3 replies to this topic

[ReissTC]

So I decided to write something up that had been in my head for a while, written on a whim. Not really much of a writer, but here it is:

////////\\\\\\\\

So. A strange thing happened. Somehow, a hostile lance had managed to appear not too far - approximately 3km - from the main germanium extraction plant in the mountainous region - nicknamed Alpine 'cause it looks like some place back on Terra. Nobody's quite sure how they got there - no dropper was spotted, so they must've managed to approach using some of that fancy ECM. What we did know was that it was a mixed heavy/assault lance, consisting of three Cataphracts and a Highlander assault mech. While my own lance - two Centurions - one of which is mine - a Dragon we somehow managed to salvage from combat with a Kuritan unit, and an Atlas, of all things - was somewhat outgunned, no other enemy lances were detected. Our light lance - 3 Commandos and a Raven 3L providing ECM cover - would tip the balance of power in our favour. Not the normal role for a scout lance, but we'd need the firepower.

Anyway. Our employer tasked us with defending the installation. Not wanting it to get hit by stray weapons fire, our superiors had ordered us to move out. Northwards, as the last recon lance had spotted the hostiles heading westwards, behind the cover of a fairly large hill. At that point, we were somewhat confused - the amount of cover there isn't particularly large, and considering that they know there's a light lance - the Raven took a PPC hit to the leg - stalking about which can flank them at a critical moment, it would appear as though we'd have every advantage. Exchange a few shots, and strike in tandem with our light mechs. Simple.

Except things weren't so simple.

We all pushed towards to the area designated as Echo-4 on the tacmap, and not long after we saw the enemy - and what a sight it was. 4 70+ ton mechs leap into the air at the same time - of course, we were a bit perplexed. Why would they show us where they are like that? Of course, we soon knew why. As they hit the peak of their jump - they fired.

My lancemate in the Centurion took the full brunt of the hit. The sheer force of the combined firepower of the enemy mechs blasted straight through the fusion engine, cutting all power to the rest of the mech. He was moving full speed at the time - all of us heard that cockpit smash as it hit the ground. There was no doubt he was dead. The enemy mechs landed back behind the hill, back into cover.

Clearly, this was some new weapon, or equipment, or SOMETHING. Ordinary jumpjets aren't stable enough to do that! The gyro and control computers have to work overtime just to keep the mech from flipping end-over-end! Yet, as if to prove us wrong, the flares of jumpjets once again entered our vision. We didn't hesitate. We opened fire. Most of our shots went wild - either hitting the wrong component, or simply passing through where the target used to be. Our weapons simply couldn't target the enemy mechs fast enough. They didn't have that issue. The Dragon was next, losing its left arm and a medium laser.

We just pushed the mechs up to full throttle - all of us. Our Atlas finally reached the enemy - a little later than me and the Dragon of course. Our light lance, powered down behind the enemy formation, leapt into action to give us as much firepower as they can.

Vastly outnumbered, and surrounded, normally this would've been a slaghter. They should've fallen quickly. But they didn't - they just kept on firing, with ungodly accuracy. Oddly, the PPC and gauss blasts shooting straight at our light mechs almost never connected, thankfully. We finally saw all the armament we were dealing with - ERPPCs and Gauss Rifles, just as the enemy turned to deal with my lance - the bigger threat.

The first to drop was one of the Cataphracts. Our Atlas' AC20 had managed to damage the gauss rifle - which proceeded to violently explode and take out the thing's apparent XL engine with it. The enemy lance responded by focusing their fire on the Atlas. Snapshots by the enemy had all hit the engine of the mech. An expensive, and terrible, loss in this fight. Thankfully, the pilot would live - the mech's legs locked it in an upright position.

Of course, one thing I'll never get, is how they fired those PPCs. That amout of heat should, at the very least, slowed their mechs down. Yet they were still maneuvering as if they hadn't been firing at all. Hell, the sheer amount of heat should've sent their targeting systems haywire, or shutdown their mechs, yet they were still as accurate as ever before!

Our Dragon took an alpha-strike from the Highlander and fell. In retaliation for our Atlas, we all focused the Highlander down - which, yet again, showed the strange capabilties of these mechs. Firing his jumpjets to spread our damage around his mech, he could still fire with that pinpoint accuracy. Slowly, but surely, it went down, leaving us with the two remainign Cataphracts.

My 'mech's right arm was blown off, depriving me of my large and small lasers. One of the Cataphracts took a strike to the rear from our light lance and dropped quickly. That left us with one.

3 Commandos, a damaged Raven, and a half dead Centurion remained. The enemy was cut-off. Had nowhere to run, and was severely outgunned and outnumbered. We gave him a choice. Surrender, and answer our questions, and you'll live.

Now, most sane people would've recognised that the fight was over, and given up - he obviosuly must've had a screw loose, as his response was to target my mech. Twisting to the right, I'd managed to avoid the alpha-strike hitting my engine, though my LRM10 wasn't so lucky. As one, our remaining mechs fired. While we claimed to be aiming at the torso, most of our shots hit the cockpit, killing the pilot instantly.

After the fight, we returned to base. Armed soldiers and a lance of fresh mechs were sent to investigate the enemy 'mech's wreckage, and medical personnel were brought along so we can keep enemy pilots alive - they couldn't be interrogated if they were dead, after all.

Reports stated that no-one could find any instance of markings on any equipment, no clues that would point to whoever sent this attack force. The mechs themslves - the 'phracts - would most likely belong to a Davion or Liao unit. The Highlander could've been from anyone. The variants themselves were never recorded - all custom builds. Must've come from someone with a lot of money. Most of the stuff was impressive - endo steel chassis, XL engines, double heat-sinks, not to mention these mystical no-shake jumpjets.

Yet, the two strangest things were that the pilots were gone, even the one who apparently got blown apart by an SRM; and that, apparently, nothing strange was found with the mechs. After being repaired (through no little cost, mind you), they were found to be completely average - well, as average as 70+ tons mechs loaded to the brim with the newest tech can be called average.

A complete mystery.

--- Elsewhere ---

John and his premade group had apparently been dropped into a somewhat lopsided 4v8 match. No particular game mode seemed to have been chosen.

"Well, that was a wierd match. GG. Again?"

A chorus of "yeah" and "sures" rang out through his headset, and the ready-icons all turned green. He clicked "Launch"...

\\\\\\\\////////

[Rocketlaunch]

Great short story! I love how it makes fun of MWO without sounding bashfull by comparing mechs/pilots from battletech lore and the mechs/pilots from MWO.

[spaceghost2099]

As I said I love the ending hahaha this story is awesome

[Dominik]

LOL fantastic ending! I love the duality you snuck in there like that. heck it could make for an interesting plot line- having "real" people believing they are just playing a game until a group of friends, having formed a lance, somehow find out there is more to it. And what they do with that knowledge. Do they pass off their fun loving ways into a sense of responsibility? do they take a side and try to shape the destiny of that 'verse? Or do they run around going Rogue and causing havoc.

So many possibilities!