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Good stuff DC, though that highlander stomp is affectionately referred to as the "Highlander Burial" if memory serves correctly.  My only gripe:)

Moving into the City Charlie Company first searched through an industrial and storage zone south of the city which included a partially decommissioned oil rig along the coast line.  After several hours of searching the area they found nothing of interest instead moving into the city centre.  As they moved along the main road past the harbour front they approached a retail centre, as the company turned to search the centre a volley of autocannon blasts slammed into James' Rifleman II.  The company dived for cover as further autocannon and missile blasts landed around them, James trying to stand his ground returned fire with his own Autocannons and lasers cutting into a multi-storey car park where a pair of Autocannon Carriers were situated his blasts rocked the structure but did minimal damage to the enemy units.  Missiles and autocannon blasts landed all around the Rifleman II tearing into armour plate, weapons and structure.  The Rifleman II's left arm took three successive autocannon blasts which tore through the weapons housed there, one autocannon shell shattering the Rifleman II's autocannon into two pieces as part of the arm fell to the ground.  With the rest of the company still pinned James marched his Rifleman II forward in a defiant display of bravery firing his weapons constantly into the parking structure even as his Mech began to overheat.  One of the enemy autocannon carriers was torn to pieces by his fire while the structure they had used as cover was severely weakened.  Charlie company began to provide James with cover fire as he stood in harms way taking all the fire from the enemy units, missiles and autocannon fire tore through his assault Mech but James ignored it keeping his Mech standing under the fire and returning fire with everything he had.  As the Rifleman II began to falter under the damage so to did the parking structure to James credit he continued to fire his weapons despite his failing Mech, one when the structure, and with it their enemies, began to fall did he allow his Mech to crumple to the ground in a heap of twisted and broken metal.

“James respond” the Captain ordered quietly but there was no answer “James do you read?”  He asked still there was only static.  “Mike, Libby check on him.”  He ordered “Charlie Company defence overwatch on the Rifleman.”  He ordered “call out any movement.”

Switching his BattleMech to stand-by mode Mike grabbed the medkit and laser rifle from the back of the Highlander's cramped cockpit.  It was standard practice for SLDF MechWarriors to carry their own sidearm in the cockpit, normally a hold-out laser pistol or a small slug thrower pistol, but with the Highlander's marginally larger cockpit there was room for a larger laser rifle.  This made Mike the perfect choice to disembark and provide cover fire if a pilot needed checked on after a battle.  Libby was the company medic combining her medkit with Mike's would provide them with anything they would need to stabilize James condition.

The ground between the company's position and the fallen Rifleman II was broken the tarmac smashed after years of decay and lack of any maintenance.  Mike moved slowly the medkit over his back his rifle raised to meet any threat, the rifle would be good against any infantry or lightly armoured vehicles but hardened targets wouldn't worry about him.  Behind Mike was what vehicles or Mechs would worry about as the remaining Mechs of Charlie Company watched the roads and buildings around for any movement ready to meet any threat.  Reaching the Rifleman Mike called out James name but there was still no response Libby arrived just behind Mike her own laser pistol drawn “no answer” Mike informed her “I'll cover you peak?”  He said lowering his medkit to the ground

“Affirmative.”  She confirmed holstering her pistol she slung his kit over her shoulder and climbed the broken leg of the downed BattleMech.  The armour was so badly torn in places Libby was able to move over the Mech quickly reaching the Rifleman's head “head armour penetrated” she commented into her communicator as she moved over the Mech “James do you hear me!”  She called out but there was still now answer “entering cockpit” she said moving around the Mech's head opening the rear hatch the keypad access responding to her Company's access code.  “Captain, Command Three is KIA, repeat Command Three is down.”  She said after a few moments being in the cockpit.

“Understood return to your Mech.”  The captain ordered

On the ground Mike was looking around he felt strange as if this place had been visited by millions of people over the years and they all had left parts of them here.  The now crumbling parking structure was massive as was the retail centre, it would have looked very impressive in its prime, a hive of activity when the city was occupied.  Libby rejoined him on the ground “Ready to move” she said passing his medkit back.

“Affirmative, I have cover” Mike replied within moments Libby was gone running across the ground back towards her Mech.  Two cracks filled the air “Sniper!” Mike called opening fire on the approximate area of where the shots originated “Command Four is down!”  He said seeing Libby fall “Libby are you okay?”  He said moving slowly towards her continuing to fire his rifle.  He moved slowly towards her and knelt down as he reached her fallen form.  Lieutenant Lewis' Griffin and Recon Lance's Falcon moved forward blasting the area where Mike had been firing with their BattleMech scale weapons keeping the sniper down if they still lived.

“I'm okay! My vest and suit took it” she replied breathing heavily trying to recover from the blast Mike helped her back onto her feet and back towards the company as the two Mechs continued to pummel the buildings around where the sniper had been smashing the ancient buildings with their weapons fire.

“Cease fire” the Captain ordered “John, mark the position for recovery operations.”  He said addressing the Company's communication officer his Osprey carried additional communication and sensor equipment to assist the company at the expense of firepower and speed.

“Already done sir, I've uplinked to the DropShip they will recover the Rifleman and James' body after we secure the area.”

“Good, Libby are you okay?”

“Affirmative sir, coolant suit is a little ruined but otherwise I'm fine.”

“Understood, it seems our captured Loyalist pilot neglected to mention the remaining company had armour support.  Be ready for any further surprises people, we don't want to be sloppy and make mistakes.”

“Sir permission to take the high ground.”  Mike said “that retail structure looks solid enough to take my Mech's weight and should offer a nice vantage point.”  He said the parking structure had completely collapsed but the structure itself was still intact and looked like it had a relatively flat roof.

“Not on your own, Thomas detach from Striker you're with Mike, be careful no chances.  We will take the main road into the city.”  The Captain answered Thomas' Mech was a Catapult twenty-five tons lighter than Mike's Mech it carried long range missile launchers like the one carried in his Highlander's torso and had jump jets for increased mobility but it's armour was distinctly sub-par.

As the seven other Mechs of Charlie Company moved into the city the Highlander and Catapult approached the retail centre slowly “Thomas switch dedicated channel six” Mike ordered taking the lead neither had rank on their side but it was his idea and he had the bigger Mech.

“Done” Thomas said quietly on their private channel “how do you want to play this?”  He said indicating he'd play by Mike's ideas.

“I bait you kill?”  Mike suggested his armour could take more hits than the Catapult and he had better close in weapons.

“Sounds good, I'll stay 120 metres to your back and right.”  He confirmed taking a support position, that way if Mike brought additional fire from any direction Thomas could move and not cause Mike any movement issues.

“Understood, taking high ground now.”  Mike said stepping down on both pedals in the Highlander's cockpit launching the Mech into the air on its jump jets.  He half expected weapons fire to strike his ninety-ton Mech as soon as it left the ground but the air was empty.  Landing on the retail centre he was relieved to find old building was solid enough to take his Highlander's Mech.  Scanning the area he saw no signs of life or movement “heading out” he sent to Thomas a single click of acknowledgement was all he received in reply.  Walking carefully over the roof of the building the Highlander smashed the abandoned equipment that littered the structure Mike constantly kept one eye on the sensor read out watching for enemy movement there was nothing in the area.

“I've got movement” Thomas called out Mike turned his BattleMech around to see the Catapult behind him being struck by a gauss rifle slug.  The projectile travelling faster than the speed of sound impacted with the Catapult's cockpit window.  The impact tore through the armour and windows, through the cockpit and into the Mech's torso, the sixty-five ton BattleMech fell to the side and then off the building roof.  As it hit the ground the ammunition stores within the BattleMech exploded consuming the wrecked design.

“Jesus...”  Mike exclaimed following the track of the gauss rifle shot a Rim Worlds Republic designed Rampage “bad move.”  Running back along the roof Mike cut in his Highlander's jump jets launching the BattleMech into the air, as it lifted into the air he triggered his own gauss rifle and torso mounted missile launchers and lasers.  The Rampage was covered in a coat of fire but the eighty-five ton assault Mech stood its ground returning fire with his own autocannon, pulse laser and missiles tearing into the falling Highlander.  Just before the Mech landed Mike cut in the jump jets softening the blow of landing at the same time blasting the Rampage with the Highlander's arm mounted short range missiles and lasers coating the Rampage in fire for a second time.  The pilot lost his footing firing his Mech's own short range missiles in defiance striking the Highlander's leg armour as the Rampage fell to the ground.  Mike walked his Mech forward slowly raising his arm mounted missile launcher firing a tightly packed salvo of six short range missiles into the downed Mech as the pilot tried to stand his Rampage up.  Stepping forwards Mike drew back the Highlander's leg kicking out at the Rampage's out-stretched arm knocking the Rampage down to the ground again, as the enemy Mech fell again he blasted it with his torso mounted lasers cutting into the armour covering the Rampage's back.  As the loyalist MechWarrior tried to raise for a second time Mike kicked out knocking the enemy down again, the eighty-five ton, Rampage slammed into the ground again causing yet more damage to the Mech.  He didn't feel sorry for the downed warrior he'd killed Thomas with a single shot, now stuck in a downed Mech with little hope of survival was the least this warrior deserved.

“Command Four, we need assistance!” Katherine's voice cracked through the communication system “we need you and Thomas quickly main force engaged in the city centre they are retreating north.”  She said not knowing Thomas was down.  Without a thought Mike raised his Mech's arm and fired a salvo of short range missiles into the cockpit of the downed Rampage armour plates cracked and gave way.  The Mech went loose its struggle to stand up over as the pilot died, the Mech's brain and will for destruction gone.

“On my way” Mike replied without emotion turning the Highlander onto the main road running towards the city centre where the rest of Charlie Company had headed.  Ahead he could see rising flames and smoke so far his unit had lost much now it was their enemies turn.

A bit more for this I hope you enjoy


   The street was roughly two kilometres long which was hardly anything to a BattleMech Mike's own could reach a top speed of fifty-four kilometres an hour in open terrain, unfortunately with a Dragoon on the loose and the broken terrain that was George Street two kilometres seemed like it would take forever to cover.  Every step the two Star League BattleMechs were having to make extra carefully due to the unstable ground under them buildings had fallen, wrecked vehicles had been left to rot in the street and trees had far overgrown everything.  What buildings remained standing looked like they had been around for centuries most were about four or five stories high putting their roofs just above the BattleMech's cockpits Mike kept scanning these rooftops as he stepped his Highlander forward any of them would make a perfect launching point for Infantry wanting to make a swarm attack or to use short range missile launchers against them.

   â€œJust shows the power of nature” Katherine said quietly stepping her Orion behind his Highlander “when this city was in its prime I bet there was barely a tree now you can barely see the buildings for the trees.”

   â€œEverything comes to an end” Mike whispered looking out his cockpit window in front of him he could imagine George Street as a busy road leading into the centre of town with shops running either side under apartment buildings and offices.  Wheeled road vehicles filled the streets with pedestrians moving around those stuck in traffic jams.

   â€œAnd this search will never end if you don't move your heavy ass forward” she joked Mike had been lost looking at the busy street of the past and his Highlander had completely blocked the narrow road.

   â€œI thought I saw something was just having a look” he countered knowing there wasn't a chance she would believe him.  Before she could answer he moved his Mech forward a bit reaching a crossroads.  Slowly he moved his Mech far enough out to look one way down the right hand side of the street before turning around and looking down the left side.  “All clear” he said stepping forward “you think he went either way?”  Mike asked glancing down both streets his hands near the weapon controls.

   â€œNeg, down right looks like it turns into a swamp, the ground's sunk, anything heavier than a light Mech is going to struggle to move ten metres before getting stuck.”  She said looking down the street “down left all I see is fallen buildings and rubble.”

   â€œA Dragoon has jump jets” Mike reminded her.

   â€œAffirmative I know, but we'd have seen a jet plume over the buildings, there hasn't been any flames that I've seen.  Unless that's what you saw when you stopped?”  She queried him Mike shook his head shaking the image of the past from his thoughts now wasn't the time.

   â€œNegative” Mike said calmly trying to clear his head “it was nothing, we push on?”  He said stepping his Mech forward he heard the communication channel shared by him and Katherine click in response.  The moved forwards deliberately slowly scanning as they went finding little of interest as they approached the end of the road where it met a much wider road and a small bridge crossing an ancient railway system.

   With the wider street Katherine was able to maneuver around Mike's Highlander and gain some distance making it less likely the two of them would be hit by a single shot.  Mike slowly looked around the area watching his sensors and using his own eyes to see if he could spot anything.  As he turned he saw a light on in one of the buildings on the fourth floor the light was exactly level with his cockpit.  “Striker Three, I've possibly got something here.”  He said taking a step closer to the building peering through the surprisingly intact windows.  As he did a young man dressed in a red t-shirt and jeans stepped closer to the window and looked out, on the window sill there appeared to be a small domesticated cat curled up in a ball as it looked out.  “Katherine, do you think there could be people living in these buildings?”  Mike asked quietly.

   â€œNo-one permanent I don't think but, it's possible maybe nomads who refused to live in the big cities or came out here to get away from Amaris and his thugs.  Or maybe just scavengers who like living it rough.  You got someone?”  She asked twisting her Mech's torso to face his.  Mike glanced at his sensors and then back at the person in the window who waved their arm in his direction.

   â€œCome take a look” he said stepping his Mech back away from the building, as he did Mike turned to see the Dragoon BattleMech they had been hunting smash its way out of the building adjacent to him hammering Katherine's Orion with a pair of autocannon blasts.  Unlike when his Highlander had been targeted this time the Dragoon used solid shells hitting the Orion hard in the chest and left leg before firing a particle cannon straight into the Orion's head Mike watched as the Orion stumbled and fell under the blasts.  Twisting his own Highlander's torso section Mike opened fire with both his Mech's missile systems the long range missiles went wildly wide while the shorter ranged missiles tore into the Dragoon.  “Striker Three respond!”  Mike snapped seeing the Orion was trying to get up.

   As Katherine brought her Mech back partly to its feet another pair of autocannon blasts tore into the Mech's side and back knocking the seventy-five ton Mech to the ground.  Mike heard Katherine scream in fear and pain before he saw the head section of the Mech burst open and her cockpit chair launch out of the BattleMech.  At least it looked like a clean ejection he through as he watched the seat fly through the air turning away from it for a moment he watched as the Dragoon launched itself into the air making a short jump down to the railway track before running off at full speed.

   â€œCome back here and fight me you cowardly bastard!”  Mike screamed into the open channel firing his Mech's gauss rifle and long range missile system at the retreating Mech.  The gauss slug travelled at supersonic speeds but also did so in a straight line in this case slamming straight into the ground near the Dragoon tearing up the earth around the retreating heavy Mech.  His missiles were more effective arcing through the air they landed around the Dragoon causing several strikes to the Mech's arm and back armour.  “Striker Three this is Command Four respond on emergency channel” Mike called out ejection seats carried enough power to make short burst transmissions for short periods after a pilot had left their Mech in this case however there was no response.  “Striker Three, respond.”  Mike ordered stepping his Mech carefully forward closer to the edge of the railway line the Dragoon was long gone disappearing into the wilderness.  “Command One, this is Command Four, Striker Three is down I repeat Striker Three is down.  Good ejection, I have tracked her escape path, unless you order otherwise I am going to find Striker Three's landing point and recover pilot, over.”  He transmitted this time trying to reach the Company Commander again there was no response probably caused by all the wrecked buildings and debris between him and the other Mechs.  “This is Command Four continuing with plan, out.”  He said finally after a few minutes closing the channel switching to a secondary general channel “This is the Star League Defence Force MechWarrior to the Dragoon pilot, it's just us left, we've kicked your bosses ass now I'm hunting you, keep your eyes open because I'm coming.”  He said jumping his Mech off the road onto the railway cutting in the jump jets to cushion the fall Mike then took his Mech into a run along the railway path.  Now there were two objectives, find Katherine alive and kill the Dragoon he didn't particularly care in which order these happened as long as they happened exactly like that, no more day dreams no more questioning what was going on just kill the enemy and find his friend.