pass through
her body. There was simply nothing left. The intense heat combined with
the tons of explosive ordinance that had cooked off had obliterated
everything. Only a few small, unrecognizable metal fragments were left
scattered at the edges of the still smoking ruins.
The Second Legion would pay for this. And she was going to
present them the bill.
She left all of the Hawks active systems off, even the rangefinder.
Stealth is all she had. She cycled her Tek BattleCom to passive receive
only, leaving only her visual display on. She couldnt afford anything that
might give her away to the Kurita radar and tracking systems she knew
were out there.
It didnt take her long to locate the tracks of the two Second legion
lances that had attacked the headquarters. She turned, following them
northwest and darted off into the darkness.
---
 Chapter 7
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Truly, Tai-sa, you have the Wisdom of the Dragon, Chu-sa

Yamoto commented, as she struggled to keep pace with her commanders
Hatamoto-chi in her own 90-ton Cyclops.
Tai-sa Michael Heise allowed himself a rare smile in the privacy of
his cockpit.
Status report, Hiyama.
Futao and Yattsu lances combined have two operational Mechs,
three crippled, two salvageable, and one destroyed. Iyorozu is down to
three operational units, Takashis Warhammer has serious leg
damage. No damage to Hatachi, Yasoji, or our Command lance, sir.
Over.
Enemy damage assessment?
Estimate one BattleMech company and two conventional
companies neutralized. Confirmed kills on ten Mechs, three tanks, two
attack helicopters, one aerial recon asset, four mechanized infantry
platoons and their mobile headquarters unit. Over.
Reconfigure forces as follows: Disband Yattsu lance. Itsumis
Rifleman to Iyorozu replacing Takashis Warhammer. Reconstitute Futao
as follows: Takashis Warhammer, Ammee Puris Jaeger, Hikarus
Locust, and Goros Spider. Tai-i Ammee Puri will command Futao
lance. Reconstitute Hatchi as follows: myself, Nagiro and Hitos Grand
Dragons and Buros Rifleman. I will command Hatachi. Command lance
will be you and Hitsumi Puris Jaeger. No changes to Yasoji. Activate
the salvage crews. Confirm.
Chu-sa Hiyama Yamoto began barking orders over the command
frequency, reorganizing the structure of the Second Legion. One by one
the lance commanders confirmed their orders as Mechs shifted positions
to take up their new posts.
She reported back to Heise, Confirm Yasoji. Confirm
Iyorzu. Confirm Futao. Over.
Heise accelerated his assault mech, his two Grand Dragon
bodyguards flanking him as he joined up with Buris Rifleman. Hitsumis
Jaeger dropped back, taking up the position hed just vacated next to
Yamotos Cyclops.
 Chu-sa Yamoto reported, Confirm Hatachi and Command. All
confirmed. Over.
Yasoji to waypoint Omega, vector 300. Iyorozu to Theta, vector
250. Hatachi to Omicron, vector 135. Futao to waypoint Zeta. Futao is
to maintain access to New Egypt via the road leading east from the Third
Lyran Expeditionary Force position at our former supply depot.

Their secondary objective is to deny the Expeditionary Force an escape

route. Once all lances are in position, we will converge on the supply
depot from three sides. Once the enemy is eliminated, we will move east
along the road Futao is guarding, returning to our Lair in the city. I am
passing tactical command to you, Chu-sa. I will personally take part in the
assault on the supply depot. It is time I avenge Cho-sa Kito so he can find
peace with his ancestors. Hiyama, move to position Foxtrot and
maintain. Only engage if absolutely necessary.
Chu-sa Hiyama Yamoto paused. Heise had just given her tactical
command of the Second Legion.
She subconsciously straightened up in her cockpit, keying the
private comlink to Heise. I am honored by your confidence in me, Tai-
sa.
Then she opened the command channel once more. This is Chu-
sa Hiyama Yamoto. I am assuming tactical command of the Second
Legion. Lance commanders acknowledge. Over.
Heises voice came back over the command frequency
first. Hatachi lance, acknowledged. Seconds later, Taki Matamoto
responded, Yasoji lance, acknowledged, followed by Tai-i Hiro from his
Stalker, Iyorozu lance, acknowledged. Then finally, This is Tai-i
Ammee Puri, Futao lance, acknowledged.
Yamotos heart raced. Somehow being in overall tactical
command was different. There was a weight to it she had never
experienced before. A level of anxiety she was shielded from when Heise
was in command. Operational success or failure was now hers. She
watched on the B-2000 as the Legion split into four, moving towards their
assigned positions as they setup for their assault.
---
Rhonda Snord and Shorty Sneede raced to the bridge of the Junk
Yard. The DropShip had stopped its violent pitching and yawing and at
least temporarily stabilized. But something was certainly wrong, very
wrong, and they were still on emergency power.
Snord bounded up the ladder to the bridge, Sneede right behind
her.
 What the hell is going on Captain! she screamed.
Without even turning around Captain Hawthorne growled back.
One of the altitude engines failed. Ive shut down the
corresponding engine just to keep us from tumbling out of the freakin
sky! Were on 50% power. Prepare to hot drop your Mechs! NOW!
Snord touched the comset in her ear. Mechwarriors, prepare for
immediate deployment!
Hawthorne rumbled on. Trust me, you dont want to be around
when I try to land this bucket of bolts. As things stand now, I dont even
have a snowballs chance in hell, at least not until I dump the weight of all
those war machines fillin her belly! Even if I do manage to land her, she
wont be able to get off the ground again, if shes not a smoking crater
first. She needs a StarPort repair facility before shell ever fly again. He
returned to barking urgent orders to his crew.
As Snord and Sneede turned to race off to their Mechs, the
communications tech yelled out. Incoming Flash communiqu from
Captain HChu!
An unhappy looking Deb HChu flickered to life on the primary
display. Rhonda turned to Shorty, Make sure everyones in their Mechs
and have them double check their ablative drop cocoons! I have a feeling
its going to be rough ride back down!
Sneede slid down the ladder, relaying orders as he dashed off to
the lower Mech bays.
Colonel Snord, the Second Legion of Vega has taken to the
field. Intel is still spotty but we have confirmation of at least a full
company of enemy Mechs, including assault class units. The First of the
Third and the Fifth of the Third are both nonresponsive. Last radar sweep
indicated the Legion was heading towards the supply depot on the west
side of New Egypt. You may recall its the one our friends in the
Expeditionary Force are holding, at least for now. Colonel Kay is still
organizing a response to the Kurita attack. My command is ready for
action. Over.
Colonel Rhonda Snord rubbed her face up and down, taking a deep
breath.
She motioned Hawthorne over, and turned to address HChu on the
comlink.
Ok, heres what were going to do
---
Kittens Ripper chopper was a seriously rare piece of
tech. Originally built by Cal-Boeing for the Star League, its fusion
engine gave it a top speed just shy of 200 kph and it carried a pair of
Omicron 950 medium lasers. Primarily built as a fast troop transport, she
usually carried a squad of Dawgs jump infantry, but tonight it was pure
scouting.
Bingo! Her Datacomm 100 flashed red, showing an electronic ID
of a 55-ton Wolverine. She thumbed her com.
Eyes to EF3. I just got a read on a Wolverine. Im going in for a
visual. Shows as friendly. Over.
Hauptmann Jason Henley responded. Acknowledged. Should be
Thunderbolt, Centurion and a Catapult out there too. Over.

Henley frowned. The last communiqu hed gotten from Hauptmann

Thackerly indicated his lance was on the way to rendezvous with the
Expeditionary Force.
His line of thinking was interrupted by Kittens silky voice.
Confirm visual on the Wolverine. Its one of ours. Transmitting
secure communication frequencies now. Over.
Seconds later, an excited voice came spilling out of the speakers.
This is Lt. Jones, Third Lyran Guard, Second Company. Man, am
I glad to see you guys! I hope you dont mind if I brought some company
along. We smacked right into some serious Kurita iron en route! An
Archer, Warhammer, Stalker and an Awesome, not to mention almost two
lances of light Mechs. I think Thack disabled the Hammer and Early and
Simpson took down almost an entire lance of the lights. I know you were
expecting a few more, but Im the only one who made it out.
The words continued to tumble out of the Leutnants mouth as fast
as he could form them.
I think the whole bloody Legion has taken to the field. We were
dispatched to investigate what happened to the scout lance that was on
perimeter duty. Well, I think I just figured it out. Those assault
Mechs! And aerial reported a mixed lance of Rifleman and JaegerMechs
out there too before we lost contact with them! Beta HQ is off the air! I
think I may be all thats left of the entire company!

The Hauptmanns cool voice cut him off. Lt. Jones, come to heading
260, maintain maximum speed. Im sending you our coordinates
now. What is the condition of your Mech? Over.
Shes fine. I mean, I havent taken any damage, sir. Shes fully
operational. I just got the coordinates. Im adjusting course now and
maintaining speed. Over. He paused, and then remembered, Sir. Over,
sir. Over.
It was obvious he was rattled and with good reason.
 Eyes to EF3! I got a visual on a Phoenix Hawk! I caught an
anomaly on the IR scanner! Its running stealth, no EF at all! Looks like
its T&T and weapons systems are powered down! Over!
Henley frowned again. The frown was quickly becoming his
favorite expression. A Phoenix Hawk? Eyes, conduct a fly over. Scan
for unit insignia and report. Over.
The 10-ton VTOL dove, accelerating rapidly as it leaned forward
streaking through the night sky. Kitten loved the way the Ripper pushed
her back hard against the command seat when she went full tilt. Let the
ground pounders have their big robots, she was addicted to speed.
What she really wanted was an Aerospace fighter. An F-10
Cheetah, or maybe a Seydlitz. Large lasers are nice after all. Ok, she
wouldnt be that picky. As long as it went as least 150 kph, she could
deal. Anything slower and she might as well be walking.
Secretly, shed hoped the Hauptmann had gotten her one when
shed agreed to be transferred to the Expeditionary Force. And if not
straightaway, then surely he would at some point soon. The Hauptmann
was landed gentry after all. He had a title and estates back on his home
world of Whittington, which meant he had money and she believed he
could do anything he wanted.
When she first met Henley, shed hoped something would happen
between them. Shed already left a trail of broken hearts in her wake. She
chuckled. It was her voice. She sounded like a dream over the radio. But
the Hauptmann was all business, a real cool cat. Typical blueblood. She
sighed.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on the approaching
Phoenix Hawk. She was going to pass within less than 200 meters of
it. Itd better be a friendly or that Harmon heavy laser could make things
real interesting.
Eyes to EF3! The Hawks got the Eversword. Looks like one of
ours! Im going to circle around and open a short-range comlink with it.
Hauptmann Henley was still trying to decide about Kitten. She
was a great pilot, of that there was no question. But she had a strong
independent streak. Never hesitates to take action. Even without being
ordered. That cut both ways. Initiative was good, except when it wasnt,
and how could you really tell? In any case, her plan matched what he
would have suggested himself anyway.
He waited. You must trust your people, he thought to himself.
This is Eyes. Standby, Im bridging the Hawk onto the
command frequency now.
Another feminine voice came over the circuit. This is Hauptmann
Rachel Miles, Third Lyran Guard, Second Company. She paused
briefly. Or at least whats left of it.
Before Henley could respond, Lt. Jones broke in. Rach!? Is that
really you!? We all thought you were dead! I mean, Beta HQ transferred
command to Thack and then went off the air! Figured you got bit by the
Snake. Oh man, is it good to hear your voice!
Henley interrupted their reunion. Identity confirmed. Eyes,
transmit Hauptmann Miles the secure command frequencies. We will
send you coordinates once youve switched over to the secure
channels. Over.
There was a short pause followed by a burst of digital static as
Miles jumped frequencies to the encrypted command channel and then
Henley continued. Hauptmann Miles switch to heading 330 and proceed
to checkpoint Nova. Over.
Miles slewed her Mech to the northwest, replying, Coordinates
received, sir. En route now. Over.
What is the status of your Mech? Over.
Light damage, sir. All weapon systems operational. Thank Kerensky I
didnt have any ammo on board! The Snakes are using incendiary
weapons, sir. Inferno rounds and flamers. She choked for a second,
remembering the hellish firestorm that had devoured Beta HQ. The
flames that had eaten her friends, her unit and almost her as well. There
was no more painful way to die than to be burned alive. Recovering, she
closed the conversation with a simple, Over.
EF3 to Eyes. Complete your sweep of the area and return. If any
additional units are detected, do not engage. Do not attempt visual id.
Repeat. Do not engage. Do not attempt visual id. Acknowledge. Over.
Kitten pulled back on the Rippers control stick, leaving the
throttle wide open, sending the VTOL soaring back up into the
sky. Acknowledged. If theyre out there, Ill locate that nest of vipers.
Out.
---
Chu-sa Hiyama Yamoto was watching the holographic display of
her Cyclops B-2000 battle computer. The Irregulars Union-class
DropShip had stalled and then it began to slowly lose altitude.
Interesting, she thought. Possible in-flight malfunction? Or were
they up to something? It appeared to drift for a few moments and then
started sluggishly moving in a new direction. Were they returning to the
Lyran HQ? It was a possibility, but DropShips ought not move that slow
while still in the atmosphere. It was most likely a drive malfunction of
some kind.
 Her first tactical command decision. She froze briefly as she
suddenly felt the weight of the decision settle onto her. Its my
decision. My call.
Her commanding officer, Tai-sa Michael Heise, had given her
tactical command of the Legion so he could personally lead the assault on
the Third Lyran Expeditionary Force. He was even now moving into
position.
She flipped the tight-band encrypted comlink of her Olmstead 840
over to the command frequency.
Transport Wing One. Transport Wing Two. This is acting
commanding officer Chu-sa Hiyama Yamoto. Change course and return
to New Egypt. Approach the city from the southwest. Over.
Whatever the Irregulars were up to, they werent pursuing the
transport wings anymore.
Transport Wing Two. Changing course. Returning to New
Egypt. Over.
Transport Wing One. Acknowledged. Over.
---
The hardest part was the waiting. Hauptmann Jason Henley sat
strapped into his 80-ton ZEU-7S Zeus. Hed gotten one of the new left
arm assembles from Hesperus II just before theyd been deployed. It was
a field refit, replacing the Defiance Autocannon/5 with a Lightning Strike
PPC and a pair of heat sinks. It ran a bit hotter than the stock -6S, but the
extra firepower was definitely worth it. And right now, with a full
company of Second Legion Mechs bearing down, he needed every last bit
of firepower he could get his hands on.
Hed violated the first rule of armored combat and then a few more
after that. In the face of a numerically superior opponent, hed split his
small force into three separate parts and destroyed the traditional four
Mech lance structure while he was at it.
His orders were to hold the supply depot. Three lances of Second
Legion Mechs were basically encircling the base as he watched. Two
assault lances and a medium lance. He didnt really have a choice did
he? He couldnt risk having any one of the Kurita lances overrun his
position, so hed divided up his forces into three groups of two Mechs
each. Thank Kerensky those two Third Lyran Guard Mechs had shown
up at the last minute, otherwise, he wouldnt have stood a
chance. Actually, he barely stood a chance now.
He and Lt. Weddle were positioned on the east side of the
depot. Lt. Hamilton and Sigil were to the south along the road and the two
Lyran Guard pilots were guarding the western approach. Two-to-one odds
and outweighed to boot. All of them.
He watched as the Second Legion assault lance inexorably
approached his position.
He punched up the visual magnification on his TharHes Ares-
7. What the hell was that thing? The electronics ID kept flickering back
and forth between a CGR-1L Charger and Unknown. Except it didnt
look anything like a Charger, with the sole exception of its massive size.
Frankly, it looked like an ancient terran Samurai warlord. This
cant be good.
Henley zoomed in further, letting out an explosive exhale as he
saw the insignia. Three green bars on a field of red. A Colonel. The CO
of the Second Legion. It was the Commanding Officer of the Second
Legion himself coming to say hello.
He swung his camera over to one of the two DRG-1Ns flanking the
Samurai Mech. Great. Bodyguards. The Mechs right arm caught his
eye. Something looked off, he thought to himself. Henley had fought
against House Kurita before, seen a few DRG-1Ns on the battlefield, and
these two didnt exactly match up. Whatever was in their arm, it wasnt
the standard Imperator-A autocannon of that much he was certain.
Great, he thought to himself, the surprises just never end. An elite
assault command lance led by the CO of the Second Legion himself with
newly designed and upgraded BattleMechs. Wonderful.
The RFL-3N barely even registered. It must be standing in for the
Warhammer Leutnant Jones reported as disabled or destroyed.
They formed up, pausing about a kilometer away as the other two
lances reached their positions.
Suddenly the TharHes Calliope ZE-2 locked onto the open
broadcast frequency and a heavily accented voice filtered into his cockpit.
This is Tai-sa Michael Heise, Commanding Officer of the Second
Legion of Vega. You are brave warriors. You have proven this by
defeating Cho-sa Kito and taking possession of the base he was
defending. Now you face overwhelming odds. Your field headquarters
has been destroyed. A company of your Mechs has already fallen to the
Legion. There is no one who can come to your aid. You are alone,
outnumbered, outweighed, outgunned, and outmaneuvered. I offer you
this one chance in honor of your combat prowess. Power down and exit
your BattleMechs. I will repossess this base. You will be dispossessed
and traded in a prisoner swap and allowed to return to your families and to
your lives. I do not enjoy senseless slaughter nor the waste of skilled
pilots and expensive military hardware that follow in its wake. You have
three minutes to respond.
 Henley did the calculation. The same calculation they were all no
doubt doing. And the odds of survival were low. Really low. That and he
had already made special arrangements with the Irregulars to ship the
salvaged Mechs from their first battle back to the Irregular base on
Clinton.
Sure he might be temporarily dispossessed but he had a
Battlemaster waiting for him. Not the illustrious end to his military
service he had envisioned, but at least hed live to fight another day.
He straightened up in his seat. Was he seriously considering
surrender? Really? Surrender? He reflected on the lives of the men and
women under him. John, Jeff, Kitten, Dozer, Dawg, Sigil. Was he asking
them to throw their lives away in a hopeless battle?
Suddenly he thought of Lt. Sigils older brother, James. They had
gone to Sanglamore together. Theyd been best friends and later
lancemates. Hed been killed in action against the Dragon not even a year
ago and for what? Who even remembered James now, except maybe he
and Sigil?
Movement on his Ares-7 caught his eye. Blakes Blood! Lt.
Sigils Grasshopper was charging the Kurita assault lance off to his
right. Sigil was barreling straight towards a Stalker, an Awesome, an
Archer, and a Rifleman!
Henleys cockpit filled with curses.
The com crackled to life again, except this time it was Lt. Sigils
voice.
You killed my brother, you freakin Kurita snakes, and now
youre all gonna pay with your chicken shit lives! Im gonna rip out your
fangs, skin your worthless hides, chop you up and then piss on your
mother! Hows that for a freakin response!?

Chapter 8
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Sigil couldnt believe it. The Hauptmann was actually

considering surrendering to the Kurita scum! The Hauptmann might not
have said anything yet but his silence told him all he needed to know.
Well, hed taken care of that. Now it was time for another round
of payback.

With a wild grin plastered on his face, Sigil charged the Kurita assault
lance.
He commed over to his lance mate. Stay there, Hamilton, Ill be
right back! he chuckled.
He engaged the parallel capacitor and coil assembly of the heavily
modified Lords Light PPC slung under his Hoppers right arm. It began
it build charge.
This thing had better work, Sigil thought to himself, or this is
going to be one real short fight.
He slid to a sudden stop as his rangefinder ticked down to 630m.
Hitting the open frequency as he centered his reticle on the 85-ton
Stalker, he growled. See you in hell, you Kurita scum bag!
Then he pulled the trigger.
There was a pregnant pause, then his Mech started to brown out as
the enhanced particle cannon greedily sucked up almost all of the
available power from the Vox 280 fusion engine. His control systems
flickered ominously as his Mech stuttered.
Then there was an explosive thunderclap followed by a huge
streaking sapphire blue mass of overcharged particles. It slammed into the
Stalkers right arm instantly vaporizing almost an entire ton of its heavy
Valliant Lamellor armor.
The other three Kurita Mechs turned to look at the STK-
3F. Excess electrical energy was still visible crackling and dancing over
its entire right side.
They turned back as one, their torsos all swiveling to target Sigils
Grasshopper. And like a towering steel wall, they began to advance on
him.
Missile lock warnings blared to life in his cockpit a fraction of a
second later as both the Stalker and Archer filled the air with a total of
fifty long range missiles, all targeted at him.
He slammed his Mech into reverse, walking backwards. Range,
600m to the Stalker.
The Tek BattleCom he had refitted in his Mech had a bay for an
optional electronic counter measures module. One of the few, if not the
only, communications systems with an option like that. Sigil had scoured
the Inner Sphere for damaged and salvaged BattleComs. Between about
five damaged units and countless hours, hed been able to reconstruct what
he hoped was a working ECM module. Hed never been able to test
it. Until now.
 In fact, he wasnt even sure exactly what it did. But if ever there
as moment to find out, this was it.
As the four salvos of missiles reached their apex and began
streaking down towards him, he activated the ECM module. His cockpit
went eerily quiet as the missile lock klaxon stopped.
By the Usurper, it actually worked!
His celebration was cut short, however, as missiles began
exploding all around him temporarily obscuring his sight.
---
Lt. Hamilton slammed his fist down on the control surface of his
Warhammer.
Sigil, that stupid sonuvabitch! What the hell was he
thinking!? Bad enough hed threatened to urinate on the Second Legion
Commanders mother, now he was single handedly charging their assault
lance.
Damn right, he was going to stay right where he was. I mean, they
joked back and forth all the time about how all Sig was good for was
drawing enemy fire. But this was ridiculous!
He watched in frustration as Sigils Hopper abruptly stopped and
raised its right arm, there was as strange pause and then Hamiltons jaw
dropped.
A frenzied, surging torrent of deep blue erupted from the barrel of
the Hoppers particle cannon. It flashed through the sky like lightning.
Was that thunder he just heard? Then it actually physically rocked the 85-
ton assault Mech backwards, a ton of armor simply disappearing from its
right arm.
The Kurita Awesome, Archer, and Rifleman all turned to look at
their lance mate, then turned back to the Hopper and launched into a dead
run straight at it. The Archer and Stalker unleashing their LRMs as they
closed.
Hamilton cringed as he watched the missiles.
---
Sigil was walking his Mech backwards as fast as he could manage
as LRMs exploded across his chest.
Fourteen out of fifty had found their mark on him. Just 28%. Not
bad.
He glanced down at the recharge indicator. Come on! Come on!
COME ON!
His finger was poised to trigger the cannon the second it became
fully charged. He knew hed be in deep and serious trouble once the
Kurita lance got within 450 meters and could bring their heavy lasers into
play. It would be bad enough when the Awesome got within range and
started firing trios of Kreuss PPCs.
At 600m, he fired again. Again his Mech browned out but Sigil
was ready for it this time. A second overcharged blast of particles
slammed into the approaching Stalkers left arm.
The Archer and Stalker belching out another salvos of
LRMs. Thankfully, the ECM was still jamming their guidance, wreaking
havoc with their accuracy. Nine more missiles pockmarked the armor of
his left leg and center torso.
570m, hed be within range of the AWE-8Q in seconds.
His enhanced particle projection cannon unleashed its third brutal
torrent, nailing the approaching Stalker dead center, but the 85-ton goliath
just bulled its way through.
The Kurita Rifleman, faster than its two assault brethren, had
closed, bringing its two Imperator-A autocannons into play. Depleted
uranium slugs started chewing into his left arm as eighteen more LRMs
rocked his 70-ton Hopper. He now was taking damage all over. He
fought to keep his Mech upright as it was buffeted by the increasingly
punishing damage.

540 meters. Sigil glanced out of his cockpit. Hed just pulled even with
Hamiltons Warhammer. He flipped the private com channel open.
Hey Hamilton, wanna join the fun!? I brought some friends
along. They like to play rough, he giggled.
Youre freaking crazy, Sigil! Totally, 100%, certifiably
insane! Have you looked at your arm?! I can see it glowing red from
here! Youre going to melt your entire goddamn arm off you blithering
idiot!
As Hamilton watched, Sigils Hopper was engulfed in another
flight of fifty long-range missiles. Three cerulean beams from the
Awesome and dual streams of slugs from the Rifleman disappeared into the
cloud of explosions engulfing his friends Mech.
Out of the maelstrom another thunderous sapphire blast lit up the
night and buried itself deep in the Stalkers left arm. Sparks flew as the
internal structure was breached and critical components were damaged.
Hamilton lined up his two Donal PPCs and fired, adding his own
weapons to the massive hand cannon Sigil was already using to engage the
enemy Stalker. He frowned. The Donals just didnt look as impressive
anymore after watching Sigils ridiculously heavily modified PPC. The
first bolt slammed into the right side of the Mechs chest, the second
melting the remaining armor on the right arm, critically damaging it.
 There was low rubble, followed by a red flash, as the Stalkers
right arm violently exploded. It was followed by a second blinding flash
as the right torso of the Mech burst open like rotten fruit, spewing redhot
scrap metal all around it.
Hamilton actually felt the 85-ton monster crash to the ground,
causing a miniature earthquake as the secondary explosions continued,
ripping through the fusion engine and gyro, until finally, the entire Mech
shuddered, then simply exploded into nothingness.
Sigils voice broke into his cockpit. I just wanna say, that was my
kill!
Well, at least the crazy bastard is still alive, Hamilton thought to
himself.
---
Hauptmann Henley was desperately looking for some kind of
edge. The Second Legion Commanders assessment was all too
accurate. The lance facing him had superior firepower, greater mobility,
numbers and weight all in their favor. He and Weddle were outgunned at
almost every range. He had a slight advantage in LRMs, but that would
only last seconds.
However, sometimes, he thought grimly, seconds were all the
separated life from death, victory from defeat. This was one serious
longshot, though. He grit his teeth as the Kurita command lance began
their advance.
The two 60-ton modified Dragons quickly accelerated to over 85
kph, seeking to close the distance as quickly as possible. They peeled off
from either side of the Samurai, one breaking to the right, the other to the
left, in an effort to flank them. The Samurai, with the RFL-3N trailing
right behind it, came straight at him and Lt. Weddle.
His voice remained calm and collected, even as his insides roiled.
Lt. Weddle, concentrate fire on the right side Dragon, then well
work over the one on the left. We need to maintain the integrity of the
perimeter for as long as possible. We cant afford to let anyone suffer a
rude surprise coming up from behind them. Once theyre inside, theres
nothing left to stop them except for Dozers hovertank and Dawgs
infantry. Weve all got our hands more than full already. We will hold
this line.
Ack. Hauptmann.
Lt. Weddle was as utterly dependable as his 65-ton
Thunderbolt. A rock. Hed guard his flank and stick to him like glue until
the bitter end. He never questioned orders. Never complained. Always
brought his A-game. As good a soldier as a commander could ask
for. Solid German stock.
He snapped back to the present, watching as the rangefinder
continued it relentless countdown.
At long range, he and Weddle sent their Starfire and Delta Dart
LRM-15s to greet the sprinting Dragons. The Dragons returned the
salutation, each with their own Telos DecaCluster.
Henley started walking his Zeus backwards, Weddle keeping in
lock step with him. He had to stay out of range of the Kurita PPCs and
autocannons for as long as possible.
Eighteen LRMs exploded all across the left side of the first
Dragon. He quickly glanced over at Weddles T-bolt. His missile lock
hadnt gone off. They werent targeting him.
He grimaced as he saw the T-bolt absorb a dozen LRMs in
return. Truth was, the T-bolt actually had more armor then his 80-ton
Zeus and the Bolt had a reputation as an extremely reliable and tough
Mech. A hard kill. Most T-bolt pilots thought of their rides as assault
class Mechs and drove them that way too.
He heard the metallic chunking of his Star Fire reloading.
Their second volley crisscrossed once again with the return fire of
the Dragons, filing the night sky with luminescent missile
entrails. Eighteen more slammed into the enemy Mech. Luck was with
him this night, so far at least, as they too clustered on the left side
stripping away almost all of the armor there.
Weddles T-bolt was soaking up the damage like a sponge as
missiles turned more of his armor into scrap across its right side.
The viewfinder rolled on past 500m and just kept going down.
As if in acknowledgement, both sides opened up with their particle
cannons.
Henley took a deep breath and pulled the trigger on his Donal PPC.
Now things were going to get intense. Weddle followed suit a fraction of
second later with his Mechs Sunglow heavy laser.
One bolt hit the right leg, the other the already weakened left torso
of the Dragon. They were into the structure.
Weddles T-bolt staggered as PPC bolt after PPC bolt hammered
his Mech. First, the two Lords Thunder PPCs from the Dragons spalled
armor off his left torso and right leg followed by another two particle
streams from the Samuari, slamming into his chest. Autocannon rounds
from the Rifleman drilled into him as well as he stumbled backwards,
fighting to maintain control.
They exchanged LRM fire for the third time. Weddle was rocked
in his command couch as a cluster of them exploded all around his head,
followed by more explosions along his left arm and chest.
He swore in frustration as his own salvo went wide, exploding
harmlessly as the Dragon raced on towards them.
Thank Kerensky the Hauptmanns aim was true, the Lt.
thought. Again the Dragon was wreathed in missile explosions, throwing
off glowing metal shards at it continued to charge their position.
But the loss of almost four tons of armor in seconds was too much,
even for a Thunderbolt.
It was going down. Weddle fought desperately to keep it moving
backwards, but the sheer force of the four particle streams skewed it one
side and as his left leg came down, it caught, twisting the Mech further
off to one side.
Then he was falling.
The Hauptmann stopped immediately. He saw Weddle go down
first, then he saw his LRMs had land true. The charging Dragon emerged
from the cloud of smoke still at a full run, then spun suddenly and
violently off the right as a huge fireball erupted from its savaged left side,
hurling it to the ground where it convulsed as smaller, secondary
explosions continued to rock its prone form.
He stood sentinel over his fallen comrade hoping to draw the fire
away, to give Weddle time to regain his feet.
No good deed goes unpunished, the Hauptmann thought, as the
dual PPCs from the Samurai scored the armor on his right arm and torso,
and the surviving Dragon, now only 360m away, hit him dead center.
To make matters worse, he also found himself within range of the
Riflemans Magna Mk. II heavy lasers. Good thing it couldnt fire them
both with risking a shutdown. One of the ruby beams sliced through the
air and into his left torso as its Imperator-A autocannon chiseled away at
his left side.
Aim for the left side of the remaining Dragon. That is where the
ammunition is stored. Next target, the CO.
Sorry, Hauptmann, Weddles voice came over the comlink. It
wont happen again, left side, ack, he growled as he levered his 65-ton
Mech back to its feet, unleashing his Donal at the rapidly closing Dragon,
followed almost instantaneously by his Delta Dart missile rack.
Henley added his own Donal and missile rack to the return fire as
well. The DRG was close enough now to bring his Zeuss A5M large
laser into play and he did so without hesitation, the heat now starting to
build up in his cockpit.
Again fate smiled upon them. LRMs clustered heavily along the
left side of the running Dragon, as his PPC ripped armor off its right arm.
Lt. Weddles Donal flew high but his Delta Dart hit the right leg
and exploited the secondary breach in the Dragons right arm, destroying
the upper arm actuator.
But it was the Hauptmans A5M that breached the left torso armor
that protected the DecaClusters explosive munitions. The second DRG-
1G suffered a massive explosion, originating from its left side, sending its
arm pin wheeling through the sky, even as its leg evaporated underneathe
it, spilling the Mech unceremoniously to the ground where it continued to
be wracked by explosions.
The Hauptmann narrowed his eyes. They might survive this
yet. And he better tell High Command about the vulnerability in the new
DRG design.
---
Dozer already knew where the breech in the perimeter was going
to occur.
He was the mobile reserve, to the extent they even had one. Him
and his 50-ton Drillson hovertank.
The Hauptmann had him idling in the center of the depot ready to
break in whatever direction might be necessary to prevent the Kuritans
from getting into the depot, and from there potentially overrunning one of
the few scattered defenders from behind.
He was watching the Second Legion advance even now. The
Hauptmann and Lt. Weddle had fought side-by-side many times and Lt.
Hamilton was the only pilot hed ever met that would wade into battle
with Sigil next to him.
Of course, Hamilton also believed his Warhammer was invincible,
which was probably why he didnt mind having Sig assigned to him in the
first place.
That left the southern approach. What were their names
again? Jones, and the woman, she was a Hauptmann too. XO of Beta
HQ, or was the XO of Beta HQ. Those two were all that were left of the
command now.
He shook his head. Both of them had watched all of their
comrades die earlier that very night and had been running for the lives
ever since. They were rattled, bad. If you listened close enough, you
could hear the strain and fatigue in their voices. The thousand yard stare.
They were also riding the lightest Mechs. A 45-ton Phoenix
Hawk and a 55-ton Wolverine. Solid Mechs, sure, but they werent the
best choice by far when youre forced to defend a location.
He eyed the opposition on that side. He grit his teeth as he saw a
HBK-4G Hunchback. That thing was a killer plain and simple. A SHD-
2K Shadow Hawk, a Trebuchet and a Panther, also known as an Alley Cat,
rounded out the lance.
Ya, theyd crumble. They werent even chatting. Just standing
there waiting like they were facing a firing squad.
No sense hanging around to see if he was going to be proven right.
He shoved the throttle forward, slewing his hovertank around and
raced towards them.
Whadda ya say we take down their Hawk first? As long as we
keep enough range between us and that Hunchys Tomodzuru Type 20, we
oughta be fine. For a while at least. His voice scrapped and scratched
like gravel.
Come on! Say something! You two gotta snap out of it, Dozer
thought to himself as he pulled up next to the two Third Lyran Guard
Mechs or else this fight is gonna be way too short.
He thumbed his com again. Dont tell me youre gonna let an old
crusty tanker like me steal all the glory!
Acknowledged. Who are you again? The female. A good sign.
He gave a rough chortle. Dozer. Ive been defanging Snakes
since you were in diapers, sweetie. Consider me the cavalry.
Then battle was joined.
First, the Trebuchets dual Zeus LRM-15s fired, supported by the
Shadow Hawks Holly 5-rack. Dozer replied with his own Light
Crossbow.
A dozen missiles exploded across the Wolverine as Dozers
grouped nicely on the enemy Hawks left arm blasting away chunks of
armor.
Come on sugar! Lets get that heavy laser of yours into play!
Follow me in!
The three of them surged forward, zigging across the battlefield as
the Alley Cat and Hawk fired their particle cannons and the Trench
Bucket continued to rain down missiles.
The Fusigon and Lords Light both slammed into the Wolverines
torso as another dozen LRMs pock marked its remaining armor, but still
the young Lt. stuck with them.
Dozer sent another flight of ten missiles at the SHD-2K, the
Wolverine finally opening up with its Whirlwind autocannon as
well. Missiles exploded all around its legs, a few hitting the left one, as
autocannon rounds stitched across its right arm. Then, the Phoenix
Hawks Harmon heavy laser flashed across the battlefield, melting a half
ton of armor from its left torso.
 Alright, sweetheart, thats close nuff! Lets start pullin em back
now. Reel em on in. Theyre in our sweet spot.
Dozer threw his Drillson into reverse as he kept a wary eye on the
Hunchback. 330m. Good. That Tomodzuru was the stuff of
nightmares. The Bucket and the Shadow Hawk had closed to 270m but
those Mechs were a good 20 klicks faster than the Hunchback.
A third salvo of LRMs crisscrossed the night sky as the WVR-6R
continued to be the sole target of the Kurita lance. Missiles landed all
around its feet damaging both legs. Two more azure lightning strikes
spalled armor off the left torso and leg, as the Hawks Martell medium
drilled into the now exposed left leg, missing high with its Holly twin-
rack.
Dozers LRMs once again found their mark on the Kurita Shadow
Hawk, dead center this time. The Wolvys autocannon chewed on its left
arm as the Phoenix Hawk alpha-striked with all three of its Harmon
lasers. Armor melted off the left arm, severing the powerful Lang hand
actuator as the mediums struck home along the right side of its
chest. Both the Wolverines Harpoon-6 SRM and Magna laser flew wide
of their mark.
Dozer growled. The boy wasnt going to make it. With both legs
and the center torso already stripped of armor, he was going to fall in
seconds. Maybe, if they were lucky, the Shadow Hawk would go down
too.
Thats it. Keep on comin back. The Trench Bucket cant have
but a few more salvos left and that Hunchy hasnt even been able to fire
yet. Youre doin good. Just hold for a bit longer and well be within the
base perimeter. He gave another rough chuckle. Weve got a few
surprises for em waitin there too.
Another thirty-five LRMs lifted off from the advancing Kurita
lance matched by Dozers paltry ten. All at the optimal range of 210
meters. Twenty-one of them hit the boys Wolverine followed by a pair of
PPCs, a medium laser, and the Holly twin-rack.
Six of Dozers LRMs hit the Shadow Hawks center mass, his
Cyclops heavy laser completely destroying the left arm. The womans
Harmon burned another half-ton of armor off the right arm but she held
back on her mediums. The Wolverines autocannon tore up the right leg,
as five out of six Harpoon SRMs exploded all across it, but even then it
wasnt enough. It emerged from the other side of the smoke.
Dammit! The Wolverine was down. Left leg gone, coolant
pouring out of its damaged reactor shielding, right leg still attached but
just barely. Hardly any armor left on the entire Mech.
 Punch out boy! The Snake aint givin no quarter! Go hole up
deep somewhere and well come git ya when its all over.

Chapter 9
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Chu-sa Hiyama Yamoto watched the battle unfold on her Tacticon

B-2000.
The Expeditionary Force was indeed a formidable opponent. They
had already destroyed Tai-i Hiros Stalker and both Nagiro Yato and Hito
Natashis Grand Dragons. Their Zeus, Thunderbolt, and Grasshopper
were all damaged but still fully functional.
So far, they had only managed to destroy the Wolverine that had
escaped from them earlier that night. A lot would be decided in the next
few moments. Damaged as they were, the Lyrans could totally collapse at
any moment. Tides change quickly, and battle is a fickle thing, she
reflected.
She started walking her ponderous 90-ton war machine to the
southwest, Hitsumi Puri following her. She wanted to position herself to
support either the Tai-sa or to exploit a breech in the southern defensive
perimeter.
She glanced over at the long range radar. The two air transport
wings were well on their way back. The Lyran High Command was either
unwilling or unable to mount a response to their attack on the supply
depot, leaving the Expeditionary Force on their own, any hope of
reinforcements now gone.
Then she noticed the mercenary DropShip. What was it
doing? Earlier it looked like it had suffered a problem with its altitude jets
and abandoned its pursuit of the transport wings. She had assumed it was
returning to the Lyran headquarters.
She had the B-2000 run a series of extrapolations based on its
current trajectory and project the probabilities.
Her Mech stumbled as she froze, turning pale.
They were going to land at the StarPort in New Egypt.
---
Hauptmann Jason Henleys voice, as cool and calm as ever,
boomed over the din of battle in Sigils cockpit. You couldnt tell from
listening to him that the entire command was on the verge of utter
annihilation.
All units pull back to your secondary position.
Which basically meant retreat. Not that there was really much to
fall back to anyway. A cluster of a few hardened storage buildings and a
barracks, surrounding a rudimentary Mech repair facility.
The 80-ton AWS-8Q was still 500m away from him, while the
faster Rifleman and Archer had already closed to within less than
300m. All three of them were untouched, the burning, smoking ruins of
the Stalker silhouetting them from behind as they continued their advance.
Hey, Hamilton, you heard the Hauptmann, get outta here! Ill
cover for you. My Hoppers about shot anyway. Oh, and point your
holocam over here and watch me one-shot this Awesome. Nobodys
gonna believe it unless I got a holovid of it! He gave a maniacal laugh.
He suddenly switched directions, shoving the throttle to the max
and began once more running straight towards the approaching Second
Legion Mechs.
Expletives filled Hamiltons cockpit. They often did.
Sigil! What in the Usurper do you think youre doing! You got
some kind of death wish!? The Hauptmann is gonna have my ass if I let
anything happen to you!
Nah, he wont. Hes too busy at the moment. And hes already
got two of their Mechs down. He probably thinks were goofing off over
here!
The tactical part of Hamiltons mind knew it was the best play they
could make. His Hammer was undamaged and if that crazy git really
could drop the Awesome, he actually had a chance, a slim one, sure, but
still a chance.
He let his Mech continue treading backwards towards the depot,
watching the distance now begin to swiftly open up between him and
Sigil. It was the kind of thing that was hard to watch.
Alright, alright. Im rolling the holocam on ya, he
snorted. You one-shot an Awesome and I swear, Ill HPG it straight to
Solaris. Youll be a freakin rockstar! Itll go viral, and youll have
Mech bunnies all over your ass and your pick of the Stables! An
goddamn idiot is what you are! But Ill tell you what, Ill give that AWS a
little love tap for ya for good luck.
Hamilton aimed and triggered his duel Donal PPCs at the same
time the -8Q fired its trio of Kreuss particle cannons at Sigils Mech. The
Archer let fly with another volley of 30 LRMs from its Doombuds and the
Riflemans medium autocannons along with one of its Magna heavies
poured fire into his friends GHR-5S.
Fours tons worth of armor, structural rigging, actuators, heat sinks,
laser parts and other Mech detritus were either vaporized or blown right
off the 70-ton machine. The entire left side of the Hopper was just
gone. Power cables, coolant pipes, electrical wiring, reactor shielding
and myomer hung like guts spilling out of its sides, but somehow he still
managed to keep on his feet.
Hamilton blinked. The entire lower half of the Grasshoppers
right arm was glowing bright red.

He suddenly inhaled, holding his breath for second, then letting it go,
talking to himself.
Oh man... What in the hell is he doing...
He double-checked the holovid recording.
---
Ya baby! Just gotta get within 200m...
Hamiltons love taps arced past him, hitting the right and center
torso of the Awesome.
Shed held together. His Hopper was one tough bitch. Her left
torso and arm were gone. There was only maybe one ton of armor left on
her in total and most of that was on her right leg.
He glanced down at the status of the matched charging circuits for
his twin PPC capacitors.

150% and rising.

Come on! Come on! Come on, baby! Hold together!
The explosive discharge would undoubtedly destroy the entire
right arm when it went off. But, hey, the right arm was already internal
anyway, so was the right torso for that matter, and the center
too. Kerensky! She was a mess!
He tied in his remaining three Diplan mediums to the fire interrupt
circuit of his custom particle cannon.
180% and still rising!
Next, he tied in the ejection ignition circuit to it as well. The heat
alone from the dually would cook him alive, if the deadly neural feedback
didnt kill him first, and thats if the entire Mech wasnt blow to
smithereens by the next salvo in the first place.
At 200m he pulled the trigger and the entire world erupted into
chaos.
He had a strange, dreamlike, aerial view of the entire scene as the
glassteel canopy blew off and he rocketed into the sky on the command
couch. Thankfully, hed only caught a portion of the neural feedback.
An incredible midnight blue vortex formed around the glowing,
overheated barrel of the modified particle cannon as the Mech continued
ahead pilotless, almost as if it was alive.
A blindingly white, torrid stream of supercharged protons arced
across the battlefield illuminating everything in a stark white light. For a
fleeting moment, his Grasshopper was directly connected to the Awesome
via the particle stream as the image burned into his retina with
otherworldly intensity.
The particle stream passed clear through the right torso of the
Awesome. Its right arm, in pristine condition, simply dropped to the
ground next to it as if it had suddenly become unbolted.
Next, the beam began to eat away at the center torso like some
kind of horrific electric snake. It lasted for a second more, armor pouring
like a metallic waterfall off the Awesome, steaming and puddling at its
feet. Then the reactor shielding gave way, forcing an automatic shutdown
to prevent a catastrophic core meltdown.
The Awesome locked up, crashing to the ground as the remaining
Kurita Mechs returned fire.
The Hopper was already falling as the long range missiles,
autocannon rounds, and heavy lasers destroyed the remaining structural
integrity, causing the Mech to literally fall into pieces.

As Sigil began to slowly float back down to the raging madness below, all
that was left of his Hopper was a pair legs, churning and twitching as if
still trying to reach that Awesome, not realizing that its body was now
gone.
---
Dawg was an adrenaline junky. Not the synthetic kind they put in
the stimpacs, the real kind. The kind your body makes when its pushed to
its extremes.
And he was about to get his fix. The Hauptmann and what was left
of his unit were seeking cover around the Mech hangar in the center of
the depot. And the Dragon was coming in to finish them off. The
perimeter defense was over. It was time to get up close and personal.
Of course, the Dragon had also left him a wonderful pile of
munitions in one of the hardened storage buildings. And it would have
been a pity to waste them, he chuckled.
It was obvious the avenues they were going to use to approach. So
obvious, in fact, hed had his men bury improvised mines along
them. Crates of 20mm and 30mm rounds rigged with remote detonators,
also courtesy of the dead Kurita quartermaster.
And with more SRMs than any reasonable man should ever have
access too, hed set up every man in his 21 member squad, including
himself, with a launcher. They were basically going to use them as one-
shots, fire, drop, and then jump.
He grinned again as he ran his fingers over the remote detonators,
waiting for just the right moment. And it would just keep getting better
from there.
Hed also prepared a secondary position with machine guns within about
60 meters of each of the SRM positions. Theyd all jump back to the
secondary, open fire again even though the rounds would run out in
seconds without a crew to keep it reloaded, and then the real fun would
begin.
The ultimate rush.
---
Tai-sa Michael Heise leaned down in his 80-ton HTM-26T
Hatamoto-Chi picking up the severed arm of the Lyran Thunderbolt,
wielding it like a sword in his left hand. Seconds later he was passing
between a pair of hardened storage building towards the repair facility.
It all happened at once. First, a huge explosion engulfed his right
leg, then the Lyran Zeus opened fire just meters off to his right side, its
A5M and B3M lasers burning into his armor.
His heavily armored right leg shrugged off the damage from the
mine but his left arm and left torso were now dangerously low on armor.
He swung his torso around to face the enemy Mech as he
unleashed a full salvo of twelve short range missiles and one of his Tiegart
particle cannons. Eight SRMs exploded all across the Zeus, his Tiegart
hitting low on the left leg. Still no breeches.
He smiled in satisfaction as he drove the Thunderbolts arm deep
into the left torso of the Zeus, destroying its heavy laser and trashing the
support structure beneath.
The Zeus swung back wildly with its blunt right arm, smashing the
last of the armor from his own left torso and knocking one of his heat
sinks offline.
As the two Mechs grappled, Heise unleashed another salvo of
twelve SRMs, this time at point blank range. Another eight missiles
erupted against the damaged Lyran assault Mech but its armor still held
with the exception of the gaping hole hed opened with his sword in its left
torso seconds before.
He could smell the desperation of the Lyran commander. The
enemy commander disengaged his field inhibitor and fired his particle
cannon at point blank range, in the process destroying the weapon and
mangling the structure underneathe. It added its pair of remaining
medium lasers to the volley as well. The lasers scored a lucky hit,
destroying his right arm and the Tiegart it held, while his right leg
continued to soak up the damage.
He yanked the arm out of the Zeuss left torso and raising it up,
slashed viciously across its right arm, almost destroying it entirely as the
Zeus responded with its own gut punch.
A third volley of SRMs slammed into the Zeus, splaying open its
entire torso, two of them exploding against its head.
The Zeus staggered, dropping to one knee as it responded with the
two Defiance B3M medium lasers it had left. His right leg absorbed yet
another hit. Now it was almost bare of armor. The second laser struck his
left arm as if in a desperate attempt to stop the killing stroke that was only
seconds away but failed.
Then Tai-sa Michael Heise ruthlessly thrust his make-shift sword
deep into the exposed innards of the Zeus, twisting it as it utterly
annihilated the delicate gyro which kept the ZEU-6S upright.
The Zeus slumped face first to the ground and lay there perfectly
still as he stood triumphant over his vanquished enemy. It had been a long
time since hed taken to the field for a visceral, in your face, to the death
brawl. How he had missed it, he realized suddenly.
---
For a brief moment, Lt. Hamilton actually missed the two Sperry-
Browning machines guns hed removed to make space for a pair of
additional heat sinks in his 70-ton Warhammer.
Then all other thoughts were flushed out of his mind, as the
hulking Second Legion ARC-2K Archer came crashing straight through
the bunker he was hiding behind, drilling him with a pair of Diverse
Optics Type 30 heavy lasers as it emerged from the now shattered wall. A
half ton of armor melted off his left leg and right arm as he wheeled his
Mech back. It marked the first damage hed taken since the engagement
began.
He unleashed with the impressive array of short range weaponry
the Hammer carried. Dual Martell mediums, twin Magna smalls, and the
Holly-6 missile pack. Too bad about those machine guns, theyd have
really added a bit of sparkle.
His volley was well clustered along the left side of the Kurita
Archer, savaging the left arm and peppering the rest of its body, but this
too was the first damage the enemy Mech had taken. It would take a few
more salvos to breech the thick armor it carried. He scowled. Actually, it
carried a ton more armor than even his own Warhammer.
The two metal behemoths came crashing together, Hamilton
kicking the Archers already damaged left leg as the battlefist of the
Archer suddenly filled his viewscreen. The glassteel canopy spidered
under the heavy blow but mercifully held as he was whiplashed against his
command couch.
He glanced over and out of the splintered canopy. By the
Usurper! The Hauptmanns Zeus was being violated by what looked like
an ancient sword wielding Samurai, its blade buried deep in the Zeuss
chest, forcing it down to its knees. It looked bad, real bad, for the
Hauptmann.
Ok! This is getting serious!
He quickly snapped his head back around. He had problems of his
own. The Archers Type 30s melted away more of his precious armor,
this time from his left leg and chest.
He growled as he triggered his short range interlock circuit once
again, sending his four lasers and 6-rack directly into the Kurita
Mech. Again he grouped well on the left side, gritting his teeth as the
explosions from his own SRMs washed back on him. Sparks flew from the
Archers left arm as the Type 30 heavy laser was destroyed by his
combination of laser fire and missiles, leaving it with only a single short
range weapon.
The Archers right arm came around again, ricocheting off his left
torso as he struck out again with his leg, crumpling armor plates and
driving into the structure of the Archers left leg for the second time. Still
it held.
It fired its remaining Type 30 heavy at him, sending a half ton of
armor streaming down his left arm as he triggered another devastating
salvo at point blank range. Over its shoulder, he caught a glimpse of its
Rifleman lance mate trying to angle its autocannons into a clear firing
position.
Lasers and missiles erupted all over the ARC-2K destroying
another two tons of its armor and internal structure. The critically
damaged left arm now dangled uselessly, its shoulder actuator destroyed,
then its left leg gave way, sending the 70-ton war machine crashing to the
ground directly onto its vulnerable left side.
He swung the Hammers leg back, viciously kicking the now
downed Mech in the right torso, his foot disappearing deep into the
devastated chassis. Stay down, bitch!
As he stood over the ruined Archer, he swiveled his torso back and
forth looking for the Rifleman he knew was somewhere nearby.
---
Hauptmann Rachel Miles danced backwards in her Phoenix Hawk
to protect her damaged right leg, just keeping out of physical range with
the Kurita TBT-5N as it entered the supply depot proper.
The Second Legion Trebuchet was immediately rocked as it
entered, armor shredding off its right leg as Dawg triggered one of his
improvised mines. She followed up immediately with her trio of Harmon
lasers, scoring a hit on the left arm and clenching her teeth as the other two
lasers burned right through the armor on the right torso, melting away at
the sensitive structure underneath. Too bad it had already exhausted the
ammunition for its Zeus LRM-15s. She could use a lucky break right
about now.
Suddenly, short range missiles began screaming off the tops of the
hardened buildings all around her coalescing on the Kurita Mech and
wreathing it from top to bottom in explosions.
Dawg!
The grunt was getting her back, his jump infantry squad firing
from the rooftops! A fraction of a second later, they were all streaming
away on their jump packs, soaring through the air on small jets of flame as
they shifted positions.
Keeping its feet, the Trebuchet fired back at her with its own trio
of lasers, all Magna Mk. II mediums. She grunted as if feeling the pain of
her 45-ton Hawk as its left arm collapsed in on itself, falling to the ground
smoking. Then her chest went red, as another of the lasers penetrated her
armor. Her Mech stumbled, then staggered, as her gyro took damage but
somehow she kept it on its feet.
Fighting to keep a few dozen meters between them, she fired
again. Damn! Losing that arm had cost her a full third of her
firepower! She glanced nervously at the wire diagram. Her entire right
side and remaining arm were glowing orange. Her chest was already
compromised. She was hurting bad.
Her Harmon heavy went low, hitting the left leg of the
Bucket. She howled in frustration. If only it had hit the mine damaged
right leg it would probably have dropped! Her medium laser penetrated
the right torso but there wasnt anything useful left there anyway.
Now rivers of heavy machine gun fire rained down from reinforced
nests built all along the top of the Mech hangar where Dawgs squad had
fallen back too. Tracers lit up the night as the heavily caliber slugs ate
away at the exposed right torso, hammering relentlessly deeper and deeper
as Miles held her breath and prayed.
 The 50-ton Second Legion Mech sent its three Magnas at her
again. The first drilling deeper into her exposed center torso but blissfully
failing to finish destroying her already weakened gyro. The second hit her
left leg, the only place with any significant amount of armor remaining, as
the last one vaporized a heat sink in the right leg, almost severing it
completely. It probably wouldnt hold if she was forced to jump.
Then, with a tumultuous screech, the right torso of the Trebuchet
disintegrated under Dawgs infantrys concentrated machine gun fire,
sending its right arm, with its two medium lasers, plummeting to the
ground.
Now that about evens things back up, she thought grimly.
She was now literally with her back against the wall, or the Mech
hangar in this case. She was out of room. The TBT-5N would be on her
in seconds and it would take a miracle to survive if the battle got physical.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a glinting, flashing blur of
metal illuminated by the explosions of short range missiles. Her stomach
fell like a rock. The Expeditionary Force commanders Zeus assault
Mech had been driven to one knee. The image was burned forever into
her mind. The Samurai drawing back its flaming sword. Where had it
gotten that!? And then plunging it straight into the chest of the
Hauptmanns Mech, impaling it. She shuddered involuntarily as his
lifeless Mech slumped to the ground.
Was that to be her fate as well?
The fast closing Kurita Trebuchet blocked out the horrible image
as she jerked her reticle over, thumbing her Harmon heavy and medium
for what would likely be the last time. With the entire right side already
destroyed, her lasers burned deep into its chest, but once again failed to
damage the enemy Mechs engine or gyro. She slammed her fist down
on the control surface, screaming at her fate.
Dawgs infantry, still ensconced on the top of the Mech hangar,
continued to pour machine gun fire into the Trebuchet but Miles watched
helplessly as their rate of fire dropped precipitously. They must have
exhausted their prepared positions and were being forced to reload.
The Trebuchet fired it only remaining weapon, the Magna in its
left arm. Everything slowed to a crawl as she watched it head straight for
her right leg. She was already bracing herself as the leg gave way. She
managed to hold her Hawk upright for a split second by leaning against
the wall of the Mech hangar but with her left arm already gone, she just
couldnt maintain it and slid drunkenly off the side of the wall.
The force of her fall damaged the engine reactor shielding, filling
her cockpit with a bloody red light and screeching klaxons. Arm
destroyed, leg destroyed, gyro damaged, engine damaged. She was
finished.
Her com suddenly crackled to life.
Another female voice?
Not very gentlemanly to hit a lady, especially while shes
down. Looks like you need a lesson in manners, Snake!
At almost 200 kph, Kittens 10-ton Ripper VTOL came absolutely
screaming across the night sky. With pin point precision, she sent its two
Omicron 950 medium lasers directly into the Trebuchets exposed center
torso, coring it.
From her cockpit, Miles could hear pieces of the ruined TBT-5N
clanking off her downed Phoenix Hawk. She was spending way too much
time on the ground these days.
Kittens Ripper was gone in a flash, just as quick as it had
appeared, it vanished. Miles could hear the whump, whump of the
Riflemans autocannons as they tried to track it, and whispered a prayer
for her safety.

Chapter 10
Vega
Draconis Combine
3039

Dozer floored his 50-ton Drillson hovertank, accelerating it to 150

kph.
He was going to run the gauntlet.
Probably not his best idea, quite possibly his last, but the command
was on the verge of collapse. Hed been a tanker for over twenty
years. Might even be the best in the LCAF, truth be told. Still, he wasnt
sure exactly why hed signed on with the Hauptmann. Must be that
damned paternal instinct in him.
He took one look at those four boys, another look at the orders
from the Hauptman-General, and knew they didnt stand a chance in hell.
It had diversionary raid stamped all over it. Diversionary raid being
military speak for suicide run. And they were all clueless. They had stars
in their eyes, dreams of glory on their minds, and all the enthusiasm of a
boy on his first trip to the whore house.
If anyone lets you pick the Mech of your choice for a mission, you
better wise up fast to the fact they dont expect to see you again. Thats
why they were sweeting the pot. Like kids in a candy store with a wad of
Kroners burning a hole in their pockets, they saw it as an opportunity to
drive the Mech of their fantasies.
They hadnt made bad choices, mind you, although he was a bit
surprised when the youngest boy picked a Grasshopper. The Zeus,
Warhammer, and the Thunderbolt, they were always in the holovids,
scrapping Mechs left and right as though they were invincible gods of the
battlefield.
But the Grasshopper? Hell, they didnt even make those
anymore. Hadnt been a new one made since Lantren Corporations
factory on Bryant was destroyed in the Second Succession War almost
400 years ago. Why did he know that, anyway?
Well, he had to admit one thing, that boy Sigil was one helluva
tech. He spent every spare nanosecond he had crawling all over that
Hopper and by the time he was finished, hell, it might as well have been
new. Maybe even better than new. Hed made a few modifications to it
while he was tearing it apart and rebuilding it from the ground up. Of
course his gunnery sucked, but you cant have everything.
He wrenched his wandering mind back to the battlefield. Lets
thread the needle shall we?
Mech jocks were always underestimating what a good tanker
could do and it looked like it was time to teach his favorite lesson
again. That, and help keep the Hunchy and Alley Cat off that girls
Phoenix Hawk. Shed have her hands full enough with the Trebuchet.
His Drillson rocketed off, bisecting two buildings, blowing straight
past the Trebuchet, then passing right in between the Kurita HBK-4G and
the PNT-9R. As he passed between the two surprised Mech jocks, he
nailed the Panther with everything he had, even the long range missiles,
though that was just to add to the effect.
His turret mounted Cyclops Eye heavy laser left a long gouge in
the Panthers right leg as his dual Kicker machine guns and matched
HoverTech twin-racks fired. The Panther stumbled backwards as it took
damage scattered all over its chassis, causing its arm mounted Lords
Light particle cannon to fire harmlessly into the air.
A couple of missiles from its Telos Four-Shot exploded against his
front armor but that wasnt what he was worried about.
He was worried about the Tomodzuru Type 20.
That was why he was racing at flank speed. Hoping to get out of
range of that deadly weapon as quick as possible. Thank the Archon, the
Drillson was seriously fast.
He heard the lethal roar of the Tomodzuru firing. He recognized it
instantly. It was the kind of weapon that once you heard, youd never
forget. Ever. Assuming you lived, that is.
The Drillson heaved and started bucking as he fought with the
controls. The entire left side armor has been stripped completely bare. It
was actually a miracle hed survived even a single shot from the
devastating cannon.
The hovertank side-slipped wildly but he kept his foot stomped on
the throttle. Only putting space between him and the Hunchback would
save him, although he figured this is one battle he probably wouldnt
survive. It was insanity to go up against a Hunchback in a hovertank.
Deep down even he knew it. Even assault BattleMechs respect the 50-ton
HBK.
He slewed the Drillson around, barely controlled chaos, but
thankfully hed opened up the range once more. He let loose with the
Cyclops Eye and the Light Crossbow LRM, again targeting the 35-ton
Panther. Missiles exploded all over its left leg as the heavy laser hit
center mass. Not bad. There was an outside chance he could drop it next
round if he just could survive that long.
The Panthers Lords Light particle cannon slammed into the right
side of his tank, damaging the fans and taking a good 20 klicks off his top
speed. And speed equals life in a hover.
Well, hed certainly gotten their attention. Both the Second Legion
Mechs had turned away from the depot as they sought to pin him
down. That part of the mission at least hed accomplished.
He took a deep breath, quickly checking his Evil Eye targeting and
tracking system. Ok. It was time. The T-bolt and Hopper had already
dropped, now both the Hauptmanns were down as well. All that was left
was Hamiltons Hammer, Dawgs infantry, and him.
He watched as the Trebuchet suddenly went down, followed by
streams of tracers from the enemy Riflemans Imperator-A autocannons
filling the sky. Oh, ya, Kitten too. Things must be getting desperate if
shes engaging in that tiny mosquito of hers. Got a nice bite, though, he
chuckled.
He brought the Drillson around again, his foot never leaving the
throttle. He slewed across the battlefield, finally straightening up at
almost 120 kph and pointed directly at the Hunchback.
He let loose with another fully volley of weapons at the Alley Cat.
The Crossbow sending its missiles exploding across the damaged right
leg, destroying its foot and one of its Lexington Liftor jump jets. Thatd
slow it down a bit at least.
The Cyclops bore into its center mass once again and he could tell
from how the Mech jerked awkwardly, hed hit the gyro. Short range
missiles exploded across its right side, but the stubborn Mech wasnt
going to go down.
Damn.
Hed always got a kick out of military acronyms. And one of them
popped unbidden into his mind. M.A.D. Yep. Thats exactly what this
was. Mutually Assured Destruction. Why was that suddenly so funny?
He was laughing crazily as he slammed his Drillson full speed into
the left leg of the Hunchback even as the familiar buzz of the Tomodzuru
filled his ears.
---
There were Mechs converging on his Warhammer from three
directions, led by a one-armed, sword-wielding 80-ton Samurai. A
damaged Panther approached from another side and a Rifleman from yet
another.
Lt. Hamilton was the last Lyran Mech left standing.
This is getting good.
He canted both Donals apart, simultaneously sending azure bolts of
supercharged particles slamming into both the Panther and Samurai as
they returned fire with their own PPCs and short range missiles.
The first Donal went straight through the Panthers right torso,
sending its arm cartwheeling away before penetrating the engine
shielding. Blue coolant cascaded down its chest and legs as four missiles
from its Telos went arcing up towards Dawgs infantry on the roof of the
Mech bay.
The second Donal cored through the damaged left torso of the
charging Samauri as it sent its remaining six rack at the infantry hunkered
down on the roof. It turned as if in disbelief looking at its now ruined left
side, the dangerous sword wielding arm now severed off. But it came on
anyway.
Damn, Im good.
Then his Hammer was rocked by their return fire. The Panthers
Lords Light tore into the right side of his chest, the last undamaged
location on his Mech. The Samurais Tiegart PPC hit him dead center,
vaporizing the remaining armor and beginning to eat away at his guts, but
somehow failing to damage anything important.
He saw the roof of the Mech hangar covered in explosions as ten
short range missiles detonated against it. Out of the fire and smoke, the
remaining jump infantry took to the sky bounding towards the damaged
building at his back.
Now he was taking fire from the rear as the Riflemans Imperator
As sent slug after slug into his back. Then it added its heavy Magna to the
mix, until the entirety of his rear armor was all but gone in just a matter of
a few seconds.
He backed his Mech into the cavernous hole in the storage
building made by the downed Kurita Archer seeking whatever little cover
it may provide. Hed just have to suck up the RFN in his rear, there just
wasnt anywhere else to go.
Time to get up close and personal. Good thing hed showered
earlier. Was the holovid cam still rolling? Man, wait till Sig sees
this! His mind scattered as the three Second Legion Mechs bore down on
him.
Guess its gonna get a little hot.
He flipped off the field inhibitors. On both Donals.
---
Dawg and what was left of his squad leapt from the Mech hangar
to the roof of the damaged storage building where Hamilton was making
his final stand. He saw the Panther and armless Samurai crashing into the
Warhammer just as he lifted off again, hurling himself towards the Second
Legion Rifleman.
His men were all around him, riding their own jets of pure
flame. More had survived the SRM attack than he had first thought, he
realized. Not all of them, but most of them for sure.
Time to ride the beast.
They swarmed over the Rifleman like ants at a picnic. The Kurita
pilot desperately wind milling his arms, but built without both lower and
hand actuators, he was practically helpless.
The other interesting detail about the Rifleman was that it had
notoriously thin rear armor. Real thin. It had same rear armor as a 20-ton
Wasp even though it weighed three times as much.
Another design flaw he was going to ruthlessly exploit.
He was momentarily distracted as a thunderous explosion sent the
Rifleman swaying, followed by a hammering sonic shockwave that
dislodged a few of his men, sending them scattering like leaves to the
ground.
He couldnt help but turn and look behind him.
By the Archon!
The entire storage building had collapsed, burying Hamilton and
the two Kurita Mechs under tons and tons of hardened ferrocrete.
The crazy bastard had collapsed the building right on top of
himself!
Even as he looked at the ruins, his hands, trained by countless
hours of battle and practice, had already affixed the satchel charge to the
sensitive rear of the Rifleman.
He took a quick scan of his surroundings. About a dozen of his
men were planting their pentagylcerine charges as well.
Hey, he only used the good stuff. If youre gonna throw yourself
at a multi-ton armored war machine, might as well make it count.
He flipped the switch on the timer and rocketed off followed by
what was left of his squad.
Seconds later, a series of explosions erupted all along the back of
the Second Legion Rifleman.
Oh, did I forget to mention the designers chose to store the
autocannon ammunition right on top of the fusion engine? He snickered.
As if on cue, the 60-ton Rifleman now behind him was ripped apart
from the inside, sending hot, burning Mech scrap flying in every
direction.
---
The sudden silence blanketing the battlefield was thicker than the
smoke rising from the ruins of what had been only minutes before over a
thousand tons of state of the art military hardware. Nothing moved. Only
the crackle of flames punctuated by the occasional pop of exploding
munitions was left.
The Second Legion was finished. She was shocked by the
realization. Even after destroying the Lyran field headquarters without a
single loss, Tai-sa Heise had still failed.

The Irregulars would land at the StarPort in New Egypt with only the local
garrison left to try and stop their advanced Star League Mechs. The main
body of the Third Lyran Guard had finally come awake and was
organizing a supporting advance on the city.
She blinked, then blinked again, a solitary tear rolling down her
cheek.
She felt the overwhelming urge to say something. To somehow
mark the endless struggle of life and death she had just witnessed.
She thumbed the open frequency.
This is Cho-sa Hiyama Yamoto. Commanding Officer of the
Second Legion of Vega. To the Third Lyran Expeditionary Force, I honor
you. You stood strong against the Dragon and have proven yourselves
once again to be valiant warriors. I commend you to your ancestors. You
have given many Second Legion MechWarriors a chance to regain their
honor. They asked only for the chance to die in battle against a worthy
foe, a chance you have given them. As a sign of my respect, I leave you
the battlefield and the city of New Egypt.
She switched over to the Kurita command frequency.
This is Cho-sa Hiyama Yamoto. Commanding Officer of the
Second Legion of Vega. Commence loading of the DropShips
immediately and evacuate the city. Air transport wings One and Two,
land at coordinates 75.8 by 23.3, designation Cherry Blossom. Futao
lance proceed to Cherry Blossom bypassing the supply depot. Hitsumi
and I will rendezvous with you there.
She took one last lingering look at the battlefield where the Second
Legion had been broken. A small movement caught her eye and she
punched up the magnification.
It was a ragged line of Lyran soldiers. They were saluting her
Cyclops.
Then she turned, Hitsumis Jaegermech following her as they
made their way to Cherry Blossom.
Alone.
---