Omnimercurial
Active member
There will always be those wiling to antagonise one that is stronger..... Wisdom is not widespread, common sense is not common.
Battletech [Battletech/Planetary Annihilation SI] Iron Blooded Commander
- Thread starter Seras
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Lord Greyscale
Member
It seemed perfectly realistic to me.
He takes his orders, specifically, the ones to treat the IBO as "yet more raiders" directly from the planetary governor/ess.
Aka: the gov'mnt is beingk fuck-stupid, (as exemplified by the stuffed suit), and the Colonel is the only one with any goddamn brains.
He remembered rule-1 of pirates and pirate-alikes.
"Take what you want, give hot flaming death. Anyone objects, kill 'em on the spot. We'll kill the rest when we leave anyway"
That in mind, it becomes rather immediately obvious that the IBO are not yet more pirates, but he does need to find out if this is just part 1 of Attempted Lyran land-grab #who the fuck knows.
And then he finds out, and finally un-clenches a little.
Meamwhile, at the planetary capitol, are whatever 'mechs the guard has, along with the vast majority of all other military hardware on the planet.
(Were are not talking 51% majority here, try 80-85% and youll be closer to the mark.)
(Incedentally, this holds true for 80-95% of all planets in Battletech)
There is a good reason the pirates didnt hit the capitol.
Allso, did you miss the bit about the fixed emplacements being overwhelmed?
Probably none harder-hitting than an LRM-10, and likely not that many of those.
As to the governor/ess, the one presuming the IBO are yet more pirates?
Possibly acting on bad intel, initially assuming the IBO's dropship, on-course as it was to land near-ish to the pirates, was reinforcements for the pirates.
First impressions have screwed many a relationship.
Chapter 15 Prologue
Seras
Well-known member
Chapter 15 Prologue: A look around the Sphere.
3025
Part 1. House Steiner.
Katrina Steiner
Tharkad
The Triad.
“How is the other project going Nondi?”
“The double heatsink factory is producing. The foreman tells us that within a few years he will be producing enough to satisfy any requirements the LCAF have.” Nondi looked quite pleased at that. As of now, the fact they were producing them again was a state secret. There wasn’t just one factory either. Multiple factories all over the Commonwealth were adjusting to make the change. This was just the first to be ready.
“No problems?”
“None. The data on their production, as well as the course on repair on the Memory core solved all of the problems that came up.”
“It still strikes me at times.”
“I as well. I was speaking to Lisa the other day and I had to stop myself from admitting we know how to fashion endo-steel again. She was taking a course on it in college. A history course.”
“Hopefully within a few years we can reveal the full extent of the memory core. It would be nice to see our colleges full of young students learning something real.”
“That it would… Speaking of learning. The Libraries. Are you sure you don’t want to do anything?”
“Victoria has kept to her end of the agreement. Everything in the libraries is already known knowledge, or just on the edge of it. Nothing that will drastically shift academia, without some time for the knowledge to be processed. So far the knowledge hasn’t caused any disruptions.”
“The girl is trouble. She told you to your face she will release the full Memory core.”
“She also told me, she wouldn’t until we lost control of it anyways.”
“You are too soft on her sister. I don’t like it.”
Katrina couldn’t help but nod. “I probably am. Consider it the payment for the Memory core for single handedly altering the Commonwealth forever.”
“I still don’t like it Sister. She refused to take a title. A Duchess? No one does that.”
“Commander Victoria Eisen-Blume does.”
“That’s what makes it a problem! I refuse to accept that girl doesn’t have some backer guiding her along. She has to! She could be a plant.”
“From whom? And why? Nondi. The thought she was some Combine plant has already been thrown out. She gave us the Memory Core.”
“I know.” Nondi sighed, Katrina felt for her Sister. Nondi had always been Katrina’s right hand. And it was her job to be even more suspicious than Katrina herself is.
“She asked for nothing Nondi. Nothing. I may not understand it. But I can’t help but feel something when a girl barely older than Melissa walks into my office and tells me she is going to change the Inner Shere…”
“She has changed the Inner Sphere.”
“I know. But I wonder, does she? Does she realize the changes that have already started? In a few years the Commonwealth will supply more equipment to our forces in a month, than we could have in a year.”
“I doubt it. We are keeping that secret.”
“For now. For now. But enough about Victoria, I can already feel the headache coming on. Tell me your thoughts on the Alliance Games. I know you watched the vids.”
“We were defeated badly. Embarrassed. Only some of our men tried to adapt the FedSuns tactics.”
“Enough of them?”
“Maybe.” Nondi shrugged. “They are going through a few practice battles with just Lyran officers to see.”
“I hope it spreads. We need to do better. Be better.”
“We will. Besides, The news coming back from Epsilon Eridani was good. They found it after all.”
Katrina felt that headache coming on once again. How a girl could know so many secret places in the Inner Sphere, still caused Katrina nightmares. “It was confirmed?”
“As far as the last message through courier stated. An SLDF depot was found in the ‘Shamus’ mountains. She was right about the Irish name even.”
A groan erupted out of Katrina’s throat. “How will we ever pay this girl back for this?”
“Pray she never comes to collect?”
“I do. Every day.”
—--
Melissa Steiner
Tharkad
Nagelring
Melissa wasn’t sure how she got to this point. She hadn’t ever considered becoming a Mechwarrior. But it was starting to grow on her, plus she was actually having fun. It did help that she was running around in a Lostech Atlas. A gift on her birthday from Vicky.
Melissa wasn’t sure what Vicky had been thinking. She is a Steiner. She could have any mech she wanted. But Vicky had sent her one anyway. Without a word to why, other than a note left in the Cockpit.
Happy Birthday.
If you are going to run around in a mech, it should be something with battlefists so you don’t ruin a Gauss rifle. Had this as an extra.
Vicky
The Atlas II still had a Gauss rifle, just like Vickys Nightstar, and Melissa had spent plenty of hours practicing aiming with it. Which was already a bit shocking.
She had never expected to enjoy the experience. Her Atlas was still slow, but it wasn’t sluggish like mechs were before she got her new neurohelm.
It moved at her whim. Shifting on its feet without any hesitation whenever she needed. Melissa was starting to become a fair mechwarrior. The few times Uncle Morgan had offered her some lessons he had said she was skilled for her age.
That was why she was here now. The Nagelring. She was taking classes, and working to earn her rank when she got old enough. Originally she had intended on going through the infantry track, but then… Everything changed with Vicky.
“Princess! Wake up. It’s your move.” The Drill sergeant stirred her on and she stepped out into field. She was here for a lesson today. Apparently. There was a new push towards training everyone to get used to Lostech.
Both double heatsinks, and longer more powerful weapons needed special training to be prepared for. So Melissa, as the only student that had a Lostech ride, was often chosen to help out.
It was nice. It meant she got extra stick time compared to everyone else.
“This is Princess. Moving to engage.” She spoke over the radio, although even the drill sergeant was grimacing. She was smiling again. That poor kid in the Hunchback was about to be taught a lesson about getting too close to an Atlas.
—-
Part 2. House Davion
Hanse Davion
New Avalon
“Hanse. Please stop fiddling with that.”
“Sorry Dear.” Hanse Davion teased his friend although he did take his hands away from the Memory Core.
The look Ardan gave to his prince made even the Prince offer a silent apology. “I’m still surprised Katrina handed that over.”
“We do have an alliance. It included research.”
“We both know that handing over a Memory Core with that much data on it, is a completely different beast from handing over what the NAIS comes up with.”
Hanse was quiet for a moment, his fingers back to fiddling with the Memory Core. “I know. Katrina truly is a unique woman.”
“Unhappy with Melissa?”
“She is young. But not what I mean, and you know it.”
Ardan nodded. “The departments that were read in on the Memory Core have been showing massive improvements. It’s almost a shame though. We spent how many years trying to get Freezers to work?”
“More than I care to admit. It’s the Pounds we spent that I am more unhappy about. At least we won’t have to worry about it in the future.”
“No. I suppose not.” Ardan admitted both of them had spent months working on the upgrade plan to start up old factories and get production running again. All while trying to keep it hidden from the rest of the Inner Sphere. Funnily enough, having LIC on their side did make the job easier.
“All at the hands of one no name orphan.” Hanse muttered his mind roiling. To think, the entire future of the Federated Suns would be thanks to a single girl.
“Ah yes. Victoria Eisen-Blume. Commander of the ISDF.”
Hanse snorts despite himself. ISDF? That was a name for a merc company that had plenty of connotations and it was asking to run into all sorts of problems. “I’m almost glad she is Katrina’s problem. How did she describe her? ‘A girl that offers insults in one hand, and treasure in the other?’ something like that.”
“She sounds like a delight. Perhaps we should invite her here.”
“Don’t tempt me! Who knows maybe she will drop a few lostech caches in my lap too instead of giving them all to Katrina.”
“Didn’t Katrina tell us that the girl said the Steiner family was just as responsible for the state of the Inner Sphere as house Kurita? Could your ego handle her?”
“Hah! For a batch of Lostech battlemechs and a Memory Core? I would let her say whatever she wants, and make it her house words.”
“Ah yes. House Eisen-Blume. ‘We will insult you as much as we please.’ A firm name.”
Hanse laughed. “Yes exactly… Tell me how is the plan going for the wedding gift?”
“As always Hanse. Slowly. Secretly. And steadily.”
“Good! Come I feel like taking a walk around the NAIS. I hear there will be a viewing of “Gauss Rifles and you.” In the secret department. Apparently the SLDF had a sense of humor. I hear the man repairing the weapon gets horribly maimed constantly, as a warning to the watchers.”
“Sounds Entertaining.”
—-
Part 3 House Marik.
Janos Marik
“This is it?”
“Yes Captain-General. It is a direct copy, sent by courier. The first Minister of Amity was quite swift in bringing a copy to us.”
“And it has nothing strange? No tricks?”
“None that we have found. Although the classes are SLDF. They start from absolute beginnings to around highschool courses… some of them did contain knowledge we didn’t know.”
“Truly? Why? What would the Lyrans gain by giving this to us?”
“I can’t be sure Captain-General. Although it was a Lyran Mercenary company, rather than anyone attached to the LCAF directly.”
“Nonsense. The girl. The Commander, what was her name?”
“Victoria Eisen-Blume.”
“That’s the one. She is a Steiner Bastard. I was given a copy of a message the girl sent to Katrina. She called the woman ‘Aunt Katrina.’ So she is not some unattached girl. She is obviously a Steiner plant. Someone they can use without their name attached.”
“Then that makes her actions make even less sense on Amity. She not only defeated the pirates, but she protected the factory they had been ransacking. I got eye witness confirmation. They didn’t take a single thing from the factory. Even returning some of the equipment stolen by the Pirates previously.”
“For a Library. Yes I remember the meeting too.” Janos shook his head. It was a trap. Had to be. It was the only thing that makes sense. “They were going to use them to recruit, right?”
“Yes. The report is here. Apparently the ISDF recruits orphans, and others through the libraries.”
“Something long term then? What could they possibly be planning for with a bunch of orphans? If they want spies there are easier ways.”
“That is something we have SAFE working on. Their report isn’t complete yet, but they are exploring the library on Amity as we speak.”
“Good. I want an explanation for what the Lyrans are thinking. Katrina obviously has some scheme in mind.”
“Yes Captain-General. One last note… What should we do about their request?”
“Request? Ah. The ‘ISDF’ wants to build more libraries.”
“Yes.”
“Let them. If they want to spend the money to build, let them, but I want each library checked.”
“I will add that into the orders!”
—-
Part 4 House Liao
Romano Liao
Sian
“It is our belief Grand Chancellor that the Steiners have recovered at least some knowledge. Too many connections exist to be anything other than reactivation of factories.”
Father pondered these words. As always his wisdom was greater than these fools could imagine.
“If they have gained this knowledge, why has it not been retrieved? I notice all of your reports carry no true facts.”
“Forgive us Chancellor. This information only recently came to light. We have already begun efforts to uncover both where the Commonwealth attained this information, and to attain it for the benefit of the Confederation.”
“Don’t bother.” Romano offered almost before thinking. But at her fathers quirked eyebrow she continued on. “I am already aware of where the knowledge came from. It all makes sense now.” She nods to herself. She should have realized!
“Daughter?”
“Forgive me Father, but this fills in the steps to a puzzle I had been contemplating. The knowledge could only have come from one source. The SLDF.” She nods at that. That should be enough for Father to understand. Although a moment later she realized the fool despite being a member of the Maskirovka had no clue.
“I am afraid this one does not share your wisdom, Duchess.”
“Of course not! If you did this would already be solved!” She hissed at him before straightening, her Fathers eyes on her. “The SLDF brought the knowledge and gave it to the Lyrans, for what reason I do not know. But that is where the knowledge stems from.” She informs the fool, turning to her Father to see if she had gotten it right.
His face as blank as always gave nothing away.
“Forgive me Duchess. I still do not understand. The SLDF has been gone since the exodus.”
“You are not aware? Why am I the one telling you this? The SLDF has returned. They call themselves the ISDF now, a transparent attempt to hide their origins. They appeared in Lyran space, with lostech long lost. They are the source of the Steiners' new boon.”
“Hmm. Tell me what do we know about these ISDF?” Father asked, and Romano kept herself quiet, wanting to see what these agents would know.
“Ah. Forgive me Chancellor. I am unaware of… the SLDF Returned. I will have a report brought up for you immediately.”
“Hmph. Daughter?”
“Of course father. The ISDF first appeared in 3020. They called themselves the Iron Blooded Orphans. As they recruited only orphans at the time. They were inconsequential. But they swiftly showed their true power. Once they had recruited enough men. They suddenly re-appeared with equipment thought lost. They pilot a Colossus dropship, and their leader. Who many believe may be a final daughter of house Cameron, pilots a Nightstar. The Phantom of the SLDF.”
“Oh? Why have I not heard of this?”
“Chancellor! The Duchess in her wisdom has reminded this one about who she speaks! They are a Mercenary company out of Lyran space. We did not realize they were the SLDF returned! Truly the Duchess Liao’s vision is greater than ours!”
“Of course it is! Father. You have seen her face. We watched the Immortal Warrior and the Phantom of the SLDF together did we not?”
Her Father stirred. “That is where you know this from Daughter? Was this not a Movie?”
“Of course Father! They tried to hide themselves by appearing in a Movie. But they bluffed their real hand! It is obvious!” Romano looked quite proud, as her father slowly nodded, his hands stroking down his chin thoughtfully, his eyes stuck on Romano as he appraised her. She was sure father was contemplating her brilliance!
“Look into this. I wish to know what this ISDF heralds, and find if they are the ones responsible for the return of knowledge.”
“Your will be done Chancellor.”
Romano nodded. Of course Father would understand! Everyone else was too blinded to realize that the ISDF were the SLDF returned! They were growing quickly, and soon they would align with house Liao! The true Heirs to the StarLeague! Romano could imagine it walking into Terra as the First Lord! She smiled. Wondering what the SLDF were doing now? She considered sending another letter. They hadn’t replied to the others, but surely they would this time? She was just asking them to come to Sian and swear their loyalty to her Father, the true First Lord.
Someone was probably stealing her mail again. Perhaps she would have to find out who and kill them! Then the Commander, Heir of the SLDF and the Last Daughter of House Cameron could swear themselves to House Liao. Completing the destiny House Liao had set itself upon!
—-
Part 5. House Kurita
Takashi Kurita
Luthien
The Coordinator was not pleased. “Explain again. How the Lyrans have managed to restart factories on multiple worlds. Without any hint of it happening, until they are already producing?”
“Forgive me Coordinator. We had rumors, but nothing that we believed to be factual until recently. These pictures were taken by an agent. Showing production of Double Heat Sinks. It is the first confirmed sighting.”
Takashi sighed. This was a colossal blunder. A mistake that very well may shift the balance of power. Especially with the alliance between Lyran and Fedsuns.
Even with the Concord. He had no faith in the Capellans, or League. Once more the dragon would be forced to bare its claws. “A disappointment.”
The ISF agent, was new. Not one that often reported to him. He now knew why. A failure would have to be punished, and truly this was a grave failure. “We do believe we know where the knowledge to restart the factories came from Coordinator.” the man offered falling into a full Dogeza before Takashi.
“Explain.”
“We traced the supply once we realized what was happening, Coordinator. The timing matches up. There was Lostech find by a Mercenary Company. They call themselves the ISDF. They appeared on Tharkad only months before the supplies began moving. They carried Lostech equipment, including a Nightstar. Soon after they appeared with a Colossus. We believe they are the finders of this knowledge.”
“Hmm.” Takashi let that information flow through. Meditating silently. What was the path? “Do you have any proof of this?”
“We have only the timeline matching perfectly Coordinator.”
“Then it appears we must gather more information… Find out from these ISDF. In any method needed.”
“Understood!”
“Do not fail me again.”
—--
Part 6. ComStar
Julian Tiepolo
Terra
“You have spread the knowledge to the other houses?”
“We have. All have been given the data they need to discover the factories on their own.”
Julian sighed, rubbing his old eyes. “We failed.”
“Only in part Primus. Operation Holy Shroud was-”
“A failure. We allowed this to slip through our fingers. Now the Steiner and Davions are restarting production on equipment they should not have. The Fourth Succession war will be brutal, and may very well be the last.”
“Surely not! Our order stands as strong as ever.”
“Tojo. Rom failed in their mission to keep the great houses weak. They will undoubtedly make steps to ensure that their loss of knowledge never happens again. We have two of the great houses merging together in the next few years. And despite my efforts the Concord of Kapteyn is as useless as the paper it is written on. We will have to act more overtly than I like in the next few years to retain any semblance of balance.”
“I don’t believe that is the case, Primus. There is always another option.”
“Oh? Do you have an idea Tojo?”
“Of course Primus, that is my job. We failed to keep the knowledge out of the hands of the great houses, but we can always rebalance the board. If the Davions, and Steiners believe the technology will give them the overwhelming advantage, we simply balance the board once more.”
“You believe we should give the others houses the same? I hate it. But Holy Shroud is a failure. You may be right. Rebalancing may be our only hope.”
“Thank you Primus. I have a few ideas that may work. Although I believe you will agree, it would be best if we can simply ensure the other great houses a copy of what Steiner found. It would certainly make things simpler.”
“That may not be possible. Their security has been solid. Even with our best efforts we only managed to get confirmation on their production into the hands of ISF by burning an agent.”
“I see.” Julian sighed. This was a disaster. To have so much fail directly under his watch? He wondered how long it would be before the first circuit called for his resignation? It was unlikely, but always possible.
“Primus?”
“Go… Go formulate a collection of technology that we can balance the board with. We will have to run it through the first circuit but I would like to have something to offer them.” He looked out into the city, the city he had sworn would never be touched by the ‘successor houses’ He could only hope he would find the path forward for Blakes will.
“Go Tojo I have much to think about.”
“Yes Primus.”
—-
Part 7. Alessa Barony.
Arthur Alessa
Zaniah III
Arthur tossed the stack of flowers into the trash. Another attempt, another complete stonewall. “Courting a non-noblewoman shouldn’t be this hard.” He grumbled. He used to have his pick of women. All of them wanted to be the next Lady Alessa. All of them wanted his power, his future.
Victoria Eisen-Blume didn’t even rebuff him, no it was worse.
The girl still didn’t realize he was trying to court her.
“You know maybe if you actually told her bluntly you are interested she would finally get the picture?”
“Vincent. Shut up.” He grumbled. He had tried that. Not that he was going to admit that to his brother. He hadn’t even managed to get through the whole conversation before she had somehow talked him into another damnable training session.
The look he had received over her head from the other boy, Benny, had infuriated Arthur. That bastard was fully aware of his intentions, and doing his best to never reveal it to the girl.
“Come on brother, shall we go try to solve the mysteries of the Commander at the bottom of a glass again?”
“Vincent. Shut up.” His younger brother was being particularly obnoxious today. No getting drunk would make him feel better in the short term, but would just be a waste. He wouldn’t be able to enjoy it with this bitter taste in his mouth.
“Oh my perfect older brother ignored by a teenager! The shame!”
“How is Sasha doing?” Arthur questioned aloud, and his brother so loud and brash is suddenly very quiet.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Funny you said, what and not who.” Arthur could see Vincents ears go red, an old tell with his brother.
“Arthur shut up.”
“Oh? Now you want peace and quiet? When I turn it around to your Orphan girl, suddenly you don’t want to talk about it?” Arthur teased.
Vincent sighed. “How did you find out?”
“Oh it was simple enough. I do end up in training sessions with the Orphans at least once a week, do you think they wouldn’t share the stories of my little brother making a fool of himself?”
“Fuck off. I’m not making a fool of myself.”
“No. You are just doing your best to court an uninterested orphan… We truly are brothers.” Arthur offered as an apology.
Vincent snorted, nodding along. “What is it with us? Our luck can’t be this bad.”
“Oh I don’t know, I think our luck in life is quite good. It’s only in girls that it seems to fail us.”
“I heard that one. I do need a drink.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but I find the idea more appealing now than it was before. Shall we?”
“Sure. Just don’t try to set me up with anyone again. You already screwed it up.”
“Nonsense! I am an impeccable wingman!”
Vincent reached over and slugged his brother in the shoulder. “That’s for letting your head get so big. C’mon I need a drink.”
Laughing Arthur followed along. That night the two brothers would drown their sorrows.
—-
Part 8. Iron Blooded Orphans.
Sandra Nelson
Isaribi En-route to Lyons
“Sandy! How much longer?”
“...”
“SIGH Captain Nelson. How much longer?”
“Another few days Lieutenant.” Captain Sandra Nelson offered with a grin. Kim was a friend, and it was a daily interaction between the two of them fighting over whether they would use their first names or ranks.
There was very little else to do on the weeks-long jumps between worlds.
“Ugh. I sometimes want to kick Vicky in the shins for convincing us that the Library engineers force was the place for me. ‘Go to foreign worlds. Travel the Inner Sphere. See amazing sights.’ She never bothered to mention, being stuck in a dropship for weeks at a time, and only staying on worlds for like a month while working before jumping to the next.”
“I don’t know why you always complain. The pay is great. The benefits, better.”
“Yes I am sure the Captain has plenty of benefits us lowly workers don’t get.” Kim grumbled nudging her friend as the two of them settled on the bridge. They were on their way to Lyons, a planet on the border of the Combine, and Commonwealth. It was actually the furthest the Library Engineers had gone. The furthest from home any of them had been.
“Could be worse. We could be stuck on Redbase. It’s summer right now.”
“Ugh. Even with the armor I don’t want to deal with a Zaniah Summer again. So I guess you got me there. That’s a benefit I can get behind. Until we land on a volcanic world or something.”
“I’ll tell the Commander we refuse any volcano worlds.”
“Thank you. Captain. You truly are the best of us.”
“It’s what I am-” The alert sounded and Captain Nelson felt her stomach clench. She was still a rookie captain. She had been trained enough to be on her own, but she was green. Still learning. In charge only because the Commander believed she had enough learning that she now needed experience.
She wasn’t sure she was ready for a battle.
“Captain! We have three spheroid dropships on an intercept course! They are releasing ASF forces!” Her communications officer called out, after she hit the alert.
“How many ASF?”
“I am reading at least six lances Captain!”
Twelve fighters? That didn’t make sense, unless they were planning on targeting a dropship from the get go. “Intercept time?”
“Less than an hour.”
“Open a call to the Planetary Guard! We need to alert them we are under attack.”
“Working on it now Captain!”
She stalled then. A realization. She had just left the jump point. If they were already on her ass? They were at least a few days away from rescue. Worse? They only had two ASF fighters. That wasn’t enough to take out twelve no matter what they did.
“Sandra?”
She jerked. Realizing she had been circling. She took a deep breath and let it out. Adjusting her hat. She grabbed a radio accessing the PA system.
“This is your Captain speaking. We are under attack. The enemy forces outnumber us, and likely there will be no rescue in time. As of this moment I am activating Ragnarok Protocol. I repeat. Ragnarok Protocol is in effect. We will give them nothing.”
“And take everything.” The words were repeated back to her from every person on the ship. Some whispered in fear. Some roared in courage.
“I am afraid we are in for a rough few months or longer. But we are Iron Blooded. She will come, and these pirates will regret their actions today. So this is an order to all members. Survive. Believe in rescue. She will come.” The last words were spoken in a whisper.
God Sandra hoped she would come.
In the deep dark of space, an hour later a few lights of battle could be seen.
Then, as if returning to its natural state.
Nothing.
3025
Part 1. House Steiner.
Katrina Steiner
Tharkad
The Triad.
“How is the other project going Nondi?”
“The double heatsink factory is producing. The foreman tells us that within a few years he will be producing enough to satisfy any requirements the LCAF have.” Nondi looked quite pleased at that. As of now, the fact they were producing them again was a state secret. There wasn’t just one factory either. Multiple factories all over the Commonwealth were adjusting to make the change. This was just the first to be ready.
“No problems?”
“None. The data on their production, as well as the course on repair on the Memory core solved all of the problems that came up.”
“It still strikes me at times.”
“I as well. I was speaking to Lisa the other day and I had to stop myself from admitting we know how to fashion endo-steel again. She was taking a course on it in college. A history course.”
“Hopefully within a few years we can reveal the full extent of the memory core. It would be nice to see our colleges full of young students learning something real.”
“That it would… Speaking of learning. The Libraries. Are you sure you don’t want to do anything?”
“Victoria has kept to her end of the agreement. Everything in the libraries is already known knowledge, or just on the edge of it. Nothing that will drastically shift academia, without some time for the knowledge to be processed. So far the knowledge hasn’t caused any disruptions.”
“The girl is trouble. She told you to your face she will release the full Memory core.”
“She also told me, she wouldn’t until we lost control of it anyways.”
“You are too soft on her sister. I don’t like it.”
Katrina couldn’t help but nod. “I probably am. Consider it the payment for the Memory core for single handedly altering the Commonwealth forever.”
“I still don’t like it Sister. She refused to take a title. A Duchess? No one does that.”
“Commander Victoria Eisen-Blume does.”
“That’s what makes it a problem! I refuse to accept that girl doesn’t have some backer guiding her along. She has to! She could be a plant.”
“From whom? And why? Nondi. The thought she was some Combine plant has already been thrown out. She gave us the Memory Core.”
“I know.” Nondi sighed, Katrina felt for her Sister. Nondi had always been Katrina’s right hand. And it was her job to be even more suspicious than Katrina herself is.
“She asked for nothing Nondi. Nothing. I may not understand it. But I can’t help but feel something when a girl barely older than Melissa walks into my office and tells me she is going to change the Inner Shere…”
“She has changed the Inner Sphere.”
“I know. But I wonder, does she? Does she realize the changes that have already started? In a few years the Commonwealth will supply more equipment to our forces in a month, than we could have in a year.”
“I doubt it. We are keeping that secret.”
“For now. For now. But enough about Victoria, I can already feel the headache coming on. Tell me your thoughts on the Alliance Games. I know you watched the vids.”
“We were defeated badly. Embarrassed. Only some of our men tried to adapt the FedSuns tactics.”
“Enough of them?”
“Maybe.” Nondi shrugged. “They are going through a few practice battles with just Lyran officers to see.”
“I hope it spreads. We need to do better. Be better.”
“We will. Besides, The news coming back from Epsilon Eridani was good. They found it after all.”
Katrina felt that headache coming on once again. How a girl could know so many secret places in the Inner Sphere, still caused Katrina nightmares. “It was confirmed?”
“As far as the last message through courier stated. An SLDF depot was found in the ‘Shamus’ mountains. She was right about the Irish name even.”
A groan erupted out of Katrina’s throat. “How will we ever pay this girl back for this?”
“Pray she never comes to collect?”
“I do. Every day.”
—--
Melissa Steiner
Tharkad
Nagelring
Melissa wasn’t sure how she got to this point. She hadn’t ever considered becoming a Mechwarrior. But it was starting to grow on her, plus she was actually having fun. It did help that she was running around in a Lostech Atlas. A gift on her birthday from Vicky.
Melissa wasn’t sure what Vicky had been thinking. She is a Steiner. She could have any mech she wanted. But Vicky had sent her one anyway. Without a word to why, other than a note left in the Cockpit.
Happy Birthday.
If you are going to run around in a mech, it should be something with battlefists so you don’t ruin a Gauss rifle. Had this as an extra.
Vicky
The Atlas II still had a Gauss rifle, just like Vickys Nightstar, and Melissa had spent plenty of hours practicing aiming with it. Which was already a bit shocking.
She had never expected to enjoy the experience. Her Atlas was still slow, but it wasn’t sluggish like mechs were before she got her new neurohelm.
It moved at her whim. Shifting on its feet without any hesitation whenever she needed. Melissa was starting to become a fair mechwarrior. The few times Uncle Morgan had offered her some lessons he had said she was skilled for her age.
That was why she was here now. The Nagelring. She was taking classes, and working to earn her rank when she got old enough. Originally she had intended on going through the infantry track, but then… Everything changed with Vicky.
“Princess! Wake up. It’s your move.” The Drill sergeant stirred her on and she stepped out into field. She was here for a lesson today. Apparently. There was a new push towards training everyone to get used to Lostech.
Both double heatsinks, and longer more powerful weapons needed special training to be prepared for. So Melissa, as the only student that had a Lostech ride, was often chosen to help out.
It was nice. It meant she got extra stick time compared to everyone else.
“This is Princess. Moving to engage.” She spoke over the radio, although even the drill sergeant was grimacing. She was smiling again. That poor kid in the Hunchback was about to be taught a lesson about getting too close to an Atlas.
—-
Part 2. House Davion
Hanse Davion
New Avalon
“Hanse. Please stop fiddling with that.”
“Sorry Dear.” Hanse Davion teased his friend although he did take his hands away from the Memory Core.
The look Ardan gave to his prince made even the Prince offer a silent apology. “I’m still surprised Katrina handed that over.”
“We do have an alliance. It included research.”
“We both know that handing over a Memory Core with that much data on it, is a completely different beast from handing over what the NAIS comes up with.”
Hanse was quiet for a moment, his fingers back to fiddling with the Memory Core. “I know. Katrina truly is a unique woman.”
“Unhappy with Melissa?”
“She is young. But not what I mean, and you know it.”
Ardan nodded. “The departments that were read in on the Memory Core have been showing massive improvements. It’s almost a shame though. We spent how many years trying to get Freezers to work?”
“More than I care to admit. It’s the Pounds we spent that I am more unhappy about. At least we won’t have to worry about it in the future.”
“No. I suppose not.” Ardan admitted both of them had spent months working on the upgrade plan to start up old factories and get production running again. All while trying to keep it hidden from the rest of the Inner Sphere. Funnily enough, having LIC on their side did make the job easier.
“All at the hands of one no name orphan.” Hanse muttered his mind roiling. To think, the entire future of the Federated Suns would be thanks to a single girl.
“Ah yes. Victoria Eisen-Blume. Commander of the ISDF.”
Hanse snorts despite himself. ISDF? That was a name for a merc company that had plenty of connotations and it was asking to run into all sorts of problems. “I’m almost glad she is Katrina’s problem. How did she describe her? ‘A girl that offers insults in one hand, and treasure in the other?’ something like that.”
“She sounds like a delight. Perhaps we should invite her here.”
“Don’t tempt me! Who knows maybe she will drop a few lostech caches in my lap too instead of giving them all to Katrina.”
“Didn’t Katrina tell us that the girl said the Steiner family was just as responsible for the state of the Inner Sphere as house Kurita? Could your ego handle her?”
“Hah! For a batch of Lostech battlemechs and a Memory Core? I would let her say whatever she wants, and make it her house words.”
“Ah yes. House Eisen-Blume. ‘We will insult you as much as we please.’ A firm name.”
Hanse laughed. “Yes exactly… Tell me how is the plan going for the wedding gift?”
“As always Hanse. Slowly. Secretly. And steadily.”
“Good! Come I feel like taking a walk around the NAIS. I hear there will be a viewing of “Gauss Rifles and you.” In the secret department. Apparently the SLDF had a sense of humor. I hear the man repairing the weapon gets horribly maimed constantly, as a warning to the watchers.”
“Sounds Entertaining.”
—-
Part 3 House Marik.
Janos Marik
“This is it?”
“Yes Captain-General. It is a direct copy, sent by courier. The first Minister of Amity was quite swift in bringing a copy to us.”
“And it has nothing strange? No tricks?”
“None that we have found. Although the classes are SLDF. They start from absolute beginnings to around highschool courses… some of them did contain knowledge we didn’t know.”
“Truly? Why? What would the Lyrans gain by giving this to us?”
“I can’t be sure Captain-General. Although it was a Lyran Mercenary company, rather than anyone attached to the LCAF directly.”
“Nonsense. The girl. The Commander, what was her name?”
“Victoria Eisen-Blume.”
“That’s the one. She is a Steiner Bastard. I was given a copy of a message the girl sent to Katrina. She called the woman ‘Aunt Katrina.’ So she is not some unattached girl. She is obviously a Steiner plant. Someone they can use without their name attached.”
“Then that makes her actions make even less sense on Amity. She not only defeated the pirates, but she protected the factory they had been ransacking. I got eye witness confirmation. They didn’t take a single thing from the factory. Even returning some of the equipment stolen by the Pirates previously.”
“For a Library. Yes I remember the meeting too.” Janos shook his head. It was a trap. Had to be. It was the only thing that makes sense. “They were going to use them to recruit, right?”
“Yes. The report is here. Apparently the ISDF recruits orphans, and others through the libraries.”
“Something long term then? What could they possibly be planning for with a bunch of orphans? If they want spies there are easier ways.”
“That is something we have SAFE working on. Their report isn’t complete yet, but they are exploring the library on Amity as we speak.”
“Good. I want an explanation for what the Lyrans are thinking. Katrina obviously has some scheme in mind.”
“Yes Captain-General. One last note… What should we do about their request?”
“Request? Ah. The ‘ISDF’ wants to build more libraries.”
“Yes.”
“Let them. If they want to spend the money to build, let them, but I want each library checked.”
“I will add that into the orders!”
—-
Part 4 House Liao
Romano Liao
Sian
“It is our belief Grand Chancellor that the Steiners have recovered at least some knowledge. Too many connections exist to be anything other than reactivation of factories.”
Father pondered these words. As always his wisdom was greater than these fools could imagine.
“If they have gained this knowledge, why has it not been retrieved? I notice all of your reports carry no true facts.”
“Forgive us Chancellor. This information only recently came to light. We have already begun efforts to uncover both where the Commonwealth attained this information, and to attain it for the benefit of the Confederation.”
“Don’t bother.” Romano offered almost before thinking. But at her fathers quirked eyebrow she continued on. “I am already aware of where the knowledge came from. It all makes sense now.” She nods to herself. She should have realized!
“Daughter?”
“Forgive me Father, but this fills in the steps to a puzzle I had been contemplating. The knowledge could only have come from one source. The SLDF.” She nods at that. That should be enough for Father to understand. Although a moment later she realized the fool despite being a member of the Maskirovka had no clue.
“I am afraid this one does not share your wisdom, Duchess.”
“Of course not! If you did this would already be solved!” She hissed at him before straightening, her Fathers eyes on her. “The SLDF brought the knowledge and gave it to the Lyrans, for what reason I do not know. But that is where the knowledge stems from.” She informs the fool, turning to her Father to see if she had gotten it right.
His face as blank as always gave nothing away.
“Forgive me Duchess. I still do not understand. The SLDF has been gone since the exodus.”
“You are not aware? Why am I the one telling you this? The SLDF has returned. They call themselves the ISDF now, a transparent attempt to hide their origins. They appeared in Lyran space, with lostech long lost. They are the source of the Steiners' new boon.”
“Hmm. Tell me what do we know about these ISDF?” Father asked, and Romano kept herself quiet, wanting to see what these agents would know.
“Ah. Forgive me Chancellor. I am unaware of… the SLDF Returned. I will have a report brought up for you immediately.”
“Hmph. Daughter?”
“Of course father. The ISDF first appeared in 3020. They called themselves the Iron Blooded Orphans. As they recruited only orphans at the time. They were inconsequential. But they swiftly showed their true power. Once they had recruited enough men. They suddenly re-appeared with equipment thought lost. They pilot a Colossus dropship, and their leader. Who many believe may be a final daughter of house Cameron, pilots a Nightstar. The Phantom of the SLDF.”
“Oh? Why have I not heard of this?”
“Chancellor! The Duchess in her wisdom has reminded this one about who she speaks! They are a Mercenary company out of Lyran space. We did not realize they were the SLDF returned! Truly the Duchess Liao’s vision is greater than ours!”
“Of course it is! Father. You have seen her face. We watched the Immortal Warrior and the Phantom of the SLDF together did we not?”
Her Father stirred. “That is where you know this from Daughter? Was this not a Movie?”
“Of course Father! They tried to hide themselves by appearing in a Movie. But they bluffed their real hand! It is obvious!” Romano looked quite proud, as her father slowly nodded, his hands stroking down his chin thoughtfully, his eyes stuck on Romano as he appraised her. She was sure father was contemplating her brilliance!
“Look into this. I wish to know what this ISDF heralds, and find if they are the ones responsible for the return of knowledge.”
“Your will be done Chancellor.”
Romano nodded. Of course Father would understand! Everyone else was too blinded to realize that the ISDF were the SLDF returned! They were growing quickly, and soon they would align with house Liao! The true Heirs to the StarLeague! Romano could imagine it walking into Terra as the First Lord! She smiled. Wondering what the SLDF were doing now? She considered sending another letter. They hadn’t replied to the others, but surely they would this time? She was just asking them to come to Sian and swear their loyalty to her Father, the true First Lord.
Someone was probably stealing her mail again. Perhaps she would have to find out who and kill them! Then the Commander, Heir of the SLDF and the Last Daughter of House Cameron could swear themselves to House Liao. Completing the destiny House Liao had set itself upon!
—-
Part 5. House Kurita
Takashi Kurita
Luthien
The Coordinator was not pleased. “Explain again. How the Lyrans have managed to restart factories on multiple worlds. Without any hint of it happening, until they are already producing?”
“Forgive me Coordinator. We had rumors, but nothing that we believed to be factual until recently. These pictures were taken by an agent. Showing production of Double Heat Sinks. It is the first confirmed sighting.”
Takashi sighed. This was a colossal blunder. A mistake that very well may shift the balance of power. Especially with the alliance between Lyran and Fedsuns.
Even with the Concord. He had no faith in the Capellans, or League. Once more the dragon would be forced to bare its claws. “A disappointment.”
The ISF agent, was new. Not one that often reported to him. He now knew why. A failure would have to be punished, and truly this was a grave failure. “We do believe we know where the knowledge to restart the factories came from Coordinator.” the man offered falling into a full Dogeza before Takashi.
“Explain.”
“We traced the supply once we realized what was happening, Coordinator. The timing matches up. There was Lostech find by a Mercenary Company. They call themselves the ISDF. They appeared on Tharkad only months before the supplies began moving. They carried Lostech equipment, including a Nightstar. Soon after they appeared with a Colossus. We believe they are the finders of this knowledge.”
“Hmm.” Takashi let that information flow through. Meditating silently. What was the path? “Do you have any proof of this?”
“We have only the timeline matching perfectly Coordinator.”
“Then it appears we must gather more information… Find out from these ISDF. In any method needed.”
“Understood!”
“Do not fail me again.”
—--
Part 6. ComStar
Julian Tiepolo
Terra
“You have spread the knowledge to the other houses?”
“We have. All have been given the data they need to discover the factories on their own.”
Julian sighed, rubbing his old eyes. “We failed.”
“Only in part Primus. Operation Holy Shroud was-”
“A failure. We allowed this to slip through our fingers. Now the Steiner and Davions are restarting production on equipment they should not have. The Fourth Succession war will be brutal, and may very well be the last.”
“Surely not! Our order stands as strong as ever.”
“Tojo. Rom failed in their mission to keep the great houses weak. They will undoubtedly make steps to ensure that their loss of knowledge never happens again. We have two of the great houses merging together in the next few years. And despite my efforts the Concord of Kapteyn is as useless as the paper it is written on. We will have to act more overtly than I like in the next few years to retain any semblance of balance.”
“I don’t believe that is the case, Primus. There is always another option.”
“Oh? Do you have an idea Tojo?”
“Of course Primus, that is my job. We failed to keep the knowledge out of the hands of the great houses, but we can always rebalance the board. If the Davions, and Steiners believe the technology will give them the overwhelming advantage, we simply balance the board once more.”
“You believe we should give the others houses the same? I hate it. But Holy Shroud is a failure. You may be right. Rebalancing may be our only hope.”
“Thank you Primus. I have a few ideas that may work. Although I believe you will agree, it would be best if we can simply ensure the other great houses a copy of what Steiner found. It would certainly make things simpler.”
“That may not be possible. Their security has been solid. Even with our best efforts we only managed to get confirmation on their production into the hands of ISF by burning an agent.”
“I see.” Julian sighed. This was a disaster. To have so much fail directly under his watch? He wondered how long it would be before the first circuit called for his resignation? It was unlikely, but always possible.
“Primus?”
“Go… Go formulate a collection of technology that we can balance the board with. We will have to run it through the first circuit but I would like to have something to offer them.” He looked out into the city, the city he had sworn would never be touched by the ‘successor houses’ He could only hope he would find the path forward for Blakes will.
“Go Tojo I have much to think about.”
“Yes Primus.”
—-
Part 7. Alessa Barony.
Arthur Alessa
Zaniah III
Arthur tossed the stack of flowers into the trash. Another attempt, another complete stonewall. “Courting a non-noblewoman shouldn’t be this hard.” He grumbled. He used to have his pick of women. All of them wanted to be the next Lady Alessa. All of them wanted his power, his future.
Victoria Eisen-Blume didn’t even rebuff him, no it was worse.
The girl still didn’t realize he was trying to court her.
“You know maybe if you actually told her bluntly you are interested she would finally get the picture?”
“Vincent. Shut up.” He grumbled. He had tried that. Not that he was going to admit that to his brother. He hadn’t even managed to get through the whole conversation before she had somehow talked him into another damnable training session.
The look he had received over her head from the other boy, Benny, had infuriated Arthur. That bastard was fully aware of his intentions, and doing his best to never reveal it to the girl.
“Come on brother, shall we go try to solve the mysteries of the Commander at the bottom of a glass again?”
“Vincent. Shut up.” His younger brother was being particularly obnoxious today. No getting drunk would make him feel better in the short term, but would just be a waste. He wouldn’t be able to enjoy it with this bitter taste in his mouth.
“Oh my perfect older brother ignored by a teenager! The shame!”
“How is Sasha doing?” Arthur questioned aloud, and his brother so loud and brash is suddenly very quiet.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Funny you said, what and not who.” Arthur could see Vincents ears go red, an old tell with his brother.
“Arthur shut up.”
“Oh? Now you want peace and quiet? When I turn it around to your Orphan girl, suddenly you don’t want to talk about it?” Arthur teased.
Vincent sighed. “How did you find out?”
“Oh it was simple enough. I do end up in training sessions with the Orphans at least once a week, do you think they wouldn’t share the stories of my little brother making a fool of himself?”
“Fuck off. I’m not making a fool of myself.”
“No. You are just doing your best to court an uninterested orphan… We truly are brothers.” Arthur offered as an apology.
Vincent snorted, nodding along. “What is it with us? Our luck can’t be this bad.”
“Oh I don’t know, I think our luck in life is quite good. It’s only in girls that it seems to fail us.”
“I heard that one. I do need a drink.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but I find the idea more appealing now than it was before. Shall we?”
“Sure. Just don’t try to set me up with anyone again. You already screwed it up.”
“Nonsense! I am an impeccable wingman!”
Vincent reached over and slugged his brother in the shoulder. “That’s for letting your head get so big. C’mon I need a drink.”
Laughing Arthur followed along. That night the two brothers would drown their sorrows.
—-
Part 8. Iron Blooded Orphans.
Sandra Nelson
Isaribi En-route to Lyons
“Sandy! How much longer?”
“...”
“SIGH Captain Nelson. How much longer?”
“Another few days Lieutenant.” Captain Sandra Nelson offered with a grin. Kim was a friend, and it was a daily interaction between the two of them fighting over whether they would use their first names or ranks.
There was very little else to do on the weeks-long jumps between worlds.
“Ugh. I sometimes want to kick Vicky in the shins for convincing us that the Library engineers force was the place for me. ‘Go to foreign worlds. Travel the Inner Sphere. See amazing sights.’ She never bothered to mention, being stuck in a dropship for weeks at a time, and only staying on worlds for like a month while working before jumping to the next.”
“I don’t know why you always complain. The pay is great. The benefits, better.”
“Yes I am sure the Captain has plenty of benefits us lowly workers don’t get.” Kim grumbled nudging her friend as the two of them settled on the bridge. They were on their way to Lyons, a planet on the border of the Combine, and Commonwealth. It was actually the furthest the Library Engineers had gone. The furthest from home any of them had been.
“Could be worse. We could be stuck on Redbase. It’s summer right now.”
“Ugh. Even with the armor I don’t want to deal with a Zaniah Summer again. So I guess you got me there. That’s a benefit I can get behind. Until we land on a volcanic world or something.”
“I’ll tell the Commander we refuse any volcano worlds.”
“Thank you. Captain. You truly are the best of us.”
“It’s what I am-” The alert sounded and Captain Nelson felt her stomach clench. She was still a rookie captain. She had been trained enough to be on her own, but she was green. Still learning. In charge only because the Commander believed she had enough learning that she now needed experience.
She wasn’t sure she was ready for a battle.
“Captain! We have three spheroid dropships on an intercept course! They are releasing ASF forces!” Her communications officer called out, after she hit the alert.
“How many ASF?”
“I am reading at least six lances Captain!”
Twelve fighters? That didn’t make sense, unless they were planning on targeting a dropship from the get go. “Intercept time?”
“Less than an hour.”
“Open a call to the Planetary Guard! We need to alert them we are under attack.”
“Working on it now Captain!”
She stalled then. A realization. She had just left the jump point. If they were already on her ass? They were at least a few days away from rescue. Worse? They only had two ASF fighters. That wasn’t enough to take out twelve no matter what they did.
“Sandra?”
She jerked. Realizing she had been circling. She took a deep breath and let it out. Adjusting her hat. She grabbed a radio accessing the PA system.
“This is your Captain speaking. We are under attack. The enemy forces outnumber us, and likely there will be no rescue in time. As of this moment I am activating Ragnarok Protocol. I repeat. Ragnarok Protocol is in effect. We will give them nothing.”
“And take everything.” The words were repeated back to her from every person on the ship. Some whispered in fear. Some roared in courage.
“I am afraid we are in for a rough few months or longer. But we are Iron Blooded. She will come, and these pirates will regret their actions today. So this is an order to all members. Survive. Believe in rescue. She will come.” The last words were spoken in a whisper.
God Sandra hoped she would come.
In the deep dark of space, an hour later a few lights of battle could be seen.
Then, as if returning to its natural state.
Nothing.
Doomsought
Well-known member
Things are beginning to move. I wonder how the Clans will react to conspiracy theories about the ISDF being SLDF returned. They would probably get a good laugh out of that. Well, at least the ones who haven't had their sense of humor surgically removed.
Bear Ribs
Well-known member
Odds are the Dragoons have either already infiltrated with an orphan of their own, or are in the process. It always irritated me that WolfNet was somehow better than any house intelligence service (As if the Dragoons didn't already have enough advantages) when Clan Watch intelligence tends to not just be bottom of the barrel but require digging implements. Nonetheless, their super-intelligence and ability to put agents everywhere including infiltrating every other intelligence service without being caught is canon.
Seras
Well-known member
It's an annoyance, but really the reason is because of the Dragoons Retcon. Remember when they were first added to canon pretty early on, the idea of the Clans didn't exist. Hence why they are so good at stuff they shouldn't have a clue about. I accept it as advanced tech gives them a step up on the rest of the Intel agencies, and they co-opt, or recruit new spys pretty quickly with all their toys.
xachariahxx
Well-known member
The obvious answer for Wolfnet is that the Dragoons took literally every clanner intelligence officer with them, leaving nothing for the rest of the clans.
Or they batchalled for right to be spies, and they were the only survivors. "We are the best spies, and we shall prove so with vibroblades to the death" seems appropriately clan.
Or they batchalled for right to be spies, and they were the only survivors. "We are the best spies, and we shall prove so with vibroblades to the death" seems appropriately clan.
Chapter 15.1
Seras
Well-known member
Chapter 15.1 All’s Fair
3025
Zaniah
RedBase
It was a warm afternoon like many days were on Zaniah. I was looking over my new batch of recruits. A good many of them were even from Amity. I could just make out Valerie running along. Our first League kid. I was proud. Our numbers now exceeded any amount I could have dreamed. Over the last two years of building up, we had only gone out to battle a few times. Most of it was spent spreading across Lyran space. The Isaribi had been relegated completely to library building.
It was a good feeling. Libraries spread across world after world. Each of them spreading knowledge. Letting people get an education that had been thought lost.
But this was the Inner Sphere. And nothing peaceful ever lasted.
“Vicky!”
“Benny?” His voice was angry. Not just annoyed, not frustrated. This was anger. Hatred.
“We got an HPG message. From Lyons.”
It took me a second to remember the planet on the edge of Lyran and Combine space was where the Isaribi was.
“What happened?”
“The Isaribi was captured. Come on, the message… There was an attachment. It will tell you the rest.” Benny was seething. I on the other hand just felt my stomach drop out from under me.
I started running. The command center in the middle of our Castle Brian was abuzz. And I could see more than a few nearly tear filled faces looking to me for answers.
“Play it.” I demanded, taking control. I kept my back straight. As the message began playing. A video message at that.
The man Sitting seiza in front of the camera was very very Kuritan. Although he had non japanese features, he wore a kimono and there was a Katana on the floor beside his hip.
“Good evening Commander Eisen-Blume. This one has the Honor of being Governor Kagemuchi Ito of Ko. Your people have been captured. Your Dropship and all its inhabitants are currently my guests.”
My teeth clenched. Everyone knew that being a guest of a Kuritan, was just another way of saying tortured every day. Or worse.
“I have heard you feel close to all those under your command. So this one is afraid a deal must be offered. Their lives, for your Colossus Dropship. The Coordinator wishes to own this vessel, along with the Lostech Battlemechs. Come to Ko with your holds full, and you will be allowed to leave with your people. I await your response.”
“Do we have any confirmation that this is real?” I demanded and Benny was at my elbow nodding. “The 12th Star Guards were on Lyons. They sent a message about the raid. The Isaribi was the target.”
“I see.”
“Commander?”
The paused image of the man that currently had my kids was burned into my mind. I didn’t want this. The fact of the matter is I wanted to avoid fighting the houses anymore than I already had. I needed a neutral reputation to be able to spread across the states.
But I also had a responsibility to my kids. One that I would happily throw away anything else for.
“Fine.” I stepped over to the base wide PA system. Flipping a button. Which sent out an alert to the entire Castle Brian including the surface area. The PA system releasing a few notes, alerting everyone to an emergency message.
“Attention. This is Commander Eisen-Blume. We have just been informed, our Library engineering detachment on the Isaribi have been taken in a Combine Raid above Lyons. The Governor of Ko has accepted responsibility for this. Our people are currently imprisoned in the Combine.”
I took a deep breath. Fuck me. I wanted to avoid this. I wanted to not end up pulling a fucking Wolfs Dragoons.
“They demand our equipment. If this was all I would gladly turn it over. But I do not believe in Combine Honor. I don’t believe when I hand over what they want that our people will be returned. As such there is only one choice. I will head to Ko. I will fight. I will recover our people, or die trying.”
I turned, looking around the command station. Benny nodded. As the older brother to everyone. He couldn’t allow this anymore than I could.
“This mission… Will be volunteer only. We will begin gathering everyone soon. If you have anyone you know on the Isaribi. We will rescue them. No matter what. Every one of them. This, for the first time, is a point we will all remember. We will not be fighting pirates, or a raid. This is not an act that has no other meaning. Iron Blooded. This is an act of War. Prepare yourselves. For when we march to war. The Sphere will tremble. Eisen-Blume out.”
“You do know everyone is going to want to go.”
“I know. Damn me. But I know.” I shook it off. “Benny. We aren’t going with just the WhiteBase. I’m breaking out the Emergency equipment. Find the best mechwarriors and put them in mechs… I need to make some HPG calls.”
“Understood Commander!” Benny was all teeth. It wasn’t a grin. We were all too angry for that. But it was a promise.
The ISDF. The Iron Blooded Orphans go to war.
—-
I didn’t sleep that night, Or the next.
That first day I sent out multiple HPG messages. Some requested additional assistance. Mostly to ASF forces. O’Connors Corsairs had decided to come to Ko with us. At first they had been hesitant, but then they saw what was really going on, and their desire to kick some snakes in the nuts overruled any hesitancy.
The fact I promised all of them, every single pilot they had a Royal ASF ride, had something to do with it too.
But we did get a few interested responses back. It would be nice to have some extra experienced pilots. We would pick them up along the way. The Clementine the Invader Jumpship was being contracted to pick us up for the whole way.
I had an express package to be delivered by ComStar as well. I paid the ‘super express tier’ payment. That basically means it gets transported with all due haste.
The box was sent straight to Ko. A message for Governor Kagemuchi.
It would only arrive maybe a week or so before we did since we were still preparing, but that was fine.
Finally I had to send a message to the Archon. It was handed off to Marcus, who would be staying behind, even if for the first time since we had our underground meeting about what the Homeguard entailed, he actually felt the regret of joining. Just like all the kids. And I do mean all of them.
He wanted to fight.
But he agreed to stay. To protect our home when it would be the emptiest it ever has been.
The message to the Archon would be sent only as we were getting very close to dropping on Ko. I didn’t want ComStar nonsense to give any advantage to the Combine. As I said. The Iron Blooded were now at war. That meant we had to act as if all of our enemies were enemies.
—-
{Recording Begins}
“Aunt Katrina. Sorry. The ISDF is going to the planet Ko. They kidnapped some of my kids… I’m not asking for any assistance. We should be okay with what I have, but I will owe you an apology. See I lied to you. I know you are probably frowning right now, but I did have a few more Lostech caches that I could open up. And well… You will probably hear the rumors start soon, but I wanted to tell you myself. And… When this is all over. I will of course be happy to hand over some equipment. I have been a bit greedy about it.”
The girl took a deep breath and then exhaled, as if gathering strength.
“The ISDF is not a Battalion strength Company. That only accounts for one Colossus.”
“We have three.”
“Aunt Katrina. As of this moment. The ISDF RCT is going to war with the Combine. Sorry if this messes up any plans.”
{Recording Ends}
—-
I couldn’t leave it as just a message on the radio. So two days before we were planning on leaving. I had a full company meeting. One of the big interior bays was opened up, and more of my people gathered together than ever before. This bay was meant to hold a dropship.
It just barely was big enough for all of the people. It was a startling thought. This may be the last time I am ever able to hold a meeting with 100% turnout. After this, the ISDF may be too big for it.
I strode through the crowd, as one of them. They easily made way for me, but quite a few asked questions, which if I could I would answer back. Even more reached out for some interaction. A pat on the shoulder. A fist touch. Some of the kids needed the assurance.
Because everyone was definitely upset. I was here to try and help that. To give them focus.
By the time I strode up onto the foot of my Nightstar which was acting as my stage the kids had quieted down. A few had noticed the oddities I had left in the hall. But none had messed with them yet.
“Iron Blooded Orphans!” I called out. My voice increased with the speakers installed in the hall. I spoke loudly even so. “That is what I called us so many years ago. Some of you were even there.” I joke looking over the crowds. “But it doesn’t mean we are some great warriors. We aren’t destined to defeat the villains. That’s for heroes. We aren’t the heroes.”
“Heroes Die!”
I let that echo around the room for a while. “Warriors become heroes because they take risks. We will never be that. We don’t take risks. We are soldiers. We don’t fight like warriors. We fight whenever the enemy has a disadvantage, and we have an advantage. We don’t sacrifice our lives to take out just one more enemy mech. We retreat, regroup. Fight again the next day. We are the slow inexorable army that crushes those that we fight.”
It was quiet for a while. My kids not all happy with what I was saying, but most were getting it. “Our goal is to save our brothers and sisters. To do that we will take risks. That is War, but we will do our best to come home again. If we die out there on some forsaken world. Our family will mourn us. Our friends will miss us. Their lives will grow darker without our light. So today. We will set upon our souls a reminder.”
Beside the Nightstar and in a few spots in the hangar barrels had been placed. Yes. I was being theatrical. But dammit these were my kids. If a little theater would remind them to keep themselves alive while fighting the God Damned Combine. I would pick a fucking totem animal and start screaming nonsense words at them. Maybe Kaplah? Eh it was better than Batchall.
Inside the barrel was a dark red liquid. It was actually… Well I had Gauge make the original bit.
But it was basically future space paint. Also magic. I was pretty sure it was magic.
I dipped my hands into the paint, every eye in the hall on me as I streaked the red paint on my face. From the side of my nose, under my eye and down my cheek. A streak of what looked like blood. Then I did the other side.
“A reminder. A Physical reminder of what will happen to those around you if you die. We will all shed tears of blood for your loss. All of you. Join in. When the Iron Blooded Orphans go to war. We should all do this. A reminder that our loss, Our life means something to each other.”
It was a solemn moment as many of the kids did so. Joining me in my symbol. Benny was the first to alter the path. He swiped it up and over his nose. Hanna joined in his symbol. Soon others were picking their own way of doing it. Some chose streaks down their cheeks. Some across. One had three across his cheeks. And my instinct to call them a weeb was there, But I contained it. That anime didn’t exist I think, plus I had no room to talk. My Battle Angel Alita face paint was plainly visible.
It of course did start getting a little rowdy. “Hey! Don’t mess around, don’t get any in your eyes! I don’t care if he messed up your symbol. We have a cleaner you can use to start over!”
But in the end. Every one of my soldiers had a red streak on their face. Already it was drying and the effect came in. The light hitting the blood red markings would make the color shift from red. To the color of Iron.
“We still have work to do. Dismissed!”
—-
“Commander. I heard a rumor…”
“It’s true.” I say plainly. I didn’t have time for this. So I was making it plain. I was standing out on the tarmac to where Whitebase was being loaded up. Both Lady Alessa, and her sons were standing beside me. The three had come probably wondering what was going on. The almost frantic energy of my kids had been noticed by the people of Zaniah.
“You are going to war? With the Combine?”
“Governess. We are going to war with everyone if I have to, until my kids are home safe. I am a little busy. Can I help you with something?” I prompt aggressively. My hands were a little full with this.
The Governess blinked, and she looked almost a little startled at how I was acting. It could be the red face paint, but I suppose this is the first time she had ever seen me truly angry before.
It was a first for many of my kids too.
“We would like to assist in any way we can.” She finally admitted as I turned away from another status report that had just been handed to me, looking it over I nodded. And sent the runner away. We were going to need more AC/20 ammo.
“Governess. Unless you have another dropship, you will only get in our way.”
“We do have a leopard. If an additional Lance of mechs could be of assistance?” She offered, and I was actually forced to turn and look at her.
“You aren’t usually this supportive, what are you plotting? I frankly don’t have time at the moment to figure it out.”
She looked a little affronted for a moment before nodding. “You will need additional forces if you are planning on taking on the Combine. We have an extra dropship and mechwarriors… Of course if we are going to assist you surely a few improvements to our Battlemech forces wouldn’t be out of hand?”
Ah there was the self-serving Governess I knew.
“I don’t have time to prep a jumpship. You get your people in a dropship and on their way to Ko, and I will give you a Lance of Lostech machines. If you fight, you can keep them and any salvage you take on the planet. We aren’t going there for salvage.”
Vincent. Actually gasped, at my offer but it was Arthur that had the first word. “We accept Commander. I will join you myself.”
“No.” The Governess cut in instantly. “Arthur. I can’t have both of you go. You are my heirs. Vincent will go. I already know I couldn’t talk him out of it. Arthur you will stay here and keep the planet's defense.”
“Great. Figure it out. I have other things to deal with. If you’ll excuse me?” I demand, basically glaring at them to leave as I turn back to the preparations. This was going to be messy. We didn't have the experience to handle this without some sort of fuckup. I was just trying to find it before it exploded in our face.
—-
“Can we do it?”
Captain Andre Gilbert was the Lieutenant that I had hired on to be a semi-permanent captain for the Isaribi. Eventually he had taken over Whitebase because we needed someone with experience to cover a Colossus.
“It’s going to be tight Commander. Without… Captain Nelson. We are going to struggle to crew three dropships… Much less three Colossus.” The man still seemed to be having trouble wrapping his head around the fact there were two more Colossus in Redbase.
I hadn’t bothered to answer any questions about where they came from, or how they had gotten to Redbase without anyone knowing.
That was going to be a fun ‘secret’ to lead people around with.
“Can it be done relatively safely?”
“No. Not with your current crew, they aren’t experienced enough. Dropping in a warzone is not the same as landing on a normal approach.”
“What do we need?”
“At least a few experienced officers.”
“Get them. Either here on Zaniah, or recruit them and let us pick them up on the way. Captain as far as I am concerned money is no object. Get the three dropships ready.”
“Commander. I wasn’t exactly a high ranked officer before. Anyone we recruit…”
“I don’t care, Captain. You have the most experience in the entire Inner Sphere at the head of a Colossus. You are in charge. Can you handle this?”
The younger man hesitated before his face firmed he adjusted his hat. The same hat that I had picked out for my Iron Blooded Naval officers. He didn't wear the armor, but he did deserve the hat.
“Commander, I will take care of it. We will have a crew ready for the Ko landing.”
I nod. Everything was coming together.
—-
It took a week for everything to be readied. That included me creating an absurd amount of equipment we would be taking with.
And on a bright Summer day on Zaniah. On the 13th of September. The people of Zaniah were treated to sight that hadn’t been possible in over Two-Hundred and Fifty years.
Redbase heaved as two massive openings in the desert appeared, and slowly two Colossus rose ro join the third on the surface on massive freight elevators. Once the elevators were locked in. The three Colossus, all painted like concrete, erupted as three fusion drives ignited. Three Colossus dropships roared into the sky over Zaniah.
The rumors of what happened had spread quickly across the desert planet, and as one the people, Lyran, or Spies from around the Sphere, knew that something big had just happened.
But all I could think was the time it would take.
Four jumps.
—-
Fifty days later. A package arrived on Ko. This package had a very strange destination. But ComStar had been paid exceptionally well to ensure it ended up in the right hands. So in a bit of an odd situation. A ComStar Acolyte walked into the Governor's palace on Ko. A box the color of concrete held before him. A large red flower sigil stamped on the top.
It took the acolyte some time before he was allowed to see the Governor. Security check after security check, not on him of course, but the box. To ensure no bomb or poison, or viral agent was detected. Finally he was allowed through stepping into an ostentatious throne room. This governor Yamada knew, would probably not last long.
Already stirring among the people about their hatred of this man. ComStar had picked up plenty of worried messages going out about the unrest of the planet. Of course the Governor blamed it on Lyran agitators. And not on his own failures.
“When I heard a package was arriving carried by a ComStar Adept I was quite surprised! Come, show me what is so important, someone would pay so much to your company to have it hand delivered.”
“I am simply an Acolyte Governor Kagemuchi, But this is the package.” Yamada placed the package on the table before the Governor, watching as the man smirked slightly. The large red symbol of the ISDF, or the Iron Blooded Orphans, or just the Iron Blooded displayed on the front.
“Ah. I was wondering when they would get back to me. Why they sent this through a package instead of an HPG message I will never know. Lyrans.”
Yamada had looked into what exactly the package meant, and had discovered the situation going on with the Mercenary company with delusions of grandeur and the Governor. He couldn’t help but wonder if the Governor was ready for an angry mercenary company coming for blood. The Governor opened the box. The package revealed an odd thing.
It was a flower. Sort of. Blood red. Quite literally as it had been scanned and revealed to literally be coated in dried blood. An iron flower coated in blood. What was more interesting is that this Commander was a woman of few words. No letter, no note. Just a flower in a box.
Yamada wasn’t a military man, but even he could see the connotations. With his duty done he bowed lightly and turned, leaving the governor to stare at the package in solitude.
—-
Finally, In a burst of oddness leaving me feeling for a second like I could hear the taste of my lunch we burst into Ko space. It had been a hurried, almost frantic trip. The Clementine had agreed to this mission but it had cost me. Recruiting competent officers to man my dropships? That had cost me.
Everything was costing me something. I only hoped this wouldn’t end up costing me my dream.
“We are clear. Whitebase, Pegasus, and TrojanHorse are all confirmed green. Commander?” The Captain asked.
“Initiate the action.” I confirm, feeling the drive systems engage after we disengaged from the Clementine. We were far outside any lagless transmission range yet. It would be a few days before that. Seven more days.
“No enemy orbital defenses. Same as the official reports. But that may not last Commander. Good chance they will try to contest our re-entry.”
“I know Captain. That’s what the ASF forces are for. Plus our own weapons.”
Captain Gilbert nodded in agreement with that. “Our weapons are good, but if they throw enough at us…”
“We will make it through. I have full confidence in the crew's skills, and our defenses. Captain.” I offered a farewell as I headed through the dropship. There was a sense of anxiety on the ship. Not one for fear of what comes next. My kids were confident. No, the worry was for our captured crew.
I walked past the room Rough Squad currently had commandeered. They eventually had decided to become a raiding force.
I had told Lenden he was being an idiot, that there was no need for that. But it had been an idea he liked. So now Rough Squad… Which was a bit bigger than a squad at this point, but the name stuck, had been training for infiltration and mech theft.
Since there were only so many mechs we could take with us. Their idea had been to steal mechs from the enemy once they had landed. In a way massively increasing our offensive force on a campaign.
Absolutely stupid. They were going to get themselves all killed. Which is why I had first refused. Until a year later, I realized they were still going to fucking do it.
Lenden had eventually ‘stolen’ a bunch of Nighthawks a year or so back. They had just so ‘happened’ to appear in a storage room that the idiots used as a hangout room. I had of course ‘wrote off’ the missing Nighthawks.
After some tutelage from Delta, Rough Squad had learned how to use them. At least now they had a chance. Eventually Rough Squad had become almost a subset of Delta. I had dropped the whole problem on Carl's lap.
He hadn’t looked nearly irritated enough though. Fucker.
Rough squad was ready. All of them were hanging out partying like their life was ending. Considering the morons would be trying to sneak onto a Combine base to steal their mechs… Well it likely was. I didn’t stop in. I was just walking to have something to do. Any prep was basically already done. Now it was just the long wait.
I moved on. There was plenty of activity on Whitebase. Plenty of kids wandering around. Their nerves just as active as mine. I passed a lot of them patting shoulders, or giving nods. Letting them know I believed in them.
It wasn’t them I was worried about.
It was me that I wasn’t sure I believed in.
Could I do this? I had… I had wanted to do more than just be another group killing people in the Inner Sphere. I had such high hopes.
But I shook that away. Hopes were good. Dreams were great. But reality was reality. I wasn’t doing this because I wanted to. Because I had some aspirations of conquering a planet.
I was doing this to rescue my kids. The memory of the Combine having comfort women struck me.
If they raped even one of my kids. I would burn the Combine to ash. I would fuck this entire Inner sphere. A million mechs and jumpships would fall into the hands of the Commonwealth. Let’s see how the Combine like that.
I turned a corner. A small section of the ship that was quiet as I put my head against the cold hull. “Damn it.” I wanted to rage. My stomach felt like fire, and every breath I took felt like I was expelling fire.
It took a few minutes before I had control of myself again. No. I wasn’t going to go down that path of rage and anger. That is how wars like the succession wars happen. I had to be better. No. It wasn’t that.
I wanted to be better.
“Commander?” I blinked. Turning to see Sasha of all people. Why was this girl so good at finding me when I was freaking out?”
“Sasha. I’m okay.”
“Sure. And I’ll go on that date with Vincent he keeps hinting at.” The older woman, at this point, she was closer to thirty than not moved in, and despite the armor pulled me into a hug.
“I mean it. I’m… Just freaking out because of the wait.”
“I figured. You aren’t the only one that doesn’t handle the wait before the battle well. Micky didn’t either… He was on the Isaribi you know?”
I bit my lip. Damn. I had promised to keep her little brothers safe. And now just like the rest of my kids, they were hostage to the Combine.
“No. None of that. I can feel you spiraling. I just meant… He was proud to serve as an engineer. He was the first of my little brothers to find a place for himself. He always wanted to travel. He got to see a ton of worlds. And hopefully he will see even more. You didn’t hesitate Commander. As soon as you heard they were taken, you moved. We move with you. All of us know you will bring them home. Alive, or dead. It doesn’t matter. Because we know that you will do it.”
“I would really prefer bringing them home alive.”
“Me too. But we are prepared for the opposite. I didn’t get it, you know? The whole cult of personality you have. When I first joined I only did it to try and keep my brothers safe, but I understand Commander. This life… It’s better than anything we could have hoped for before. We are valued, each and every one of us. So we will follow you. I will follow you.”
“That only makes it worse. How many will end up dying because of what I decide?”
“I think you asked me something similar before. Vicky. People die. Everywhere. All the time. Very few get to die doing something they believe in. Fewer still get to die doing it not just because they believe, but because they know they are changing the universe for the better.”
“I don’t even know if we are changing the universe for the better.” I mumble out, The commonwealth could do wonderful things in the future, The Federated Commonwealth even more so. But it could also crash and burn just as badly, if not worse than it did.
“I do. Because my little brother got to learn how to be an engineer. Another is becoming a pilot. A good one, with a good ASF that won’t fall apart under him. Another became a Mechwarrior… His father had been a mechwarrior. And his grandfather. We used to hear the stories he would tell of his family's battles. Then his father died. His Mech disappeared, he lost that. You gave it back to him. You gave all of us something.” She ruffled my hair lightly with a soft smile. “Good job Vicky.”
“Ugh. Don’t… say it like that I already feel like I’m a failure.”
“No. You need to hear this sometimes too Commander. You won me over. I’m not here because I like combat. I’m here because you put out the call. And if I die. Then I will die doing something I believe is right.”
“Thanks Sasha.”
“Anytime Commander. C’mon, I hear that Rough squad is going to be holding a ‘ritual’ in their own words in the mechbay. They brought the NeuroHelm. You know the one?”
“Oh I told them to leave that thing back on Zaniah! Damn it. Let’s go see what they are up to.”
We walked shoulder to shoulder back to the Mechbay. Where Rough squad had started a party.
And so on the first night of our burn towards a battle.
Everyone on Whitebase made merry.
For the War would start soon.
—-
Seven days. That’s about how long it took for us to burn towards Ko. Without a word. Nothing stopped us, although that doesn’t mean we hadn’t been noticed. We definitely had. But nothing yet. But hours away from final re-entry. I was called to the bridge.
Seems the shitlord finally decided to act.
“Commander? Call for you.”
“Play it. Let’s see what they want.”
The system spun up and suddenly I was looking at a 3d image of the man that had kidnapped my kids.
“This one is Governor Kagemuchi. So you have come. With more than I expected. If you hand over your three dropships. You will be allowed to leave along with your captured people. Any refusal could lead to… Unfortunate consequences for them.”
I didn’t say anything. Didn’t need to. My people surrounding me? We had already decided on our course.
The many hard faces around me spoke of one fact. We would not give in. I let the silence drift. Simply staring into the eyes of the man that had harmed my people. Finally my silence seemed to get the better of him.
“If you do not accept I will kill one of your people for every minute that-”
“Go ahead.” I stated clearly and loudly, and not a twitch of refusal ran through my command staff on the bridge. Captain Gilbert, one of the few not wearing our armor, was even with us. Standing firm. “We are here to rescue our people. If you hand them over now. We will turn around. That will be the end of it.” I took a step forward. Which admittedly, had less function through a holovid reader, but I think it still worked.
“You will rescue nothing if you do not-”
“Then we will avenge them.” I cut this fool off. I was done with this. “My people will not be used as bargaining chips. If you think we will crumple. If you think you have any control here. Then Governor. You don’t know us at all.”
“You have until we hit the atmosphere. If you call before then, and offer a truce, to hand over my people. Then once we have them we will leave.”
“The Dragons claws do not surrender to idle threats! You children will be killed, your equipment taken for the good of the Dragon. You have no chance! The soldiers of the dragon are not like those weaklings you have faced in the past. You will not succeed.”
“Then we will die fighting.”
I flipped the switch, turning off the call.
I didn’t turn, staring into the spot the man's image had once been.
The bridge was silent. As we waited the time ticking down.
He never did call back.
Instead as we drew closer, an alert sounded. ASF were on the way to stop us.
It was now or never. I switched to the PA system. “This is Vicky. I know all of you are feeling a little bit of everything. Scared. Angry. Nervous. That’s okay. We have the advantage here. We hold every card. They don’t know the rain of fire coming down upon them.”
I looked to my right. Benny and Hanna weren’t here, but Gauge was. He nodded. The boy least likely to want to fight, was firm in his conviction. How could I be any less?
“The Governor who kidnapped our family called us children. To outsiders we may seem that way. They see us as inexperienced. We are. But they don’t see the hours of blood and sweat we gave. The effort it took to get up every morning muscles still sore, to keep practicing. The hours upon hours we spent firing our guns.”
I was tapping my fingers on the console. I was definitely in the nervous camp. I wasn’t scared so much. But nervous? That I would make a mistake? That my family would be killed because of something I did? Yeah.
“I am issuing one rule. Don’t die. If you are in danger, retreat. Only to save another's life should you risk your own. So don’t die. I don’t want to have to plant any Eisen-Blume across this world. Not some snake filled hellhole. So live. Commander Eisen-Blume out.”
3025
Zaniah
RedBase
It was a warm afternoon like many days were on Zaniah. I was looking over my new batch of recruits. A good many of them were even from Amity. I could just make out Valerie running along. Our first League kid. I was proud. Our numbers now exceeded any amount I could have dreamed. Over the last two years of building up, we had only gone out to battle a few times. Most of it was spent spreading across Lyran space. The Isaribi had been relegated completely to library building.
It was a good feeling. Libraries spread across world after world. Each of them spreading knowledge. Letting people get an education that had been thought lost.
But this was the Inner Sphere. And nothing peaceful ever lasted.
“Vicky!”
“Benny?” His voice was angry. Not just annoyed, not frustrated. This was anger. Hatred.
“We got an HPG message. From Lyons.”
It took me a second to remember the planet on the edge of Lyran and Combine space was where the Isaribi was.
“What happened?”
“The Isaribi was captured. Come on, the message… There was an attachment. It will tell you the rest.” Benny was seething. I on the other hand just felt my stomach drop out from under me.
I started running. The command center in the middle of our Castle Brian was abuzz. And I could see more than a few nearly tear filled faces looking to me for answers.
“Play it.” I demanded, taking control. I kept my back straight. As the message began playing. A video message at that.
The man Sitting seiza in front of the camera was very very Kuritan. Although he had non japanese features, he wore a kimono and there was a Katana on the floor beside his hip.
“Good evening Commander Eisen-Blume. This one has the Honor of being Governor Kagemuchi Ito of Ko. Your people have been captured. Your Dropship and all its inhabitants are currently my guests.”
My teeth clenched. Everyone knew that being a guest of a Kuritan, was just another way of saying tortured every day. Or worse.
“I have heard you feel close to all those under your command. So this one is afraid a deal must be offered. Their lives, for your Colossus Dropship. The Coordinator wishes to own this vessel, along with the Lostech Battlemechs. Come to Ko with your holds full, and you will be allowed to leave with your people. I await your response.”
“Do we have any confirmation that this is real?” I demanded and Benny was at my elbow nodding. “The 12th Star Guards were on Lyons. They sent a message about the raid. The Isaribi was the target.”
“I see.”
“Commander?”
The paused image of the man that currently had my kids was burned into my mind. I didn’t want this. The fact of the matter is I wanted to avoid fighting the houses anymore than I already had. I needed a neutral reputation to be able to spread across the states.
But I also had a responsibility to my kids. One that I would happily throw away anything else for.
“Fine.” I stepped over to the base wide PA system. Flipping a button. Which sent out an alert to the entire Castle Brian including the surface area. The PA system releasing a few notes, alerting everyone to an emergency message.
“Attention. This is Commander Eisen-Blume. We have just been informed, our Library engineering detachment on the Isaribi have been taken in a Combine Raid above Lyons. The Governor of Ko has accepted responsibility for this. Our people are currently imprisoned in the Combine.”
I took a deep breath. Fuck me. I wanted to avoid this. I wanted to not end up pulling a fucking Wolfs Dragoons.
“They demand our equipment. If this was all I would gladly turn it over. But I do not believe in Combine Honor. I don’t believe when I hand over what they want that our people will be returned. As such there is only one choice. I will head to Ko. I will fight. I will recover our people, or die trying.”
I turned, looking around the command station. Benny nodded. As the older brother to everyone. He couldn’t allow this anymore than I could.
“This mission… Will be volunteer only. We will begin gathering everyone soon. If you have anyone you know on the Isaribi. We will rescue them. No matter what. Every one of them. This, for the first time, is a point we will all remember. We will not be fighting pirates, or a raid. This is not an act that has no other meaning. Iron Blooded. This is an act of War. Prepare yourselves. For when we march to war. The Sphere will tremble. Eisen-Blume out.”
“You do know everyone is going to want to go.”
“I know. Damn me. But I know.” I shook it off. “Benny. We aren’t going with just the WhiteBase. I’m breaking out the Emergency equipment. Find the best mechwarriors and put them in mechs… I need to make some HPG calls.”
“Understood Commander!” Benny was all teeth. It wasn’t a grin. We were all too angry for that. But it was a promise.
The ISDF. The Iron Blooded Orphans go to war.
—-
I didn’t sleep that night, Or the next.
That first day I sent out multiple HPG messages. Some requested additional assistance. Mostly to ASF forces. O’Connors Corsairs had decided to come to Ko with us. At first they had been hesitant, but then they saw what was really going on, and their desire to kick some snakes in the nuts overruled any hesitancy.
The fact I promised all of them, every single pilot they had a Royal ASF ride, had something to do with it too.
But we did get a few interested responses back. It would be nice to have some extra experienced pilots. We would pick them up along the way. The Clementine the Invader Jumpship was being contracted to pick us up for the whole way.
I had an express package to be delivered by ComStar as well. I paid the ‘super express tier’ payment. That basically means it gets transported with all due haste.
The box was sent straight to Ko. A message for Governor Kagemuchi.
It would only arrive maybe a week or so before we did since we were still preparing, but that was fine.
Finally I had to send a message to the Archon. It was handed off to Marcus, who would be staying behind, even if for the first time since we had our underground meeting about what the Homeguard entailed, he actually felt the regret of joining. Just like all the kids. And I do mean all of them.
He wanted to fight.
But he agreed to stay. To protect our home when it would be the emptiest it ever has been.
The message to the Archon would be sent only as we were getting very close to dropping on Ko. I didn’t want ComStar nonsense to give any advantage to the Combine. As I said. The Iron Blooded were now at war. That meant we had to act as if all of our enemies were enemies.
—-
{Recording Begins}
“Aunt Katrina. Sorry. The ISDF is going to the planet Ko. They kidnapped some of my kids… I’m not asking for any assistance. We should be okay with what I have, but I will owe you an apology. See I lied to you. I know you are probably frowning right now, but I did have a few more Lostech caches that I could open up. And well… You will probably hear the rumors start soon, but I wanted to tell you myself. And… When this is all over. I will of course be happy to hand over some equipment. I have been a bit greedy about it.”
The girl took a deep breath and then exhaled, as if gathering strength.
“The ISDF is not a Battalion strength Company. That only accounts for one Colossus.”
“We have three.”
“Aunt Katrina. As of this moment. The ISDF RCT is going to war with the Combine. Sorry if this messes up any plans.”
{Recording Ends}
—-
I couldn’t leave it as just a message on the radio. So two days before we were planning on leaving. I had a full company meeting. One of the big interior bays was opened up, and more of my people gathered together than ever before. This bay was meant to hold a dropship.
It just barely was big enough for all of the people. It was a startling thought. This may be the last time I am ever able to hold a meeting with 100% turnout. After this, the ISDF may be too big for it.
I strode through the crowd, as one of them. They easily made way for me, but quite a few asked questions, which if I could I would answer back. Even more reached out for some interaction. A pat on the shoulder. A fist touch. Some of the kids needed the assurance.
Because everyone was definitely upset. I was here to try and help that. To give them focus.
By the time I strode up onto the foot of my Nightstar which was acting as my stage the kids had quieted down. A few had noticed the oddities I had left in the hall. But none had messed with them yet.
“Iron Blooded Orphans!” I called out. My voice increased with the speakers installed in the hall. I spoke loudly even so. “That is what I called us so many years ago. Some of you were even there.” I joke looking over the crowds. “But it doesn’t mean we are some great warriors. We aren’t destined to defeat the villains. That’s for heroes. We aren’t the heroes.”
“Heroes Die!”
I let that echo around the room for a while. “Warriors become heroes because they take risks. We will never be that. We don’t take risks. We are soldiers. We don’t fight like warriors. We fight whenever the enemy has a disadvantage, and we have an advantage. We don’t sacrifice our lives to take out just one more enemy mech. We retreat, regroup. Fight again the next day. We are the slow inexorable army that crushes those that we fight.”
It was quiet for a while. My kids not all happy with what I was saying, but most were getting it. “Our goal is to save our brothers and sisters. To do that we will take risks. That is War, but we will do our best to come home again. If we die out there on some forsaken world. Our family will mourn us. Our friends will miss us. Their lives will grow darker without our light. So today. We will set upon our souls a reminder.”
Beside the Nightstar and in a few spots in the hangar barrels had been placed. Yes. I was being theatrical. But dammit these were my kids. If a little theater would remind them to keep themselves alive while fighting the God Damned Combine. I would pick a fucking totem animal and start screaming nonsense words at them. Maybe Kaplah? Eh it was better than Batchall.
Inside the barrel was a dark red liquid. It was actually… Well I had Gauge make the original bit.
But it was basically future space paint. Also magic. I was pretty sure it was magic.
I dipped my hands into the paint, every eye in the hall on me as I streaked the red paint on my face. From the side of my nose, under my eye and down my cheek. A streak of what looked like blood. Then I did the other side.
“A reminder. A Physical reminder of what will happen to those around you if you die. We will all shed tears of blood for your loss. All of you. Join in. When the Iron Blooded Orphans go to war. We should all do this. A reminder that our loss, Our life means something to each other.”
It was a solemn moment as many of the kids did so. Joining me in my symbol. Benny was the first to alter the path. He swiped it up and over his nose. Hanna joined in his symbol. Soon others were picking their own way of doing it. Some chose streaks down their cheeks. Some across. One had three across his cheeks. And my instinct to call them a weeb was there, But I contained it. That anime didn’t exist I think, plus I had no room to talk. My Battle Angel Alita face paint was plainly visible.
It of course did start getting a little rowdy. “Hey! Don’t mess around, don’t get any in your eyes! I don’t care if he messed up your symbol. We have a cleaner you can use to start over!”
But in the end. Every one of my soldiers had a red streak on their face. Already it was drying and the effect came in. The light hitting the blood red markings would make the color shift from red. To the color of Iron.
“We still have work to do. Dismissed!”
—-
“Commander. I heard a rumor…”
“It’s true.” I say plainly. I didn’t have time for this. So I was making it plain. I was standing out on the tarmac to where Whitebase was being loaded up. Both Lady Alessa, and her sons were standing beside me. The three had come probably wondering what was going on. The almost frantic energy of my kids had been noticed by the people of Zaniah.
“You are going to war? With the Combine?”
“Governess. We are going to war with everyone if I have to, until my kids are home safe. I am a little busy. Can I help you with something?” I prompt aggressively. My hands were a little full with this.
The Governess blinked, and she looked almost a little startled at how I was acting. It could be the red face paint, but I suppose this is the first time she had ever seen me truly angry before.
It was a first for many of my kids too.
“We would like to assist in any way we can.” She finally admitted as I turned away from another status report that had just been handed to me, looking it over I nodded. And sent the runner away. We were going to need more AC/20 ammo.
“Governess. Unless you have another dropship, you will only get in our way.”
“We do have a leopard. If an additional Lance of mechs could be of assistance?” She offered, and I was actually forced to turn and look at her.
“You aren’t usually this supportive, what are you plotting? I frankly don’t have time at the moment to figure it out.”
She looked a little affronted for a moment before nodding. “You will need additional forces if you are planning on taking on the Combine. We have an extra dropship and mechwarriors… Of course if we are going to assist you surely a few improvements to our Battlemech forces wouldn’t be out of hand?”
Ah there was the self-serving Governess I knew.
“I don’t have time to prep a jumpship. You get your people in a dropship and on their way to Ko, and I will give you a Lance of Lostech machines. If you fight, you can keep them and any salvage you take on the planet. We aren’t going there for salvage.”
Vincent. Actually gasped, at my offer but it was Arthur that had the first word. “We accept Commander. I will join you myself.”
“No.” The Governess cut in instantly. “Arthur. I can’t have both of you go. You are my heirs. Vincent will go. I already know I couldn’t talk him out of it. Arthur you will stay here and keep the planet's defense.”
“Great. Figure it out. I have other things to deal with. If you’ll excuse me?” I demand, basically glaring at them to leave as I turn back to the preparations. This was going to be messy. We didn't have the experience to handle this without some sort of fuckup. I was just trying to find it before it exploded in our face.
—-
“Can we do it?”
Captain Andre Gilbert was the Lieutenant that I had hired on to be a semi-permanent captain for the Isaribi. Eventually he had taken over Whitebase because we needed someone with experience to cover a Colossus.
“It’s going to be tight Commander. Without… Captain Nelson. We are going to struggle to crew three dropships… Much less three Colossus.” The man still seemed to be having trouble wrapping his head around the fact there were two more Colossus in Redbase.
I hadn’t bothered to answer any questions about where they came from, or how they had gotten to Redbase without anyone knowing.
That was going to be a fun ‘secret’ to lead people around with.
“Can it be done relatively safely?”
“No. Not with your current crew, they aren’t experienced enough. Dropping in a warzone is not the same as landing on a normal approach.”
“What do we need?”
“At least a few experienced officers.”
“Get them. Either here on Zaniah, or recruit them and let us pick them up on the way. Captain as far as I am concerned money is no object. Get the three dropships ready.”
“Commander. I wasn’t exactly a high ranked officer before. Anyone we recruit…”
“I don’t care, Captain. You have the most experience in the entire Inner Sphere at the head of a Colossus. You are in charge. Can you handle this?”
The younger man hesitated before his face firmed he adjusted his hat. The same hat that I had picked out for my Iron Blooded Naval officers. He didn't wear the armor, but he did deserve the hat.
“Commander, I will take care of it. We will have a crew ready for the Ko landing.”
I nod. Everything was coming together.
—-
It took a week for everything to be readied. That included me creating an absurd amount of equipment we would be taking with.
And on a bright Summer day on Zaniah. On the 13th of September. The people of Zaniah were treated to sight that hadn’t been possible in over Two-Hundred and Fifty years.
Redbase heaved as two massive openings in the desert appeared, and slowly two Colossus rose ro join the third on the surface on massive freight elevators. Once the elevators were locked in. The three Colossus, all painted like concrete, erupted as three fusion drives ignited. Three Colossus dropships roared into the sky over Zaniah.
The rumors of what happened had spread quickly across the desert planet, and as one the people, Lyran, or Spies from around the Sphere, knew that something big had just happened.
But all I could think was the time it would take.
Four jumps.
—-
Fifty days later. A package arrived on Ko. This package had a very strange destination. But ComStar had been paid exceptionally well to ensure it ended up in the right hands. So in a bit of an odd situation. A ComStar Acolyte walked into the Governor's palace on Ko. A box the color of concrete held before him. A large red flower sigil stamped on the top.
It took the acolyte some time before he was allowed to see the Governor. Security check after security check, not on him of course, but the box. To ensure no bomb or poison, or viral agent was detected. Finally he was allowed through stepping into an ostentatious throne room. This governor Yamada knew, would probably not last long.
Already stirring among the people about their hatred of this man. ComStar had picked up plenty of worried messages going out about the unrest of the planet. Of course the Governor blamed it on Lyran agitators. And not on his own failures.
“When I heard a package was arriving carried by a ComStar Adept I was quite surprised! Come, show me what is so important, someone would pay so much to your company to have it hand delivered.”
“I am simply an Acolyte Governor Kagemuchi, But this is the package.” Yamada placed the package on the table before the Governor, watching as the man smirked slightly. The large red symbol of the ISDF, or the Iron Blooded Orphans, or just the Iron Blooded displayed on the front.
“Ah. I was wondering when they would get back to me. Why they sent this through a package instead of an HPG message I will never know. Lyrans.”
Yamada had looked into what exactly the package meant, and had discovered the situation going on with the Mercenary company with delusions of grandeur and the Governor. He couldn’t help but wonder if the Governor was ready for an angry mercenary company coming for blood. The Governor opened the box. The package revealed an odd thing.
It was a flower. Sort of. Blood red. Quite literally as it had been scanned and revealed to literally be coated in dried blood. An iron flower coated in blood. What was more interesting is that this Commander was a woman of few words. No letter, no note. Just a flower in a box.
Yamada wasn’t a military man, but even he could see the connotations. With his duty done he bowed lightly and turned, leaving the governor to stare at the package in solitude.
—-
Finally, In a burst of oddness leaving me feeling for a second like I could hear the taste of my lunch we burst into Ko space. It had been a hurried, almost frantic trip. The Clementine had agreed to this mission but it had cost me. Recruiting competent officers to man my dropships? That had cost me.
Everything was costing me something. I only hoped this wouldn’t end up costing me my dream.
“We are clear. Whitebase, Pegasus, and TrojanHorse are all confirmed green. Commander?” The Captain asked.
“Initiate the action.” I confirm, feeling the drive systems engage after we disengaged from the Clementine. We were far outside any lagless transmission range yet. It would be a few days before that. Seven more days.
“No enemy orbital defenses. Same as the official reports. But that may not last Commander. Good chance they will try to contest our re-entry.”
“I know Captain. That’s what the ASF forces are for. Plus our own weapons.”
Captain Gilbert nodded in agreement with that. “Our weapons are good, but if they throw enough at us…”
“We will make it through. I have full confidence in the crew's skills, and our defenses. Captain.” I offered a farewell as I headed through the dropship. There was a sense of anxiety on the ship. Not one for fear of what comes next. My kids were confident. No, the worry was for our captured crew.
I walked past the room Rough Squad currently had commandeered. They eventually had decided to become a raiding force.
I had told Lenden he was being an idiot, that there was no need for that. But it had been an idea he liked. So now Rough Squad… Which was a bit bigger than a squad at this point, but the name stuck, had been training for infiltration and mech theft.
Since there were only so many mechs we could take with us. Their idea had been to steal mechs from the enemy once they had landed. In a way massively increasing our offensive force on a campaign.
Absolutely stupid. They were going to get themselves all killed. Which is why I had first refused. Until a year later, I realized they were still going to fucking do it.
Lenden had eventually ‘stolen’ a bunch of Nighthawks a year or so back. They had just so ‘happened’ to appear in a storage room that the idiots used as a hangout room. I had of course ‘wrote off’ the missing Nighthawks.
After some tutelage from Delta, Rough Squad had learned how to use them. At least now they had a chance. Eventually Rough Squad had become almost a subset of Delta. I had dropped the whole problem on Carl's lap.
He hadn’t looked nearly irritated enough though. Fucker.
Rough squad was ready. All of them were hanging out partying like their life was ending. Considering the morons would be trying to sneak onto a Combine base to steal their mechs… Well it likely was. I didn’t stop in. I was just walking to have something to do. Any prep was basically already done. Now it was just the long wait.
I moved on. There was plenty of activity on Whitebase. Plenty of kids wandering around. Their nerves just as active as mine. I passed a lot of them patting shoulders, or giving nods. Letting them know I believed in them.
It wasn’t them I was worried about.
It was me that I wasn’t sure I believed in.
Could I do this? I had… I had wanted to do more than just be another group killing people in the Inner Sphere. I had such high hopes.
But I shook that away. Hopes were good. Dreams were great. But reality was reality. I wasn’t doing this because I wanted to. Because I had some aspirations of conquering a planet.
I was doing this to rescue my kids. The memory of the Combine having comfort women struck me.
If they raped even one of my kids. I would burn the Combine to ash. I would fuck this entire Inner sphere. A million mechs and jumpships would fall into the hands of the Commonwealth. Let’s see how the Combine like that.
I turned a corner. A small section of the ship that was quiet as I put my head against the cold hull. “Damn it.” I wanted to rage. My stomach felt like fire, and every breath I took felt like I was expelling fire.
It took a few minutes before I had control of myself again. No. I wasn’t going to go down that path of rage and anger. That is how wars like the succession wars happen. I had to be better. No. It wasn’t that.
I wanted to be better.
“Commander?” I blinked. Turning to see Sasha of all people. Why was this girl so good at finding me when I was freaking out?”
“Sasha. I’m okay.”
“Sure. And I’ll go on that date with Vincent he keeps hinting at.” The older woman, at this point, she was closer to thirty than not moved in, and despite the armor pulled me into a hug.
“I mean it. I’m… Just freaking out because of the wait.”
“I figured. You aren’t the only one that doesn’t handle the wait before the battle well. Micky didn’t either… He was on the Isaribi you know?”
I bit my lip. Damn. I had promised to keep her little brothers safe. And now just like the rest of my kids, they were hostage to the Combine.
“No. None of that. I can feel you spiraling. I just meant… He was proud to serve as an engineer. He was the first of my little brothers to find a place for himself. He always wanted to travel. He got to see a ton of worlds. And hopefully he will see even more. You didn’t hesitate Commander. As soon as you heard they were taken, you moved. We move with you. All of us know you will bring them home. Alive, or dead. It doesn’t matter. Because we know that you will do it.”
“I would really prefer bringing them home alive.”
“Me too. But we are prepared for the opposite. I didn’t get it, you know? The whole cult of personality you have. When I first joined I only did it to try and keep my brothers safe, but I understand Commander. This life… It’s better than anything we could have hoped for before. We are valued, each and every one of us. So we will follow you. I will follow you.”
“That only makes it worse. How many will end up dying because of what I decide?”
“I think you asked me something similar before. Vicky. People die. Everywhere. All the time. Very few get to die doing something they believe in. Fewer still get to die doing it not just because they believe, but because they know they are changing the universe for the better.”
“I don’t even know if we are changing the universe for the better.” I mumble out, The commonwealth could do wonderful things in the future, The Federated Commonwealth even more so. But it could also crash and burn just as badly, if not worse than it did.
“I do. Because my little brother got to learn how to be an engineer. Another is becoming a pilot. A good one, with a good ASF that won’t fall apart under him. Another became a Mechwarrior… His father had been a mechwarrior. And his grandfather. We used to hear the stories he would tell of his family's battles. Then his father died. His Mech disappeared, he lost that. You gave it back to him. You gave all of us something.” She ruffled my hair lightly with a soft smile. “Good job Vicky.”
“Ugh. Don’t… say it like that I already feel like I’m a failure.”
“No. You need to hear this sometimes too Commander. You won me over. I’m not here because I like combat. I’m here because you put out the call. And if I die. Then I will die doing something I believe is right.”
“Thanks Sasha.”
“Anytime Commander. C’mon, I hear that Rough squad is going to be holding a ‘ritual’ in their own words in the mechbay. They brought the NeuroHelm. You know the one?”
“Oh I told them to leave that thing back on Zaniah! Damn it. Let’s go see what they are up to.”
We walked shoulder to shoulder back to the Mechbay. Where Rough squad had started a party.
And so on the first night of our burn towards a battle.
Everyone on Whitebase made merry.
For the War would start soon.
—-
Seven days. That’s about how long it took for us to burn towards Ko. Without a word. Nothing stopped us, although that doesn’t mean we hadn’t been noticed. We definitely had. But nothing yet. But hours away from final re-entry. I was called to the bridge.
Seems the shitlord finally decided to act.
“Commander? Call for you.”
“Play it. Let’s see what they want.”
The system spun up and suddenly I was looking at a 3d image of the man that had kidnapped my kids.
“This one is Governor Kagemuchi. So you have come. With more than I expected. If you hand over your three dropships. You will be allowed to leave along with your captured people. Any refusal could lead to… Unfortunate consequences for them.”
I didn’t say anything. Didn’t need to. My people surrounding me? We had already decided on our course.
The many hard faces around me spoke of one fact. We would not give in. I let the silence drift. Simply staring into the eyes of the man that had harmed my people. Finally my silence seemed to get the better of him.
“If you do not accept I will kill one of your people for every minute that-”
“Go ahead.” I stated clearly and loudly, and not a twitch of refusal ran through my command staff on the bridge. Captain Gilbert, one of the few not wearing our armor, was even with us. Standing firm. “We are here to rescue our people. If you hand them over now. We will turn around. That will be the end of it.” I took a step forward. Which admittedly, had less function through a holovid reader, but I think it still worked.
“You will rescue nothing if you do not-”
“Then we will avenge them.” I cut this fool off. I was done with this. “My people will not be used as bargaining chips. If you think we will crumple. If you think you have any control here. Then Governor. You don’t know us at all.”
“You have until we hit the atmosphere. If you call before then, and offer a truce, to hand over my people. Then once we have them we will leave.”
“The Dragons claws do not surrender to idle threats! You children will be killed, your equipment taken for the good of the Dragon. You have no chance! The soldiers of the dragon are not like those weaklings you have faced in the past. You will not succeed.”
“Then we will die fighting.”
I flipped the switch, turning off the call.
I didn’t turn, staring into the spot the man's image had once been.
The bridge was silent. As we waited the time ticking down.
He never did call back.
Instead as we drew closer, an alert sounded. ASF were on the way to stop us.
It was now or never. I switched to the PA system. “This is Vicky. I know all of you are feeling a little bit of everything. Scared. Angry. Nervous. That’s okay. We have the advantage here. We hold every card. They don’t know the rain of fire coming down upon them.”
I looked to my right. Benny and Hanna weren’t here, but Gauge was. He nodded. The boy least likely to want to fight, was firm in his conviction. How could I be any less?
“The Governor who kidnapped our family called us children. To outsiders we may seem that way. They see us as inexperienced. We are. But they don’t see the hours of blood and sweat we gave. The effort it took to get up every morning muscles still sore, to keep practicing. The hours upon hours we spent firing our guns.”
I was tapping my fingers on the console. I was definitely in the nervous camp. I wasn’t scared so much. But nervous? That I would make a mistake? That my family would be killed because of something I did? Yeah.
“I am issuing one rule. Don’t die. If you are in danger, retreat. Only to save another's life should you risk your own. So don’t die. I don’t want to have to plant any Eisen-Blume across this world. Not some snake filled hellhole. So live. Commander Eisen-Blume out.”
Doomsought
Well-known member
Does he not realize that he has between two and three regimental combat teams with Royal gear assaulting his planet? They may not be SLDF quality, but three Colossi means over 200 combat vehicles. Even if it is just 200 LRM carriers that is enough to ruin his day, but good chances are that there are a couple companies of artillery in there to compliment the ARROW missile launchers of the Colossus dropships.
Bear Ribs
Well-known member
Reasonably speaking, the guy had to have foreseen the possibility that they would attack so he must have enough forces that he expected to be able to readily win against a Colossus loaded with Royals. That likely means he brought at least double the numbers a single Colossus would have carried in, possibly more in case they brought the Union too. He may not even actually be outnumbered at all and have enough 'mechs and tanks to match what they brought even with three Colossi. The Combine has the biggest military in the IS after all, and if he's got veteran pilots he may feel he has a decent chance against them even now.
He's almost certainly been thrown for a loop by three of them but at this point he's in an impossible position. If he surrenders even in the face of impossible odds he's just going to have to use the garden, and worse his family is going to be stained by it too and possibly wind up slaves. On the other hand if he dies fighting at least his family honor stays intact, so even if he has no other cards his hand making the IBO bleed and killing the hostages for spite is his best move. The Combine's system is horrible but very good at motivating people to keep fighting past the point of stupidity and commit as many atrocities as possible as a display of loyalty.
Hmm...burn every house under his control and salt the grounds. Seize every piece of military equipment then burn and melt it to scrap in front of the remaining samurai. Build a library out of what results.
well, he's a Combine douchebag, so he probably also has the mandatory disregard and disrespect for "Lucre Warriors" so even if he had a pittance of "Real Mechwarriors" he would think that magic bushido hands would win easily regardless.
xachariahxx
Well-known member
Omnimercurial
Active member
Vicky has no PA Blueprints apart from the Sensors, the Omni Pad and the Mech Scale Construction Armatures.... Oh, the Metal Extraction Structures too.
CASPAR
Force Multiplication hell yeah!
That would be the best way to preserve Orphan Lives.
A Wing of Drone ASF for every Orphan ASF.
A Lance of Drone Battlemechs for every Orphan Mechwarrior.
Chapter 15.2
Seras
Well-known member
Chapter 15.2 All's Fair
3025
Ko
In Orbit
Day 1.
A different perspective
Gabe Richthofen
Gabe felt his hands shake. He had never imagined he would be here now. Sure. He had the flight hours. He had a lot of flight hours. The fact of the matter was, Gabe had been in the air more hours than he had been on the ground in the last two years. That isn’t even counting the hours he got with the 10th.
So he had the flight time.
It just never felt like it mattered. He always felt like he was too young. Too inexperienced.
But he was needed. Vicky had put out the call. God was he angry. Just like everyone. Their friends. Their brothers and sisters, kidnapped!
“This is Corsair. Check in.”
“Freefall, Green.”
“Feddy, Green.”
“RedBaron, Green.” Gabe sighed. His Lance was headed by Corsair. Captain O’Connor was a great person to hang out with on the ground, but in the air she was a mean sonuva bitch. She was also a damn skilled fighter pilot.
And now? In a Royal Stuka? Gabe didn't want to be anywhere near her sights. He had been roped into being her wingman. She said it was because he was good enough to keep up. He thought it was because he was a little bit too slow to keep anyone else alive.
But that was behind him. There were multiple flights launching out of the three Colossus. The planet was sending up ASF to hit them on re-entry. That was not going to happen.
The large doors of the Colossus opened, and Gabe was very happy they had worked out the ASF launch procedure a while back while raiding pirates, because Colossus dropships were not ASF mules. They weren’t exactly designed for it normally. It had taken a while and a bit of work, but they had figured it out. Now the old infantry hangar had been remodeled as an ASF bays.
It wasn’t like the ISDF were going to do the infantry wave tactics of the old SLDF after all.
Each Colossus could now easily hold 8 ASF and even quickly deploy that number, without too much issue.
The fact was they had enough pilots to actually do that. Gave Gabe some assurance. Sure it had been a rough few months. It felt like on the crew side of things everyone was short staffed, but that didn’t matter. Not for this.
This was make or break it time.
“Alright then. Alpha Flight. Light your fire, let’s move.” She called and in a moment it was Gabes turn. He lit his engine, and felt the G’s hit. He sped out into the void. He oriented just fine on Corsairs wing. Hours and hours and hours spent in the void above Zaniah had given him plenty of practice. The times they had gone up for over a day at a time had taught him a lot.
He could just faintly see the Drive plumes of the other Flights. Each of them reinforced just like Alpha.
Four birds to a flight. And with three Colossus, each dropship carried two flights.
He shook himself, his mind was slipping, focusing on things that weren’t important. He had work to do. He had been given a ‘gift’ from the Commander after all.
His Stuka had a Lostech sensor system. A secret that he wasn't allowed to share with the outsiders. He understood. He knew why and agreed. But it did put a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Minutes pass as the Flights move into position, to cover the dropships. He couldn’t let a single dropship falter here. That was his family on board.
“Alright kid. It’s time.”
“It’s Redbaron.” He sniped back as he finished securing his helmet.
“Sure kid. Get yourself some kills in this fight, and maybe I’ll start calling you that.”
He didn’t respond. Too focused. The heat of re-entry was already starting to cover his cockpit, cutting his normal vision. Of course his Stuka’s normal sensors were also struggling.
But not the Lostech. “Corsair. Visual confirmation. Enemy Flight. They are coming in from these coordinates.”
“What? The fuck how did you see that?” Corsair barked.
“Got a glimpse.”
“Kid… Fuck I’ll risk it. Alpha, on my tail, let’s go for them.” Gabe followed more through sensors than sight as everything was fire outside his cockpit, into a slight shift in the re-entry turn. And a moment later. He was lined up. Long before they could see him. And frankly before he could see them.
But he had a clear shot. And these fuckers were protecting the scumbag that took his family. Lightning fired. ERPPC launched straight through the fire and fury of re-entry. He grit his teeth. He missed. He had pulled a bit too hard, and his shots skimmed over the nose of the Shilone.
Gritting his teeth at his failure, the heat of his Stuka soaring, he still had a few seconds of entry before normal sight would return. The enemy had no such issues, but they weren’t in range. The Shilone he had fired at turned and fired it’s Large laser. But instantly Gabe noticed the problem. He was still well outside of range. The Shilone’s fire did nothing but dissipate far too soon.
“The hell are you shooting at kid?”
“That fucker.” Gabe grumbled over the line as he lined up his second shot. His Stuka was heating up, but he felt cool. His hands weren’t shaking anymore.
This time he rode the turbulence. Not letting it jostle him except how he wanted. And in a flash Four arcs of lightning burst from the fireball his Stuka made on entry. Just as the flash of fire cleared enough, and a curse from Corsair came over as she realized they were lined up perfectly onto the enemy flight. The Four bursts of ERPPC fire smashed into the Shilone.
“Alright Alpha! Pick your targets! Fire at will!” Corsair bellowed over the line as more lightning joined Gabes own. The enemy ASF were not expecting so much fire from outside their range.
The Shilone he had hit survived his shot, but it had rolled heavily, smoke and fire burning out of it. It lost its place in its flight, and was probably out of the fight. So Gabe chose his second target. His Stuka heated up as it struggled to dump the heat from re-entry and firing, but he didn’t care. He was just sweating a bit. They would be sweating a lot soon. His Cooling Suit was working overtime to keep him active.
His trigger depressed and the battle was on. Alpha flight wasn’t alone. The enemy had sent up a lot of ASF cover. To try and surprise the dropships. Hell, his sensor had even picked up a few air breathers converging in.
The Combine had thrown everything they could into the air to try and stop the ISDF from landing.
“COME ON!” He screamed into the mic, any hesitancy forgotten, and he fired his ERPPC again and again. Then the enemy were in range, and then his Autocannon joined in. Anything to tear these fuckers apart. He flew, he dipped, he rolled, his armor was shattered from return fire. But the Stuka didn’t care. The enemy's lighter fighters were trying to get past them. To get to the dropships as they burned in.
The Flights only had one job. Stop them.
They did.
The enemy flights were so shocked at the ferocity they ran into. That their attack hesitated too long. The first dropship to finish re-entry was WhiteBase. Glowing white hot the current flagship of the ISDF, and a beast of a dropship.
Spoke.
None of the enemy fighters were expecting the dropship they had been targeting to suddenly reach out and touch them.
But it did. Targeting systems in perfect condition and backed up by the Commanders Sensors. The gauss rounds barked loud enough Gabe could hear it through the thin atmosphere and the fighting.
And the enemy shattered. The Colossus only needed 9 gunners Gabe remembered idly. And those kids?
They were a division of Homeguard. Marcus had finally figured out a way to get at least some of them involved. They would man the guns of the Dropships. After all, WhiteBase and the other dropships were a home too.
Gabe spent more hours than not in the air training over the last two years. Homeguard? There was almost never a moment that they weren’t training. It was a joke, that if Homeguard ever stopped firing their guns. The entire base would overflow with ammunition and the ISDF would have to sleep on top of Artillery shells.
And this? This was the chance Homeguard had been waiting for. A chance to fire their guns at the enemy.
By the time the second Colossus, the Pegasus had finished re-entry and it’s guns started firing the fight had already long left the enemy ASF. Not that Gabe, or Corsair were planning on letting them get away.
The fleeing fighters were chased by lightning, long after their rear guns could even come close, the Stukas fired. Although they did break off eventually. Their job was protection.
As the skys cleared. And no further threats came in Gabe felt exhilarated. He had done it. Survived, and fought well.
“Good job Alpha. Looks like we only lost one during the dust up. I want status checks, and let’s get on overwatch until everything is settled.”
“Roger!”
“Understood.”
“Roger that.”
“Oh and RedBaron? Not bad kid. If you keep this up I might let you keep that name. Otherwise I’m calling you Glimpse. Cause I have no idea how you got a glimpse of that wing through the fire.”
“Just lucky.”
“Yeah sure.”
Gabe sighed. He wasn’t sure how many he actually took down, if any. But his computer would have the record, he would go over it later. For now… he felt good. His training had paid off. Now? It was up to the ground forces. They would have a far tougher, dirtier job than his.
But the ISDF were up for it. It was time the rest of the Inner Sphere learned that too.
—-
We had landed in farmland. Long stretches of some sort of wheat or something leaving long sight lines, with lines of trees acting as borders of the fields. Between each farm was usually small forests, filled with ponds, or roughage. Places for animals to keep to themselves.
We weren’t being gentle to the field. I would need to remind myself to find the owner of this field and apologize in person when we were done. Because our fortifications didn’t care about the food growing beneath us. Not that much survived the drive plume of the Dropships.
The first twenty minutes of our landing was the most frantic. Our dropships landed and we began securing the area. Thanks to our sensors, it was easy work. And moderately safe. There wasn’t much fear of random ISF agents, or a regiment of Battlemechs or tanks sneaking up on us. So we had some time. And we used it.
It was funny. I had originally had my kids put up defense towers around Redbase to give them practice for doing it in the field. I hadn’t really considered how important that was until today. Watching the AC/2 flak turrets being set up around our dropships. Ensuring that any offense from the sky would find themselves with a nasty surprise.
I was sitting in my Nightstar. Guiding the defensive preparations, and keeping an eye on the enemy units surrounding us. I didn’t really know what to expect. The actual enemy unit on the planet was completely unknown to me.
So I was trying to keep a level head. Our mechs were already finished disembarking, acting as the wall of the defense, until the fortifications were set up.
And for the tanks to get their gear in order.
If there was any group in the ISDF that was the least trained, it might be either the navy, or the tankers. I hadn’t expected we would need to attack with this level of force before. Right now the experienced tankers were each commanding a tank, splitting up teams, just to give some experience to green crews.
Not that it helped much. Twice already as they disembarked, tanks crashed or ended up stuck or stalled.
Thankfully, while this invasion was serious. Whoever was in charge of the defenses wasn’t ready to engage in a banzai charge.
Yet.
So I settled in, overwatching the area. One of the first things we had begun crafting was actually a tarmac. The Stuka could stay in the air for a very long time, thanks to the fusion engine, but that didn’t mean my people could.
They had just got out of a nasty fight. I had birds in the air that were barely staying up there. So my Engineers were flattening a long path using a piece of equipment we had ‘bought’ back on Zaniah.
It would be enough. If a bit of a rough landing and take off.
Until then. There was only one other issue. “Delta, how is it?” My radio buzzed for a minute. The Combine were definitely trying some sort of radio interference, but the SLDF equipment both onboard the colossus, and the physical units I kept in a few Norman trucks we had brought with, were doing just fine cutting through. And hopefully keeping our comms secure.
“We are on site. O’Donnel is banged up, might be a broken leg, but his parachute kept him alive. Heading in now. We took care of a couple scouts. Looks like they aren’t expecting our fast movers.”
“Good. Stay low. Get our boy home safe.” O’Donnel, was an ass, an arrogant pilot, one of O’Connors. But he fought for my kids.
He would get another Stuka. Even if he had lost his first one. I switched frequencies.
“Corsair. How’s the sky looking?”
“Blue. Boring. Not enough snakes to fight. They all got scared off.”
“That’s good. Your Boy is fine. Broken leg but he’s already picked up by some of our scouts.”
“Shit already? You move quick Commander… Thank you. I’ve known him a long time.”
“He’s one of us now. Stay steady Corsair, we almost have our runway done.”
“Great. Another dirt runway. I love those.”
“Commander out.”
So the day went. An hour. Then two. The Combine general was either antsy, or confident. Because nothing came for us. Well nothing big.
Plenty of Infantry were sent in to scout. In fact it was an almost obscene number. If not for our sensors, there was no chance they wouldn’t have managed to sneak close. But well…
None made it close. Delta wasn’t even wholly responsible. Rough Squad was active. Disappearing more than their number in scouts. My Nighthawks were running full tilt. Every once in a while I would hear gunfire out in the distance, and another dot would disappear from the sensor.
And so the time ticked away. Slowly. Steadily. A few ASF attempted to pass close, but the Corsairs and my kids chased them off. Now that the Combine knew what sort of heat my ASF was packing they were skittish. But still a threat. They were obviously waiting, hunting.
Thankfully our defense towers were still unknown. So if they did manage to slip through they would get a taste of that.
Finally a change happened.
“Commander. We have a call coming in. Visual and audio.”
“If it’s from the Governor hang up. He had his chance.”
“No. Looks like a military frequency.”
“Patch it through then.” Nightstars were designed to be command mechs. You bet your ass it had a holovid comm system. The small hologram burst up and into the form of a woman dressed in a DCMS uniform.
“This is Sho-Sho Tatyana Sobiroff, of the 22nd Dieron Regulars, To the raiding elements, shut down all military equipment and surrender, The dragon’s eyes are on you now.”
“This is Commander Victoria Eisen-Blume. ISDF, First Division Iron Blooded Orphans. My men were captured by Governor Kagemuchi. If my people are returned, I have no further interest in this world, its people, or its defenders.”
“If they are taken by the dragon, they belong to the dragon now. Lower your arms, and give in to the inevitable. Surrender.”
So she was one of ‘those’ people. An officer more than willing to get everyone killed.
Well that’s fine. I was more than willing to kill them.
“You have my kids. My only answer is war.” I flipped the switch on the comm unit, turning it off. There wasn’t any further point in talking. As if a Combine officer could let a merc unit that just landed on their planet go free anyways. The moment we hit the atmosphere, this war had already started.
I flipped to a new connection. “Rommel.”
“Commander?” Benny asked ready and willing.
“Defenses are up. Go scout them.”
“Understood Commander!”
—-
A different perspective
Benjamin Rommel
Ko
Benny had been waiting for this. His fusion engine rumbled as he kicked his myomers into motion. With a single step Benny began his march. “Second Battalion! We march!”
Hoops and hollers echoed for a moment. Lenden, the only ISDF member not in a Royal mech was the loudest of them all.
“Scorch. I know your people have been getting in position. Are they ready?”
“You know we are Fox! My boys have been scoping out the FOB.”
“Patch them into my comms. They are going to be our distraction.”
“Roger that!”
Benny felt the power of his Atlas as he kicked it up to full speed. It’s heavy legs uncaring what ground got in its way. It wasn’t fast. But it didn’t need to be. His Lance made up of the Command Element was ready.
Benny still wasn’t sure why Vicky kept calling it his ‘scout’ lance. But the four Atlas moved in rhythm. They had been working together for years at this point. A single lance under his command. He had practiced commanding both Lance, Company, and even a little battalion experience, but this was the real thing.
He opened his Atlas’s throttle. The Lostech Sensor, still one of the most amazing things he had ever seen. Just further proof in his eyes that Vicky was meant to do this.
“I’ll be taking designation Alpha Lance. Beta Lance is yours Scorch. Don’t lose picture of where you are. Protect Rough Squad and hit navpoint Beta. Delta Lance will be The spear. Delta, you will be breaching, understood?”
“Roger that Fox!” Michael King. Shouted back. The leader of Delta was a solid Mechwarrior. A little too full of himself on the ground, but he always followed orders and Benny definitely considered him for a promotion.
He was also the head of the King Crab Lance. One guess at where he took his name from. Also Benny wasn’t sure why Vicky would break into laughter every time they got brought up, but he was used to Vicky being Vicky at this point.
“Alright King, Nav Point Delta is you. Scorch. Break away. You are faster than us. Let Delta hit first, before Beta engages. Orders set. Go!”
Benny was in his element. This was where he was meant to be.
The first target was an FOB full of enemy tanks, and hovercraft. They had been massing for a while now. Benny had zero intention of letting the speed sucker punch their forces. So that was his first target.
And his first true battle against something more than pirate scum.
Benny watched as the enemy had yet to even notice their approach. Their scouts, who should have been relaying information, were all lying dead in the field. Delta, and Rough squad had been merciless. The infantry that headed out into the fields the ISDF had claimed never returned.
Finally he noticed it. As they got close enough that there was only a single copse of trees blocking them from view. Something seemed to have alerted them. They began moving. Rushing around.
“Rough Squad. Now. Delta. LRM targets. Alpha. LRM and target data. Let’s show them our roar!”
Seeing through the trees thanks to Vickys sensor. Benny aimed. He wasn’t as good as shot as Vicky, or anything like Hanna. But his Gauss round was aimed at an unmoving target. Even as explosions started shattering across the base. Rough squad having been planting explosives around.
Their training with Delta ops, shown off. The fuel storage going up in a sudden fireball was the most impressive act. The fireball shooting high into the sky.
Then Bennys Gauss rifle slammed into a parked Saracen and sent the crewless hovercraft spinning.
Despite the surprise. These weren’t house troops for nothing. Even if Benny still had no idea who they were.
Their crews were quick to get ready. Even if the lance of King Crabs marching into their base made their resistance futile.
Delta marched in King firing first, his AC/20’s more than a match for the vehicles. The pattering of Large lasers, and SRMs stripping armor, but creating the distraction Benny had wanted. Beta Lance, led by Scorch the lighter, but still powerful medium and heavy mechs pushed in from the side, as the King Crabs drew the fire. Lenden cleaned up. His barrage of Green medium lasers melting working, and unworking vehicles regardless.
The battle was already done. A few infantry tried to fight back, but Beta cleaned them out, and Rough Squad finished anything else off. Their Nighthawks clearing any remaining combatants in the building.
“Commander this is Fox. Enemy site Alpha is taken, and resistance is complete.”
“Fox. Battalion Status.”
Benny grimaced. Despite his best efforts. The enemy hadn’t gone without a fight. Enough of the vehicle crews had put their weapons on target. “Two medium armor damage. Four with light armor damage. Ammo. Green overall. Report is we lost at least two of Rough.”
“We will mourn them later. Send your damaged boys back for re-armor. I was watching. You got aggressive.”
Benny flushed. He remembered Vickys words when they were planning on the way over. Steady. Slow and steady. “Yes Commander.”
“Did you learn something?”
Benny thought about it. He had expected his equipment to roll over the enemy practically untouched. Instead despite the battle going completely his way, he had taken more damage than he had expected.
“Yes Commander.”
“Good. Use it. Use their FOB as a new defense grid location. Have Rough squad clear out scouts just like before. Slow and steady Fox.”
“I won’t let you down Commander.”
—-
“You never do.” I repeated the oft said phrase back, but I didn’t have time to remain on target with Benny. The enemy were obviously reacting to the news of our first assault. A King Crab Lance is no joke. But even a King Crab didn’t handle focus fire from a tank company.
It would be good practice to have our crew repair some armor mid mission. Not something we usually stuck around long enough to matter.
“Alright Corsair, you have a clear runway. Get your tail feathers down here.”
“Understood Control Corsair out!”
With that taken care of I had to turn to focus on the fronts.
There were three of them so far. The direction of the capital city to the east was the main one. There had obviously been some sort of military base in that direction.
Because that is where some mechs were.
The second was to the south. A group without any mechs, it was mostly armor. At least a battalion of vehicles. My guess was a planetary guard force.
The third was the one that worried me the most. To the north the main detachment of the mech force was here. And so were vehicles, and enough infantry I knew it was going to be a rather brutal fight.
Thankfully the enemy hadn’t realized our secret weapon yet. And I wasn’t about to let them know until it was too late.
Artillery was King. It was going to be a very direct reminder to the combine. More and more of the Mobile Long Toms were prepped out of the Dropships, covered in camo netting, but their guns were ready.. And they would have enough ammo… Well. I had no problem ensuring their ammo supply never ran out.
Six long toms per Colossus were readying themselves around our defenses. I angled them so that regardless of what force came calling, at least a nine of them could fire. Plus the Colossus were still armed. Homeguard… well they were guarding our home.
We had dealt the first blow. I was actually a little surprised that they had let us move first. From what I understood the Combine officers usually preferred to be on the aggressive side of warfare.
—-
A different perspective
Nakano Takeko
ISDF Base camp
Ko
Takeko was nervous. Commander Eisen-Blume had taken her as one of her Lancemates. Had given her a job that many in the ISDF had wanted. To stand beside the Commander on the Battlefield.
Takeko grimaced. Being in the Draconis Combine was… Weird. She had technically been born on a planet like this. Her parents had fled the Combine for one reason or another.
Takeko didn’t know. She had been dropped off at an orphanage in Solaris when she was three. Her parents were found dead not long after.
Sword wounds.
So she never knew them. Never knew any loyalty to this state. She was as Lyran as anyone. Spoke German, and couldn’t speak Japanese even if she wanted to. Still… It had been a decision she made to pick a Japanese name when she had gone through her ceremony. She had wondered for a long time what name to pick. But finally as the Commander asked her what her name would be, until she died and forever onward.
It was a small history lesson she had once learned from earth that had come to mind. So Nakano Takeko. Named after a warrior woman of Japan that had fought in the Boshin war. A woman that had fought and died bravely. And been remembered for over a thousand years.
Takeko had wanted that. To be remembered. Not like her parents, who she didn't even know the names of.
So she had taken the last name of a woman that fought and died bravely they had already shared a first name after all.
Sometimes she regretted it. Mostly because she kept forgetting that in the Japanese style, her last name came first. The Commander never forgot though.
Speaking of the Commander. As Takeko dallied in her thoughts, her radio crackled. “Takeko. Take Beta and hit nav point Charlie. We have some AT guns moving up, and I don’t want them there.”
“Understood Commander!” Takeko, switched stations, opening her comm system to Beta Lance, that she would be in charge of. “Beta. This is Takeko, taking command. Nav Charlie is our destination. Let’s move out!”
“You got it boss. Finally time to kill some snakes… No offense.”
“I’m as Lyran as you are Dumkopff.” She poked back. The leader of the Commanders Beta lance, technically the 112th was Daniel Wallis. The redhead was the head of the Highlander squad for a reason after all. He and his Lance were the aerial assault mechs. Something hiding on that mountain? Send the jump jet mechs.
Takeko only had a Black Knight. She wasn’t sure why Vicky had looked so pained when she handed the mech to her during her ceremony, but it was a good mech, a solid design. She liked it.
“Right right… Sorry Takeko.”
“Let’s move it Wallis. Commander has a job for us.”
“Right. Roger that!.”
The reinforced Lance moved out. Takeko herself had one of the Lostech sensors. It was why she was put in charge of this detachment. Every mech in the Commanders Lance had a Sensor. So they could help guide other lances, or lead everyone through the battlefield.
Then of course there was Erica’s Lance which would protect her or move off when she was helping the Commander guide the ISDF.
But that was a problem for later Takeko was on a mission. Rechecking her sensor she noticed the infantry company with vehicle support were moving AT defenses onto a hill overlooking one of the roads towards the capital. Probably to surprise ambush the ISDF tanks when they finally moved.
Takeko was still weirded out about how cautious the Combine officer was. Usually they would have been assaulted by infantry by the score by now.
Something weird was going on.
But Takeko had a job to do. Taking the Highlanders to come around a steep section of the ditch would let them jump up behind where the AT guns were being set up.
The infantry were sending out scouts, but Delta ops were working overtime. Takeko hadn’t realized quite how many people Delta Ops had recruited over the last few years. Originally a small squad they were more like a company at this point. Heading out in trucks, or off road quads they had picked up somewhere to get around.
And the enemy scouts died.
They were getting very good at taking out enemies. It helps when you know they were there long before they ever could expect to have been noticed.
So the Beta Lance moved.Takeko leading the way as she was faster than the Highlanders, but there wasn’t much for her to do. Just keep an eye on the sensor, on the path, and make sure they weren’t noticed until the enemy were taken care of.
The terrain was rough, but nothing compared to Zaniah. By this point, even the reserve mechwarriors had plenty of experience in a cockpit. Plus everyone had their own Neurohelm now. She bounced as her Black Knight jumped over a ditch. It wasn’t an easy maneuver but she had gotten used to doing it in Zaniah on the rough sandy dunes. Beta following in her example without Jumpjets, although they landed rougher than she had.
“Quiet as you can Beta. We are getting close.”
“Roger!”
The enemy company were hard at work according to Takeko’s sensor. The infantry were digging in, trying to give the AT guns some cover. The guns had been towed in by some Goblins. Also carrying the infantry.
The AT guns weren’t a worry, they were coming in behind the enemy, but the Goblins each had Large lasers. And were kept active.
“Okay Beta. Target data is being sent. Twelve enemy AT guns, and twelve Goblin transports. Focus on the Goblins they have Large Lasers and Machine guns. The infantry have some SRM launchers, but we should be able to disrupt them enough in the initial fight not to matter.”
“You got it, Takeko. We are ready for this!” Daniel called back. She could hear the eagerness in his voice.
She didn’t say anything. She hoped they were.
They slowed, trying to move as quietly as possible for the last mile. The four Assault mechs were down to a slow plodding walk to reduce seismic as much as possible.
Takeko had a bit more freedom, but even she was trying to place her steps carefully.
“We should just charge in. Takeko. They don’t have any mechs!” Daniel eventually laser commed in. The boy was always impatient, it had been the reason he had been pushed back for earning his own Mech for so long.
“Danny. You know as well as I do this isn’t a game or training exercise anymore.” She was sending the comm message just to him, thankful that her Black Knight had plenty of Command equipment in the cockpit.
Danny was sensitive to criticism. “Commanders orders. We need to try and preserve our armor as much as possible. No risks. This is a war.”
Takeko could feel the cool lines down her cheeks. She had copied the Commanders symbol. It had seemed appropriate since she was under her direct command. But it was a reminder, a good one. Every time she saw them, she remembered why they were doing this.
Why it was so serious.
A sigh crackled over the line. “Fine. If the Commander wants it that way.” He grumbled but she had her own sigh of relief not sent over the comms. Discipline was pretty good, usually.
But this was a unique instance. A lot of the Mechwarriros that had been on reserve for one issue or another were out here. Danny was too impatient. It led him to taking headlong charges expecting his mech to bully through.
Takeko couldn’t allow that. Vickys reminder to Benny when he made that mistake had been heard loud and clear. Even Benny had been embarrassed at losing sight of what was happening.
These weren't pirates they were hunting.
Finally the Lance made it to their objective. Takeko split from them. She would head around, and when the Highlanders jumped in, she would move in from another direction, hopefully the pincer would reduce any surprises.
Tactics, she reminded herself. Go into every fight, gaining every advantage you could, while reducing the enemies advantages. The Commander had told her that once during a training match.
So when it was time Takeko gave the order. “Beta. Engage!”
The roar of four Highlanders engaging their jump jets roared over the hills and cliffs. The enemy immediately reacted. Infantry running for cover or equipment, the Goblins each roaring into full activation.
But it was too late. The LRMs rained down followed by four angry assault mechs.
Takeko moved. Even as she kept an eye on the fight Gauss rifles barked and Goblins were smashed to pieces. But there was more of them than the mechs. The return fire began. Large lasers burn cutting streaks into the Highlanders armor.
Takeko burst around the corner, beginning to climb the hill from the other side, both assaults coming up behind the enemy. Takeko let rip. Her Pulse lasers targeting a single Goblin. The vehicle practically melting from the sustained heat. Her ERPPC Targeting another, and ripped lightning into the formation. The Goblin shrieking as metal overheated.
Beta was in their element. With surprise they fired. SRms hitting armor, or clumps of Infantry trying to fire back. Mediums arcing out to cut and burn. Their Gauss barking on every reload. The Highlanders kept very cold simply kept firing.
Her Black Knight was heating up. But she wasn't’ about to stop firing. Still racing up, she practically stomped on a goblin keeping it from moving as she shot her KinSlaughter ERPPC directly into the turret. Once that was done, her Large Pulse once more arced out. The unique sound of Lasers pulsing echoed over the infantry causing quite a few of them to drive for cover.
But she wasn’t aiming for them. She allowed her lasers to cut into the side of a second Goblin.
Beta wasn’t willing to let her take all the credit. Danny jumped. Letting loose a barrage of his SRMs from his arm mid air, before coming down heavily on a Goblin. Even Takeko flinched at the horrible scream of metal compressing down.
The Infantry not long after began throwing up their hands, or simply running. They hadn’t done much in this fight, but Beta had felt the bite of their SRMs. Once Takeko was sure none of them were going to fire again. She signaled to Beta that the fight was over. Giving herself a few moments to cool off, she wiped sweat from her bangs. As even with the Cooling suit her cockpit was heating up. She watched on as Beta smashed the AT guns into scrap.
The Goblins which had all been disabled would also have to be crushed down. Commanders orders.
Leave the enemy no salvage.
—-
“AT Guns are down Commander. Returning to base.”
I sighed a relief. Takeko had done a damn good job. The highlanders had taken some armor damage but that was inevitable. At least it had been light damage all around.
With the AT guns they were trying to set up for an ambush down, the road was clear. Still.. What was the enemy doing? Not a single attack yet? Whoever this enemy Commander was they were cautious, way too cautious for a normal Combine general.
“No way someone gets to the rank of Sho-Sho, and acts like this much of a scaredy cat. Something else is going on.”
It was the only thing that made sense. This Tatyana Sobiroff was more dangerous than I had assumed.
Noticing something, I switched channels. “Corsair. We got another enemy flight, looks like airbreathers. What have you got ready for a pass?”
“I’ll go up. My Lance is ready we just got done with a break.”
“Roger that. Sending you data.” It was something I was trying to be careful with, how much data I sent. I couldn’t just tell her that I knew exactly where the enemy were and how many of them. But sometimes needs must. I wasn’t about to let the enemy drop bombs on my head.
I continued to overview the battlefield. Even as the roar of Stuka engines started up, and a Flight of the machines roared off our tarmac.
I was trying to figure out what this Commander was thinking. Our brief interaction had led me to believe she would go through the normal Combine playbook. But this level of hesitation was odd.
I mean I was using it of course. Our defenses were getting set up, and settled. It would help.
I rolled my eyes. “Delta Ops. You got another squad of infantry trying to move in on the north side. Take them out. I don’t like these peepers.”
Carls voice came through but I could hear he was tired. “Ugh, what is it with this person! How many scouts do they even have!?”
“You sound tired Carl. You okay?”
“Yeah, fine Commander. I set up a rotation, I’m actually in a command truck right now taking a break. I’ll send Eris to this group. Her squad can handle them.”
“Alright keep it up Carl. You and Delta have done amazing work.”
“Thanks Commander. Delta out.”
I was getting annoyed. Time to poke these people again.
“Hanna.”
“Commander. You got orders for me?”
“I do. They have been setting things up for a while. I want you to go and outrange them. Take a Rhino squad, and just poke them and keep doing it. I don’t want them to have a moment's rest on the north side.”
“Oh Vicky. I knew you loved me. You give me the best jobs.”
“Yeah yeah. Get out of here. And don't take any damage. I want a complete one sided assault. Hit them at ranges they can’t.”
“Roger!”
—-
Hanna Hayha was ready. Her grin was splitting her face as she stomped out of the defenses. Her squad followed after. Alpha Company, of the third Battalion. The 311th was created for one purpose. Long range. Accurate. Fire.
Using Lostech to hit outside the range of anyone else.
Vicky had given Hanna a choice of what she wanted to pilot, and what she wanted her Lance to use.
There had only been one active choice. Her Nightstar stomped forward, She had considered having her Lance us Highlanders for the mobility, but it was best to have an entire lance for that. So instead, her three lance mates were all in Marauder 2R’s
“Hauptmann? What’s the word?” Mara Romeo asked. Unlike most, she had gone the more odd naming scheme the Iron Blooded had picked up. She had picked her name after her mech, Started by Lenden Scorch.
“We are going to be sniping our enemy, Commanders rule. No taking damage. We are only supposed to hit them from out of their range.”
“Damn. Commander giving us the tough missions.”
“Slow down a bit Mara. Me and the Rhinos are slower than your Marauder.”
“Ah! Sorry Hauptmann. My Maddy is just excited. I can feel it wanting to shoot some snakes.”
“Yeah yeah. Keep it contained. We are going to prove to Benny that the 3rd Battalion is the elites, not him.”
“You got it Hanna!”
They stomped out sticking to the road to the north. The Royal Rhinos, the mainstay SLDF LRM Carriers following behind us slowed but kept up well enough. Checking her sensor Hanna noticed the enemy definitely knew they were coming. Despite the ECM, they probably got them on Seismic, it wasn’t like they were trying to be stealthy.
No, she wanted them to know who was coming. Hanna looked out, farther ahead, the long road covered on each side by copse of trees and then fields, ending at the enemy base. They had built up right on the road itself, uncaring about traffic and the like. No the infantry and mechs they had stored here were active, building defenses, although Hanna wasn’t sure why.
They were well within Artillery range still… She was surprised Vicky hadn’t blasted them into scrap yet. But that was for Vicky to worry about. As they appeared down the road the enemy jumped into action. Tanks and vehicles were readied, and Hanna could ‘see’ the lance of light mechs, Two panthers, and two Cicada start up and get ready for a battle.
Hanna had no intention of giving them a fight. “Alright Alpha! Hold here, Nav points are targeted. Looks like they did bring some LRM carriers. So let’s show them ours!”
Hanna could hear the dark chuckle of the Rhino lance's Hauptmann as the Rhino’s spread out and began aiming. Unlike the old Carriers, these were the SLDF versions a more advanced carrier than ones made by quickscell.
Hanna had stopped them just on the edge of LRM range. Sure it wouldn’t lead to the most damaging barrages, but it still meant our Rhinos got in on the action.
Little did they know her weapons reached out a bit farther.
The enemy fired first. They had obviously set up some sort of system of where to fire their LRMs in case of an attack. So their carriers didn't hesitate a barrage of missiles arcing up and then down towards them. The rain of missiles wasn’t deadly, but would have left some bad armor damage.
If the four Rhino’s AMS systems didn’t let loose a quiet roar as missile after missile simply exploded in mid air.
The Rhino’s return volley had no such issues. Each Rhino had 2 LRM 20, on a turret, and a LRM 10 on the hull. With their ECM systems, it made them hard to hit to begin with. As the light rain of the enemy LRMs came in. The few that even got close to her detachment were soon shot from the air. Then the Rhinos opened up. Vicky really was right. Sure losing a bit of firepower hurt, but these things were much more useful.
The turret alone on the Rhino meant it could change targets in seconds without having to completely move.
The LRMs rained down focusing on the enemy LRM batteries. Hanna wanted to cut off any long range fire from the base.
While that happened the enemy mechs came out to fight.
She could see the moment the enemy mechs realized what it was they were facing. Two Panthers jumped over the ferrocrete walls they had set up, PPC aiming towards them.
Only to still for just a moment, when they got visuals on what it was they were up against.
Gauss Barked as Hanna fired, Both Panthers moved. A strange sort of motion almost bending the Panther at the waist backwards and then turning into a half side step meant her Gauss smashed into the walls behind them. Destroying two chunks out of the ferrocrete.
They didn’t even fire back. Already knowing they were still out of range. So instead they jumped again. Both jumping in a different direction and forward. Hanna’s lance opened up. While the Normal PPC was out of range. The ERPPC was well within range.
Burst after burst shot towards the sky. Hanna even added her own single ERPPC to the fray Only one of their barrage hit, shattering armor on the panther, but not disabling it, as it managed to land with a loud bang. Still out of range. I could practically hear the screams of rage from the pilot.
It must be horrible not to be able to shoot back.
So Hanna Fired her Gauss. This time she did a second hesitation aiming and waiting that half step. He engaged his Jets trying to jump out of the shot he expected.
Hanna fired a second after. Both Gauss rounds hammering into the Panther. Unfortunately at different points, Yet the force imparted screwed up his jump regardless pushed backwards nearly flipping around the pilot was… Damn good. He managed to spin hard enough that his legs took the brunt of the fall but that was still a nasty crash as he rolled a few times. The scream, of mech armor ripping apart echoed around.
“Don’t get tunnel vision! We have four mechs. Hold, don’t let the Rhino’s take shots. Focus targets!” She almost cursed. Without the Rhino’s she would have fallen back and led them around a bit, but now she was stuck in a line. This was a mistake, she realized. She hadn’t expected the enemy to be able to get close. And she was going to pay for it.
The second Panther finally got into range and opened fire. A PPC arced out, and despite Hanna’s attempts it shattered some armor on her shoulder. For it’s trouble it received the sudden attention of two of her lancemates. Their ERPPC staggered out, each Marauder only shooting one at a time, leaving the poor Panther facing a wave of bolts. They didn’t miss as much. Despite his best efforts.
The pilot knew what he was doing and Hanna had to admit, he was probably better than they were. But not that much better.
She grunted. As a PPC blasted into her. The Cicada had managed their objective, flanking in from the left and right, both had opened up on her. Her Nightstar felt the burn, armor shearing off at the lightning.
Her last Lancemate had kept their cool, as the Cicada on the right took his shot, he received not just two ERPPC blasts in return, but the AC/5 had barked out. The Cicada went down. He didn’t rise back up.
The rest of the enemy were starting to charge in, hovercraft and tanks, trying to divert fire from their light mechs, but despite their best efforts, The Rhino’s and Hanna’s Lance were keep their fire constant.
Still Hanna was furious, she had already taken more damage than she expected. She opened fire. The Panther was taking damage, but he was spreading it, keeping his mech alive. Gauss barked. This time in separate shots, her Nightstar taking a step forward as it’s fired a different gun every second. But for all her anger, this pilot was good. Realizing that the tables had turned, he took another shot, his PPC burning another mark in her armor as he jumped backwards, over the trees.
That didn’t stop her from firing. Trees cracked and fell as Gauss burst through the cover, but he was moving fast, swiftly realizing she still had eyes on him, he ducked down, using cover of the roads higher level to keep himself safe enough to pull back the Cicada did the same. And despite her attempts. Once they started moving and got out of her range, Hanna could do nothing to chase them down.
“Alright everyone report in!” She roared out. Her blood boiling she would make them pay for that. She stomped up to the Panther still trying to regain it’s feet. The Mechwarrior apparently still awake. She stomped with her Nightstar. Squashing the PPC arm under her 95 ton weight. A gauss rifle poked the cockpit literally butting up against the glass. “Surrender.”
With the retreat, the enemy vehicles were butchered or fled, it was a bittersweet fact that they were able to claim this base without too much more resistance. Hanna got to stick around, watch the Mechwarrior be captured, and stuffed into a Norman by a few members of Rough Squad and driven back to base. Hopefully he would have some answers that Vicky would like.
“Dammit. I took damage. Vicky is going to be so annoyed.”
—-
“So this is him?”
“Yep. Chu-I Sakamoto. He won’t give us anything else. Just telling us his rank.” Eris offered with a shrug. “It’s pretty common for DCMS soldiers. I could get more out of him but it would involve… Rough measures.”
“No, no torture. Just find out what Regiment he is with. I want to know why Tatyana is acting so weird.”
“That I can do.”
I walked off as Eris got back to work. Things had been going well enough. It was getting late into the day. I still had no idea what the Combine were thinking. They kept sending in Infantry into our area, only for them to get taken out before they can send any information back, but I expected some sort of reaction, or action on their part other than information gathering.
It was weird.
Their mechs had taken to staying in company sized formations. No more single Lances for us to pick off. Apparently Hanna’s attack had startled them. But that was fine. They still didn’t have good eyes on everything that I had brought. And under the cover of night a lot of work would be done.
The base around each of the dropships was buzzing. Despite the late hour, people were still rushing around. We would be switching to the third shift soon, although I haven't taken a break yet. Soon I promised myself. Once I finished up my last tasks. I checked in with a few of the commands. O’Connell was happy that the Combine had stopped sending aircraft over.
They had lost too many already to the Stuka.
But her people would stay on standby just in case.
Benny and 2nd Battalion would be taking over Command for the night. Hanna was irritable. Her Nightstar had taken a lot of damage for an assault that I had told her not to take any. But that was war. She had been surprised that Light mechs would charge into a Lance of Heavies.
She learned. And passed it around. It was a good learning experience even if it had her spitting nails.
Then I walked onto Whitebase, the storage hangar was emptied out, a purposeful act I had set up in advance, as I walked into the rear of the Hangar where a storage container was pushed against the wall. It was taller than it was wide, and with a hand pushed against a SLDF Security sensor hidden on the container. It slowly opened.
My Spector loomed over me in the dark.
“Time to get to work.”
Loading into the secret mech gantry that was set up inside the cargo container. It had taken me a while to figure out how I was going to transport this thing without it becoming well known. It was too valuable as an unknown to let it just show up on our mech roster.
Once I was strapped in, the Chameleon and Null Sig hid me from prying eyes. Well as long as they weren’t using one of my Sensors anyways. I spent a good half an hour replenishing our ammunition stores. We hadn’t used much overall, but I made sure to stock up on LRMs, and our Artillery Unit would be happy. I made sure to make even more Long Tom Ammo for them. Plus a lot more Arrow IV missiles. We hadn’t used any yet, but when it was time to go loud I wanted to make sure we didn’t have to stop firing for anything.
Our six launchers would have plenty of ammo to keep them running.
I also made some additional armor plates, and random equipment we had discovered we needed more of through the day. Once that was done. The Hangar was opened at a radio call. The troops currently on lookout for me were those in the know. They would start passing out the additional equipment through the night.
Invisible-ish and undetected as I walked out of the hangar. Then out the hole in our defenses that had been purposefully opened. Then I went out into the farmland of Ko.
It was always a rush being a faster mech. I did love the Nightstar, assault mechs were definitely my true love. But there was something about feeling like you are the fastest thing in the world. I had three objectives tonight
First, Metal Extractor.
I raced out to the nearest extractor point. I did have to dodge through some defenses, but it was laughably easy to sneak through the Combines patrols. Considering how late it was, and how effective we had been at wiping out any attempts to scout the area.
In just a few minutes, my Medium Nanoforge had a metal Extractor at the point I had chosen. Although it took longer to hide it than to make it.
Once that was done. Objective 2 was active. With some actual metal income, I was ready to cause some havoc on the next day. Delta had come through of course. They always did. They had already had a few people sneak into the city. Jarlton was a big city, a Capital, even if Ko was more focused on agriculture, that still meant they had to have factories to process the food.
Which is why I ran east. Towards the city and where Delta had found an empty warehouse. I raced through the farms until I hit the city where I had to slow. Unlike before there were a lot of people in this city even if most of them were staying home.
The Combine had initiated a curfew.
That wouldn’t stop us. With my Spector. I was able to walk around the few checkpoints by being difficult to see especially at night and knowing where the enemy all were. None of the soldiers had any idea of what was happening.
The walk to the warehouse went by without issue. The streets of the city were dead. And my invisible-ish mech didn’t care about cameras.
With a single click on my radio, something that wouldn’t be picked up if anyone from the Combine was listening. The warehouse opened and I stepped through the large rolling door closing behind me.
I popped the hatch of the Spector. “Alright Carl. You got me for a few hours. What do you need?”
The Nighthawk clad soldier gave me a grin. As he stood on one of the catwalks letting us talk without yelling.
“Bombs Commander. Lot’s of Bombs.”
Well that was easy enough. The Warehouse was flooded in green.
3025
Ko
In Orbit
Day 1.
A different perspective
Gabe Richthofen
Gabe felt his hands shake. He had never imagined he would be here now. Sure. He had the flight hours. He had a lot of flight hours. The fact of the matter was, Gabe had been in the air more hours than he had been on the ground in the last two years. That isn’t even counting the hours he got with the 10th.
So he had the flight time.
It just never felt like it mattered. He always felt like he was too young. Too inexperienced.
But he was needed. Vicky had put out the call. God was he angry. Just like everyone. Their friends. Their brothers and sisters, kidnapped!
“This is Corsair. Check in.”
“Freefall, Green.”
“Feddy, Green.”
“RedBaron, Green.” Gabe sighed. His Lance was headed by Corsair. Captain O’Connor was a great person to hang out with on the ground, but in the air she was a mean sonuva bitch. She was also a damn skilled fighter pilot.
And now? In a Royal Stuka? Gabe didn't want to be anywhere near her sights. He had been roped into being her wingman. She said it was because he was good enough to keep up. He thought it was because he was a little bit too slow to keep anyone else alive.
But that was behind him. There were multiple flights launching out of the three Colossus. The planet was sending up ASF to hit them on re-entry. That was not going to happen.
The large doors of the Colossus opened, and Gabe was very happy they had worked out the ASF launch procedure a while back while raiding pirates, because Colossus dropships were not ASF mules. They weren’t exactly designed for it normally. It had taken a while and a bit of work, but they had figured it out. Now the old infantry hangar had been remodeled as an ASF bays.
It wasn’t like the ISDF were going to do the infantry wave tactics of the old SLDF after all.
Each Colossus could now easily hold 8 ASF and even quickly deploy that number, without too much issue.
The fact was they had enough pilots to actually do that. Gave Gabe some assurance. Sure it had been a rough few months. It felt like on the crew side of things everyone was short staffed, but that didn’t matter. Not for this.
This was make or break it time.
“Alright then. Alpha Flight. Light your fire, let’s move.” She called and in a moment it was Gabes turn. He lit his engine, and felt the G’s hit. He sped out into the void. He oriented just fine on Corsairs wing. Hours and hours and hours spent in the void above Zaniah had given him plenty of practice. The times they had gone up for over a day at a time had taught him a lot.
He could just faintly see the Drive plumes of the other Flights. Each of them reinforced just like Alpha.
Four birds to a flight. And with three Colossus, each dropship carried two flights.
He shook himself, his mind was slipping, focusing on things that weren’t important. He had work to do. He had been given a ‘gift’ from the Commander after all.
His Stuka had a Lostech sensor system. A secret that he wasn't allowed to share with the outsiders. He understood. He knew why and agreed. But it did put a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Minutes pass as the Flights move into position, to cover the dropships. He couldn’t let a single dropship falter here. That was his family on board.
“Alright kid. It’s time.”
“It’s Redbaron.” He sniped back as he finished securing his helmet.
“Sure kid. Get yourself some kills in this fight, and maybe I’ll start calling you that.”
He didn’t respond. Too focused. The heat of re-entry was already starting to cover his cockpit, cutting his normal vision. Of course his Stuka’s normal sensors were also struggling.
But not the Lostech. “Corsair. Visual confirmation. Enemy Flight. They are coming in from these coordinates.”
“What? The fuck how did you see that?” Corsair barked.
“Got a glimpse.”
“Kid… Fuck I’ll risk it. Alpha, on my tail, let’s go for them.” Gabe followed more through sensors than sight as everything was fire outside his cockpit, into a slight shift in the re-entry turn. And a moment later. He was lined up. Long before they could see him. And frankly before he could see them.
But he had a clear shot. And these fuckers were protecting the scumbag that took his family. Lightning fired. ERPPC launched straight through the fire and fury of re-entry. He grit his teeth. He missed. He had pulled a bit too hard, and his shots skimmed over the nose of the Shilone.
Gritting his teeth at his failure, the heat of his Stuka soaring, he still had a few seconds of entry before normal sight would return. The enemy had no such issues, but they weren’t in range. The Shilone he had fired at turned and fired it’s Large laser. But instantly Gabe noticed the problem. He was still well outside of range. The Shilone’s fire did nothing but dissipate far too soon.
“The hell are you shooting at kid?”
“That fucker.” Gabe grumbled over the line as he lined up his second shot. His Stuka was heating up, but he felt cool. His hands weren’t shaking anymore.
This time he rode the turbulence. Not letting it jostle him except how he wanted. And in a flash Four arcs of lightning burst from the fireball his Stuka made on entry. Just as the flash of fire cleared enough, and a curse from Corsair came over as she realized they were lined up perfectly onto the enemy flight. The Four bursts of ERPPC fire smashed into the Shilone.
“Alright Alpha! Pick your targets! Fire at will!” Corsair bellowed over the line as more lightning joined Gabes own. The enemy ASF were not expecting so much fire from outside their range.
The Shilone he had hit survived his shot, but it had rolled heavily, smoke and fire burning out of it. It lost its place in its flight, and was probably out of the fight. So Gabe chose his second target. His Stuka heated up as it struggled to dump the heat from re-entry and firing, but he didn’t care. He was just sweating a bit. They would be sweating a lot soon. His Cooling Suit was working overtime to keep him active.
His trigger depressed and the battle was on. Alpha flight wasn’t alone. The enemy had sent up a lot of ASF cover. To try and surprise the dropships. Hell, his sensor had even picked up a few air breathers converging in.
The Combine had thrown everything they could into the air to try and stop the ISDF from landing.
“COME ON!” He screamed into the mic, any hesitancy forgotten, and he fired his ERPPC again and again. Then the enemy were in range, and then his Autocannon joined in. Anything to tear these fuckers apart. He flew, he dipped, he rolled, his armor was shattered from return fire. But the Stuka didn’t care. The enemy's lighter fighters were trying to get past them. To get to the dropships as they burned in.
The Flights only had one job. Stop them.
They did.
The enemy flights were so shocked at the ferocity they ran into. That their attack hesitated too long. The first dropship to finish re-entry was WhiteBase. Glowing white hot the current flagship of the ISDF, and a beast of a dropship.
Spoke.
None of the enemy fighters were expecting the dropship they had been targeting to suddenly reach out and touch them.
But it did. Targeting systems in perfect condition and backed up by the Commanders Sensors. The gauss rounds barked loud enough Gabe could hear it through the thin atmosphere and the fighting.
And the enemy shattered. The Colossus only needed 9 gunners Gabe remembered idly. And those kids?
They were a division of Homeguard. Marcus had finally figured out a way to get at least some of them involved. They would man the guns of the Dropships. After all, WhiteBase and the other dropships were a home too.
Gabe spent more hours than not in the air training over the last two years. Homeguard? There was almost never a moment that they weren’t training. It was a joke, that if Homeguard ever stopped firing their guns. The entire base would overflow with ammunition and the ISDF would have to sleep on top of Artillery shells.
And this? This was the chance Homeguard had been waiting for. A chance to fire their guns at the enemy.
By the time the second Colossus, the Pegasus had finished re-entry and it’s guns started firing the fight had already long left the enemy ASF. Not that Gabe, or Corsair were planning on letting them get away.
The fleeing fighters were chased by lightning, long after their rear guns could even come close, the Stukas fired. Although they did break off eventually. Their job was protection.
As the skys cleared. And no further threats came in Gabe felt exhilarated. He had done it. Survived, and fought well.
“Good job Alpha. Looks like we only lost one during the dust up. I want status checks, and let’s get on overwatch until everything is settled.”
“Roger!”
“Understood.”
“Roger that.”
“Oh and RedBaron? Not bad kid. If you keep this up I might let you keep that name. Otherwise I’m calling you Glimpse. Cause I have no idea how you got a glimpse of that wing through the fire.”
“Just lucky.”
“Yeah sure.”
Gabe sighed. He wasn’t sure how many he actually took down, if any. But his computer would have the record, he would go over it later. For now… he felt good. His training had paid off. Now? It was up to the ground forces. They would have a far tougher, dirtier job than his.
But the ISDF were up for it. It was time the rest of the Inner Sphere learned that too.
—-
We had landed in farmland. Long stretches of some sort of wheat or something leaving long sight lines, with lines of trees acting as borders of the fields. Between each farm was usually small forests, filled with ponds, or roughage. Places for animals to keep to themselves.
We weren’t being gentle to the field. I would need to remind myself to find the owner of this field and apologize in person when we were done. Because our fortifications didn’t care about the food growing beneath us. Not that much survived the drive plume of the Dropships.
The first twenty minutes of our landing was the most frantic. Our dropships landed and we began securing the area. Thanks to our sensors, it was easy work. And moderately safe. There wasn’t much fear of random ISF agents, or a regiment of Battlemechs or tanks sneaking up on us. So we had some time. And we used it.
It was funny. I had originally had my kids put up defense towers around Redbase to give them practice for doing it in the field. I hadn’t really considered how important that was until today. Watching the AC/2 flak turrets being set up around our dropships. Ensuring that any offense from the sky would find themselves with a nasty surprise.
I was sitting in my Nightstar. Guiding the defensive preparations, and keeping an eye on the enemy units surrounding us. I didn’t really know what to expect. The actual enemy unit on the planet was completely unknown to me.
So I was trying to keep a level head. Our mechs were already finished disembarking, acting as the wall of the defense, until the fortifications were set up.
And for the tanks to get their gear in order.
If there was any group in the ISDF that was the least trained, it might be either the navy, or the tankers. I hadn’t expected we would need to attack with this level of force before. Right now the experienced tankers were each commanding a tank, splitting up teams, just to give some experience to green crews.
Not that it helped much. Twice already as they disembarked, tanks crashed or ended up stuck or stalled.
Thankfully, while this invasion was serious. Whoever was in charge of the defenses wasn’t ready to engage in a banzai charge.
Yet.
So I settled in, overwatching the area. One of the first things we had begun crafting was actually a tarmac. The Stuka could stay in the air for a very long time, thanks to the fusion engine, but that didn’t mean my people could.
They had just got out of a nasty fight. I had birds in the air that were barely staying up there. So my Engineers were flattening a long path using a piece of equipment we had ‘bought’ back on Zaniah.
It would be enough. If a bit of a rough landing and take off.
Until then. There was only one other issue. “Delta, how is it?” My radio buzzed for a minute. The Combine were definitely trying some sort of radio interference, but the SLDF equipment both onboard the colossus, and the physical units I kept in a few Norman trucks we had brought with, were doing just fine cutting through. And hopefully keeping our comms secure.
“We are on site. O’Donnel is banged up, might be a broken leg, but his parachute kept him alive. Heading in now. We took care of a couple scouts. Looks like they aren’t expecting our fast movers.”
“Good. Stay low. Get our boy home safe.” O’Donnel, was an ass, an arrogant pilot, one of O’Connors. But he fought for my kids.
He would get another Stuka. Even if he had lost his first one. I switched frequencies.
“Corsair. How’s the sky looking?”
“Blue. Boring. Not enough snakes to fight. They all got scared off.”
“That’s good. Your Boy is fine. Broken leg but he’s already picked up by some of our scouts.”
“Shit already? You move quick Commander… Thank you. I’ve known him a long time.”
“He’s one of us now. Stay steady Corsair, we almost have our runway done.”
“Great. Another dirt runway. I love those.”
“Commander out.”
So the day went. An hour. Then two. The Combine general was either antsy, or confident. Because nothing came for us. Well nothing big.
Plenty of Infantry were sent in to scout. In fact it was an almost obscene number. If not for our sensors, there was no chance they wouldn’t have managed to sneak close. But well…
None made it close. Delta wasn’t even wholly responsible. Rough Squad was active. Disappearing more than their number in scouts. My Nighthawks were running full tilt. Every once in a while I would hear gunfire out in the distance, and another dot would disappear from the sensor.
And so the time ticked away. Slowly. Steadily. A few ASF attempted to pass close, but the Corsairs and my kids chased them off. Now that the Combine knew what sort of heat my ASF was packing they were skittish. But still a threat. They were obviously waiting, hunting.
Thankfully our defense towers were still unknown. So if they did manage to slip through they would get a taste of that.
Finally a change happened.
“Commander. We have a call coming in. Visual and audio.”
“If it’s from the Governor hang up. He had his chance.”
“No. Looks like a military frequency.”
“Patch it through then.” Nightstars were designed to be command mechs. You bet your ass it had a holovid comm system. The small hologram burst up and into the form of a woman dressed in a DCMS uniform.
“This is Sho-Sho Tatyana Sobiroff, of the 22nd Dieron Regulars, To the raiding elements, shut down all military equipment and surrender, The dragon’s eyes are on you now.”
“This is Commander Victoria Eisen-Blume. ISDF, First Division Iron Blooded Orphans. My men were captured by Governor Kagemuchi. If my people are returned, I have no further interest in this world, its people, or its defenders.”
“If they are taken by the dragon, they belong to the dragon now. Lower your arms, and give in to the inevitable. Surrender.”
So she was one of ‘those’ people. An officer more than willing to get everyone killed.
Well that’s fine. I was more than willing to kill them.
“You have my kids. My only answer is war.” I flipped the switch on the comm unit, turning it off. There wasn’t any further point in talking. As if a Combine officer could let a merc unit that just landed on their planet go free anyways. The moment we hit the atmosphere, this war had already started.
I flipped to a new connection. “Rommel.”
“Commander?” Benny asked ready and willing.
“Defenses are up. Go scout them.”
“Understood Commander!”
—-
A different perspective
Benjamin Rommel
Ko
Benny had been waiting for this. His fusion engine rumbled as he kicked his myomers into motion. With a single step Benny began his march. “Second Battalion! We march!”
Hoops and hollers echoed for a moment. Lenden, the only ISDF member not in a Royal mech was the loudest of them all.
“Scorch. I know your people have been getting in position. Are they ready?”
“You know we are Fox! My boys have been scoping out the FOB.”
“Patch them into my comms. They are going to be our distraction.”
“Roger that!”
Benny felt the power of his Atlas as he kicked it up to full speed. It’s heavy legs uncaring what ground got in its way. It wasn’t fast. But it didn’t need to be. His Lance made up of the Command Element was ready.
Benny still wasn’t sure why Vicky kept calling it his ‘scout’ lance. But the four Atlas moved in rhythm. They had been working together for years at this point. A single lance under his command. He had practiced commanding both Lance, Company, and even a little battalion experience, but this was the real thing.
He opened his Atlas’s throttle. The Lostech Sensor, still one of the most amazing things he had ever seen. Just further proof in his eyes that Vicky was meant to do this.
“I’ll be taking designation Alpha Lance. Beta Lance is yours Scorch. Don’t lose picture of where you are. Protect Rough Squad and hit navpoint Beta. Delta Lance will be The spear. Delta, you will be breaching, understood?”
“Roger that Fox!” Michael King. Shouted back. The leader of Delta was a solid Mechwarrior. A little too full of himself on the ground, but he always followed orders and Benny definitely considered him for a promotion.
He was also the head of the King Crab Lance. One guess at where he took his name from. Also Benny wasn’t sure why Vicky would break into laughter every time they got brought up, but he was used to Vicky being Vicky at this point.
“Alright King, Nav Point Delta is you. Scorch. Break away. You are faster than us. Let Delta hit first, before Beta engages. Orders set. Go!”
Benny was in his element. This was where he was meant to be.
The first target was an FOB full of enemy tanks, and hovercraft. They had been massing for a while now. Benny had zero intention of letting the speed sucker punch their forces. So that was his first target.
And his first true battle against something more than pirate scum.
Benny watched as the enemy had yet to even notice their approach. Their scouts, who should have been relaying information, were all lying dead in the field. Delta, and Rough squad had been merciless. The infantry that headed out into the fields the ISDF had claimed never returned.
Finally he noticed it. As they got close enough that there was only a single copse of trees blocking them from view. Something seemed to have alerted them. They began moving. Rushing around.
“Rough Squad. Now. Delta. LRM targets. Alpha. LRM and target data. Let’s show them our roar!”
Seeing through the trees thanks to Vickys sensor. Benny aimed. He wasn’t as good as shot as Vicky, or anything like Hanna. But his Gauss round was aimed at an unmoving target. Even as explosions started shattering across the base. Rough squad having been planting explosives around.
Their training with Delta ops, shown off. The fuel storage going up in a sudden fireball was the most impressive act. The fireball shooting high into the sky.
Then Bennys Gauss rifle slammed into a parked Saracen and sent the crewless hovercraft spinning.
Despite the surprise. These weren’t house troops for nothing. Even if Benny still had no idea who they were.
Their crews were quick to get ready. Even if the lance of King Crabs marching into their base made their resistance futile.
Delta marched in King firing first, his AC/20’s more than a match for the vehicles. The pattering of Large lasers, and SRMs stripping armor, but creating the distraction Benny had wanted. Beta Lance, led by Scorch the lighter, but still powerful medium and heavy mechs pushed in from the side, as the King Crabs drew the fire. Lenden cleaned up. His barrage of Green medium lasers melting working, and unworking vehicles regardless.
The battle was already done. A few infantry tried to fight back, but Beta cleaned them out, and Rough Squad finished anything else off. Their Nighthawks clearing any remaining combatants in the building.
“Commander this is Fox. Enemy site Alpha is taken, and resistance is complete.”
“Fox. Battalion Status.”
Benny grimaced. Despite his best efforts. The enemy hadn’t gone without a fight. Enough of the vehicle crews had put their weapons on target. “Two medium armor damage. Four with light armor damage. Ammo. Green overall. Report is we lost at least two of Rough.”
“We will mourn them later. Send your damaged boys back for re-armor. I was watching. You got aggressive.”
Benny flushed. He remembered Vickys words when they were planning on the way over. Steady. Slow and steady. “Yes Commander.”
“Did you learn something?”
Benny thought about it. He had expected his equipment to roll over the enemy practically untouched. Instead despite the battle going completely his way, he had taken more damage than he had expected.
“Yes Commander.”
“Good. Use it. Use their FOB as a new defense grid location. Have Rough squad clear out scouts just like before. Slow and steady Fox.”
“I won’t let you down Commander.”
—-
“You never do.” I repeated the oft said phrase back, but I didn’t have time to remain on target with Benny. The enemy were obviously reacting to the news of our first assault. A King Crab Lance is no joke. But even a King Crab didn’t handle focus fire from a tank company.
It would be good practice to have our crew repair some armor mid mission. Not something we usually stuck around long enough to matter.
“Alright Corsair, you have a clear runway. Get your tail feathers down here.”
“Understood Control Corsair out!”
With that taken care of I had to turn to focus on the fronts.
There were three of them so far. The direction of the capital city to the east was the main one. There had obviously been some sort of military base in that direction.
Because that is where some mechs were.
The second was to the south. A group without any mechs, it was mostly armor. At least a battalion of vehicles. My guess was a planetary guard force.
The third was the one that worried me the most. To the north the main detachment of the mech force was here. And so were vehicles, and enough infantry I knew it was going to be a rather brutal fight.
Thankfully the enemy hadn’t realized our secret weapon yet. And I wasn’t about to let them know until it was too late.
Artillery was King. It was going to be a very direct reminder to the combine. More and more of the Mobile Long Toms were prepped out of the Dropships, covered in camo netting, but their guns were ready.. And they would have enough ammo… Well. I had no problem ensuring their ammo supply never ran out.
Six long toms per Colossus were readying themselves around our defenses. I angled them so that regardless of what force came calling, at least a nine of them could fire. Plus the Colossus were still armed. Homeguard… well they were guarding our home.
We had dealt the first blow. I was actually a little surprised that they had let us move first. From what I understood the Combine officers usually preferred to be on the aggressive side of warfare.
—-
A different perspective
Nakano Takeko
ISDF Base camp
Ko
Takeko was nervous. Commander Eisen-Blume had taken her as one of her Lancemates. Had given her a job that many in the ISDF had wanted. To stand beside the Commander on the Battlefield.
Takeko grimaced. Being in the Draconis Combine was… Weird. She had technically been born on a planet like this. Her parents had fled the Combine for one reason or another.
Takeko didn’t know. She had been dropped off at an orphanage in Solaris when she was three. Her parents were found dead not long after.
Sword wounds.
So she never knew them. Never knew any loyalty to this state. She was as Lyran as anyone. Spoke German, and couldn’t speak Japanese even if she wanted to. Still… It had been a decision she made to pick a Japanese name when she had gone through her ceremony. She had wondered for a long time what name to pick. But finally as the Commander asked her what her name would be, until she died and forever onward.
It was a small history lesson she had once learned from earth that had come to mind. So Nakano Takeko. Named after a warrior woman of Japan that had fought in the Boshin war. A woman that had fought and died bravely. And been remembered for over a thousand years.
Takeko had wanted that. To be remembered. Not like her parents, who she didn't even know the names of.
So she had taken the last name of a woman that fought and died bravely they had already shared a first name after all.
Sometimes she regretted it. Mostly because she kept forgetting that in the Japanese style, her last name came first. The Commander never forgot though.
Speaking of the Commander. As Takeko dallied in her thoughts, her radio crackled. “Takeko. Take Beta and hit nav point Charlie. We have some AT guns moving up, and I don’t want them there.”
“Understood Commander!” Takeko, switched stations, opening her comm system to Beta Lance, that she would be in charge of. “Beta. This is Takeko, taking command. Nav Charlie is our destination. Let’s move out!”
“You got it boss. Finally time to kill some snakes… No offense.”
“I’m as Lyran as you are Dumkopff.” She poked back. The leader of the Commanders Beta lance, technically the 112th was Daniel Wallis. The redhead was the head of the Highlander squad for a reason after all. He and his Lance were the aerial assault mechs. Something hiding on that mountain? Send the jump jet mechs.
Takeko only had a Black Knight. She wasn’t sure why Vicky had looked so pained when she handed the mech to her during her ceremony, but it was a good mech, a solid design. She liked it.
“Right right… Sorry Takeko.”
“Let’s move it Wallis. Commander has a job for us.”
“Right. Roger that!.”
The reinforced Lance moved out. Takeko herself had one of the Lostech sensors. It was why she was put in charge of this detachment. Every mech in the Commanders Lance had a Sensor. So they could help guide other lances, or lead everyone through the battlefield.
Then of course there was Erica’s Lance which would protect her or move off when she was helping the Commander guide the ISDF.
But that was a problem for later Takeko was on a mission. Rechecking her sensor she noticed the infantry company with vehicle support were moving AT defenses onto a hill overlooking one of the roads towards the capital. Probably to surprise ambush the ISDF tanks when they finally moved.
Takeko was still weirded out about how cautious the Combine officer was. Usually they would have been assaulted by infantry by the score by now.
Something weird was going on.
But Takeko had a job to do. Taking the Highlanders to come around a steep section of the ditch would let them jump up behind where the AT guns were being set up.
The infantry were sending out scouts, but Delta ops were working overtime. Takeko hadn’t realized quite how many people Delta Ops had recruited over the last few years. Originally a small squad they were more like a company at this point. Heading out in trucks, or off road quads they had picked up somewhere to get around.
And the enemy scouts died.
They were getting very good at taking out enemies. It helps when you know they were there long before they ever could expect to have been noticed.
So the Beta Lance moved.Takeko leading the way as she was faster than the Highlanders, but there wasn’t much for her to do. Just keep an eye on the sensor, on the path, and make sure they weren’t noticed until the enemy were taken care of.
The terrain was rough, but nothing compared to Zaniah. By this point, even the reserve mechwarriors had plenty of experience in a cockpit. Plus everyone had their own Neurohelm now. She bounced as her Black Knight jumped over a ditch. It wasn’t an easy maneuver but she had gotten used to doing it in Zaniah on the rough sandy dunes. Beta following in her example without Jumpjets, although they landed rougher than she had.
“Quiet as you can Beta. We are getting close.”
“Roger!”
The enemy company were hard at work according to Takeko’s sensor. The infantry were digging in, trying to give the AT guns some cover. The guns had been towed in by some Goblins. Also carrying the infantry.
The AT guns weren’t a worry, they were coming in behind the enemy, but the Goblins each had Large lasers. And were kept active.
“Okay Beta. Target data is being sent. Twelve enemy AT guns, and twelve Goblin transports. Focus on the Goblins they have Large Lasers and Machine guns. The infantry have some SRM launchers, but we should be able to disrupt them enough in the initial fight not to matter.”
“You got it, Takeko. We are ready for this!” Daniel called back. She could hear the eagerness in his voice.
She didn’t say anything. She hoped they were.
They slowed, trying to move as quietly as possible for the last mile. The four Assault mechs were down to a slow plodding walk to reduce seismic as much as possible.
Takeko had a bit more freedom, but even she was trying to place her steps carefully.
“We should just charge in. Takeko. They don’t have any mechs!” Daniel eventually laser commed in. The boy was always impatient, it had been the reason he had been pushed back for earning his own Mech for so long.
“Danny. You know as well as I do this isn’t a game or training exercise anymore.” She was sending the comm message just to him, thankful that her Black Knight had plenty of Command equipment in the cockpit.
Danny was sensitive to criticism. “Commanders orders. We need to try and preserve our armor as much as possible. No risks. This is a war.”
Takeko could feel the cool lines down her cheeks. She had copied the Commanders symbol. It had seemed appropriate since she was under her direct command. But it was a reminder, a good one. Every time she saw them, she remembered why they were doing this.
Why it was so serious.
A sigh crackled over the line. “Fine. If the Commander wants it that way.” He grumbled but she had her own sigh of relief not sent over the comms. Discipline was pretty good, usually.
But this was a unique instance. A lot of the Mechwarriros that had been on reserve for one issue or another were out here. Danny was too impatient. It led him to taking headlong charges expecting his mech to bully through.
Takeko couldn’t allow that. Vickys reminder to Benny when he made that mistake had been heard loud and clear. Even Benny had been embarrassed at losing sight of what was happening.
These weren't pirates they were hunting.
Finally the Lance made it to their objective. Takeko split from them. She would head around, and when the Highlanders jumped in, she would move in from another direction, hopefully the pincer would reduce any surprises.
Tactics, she reminded herself. Go into every fight, gaining every advantage you could, while reducing the enemies advantages. The Commander had told her that once during a training match.
So when it was time Takeko gave the order. “Beta. Engage!”
The roar of four Highlanders engaging their jump jets roared over the hills and cliffs. The enemy immediately reacted. Infantry running for cover or equipment, the Goblins each roaring into full activation.
But it was too late. The LRMs rained down followed by four angry assault mechs.
Takeko moved. Even as she kept an eye on the fight Gauss rifles barked and Goblins were smashed to pieces. But there was more of them than the mechs. The return fire began. Large lasers burn cutting streaks into the Highlanders armor.
Takeko burst around the corner, beginning to climb the hill from the other side, both assaults coming up behind the enemy. Takeko let rip. Her Pulse lasers targeting a single Goblin. The vehicle practically melting from the sustained heat. Her ERPPC Targeting another, and ripped lightning into the formation. The Goblin shrieking as metal overheated.
Beta was in their element. With surprise they fired. SRms hitting armor, or clumps of Infantry trying to fire back. Mediums arcing out to cut and burn. Their Gauss barking on every reload. The Highlanders kept very cold simply kept firing.
Her Black Knight was heating up. But she wasn't’ about to stop firing. Still racing up, she practically stomped on a goblin keeping it from moving as she shot her KinSlaughter ERPPC directly into the turret. Once that was done, her Large Pulse once more arced out. The unique sound of Lasers pulsing echoed over the infantry causing quite a few of them to drive for cover.
But she wasn’t aiming for them. She allowed her lasers to cut into the side of a second Goblin.
Beta wasn’t willing to let her take all the credit. Danny jumped. Letting loose a barrage of his SRMs from his arm mid air, before coming down heavily on a Goblin. Even Takeko flinched at the horrible scream of metal compressing down.
The Infantry not long after began throwing up their hands, or simply running. They hadn’t done much in this fight, but Beta had felt the bite of their SRMs. Once Takeko was sure none of them were going to fire again. She signaled to Beta that the fight was over. Giving herself a few moments to cool off, she wiped sweat from her bangs. As even with the Cooling suit her cockpit was heating up. She watched on as Beta smashed the AT guns into scrap.
The Goblins which had all been disabled would also have to be crushed down. Commanders orders.
Leave the enemy no salvage.
—-
“AT Guns are down Commander. Returning to base.”
I sighed a relief. Takeko had done a damn good job. The highlanders had taken some armor damage but that was inevitable. At least it had been light damage all around.
With the AT guns they were trying to set up for an ambush down, the road was clear. Still.. What was the enemy doing? Not a single attack yet? Whoever this enemy Commander was they were cautious, way too cautious for a normal Combine general.
“No way someone gets to the rank of Sho-Sho, and acts like this much of a scaredy cat. Something else is going on.”
It was the only thing that made sense. This Tatyana Sobiroff was more dangerous than I had assumed.
Noticing something, I switched channels. “Corsair. We got another enemy flight, looks like airbreathers. What have you got ready for a pass?”
“I’ll go up. My Lance is ready we just got done with a break.”
“Roger that. Sending you data.” It was something I was trying to be careful with, how much data I sent. I couldn’t just tell her that I knew exactly where the enemy were and how many of them. But sometimes needs must. I wasn’t about to let the enemy drop bombs on my head.
I continued to overview the battlefield. Even as the roar of Stuka engines started up, and a Flight of the machines roared off our tarmac.
I was trying to figure out what this Commander was thinking. Our brief interaction had led me to believe she would go through the normal Combine playbook. But this level of hesitation was odd.
I mean I was using it of course. Our defenses were getting set up, and settled. It would help.
I rolled my eyes. “Delta Ops. You got another squad of infantry trying to move in on the north side. Take them out. I don’t like these peepers.”
Carls voice came through but I could hear he was tired. “Ugh, what is it with this person! How many scouts do they even have!?”
“You sound tired Carl. You okay?”
“Yeah, fine Commander. I set up a rotation, I’m actually in a command truck right now taking a break. I’ll send Eris to this group. Her squad can handle them.”
“Alright keep it up Carl. You and Delta have done amazing work.”
“Thanks Commander. Delta out.”
I was getting annoyed. Time to poke these people again.
“Hanna.”
“Commander. You got orders for me?”
“I do. They have been setting things up for a while. I want you to go and outrange them. Take a Rhino squad, and just poke them and keep doing it. I don’t want them to have a moment's rest on the north side.”
“Oh Vicky. I knew you loved me. You give me the best jobs.”
“Yeah yeah. Get out of here. And don't take any damage. I want a complete one sided assault. Hit them at ranges they can’t.”
“Roger!”
—-
Hanna Hayha was ready. Her grin was splitting her face as she stomped out of the defenses. Her squad followed after. Alpha Company, of the third Battalion. The 311th was created for one purpose. Long range. Accurate. Fire.
Using Lostech to hit outside the range of anyone else.
Vicky had given Hanna a choice of what she wanted to pilot, and what she wanted her Lance to use.
There had only been one active choice. Her Nightstar stomped forward, She had considered having her Lance us Highlanders for the mobility, but it was best to have an entire lance for that. So instead, her three lance mates were all in Marauder 2R’s
“Hauptmann? What’s the word?” Mara Romeo asked. Unlike most, she had gone the more odd naming scheme the Iron Blooded had picked up. She had picked her name after her mech, Started by Lenden Scorch.
“We are going to be sniping our enemy, Commanders rule. No taking damage. We are only supposed to hit them from out of their range.”
“Damn. Commander giving us the tough missions.”
“Slow down a bit Mara. Me and the Rhinos are slower than your Marauder.”
“Ah! Sorry Hauptmann. My Maddy is just excited. I can feel it wanting to shoot some snakes.”
“Yeah yeah. Keep it contained. We are going to prove to Benny that the 3rd Battalion is the elites, not him.”
“You got it Hanna!”
They stomped out sticking to the road to the north. The Royal Rhinos, the mainstay SLDF LRM Carriers following behind us slowed but kept up well enough. Checking her sensor Hanna noticed the enemy definitely knew they were coming. Despite the ECM, they probably got them on Seismic, it wasn’t like they were trying to be stealthy.
No, she wanted them to know who was coming. Hanna looked out, farther ahead, the long road covered on each side by copse of trees and then fields, ending at the enemy base. They had built up right on the road itself, uncaring about traffic and the like. No the infantry and mechs they had stored here were active, building defenses, although Hanna wasn’t sure why.
They were well within Artillery range still… She was surprised Vicky hadn’t blasted them into scrap yet. But that was for Vicky to worry about. As they appeared down the road the enemy jumped into action. Tanks and vehicles were readied, and Hanna could ‘see’ the lance of light mechs, Two panthers, and two Cicada start up and get ready for a battle.
Hanna had no intention of giving them a fight. “Alright Alpha! Hold here, Nav points are targeted. Looks like they did bring some LRM carriers. So let’s show them ours!”
Hanna could hear the dark chuckle of the Rhino lance's Hauptmann as the Rhino’s spread out and began aiming. Unlike the old Carriers, these were the SLDF versions a more advanced carrier than ones made by quickscell.
Hanna had stopped them just on the edge of LRM range. Sure it wouldn’t lead to the most damaging barrages, but it still meant our Rhinos got in on the action.
Little did they know her weapons reached out a bit farther.
The enemy fired first. They had obviously set up some sort of system of where to fire their LRMs in case of an attack. So their carriers didn't hesitate a barrage of missiles arcing up and then down towards them. The rain of missiles wasn’t deadly, but would have left some bad armor damage.
If the four Rhino’s AMS systems didn’t let loose a quiet roar as missile after missile simply exploded in mid air.
The Rhino’s return volley had no such issues. Each Rhino had 2 LRM 20, on a turret, and a LRM 10 on the hull. With their ECM systems, it made them hard to hit to begin with. As the light rain of the enemy LRMs came in. The few that even got close to her detachment were soon shot from the air. Then the Rhinos opened up. Vicky really was right. Sure losing a bit of firepower hurt, but these things were much more useful.
The turret alone on the Rhino meant it could change targets in seconds without having to completely move.
The LRMs rained down focusing on the enemy LRM batteries. Hanna wanted to cut off any long range fire from the base.
While that happened the enemy mechs came out to fight.
She could see the moment the enemy mechs realized what it was they were facing. Two Panthers jumped over the ferrocrete walls they had set up, PPC aiming towards them.
Only to still for just a moment, when they got visuals on what it was they were up against.
Gauss Barked as Hanna fired, Both Panthers moved. A strange sort of motion almost bending the Panther at the waist backwards and then turning into a half side step meant her Gauss smashed into the walls behind them. Destroying two chunks out of the ferrocrete.
They didn’t even fire back. Already knowing they were still out of range. So instead they jumped again. Both jumping in a different direction and forward. Hanna’s lance opened up. While the Normal PPC was out of range. The ERPPC was well within range.
Burst after burst shot towards the sky. Hanna even added her own single ERPPC to the fray Only one of their barrage hit, shattering armor on the panther, but not disabling it, as it managed to land with a loud bang. Still out of range. I could practically hear the screams of rage from the pilot.
It must be horrible not to be able to shoot back.
So Hanna Fired her Gauss. This time she did a second hesitation aiming and waiting that half step. He engaged his Jets trying to jump out of the shot he expected.
Hanna fired a second after. Both Gauss rounds hammering into the Panther. Unfortunately at different points, Yet the force imparted screwed up his jump regardless pushed backwards nearly flipping around the pilot was… Damn good. He managed to spin hard enough that his legs took the brunt of the fall but that was still a nasty crash as he rolled a few times. The scream, of mech armor ripping apart echoed around.
“Don’t get tunnel vision! We have four mechs. Hold, don’t let the Rhino’s take shots. Focus targets!” She almost cursed. Without the Rhino’s she would have fallen back and led them around a bit, but now she was stuck in a line. This was a mistake, she realized. She hadn’t expected the enemy to be able to get close. And she was going to pay for it.
The second Panther finally got into range and opened fire. A PPC arced out, and despite Hanna’s attempts it shattered some armor on her shoulder. For it’s trouble it received the sudden attention of two of her lancemates. Their ERPPC staggered out, each Marauder only shooting one at a time, leaving the poor Panther facing a wave of bolts. They didn’t miss as much. Despite his best efforts.
The pilot knew what he was doing and Hanna had to admit, he was probably better than they were. But not that much better.
She grunted. As a PPC blasted into her. The Cicada had managed their objective, flanking in from the left and right, both had opened up on her. Her Nightstar felt the burn, armor shearing off at the lightning.
Her last Lancemate had kept their cool, as the Cicada on the right took his shot, he received not just two ERPPC blasts in return, but the AC/5 had barked out. The Cicada went down. He didn’t rise back up.
The rest of the enemy were starting to charge in, hovercraft and tanks, trying to divert fire from their light mechs, but despite their best efforts, The Rhino’s and Hanna’s Lance were keep their fire constant.
Still Hanna was furious, she had already taken more damage than she expected. She opened fire. The Panther was taking damage, but he was spreading it, keeping his mech alive. Gauss barked. This time in separate shots, her Nightstar taking a step forward as it’s fired a different gun every second. But for all her anger, this pilot was good. Realizing that the tables had turned, he took another shot, his PPC burning another mark in her armor as he jumped backwards, over the trees.
That didn’t stop her from firing. Trees cracked and fell as Gauss burst through the cover, but he was moving fast, swiftly realizing she still had eyes on him, he ducked down, using cover of the roads higher level to keep himself safe enough to pull back the Cicada did the same. And despite her attempts. Once they started moving and got out of her range, Hanna could do nothing to chase them down.
“Alright everyone report in!” She roared out. Her blood boiling she would make them pay for that. She stomped up to the Panther still trying to regain it’s feet. The Mechwarrior apparently still awake. She stomped with her Nightstar. Squashing the PPC arm under her 95 ton weight. A gauss rifle poked the cockpit literally butting up against the glass. “Surrender.”
With the retreat, the enemy vehicles were butchered or fled, it was a bittersweet fact that they were able to claim this base without too much more resistance. Hanna got to stick around, watch the Mechwarrior be captured, and stuffed into a Norman by a few members of Rough Squad and driven back to base. Hopefully he would have some answers that Vicky would like.
“Dammit. I took damage. Vicky is going to be so annoyed.”
—-
“So this is him?”
“Yep. Chu-I Sakamoto. He won’t give us anything else. Just telling us his rank.” Eris offered with a shrug. “It’s pretty common for DCMS soldiers. I could get more out of him but it would involve… Rough measures.”
“No, no torture. Just find out what Regiment he is with. I want to know why Tatyana is acting so weird.”
“That I can do.”
I walked off as Eris got back to work. Things had been going well enough. It was getting late into the day. I still had no idea what the Combine were thinking. They kept sending in Infantry into our area, only for them to get taken out before they can send any information back, but I expected some sort of reaction, or action on their part other than information gathering.
It was weird.
Their mechs had taken to staying in company sized formations. No more single Lances for us to pick off. Apparently Hanna’s attack had startled them. But that was fine. They still didn’t have good eyes on everything that I had brought. And under the cover of night a lot of work would be done.
The base around each of the dropships was buzzing. Despite the late hour, people were still rushing around. We would be switching to the third shift soon, although I haven't taken a break yet. Soon I promised myself. Once I finished up my last tasks. I checked in with a few of the commands. O’Connell was happy that the Combine had stopped sending aircraft over.
They had lost too many already to the Stuka.
But her people would stay on standby just in case.
Benny and 2nd Battalion would be taking over Command for the night. Hanna was irritable. Her Nightstar had taken a lot of damage for an assault that I had told her not to take any. But that was war. She had been surprised that Light mechs would charge into a Lance of Heavies.
She learned. And passed it around. It was a good learning experience even if it had her spitting nails.
Then I walked onto Whitebase, the storage hangar was emptied out, a purposeful act I had set up in advance, as I walked into the rear of the Hangar where a storage container was pushed against the wall. It was taller than it was wide, and with a hand pushed against a SLDF Security sensor hidden on the container. It slowly opened.
My Spector loomed over me in the dark.
“Time to get to work.”
Loading into the secret mech gantry that was set up inside the cargo container. It had taken me a while to figure out how I was going to transport this thing without it becoming well known. It was too valuable as an unknown to let it just show up on our mech roster.
Once I was strapped in, the Chameleon and Null Sig hid me from prying eyes. Well as long as they weren’t using one of my Sensors anyways. I spent a good half an hour replenishing our ammunition stores. We hadn’t used much overall, but I made sure to stock up on LRMs, and our Artillery Unit would be happy. I made sure to make even more Long Tom Ammo for them. Plus a lot more Arrow IV missiles. We hadn’t used any yet, but when it was time to go loud I wanted to make sure we didn’t have to stop firing for anything.
Our six launchers would have plenty of ammo to keep them running.
I also made some additional armor plates, and random equipment we had discovered we needed more of through the day. Once that was done. The Hangar was opened at a radio call. The troops currently on lookout for me were those in the know. They would start passing out the additional equipment through the night.
Invisible-ish and undetected as I walked out of the hangar. Then out the hole in our defenses that had been purposefully opened. Then I went out into the farmland of Ko.
It was always a rush being a faster mech. I did love the Nightstar, assault mechs were definitely my true love. But there was something about feeling like you are the fastest thing in the world. I had three objectives tonight
First, Metal Extractor.
I raced out to the nearest extractor point. I did have to dodge through some defenses, but it was laughably easy to sneak through the Combines patrols. Considering how late it was, and how effective we had been at wiping out any attempts to scout the area.
In just a few minutes, my Medium Nanoforge had a metal Extractor at the point I had chosen. Although it took longer to hide it than to make it.
Once that was done. Objective 2 was active. With some actual metal income, I was ready to cause some havoc on the next day. Delta had come through of course. They always did. They had already had a few people sneak into the city. Jarlton was a big city, a Capital, even if Ko was more focused on agriculture, that still meant they had to have factories to process the food.
Which is why I ran east. Towards the city and where Delta had found an empty warehouse. I raced through the farms until I hit the city where I had to slow. Unlike before there were a lot of people in this city even if most of them were staying home.
The Combine had initiated a curfew.
That wouldn’t stop us. With my Spector. I was able to walk around the few checkpoints by being difficult to see especially at night and knowing where the enemy all were. None of the soldiers had any idea of what was happening.
The walk to the warehouse went by without issue. The streets of the city were dead. And my invisible-ish mech didn’t care about cameras.
With a single click on my radio, something that wouldn’t be picked up if anyone from the Combine was listening. The warehouse opened and I stepped through the large rolling door closing behind me.
I popped the hatch of the Spector. “Alright Carl. You got me for a few hours. What do you need?”
The Nighthawk clad soldier gave me a grin. As he stood on one of the catwalks letting us talk without yelling.
“Bombs Commander. Lot’s of Bombs.”
Well that was easy enough. The Warehouse was flooded in green.
Definitely using your advantages! Like it.
Though, I'm sure I'm as curious as the rest as to the 'other shoe' as it were.
Though, I'm sure I'm as curious as the rest as to the 'other shoe' as it were.
xachariahxx
Well-known member
I feel sorry for Governor Kagemuchi. In retrospect, he was obviously forced into this action by the Coordinator. The planet clearly didn't have the defenses to withstand even one colossus worth of stuff, which is why they went into 'oh shit' mode with 3 colossus and tried to kill them when entering atmo. His military support is hesitant and seems to be desperately waiting for reinforcements. His whole planet is about to get wrecked because the big boss basically just forced him to stick his dick into a beehive.
I also wonder how Romano Liao is doing. She's probably ecstatic that she was right that it was the SLDF (who else would have THREE colossus of lostech?) and that they're destroying one of the pretender succession lords. She's also about to mysteriously get a leaked data core, obviously fromComstar the SLDF. (Hell, Comstar might even try to implicate Victoria or a member of the IBO to sour relations with the commonwealth/fedsuns.)
I also wonder how Romano Liao is doing. She's probably ecstatic that she was right that it was the SLDF (who else would have THREE colossus of lostech?) and that they're destroying one of the pretender succession lords. She's also about to mysteriously get a leaked data core, obviously from
Doomsought
Well-known member
The one thing that is really missing from the operation is more aggressive scouting. I'd expect a wing of ASF being sent on high altatude high speed flybys to map everything out.
I can see the reasoning that's not happening right now. Vicky is still really just a green - regular rated CO with no combat experience handling this large an operation. It follows that she doesn't want to send an ASF squadron outside of any sort of mutual support.