"The Menagerie at Twycross", Part 9
- Date: June 17, 3050; 11:49 Local Time
- Location: Salmacis Base
Olivia took a breath before clicking over to the full unit channel. The comm system was being routed through the Fortress-class DropShip, so there was a line of red text across the top of the small screen: “Audio Only”. "Look alive people, I’ve got no idea how fast our enemies are coming in. But perimeter sensors picked up someone dropping a ship a couple kilometers out. Make sure your 'Mechs are all green now, because we might not have time later."
"Commander Garrido?" Captain Hatchy's voice piped through the comm systems, crackling a little from the rerouting. "Where are those civilians at? I'm not hearing anything about them on the channels yet." She had a slight tension in her voice, and Olivia didn't envy the position the captain had been put into.
Olivia took a breath, and steadied herself. "Lorelei's doing a final sweep of the base-"
The unit comms crackled and she fell silent to listen. "Priam Command, Lorelei. All civilians accounted for. Engines running, we'll be making a straight run for Captain Hatchsune's DropShips."
"Lorelei, Priam Command Actual. Don't stop until you're up the loading ramps." She clicked back over to transmitting through the DropShip systems.
"Captain, the APCs are going to be headed your way as soon as possible. Rysel's security will be there to create a perimeter."
Hatchy didn’t seem to relax after the reassurance. "Just keep them safe, Commander." Olivia considered maybe it'd only stop being tense when the DropShips were safely off the ground. 'That's how I'd feel.'
Instead of chasing that line of thought, the Commander focused on the sound of blips approaching from the warning perimeter. 'I give it ten minutes before we have contact.' She returned to transmitting on the unit channel, taking a breath in. "Overlord, Priam Command. Final systems check, if you don't mind."
The Lord Commander's voice was much more relaxed, and amused. "I have done this before. But we'll do this your way for now." Then a soft grunt and the sound of a chair creaking. "Priam Company, Overlord. Comm check. Sound off like you mean it!"
There was another crackle in Olivia's neurohelmet, as Coryphee's voice cut into a private channel. "Commander, we only have three rounds prepared for the Long Tom before we're scrambling. Your crews helped pre-set the cannon angles, so there shouldn't be a problem hitting the marks dead-on." There was a brief hesitation, before she continued. "If you stick to the plan, we should be able to cover you back to the DropShips."
"The plan never survives contact with the enemy."
"Something your old Commander used to say?"
"Found it out on my own. Also something I hope to introduce these Clan people to-" She hissed through her teeth as the comm channels squealed. 'Oh, joy, they've decided to speak up.'
"Mercenary forces! We are the Jade Falcon Guards." The voice was very curt, and the words enunciated in a way Olivia hadn't heard before. "I am Star Captain Evlan. Identify yourselves."
The Lord Commander spoke up quietly. "You're up, kid. This is your show. Show 'em you mean business."
And then Coryphee's voice was back on the private channel. "Remember these guys are going to be tough to put down. Your goal isn't to kill them, just to get out safely."
'Thank you both for the advice. I need to get into character.' Olivia mentally rolled her eyes and keyed for the open comm channel. "This is Commander Olivia Garrido of Priam Company. Welcome to Twycross, can we help you with something?"
"Identify your forces." The tone sounded more upset, angered by her levity. As though speaking to a child unfamiliar with the rules of a game of cards. "How many are you? What do you bring to the field of battle?"
"Uh-"
The other's voice was now a quiet growl. "I will go first then. I bring a Trinary of OmniMechs and Elementals to face you. What is your bid?"
'Bid? What, are we really playing cards?' The Commander bit her lip to avoid saying that out loud, she had a responsibility to behave herself. "We have five Lances of BattleMechs plus vehicles. We also have noncombatants who are leaving the field of battle. They are not involved."
She could taste the dismissal on the response. "They are involved if we say they are involved. All combat-capable vehicles are to be included, as stated in your bid."
"Ah, good. Cool, cool." Olivia couldn't stop her mouth from running ahead of her brain. "So, they're under our protection. If you want them, you'll have to get through us."
He actually laughed, a short barking laugh which cut off as he spoke again. "Your terms are accepted, mercenary. You cannot hope to stand against the Trueborn of Clan Jade Falcon. That you think yourselves our equal is a testament to your arrogance." She could hear the smile in his voice. "And thinking you can defeat us is a testament to your stupidity."
"So, just to be clear, five on... three?" Trinary had to mean three of, well, whatever units they were using.
The amusement was gone as quickly as it had arrived. "I owe you nothing more. Prepare yourself for death, Commander Olivia Garrido." The open channel crackled as he cut the connection.
Vandal's voice cut into the unit channel, dry as usual. "I can see why they put him in command. Straight to the point and inflexible. Orders, boss?"
"Weapons free." She clicked back over with her finger, as she quickly started engaging the weapons systems. "Stand by Xiphos Two, orders to follow shortly." She glanced briefly to Sophia's Warhammer and wanted to speak up, but there was no time for sentimentality. Only orders. "Sagittarius and Xiphos, down the middle and head right for cover. Aegis, down middle and head left. Pegasus, flank right to cover and don't let them get on you. Peltast, flank left and try to get to cover." She glanced at her battle reports. "Auxiliary vehicles, you know what to do."
"Priam Company, Overlord. I've got sensor signals on the incoming." The Lord Commander broke in, and now he was all business with an intensity radiating out from the comm. "Five 'Mechs and a bunch of odd sensor traces."
"Overlord, that has to be those armored infantry you mentioned." Olivia again found herself chewing her lip, and shook her head as much as her neurohelmet allowed. "Priam Company, if you see them, give them a wide berth."
Otto's voice kicked in. "How wide are we talking, boss?"
"Treat 'em like a Demolisher." Vandal's soft tone was calm in response. The Demolisher was an infamous battle tank with two Class Twenty Autocannons on it, which could cripple - or destroy - almost anything in a single volley. But that volley had a limited range. "We should be able to outmaneuver them, but don't get cocky."
The Commander smiled to herself, inhaling. "Priam Company, I defer to Vandal's opinion." Another warning from the perimeter. "Two minutes to arrival. Overlord, any IDs to share?"
"Sorry, kid-"
She quietly cut in a correction to him. "Commander."
The veteran's voice hesitated before there was a strained concession in his tone. "Priam Command. The sensors aren't resolving exactly what we're facing, but I can read weight classes. Three Heavy 'Mechs, and two Assault 'Mechs. Given the stuff we've read, I'm not liking this at all."
"You thinking focus fire?"
He started raising his voice in agitation. "I'm thinking this is horse-"
Coryphee spoke up on the open channel. "Those 'Mechs are going to be tougher than you're used to, moving faster and having better armor. Treat them as one class heavier."
One of the newer recruits piped up from his 'Mech. "What's heavier than Assault, ma'am?"
"A goddamned nightmare." The Lord Commander responded ahead of anyone else. "They threw you the haymaker, Priam Command."
Coryphee's voice replayed in Olivia's mind. 'Your goal isn't to kill them, just to get out safely.' She released the control sticks and flexed her fingers. "Overlord, Priam Command Actual. You now have tactical command. Priam Company, follow his instructions as you would mine."
"Well thank you kindly." The Lord Commander sounded amused, then spoke to someone off-pickup. "No, just bring me that bottle and that coffee." Olivia rolled her eyes, but used her fingers to touch the comm system and prepare herself.
Her private channel clicked on in her ear, and Commander Garrido's voice cut into her thoughts. "Sofia, there are two choices ahead of you. Either you can stay with your Lance and fight, or you can make a fast run for our DropShips."
"I- Commander?"
There was a sigh, and a mutter as the Commander's Warhammer started to move with the rest of Sagittarius Lance. The Orion and BattleMaster both began to climb the hill, and a number of other 'Mechs filtered down near a gravel pit. "I don't expect we can win if we stand and fight."
'She doesn't have any confidence in us.' Sofia felt a cold hand reaching up through her throat, and ignored it. "We can at least try."
"And we'll go down like legends, but we'll be too dead to care." Her mother's tone had hardened. "I've known plenty who were eager to get a legend, even if it was trying to drop-kick an Assault 'Mech in the face. I want my people off this planet alive, Sofia."
"But-"
"I don't want to make it an order." The voice had hardened, but it was crystal instead of steel. Cracks were opening up, and now there was a firm tone. “But I will if I have to. I don’t want to face losing you twice in the same week.”
“You can’t have it both ways. Risk is part of this business, you’ve said so in the past.” Sofia felt herself snarling it out, and the cold hand was in her throat. Trying to stop her, but unable to. “Am I your daughter, or a ‘MechWarrior in your outfit?”
There was a few moments of silence, as there were pings on the sensor. “Warning. Enemy ‘Mechs detected. Unknown model. Unknown model. Unknown-” Sofia’s hand slapped to skip the alert, as she focused her gaze on the back of Olivia’s Warhammer.
The Lord Commander’s voice came over the unit channel. “Priam Company, you’ve got Incoming. Take cover quickly.” Everything started to slow down as adrenaline pumped through Sofia. She forgot the cold hand in her throat, she forgot the battle plan. She wheeled around and saw another Assault ‘Mech like she had faced before in her Centurion. The same look, but different configuration.
‘No. I’m not going to be afraid of them.’ The cold hand slipped, and now a hot anger began to grow in her. ‘They do not get to take this from me. This was my home.’ She lined up her weapons. “Xiphos Three, engaging lead target.”
Ellen’s voice cut in on the Lance’s channel. “Three, what are you doing?” The voice was angry, shocked, but had a note of worry to it.
“Someone needs to slow them down, sir.” And her fingers squeezed, launching a shot from her PPC at one of the ‘Mechs in front. Not the big one, not yet. ‘No, someone else will be taking care of that. Ellen’s got the big gun, Vandal’s got the Knight, they can take it.’
“Priam Company! Head’s up, our welcome gift’s on the way!” Olivia’s voice cut across the comms. There was a distant thoom from the direction of the DropShips, and she kept speaking. “Engage at your own risk.” A crackling flash lit up the space between the Commander’s Warhammer and the target ‘Mech. “I want Light ‘Mechs headed for the DropShips now.”
There was a high-pitched wail as the Long Tom shell landed square in the middle of Salmacis Base, into the stacked containers which had been left ‘abandoned’ on the surface. Directly into the prepared trap, as a column of dirt, fire, and smoke rose several dozen meters into the air. The lead ‘Mech which they’d fired upon continued moving through the mess, undaunted and seeming barely slowed. Behind it was the bigger and meaner Assault ‘Mech, steadily advancing.
‘Well that was a waste of effort,’ Sofia thought to herself, and turned her ‘Mech to follow the rest of the forces off to the side. “Xiphos Three reporting artillery strike hit, no significant effect witnessed.”
“That’s a first.” The old man sounded puzzled, and she could almost picture him leaning towards the console with a scowl. “Not even a little busted up?”
“Negative, Overlord. Targets are still moving.” There was a sharp crack which she heard, followed almost simultaneously by the sound of an explosion. The Warhammer twisted to let Sofia glance off behind her to the left. The LRM Carrier which had been there was now a smoking husk. “We lost the LRM Carrier.”
“Expected.” The Lord Commander grunted, and there was the sound of him muttering. “Those things got tissue for armor. Manticore and Condors are engaging at will.” There were a few more of those loud cracks heard as Sofia turned her ‘Mech to back away and keep an eye on the invaders. One of the two similar Heavy ‘Mechs was knocked down and the other moving fast directly at her.
Ellen’s voice broke in through the unit channel. “Xiphos Lance, Xiphos One. Disperse and engage as you can. Try to get them to split up further-”
“This is Pegasus Four.” Kelly’s voice broke across the unit band, sounding chipper. “Target ‘Mech down, do I get to keep it?”
“Wait, what? Down already?!” The Lord Commander’s voice sounded startled. “Lady, what the hell did you do to it?”
“Shot it in the face. And shot again for good measure.” Sofia glanced to her right, but couldn’t make out the other flank of the battlefield from here. “So that’s not a no…”
“Priam Command here. Good job, Pegasus Four, this is why we pay you.” Olivia’s ‘Mech was firing off its PPCs at the Heavy ‘Mech approaching them, steadily blasting away at the armor. “We’ll talk about who keeps what afterwards.”
Sofia shook her head, and turned back to focus on the ‘Mech before her. The pair of Warhammers continued savaging it with shots, some of which were thrown wide as return fire caused the mercenary ‘Mechs to stumble. It wasn’t easy to keep on target, but Sofia was determined. A number of others nearby opened up, the volume of fire in motion against that Heavy ‘Mech was astounding.
Even so, the Assault ‘Mechs were starting to get close to a firing solution on them. Sofia wheeled her ‘Mech to move after her mother, intending to avoid being target practice just yet. “Sagittarius Two, what’s the plan?”
“Don’t die.”
“I like this plan.”
There was half a laugh, but then a soft growl. “Knock it off, focus- what’s that blip on the sensors…” Olivia’s voice trailed off before she started swearing under her breath. “Get moving for cover, don’t stop!”
Then something else unexpected, Kelly commenting she’d taken down the ‘Mech which had been moving into the other flank. Olivia smiled, and breathed in slowly before composing herself. “Priam Command here. Good job, Pegasus Four, this is why we pay you.” She paused long enough to aim her two cannons off at the ‘Mech in front of the Clan advance, watching one of the beams splash on the torso armor. It felt like she wasn’t doing much, even if she knew otherwise “We’ll talk about who keeps what afterwards.”
“Priam Command, be careful there.” The Lord Commander’s voice spoke through the private comm channel. “I think that one’s trying to headhunt.”
“It’s what I’d do.” Olivia missed having access to the broader tactical situation, missed having the sensors being able to resolve the ‘Mechs she was shooting at, and most of all missed being able to fight from more of a distance. She clicked over. “Sagittarius One, feel free to jump in any time now-”
Sofia’s voice kicked into the private channel now, “Sagittarius Two, what’s the plan?” The other Warhammer was shadowing her, taking shots at the ‘Mech with the rest of Priam Company. It fell down, and proceeded to climb back to its feet.
“Don’t die.”
Sofia sounded amused, even as she began to march her ‘Mech to let heat sap away slowly. “I like this plan.”
Olivia started to laugh, but caught herself after a second. ‘What an example to set for your daughter, and your ‘MechWarriors.’ She shook her head, and growled out her irritation. “Knock it off, focus-” Her sensors pinged, but didn’t show any ‘Mech there “What’s that blip on the sensors…” She turned her ‘Mech’s torso to visually check the spot and saw what looked to be a squad of five armored figures landing with small plumes of flame on their armor.
The Clan armored infantry, and all too close for her liking. A glance past them showed the one Assault ‘Mech wading forward on the other flank. Out of the fading smoke the colossus in green - possibly the leader of this ‘Trinary’ - seemed to be preparing to come after them.
“Get moving for cover, and don’t stop!” Another chime from an incoming message made Olivia switch over again. The line was quiet for a bit, prompting her to glance down to see ‘Pegasus One’ there. “Simone?”
“Yeah, boss.” The voice was quiet, a somber note on it. “Look, Casey and I are going to make a run for the DropShips. We’re cashing out once we hit orbit… this is too much for us. We’ve had a good run, but.” The voice just stopped, and she swore she could feel the shrug of resignation through the comm.
‘It’s been a good run, hasn’t it?’ Olivia closed her eyes, nodding her head as much as her helmet allowed. “Copy, Pegasus One. You’re clear to disengage. See you on the other side. Thanks for your service.”
“Just don’t let that nut Kelly take command of Pegasus, right?” The comm clicked off, as the nearby Griffin and Valkyrie ‘Mechs began to sprint off towards the extraction zone.
Olivia flexed her hands on her controls, wheeling about to fire again on the ‘Mech which was finally starting to show serious damage. Together with the rest of Sagittarius Lance, plus Sofia’s electric blasts, the Jade Falcon ‘Mech went down with a leg shattered into three pieces. That left two Assault ‘Mechs, and one other Heavy on the other flank. Not to mention the armored infantry, which she noticed bounding closer to her position.
“Overlord, this is Priam Command.” She spoke slowly, watching a flash of weapons fire across the battlefield. “What do you make of our odds now?”
He sounded amused, his tone mellowed rather than tense..“Priam Command, I think you’re beating the odds handily. What do you think?”
“Priam Command, Rysel Defenders here.” A new voice broke in over the unit comms. “Civilian APCs have boarded one of the Helpers’ DropShips and they’re finalizing preparations for liftoff. Give us thirty seconds and they’ll be on the way to orbit.”
“Rysel, Priam Command. I copy.” A pause. “Lord Commander, we are going to give these ‘trueborn warriors’ thirty seconds of fighting tooth and claw.”
“I’m still on tactical-”
“Acknowledged, my tune and your show.” She turned her PPCs on the armored infantry, the flash of light kicking up some dust and earth. Sofia’s shots managed to strike one of the suits, leaving it still standing though it was clearly heavily damaged. “Make it a show to remember.”
The unitwide comms crackled as the Lord Commander’s voice bellowed out loudly. “Priam Company, new battle plan. Thirty seconds until the civvies get out of here, so don’t let these bastards anywhere near them. Keep them occupied!”
The Lance channel came to life shortly afterwards, and Sofia quickly switched over onto it. “-Xiphos Three, status report.” Ellen was sounding pained.
“I’m on the other flank with the Commander, we’re engaging some of the infantry.”
“Be careful, they’re packing missiles.” ‘Yeah, I could see that, but thanks…’ “One of them just blew up one of our Condors. And they have no fear of jumping onto you either, Corey is trying to fight them off right now.”
“Copy, Xiphos One.” She paused, then glanced around. She knew she should be focusing on herself, but there was just the infantry here. “What’s your status?”
“About to take shots at the big guy with the big gun. Hopefully we can take it down. Xiphos Two?”
Vandal’s voice was calm, and focused. “Lost my right arm. I got both of them trying to shoot me down, guess I was too much of a nuisance… I can take it though, boss. Keep at them.”
Sofia paused, and glanced at her systems to see how roughed up she was. “Do you want me to cover you?” She kept her ‘Mech in motion, moving towards one of the hills for cover.
“Negative. Stay clear, this thing can dish out a hefty damage, and they’re gunning for the Warhammers. I think they believe the Commander is in one of them, but isn’t sure which. Don’t risk yourself-” There was static, and the sound of warnings being read off in the computer’s tone. “Boss, whatever you’re going to do, get it done fast.”
Sofia bit her lip, tasting blood for a moment, before taking another shot towards the armored infantry. Keep moving, don’t stop moving or you’re a safe target. Just off to her right, she saw three more ‘Mechs quickly moving to board the ‘Whisper’. At least some of the forces would be escaping, no matter what happened here. But they were doing well, there was no need for her to push her luck.
‘You have a duty. Prove your worth. Do not embarrass the family with your weakness.’ The voice she’d heard in her dreams was more than a whisper, a smooth invitation. ‘Keep fighting, show them you can lead from the front… give them a reason to follow you.’
‘I am not the Commander here!’
‘You should be.’ Now cold disappointment rippled through her head, while her ‘Mech continued moving towards the extraction zone. ‘You should command, you should rule.’
“Shut up.” She muttered to herself, and stopped as she saw the unit channel blinking with activity. Her fingers keyed it on as she turned her ‘Mech to peer towards the battle.
One of the other ‘MechWarriors was cheering excitedly. “Whose kill was that?!”
Kelly was speaking over everyone else. “Mine. I killed it. It’s mine.”
“Thought it was Bradford-:”
“Nuh uh! Who said that? I’ll come talk some sense to ya!” Sofia could almost see Kelly putting her Wolfhound into a sprint at that. “Still one left!”
‘If you get on the ship, you will let them see you for a coward. If you turn and fight, they might care more.’
She spit out blood and stopped chewing her lip, feeling a lightheadedness coming over her as the ‘Mech turned around back towards the battle. “Xiphos Three here, need some cover fire?” Cowardice wasn’t going to be rewarded, and her Lancemates would remember her turning back into the fray. She had to prove she could do this, needed to prove she wasn’t still under her mother’s arms.
“Still one left!” The Light ‘Mech was striding over, Kelly’s voice full of glee. “Who wants to bet I can’t bag a third today?”
The Commander sighed, and flicked to the unit band with her fingertips. “Overlord, eyes on the infantry? I can see some stragglers but-”
The old mercenary’s voice was quiet, a soft muttering heard. “They’re moving down the center, and if you stay put they’ll bog you down. Still having trouble picking them up on my tac display.”
“Acknowledged, the ‘Mech systems don’t have a good time either.”
“Just keep pounding that last ‘Mech, if it goes down they’ll have to surrender.” His voice was interrupted by a swallow, and a cough. “They’re not that crazy.”
‘Are they that crazy?’ Olivia had to wonder, watching the last ‘Mech standing fall down, get up, and fall down again. But then it stopped once it fell, and didn’t move again. “I think… everything seems to be working?”
“I think they’re out cold, or dead. Too many falls, I think we broke the gyro…” Vandal’s voice was a slightly ragged, weary tone. “Doesn’t matter, it’s down. Should we make sure?”
“No.” She steeled herself and kicked on the open channel, heedless of the electronic whine of interference. “Clan Jade Falcon, your five ‘Mechs are down, and a number of your foot units have been killed. We are not without mercy - if you withdraw now we will not pursue.”
There was a silence, the armored infantry pausing in their motions. Clearly some sort of discussion was going on, until they began to jump away from the Priam Company units and turn to head off. No reply other than that, which was better than what she expected. The battlefield was a wreck, and her mercenaries looked almost as bad as the wasteland did.
“So, you won.” The Lord Commander sounded thoughtful. “What’s the next move?”
“Send the salvage lifters, and have them grab the big ‘Mech, the ‘Mech with the missing head, and… the one we had on the flank with the missing arm and leg. I’ll set nav markers for you. Take prisoners if they don’t get out before we get to them.” She hadn’t expected prisoners, heck she hadn’t expected salvage at all. Someone was going to try to grab it from her, she knew, as soon as someone found out she managed a win with equipment.
‘That’s a problem for another day. Today, we grab what we can and get out of here.’ She noticed Sofia’s Warhammer approaching, stopping a good distance away. “Priam Company, once we’re out of the system I’ll see what drinks we have in storage. Sofia, Vandal, and Ellen. I need you to report to medical as soon as we get onboard the JumpShip.”
Sofia’s voice was quiet, measured, trying to keep composure. “I feel fine, ma’am.”
“You’re fighting on painkillers, and still high on adrenaline. Let’s let the medics decide if you’re fine.” Ellen spoke up first. “I know I feel like I’m going to crash hard and sleep for six hours after I know we’re safe.”
“We’ll decide if we’re safe after we’re out of the system.” Olivia took a deep breath. “As of now, Twycross is not friendly territory. We need to reach that before we plan our next move. Everyone to the ‘Aquila’ and Overlord. We’re out of here in half an hour, what we can’t salvage stays. Whomever wants to stay behind, you’re welcome to resign and keep fighting.” Nobody spoke up in response to that, not even Kelly. “Get moving, people!”
Comments