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Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Entrance Mouth to Valley of Devil's Embrace
Near Main Pirate Base
7th Sept 3080
0300 Hours, Local Time

Brandon Cross, formerly under the employment of the notorious pirate Redjack Ryan and then Susie "One-Eye" Morgraine-Ryan, peered through the night vision binoculars into the dead lands of the very aptly named Valley of Devil's Embrace. Based on the various intel reports and recon photos, there was little chance of the pirates making any moves in the dead of the night. However, with surprise once again being the primary weapon of choice for the Black Stars, they had not wanted to risk things.

Behind him, the MechWarriors, vehicle crew members and infantry troopers of both the Los Lupos Negros and the Sharp Shooters had been digging into the hard surfaces, a task that they had been involved in since the previous night. Most of the hardest work had already been completed, with the Stars now concentrating on positioning their war machines, sighting their weapons into the bottom of the valley, putting up camo nets, as well as planting explosives to rain down tons of rocks and boulders onto the unfortunate pirates.

Brandon scanned the entrance mouth to the valley again and nodded. It was an excellent choice for the ambush the Stars were preparing. Being the sole route both in and out of the Valley, there was no other way that the pirates were going to take if they were to rush to reinforce the soon to be attacked air base. Of course, it is possible that whatever jump capable BattleMechs would attempt to cross the bad lands using the most direct route to the Drop Port. However, Brandon seriously doubt any of the pirates would want to break from the main force and meet the Black Stars forces that would be attacking their air base. After all, there would be very little of such jump capable machines. They would be fools to try to engage the Stars in small numbers rather than hit them with their own perceived superior numbers.

The veteran scout tried in vain to search for tell tale movements below him. With their Pegasus rendered useless due to the thin atmosphere, Tim Larson, Jack Brown, Leo Buscema and Nora Webster had initially helped with the digging in and entrenchment works for the strike force. Once that stage of the work was near completion, Zi Long had allowed them a short break before dispatching them down to into the valley itself.

While the Stars had no doubt about their ability to spring the trap on the pirates, they would still want as much early warning as possible of the pirates' approach to their established kill zone. While there was only one way in and out of the valley, there were multiple routes to the mouth itself. In their need for haste, the pirates might not move in a snaking convoy, but spread their forces along the numerous routes. It would allow them to move out of the valley without a possible bottlenecking of their own forces, but still allow them to consolidate themselves once they exit the valley.

The four vehicular scouts were tasked with setting up observation posts along likely routes that the pirates would be taking. If the pirates do indeed spread themselves out, Zi Long and David would have to know in advance so that they could decide which group of the pirates they would want to trap, or even allow to move out of the valley. Brandon snorted. He did not think that the pirates would have such tactically developed thoughts even in the best of time, let alone when they were rushing to reinforce the pair of DropShips which were their only tickets out of this piece of rock.

On the other hand, Zi Long had reminded the Stars that for the highest chance of them winning any battle, they would have to assume that their enemies are as smart, if not smarter than themselves, rather than thinking them stupid. He would rather their contingencies proved to be unnecessary, rather than regretting later not to have prepared for them.

Always the smart ass. Brandon rolled his eyes. He dug his left hand into one of the pockets and fished out the packet of cigarettes that Zi Long had gave him earlier. Smiling, he pulled a stick out before stuffing the rest of the packet back. Brandon withdrew a lighter, another gift from Zi Long before lifting the cancer stick towards his mouth. The cigarette squashed against the face plate of his environmental suit helmet and broke into pieces. Brandon cursed as he turned around and picked out the night vision enhanced image of Zi Long. Damn you Zhao Zi Long!

Scene and time break:
7th September 3080
5:55am

“You’re late.”

“I know, now shut it and get me out of this suit. Have we heard from Lochnivar? And where are the Niboids?”

“They are already in place. You are late, remember?”

Finally finishing placing their varied traps and devices, Markus and remedy had met back up with Luna and Lockout at the agreed rendezvous point. It had taken longer than expected to get access to the gun emplacements, and a couple they had to bypass and return to later when they discovered that the locations were being used for more amorous pursuits. Remedy had grumbled at that point that they may as well have been back on Novo Franklin. It was a fair point.

The rendezvous point was the Jack o’ Lanterns recently acquired Hiryo WiGE. Despite being useless on this low atmosphere planet, it proved to be a brilliant temporary shelter and workshop. It had been set up under over-sized the hostile environment tent that the Nibo Armed Forces had taken on in exchange for training their men. Waiting for Markus and Remedy had been Patrick the tech, Yannick and the rest of the Hiryo crew, and Luna and Lockout who were already three quarters of the way suited up into their Ying Long battle armour.

Scant minutes later and all four troopers had disappeared into their armoured and sharp clawed monsters. Patrick was giving them one last look over when one suit, Remedy’s, all but disappeared from view.

“Goddamn that is creepy,” Patrick said with a shudder. “Now would you stop screwing around so I can finish the diagnostics?”

The suit reappeared, and Remedy’s snigger could be heard clearly under the tent. Despite working together on the Aerospace delivery system, Remedy and Patrick still antagonised each other.

“That is enough, children, we are late enough as it is. Patrick, can we go now?”

“You are all set… Good luck, and remember that if the suits are breached you will need to find clean air in a big hurry.”

“Thanks for the reminder. Ok kids, move out. Time to go storm a castle!”

Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Haruki Moutains (former mining site)
7th September 3080
06:25 Hours, Local Time

Daylight was beginning to spread itself across the plateau and soon the whole area would be bathed in it. Natasha only had 5 more minutes before the explosives were set to go off. She was running systems checks and hoping that she would not be stuck here if there was no explosion. Sneaking back undetected would be extremely difficult in broad daylight. Sitting in a cockpit in the sun all day did not thrill her either. Turning down the external mikes and switching on the Spector's ECM for what it worth, expecting when her moves out of the affected area, it would useful again. Five, Four, Three, Two, One and a muted explosion is heard as well as a sudden jolt as the ground shakes beneath the Spector's feet. Throwing the throttle fully forward, the Spector leaps from the depression and rounds the rock formation. As soon as the large laser is in range she fires at the base of wall, as it carries the most stress at that point. The laser hits and the stone is seriously scorched. She continues to close until all the Spector's weapons are at point blank range and a strange roar penetrates the cockpit. She fires at the same time and at the same section of the wall which blasts inwards. The heat in the cockpit rises sharply but falls quickly. Still not seeing any Mech activity she sweeps up the side of castle and swings around to the front gate. Amazingly it appears both Mechs have moved to investigate what had happened and both were within 15 metres of the edge. Natasha wasted no time and advances at a run towards the Vulcan, pushing it with the full weight of Spector behind it. It stumbles forward and then topples over the edge. She had expected it to use its jump jets to at least slow it's descend, but since it toppled over the edge the pilot would have a near impossible time of doing that now.

While she doubted the fall with be critical to the Mech, but there would be damaged none the least. Hitting the Spector's jump jets before she went over the edge, the Mech rose up and angled itself over the castle to put distance between itself and the Panther. The spot the Spector had just vacated was briefly filled with blue lightning and missiles, that slammed into the castle wall destroying more of it. Natasha lands the Spector and forces it into a dead run straight back towards the Panther as it jumps over the corner of the castle and the Spector at the same time. Swinging the Spector around , she fires all weapons into the Panther PNT-10K rear armour. The large laser hitting the right leg, a medium strikes the right torso vaporising all the armour, another medium laser scars the centre torso and the small laser sears the left leg. The Panther twists right and fires its ER PPC narrowly missing the Spector's right side. Natasha thinks “I think I have their attention now.” Checking the thermal scan on the Panther its heat had risen enough to affect its movement. The Spector leaps further away from the castle and lands behind a low rise hoping to draw the Panther away. Surprisingly it does not move but tracks the Spector's movement with the ER PPC. The Panther fires the ER PPC again and still the shot goes wide and the Spector's responds with a large laser finding the Panther's right side and medium missing completely. Natasha reverses the Spector further away. The Vulcan VT-5M suddenly appears at the edge of the plateau. The Mech had lost over 50% of its armour in the fall and Natasha suspects the pilot must be petty irate with her at the moment. The Panther finally advances and the ER PPC fires again, but can't hit its tormentor. The Panther's heat level continues to climb into the orange. Natasha snaps off a shot at the Panther and misses. The Spector continues to fall back and both opponents advance. The Vulcan is still out range to fire its weapons, the Panther misses again with ER PPC and its heat continues to climb. Natasha slowly but surely draws them away.

Whispering to herself “Go Lantern and good luck.”

Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Haruki Moutains (former mining site)
7 September 3080
0625 Hours, Local Time

“We weren’t expecting that, were we.”

“Nope.”

It was a statement, not a question, that Michelle Edwards, better known as Luna, had muttered. The Jack o’ Lanterns, nearly invisible in their stationary Ying Long Battle Armour suits, were looking over the edge of the canyon from their concealed deployment point. Far below on the floor of the canyon was the entrance to the mines that had both the pirates and the Kingdom of Nibo interested. What had caught Luna’s eye, and brought on the comment, was the steady stream of people that seemed to materialise out of nowhere on the canyon floor, barely visible in the low light conditions.

“Slaves?” Luna asked.

Resisting the urge to nod, Markus replied with, “Certainly. Not all, but most I would guess.”

“What do we do?” a quiet voice behind them asked.

“Diddly we can do now, every damn thing is on a timer. We committed with the first device we planted,” The question had come from Lockout, the answer from Remedy. As much as Markus hated to admit it, the man was right.

With the minerals from the mine screwing with anything electromagnetic, all the traps and explosives that the Jack o’ Lanterns had planted were set to go off on timers, and a bare few minutes hence. Markus felt a stab of pity for the men and women in the bottom of the canyon, but it was just pure, dumb luck. Bad luck at that. They hadn’t been there yesterday during the recon.

“Hold your tongues. We maintain the plan, got it? When we go in we kill anyone with a gun, but no-one else unless it looks like they are in charge. We don’t know how many slaves they have in there,” Markus reminded them.

“Aww hell Lantern, we’d be putting ‘em outta their misery anyway. Soon as we breach that wall anyone inside’ll be breathing marsh gas.” This was, as usual, also from Remedy.

“Shut it, Remedy. Still doesn’t mean we have to shoot them. They might have a chance. Luna, what’s our count?”

“One minute.”

“Steady as she goes, hold to the plan.”

“You reckon the Nibo boys will survive?” Lockout asked.

“I’d be more worried about the suits,” Remedy replied.

“Would you two shut up!” Markus barked.

“’Ere, what’s got your knickers in a twist?”

“Thirty seconds.”

“Could I please watch the fireworks in peace?”

“Sure boss.”

“Twenty second,” Luna intoned.

“Ten seconds… five, four, three, two and…”

BOOM.

Clouds of dust filled the canyon, and small bursts of rock ricocheted of the far wall and down toward the unprotected people on the canyon floor. The dust obscured all vision in that direction, which would have been a blessing except that it also obscured from sight the two ‘Mechs that were guarding the mine entrance.

At first nothing further happened. The wall remained in place, the explosives seemingly ineffective. As the dust started to clear, something else started happening. Puffs of smoke and dust started appearing on the top surface of the castle.

“Right on time with the mortars. Congratulations you two. Shame about the wall, I really thought at least some of it would come down,” Markus stated dejectedly.

“Don’t speak too soon there Markus, check it out,” Luna told him.

The dust was starting to clear in the canyon, and Markus feared what would happen when the ‘Mechjocks could see again. Something was amiss though, and he looked back to the wall to see what Luna had been talking about. He spotted it almost immediately, more dust and a trickle of rocks, that was accelerating with every mortar hit.

“Think it will come down before the mortars finish?” Lockout asked?

The questions were answered by the wall itself before Markus had a chance to speak. A great slab of the centre section of the wall seemed to crumble slightly, and then the whole thing slid straight down as the supporting rock beneath gave way, leaving a gaping hole some thirty or forty metres long. The hundreds, maybe thousands, of tonnes of rock tumbled into the canyon below.

“Weren’t that near on straight over the mine entrance?”

“Yes, Remedy, and that should be the last of the mortars, now for the…”

Luna was cut off as further explosions occurred, these ones from inside many of the numerous turrets and gun emplacements around the castle. There was no way to know if they were manned or not, it had been pure guesswork figuring out which ones to trap and which ones not to with their limited supply of explosives and time. They would soon find out if they were right, that is for sure.

“Ok folks, get ready to move out as soon as Headhunter does her stuff.”

Right on time, the Spector piloted by the newest member of the Black Stars made an appearance. Markus smiled slightly inside his suit, it was time to get dirty.

Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Entrance Mouth to Valley of Devil's Embrace
Near Main Pirate Base
7th Sept 3080
0630 Hours, Local Time

Like clockwork, the sounds of the explosives planted by the Jack O' Lanterns echoed across the barren landscape even though the Black Wolves and the Sharp Shooters were nearly seven hundred kilometers away from the castle. Even though the sounds were muted and dull due to the distance, as well as the deflection off the many rock cropping, Zi Long could easily imagine the effects on the castle walls. Hao kan bu hao chi. Zi Long grinned. Despite the very impressive, though still silly looking facade, Lantern and his people had reported what aerial recon had confirmed. They would come down against a hard sneeze.

Zi Long shifted in the seat beside Brandon as data streamed in through the massive multi ton Master Command, Control and Communications system. Easily among the Inner Sphere’s most potent recent inventions, it was also one of the most original, considering that it emerged not as the result of a Star League tech recovery, but as a new application of technologies. As much a revolution in battlefield technology as one of combat philosophy for its creators in the Draconis Combine, the system was essentially an elaborate tight-beam communications suite, designed to link the sensors and targeting systems of up to a full lance of friendly units in a single, closed network. The C3 system enabled those within its network to draw targeting data from one another and coordinate fire with amazing ease. As long as effective weapon ranges and lines of fire permit, a member of a C3 network can essentially strike at a target with the same accuracy as the nearest friendly network member. Moreover, units that mount a C3 master computer can use the computer’s coordination as an improvised TAG system.

The system, of course, has its limits. Only units in the same network, generally a single lance, though creative deployment of multiple master computers per unit may allow for networks as large as a company, may share targeting data in this fashion. Friendly units with systems outside the network cannot simply “tap in” at will. Further, the network signals and data streams are susceptible to jamming by enemy electronic counter measures. This particular problem has been heightened with the recent increasing deployment of such systems from small support vehicles, BattleMechs and even Battle Armour and infantry troopers.

Still, despite having the latest generation of C3 equipped Pegasus and Manteuffel tanks within his own sub-unit being equipped with C3 slave units, the C3 Master further allowed Zi Long to better coordinate the entire Black Stars operations short of deploying an even more sophisticated mobile HQ unit. That job now fell to James Lockheart in the command centre onboard the Event Horizon.

Zi Long tapped his own communicator as Brandon linked him to the four Pegasus crew deployed further within the Valley as forward observation posts.

"Anything there?"

It took a while before the reply came back. "Nothing yet." Despite Tim Larson whispering his reply, his voice sounded shockingly large over the heavy shroud of silence that had seemed to settle over the Black Stars ambush point.

Zi Long nodded. If the pirates do indeed react mere seconds after the first explosives went off, they would be much more of a worthy foe than the Stars gave them credit for. "Noted. Keep us posted."

"Roger." Tim's replied cackled through his earpiece.

Now, Zi Long could only wait as the second strike force consisting of the group forces consisting of BattleMechs and Battle Armour of the Trouble Inc., as well as the pair of 'Mechs under Aina's Fallen Falcons hit the air base.

Despite already landed hours before and embarking on a tiring long trek towards the air base, there had been no hiccups or unexpected encounters with any enemy forces. Barring a shockingly large garrison force that they had failed to anticipate, Zi Long did not expect any trouble at that quarter as well. The Chinese man tapped Brandon on his shoulder and threw a thumb backwards. The older man nodded in understanding as Zi Long fitted the helmet of his environmental suit in place. Frederick was already waiting at the turret as Zi Long approached. Nodding wordlessly, the Morningstar gunner twisted the turret hatch open and pushed the latch wide, which Zi Long quickly scrambled through. Even as he cleared the opening, Frederick slammed the cover shut again. The Taurian native stood on the top of the vehicle for a while, eyes scanning the distance where the castle, than air base, and finally the largest pirate base were.

Nothing. No signs of movement betrayed whatever activities might be unfolding at the three locations. All that will change soon enough. He muttered to himself and he leap lightly from the Morningstar to the orange ground and strode towards the Sanitarium.

September 7th, 3080
0630 hours, Local time
Less than two kilometers from Pirate Spaceport.
Near Pirate Spaceport
Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Deep Periphery

Aina watched the chronometer slowly ticked to show exactly 0630 hours inside the cockpit of her TLN-5W Talon.

The moment it did so, she pushed her 35-ton Mech straight to maximum speed, and raced from behind the small hill she used as cover just moments ago right into the open, where the sensors of her Mech immediately painted the spaceport, its buildings, the two DropShips still parked there, as well as the three Mechs visibly patrolling around them. The third Mech was one they haven’t identified earlier, but her computer immediately tagged it as a 70-ton Warhammer, an identification that she could have done herself anyway for there was no mistaking its silhouette. WHM-6K was the tag given by the computer, which was good, designating a variant dating all the way back to the succession wars.

Further away from them the computer tagged an equally ancient ARC-2R Archer. The Mech seemed to have just noticed them at that moment, and started turning ponderously their way, which is precisely what Aina wished for, since her smaller force were to act as a distraction for the Trouble Inc.’s much more substantial Mech and battle-armour forces. In the sensor shadow of the large Mule-class DropShip was the third defending Mech, which she recalled was a Rifleman from the aerial photograph, although the computer could not tag it properly with it still being hidden by the DropShip.

“Falcon lead to all Falcons. Begin the operation.” She commanded through her unit’s communication channel.

As if to punctuate her own command, she swiftly drew a bead on the nearest Mech, the Warhammer. The enemy machine is twice as heavy as her own Mech, with twice the firepower and also nearly double the armour, but unless it had been modified, it carried only old-tech Particle cannons, which could not reach out to the same sort of distances her own Extended-Range PPC can go at. Years of intensive training dating back from her childhood days took over, and her hands were sure at the controls of the mech. She drew a solid bead on her target, and pulled the trigger on the right-hand control stick, discharging an azure stream of accelerated ionized particles at her target at many many times the speed of sound.

Despite the distance involved – she was nearly at the Extended-Range PPC’s maximum range of 690 meters – and the speed her Mech was moving at – similarly, pushing its top speed of well over one-hundred and twenty kilometres an hour – Aina managed to land a solid hit with her first shot. The Warhammer she targeted had taken the shot just as it started to turn her way, and took the hit high on its left shoulder – she would have struck it full on at the head assembly had it not turned – where the stream of accelerated particles completely smashed through the searchlight assembly on that shoulder, but failing to do any serious damage otherwise.

Behind Aina, her only Mech-piloting teammate so far, Hazel “Longshot” Burns, the fresh recruit she picked up right off Nibo, pushed her borrowed Mongoose II over a hundred meters closer to the enemy Mech to account for the shorter range of her ‘Mech’s only armament, a single Extended-Range Large Laser. The slightly heavier Mech was more poorly armed than Aina’s Talon, although its MASC allowed Hazel to push it to even higher speeds, as she did just now. Her laser shot missed the Warhammer by a meter or so, not something that Aina was pleased at, but considering the girl’s inexperience, not unexpected either. Either way, she’d do well enough in their diversionary role today.

***************************************

Several kilometres above the battlefield, Erica “Schwarzeufel” Hartmann and her wing mate Theresa heard Aina’s command, both girls inside their respective aerospace fighters, each also loaded with enough external rocket pods that would be of great effect for the ground attack mission they are planned to execute, having found no enemy aerospace fighters to contend with. Erica smiled inside her cockpit, the command to initiate the operation was one she had been waiting for since they took off.

“Zeit furs Geschaft, Sasha. Auf die Platze, Fertig, und los geht’s!“

Both girls twisted their control sticks to the right, half-rolling their crafts and bringing them from a stable, gliding flight right into a very steep dive straight for the enemy base. They had their assignment, namely to use the surprise moment of their first strike to try down as many of the gunner emplacements seen from the aerial recon as possible, as well as take out any target of opportunities, should time permit, since by the time they return for a second run the enemy Mechs – most probably that Rifleman would be alert and waiting.

Erica can feel the multiple G forces pushing her back against her seat, but the slim, wiry girl is a lot tougher than she looks, and enduring forces like these are part of her daily vocation. She basically ignored the feeling of having six people her own weight sitting on top of her, and guided her S-7 Sai aerospace fighter in its gravity-aided dive right towards the pirate base. Theresa followed closely behind her in her SL-25 Samurai, both seemingly heading for a one-way trip straight to the ground to an unaccustomed observer.

Of course, that appearance was completely deceiving, for less than half a kilometre above the spaceport, both of them pulled sharply out of the dive, enduring more gravitational forces acting on them and stressing their craft’s structural endurance nearly to the limit, yet both of them were experienced with the tactics, and did not overstress their crafts, quickly switching from a near-vertical dive to an angled strafing run of the area. Multiple laser beam shots as well as over two-hundred rockets and missiles rained down on the unsuspecting pirates running towards the gun emplacements – and one missile barrage of Erica’s actually demolished one of the buildings that evidently served as a barrack of sorts for the pirates, not doing enough damage to kill all the inhabitants, but more than enough to send a bunch of scantily-clad pirates running around gasping for breathable air in the planet’s poisonous atmosphere.

Not everything ran as planned during the attack run, however, for as Erica passed rather close to the Mule-class DropShip, she also came in sight of the Rifleman. Just one quick glance from the closer range told her the bad news. Unlike its succession-war era compatriots, the Mech was of an evidently much newer make, as noted from the different armour layout and unusual radar array instead of the more trusted sight of the old model. Her on-board computer confirmed for her what her eyes already suggested, as it tagged the enemy Mech as a RFL-6X model, one of the newer variants of the old machine, and a much more potent anti-aircraft Mech and any of its older variants.

****************************************

Killian “Killer” Gilder made a note to shoot whoever was on radar watch this morning.

Not only did there were two Mechs somehow sneaking their way to the vicinity of the spaceport that housed their only two DropShips undetected, but the fool did not even notice a pair of fighters coming down on them. Granted, he had to admit that the fighter pilots had guts. He had spotted them coming, but too late to take action, them having taken a nearly vertical route which did not give him much reaction time if any, and the DropShip preventing him from even establishing line of sight to the bogeys even as they strafed the hell out of the makeshift defensive gun emplacements they put around the port.

“Killer” Gilder was boss of the pirates left at the spaceport not because of any superior experience or ability, but mostly due to the fact that he pilots one of the very few new-model Mechs in the pirates’ arsenal. His RFL-6X Rifleman was a far cry when compared to the older machines that dominate the pirates’ roster, and with its pair of Large-Bore Extended Autocannons it also made a superior anti-air Mech, especially since “Killer” happened to prefer a load of buckshot-like cluster ammunition.

Because of all those factors, he couldn’t help but to turn his frown into a sadistic grin when one of the attacking fighters – a Draconis Combine made S-7 Sai flew right into his sight. He just took a rough bead on the fighter – there was little time for much more than that considering how fast that fighter moves – and let loose with a double blast of cluster shots. He felt confident that the shots would quite likely down that fighter right then and there.

To his surprise – and dismay – the enemy pilot seems to have expected him to do just what he did, and put the craft into a quick barrel roll to the side that cast it out of the way of most of the pellet-like grenades fired from the Rifleman’s autocannons, although a couple still managed to make contact and blew off some armour from the fighter’s right wing. Despite the proximity to the ground – the Sai was flying less than a hundred meters above ground thanks to the evasive roll it did – the enemy pilot managed to keep control over the craft, and kept it steady despite the multiple hits to its wing. He hastily fired off another double-salvo from his autocannons, but by then the Sai had flown out of his weapons’ reach, and none of the shots hit.

****************************************

“Verdammte Miststuck!” Cursed Erica as she flew her craft away from the enemy Rifleman. A glance at the status diagram of her fighter showed only minor damages to the armor plating, which was fortunate, since LB-X autocannons were about a fighter pilot’s worst nightmare, often disabling their planes more through sheer chance of one of the many pellets hitting a control surface or other critical equipment than anything. The presence of that kind of Mech certainly changed her estimate on how soon she could finish off the enemy Mech in question.

“Beta lead to Falcon lead. We got a RFL-6X, repeat, six X-ray, on our hands. Will take a bit longer to finish things off. Over and out.” She reported over to Aina.

The usually empty-headed, uncaring and careless girl seemingly transformed once strapped inside the cockpit of her fighter, and with a couple quick commands, she ordered Theresa to go for an attack run at the annoying anti-air Mech their opponent have, from two sides. Erica doesn’t know exactly how good the enemy Mech pilot is, but however good they are, they cannot shoot to the front and to the back at the same time, which was the dilemma she planned to present to the enemy pilot.

She acted on her own command, and still pushing her plane to top speed, pulled a flawless Immelmann turn – a half roll and a half loop – that brought her somewhat higher off the ground and flying at high speed back at the direction of the enemy Rifleman. Her sensor showed that her partner, Theresa, just pulled an identical manoeuvre off on the other side of the enemy Mech, and they both raced straight towards the enemy Mech, all weapons primed and ready to fire, keeping their target inside a pincer manoeuvre where he would not be able to shoot at one of them without revealing his back to the other.

The enemy pilot chose Erica’s lighter Sai as his target – a decision she would have approved, as her fighter not only has lighter armour, but also more devastating weaponry compared to Theresa’s Samurai – and fired several salvos of cluster rounds at her, this time alternating his shots to keep up a weaker, if steadier barrage as she threw her craft into all sorts of evasive manoeuvres. Cluster rounds were notoriously difficult to avoid though, and by the time she found herself finally getting into her own weapons’ range, her craft had taken at least five more hits, although none of them managing to do anything more serious than throw a shake into her flight – something she can handle well enough.

Just about then Theresa – who did not have to slow her own flight by performing evasive manoeuvres – opened up with her entire forward array of armaments on the Rifleman’s back, scouring its virgin armour plating with multiple daggers of light from its medium and small lasers. This Rifleman is a good bit better armoured than the old models – which were notorious for having toilet paper for rear armour – though, and Theresa’s barrage failed to punch through the armour plating. She did manage to distract the enemy pilot a good bit however, and that was all the chance Erica needed.

Forty medium-range missiles slammed head-on into the Rifleman just moments after a pair of emerald beams melted gobs of armour from the Mech’s torso. Nearly a dozen missiles missed the Mech, but some of those managed to slam into the DropShip not too far behind it, while the rest blew armour in shard off the entire front side of the machine. The pilot failed to keep his balance after such a bombardment, and the machine crashed down on its back, further denting the armor plating left there.

Meanwhile, Erica herself had to pull a quick climb in order to avoid slamming right against the DropShip. Her aerospace fighter pulled into a nearly vertical climb with less than ten meters space between its fuselage and the hull of the DropShip, since she had to cut it rather close in order to get a good shooting angle on the mech. The DropShip itself was not high on her list of worries though, for it appeared that not only its radar officer was lack on his duty station, but most of the turrets were unmanned as well.

****************************************

From her location on the other side of the base, Aina did not get to see much other than the initial attack run of the two aerospace fighters, the massive DropShip shielding the combat taking place behind it from her sight. Not that she would have time to watch anyway, for at the moment, the pirate Warhammer was taking up her concentration. She moved her Talon a quick step to the side, just at the right time to evade a double blast from the enemy machine’s particle cannons, and she returned the favour by slamming another particle bolt right at the heavy pirate Mech, this time cutting a deep groove along the outer side of the heavy Mech’s left-hand PPC barrel.

Meanwhile, Hazel seemed to have taken an extra moment – Aina knew that her weapon must have loaded at least a couple second ago – before she finally shot at the same Mech for a second time. This time she hit, adding to the enemy pilot’s misery by melting armour right over the heavy Mech’s centreline. In doing so, she inadvertently brought her own Mech into the range of the approaching Archer however, which made its presence noticed at once by unleashing a salvo of twenty long-range missiles right at Hazel.

Hazel abruptly braked her Mech – a rather difficult feat when you are moving at speeds in excess of one-hundred and seventy kilometres and hour – and just as quickly ran it backwards at roughly half her forward speed, which allowed her to move herself completely out of the way of the missile salvo. For her first battle, Aina decided that the girl did well enough. She kept her calm, and did not panic or did other foolish things, but the battle was still young, so she might have assessed that prematurely.

The WHM-6K Warhammer was coming closer. That was good. Aina wanted it and its friends to keep their attention headed their way, which would result in a nastier attack when Trouble Inc’s larger force made their presence known. She and Hazel fired their next shots nearly simultaneously, and while neither hit their target, the two shots both passed less than a meter from the Warhammer’s cockpit canopy, which seemed to have given the pilot some food for thought, for he slowed his march forward somewhat after the near-death experience.

“Longshot, keep at it. We do not want them looking any other way for the time being.”

Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Haruki Moutains (former mining site)
7th September 3080
06:40 Hours, Local Time

Natasha took a brief moment to assess the combat situation. She wanted to jump behind large enough cover to screen the Spector from enemy fire to allow her to put some distance between her opponents, especially the Vulcan, which had steadily closed while the Spector had drawn them away from the castle. The Panther had been the only opponent with a weapon with sufficient long range reach to shoot at the Spector, but that was about to change as the Vulcan was just reaching the maximum range of the large pulse laser. However the Panther was moving so slowly now and was almost out of range for the ER PPC. Unfortunately for the Panther pilot the heat generated by rapid use of ER PPC was more than the thirteen single heat sinks could handle. The excess heat building up steadily and this effected the Mech’s movement and targeting system, the hotter the Mech got. That was the situation the Panther pilot found them self in now, the Mech could barely move topping out at a maximum of 30 kilometres an hour. The Vulcan had slowed down to allow the Panther time to catch up and possibly cool down. This was a golden opportunity as the targeting system of the Panther would still be compromised by the severe heat and the Vulcan had come to complete stop making it an easy target. The consequence of course was that the Vulcan had highly accurate short range weapons, but maybe this was the price that had be paid.

The decision and plan made in a near instant, Natasha pushes the Spector into a full run and reaches the Vulcan as it brings its weapons to bear. The Vulcan’s large pulse laser strikes the Spector’s right arm, its medium pulse finds the centre torso and both the flamer and machine gun miss altogether. The Vulcan receives the full weapon’s load of the Spector in a fiery vengeance; the large laser slices though the Vulcan’s remaining right leg armour and fuses the lower leg actuator, the medium laser melts more internal structure in the right leg, destroying the foot actuator and upper leg actuator as well. The second medium laser vaporises the remaining armour from the right torso and the small laser slices open the left arm destroying the hand assembly and spot welds the shoulder joint seizing it in place. The Vulcan wavers but does not fall with the damage the Spector inflicts on it. The Panther shoots its ER PPC, failing to hit the Spector and drives its heat into the red. The Vulcan attempts a kick with its left leg, favouring the damaged right and narrowly misses the Spector’s legs. Despite the damaged leg and a dangerous wobble the Vulcan’s pilot still manages to keep the Mech upright. A vicious smile spreads across Natasha face, as she realises that there is 50/50 chance that she could cripple the Mech and she kicks the Vulcan in return. The kick connects with the Vulcan’s left leg crushing internal structure but finds nothing vital. In the face of this continuing damage, Natasha had to give the Vulcan pilot a small amount of grudging respect in keeping the seriously damaged Mech upright.

The Vulcan pilot finally realises there was a very real danger of being defeated, hits its jump jets and puts 180 metres between it and the unrelenting Spector. The Panther also deciding a fighting retreat is the best option, jumps back a hundred twenty meters all it can achieve with the incredible heat that has build up in the continuing combat. Natasha wastes no time and pushes the Spector into a full run to bring it around to the rear of the Vulcan, but also avoiding exposing her the Spector's rear to the Panther at the same time. She really does not expect the Panther will be a threat again until it can shed some heat. A calculated risk, but one she hopes will paid off with the destruction of the Vulcan. Because of the position of the Spector the Vulcan can only twist turn its right arm around and fire the flamer located there. The burst of superheated plasma flowing across the Spector right leg and a spike of heat though the cockpit. Natasha smiles a bitter smile, “Too little, too late” she whispers. The simple push of a button releasing the full weapons payload of the Spector into the back of the Vulcan, the large and one medium going wide, the other medium laser striking the left leg consuming internal structure and the lower leg actuator. The small laser finding the centre torso and one of the few spots the Mech still any armour left. The Panther fires its SRM launch but the missiles fail to lock onto the Spector and blasts a nearby rock formation into a thousand pieces. Natasha had not count on the lasers to cripple the Mech, but she did need to kick the legs out from under it, literally in this case. Her fury building Natasha strikes out with the Spector's right leg and shatters the Vulcan's left leg completely, tearing off the last of the left torso armour and a piece of the internal structure as well. The Vulcan pilot unable to compensate for the severe damage, loses control and slowly the Mech topples over on to its right side, completely the crashing the left arm trying to break its fall.

This battle was reaching its conclusion with the Vulcan so badly disabled that Natasha could keep the Spector out of the reach on the Vulcan's weapons now. Turning her full attention to the Panther now she accelerates away to put some distance between the two Mechs, specificity 450 metres. Making targeting the Spector an extremely difficult prospect and hoping to goat the Panther into firing its ER PPC. Natasha fires the large laser in a further attempt to taunt the pilot further, narrowly missing the Panther's head. The Panther responds by firing the ER PPC and misses completely, but the heat generated from jumping and firing the ER PPC spikes the Mechs heat significantly. Natasha steers the Spector in an ever decreasing circle and reaches the 300 metres mark. The Panther with its heat rising into the orange, brings the Mech to a full stop and tries to track the Spector approach with its weapons, but the Spector stays outside the range of the SRM launcher. Once again the Panther is forced to fire the ER PPC and as always the Spector eludes the dangerous stream of charged particles. Natasha snaps off a shot from the large laser more to irritate the Panther's pilot, but the laser finds the Panther's left leg none the least, melting a large portion of the legs armour. The Panther jumping back another 60 metres to make it impossible for the Spector to circle around behind it, the current heat allowing it no more movement. Natasha closes quickly with the Panther wanting to inflict as much damage as possible on the Panther while it's heat levels continue to compromise the Mechs combat efficiency. The large laser cutting deeply into the left torso armour, a medium laser scorching the right torso destroying a heat sink in the process, the other medium scars its right arm and the small laser penetrates the Panther's left torso destroying two more heat sinks. The Panther's heat now climbing into the red and then without warning the Mech goes limp falling forward. Crashing and twisting more internal structure in the left torso.

As Natasha advances on the downed Mech, a radio message is received on the general broadcast band “Spector pilot I want to the negotiate my surrender.”

“Panther pilot what guarantees do I have that your surrender is genuine.” Natasha asked, her interest peaked. “Pirates do not tend to be very reliable from my experience”

“I have information that will be useful.” Panther pilot replies, an edge of certain creeping into his voice.

“I asked for a guarantee, not a reason” Natasha responds, adding a touch of impatience to her voice. She adjusts the weapons to target the rear centre torso.

“Give me a few minutes to change into an environmental suit and I'll exit the Mech” the Panther pilot replies with a defeated tone.

“Two minutes and I'll be watching,” Natasha did not trust this to go well, but until there was a reason she would hold her fire.

Natasha did not like sitting still in a combat zone for so long, but what other option was there. The two minute mark was coming up and as she watched the hatch pops opens, the pilot pulls himself out. Switching to external speakers “Close the hatch and head back to the castle”. He does as instructed and starts heading back to the castle. Taking one more precaution, Natasha uses the Spector to roll the Panther onto its back.

“Time to finish off the Vulcan”, Natasha voiced to the cockpit.

Swinging around the Spector Natasha pushed it into a full run and reached the downed Vulcan in short order. It was propped up on its right arm and facing the Spector. It appears the Vulcan pilot had tried to stand the Mech and damaged it further in the attempt. Natasha closes in and stops the Spector at around the 360 metres from Vulcan. Outside the range of its large pulse laser.

Opening the general broadcast frequency, Natasha asks “Vulcan pilot your Mech near incapable of effective combat at this time. Do you wish to offer surrender?”

“You crazy bitch if you come in range I'll tear you apart.” the Vulcan pilot responds, anger clearly coming across the comm link.

“I will take that as a no then.” Natasha replied and fires the large laser blasting the last of the armour on the centre torso.

“I'll kill bitch in ways you can't image, but maybe I'll have some fun with you first.” the Vulcan pilot almost screams his response.

“I take it you still want to play.” Natasha coolly and smoothly replies. She fires the large laser again and blasts the left torso internal structure collapsing almost all of it.

“Vulcan pilot if you wish to surrender and return to the castle, armed troops will gladly take you in custody. If not then look around as this will be your new home.” Natasha coolly replies and one more burst from the large laser coring out the Vulcan's centre torso. The danger from the Vulcan is now ended.

Natasha accelerates the Spector to 110 kilometres an hour and headed straight back to the castle, not expecting any trouble unless some opposing forces had arrived as backup Lantern had not asked for any assistance or reported any additional forces. Deciding that getting a look over the castle area from above would be a prudent choice she steers the Mech towards the highest point overlooking the castle and access road. Coming to the top of the ridge she scans the area and cannot detect any thing out of the ordinary. No battle armour or slaves are visible, but not liking the situation she moves across the ridge and towards the edge of the plateau, still on the higher ground and around 900 metres out. Natasha was just switching over to a private channel to contact Lantern, when a Firestarter FS9-H appears on the edge of the plateau on jets of fire. In the distance slowly making its way up the access road was an Urbanmech UMR-60.

“It appears I'm going to be earning my keep or my eternal rest this day.” Natasha whispered and could feel the anticipation of testing herself against new combatants. Skill, cunning and endurance were what would win this day. “Time to test all three” she said, a confident smile set on her face. “Lantern is going to get his support even if it kills me, but a little help would be nice to”.

Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Haruki Mountains (former mining site)
7th September 3080
06:56 Hours, Local Time

As Natasha advanced on the Firestarter it occurred to her that these 3 Mechs represented designs that were close to or over 300 years old. This battle could be a representation or recreation of a show down that could have happened in the time of the first Star League or any of the succession wars that followed. The Spector a fine example of the Star League technological edge, that allowed the uniting of the known galaxy under a single authority, mostly by force. The original Firestarter and Urbanmech designs that initially served in the Star League, but would end up in the Successor Lords militaries and would help sustain the bitter fighting that would be forever known as the Session Wars spanning the last 300 years. These simply designs lacked advanced components like double sinks or extra light engines, but as the Succession Wars continued and advanced technology become scare, these designs would endure. However that age had passed and now it was time to remind them why they should fear the advanced technology that had returned in force.

The Firestarter was a light Mech that could do consistent and sufficient damage to concern the Spector, but it was generally short range and medium range only. The Mech was capable of a top speed around 90 kilometres per hour and with its jump jets it could propel itself over spans up to 180 metres. The overall design was built around the concept of a sustained assault. The armour on the Mech was sufficient but not great and the Spector’s large laser could strip a whole section of armour off in a single strike. Removing whole arms, legs and even side torso’s with 2 strikes of the large laser. The Urbanmech as a contrast was a Mech designed for urban warfare with a large calibre long range weapon designed to take out light Mechs and lightly armoured medium Mechs quickly. It also mounted a small laser but it only came into play at close range. The Urbanmech was 5 tonnes lighter then the Firestarter but was protected with more armour. Where the Firestarter was nimble and fast, the Urbanmech struggled with a top speed of 30 kilometres per hour and could only jump distances of up to 60 metres. Where the Firestarter, like the Spector; could endure long combat without resupply, the Urbanmech could not venture far from a supply base. Its ammunition bin only carrying ten shots for the large calibre auto-cannon and the poor top speed meaning a slow return for a reload.

The solution for defeating each was similar and it was only the execution that varied. The Firestarter could be kept at long range and out manoeuvred to ensure that that’s weapons could not reach the Spector. The Urbanmech was a different matter with a long range profile similar to the Spector’s large laser, staying out of range was not really an option. Natasha needed to drive it off or draw it away, to keep the Battle Armour out of trouble, but it would be a slow process. This meant taking pot shots at long range and high speed, until the auto-cannon ran out of ammo or the large laser sufficiently damaged the Urbanmech to eliminate it as a threat. These were ideal situations when dealing with them separately; if the pair worked together then it could become more complicated. Natasha suspected that the Firestarter could have reached this area a lot quicker if it had left the Urbanmech behind, but it had not. This could mean that the pair of Mechs might act a team, most likely deploying a hammer and anvil approach. This would involve the Urbanmech (anvil) holding or advancing to draw the opponent in and the Firestarter (hammer) advancing quickly to get into medium or short range to allow it the use of all its weapons. This tactic was a hard one to break with only one opposing Mech. The easiest solution was to simply go around the pair and keep going, but the need to support the Battle Armour negated that option. Lantern’s battle armour could be useful, but Natasha did not contact him as the Firestarter could easily cook the battle armour without breaking a sweat.

This would take some clever manoeuvring and careful guess work, with a great deal of buffing. Natasha had seen enough of the local terrain to make use of it now. Pushing the Spector into a full run to close the distance with Firestarter, before the Urbanmech could reach the top of the plateau and add its auto-cannon to the mix. The plan was to damage the Firestarter quickly or at least drive the Mech back. Luckily the Firestarter in its own eagerness accelerates toward the Spector, but can’t get into firing range. The Spector’s large laser reaches out but misses the Firestarter. “Not a great start” Natasha thinks to herself. The Firestarter leaps back 180 metres and the Spector continues to advance slowing down as it approaches the 300 metre mark. Again the large laser reaches out and this time connects with the Firestarter’s left torso vaporising a large portion of the armour there.

The Urbanmech finally arrives onto the top of the plateau at a run, a laughable notion in Natasha’s option with only a top speed of 30 kilometres per hour. The Firestarter jumps back closer to the Urbanmech but not close enough to bring the Spector close enough to hit with the auto-cannon. Natasha realising that hitting the jumping Firestarter will be very difficult, swings the Spector towards the Urbanmech keeping at less 300 metres between the Spector and the Firestarter. The Spector and Urbanmech both fire their respective long range weapons, both failing to hit each other. This running battle does not last long with Spector sniping away at the Urbanmech with two hits to centre torso stripping away all the armour and shattering the engine shielding twice. Another hit melted armour off the right leg. With the loss of the heat shielding around the fusion reactor the Urbanmech heat levels started to rise with each firing of the auto-cannon and finally the Urbanmech was forced to retreat back down the road away from the fighting. The Firestarter also attempted to retreat and the Spector sniped away at it, destroying its right arm completely and vaporising all of the left arm armour, as well as, some of the internal structure.

“Enemy pilots your Mechs have been seriously damaged, do you wish to surrender before I complete their destruction and end your pointless deaths.” Natasha broadcasts the message over the open broadband frequency.

“Why? You’ll just kill us or take us to jail.” The Urbanmech pilot replied.

Realising that a good buff was all that was required, Natasha advised “Half true, I do not see an immediate need to kill either of you. Your DropShips have been captured, your JumpShip damaged and your forces have been seriously beaten.” Natasha was sure that the first and third was at least true. The second was a buff but could provide some useful information if played right.

“Your lying the JumpShip we had left weeks ago.” Firestarter pilot replies.

“Our briefing clearly stated that this planets co-ordinates were extracted from the navigation computer of a damaged JumpShip found with serious damage in a backwater system. How else would we have found this planet and all of your bases? Not that it really matters to me, but this planet could be your new home for a long time. Well as long as the food, water and fresh air holds out. It’s your choice but dying a slow death of thirst, starvation, or suffocation do not rank highly on my list of things to do.” Natasha knew this was a risky option either they would surrender, flee and fight to death with nothing else to lose.

Natasha awaited their response, but only silence remained on the general broadcast channel and she hoped they were discussing the option of surrender on a private channel, but the minutes passed without a response or action from the pilots of the Mechs. Without warning the Firestarter advanced at full speed towards the Spector. Natasha was not foolish enough to place herself that close to the Mech that it could get into weapons range that quickly. In response Natasha pushed the throttle fully forward and faced the Spector at an intersecting angle 300 metres out and fired the large laser, but missed the approaching mech. It appeared the Firestarter wanted a quick and honourable death. The Urbanmech on the other hand had not moved at all. Natasha kept her distance from the Mech for some time expecting the Firestarter pilot to come to his senses, once he realised that he could not close with the Spector. As the minutes pasted by Natasha reasoned that this battle just needed to be ended and as the Firestarter advanced, Natasha turned the Spector and run it straight into the rear arc of the Firestarter. This forced the Firestarter to twist around to fire the medium laser and flamer mounted in the left arm. Only the medium found the Spector’s left arm, causing the molten armour to fall onto the parched earth. Natasha felt the need to remind this pilot why surrender was the best option and the one he should have selected. With the simply push of the button currently configured to fire all the Spector weapons, sometimes referred as an alpha strike, sending light and heat dancing across the Firestarter's back. The large laser slices though the rear right torso, a medium strikes the left arm destroying the remaining arm, the second passes by the Firestarter by the narrowest of margins and the small laser melts the last of the right torso internal structure collapsing the right side of the mech. For good measure and a final reminder Natasha kicks the right leg of the Firestarter crushing the majority of the armour in the process. The Firestarter sways under the damage unleashed on it, but remains upright.

The radio crackles to life and the Firestarter pilot broadcasts “Ok, Enough I surrender. What do want me to do?”

“Both Mechs need to be powered down and you will need to use your environmental suits to evacuate them. Head back to the castle and await pick up instructions” Natasha scans the lower area in front of the mine but can find no other resistance. Natasha thinks of the disposition of the enemy forces and is intrigued by the need to use four Mechs to guard the mine area, castle and slaves. Both Mech appear to have powered down and both pilots were climbing down and headed towards the castle as soon as their feet touched the ground.

Switching to the Black Stars designated frequency, Natasha gives her situation report. “Headhunter to Black Stars forces, sitrep is four enemy Mechs in the mine location have been neutralised, enemy pilots have been captured and await transport. Salvage crew required for enemy Mechs and the area appears clear at this time. Awaiting further instructions. Headhunter out.” Natasha turned the Spector to follow the enemy pilots back to the castle and see what Lantern was up to? It had been a long night and she would be glad to get of this cockpit, grab a shower and get some breakfast. “Well first things first.” She thought on the slow journey back to the castle.

Old SLDF Mining Colony: DD-456-M-2
Entrance Mouth to Valley of Devil's Embrace
Near Main Pirate Base
7th Sept 3080
1100 Hours, Local Time

“About damned time!” David snarled as his sensors began to pick up traces from the approaching column of enemy Mechs. “Even drunk, a half-way competent crew should have been here three bloody hours ago!”

He took a deep breath of the recycled air in his cockpit and willed himself to better self-control. Hours of boredom, waiting for the pirates to arrive, combined with his ongoing discomfort had done nothing for his mood.

Rummaging around under his seat for a moment, David finally found what he was looking for and withdrew a plastic bottle of water. Warm, but the small cooler along the back of the cockpit was reserved for the post-battle beer, and a little warm water wouldn’t hurt him any.

A few moments more to extract a small vial from his vest and David washed down his medication, then drained the bottle. No need to have a half-full plastic bottle rolling about on the floor, and he could use the hydration.

Another half hour passed before the pirates eventually came into close enough range that David’s sensors could differentiate Mechs.

As he read the screen, David shook his head disbelievingly. “Well, I can see now why they are moving so slow…. I don’t believe anyone would do something so useless, but…” He thought to himself silently.

On the screen, two slow moving clusters of enemy units resolved themselves into individuals.

Leading the way, a medium lance of Mechs plodded along. A Kintaro, Centurion, and Crab guiding a Scorpion through the pass. David shook his head again as he got another look at why the pirate’s progress was so slow. Attached to the Scorpion by a pair of heavy drag chains, a makeshift transport sledge was being dragged along, loaded down with what appeared to be a company of irregular infantry.

David sighed and shrugged. Granted, to retake the port area properly, they’d probably need some infantry, but if there was a more inefficient way to get them there, David didn’t know it.

A hundred yards or so back, the second group plodded along. Heavier than the first, the second group appeared more interested in making sure the first group kept on task than paying attention to the surrounding terrain.

A Quickdraw, Dragon, and Marauder, with a Stalker bringing up the rear. Heavy firepower by anyone’s standards. David was glad that the plan did not call for a direct engagement.

Glancing down, David confirmed that the fibre-optic cable link to Zhao’s ride was operational before keying his microphone and speaking softly. “Targets entering zone…. can you see this stupidity? If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think this was a bad holo-vid.”

"I'm feeling generous today brother of mine." Zi Long's replied crackled through. "I'm gonna guess that their top of the line, multi million c-bill Gienah-Durapaq Elite and Prairie Schooner land trains are currently occupied elsewhere." The Chinese man chuckled. "Seriously though, with this being a mining colony, shouldn't they have at least some decent cargo haulers around? Geez. I know that a stupid enemy is a godsend, but we're REALLY getting a lot of heavenly gifts recently."

Brandon's voice cut into the comms line. "Sorry to interrupt all you boys' self congratulations and enemy trashing, but our boys down there just sent a tight beam signal over to confirm that the four heavies back there are indeed the last of 'em."

Zi Long nodded as he stretched himself in the Manteuffel. "Well than, we'll just let them walk right up to our party."

<Perspective shift>

"Join the army they say. Its a man's life they say..."

"Fucking hell Francis, if you repeat that one more time, I swear I'll stuff your rifle down your throat." Sergeant Walakhal growled as he slapped Francis's helmet. They had received news earlier that morning - so early that most of their forces were still snug in their bunks, that the Drop Port had come under attack by some enemy forces - hordes of Battle Armour supported by reportedly an entire company of BattleMechs. That had been followed shortly by more reports of the Fortress atop the mountains coming under assault by special forces.

The Sergeant believed none of that nonsense. The world had never been detected, let alone been attacked ever before. There was no way a major force would strike against them, especially since the only notable source of such a force, the Nibo Armed Force, was still short of numbers and strength, and rebuilding. It took over an hour before the top brass decided that the attacks were genuine enough for them to mobilize their 'Mechs as well as one of the three companies of foot soldiers to check things out at the Drop Port. To hell with those bastards on the mountains and their fortress. But if the Drop Port did indeed fall, they would be deprived of their only ticket out of this hell hole.

However, since their forces never had to fight on the planet before, most of the non-Mechjocks were ill prepared and equipped for it. Most of the environmental suits they had in possession were regular light duty versions suited for nothing more than normal movement in the adverse conditions of the planet. They could only put together about a company worth of what could barely pass for combat light armour, and these suits were the ones Walakhal and his people were in now.

The Sergeant gritted his teeth and cursed again as the massive sledge bounced heavily as it hit another large rock on the ground. "At least all the frustration will get us into a suitably aggressive fighting mood when we see whoever's attacking." He mumbled.

<Perspective shift>

David sighed and waited somewhat less than patiently as the pirate caravan made its way deeper into the restricted canyon. The timing wasn’t all that tight, the valley was long enough that there was probably a thirty second window for the explosives to be set off and seal them in, but all in all, he’d rather it was already done.

Eventually, the Pirates were all in the designated zone, and it was time to shut the doors.

The explosions, when they came, were almost anti-climatic. Just small puffs of dust and a shower of small pebbles marked the beginning of the ambush.

As the pirates were still trying to figure out what was happening, their only avenue of escape began to disappear. Slowly at first, but quickly escalating, the rock walls at either end of the canyon began to sag and then collapse, rapidly filling the gaps and trapping the pirates inside.

Smiling now, David shoved his Mech’s throttle forward, rapidly bringing the huge fusion engine up from barely above standby to full military power in only a few seconds.

All along the ridgeline, other members of the Black Stars took similar actions, waiting for someone down in the canyon to do something stupid… it wasn’t a long wait.

The Mechs that the pirates by and large were decent units. Solid, dependable designs able to hold their own in most cases. Unfortunately for them, all but two of them also shared another characteristic…. a lack of jump jets. Without those, the one hundred meter cliff faces on all sides might as well have been a mile high. Even those Mechs with hands were out of luck, as the soft sandstone wouldn’t support a Mech trying to climb out.

The sole exception to the lack of jump jets was a single Quickdraw. A heavy design, older model, but still quite formidable…. under normal circumstances. These were not normal circumstances.

Either panicking as the ends of the canyon were shut, or trying to get to a position where he could see better what was happening, the Quickdraw pilot lit off his jump jets and blasted skyward on a column of superheated reaction mass.

David just shook his head almost sadly as the enemy pilot brought his Mech to a landing on the edge of the canyon, his jets only barely able to lift him that high safely.

As he brought his Mech’s targeting computer online and dropped the system’s crosshairs onto the Quickdraw’s silhouette, he spoke softly into his microphone. “And our first contestant on “Who wants a Bullet? Is…”

It is doubtful that the Quickdraw’s pilot ever knew what hit him as his Mech settled to a landing.

In total, the Pirate Mech was the target of three Class Five Rotary Auto-cannons (All of them on Maximum Rate fire), Two Large Pulse Lasers, and six PPC blasts from a well prepared and stationary gun-line.

Somewhere in that torrent of destruction, one of the shots also struck one of the heavy Mech’s ammunition bays, igniting that as an additional insult.

When the firing stopped, all that remained of the once mighty war machine was flaming wreckage and small chunks of shattered armour raining back down into the canyon.

Flicking his radio over to general broadcast frequency, David grinned as he spoke. “Attention Pirate convoy… Acting as the representatives of the Nibo Planetary Government, the Black Stars mercenary command requires your immediate and unconditional surrender… Failure to do so will be met with… consequences.”

David chuckled. “And in case you were thinking about resisting, I’d think again… we don’t have to do ANYTHING to defeat you. Just wait for your air to run out…. rather like what’s going to happen to the infantry you dragged along on this little death march in a short time, considering that those sorts of suits only carry a five hour oxy supply, and it’s a four and a half hour total travel time to the port… which we hold. So unless you somehow managed to dig your way out of that canyon in less than twenty minutes, there’s no chance for them…. of course we COULD bring up some life support modules, but those are for prisoners, not enemies.”

After a short delay, punctuated by gunfire and energy weapons discharges down in the canyon as the pirates “Debated”, a response came back over the general frequency. “Alright you bastards, you’ve got us. We give up.”

David smiled. “A wise decision. Now, all Mechs are to be shut down, and the pilots are to get into life support gear and exit their unit. We’ll have transport and additional life support brought up to keep you alive. Any resistance will be met with deadly force.”

<Time Break>

David watched as the last of the pirate mobile force was led away after being disarmed and restrained. Keying his microphone, he signalled to Zhao. “Right, on to the base… you think they’ll be bright enough to give up? Or will we have to dig them out?”