Story from Ironhawk
I promised you this many times. Telling my story. This is probably a good time. Nightsky
is inspiring. Besides, you guys were so generous with the drinks on this fine night.
Where to start...? It's not that easy to bring back that history. Those memories. Some
really bad moments you see.
Being a Brighton-born who had serviced in the 2nd Battalion of St. Ives's 2nd for a time,
was enough for paranoid, nutcase Romano Liao's Government to become suspicious of the
Atlas Hunters as they grew more famous with each successful mission. Eagle suspected
Thunderbird's Davion history as the probable source of our arguments with our employers
but I had confirmation from intelligence that my activities during the St. Ives rebellion
had been uncovered. Didn't do much except work on new paint designs for a few units,
really. I knew there was somewhat of a buzz around them (after centuries of ill-revised
paintschemes) but most of my inspiration came from a guy named Hayden, who was reinventing
the art.
It was Osprey who spotted me and recruited me. I had heard of 'em Atlas Hunters. Some said
they took their name on planet Atlas as a small defending Merc unit against impossible
odds during a surprise raid. Some said they developed this technique against the Steiners'
Atlas 'Mechs to quickly disrupt enemy assault forces. Eagle liked how Osprey and I
completed and challenged each other on the battlefield. So back in those days we saved
each other's ass more times than you can count. Together with guys like Eagle, Pope Pain,
Thunderbird, Raven and the other brothers, we could break any defense line, and the cash
poured in.
It may have seemed odd to many but we were proud to support the weakened Capellans for
three years before everything went the way it went. I mean we were well aware that all of
those corrupt and power hungry politicians would abuse and distort the Korvin Doctrine to
bring the masses to submission, but otherwise the Capellan people were both resilient and
kind. Eagle and his Atlas Hunters always had a soft spot when it came to defending the
underdog. And the Capellan regions were a fine prey during those years. In the end though,
we were less tolerant about the Liao B.S.; our missions made less and less sense. Come to
think of it, Liao spies may have intercepted our comms with the Kuritans. Though T-bird
wanted us to go Fedcom, they had little interest in a smaller unit like ours. Plus the
Combine was paying handsomely those Mercs who would support 'em. Half of the team came
from the FRR and didn't care much which way we'd go. Our three year deal was about to end.
We had to make a move.
Our very last discussions with Capellan observers weren't pretty. We were so young and hot
blooded... Could be that they just wanted to provoke us in order to justify their next
move.
Then there was our darkest day...
I can remember but mere flashes from that day, except maybe for just a few details, still
vivid in my nightmares. And maybe some of it got distorted ovet time. Dunno for sure.
Anyway. Our two companies were riding their 'Mechs into that radioactive metal
transformation facility when our comms got scrambled. We knew radioactivity would screw up
detection systems somewhat but this... Solar flare? Plausible in the Andurien system but
this was too sudden. Liao ECM and channel disruption. Had to be...
We all tried to stick to the plan and take our respective positions. But it was just too
late. We got attacked from every angle by what must have beem a full battalion of CCAF
forces plus another couple of Merc unit companies hidden among the abundance of obstacles.
The first volley hit us the hardest. There must have been a thousand missiles coming from
all angles. In four volleys we lost what I estimate was close to a company of 'Mechs. We
were disorganized, some following Eagle's predefined contingency command under such
overpowering circumstances: flee. "If we are overrun, I am dead serious. You just retreat.
Save your merc butts. No paycheck, no matter what the amount, is worth certain death. I
mean, Men." But most of us became brothers more than mercs over the years. The last Atlas
Hunters would make a final stand.
Can't recall the whole thing like I said. But sheer individual talent expressed itself
that day. Raven and Pope must have decimated two enemy companies by themselves before we
lost 'em. I had lost sight of T-bird when I noticed those Liao colored lights and medium
were all coming for Eagle. Our Colonel didn't have his best 'Mech in this mission, for
which he planned to play a supporting, suppressive role. Osprey and I tried our best in
our twin Shadow Hawks, but it was two late. Two more volleys of missiles and focused enemy
fire took him down, despite our desperate attempt to protect him.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw the Eagle fall. The cockpit was in flames. I could
never shake that vision away, nor can I to this day. He was like a father to most of us.
Osprey was the first to react. I could picture him raging as he knocked down three Liao
Mediums in a row with his Shadow Hawk, followed I am sure by three of his famous "Sit
down!" claims.
It came naturally. I turned around. Protected his back. Took deep breaths. Osprey was hot
blooded with rage. There were twenty more enemy brawling 'Mechs coming our way in a single
push. I had to compensate for Osrpey's rage as he cleared the threat at close range. Keep
calm. Give way to aumakua. Then it struck me. I hit a conduit near a reservoir with an
AC20 shell. When Osprey turned around, he knew what I was going for. He was the one who
hit the pumps' batteries. Sparks went in all directions. The gaping conduit leak lit up
the entire reservoir in a fraction of a second. Just as the pushing force advanced in
range they were engulfed by a gargantuan deflagration. We only had to finsih each one as
they came out ablaze a couple at a time.
I thought for a moment we could win this. But a few minutes later the whole thing was
over. There was another company along with a line of Saladin tanks coming behind us to
finish off the both of us. Death Commandos.
It ain't a pretty sound. Myomer twisting and crying as if in pain while enemy weapons hit
your prized, armor deprived avatar.
Only flash I've got after ejecting was the enemy infantry rushing at me. I was shocked to
see my pistol's ammo was gone. They had planned this whole thing from within. Could see
Osprey far away still standing, using martial arts and knocking out the Liao infantry
soldiers with his bare hands. Then it all went dark.
I woke up in prison. Or was it hell? The tried to break me. To kill me. Slowly. My
tormentors starved me. Tortured me for no reason. Poisoned me. Beat me. Spit at me. Put me
work on to impossibly dangerous mining tasks. Passing out from pain became almost a habit.
So many times I thought I would not wake up. They said: "you no hawk, you cat with so many
lives." As they laughed I hated myself for hitting that eject button.
One day an official figure came. Military. Must have been somewhat important. Somewhat
weird and blunt, but fair. He said he called himself Adridos. He came to commission me to
a massive repaint program of some of the most emblematic Liao units. There was no pay of
course but I'd be fed at least. And away from these saddistic creeps even if I remained
day and night under heavy guard. For countless months, I spent sleepless hours designing
new schemes and training many paint crew members. It's only when you have to repaint an
entire 'Mech that you can appreciate its gigantic size. I was treated like **** by the
officers but nonetheless had fun with the crew.
One day, they brought in an Atlas. The feeling was instantaneous. It vibrated in my soul.
In my mind. It reminded me of who I was. The one single 'Mech that would terrorize the
battlefields throughout the Inner Sphere. The one single 'Mech I had been conditioned by
Eagle not to fear. Thanks to this new opportunity, I got to study it all in its intricate
details. Its strong points. Its weaknesses.
Oh how I hated it. Oh how I loved to hate it.
Some of my best repaint designs went into that beast for that reason. It symbolized the
only thing left in me. Keeping my soul alive. It was at that point I swore to myself I
would re-assemble any surviving brother, recruit new brothers and bring back the Atlas
Hunters back to life. And get revenge.
To be continued...
Edited by AH Osprey 02, 07 June 2014 - 10:14 AM.