Posted 17 July 2013 - 01:33 PM
The sun glistened off the black crystal formations that jutted from the coarse sands spread out before his view screen. Lt Lewellyn Frost had fought on Tourmaline before, however instead of the quick resolution FedSun High Command had desired, the conflict that had intensified faster than the midday sun and the bulk of 5 Battalion was now committed to securing the rich Germanium deposits found amongst the crystal canyons for the AFFS.
Antiquated data from the last succession war had filtered down from HQ, but it was not required, the wrecks of a dozen mechs decaying in the acrid sand over shadowed by the decaying husk of a drop ship showed that this place had been bitterly fought over. Time and time again, Lt Frost found himself overcome by the raw heat that permeated the cockpit of his Catapult. His fingers brushed over his monitors, checking the status of the newly installed double heat sinks. They were already under a 10% load with the outside temperature soaring to above 97 degrees Celsius. He tapped his cooling vest absently, knowing that it was working within optimal levels, but secretly willing it for just a little more relief.
The Rangers commitment to this area of operation was six lances with no vehicle support. Lt Frost was a member of Alpha lance which was a fifty/fifty mix of heavy and assault mechs, while Bravo lance consisted of two Lights, a fast medium and heavy Mech. Charlie through Foxtrot lance replicated the formation of Alpha and Bravo lances to create a quick moving interceptor Lance with a less mobile heavy and assault lance in support. Bravo, Delta and Foxtrot lances had all reported that mechs from the Australasian Royal Mechanised Division, a mercenary company in the employ of the Draconis Combine, was active in the South West.
Frost looked down at his communications screen, a data burst had arrived while his attention was on the wreck of a hunchback almost buried in the sand. He double tapped his comm-link to the affirmative, He missed his old Hunchback, perhaps when this operation was over he would see about a transfer back to the medium chassis. His communications screen was filled by the now unwrapped data burst which contained a strategic map image overlay indicating the current position of all six Ranger lances.
Frost and the other members of Alpha were on station just outside of the main Germanium refinery which was located in a crescent shaped valley to the North East. Bravo was about to step off on patrol and was located half a click to the South West. Charlie was moving in to take up forward positions after Foxtrot reported possible enemy contacts in the area south of the refinery. Delta was already on patrol in the North East having just conducted a handover with Echo who were now on their way back to the refinery for some R and R.
Bravo radioed that they were commencing their patrol and dust rose up as the mechs moved off. Frosts heads up display indicated the increasing distance between the two lances. Alpha leader called for his team to move off to see Bravo on their way, then to commence a slow patrol of the refinery perimeter. The dust obscured the view outside his cockpit so Lewellyn relied on his topographic tactical readout to guide him. Alpha was clearly visible as green triangles, which indicated heading and speed in a text book staggered formation. The profile of Alpha Leads Highlander cast an imposing shadow through the dust as it lumbered off to his right.
All of a sudden, Bravo vanished from the tactical readout, Frost called it in to his lance leader who was already trying to raise Bravo lead. Bravo lead replied that they were experiencing interference consistent with enemy ECM - Bravo was under attack. Alpha lead called for his mechs to make best possible speed to assist Bravo, whom was no more than a kilometre away. Almost on cue Charlie called in that at least two lances of heavy and assault mechs were spotted approaching from south of their position.
Foxtrot broke contact, but not before confirming the composition of the enemy which consisted of two Stalkers, an Awesome, a Catapult and four Cataphracts. Charlie acknowledge Foxtrots Intel and took up defensive positions using the black crystal growths to provide cover and concealment. A Charlie CPLT-K2 similar to the one Lt Frost was piloting, had taken up a position over looking the southern approach and proceeded to provide direct fire onto the approaching enemy mechs, slowing their advance. The Crackle of PPC fire could be heard echoing through the crystalline canyons as man made lighting turned the sand into glass and mech armour into vapour.
Delta radioed in that from their position in the North West that they had eyes on the enemy lance moving to engage Bravo. They had also spotted another lance of light mechs moving towards Charlie. Alpha lead took operational control and requested that Delta take advantage of the enemy Mechs movements and push on towards the suspected enemy staging area, it was hoped that they would draw the enemy away from reinforcing the opposition facing Charlie. Delta lead acknowledged and spurred his lance on at best possible speed.
Alpha crested the rim of a large crater which was caused by a mech going critical, long ago in a battle now forgotten. Inside the crater, Bravo was fully engaged with an enemy Raven, Jenner and Cicada. Alpha lead called the Raven as the primary target. Beams of blue and green light danced across the light mech, leaving super heated traces of their passage. Frost took his time lining up his duel ER PPCs, wanting to make the heat that would be generated count. Squeezing the trigger, twin bolts of focused partial energy burst forth and struck the Ravens right leg, stripping the myomer to the bare structure and driving the fast moving mech into the crater floor. The Cicada and Jenner were then quickly dispatched by the concentrated fire of Alpha and Bravo.
Delta had successfully engaged and had begun to establish control over an enemy held mining outpost. Charlie was at this time engaged with two full enemy lances while the third lance of scout mechs was last seen heading in the direction of Delta. Charlie was engaging the enemy, when one of the enemy lances split off and attempted a break through to attack the refinery directly. Alpha and Bravo responded intercepting the enemy mechs and destroying them before significant damage could be incurred. Charlie meanwhile was able to destroy the enemy mechs that had engaged them taking only moderate damage in return.
From the time of the first enemy contact with Bravo, Echo had moved at best possible speed to reinforce the defences at the refinery. En-route they were set upon by two full lances of enemy mechs. The enemy had managed to push in behind Alpha and Charlie and had secured a small plateau overlooking the only route Echo had back to the refinery. Echo was cut off and pinned in a ravine, unable to receive assistance from the other Ranger lances. Delta was engaged by a full enemy scout lance and was forced to retreat; they planned to rendezvous with Charlie, while Charlie advanced towards the beleaguered Delta. A short time later, two ejections ahead of Charlie signalled the defeat of Delta.
Charlie spurred on by their victory just minutes before, and the apparent demise of their comrades, engaged the enemy scouts. The damage Charlie had sustained in the battle prior was substantial and Charlie was disabled by the faster, lighter enemy mechs. The pilots of Delta and Charlie had ejected safely, their rescue beacons were immediately detected by Ranger search and rescue. Foxtrot moved in to try and assist Echo however was forced to retreat to the refinery due to the overwhelming fire power of the enemy. The enemy mechs were configured for up close fighting, mounting heavy weapons, such as AC20s and PPCs, perfect for annihilating enemy mechs. Shortly after, all contact was lost with Echo, search and rescue plotted possible ejection locations, but no beacons were detected.
Alpha, Bravo and a crippled Foxtrot lance were on station at the refinery and quickly moved to secure their positions, awaiting the final push from the forces that had eliminated Charlie, Delta and Echo lance. The Robinson Rangers made a heroic last stand against the forces of ARMD and managed to deny the area to the lapdogs of House Kurita. As Lt Frost piloted his heavily damaged Catapult out to the mech repair bay, he vowed to return and repay ARMD tenfold for what they did here today.
End report.
Honour through vengeance,
L. Frost
LT
M6676928
1st Lance, 5Bn, RRB
Robinson, FedSuns
HyTerm: 2001:0db8:85a3:0042:1000:8a2e:0370:7334
4
