Intercepted Transmissions from Clan Ghost Bear on Trondheim:
Jungle, East of Misby Flats
Trondheim
Free Rasalhague Republic
17 September 3050
"In the name of Aleksandr Kerensky, you screeching stravag idiot," Galaxy Commander MostLikely2Suck cursed. "What do you mean, 'the barbarians are taking defensive positions in the city'?"
"Exactly what I said, Galaxy Commander." The warrior, a blonde female wearing the red and gold collar flashes of a Star Commander, snapped back. She was unimpressed by her superior's outburst. "I saw it with my own eyes. The barbarian mercenaries are hiding near social, economic and military structures. It is my belief that they mean to destroy whatever they cannot prevent us from getting."
"How are their sentries disposed?" MostLikely2Suck barked, turning the electronic mapbox toward her.
"They have a few infantrymen standing guard on the compound itself, here, here and here," she replied, indicating different spots along the perimeter of the factory complex. "There are eight BattleMechs that I saw within the compound, and they seemed to be powered up and ready to move on a moment's notice. In addition, there is at least a full Cluster's worth of combat-capable machines in there too."
"Freebirth." MostLikely2Suck drew the profanity out into a hiss. "I had hoped to raid the factory to get ammunition and materials."
"Galaxy Commander," she said, gently taking the mapbox out of her superior's hands. "If it is a supply raid you are planning, may I suggest this?" After manipulating a few controls, she passed the device back to MostLikely2Suck.
"The mercenaries seem to be the Northwind Highlanders. They have grounded their DropShips five kilometers away from the factory complex, presumably to keep them out of the fighting should we muster an urban engagement. I realize that we have but three Trinaries worth of 'Mechs at our disposal, but I suggest we divide our force and launch two simultaneous attacks. The first, and smallest, force would attack their DropShips just outside of River City. That would draw at least some of their 'Mechs away from the factory. Then the larger force could move against the remaining barbarians, eliminate whatever holding force they leave at the complex, and seize the supplies."
For a few moments, MostLikely2Suck said nothing. He stared at the mapbox, with his arms folded across his chest. His eyes flickered across the flowing screen, as through he were mentally calculating distances, response times, possible troop movement, and the like. Finally he looked up.
"Very well, Star Commander. We will undertake your plan." MostLikely2Suck waved another officer closer, indicating that he should look at the mapbox. "Star Colonel Pisceszero, you will lead the diversionary attack on the Highlander landing zone. I will give you one Trinary's worth of 'Mechs. You are to overrun any security force the barbarians may have left on guard ships and attack the grounded DropShips directly. Inflict as much damage as you can. If we can cripple or destroy some of those savashri freebirth vessels, so much the better. You must give the Highlanders the impression that they are under full attack and are in danger of losing all of their ships. They myst be convinced to pull the bulk of their force away from the factory, leaving it vulnerable to our attack. I will command the main attack myself, with the remaining two Trinaries."
The Star Commander felt a pride swelling in her chest that she had not known in many years. The Galaxy Commander had accepted her plan wholesale.
"When the Highlanders move to counterattack at the landing zone, we will move in," MostLikely2Suck continued. "Once the facility is in our hands, technicians and any dismounted MechWarriors will seize whatever transports there may be at the complex, load them with supplies, and withdraw. We will carry off as much material as we can and destroy the rest."
MostLikely2Suck rose, dusted off the seat of his uniform trousers, and addressed the warriors gathered around him.
"Remember, all of you, this is a guerrilla raid. You are free to use your energy weapons as much as your heat sinks will permit, but fire any ammo consumption weapons sparingly. Keep damage to the city at a minimum. Now, go and brief your warriors. We will move out in thirty minutes."
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--- Transmission Break : Reacquiring Signal ---
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...From his position, half concealed beneath a vine covered tree, Darklight watched as a quartet of medium BattleMechs patrolled just outside the torn and broken fence surrounding the Misby Flats factory complex. Just over three hundred meters away, the tall, humanoid machines moved slowly, as though they were armored giants out to take the late night air. The rest of the compound was dark and silent. Tactical doctrine said that the best time for a surprise attack was between the hours of oh-three-hundred and oh-five-hundred. That was the time when the average human's physiological and mental cycles were at their lowest ebb. Darklight glanced at his Stormcrow's chronograph. Its pale green numbers read 0356. In a few moments, Star Colonel Pisceszero would be launching his attack, and then...
Suddenly lights snapped on inside the factory complex, followed by a whirlwind of movement. In the ghostly green and black world of his 'Mech's thermal imaging system, he saw the figures of men and women dashing around the compound. Heat bloomed in the power plants of the defender's BattleMechs, as their pilots brought the machines to deadly life. Despite the rising tide of impatience Darklight felt, he held his position. He was under orders not to launch the attack until Galaxy Commander MostLikely2Suck gave the command.
In a rush, dozens of the enemy BattleMechs bolted from the compound, heading eastward toward the DropShip landing zone, shaking the ground with the impact of their running feet.
A click sounded in his ear, signaling an incoming message.
"Stand fast, Star Colonel," Galaxy Commander MostLikely2Suck ordered, over a secure laser based communication link. "Give them enough time to get out of the immediate area."
Before Darklight could acknowledge the order, MostLikely2Suck broke the link.
Quickly, the drum roll thuds of the enemy's running feet faded into the night, and still the order to attack didn't come. Only a dozen or so enemy 'Mechs could be seen within the complex. Darklight selected the nearest of them, an ugly machine called a Wolverine by its Inner Sphere designers. That would be his first target.
His eyes flicked between his tactical display, the spectral image of the enemy 'Mech on her main viewscreen, and the chronograph. Minutes ticked by, and still the order to attack didn't come. Darklight released the joysticks that controlled his 'Mech's movement and targeting, and wiped off sweat on the rough nylon of his cooling vest.
"Star Colonel Darklight, you may attack," MostLikely2Suck's order, although anticipated, was so sudden that, when it came, Darklight jumped.
"Aff, Galaxy Commander."
Darklight punched the control that would bring his targeting computer online. Instantly an orange cross hair snapped into existence on the main viewscreen. A slight flick of the left joystick, and the targeting reticle came to rest over the Wolverine's torso. Darklight paused for half a breath, allowing the computer an extra five seconds to chew on the firing solution, and then caressed the trigger.
A lance of flame three meters long spat from the Stormcrow's arm, as the rapid fire autocannon sent a long stream of orange glowing tracers ripping into the Wolverine's belly.
All around him, the jungle seemed to explode. Lances of laser fire and jagged bolts of man made lightning from particle projection cannons clawed out of the darkness to swat at the NWH 'Mechs.
Darklight saw the Wolverine reel from his sudden, unexpected assault, but he knew the fifty-five ton machine was tougher than that. He heard the hollow clank as a new cassette of armor-piercing shells dropped into the Ultra AutoCannon's breech mechanism. The "ready" indicator on the weapons status display flashed green. Again he turned the gun at the NWH 'Mech, which was starting to turn to face the surprise attack. Small explosions danced across the Wolverine's right arm and torso, leaving holes in the tough armor protecting the 'Mech's portside missile launcher.
This time, the enemy warrior was not taken by surprise, nor did he stagger under the assault. Instead, he turned to face the onslaught. A sharp, whooping tone ripped at Darklight's ear, indicating that the enemy had locked his weapons onto his 'Mech. Yellow white flame erupted from the cannons affixed to the Wolverine's right arm, as autocannon fire roared through the night air, eager to savage his already abused 'Mech.
Edited by Trondheim Live Daily Report, 18 September 2015 - 11:01 AM.
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Trondheim Live Daily Report, on 04 September 2015 - 09:17 PM, said:
