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So I needed a break and RL took a very good upturn but I can't give up on the story I enjoy telling

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Distress call Konstantin (Overlord-class DropShip)
Sterope, Taurian Concordat
Periphery
4th June 3111

Across the Sterope system the DropShip Konstantin broadcast a general distress call claiming to have suffered a catastrophic hull breach with several systems damaged and crewmen in dire need of medical attention.  From Sterope’s defence force a single Tug-class DropShip and several Tigress-class Gunboats were deployed to search for an assist the Konstantin if required.

Sitting far deeper in the system Captain Gerry Harper watched as the Taurian’s mobilized their forces fanning out from Sterope heading towards the “crippled” DropShip.  “Not enough” he commented watching the screens he’d wanted more of the defence DropShips to deploy but most of the Taurians had remained in their defence positions.  The Sceptre couldn’t do much to change the outcome of what was to come any transmission from the WarShip would give away their position and end any chance of this mission being a success.
Nearly twelve hours later the DropShip Harbin made its move breaking out of the regular space lanes heading directly for the shipyard Gerry Harper had remained in the Sceptre’s command centre and watched intently as the holotank image updated as his people made their move.  Two of the Sceptre’s aerospace fighter pilots launched soon after the Habin made its move the pilots had volunteered and their initial actions would be critical to the Habin’s success.  The pair of Jengiz Aerospace Fighters pulled off away from the Harbin and rapidly shooting down a flight of four Taurian fighters which had been tasked with guarding the space lanes and keeping ships in their correct positions.  With these fighters destroyed/disabled the two eighty-ton Clan OmniFighters swung around matching formation with the Harbin which was now three hours from the shipyards.

The three hours were the longest three hours of Gerry Harper’s life sitting in the Sceptre’s control he watched as the Holotank updated with sensor telemetry on the distant DropShip and aerospace fighters.  The Tug and Tigress craft had also changed course turning back towards the shipyard ignoring the continued calls for help from the Konstantin who themselves had changed position and were maintaining contact via a communication relay.

The Harbin charged in on the shipyards at nearly three gravities of acceleration the craft moving up an over the shipyards as aerospace fighters, small craft and DropShips manoeuvred to engage.  The two Sceptre aerospace fighters stayed with the Harbin initially before breaking off to assault a Union-class DropShip while causing heavy damage to the craft the two Jengiz aircraft were rapidly surrounded by Taurian craft and were soon disabled but their attack had done enough for the Harbin to move into position.  Pushing the ship’s engines to their limit the Harbin’s crew had brought the craft over the facility remaining close enough for defence emplacements to struggle to hit them while also scanning for and finding the warehouse district.  With Taurian Tigress type craft closing in on them from all sides the main cargo bay doors of the Harbin opened and fifty Battle Armour equipped Elementals, the Sceptre’s entire marine complement, dropped from the craft onto the shipyard’s hull two of the Elementals were vaporized by weapons fire from the defenders but the other forty-eight landed on the shipyard and used breaching explosives to gain access to the facility.  Above the Harbin attempted to accelerate away but already the DropShip had suffered heavy damage and the sudden burst of acceleration was too much for the old DropShip inside the craft something failed sending the Harbin into an unrecoverable spin which took the ship over the facility towards a fuel storage facility the Leopard-class vessel slammed into the fuel tanks its mass and velocity enough to breach them and cause a massive explosion causing several decompressions.  As safety features failed explosions rippled through the facility causing severe damage to nearby accommodation facilities resulting in hundreds of deaths with thousands more at risk.

Burning their way inside the space station the Elementals quickly created a perimeter facing outwards their weapons raised.  From both sides Taurians in environmental suits approached the armoured Clansmen damaging several suits with small arms fire and the Elementals retaliated showing why the genetically engineered soldiers were so feared.  Inside the perimeter Star Commander Quinn Shu commanded her marines while consulting their sensor images.  “Point four you have lead” she commanded “we will locate the warehouses and secure them for the Konstantin to move in.”  She said as the lead Elementals of Point four took a step in the microgravity gunning down several Taurian marines but also taking several laser hits.  Behind them the other Elementals moved forwards down the corridor.
As the Sceptre’s marines moved through the facility they found that the Taurian Space Defence Forces had prepared for this eventuality when they designed the Sterope Shipyards.  While the Elementals could outgun any of the marines individually the Taurians had several “choke” points where they could use cover to even the fight and there were several areas where the Taurians could shoot through specially designed points of the wall.  With these surprises set up three elementals of Point four were down already their suit’s breached and their warriors suffocated.

“Point four right step point three take lead” Shu commanded moments later the remaining two members of Point Four stepped out of the way allowing the fresh point to take the lead.  “Point Three switch to explosive delivery” she commanded instead of the restrained effort the Elementals had been making as one of them stepped around the corner he fired both of the suit’s shoulder-mounted short range missile launchers into one of the Taurian’s defence points blowing up several defenders causing heavy damage to the corridor.  “Konstantin, Shu, we are experiencing heavy resistance mission outcome doubtful without heavy casualties.”  She reported.
“Shu, Konstantin, we’re inbound BattleMechs prepared for boarding” the DropShip replied.

Deeper in the system Gerry Harper looked the situation and saw the prospect of his entire marine force and BattleMech unit lost in one battle.  “Lankenu, bring us out of the shadow.  Engineering jump us to the shipyards.”  The crew looked at him “this was always an option.  Battle stations, set ship wide battle stations.”  He commanded as the Sceptre began to accelerate the ship’s weapons and sensors powered to full strength giving away their position.

The Konstantin rapidly moved over the shipyard depositing two binaries of BattleMechs onto the facility.  From there the BattleMechs began to rake the space around the shipyard targeting aerospace forces and small craft who were obiting.  As they moved across the hull the BattleMechs shot out Taurian defence points as well.

Blowing through a set of pressure doors Shu and the other Elementals forced themselves into the warehouse section and began scanning the munitions, armour sections, heat sinks and weapon systems.  “Shu to Konstantin, we have as much as we need in this section.”  She transmitted but moments later her suit was struck by several bursts of weapons fire.  Shu reacted instinctively moving to the side into cover as did many other Elementals.  “One-one, no breach I repeat no breach.”  She said transmitted glancing out seeing the Taurians had set up two defence turrets in the warehouse and the Taurians had waited for them to enter before firing.  On the other side of the warehouse two more turrets opened up on the Elementals position damaging several more suits.  “Konstantin, we need some more support!”  Shu called out transmitting the position of one of the turrets.

On the hull of the shipyard Stefan Banacek received the same coordinates “Banacek to Konstantin, we can take it.”  He said changing to the general frequency so Shu could hear as well.  “We can take it.”  He said transmitting the coordinates to four other BattleMechs who turned their weapons on a section of hull on the shipyard and opened fire targeting a section of hull off to their right battering the hull plating.  “Another volley we’ll be through” Banacek transmitted.

“Understood we are holding position.”  Shu replied as explosions continued behind her.  As Banacek took aim again there was a massive flash of light which felt like it was all around them a wave of energy seemed to pour over Banacek’s Blood Asp and the other Mechs and the MechWarrior fought to keep control.  Blinking his eyes rapidly Banacek looked at the sensor feed and saw his Mech’s systems were trying to make sense of a multi-thousand-ton object which had suddenly appeared above them.

“It’s a WarShip!”  He shouted a warning as waves of rockets began launching from the vessel down on them “pull back, pull back!”  He shouted as his OmniMech was struck by more than twenty rockets he fought the momentum of the Mech as it wanted to fall.  Beside him a Shadow Hawk and a Nova did not fair so well losing their footing the BattleMechs began to drift away from the hull.  “MOVE!” He now screamed as another wave of fire fell on the Mechs “Shu, you’re on your own, we’re totally defensive!  The Taurians just pulled in a Congress II which looks like it’s seen better days and been heavily modified!”  He said as his sensors began to make sense of it only because his Mech once belonged to the Snow Ravens was the Battle computer able to identify the WarShip.

On board the Sceptre the crew worked rapidly at making sense of the situation and preparing the ship for an inter-system jump.  “It’s a Congress II, Federated Suns registry, FSS Jason Hasek.”

   â€œSo the Taurians roll their final dice.”  Gerry Harper replied “helm, bring us in position above them pass to Banacek that we are inbound his people need to stay down.”

   â€œThe WarShip is already seeing to that…”

   â€œReady to jump, sir” Amanda Lankenu said reporting that the Sceptre was in position and that its engines were primed.

   â€œVery well, weapons batteries stand-by to fire following our emergence, helm jump the ship.”  He commanded throughout the ship a siren sounded and then rapidly the vessel fired its jump-drive and launched the ship into a jump which took it across the system in a blink of the eye.

   Moments after the jump had been triggered the Sceptre arrived near the shipyards above the recently arrived Jason Hasek.  As the Sceptre orientated itself against the larger Congress II while the Jason Hasek was a larger ship the Sceptre was in far better condition and from the jump was in a better position with its broadside orientated at the Congress’ aft section.  Naval lasers and autocannons “fell” down on the Congress’ aft section smashing armour and engine exhausts while the Congress only had a few lighter model naval autocannons to reply from.

   â€œWere not expecting that were you?”  Harper commented as some of Sceptre’s fire went wide and slammed into the shipyard below causing secondary explosions.  As the Sceptre continued to fire on the Congress two massive capital missiles slammed into the vessel’s forward hull below the Congress began a lazy turn.

   â€œKrakens” Tom from the engineering section said “they threw up a volley of rockets distracted our AMS and then hit us.”  As the Congress continued to turn more Krakens fired from the ship’s forward section along with more rockets.

   â€œHow many did they fit onto that blasted ship?”  Another commented

   â€œWeps set AMS to ignore rockets concentrate on the capital missiles.  All weapons on the Congress have our remaining fighters target the Taurians.”  Harper commanded the Sceptre continued to pound the Congress but as it turned now they faced fresh armour on the other vessel along with further naval autocannons which opened up on the Sceptre causing heavy armour damage.  Unfortunately, it was too little too late for the Taurian vessel as the Sceptre’s near constant barrage of naval lasers penetrated the vessel’s armour causing more and more internal damage enough now that entire sections of the vessel were exposed to vacuum.

   â€œThey are losing power and helm control.”

   â€œUnderstood continue to fire”

   â€œElementals are still looking for support”

   â€œRedirect aerospace fighters to the station have them provide support fire.”  Harper commanded as the Sceptre finished off the Congress II the aerospace fighters dived into the station blowing open a section to space.  “Have Konstantin and our small craft redirect to the station collect our BattleMech force and begin to load supplies.”

Below the Sceptre the Congress began to tumble out of control as the Sceptre’s fire severed links between the ship’s command and control and main engines.  The remaining small craft and aerospace fighters continued to attack the Sceptre but their attacks were now far more diminished.

“CAPITAL MISSILES!”  Rickie shouted as nearly a dozen missiles appeared from another angle.

“Engines to full, try to throw them off, anti-missile fire against all capital missiles.”  Harper commanded bringing the vessel up tp thrust moving it away from its previous position attempting to throw off the incoming missiles if any of them were nuclear then they’d be in trouble.

As the Sceptre suddenly began to accelerate the first three missiles went wide slamming into the shipyard none of them were nuclear armed but one must have hit something combustible as there were several secondary explosions.  “Have our marines be ready to evacuate!”  He called out as he saw the Sceptre’s anti-missile systems swat six more of the capital missiles while an aerospace fighter intercepted another.  “Sensors, find the ships that launched those missiles!”  He demanded hopping they’d find them before they fired again.

“Three Mule-class vessels which appear to have been modified with capital weapons.”

“Helm take us to them now!”  He said as the sensors detected several more missile launches.

“No” Harper whispered before regaining his composure “helm, random manoeuvres change our speed and all counter-measures fire on missiles.”  He said the Sceptre’s movements became completely random causing trouble for all of the crew and systems several of the capital missiles went wide again.  “They should be getting closer than that” he said as three missiles struck the WarShip fortunately all were conventional warheads and only caused armour damage.  As Harper watches the Sceptre’s gunners destroy the DropShips two aerospace fighters destroyed the remaining two capital missiles causing a large nuclear explosion which wiped out the two craft.  “There is no way they only had one, scanners on the wreckage, I want to know if any of their warheads survived.”

After several hours of work thousands of tons of supplies, food, spare parts, fuel and ammunition were loaded from the shipyards onto the Sceptre.  While their marines kept the Taurians at bay long enough to for them all to evacuate onto the WarShip.  From the Mules the Sceptre’s crew recovered four nuclear warheads while from the Congress they salvaged as much ammunition from the ship as they could.
“What now?” Stefan Banacek asked returning to the WarShip he now stood in the vessel’s command centre having lost four of his BattleMechs and their warriors in the fight.  Overall their losses had been lighter than they expected over the Harbin with four aerospace fighters lost, two small craft crippled and sixteen Elemental Battle Armour suits damaged with six lost.

“You do not leave an enemy stronghold at your back.”  Harper said and with that the Sceptre’s broadside battery opened fire with naval lasers battering the shipyard below.  Already damaged the shipyards began crumpling under the assault.  Inside two of the construction bays two partially completed Hyades-class Corvettes exploded within the facility causing even more damage.  “How let’s get the hell out of here.”  Harper said watching the crippled facility begin to fall into Sterope’s atmosphere below there would be little to stop it now, behind the shipyards the remains of the Jason Hasek would also probably end up inside in the planet’s atmosphere.

Within days of the announcement of the attack and the shipyards destruction the Taurian Government declare all Clan forces as pirate forces and order a nationwide hunt for the Sceptre.  Rescue ships head to the world of Sterope but the world is now little more than a dying one.

Terrorist Attacks
Liao, Acamar PDZ
Capellan March, Federated Suns
6th June 3111

   Across the world of Liao there are eight terrorist strikes reaching from cyber attacks, to vehicle bombs and gun attacks.  The attacks cause mass casualties in several locations with riots following in several locations across the world.  The AFFS and MIIO move across the world to quell the disturbances that follow but the world is still a troubled one.

Thirty-Eighth Star League Games
Solaris VII, Isle of Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
14th June 3111

   The Thirty-Eighth Star League Games begins on Solaris VII with the usual fan fair associated with the games that immediately predates the regular Solaris season.  With many state sponsored fighters involved in the battle the regular Solaris fighters generally avoided the battle but Dichen LeFranc chose to become involved.  Originally born in the Federated Suns and piloting a common Lyran Heavy BattleMech, the Falconer, LeFranc out manoeuvres his opponents and claims victory in the games leading to much speculation that he will do well in the coming season.

World War
Port Arthur, Twin Sons
District of Lenovo, Free Worlds League
19th June 3111

   Looking at the screens Lt Colonel Petra Furey watched as the reports came in as the Northern States of Cameron Marik and the Allied States of John Marik pushed into the Badlands engaging each other.  “They are beginning a conflict that will engulf this world, Colonel” she said glancing at her immediate superior Colonel Timon Hanzo.

   â€œBecause they are afraid” Hanzo said looking at Petra “of what we are becoming.”   He said “deploy our garrison, have them hold at the outer marker and target anyone who comes near us.”

   â€œWe cannot hold against all of them.”

   â€œNeg” Hanzo said agreeing with her while she was young she learned quickly and had a near fanatical support from their men.  He knew her bloodline and would not cross her but he would teach her all he knew “we will turn them against each other if this conflict continues for any length of time.”  He said “firstly we will protect this enclave and those we have sworn to protect then when the time is right we will make sure that they target the right places.”

   â€œWith the Streaking Mist?”

   â€œOnly if it comes to it, orbital bombardment will not be our first strategy” he said “we will not repeat Turtle Bay.  Instead we will allow their armies to destroy each other and then bring this world under a single governing body.”  He said Furey nodded her agreement with Hanzo.

Above Davetal III
Nova Cat territory
Taurian Concordat
23rd June 3111

   Above the world of Davetal III aerospace fighters and DropShips fought and died as the Taurian Concordat launched a full offensive on the Nova Cat held territory deep within their nation.  With the attack on Sterope the Taurian government considered all Clansmen to be enemies of the state and were lashing out at their nearest opponents.  As the fighters fought specialist Taurian marines assaulted and boarded the Nova Cat Carrack-class Light in the Abyss.  Fighting against the mostly merchant crew on board the vessel the Taurians seize control of the vessel and then pilot the craft out of the system.

Although there was no ground battle between the Taurians and Nova Cats the Taurian attack without an official Trial or Batchall essentially is a declaration of war between the two factions.

Clan Territory
Glory, Kerensky Cluster
Clan Homeworlds
25th June 3111

   Walking across the burned grass Khan Alex Lassenem approached the harbour front along with several other members of the Blood Spirit and Goliath Scorpion Clans.  At the waterfront Goliath Scorpion Khan Ingo Yeh stood watching as Clan Elementals escorted the Society crews of the three docked Whisperer-class Tactical Submarines from their ships.  “A great day” Alex said looking at the other Khan “Glory is ours today because of the joint efforts of our Clans.”

   â€œAff, Khan Lassenem I agree, interesting toys the Society built.”  He said indicating to the three submarines and the smaller escort craft.  For the last three weeks the Blood Spirits and Goliath Scorpions had hunted for them while they attacked Clan held positions but eventually all it took was for the Clans to close down on their remaining ground based contacts and wait them out until they ran out of food.

   â€œAff, but with their surrender the Society’s final hold is broken.”

   â€œUntil they return and fight us off or bombard us from space.”

   â€œWe have control over the SDS systems with the capture of the Caraxes it will give them further pause before attacking.”  He suggested Ingo Yeh nodded his agreement.

   â€œUnfortunately, the Caraxes places another question…” he said he saw Alex begin to speak but he raised his hand slowly silencing him.  “Khan Lessenem the vessel is undoubtably a Blood Spirit asset, I will not argue this, my people had no hand in capturing it nor do we have the resources to crew it.”  He said “but you have to ask yourself how does a Mississippi-class vessel come to be in Society hands?  We know it was built here in the homeworlds but it was designed in the Inner Sphere where did they learn how to build her?”

   â€œYou are suggesting that the Inner Sphere Clans still have members of the Society within their ranks?”

   â€œAff, we may weaken the Society here but if they continue to thrive in the Inner Sphere this conflict could be a very long one.”

   â€œWe are here for the duration we will stop them completely.”  Alex Lassenem said confidently Glory would be the first of many such victories.