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Slow Night: A short story.


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#1 Habokku

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Posted 04 November 2011 - 02:55 AM

Able shivered and stretched in the darkness.

He pulled the fur-lined hood of his heavy white parka back just enough to lift his head up over the lip of the foxhole and cast a wary eye across the frozen landscape stretching out before him, snow still flurrying down in the starless night. The thick clouds above had been ever present the last few days, night was nearly indistinguishable from day on this frozen rock during the long winters of this world, locked in an eliptical orbit around a large red-giant star. The world, Joan's Post, had at one time been a small trading port for star-league era vessels as they journeyed out in to the Outworld's Alliance and had several domed habitats from that time nestled near the planets equator that still functioned. These had managed to maintain some semblance of trade throughout the centuries and destruction of those years. Had Able been on the world a few months earlier the temperature would have been moderately pleasant, and the area around him would have been covered in vegetation brough in when the planet was teraformed all those centuries before. Sadly, his unit had arrived right as the planet was leaving the path of its orbit near the sun, heading farther out into the edges of it's elipse. That had been six weeks ago. He'd adapted quickly as always, but the moderately rapid rotation of the planet, coupled with the erratic nature of it's seasons had worn on Able. Still, the air was breathable, and the post was dry, if not a little cold, which he was thankful for. He drew in a slow, deep breath through his nose, warming the frigid air as it entered his body, surveying the tundra around him.

The blizzard had blown over quickly, at least that's what the native had said when the scout had made the round two hours ago to check on the line. "Four hours is quick?... **** I can't wait to wrap this job up and get back to warmer climates" he muttered under his breath, the heat of it frosting the air in front of his face as he flexed his fingers over the grip of his rifle. He shivered again and shifted on the crude bench he'd fashioned from bits of discarded armor plating he'd gathered from the floor of the dropship's mech bay last time he'd been off the line. It wasn't much but it kept him from having to sit up on his knees to see out of the deep foxhole that had been dug two weeks ago. A white tarp was suspended over his head on an aluminum frame and was heavy-laiden with snow, camoflaging his position to all but the keenest of observers, even with infra-red sensors aiding them.

Able's unit, the Alliance Borderers of the Alliance Military Corps had been sent in from Ramora to assist a mercenary unit in the removal of some pirates that had been on-planet raiding and being a general nusiance, interrupting the planet's commerce from reaching the rest of the Alliance. The fighting had been sparse since they had arrived, and a base of operations had sprung up a few klicks north of the planet's largest habitat dome, ironically named "Panacea". A nice enough place when he'd gone there on leave, considering the alternative where he presently found himself, anyway. Still the Mercs, a full company of Gray Death Legion 'mechs, men and armor, had proven themselves well in the few skirmishes, and were actually pretty friendly with the AMC troopers who'd been sent in to help with defense of the few habitat domes. He'd heard these Gray Death Legion guys were good, and they were a little arrogant, but their track record spoke for itself, and Able understood the age old tennant: "It isn't bragging if you can back it up." He bent gently at the waist and shivered again. The cold-weather gear he'd been issued was working, but he still had to flex and move on occation to keep the blood circulating.

The small radio near his leg suddenly beeped softly and he checked his watch,.. another hour before he was supposed to check in with HQ.. This was probably not a good sign. He reached for the small microphone teathered to the machine by a spiral cord, pulling it up to his face. "Defender Gentry reporting, go ahead". A familiar, slightly digitized voice sounded through the radio in reply. "Gentry, this is Supervisor Rinsler, report." Able's face grew hard, why would the company CO be contacting him of all people?... Unless something was happening. His stomach tightened as he lifted his head to glance around the area. "Sir.. uh,.. all quiet here.. No signs of any pirate 'mechs or infantry." He tried to cover up the anticipation in his voice, hoping it wasn't showing through as he spoke. "We have intel that the pirates are going to make a push soon, be on the look-"

Able's world became a cacophony of light and sound as the particle projection cannon bolt impacted twenty meters from his foxhole, the sound of impact, the shower of earth landing around him and the smell of scorched earth snapping him down, covering his head with his hands. He looked up over the lip of his foxhole in shock and saw the form of a 35 ton Panther battlemech moving towards his position from the snow covered treeline 400 meters north of his position. He saw the trees behind the panther shifting as well, the snow falling as other unknown machines of war brushed the snow from the branches as they moved through the thin line of trees.

He heard the voice again.. "Gentry? Gentry!.. do you copy? Acknowledge."

He held the radio to his lips, panic flowing into his voice as he spoke. "Sir, the pirates are moving on my location..."

#2 seyek

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Posted 04 November 2011 - 06:28 PM

I like this so far, and I certainly don't envy anyone stuck in a foxhole with mechs bearing down on them and nothing but a rifle to fight with. Hope to see you continue it.

#3 Habokku

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Posted 04 November 2011 - 10:06 PM

Chapter 2

Andrew's eyes snapped open as awareness filled his senses. He was already moving as his brain registered what had roused him from sleep: Scramble klaxons were blaring from the base and he didn't even have to think about his actions as his body moved. He registered the cold air in his tent but dismissed it with a shiver, sitting up and pulling his cooling vest on over the slate grey, skin tight shirt and leggings he had been asleep in. The warm air from his sleeping bag around him was steaming in the cold as he quickly swung his legs over and slipped his sock-covered feet into his boots, zipping up the sides, securing them to his feet swiftly. He stood and grasped his gun belt, wrapping it around his frame and buckling it with practiced precision. He also grabbed a survival pack, containing emergency cold weather clothing, extra magazines for the pistol on his hip, several lighters, a metal cup, emergency rations, combat knife, hatchet, and a first aid kit and slung it over his right shoulder, the strap partially covering the death's head emblem on a crimson field stitched onto his cooling vest. "Be prepared" he muttered.. the last thing he wanted was to have to eject in the middle of a combat zone and die to, of all things, the elements.

He unzipped the tent's flap and gasped at the frigid blast of air that greeted him. He jogged through the new fallen snow covering the area to the feet of a kneeling hulk of metal, myromer, circuits and weapons and began to ascend the rope ladder towards the machine's sealed faceplate. He smiled at the grey and white motted machine, rimed in frost before him, knowing the cold metal would move soon and the ice and snow that covered it would be but a distant memory. The Wolfhound was an excellent 'mech, fast, exceedingly well armored for a light chassis, and had weaponry sufficient to hold it's own against many medium 'mechs. His was no different, and he personally had scored three kills in this machine on their previous contract. He reached the head of the battlemech and keyed in a six digit number that only he, his lance mates, and a handful of techs knew. The ferro-steel faceplate armor of the machine hissed on hydraulics as it lifted, allowing him access to the familiar scene, and scent, of his cockpit. He swung in-to the machine and quickly buckled the five point harness on the command couch over his torso, one hand buckling straps, the other dancing over instrument panels to begin the start-up sequence. He pulled the neuro-helmet off it's perch above and behind him and settled it down on to his head before beginning to run the final checks that would bring the 'mech online. "So much for another slow night.." He said softly as a very familiar voice filled his ears. "This's Cap'n McCall to all Legionnaires, we've gut a wee bit 'o trouble ta thae Northeast. Seems thae pirates want ta show us they got a bit 'o fight left in-'em. Shall we oblige 'em?"

After clenching his teeth twice to open his general tactical frequency, his voice, low but clear sounded across the radio to the rest of the company, adding to the refrain of "Yes Sir!". As the 'mech start up sequence concluded, his 'mech shuddered as the reactor hummed beneath him in the chest of the machine. It slowly stood, snow falling off in chunks as the myromer muscles flexed and shifted, bringing the mech to it's full height. He smiled at the familiar sensation of vertigo as his equilibrium synched with the 'mechs gyro, balancing it as he turned the machine, angling towards the North and clearing the base carefully before falling in with his lance..

"Once more unto the breech.." He thought to himself, his lance's tactical frequency getting noisier by the moment.

Edited by Habokku, 06 November 2011 - 06:05 PM.


#4 Habokku

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Posted 08 November 2011 - 02:55 AM

"Get down!!"

Able dove head-long and rolled as the tree next to him expoded in a flash, the boiling sap and spintered wood falling all around him as he landed and lay flat on his rifle, looking over his shoulder at the 40 ton Assassin that had just fired it's medium laser at the retreating group of infantry. The front line observation team had consisted of a group of fifteen men & women from the Gray Death Legion and Alliance Borderers, spread out along a wide pass a few kilometers to the North of the joint Gray Death Legion and Outworld Alliance military base. Able remembered hearing about how Captain McCall had suggested that the Legion and Borderers station a small line of observation posts along any probably avenues of attack, should the pirates decide to try and raid the base for supplies or equipment.

"They would try and attack the ONE SPOT I was stationed..." He thought to himself bitterly as he pushed up and took off again, fighting through almost knee-deep snow, moving from tree to tree along with the other fourteen men & women. The 'mechs were gaining on them, though they seemed to be taking their sweet time about it for some reason. It was at this point Able noticed why. A pair of Gray Death Legion infantry near him, the ones who had shouted for him to duck moved over near him, their breath heavy and fogging the air around their heads. The closest, a man in his mid thirties that Able had seen around the base, but not really spoken to called out, "Give us a hand!"

"Huh?!?" Able said as the pair got close to him. He noticed the second Legionnaire, a female trooper he thought, though gender was difficult to tell beneath the heavy cold weather clothing, swung an SRM 2 launcher around and leveled it at the Assassin fifty yards behind them and closing. "Catch!" The man said sharply as the woman knelt and he tossed a single short range missile over to him. He choked back a cry of surprise and managed to juggle the ordinance before finally catching it, right as the woman squeezed the trigger. He turned his head as the missiles ignited and erupted from the tube, the the two con-trails of the paired SRM's snaking through the trees before impacting sqarely at the Assassin's hip and upper leg, blasting armor from the surface of the machine and leaving two smoking craters in the medium 'mech's armor.

"Reload!!!" The woman shouted and her fellow Legionnaire slammed one SRM into the lower portion of the firing tube, Able hesitated looking at the missile in his hand and then back at the pair. He blinked and then realized they were waiting on him. "These people are crazy.. we can't fight 'mechs! We're infantry!!"
"Come on soldier!" The woman yelled, her eyes still on her target. The Assassin had taken a half-step back at the impact, the mechwarrior inside had not expecting to actually meet any resistance beyond small arms fire or light armor. "R-Right!" Able finally stammered and grasped the missile with both hands, letting his rifle fall to his side on it's sling. He rammed the ordinace home in the upper tube as the male Legionnaire had done. The man then checked both missiles "Check! Weapon hot, backblast clear!" He yelled and the woman let a second pair of missiles fly, the paired SRM's arcing across the distance. This time only one struck the 'mech, hammering into it's right arm with a thunderous flash and explosion. The second missile went wide of the 'mech, but what it did hit had a reasonably interesting result. The errant missile impacted the base of a tree next to the slowed Assassin, blasting away a good portion of the tree's support. Heavy collected snow from the tree showered down across the Assassin, a thick layer of it piling up across the 'mechs cockpit and shoulders. It probably didn't blind the mechwarrior inside completely, but may have caused a moment of surprise, which is exactly what the trio fighting it wanted As the weakened tree cracked and popped, the trunk finally giving way with a loud crack as the large tree fell over, landing against the 'mech's right shoulder with a resounding thud. The impact of the tree didn't really damage the 'mech, but coupled with the SRM impact caused the 40 ton machine to stagger to the side, the arms of the machine reaching up to try and swat the offending foliage away.

"Let's Move!" The woman shouted as the missiles impacted. She dropped the spent launcher into the snow and pulled up a submachine gun from the sling over her shoulder. Able turned with the pair as they continued to fall back towards the base. "Why are you leaving that behind??" He shouted as they ran, another tree nearby exploding as a PPC bolt scoured it and sent massive chunks of splintered wood flying..
"We're out of ammo, those were our last two missiles!" She replied. "Oh.. " He said flatly, panting now as he wove through the trees with the pair of Legion troopers. He chanced a look over his shoulder in time to see the Assassin shed the offending tree and turn, leveling it's medium laser at the three of them once more. "Watch it!" He shouted and dove, knocking the woman down, which in turn tripped up the man, causing him to fall. He felt the air grow hot near them and gasped, fearing the laser was about to touch his body and turn it to burned ash, but he felt no pain as the three of them landed in the snow together, a tree a few yards past them igniting and popping like a baloon at the sudden heat of the laser's caress. He rolled over, surveying his right side. The coat he wore smoked and steamed, and the sleeve on his right arm was a little brown, as though it had been placed too close to an open fire.. but the fabric was still intact. His leg appeared to be fine as well as he pushed himself up to his feet, pulling the woman he had knocked down up with him.

"You ok?" He asked as he hoisted his rifle and kept running. "Yea, thanks. I owe you one.... " She seemed to be waiting for him to speak, "Oh,.. uh, I'm.. Gentry, Defender Able Gentry" He said as the trio ducked behind a fallen tree and the snowbank that had formed around it, coming to rest. Other clusteres of infantry around them were gathering in this vicinity, many trees had fallen in this area long before the pirates had arrived and they formed a natural barricade, assisted by the snow drifts that had formed over the last few weeks. "I'm Corperal Anna Carly, the big guy there is Private Max Martinson" Able realised now just how big the man was, he had to have been six foot nine at least. The big man nodded towards Able, grunting as he hoisted a large-bore anti infantry machine gun from it's harness over his shoulder and poked his head out to get a read on where they enemy was.

"Assassin is still chasing us, though he's wary now thanks to you. I see a panther behind him, and I think that's a wolverine bringing up the rear,.. that's all I can make out" He said gruffly. "Of course he's wary." She replied smugly. "Nobody's better with SRM's than I am." Max chuckled at her statement. "True, but that does tend to put you, and by extension, me, right in the crosshairs a lot you know." He said, cutting an annoyed glance over to her. "Hey, you know you like it when.." Able cut into the conversation. "Um.. excuse me?" They both seemed to realize he was there at the same time and chorused a "What?" at the same time, looking at him in unison. "What.. do we do now?" He stammered, looking down at his rifle as he spoke, before casting an uncertain glance back up to the pair of Legion troopers.

"Well,.." Anna began. "We keep slowing them down and falling back until our 'mechs get here to take these dirty pirates out." It was so matter of fact, Able blinked and looked at Max to see if he agreed with this course of action. Max just nodded, not looking over at Able, but watching the 'mechs from behind the drift. "She's right, our forces will be here soon, we just keep stalling them, shouldn't be long now." Able shook his head. "This is crazy, we need to hide! Get out of the line of fire! We can't fight 'Mechs!" Anna grasped him on the shoulder. "Wrong, Gentry, we can, and we are. Now get your rifle. I've got an idea..." Max groaned at hearing that. "Did I ever tell you I HATE your ideas?" Anna smiled at that. "Every time Max, every time."

Max shook his head. "Right...So what's the plan?"

Able knelt next to the pair in silence half listening to Anna as she began to speak. "Is this really happening?.. Of all people, why did I have to run into, and then save little miss death-wish and her giant partner in crime?" He thought, looking over at the Corperal as she began to outline her plan of attack.

.

Edited by Habokku, 08 November 2011 - 03:27 AM.


#5 Habokku

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Posted 24 November 2011 - 11:36 PM

Chapter 4

Andrew pushed the throttle forward slowly as he cleared the lines of tents and rough head-height earthwork berm that surrounded the base, providing a good degree of cover to those behind it from direct fire weaponry. He fell in next to his lance commander on his right side and matched his 'mechs speed to the larger chassis as the other two members of the lance formed up to his right.

Andrew clenched his teeth together once, opening the frequency his lance used to communicate. "This is Havoc, systems green, nice to see everyone this morning! Lovely weather we're having dontcha think?"

His lance commander, First Lieutenant Fredrick "Rebel" Garrett seemingly annoyed at his subordinate's cheerful demeanor despite being recently awoken from a dead sleep retorted quickly, his voice sounding slightly digitized. "Dangit.. Zippit Hav, we'll get to the pleasantries once we all finished our radio checks and I've had a chance to thaw out." The drawl in the voice, coupled with the digitization of it created a very distinctive voice on the channel, it was never hard to pick out when Rebel was speaking. Rebel wasn't really annoyed, but Andrew knew he liked to run the lance tight and trim, and that their conversation would continue shortly. He rotated his torso to the left and saw Rebel's 'mech, the heaviest 'mech in their lance, a 50 ton Hunchback battlemech trundling along. Andrew noted the side of the massive AC 20 mounted on the distinctive right shoulder 'hunch' displaying a large depiction of an ancient battle standard from Terra consisting of a red field with blue stripes in the form of an X with white stars inside of the blue criss-crossed lines. "The stars and bars", Rebel had called it.

Andrew smiled as he torso twisted back, clenching his jaw once more to open the channel, he was one of the more vocal members of his lance, and he and Rebel would often go back and forth on the lance comm line. "You got it, boss." He said chuckling as he spoke.

To Andrew's right was the third and fourth members of their lance, the first, piloted by the ever witty but often quiet Raymond "Lynx" Fields moving along side his Wolfhound in a mottled gray 45 ton Phoenix Hawk battlemech. "Lynx, all good and ready." Lynx was usually one to keep his comm chatter concise, but outside of his 'mech's cockpit he had a great deal of knowledge on a vast number of topics, and could tell you anything you wanted to know about most every battlemech in the Inner Sphere. He could discuss their strengths and weaknesses at great length. Andrew had learned a lot from him, not only on 'mech piloting and gunnery, but the tactics of 'mech combat and what weakness to exploit on many different battlemechs, as well as how to minimize the weakness of his own machine. "Ever the conversationalist, 'eh Lynx?" Andrew thought to himself with a chuckle.

Next came the fourth and final member of their lance. The wife of Raymond and very talented 'mech pilot in her own right, Tia "Fox" Fields. Her light voice came through the earphones in his neurohelmet as he twisted his 'mech right and looked over at her machine. "Good morning gentlemen, Fox showing all systems green. Anyone bring any coffee?" Her 40 ton Clint battlemech moving with practiced grace as she dodged around a small cluster of trees before falling back in next to Lynx's heavier machine. As a pair, Lynx and Fox could decimate any single opponent. They had been married for many years and were not only comrades in arms, but best friends as well.

"Good deal, we're all here and awake. D@mn I do want some coffee too Fox... Oh well, we'll get it when we get back." Rebel said to the lance before opening the tactical frequency. "Capt'n, medium lance reports ready to move out to the line and relieve the troops there, orders?" Andrew waited for a reply as they continued to angle Northward away from the base at a walk.

"Aye, good tae hear you're on the spot this mornin' Rebel. Intel just came in that the troops there are fallin' back while they try tae soften 'em up. Make best speed to 'em and I'll have the fire lance followin' yae there in short order." Captain McCall said, his accent the only one more distinctive than Rebel's in the whole company.

"Yessir, we'll let 'em know who they're dealin' with. I'll keep you apprized of the situation as we near the combat." Rebel replied.

"Roger that, command'll relay any information tae ya as it comes in. McCall out." And with that the familiar double tone of the tactical frequency closing sounded in Andrew's ear.

"You heard the man, lets get there quick before our people get over-run!" Rebel said, excitement in his voice as he pushed the Hunchback in to a run, followed closely by the lighter 'mechs of the medium lance.

"So, last person to score a hit buys everyone a round?" Andrew asked as his Wolfhound's gait extended and it moved in to a gentle run, matching pace with the slower 'mech to his left.

"You always say that Hav, and Rebel always ends up having to buy us a round." Fox replied with a laugh.

"Drat, you've outed me and my devious plan,... how am I supposed to get him to pay for our drinks now??" Andrew asked, feigning dismay.

Lynx let a chuckle sound through the comms as Rebel voiced his usual reply: "Lookie here Havoc, I'm gonna take that bet, and one of you'll be the one buyin' the drinks for once today, just watch and learn." The smile on Rebel's face was apparent in his voice. He loved a challenge, and having a 'mech with a much shorter max range than the others in the lance always presented a unique opportunity to test his piloting mettle.

"Famous last words there Reb, famous last words." Lynx said with a laugh, mirroring his wife's laughter a moment ago.

"Ok boys 'n girls, lets get to work!" Rebel said as he cleared into a large open field from a thin line of trees and opened the throttle up to full, letting the machine move at it's fastest pace. Havoc matched his speed and the two other mediums both followed suit.

"Get to work indeed, lets go show these pirates what happens when they try to fight the Legion on our terms." Andrew said over the comms, flicking a few switches to help with the 'mech's stability as it ran across the snow covered field towards the enemy attack.

Edited by Habokku, 08 December 2011 - 05:57 PM.


#6 Mikhal Rain Longcut

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 08:33 PM

Well told, please continue the story and save the ideas, it should be a well told story in the rest of your short stories. Meaning keep doing a hell of a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and please many more!!!

#7 Mikhal Rain Longcut

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 08:36 PM

Okay I love the way u brought the infrantry side of the battle into view, instead of just a mech side only, it brings such a richer story to the equation.

Well done

#8 Habokku

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Posted 08 December 2011 - 09:20 PM

Chapter 5

Able's jaw hung slightly agape as Corporal Carly finished speaking. He blinked twice and said "You're serious?..."

Anna rolled her eyes in response. "Of course I'm serious! It will work, tell him Max."

Max shrugged. "Seems like the plan's got merit, It will certainly buy time, but it's dangerous."... He turned his head a little bit, grinning at Able. "Good thing I like Dangerous."

Able blinked again. "So, your 'plan' here is to draw one of the Battlemechs in here where we are, and then try and knock it down with a falling tree?? That's not just crazy, that's ludicrous! There's no way they'll fall for it!

Max chuckled as Anna grinned. "Look, Gentry, let me tell you this. If there's one thing all 'mech jocks have in common, it's arrogance. We're infantry, and they think we can't possibly do more than just slow them down. They think we're no threat to them, and we're going to use that mentality in our favor, and show at least one of these pirate b@stards that we ARE a threat. That will give the rest of them pause, and give our own 'mechs time to get here." Anna spoke with conviction, and certainty that belied a deep confidence in the woman.

Able shook his head and started to speak when Max's head jerked towards them. "LRM's incoming! Get down!"

Max jumped down and curled up against the foliage and earth as Anna tackled Able to the ground, covering her head. The volley of five long range missiles screamed in and impacted into the mass of fallen tree-trunks, sending dead wood, scalding water produced from the heat of the explosion, and chunks of snow skyward in a shower of debris. Able raised his head as snow and splintered tree chunks showered around them. "Max! Get up there and start putting rounds into that 'mech. P!ss him off and draw him in!"

"You got it!" Max yelled back as he leaped up and got back in to his position, hoisting his heavy machine gun, pointing it towards the Assassin and letting the muzzle erupt in a cacophony of rounds screeching towards the battlemech. The rounds did little more than scratch the paint of the battlemech's armor, but Max managed to walk the tracers up and bounce a few rounds off the cockpit canopy, getting the pilot's attention.

"Ok, come with me!" Anna yelled, and jumped up, running over towards a very large tree, probably close to eighty feet tall and a good four foot in diameter at the base, dragging Able in tow. She knelt next to the tree and pulled a heavy canvas satchel from over her shoulder, surveying the area behind her briefly and then looking up towards the top of the tree before nodding to herself. "Here, hold this here." She said briskly, putting the satchel against the base of the tree near the ground before pulling Able's hand over to hold the satchel in place. She then drew a length of cord from inside a pouch lashed to her left leg. She tied the satchel on one side and ran around the tree, cutting the cord and tying it in place a foot off the ground. She opened the satchel and pulled the detonator cords handle up to where it could be grabbed easily.

"Ok Gentry, you know what to do. Hide back over here and when I get the enemy 'mech in position, I'll yell for you to pull, yank the cord on this satchel charge and run like hell. Do you understand?" She was confident, almost smug. "Yes, I got it.." He nodded dumbly as he spoke, almost breathlessly, not really comprehending her confidence.

Anna looked over her shoulder and watched Max dive from his perch, landing heavily in the snow below. A moment later an SRM 2 volley slammed into the area near where he had been and shattered more of the stacked snow covered trees in a violent fireball. Max got to his feet quickly, brushing the splintered lumber from his clothes and jogged over to a new position, leveling his heavy machine gun near where he had just been perched. "Get ready Anna! He's coming in!"

"Roger!" She sprinted over to stand next to Max, her sub-machine gun leveled along side his heavier weapon.

Able watched them and blinked suddenly, realizing he hadn't moved. He had orders, though they didn't make sense... and he had to follow through with them. He was a soldier if nothing else, and part of him wanted to believe in the crazy antics of this seemingly suicidal pair of Legionnaires. He grabbed the pull-cord and crouched, waiting, surveying the nearby area for a place to hide once he had pulled the cord and gotten clear. He hefted his machine gun in his other hand and waited.

He didn't have to wait long. Not moments after crouching the pirate 'mech appeared in the gap between the stacked timber, and stepped fully into view. Able almost panicked.. almost released the pull cord, tucked tail, and ran.

Almost.

But something held him there, a fascination, and an awe at what he now watched.

Max began to stitch machine gun rounds up the 'mechs torso and onto the cockpit faceplate again. Though the rounds would do little more than ding off the armor harmlessly, it seemed to almost rattle the pilot behind the armored canopy of the Assassin to see bullets bouncing off the armor less than a yard from where he sat inside the 'mechs cockpit. Anna also sprayed rounds at the canopy, though hers peppered all around the upper torso in an ineffectual display of sparks and loud dings as the flattened projectiles of both weapons fell in a shower around the feet of the battlemech. The machine turned and leveled it's right arm at the pair, which caused them to cease fire and split, rolling away from each other as if on cue. The medium laser fired and scorched the earth where they had been standing in a dazzling display of hissing steam, the snow around the impact site vaporizing in an instant as the pair of Legionnaire troopers rolled away from one another, clear of the laser's deadly touch. Max ducked behind the cover of another fallen tree, and Anna sprinting out into the open to stand before the 'mech, stopping to stand in front of the towering machine, her arms flung wide in an almost mocking gesture.

"Come on!!" She yelled. "Come and get me!" Her pretty face held a mocking grin as she crouched low and sprayed the 'mech's torso with more gunfire.

"Get ready Able!" She called out.

If the pilot of the Assassin was on to their plan, it didn't seem to show in it's actions. Maybe anger, or annoyance, or some combination of the two kept his attention on the pretty female soldier. Whatever the case Able went unnoticed at the base of the tree. The Assassin began to walk forward and let a pair of SRM's erupt from it's torso. Anna dove to the left, the missiles both slamming into the ground near where she had been crouched with a thunderous sound carving out two fresh craters, each four feet in diameter in the soft earth beneath the snow. Anna had lept and rolled far enough to avoid any shrapnel from the explosion but was a little rattled from the concussion of the blasts. She stood quickly and crouched again, shaking her head as she fired her sub machine gun again.

Max yelled from his position "Watch it Anna!" He leveled his machine gun and let his weapons fire add to hers. The 'mech was almost on top of Anna at this point, Able guessed the mechwarrior inside had decided to step on her as a child might just step on some annoying insect. Anna cast a glance over her shoulder at Able, then back to the encroaching 'mech. Suddenly, she laughed loudly, before shouting: "Pull!!! Now Gentry! DO IT NOW!"

Able didn't have to be told twice. He ripped the cord from the satchel, which began to smoke immediately. Able stood and took off at a sprint towards where Max was hiding. Anna, who had been laughing loudly suddenly sprinted around the opposite side of the 'mech, causing it to turn away from where Able had just been waiting. The 'mechs torso twisted with it's target, tracking her with it's view port and trying to maneuver so it could catch her with one of it's massive feet, or scorch her with a timely blast from its jump jets.

Anna was careful, dodging close, but not too close to the legs of the battlemech, waiting for the detonation of the satchel charge she had placed on the tree.

Able reached Max's side and fell to the ground near him, rolling back to watch Anna dance with the massive machine. How many seconds had it been? Surely the satchel charge would have detonated by now?

As Able finished the thought, the charge went off. The tree shuddered violently as the explosion blasted through the wood and bark, severing the massive top portion of the tree from its base and the roots below ground. The tree began to topple over slowly, the few connecting points left from the blast cracking and popping as it fell, right towards the Assassin's right-rear shoulder.

"I'll be damned..." He whispered, as Anna turned and sprinted away from the path of the falling tree, towards where Max and Able now crouched, watching. "She did it!" Able almost yelled now.

"Of course she did. She always does!" Max said, half standing as he beckoned Anna in, her feet carrying her closer to where they knelt.

The tree, twisting slowly as it fell, slammed into the 40 ton battlemech and rocked it to the side, the pilot inside suffering a sudden blast of vertigo as the gyro tried desperately to keep the 'mech upright. It was too much though, and the 'mech fell hard, the tree warping the armor with the impact before cracking in half over the machine's right shoulder and back, the bark ripping over the armor plating. The Assassin landed roughly on it's left side, the very ground around shaking with the impact as snow shifted and fell from many trees in the immediate area. What damage was done beyond where the tree hit the shoulder, Able had no idea how much, but it looked like it had sustained some damage in the impact.

Anna, laughing with amusement, reached the two men and clapped them on the shoulders. "Now! Let's get the HELL out of here and towards friendlies, what do you two gentlemen say?"

"Don't have to tell me twice. Just wish we had a second satchel charge to go stick on that smug pirate's cockpit." Max said ruefully as the trio took off towards the south, leaving the damaged machine to try and clear the debris of the tree from it and right itself. Anna nodded at this.

Able remained silent, shaking slighting at the adrenaline dump he had just felt. As they ran he finally spoke "You two are nuts.. I don't believe you pulled that off." He said as they moved, hearing more and more weapons fire sounding around them.

"Max laughed as the trio ran from the clearing. "Guilty as charged, but our track record speaks for itself though! And it wasn't just us, we couldn't have done that without you" Max said with a grin.

Able shook his head. Not sure if he was more scared of the pirates, or the crazies he now found himself sharing a trench with. "I just pulled a cord and ran.. "

"And that brought the tree down on the 'mech. Don't sell yourself short Gentry! You did good!" Anna said as the trio ducked behind another large tree to catch their breath, well away from where the Assassin had fallen.

"I'm still alive" he thought. "Maybe I'll get through this after all.. If one of these two doesn't get me blown up first." He found himself smiling, despite his fear. They had taken on a battlemech and come out on top! He never in his wildest dreams had even known that was even possible.

But where was their support? They were running low on ammo now surely, and he hadn't have a lot to begin with in the first place. If another 'mech found them and took an interest in seeing them dead, they wouldn't be able to do anything but run and hide.

Just then, he heard Anna let out a happy yell and turned to look over his shoulder.

A mottled grey Hunchback battlemech came into view, followed by several others, all bearing the Death's Head on a crimson field, the emblem of the Gray Death Legion.

Max let out a loud call of his own to echo Annas before looking over to Able. "Now, we're in business!"

Edited by Habokku, 08 December 2011 - 09:31 PM.


#9 Naughtyboy

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Posted 08 December 2011 - 11:35 PM

sweet reading as always..keep em commin mate!! :ph34r:

#10 Habokku

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Posted 09 December 2011 - 03:57 AM

Thank you kindly Naughtyboy. (and Mikhal as well) I greatly appreciate the kind words! :ph34r:

I'll try to get the last couple of chapters up quicker than I have over the last few weeks. (Holidays were a bit busy, to be sure)

To any who've read to this point: Thank you very much!

Looking forwards to finishing this little labor of love and starting the next story after the first of the year.

<S> Take care everyone. :blink:

-Havoc
A.K.A. Habokku

#11 Mikhal Rain Longcut

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Posted 10 December 2011 - 11:00 AM

havoc

once again great job keep em coming

#12 godzofwar

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Posted 16 December 2011 - 02:59 PM

great story, happy holodays.

#13 Habokku

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Posted 24 December 2011 - 01:32 AM

Chapter 6

"Contact!" Rebel's voice sounded through the headphones in Andrew's helmet.

He smiled, they'd been keeping a good pace towards the combat zone for a solid five minutes or more, Rebel's machine being the slowest, but by far hardest hitting 'mech in their lance. Havoc could have run forwards with the other three members of their lance, but not knowing the number and disposition of their opponents, Rebel had decided to keep the lance together and attack as a unified whole.

Havoc burst through the treeline Rebel had just cleared and watched his tactical display light up with contacts.

"One,.. two.. three, four.. five,... Six? Yea Six contacts.. maybe more.." Havoc muttered to himself as he watched his targeting computer run through the contacts one at a time. An Assassin was the closest target, curiously it was not standing however. Havoc noted several small knots of infantry falling back towards the base, one in particular between him and the prone machine seemed to be quite happy to see the lance of Legion 'mechs, waving excitedly. He zoomed his reticle in and chuckled, "Anna and Max, I should have known.." He smiled and ran through the other enemy contacts in range. A Panther was moving up not too far behind the Assassin, and what looked to be a Wolverine was on it's right flank. He could also make out a pair of Commando's, and a Wasp bringing up the rear. "Lights and mediums, this should be a fight. Hope the second lance gets here quick or this may be a fight-and-a-half.." He thought to himself.

Lynx and Fox had swung in from the right on the opposite side of Rebel from where Havoc had positioned himself.

"Aiight, y'all focus fire, closest target is that Assasin... looks like it got tripped up somehow. Let's take advantage of his poor footing shall we?" Rebel's voice was calm, but had that familiar edge of excitement in it.

"You got it Reb." Havoc said as he pulled the throttle back and leveled the extended range large laser in the 'mech's right arm at the struggling battlemech 400 meters away. He watched his reticle line up, patiently waiting for the targeting indicator to let him know the muzzle was where it needed to be before gently squeezing the trigger. He watched as the beam glimmered as it spanned the distance between the machines in an instant, superheating the frigid air it touched. The concentrated beam of light impacted the Assassin on the right side torso, boiling away a large ammount of armor and carving a deep gash below the right arm. He grinned and keyed his mic up. "No drinks on Havoc." He chimed lightly as a wave of heat crept upward into his cocpit from below where he sat. Havoc watched as the enemy machine continued to struggle to stand while the other 'mechs in the lance began to open fire, closing in nearer to the damaged machine. Havoc saw Rebel surge forwards, not to be outdone by the other three, he quickly closed inside of his main weapon's optimum range.

Lynx's Phoenix Hawk slowed down and fired the large laser mounted in the right arm of the machine downrange, striking the right leg of the Assassin right as it got upright. The bolt of light carving another deep gash along the shin of the enemy 'mech. Fox followed up with a rapid-fire blast of AC-5 rounds that went just a little wide, drawing a curse from her over the comms, despite the fact that she had managed to land a few rounds in the machine's right arm. This, however, was a pittance in comparrison to what happened at just about the same instant.

Rebel's machine had slowed suddenly, having moved inside of 250 meters from the now damaged but standing Assassin. Rebel had taken the time to aim, and then loose, a volley from the massive Autocannon 20 mounted in the telltale hunch on the right shoulder of his Battlemech. The result was nothing short of spectacular. The already damaged right torso was the unfortunate victim of Rebel's barrage. Who had hit the target first, Rebel or Fox, was difficult to determine. Their rounds seemed to impact at the same moment as Havoc watched the entire right torso vanish in a violent display of impacts and explosions. The detonations of the AC-20 rounds pailed in comparrison to the secondary exposion however. The Assassin's long range missile ammunition bin fell prey to Rebel's vicious assault, and the resulting detonation sent the right arm of the 'mech flying away in a spinning arc as the 'mech's cockpit canopy exploded in the same instant, the pilot vaulting upwards on the rocket-propelled auto-ejection seat. The now lifeless machine spun sideways, landing in a heap on the snow-covered earth, smoke and flames spewing from the gutted right side of the machine.

Rebel's jubilant voice came over the comms. "Did y'all see that?? He went off like a firecracker! Haha!" Havoc grinned. They had just announced their presence with a vengeance, "Nice shooting Reb! Lets keep the pressure on them!" Havoc called back. Their bet would have to wait till the hostiles had been cleared out or killed.

Havoc checked his scanner again and began moving up to support Rebel, maneuvering his lighter, more nimble machine to make sure his lance commander didn't get flanked. They had neutralized one threat, but at least five, or possibly more were still close, and closing.

Havoc opened the general tactial frequency as he moved, casting a glance at the map grid on his tactical multi-function-display. "This is Havoc, medium lance has engaged pirate 'mechs at Grid Foxtrot Four, I repeat, Foxtrot Four. Mix of light and medium 'mechs. One pirate mech is down, at least five enemy contacts remain, copy Fire Lance?"

"This is Sniper, fire lance copies you Havoc, save some for us!". Bill "Sniper" Chambers was the lance leader of the Company fire lance, and he could make deadly use of the paired particle projection cannons of his Warhammer Battlemech . Few could match his accuracy at extreme ranges.

"Confirm Sniper. We'll try to leave some scraps, but don't dawdle now." He chuckled as he spoke.

"We'll be there quick, fast, and-in-a-hurry. Sniper Out." Sniper was grinning, Havoc could hear it in his voice.

Lynx and Fox had pulled up to cover the other flank as the Pirate 'mechs maneuvered around. The Legion 'mechs were fairly evenly matched by the enemy 'mechs, but they were still outnumbered. Still, as they had just shown, coordiation and talent could make up for numbers and raw tonnage any day of the week.

"Ok boys & girls, lets knock a few more down before the other lance gets here. Who's with me?" Rebel said, his voice showing more excitement after scoring his eighteenth confirmed kill.

"Got your six, bossman." Havoc said, the sentiment being echoed by Lynx and Fox respectively.

"Ok, lets move up and see about that Wolverine and Panther. Stay sharp, focus fire. I want that Panther dealt with first. The three of you knock him out while I keep that Wolverine occupied." Rebel began to push fowards again as the other three members of his lance fell in with him, each sounding an affirmative over their comm channel.

Havoc drew a bead on the panther as they walked forward, waiting for more of the 'mech to come in to view before firing. "Keep the pressure on.. " He said, sweat beading on his brow as the temperature slowly continued to rise around him.

Edited by Habokku, 24 December 2011 - 01:36 AM.






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