OBT Forum

"War and Hope"

Hot Drop
Babylon, Pentagon Worlds
Deep Periphery
9th August 3107

   â€œOkay listen up boys and girls the Fourteenth have been pushed, battered and beaten but they are still standing on Babylon.”  Alex said sitting in his Conjurer’s cockpit as it was carried towards Babylon’s surface inside the DropShip.   Alex glanced around the small cockpit of his fifty ton BattleMech looking for the worlds the BattleMech had never seen war, it was a brand-new variant of the Conjurer built within the last six months to support operations against the Society, it had no stories to tell and no words to give up.  “We are all in this together let’s make sure the Fourteenth know that.”  He commanded cutting off the link as the DropShip began to rumble as hit the atmosphere.  “Here we go” he announced a couple of moments later looking at his sensors which were connected to the DropShip’s.  Outside the DropShip aerospace fighters rose through the atmosphere heading towards the DropShip “at four hundred metres jumpers go, secure our LZ, the rest of us when we land we get out of the DropShip we hit the Society hard.  We are going to locate the Fourteenth and allow them to ex-filtrate to the DropShip then we get ourselves out.  I want you all to get back on board the DropShip.”  He said as the DropShip came closer to the ground he knew if there was heavy Society resistance they wouldn’t all be coming back he’d already lost some as the aerospace fighters belonging to the Clan and to the Society continued to fight and die in the air.

“Jumpers go!”  He commanded watching metres tick by from the DropShip’s Mechbay a binary of BattleMechs and OmniMechs, carrying a star of Power Armoured Elemental troops and a star of ProtoMechs dropped from the Overlord-C heading towards the ground.  In an ideal world Alex would have had three full trinaries of OmniMechs to use from a DropShip of this size but this was not an ideal world instead all he had beyond what had just dropped from the DropShip was a second binary of ten ground-bound BattleMechs including his own Mech.  Alex watched the sensor feed as the BattleMechs and ProtoMechs fell around them aerospace fighters circled and ready to pounce.  Alex watched the sensors helpless as the Society aerospace fighters strafed his falling BattleMechs and ProtoMechs as they fell several of the battle armoured troopers, who were riding on board the OmniMechs, were knocked off the Mechs killed by the attack.  “For the cause” Alex whispered so his microphone wouldn’t pick up the words then louder fortunately the Mechs had all survived but the Elementals that had been hit were gone “ground force stand-by” he said as the DropShip rocked to a landing “go, go, go!”  He commanded throttling his BattleMech forward the Overlord’s doors opened as soon as the DropShip landed “Alpha Deployment, Alpha deployment!”  He commanded moving his Conjurer onto the ground already a battle was fully engaged between the forces that had dropped in and the Society forces already on planet.  Alex moved his BattleMech into the firing line immediately targeting a Septicemia OmniMech with his Conjurer’s LB X-class autocannon, short range lasers and one of his two large lasers.  Immediately there was a small spike in heat in the cockpit but Alex was glad to see the right arm of the enemy Mech fall off the OmniMech a burned and broken shadow of what it was before.

   Alongside Alex’s Conjurer an allied Shadow Hawk IIC stepped up alongside and unloaded its weapons into the target followed by the particle cannons from an Adder OmniMech.  The combination of the three Clan Mechs targeting the single Septicemia brought the enemy OmniMech down quickly.  “Adam, April kill it” he commanded the Shadow Hawk and Adder pilots the old laws of Zellbrigen had been forgotten by the Clan in its conflict with the Society neither of his sibmates ignored the command or hesitated.  With the Septicemia dealt with Alex had a moment to look at his sensors and take stock of what was happening he saw there were at least two Society Treys in the immediate area.  “Team One, step away from the line, we are a go” he said turning his BattleMech backwards turning away from the Society Mechs and towards the east “Team Two, keep the back door open Star Captain Jorgensson you are in command” he said.  The operation was simple Alex’s team would locate what remained of the Fourteenth while the other group of Clan Mechs and Battle Armour would remain and defend the DropShip.

   Around Alex a binary of BattleMechs and all of the remaining ProtoMechs ran through Babylon’s forests charging towards the last known position of the Fourteenth.  “Lima Fourteen, I repeat Lima Fourteen, this is Lima Two, repeat Lima Two, we are on Gamma and ready for Echo.  Charlie Oscar I repeat Charlie Oscar.”  He called out on an open channel the code words were generalized and would be picked out by their enemy but it was all they could do.  Smashing his fifty ton BattleMech through tree branches Alex caught a glance of something moving off to his right “Lima Fourteen?”  He called out raising his Mech’s right arm which held the autocannon aiming it at the sighting.

   â€œDown sir” the warrior said as Alex’s BattleMech cleared the trees the words hit Alex as if he had run into a brick wall.  As his Conjurer cleared the trees he saw a battered sixty-five ton Ebon Jaguar bearing the Clan’s insignia barely standing after the beating it had taken.

   â€œHow many… how many are left?”  Alex struggled scanning the area around the allied OmniMech.

   â€œTwenty-one of us including a few support staff” the warrior said the words hit him as hard as the words confirming Mike Lassenem’s passing the Fourteenth had over one hundred staff including techs and support staff the command had been completely shattered in seven months of fighting against the Society.  “Sir, Lassenem gave me the Intelligence file he said that you would come for it.”

   â€œWe came for you” Alex said stepping his Mech forward allowing his words to sink in with the other pilot he was aware of another Mech in close proximity glancing at his sensors he saw it was Elrick’s Summoner.  Alex switched comm. channels onto his own units “Elrick situation report” he commanded.

   â€œSir, fighters are holding the air but we are running out of time.  We think there is the equivalent of a Society Cluster being mobilized to track down us and what is left of the Fourteenth.”  The older warrior reported with Alex’s promotion to Cluster command Elrick had finally received his promotion to Star Captain making him one of Alex’s most senior warriors a fact that he often reminded the younger Star Colonel.

   â€œThere is not much left of the Fourteenth, we are pulling them out in one go.  Pass word to orbit we will squeeze them into our DropShip” he commanded overloading the DropShip would be frowned on but given that he hadn’t come to Babylon with a full unit the additional units and people shouldn’t stress the old Overlord too much.  He switched back to the general frequency “your people need to be ready to move now, Quiaff?”

   â€œAff this way” the other warrior replied the broken Ebon Jaguar turning leading deeper into the undergrowth.

   â€œStar Captain have our lighter elements spread out in this undergrowth their eyes will be more useful than our sensors.  And pass to all of Team Two keep an eye on the Fourteenth something feels off.”  He said watching the Ebon Jaguar move despite its damage the OmniMech was moving very smoothly and each time Alex tried to scan the OmniMech his Conjurer’s systems were jammed by interference something that shouldn’t happen between friendly units.  The entered a clearing and Alex stopped short in the middle of the clearing there was Star Colonel Mike Lassenem’s battered Blood Asp OmniMech standing to attention its cockpit completely caved in the OmniMech was like a statue without its pilot silently facing an Osteon OmniMech painted in Society colours between the two OmniMechs was a pair of wires and hanging from the wires were bodies, at least two dozen of them.

   â€œYour precious Fourteenth all that remains of Clan…” the Ebon Jaguar pilot began to say just as Alex triggered all of his weapons into the back of the heavy OmniMech.  At this range there was no chance of missing the target every shot went straight into the back of the Ebon Jaguar knocking through the armour and internal structure shattering the fusion engine and gyro inside in seconds.  Safety systems quickly activated powering down the OmniMech as it fell to the ground destroyed.  Beside him Elrick was already firing on the Osteon but Alex could see more units coming in from in front of them and he could hear the ProtoMech pilots calling in that they were being engaged by Clan forces on all sides.

   â€œFall back all units fall back to the DropShip!”  Alex screamed firing his autocannon, missiles and one of his large lasers as quickly as they would cycle was he began to pull back the Conjurer.  “Star Captain I said fall back” Alex commanded seeing Elrick and two other Mechs accelerating forwards engaging the enemy.

   â€œWe will Colonel after you withdraw, you are the future of our Clan Alex, I am a solahma we are ready for this. FOR THE CAUSE!”  Elrick shouted continuing to fire his weapons on the heavier Osteon.  The massively armoured OmniMech standing up to the punishment as other Mechs arrived to support it Alex could see the bodies of the members of the Fourteenth had fall to the ground while the Blood Asp continued to stand strong.

   â€œYou stubborn old man” Alex cursed “none of you will not be forgotten” Alex promised Elrick continuing to withdraw as one of the Mechs standing with the Star Captain’s Summoner was knocked to the ground under fire from several Society units.  “Team One firing retreat cover your partners let’s go” he said turning his Mech withdrawing into the undergrowth.  Like the others Alex twisted his BattleMech’s turret styled torso to fire on the enemy units while withdrawing along an irregular route it made for a longer distance and slower retreat but it also made them a harder target.  Elrick and the others fell quickly after Alex had withdrawn several of the ProtoMech pilots and two light BattleMechs had continuously attacked the incoming Society units keeping them off balance as they advanced it was suicide for Alex’s units but if they didn’t do it then none of them would escape.

   Clearing the trees Alex turned directly towards the DropShip he saw many of the units he had left guarding the DropShip were already boarding the DropShip.  “Star Captain Jorgennson you heard I assume?”

   â€œAff, Star Colonel, nasty business.”  The Elemental warrior confirmed Alex noted that he still stood outside the DropShip along with most of the battle armour.

   â€œIs our own nasty business in place?”  Alex asked he noticed a simple green light acknowledgement from Jorgennson and assumed the Elemental was busy talking to someone else so continued.  “Understood, when you are ready Star Captain Jorgennson deliver our presents.”  Alex commanded seeing the last of his units return to the landing zone.  Moments later the entire tree line for three hundred metres in every direction was engulfed in a massive napalm explosion the fire would burn for three days if not tackled by the Society and would be enough to keep all but the most nimble of enemy units at bay.  “There is nothing left for us here all units withdraw.  They have won today but we will win this war.”  Alex said with Mike Lassenem’s death the words felt hollow they had failed to recover any intelligence for the planet, failed to rescue any members of the Fourteenth and failed to ex-filtrate one of their Clan’s most respected Cluster commanders.  This was a defeat on every level and today Alex was not sure if even he believed they could stop the Society perhaps the Clans were right perhaps their future was in the Inner Sphere.

The Omni's mentioned above are all Society designs from Wars of Reaving

Society Work Base 6 Alpha
Babylon City, Babylon
Pentagon Worlds, Deep Periphery
9th March 3108

   After six months working with the Society Alex Lassenem he had learned a lot about the Society and how they ruled.  While the Society was very good at hiding things and working around rules put in place by the Clans but they were very poor at detecting those working against them from the inside.  Alex had learned that once you were into a Society group they trusted you as one of them Alex’s unit had been described as never-do-well Clan warriors who wished to be on top of the new order. 

In the six months they had done well with the Society with only two minor incidents the first had been the most dangerous when MechWarrior Flynn, one of the Septicemia pilots, had hesitated in firing her weapons to disperse a crowd of civilians who were protesting about delayed food shipments to Babylon.  When the scientist had ordered the firing for a second time Flynn had fired her OmniMech’s pulse weapons roughly a metre over the crowd quickly dispersing the civilians.  Their scientist commander had wanted the weapons into the crowd but had accepted the results.  The second had been closer to exposing what his unit were doing on Babylon when MechWarrior Sylvester, the Cephalus pilot, had been pulled up by the scientists over his constant trips down the same route.  Sylvester had explained he was visiting a local brothel, following the course of human nature, the scientists had investigated Sylvester’s claim and found he was telling the truth he had been visiting the brothel and exchanging credits for their services.  Soon after the scientists had announced that all warriors who wished to visit the brothels were welcome to as long as they did so in their own time giving Alex’s team an excuse to drop data along that route when they wanted to.

During the time on Babylon Alex and his team had learned much about the Society and its workings the Scientists controlled everything but the warriors were given a lot of leeway in what they did.  The MechWarriors while given little authority over what they did on the field were allowed to do whatever they wanted in their personal time, much like in regular Clan society, they were given the best of food and kept in the best physical shape.  Alex suspected that this was due to the fact that there were only twenty-two MechWarriors on the planet outside his own unit of six.  While aerospace fighter pilots were as important as the MechWarriors the majority of them remained in space or on their bases and Alex had not encountered them much.  The ProtoMech Warriors were the strangest of the lot while numerous they were also the most detached Alex had yet to hold a single conversation outside of training or combat.  When off duty if they were not eating they remained inside their ProtoMechs constantly as one with the machine.  The Armour crews were the most numerous of all of the Society warriors with the numbers of armoured vehicles he had seen enough to give the most loyal Hell’s Horses warrior a wet dream.  The crews were treated well but because of their number they were seen as lest prestigious as the MechWarriors.  And the last group of their warriors were the Infantry.  While unarmoured infantry guarded most bases and were numerous the Battle Armoured Elementals were far more rare and were only seen at the most important encounters. 

One thing that may explain the lack of Elementals and their Power Armour was something Alex had overheard when assisting in moving equipment in the command bunker was that the Society had lost its source of HarJel when renegade Goliath Scorpion Warriors and Sea Fox traders had brought eight nuclear weapons to Hoard one of the primary sources of HarJel in the Cluster.  The nuclear fire had reacted badly to the atmosphere and Hoard’s surface had burned if the Society reports were to be believed it was now a dead world.  Without HarJel to repair the battle damage to Elemental Power Armour it would make the Society’s Elementals far more susceptible to losses in the field.  The information had already been sent off Babylon to be analysed by the Clan’s experts unfortunately that was all that seemed to be happening.  Whatever reason Alex was here so far the Clan had not reacted to the intelligence gathered instead all he and his team could do is continue to gather data.

Laying on his bed he heard the handle on the door of his room creek as someone turned it quickly he grabbed one of the Society’s “Warrior books” and pretended to read it just as Scientist Leader Sophie O’Brien stepped in.  She was young perhaps twenty-five years old and she was their primary handler and interface with the leadership of the Society on Babylon.  While Alex found her attractive she had an annoying ability to be able to read people.  “Group Commander Alex I hope I am not interrupting you?”  She asked standing in the door way looking at the book.

“No just catching up on my reading” Alex said lifting the book.

“What is your favourite part?”  She asked Alex knew she was trying to trip him up so decided to show her up.

“If Nicholas Kerensky, the Great Founder of us all, had been more of a Scientist than a Warrior REVIVAL would have been far more successful.”  He began seeing she was impressed “as soon as the warrior caste successfully secured the planets we should have begun the systematic round up and execution of all planetary politicians, the sick, deformed, old and infirm.  This action would have broken these planets’s resistance and pacified the populations allowing us to move forward quickly from system to system.”  He said reciting the words from the book.

“The late Etienne Balzac” she said recognizing the words stepping into the room “you are an impressive man Alex” she said looking at him with a smile “I am not the only one who has noticed.”  She said continuing to give him a disarming smile “which is why I have come here to warn you Scientist General Michael Gibson will be coming here.”  She announced Alex’s attempt to cover his surprise failed as he immediately thought of looking across the street on Fasa at the Scientist General.  “Yes, I was as surprised but with your team things should run very smoothly” she said “and with that both your team and mine would be well rewarded.”  She suggested Alex nodded while Sophie continued to smile withdrawing backwards out of his room pulling the door slowly closed.  Alex continued to read the scientist dribble for several moments before reaching for his micro-transmitter into the small machine he typed a small message.

“AFTER MUSTER ;)” before sending the message.

At 1830 the six MechWarriors, three times as many ProtoMech pilots and many more armoured warriors appeared in front of the Scientist leadership including Sophie O’Brien.  After they were shown to be attending Alex marched straight over towards MechWarrior Laurel grabbing her around the waste drawing her into an embrace intentionally kissing her in front of the scientists.  They knew that the warriors needed personal contact and with Alex kissing Laurel it would hopefully give Sophie O’Brien the message he wanted to send.  Since the two were off duty they headed directly towards Alex’s quarters where the two of them spent the next several hours despite the intentional public show of affection being aimed at driving off Sophie O’Brien Alex had to admit he also enjoyed it.

“So he is coming here?  That must be our target” Laurel said as they lay in bed.  “But we have sent the data dump for this week.”

“Aff” Alex said he was laying behind her on the bed “we need an excuse to send a second data dump.”  He said “tomorrow when we go out on patrol we will go up Atacon Pass” he said “we will pass over the loose rocks we saw the other week I will intentionally lose control over the Mech and fall down the slope.  Before you guys can return with the lifting gear I will slip away to the relay point and send the message.”  He said

“The damage to your Mech could cause you your position.”  She said “I have a superior plan.  I will use my OmniMech’s jump jets to slow my fall.”  She said leaning into him “I will not be able to jump back up from there and will have to go the long way that should being me close enough to the transmitter to send a data dump.”

“It is risky” he said kissing her bare shoulder “you think you can control the fall?”

“Better than you could in that monster” she pointed out “I can do it but first we make the most of tonight” she said turning around towards him under the covers.

Patrol Route
Atacon Pass, Babylon
Pentagon Worlds, Deep Periphery
10th March 3108

   The next day things were going exactly as the two of them had predicted as they moved through the pass Alex had ordered Laurel not to tell the others their part in the plan.  When they passed over the rocks Sylvester called out the loose rocks the same as he always did and everyone acknowledged them.  Unable to use the jump jets in the tight confines the pass Laurel maneuvered her Septicemia through the pass intentionally standing on the unstable rocks suddenly they gave way and the fifty-five ton OmniMech slipped “OH HELL!”  She shouted out as her Mech fell onto its chest smashing armour plates before the legs went over the edge the other Septicemia pilot moved to assist but Laurel screamed at Flynn to stay back “NO WE’LL BOTH GO OVER” she warned “I’ve got this” she said as the Mech went over she expertly turned her Mech so its back armour was scrapping against the loose rocks while cutting in the OmniMech’s jump jets slowing the fall until she reached the ground below.

   â€œAre you alright?”  Alex asked his OmniMech had been anchoring the column at the back and he’d seen it all.

   â€œAff, stavag I mean yes” she said correcting herself the Scientists did not like the Clan’s Aff, Neg and their interrogatives Quiaff and Quineg.  “Light armour damage and a smashed hand actuator.”  She reported “unfortunately I will not get back up from here.”  She said sounding so disappointed.

   â€œCircle back through the forest” Alex ordered “return to base yourself we will return after the patrol.”  Mentioning the forest should tip off the other MechWarriors that she was heading towards the relay station while the rest of them completing their patrol would cover for her absence.

   Several hours later Alex and Laurel stood with Scientist Leader Sophie O’Brien watching the gun camera footage of Laurel’s Septicemia as she smashed through the trees of Babylon a silver communications dish on a tower stood out.  The Septicemia’s torso twisted to the left and then to the right covering the full rotation before locking on the tower firing its main weapons destroying the tower O’Brien froze the image.  “Please explain your actions, MechWarrior.”  She said looking at Laurel

   â€œI believed it was a Clan intelligence gathering tower” the MechWarrior explained “I scanned the area for Clan contacts then eliminated the target.”

   â€œYou could have secured it for future study by our people.”  O’Brien pressed the point for a moment.

   â€œNe… No I could not” Laurel said quickly catching herself “I moved through the forests from an unplanned point and had no guarantee I could lead a team back through that area.”  She said looking at Alex who nodded “eliminating the target reduced the rebels’ ability to communicate giving us a better chance at eliminating them.”

   â€œI see” O’Brien said “Group Commander she is your responsibility” she said delegating disciplinary action to Alex.

   â€œYes, I believe she was correct” he said knowing that O’Brien would know they had been involved physically and that he would protect her.  “The more we can cut off the clan rebels from each other the easier they will be to destroy.”

   â€œFine dismissed” she said allowing them both to leave as they returned to their quarters Alex leaned towards Laurel.

   â€œI assume you transmitted the data before you fired?”

   â€œAff, I knew she would check my gun footage” Laurel replied “I had no option but to destroy the tower.”  She said as they continued entering Alex’s quarters.

   â€œAff, you did well.”  He agreed as they both slipped down onto the bed “now let us hope things go the way we want.”  With them together again so soon after the incident it should be the perfect cover for Laurel’s actions and Alex’s decision to protect her.  Now they had to wait and see if Scientist General Gibson was the Clan’s target.

Society Work Base 6 Alpha,
Babylon, Pentagon Worlds
Deep Periphery
1st April 3108

   A week passed as in a blink of an eye and very soon Scientist General Michael Gibson was on the planet of Babylon.  With news reports hailing his arrival as a great day for Babylon in a speech Gibson promised to clean up the Wastelands of the “Clan Menace” and the wastelands they had created.  It made Alex Lassenem sick to his stomach listening to the Scientist General speak but perhaps at the same time he was worried about what was to come very soon Gibson’s motorcade began its tour towards the Wastelands arriving at Work Base 6 Alpha.  Alex’s forces were in position “Scientist Leader O’Brien you may situate yourself wherever you wish” he said watching her Septicemia move at the rear of their formation.

   â€œI will shadow MechWarrior Laurel” she said “you are the expert in this arena Group Commander I will follow your commands to the best of my abilities.”

   â€œUnderstood” Alex said watching as the heavily armed convoy moved towards them the lead two OmniMechs were a pair of Cephalus each carrying what looked like Battle Armour troopers, next were a pair of Osteons, three heavily armoured limousine transports and a special looking Septicemia with appeared to be transporting a large communication dish.  Beyond the gates of the base Alex knew the ProtoMech and armour units of Gibson’s escort were around the base along with the other bodyguard units.  Flynn stood at the entrance to the base allowing the convoy to enter as they did ten Battle Armour trooper jumped from the backs of the Caphalus.

   â€œOh hell Gnomes!” Sylvester said seeing the Elementals drop to the ground.

   â€œWhat was that MechWarrior Sylvester?”  Scientist General Sophie O’Brien asked cutting in she sounded confused at why Sylvester was annoyed at seeing the heavy Battle Armour suit.  Alex immediately overruled her communication system.

   â€œThis is Star Colonel Alex Lassenem, FOR THE CAUSE!”  He announced his words were a command as well as an announcement.  Instantly two things happened in every cockpit the MechWarriors switched to a planned alternate frequency and executed their fire orders.

Flynn instantly fired two particle cannon blasts into the back of the strange looking Septicemia smashing through the Mech’s back armour, structure and engine shielding instantly shutting down the OmniMech.

Sylvester’s OmniMech, which was normally unarmed, opened fire with its retrofitted heavy medium lasers targeting the Gnomes.  Unfortunately while the lasers would be enough to kill regular elementals they were not enough to destroy individual Gnomes.

Behind Alex’s position he heard Sophie O’Brien scream in anger and possibly pain but did not have time to turn around to see what happened instead he Grant and Claire all unloaded their weapons on the rear limousine each of the advanced tactical missiles were armoured with improved inferno warheads spraying the area with fire intending on destroying the vehicles instantly.

Immediately they noticed that the fire was doing little to no damage “Fire resistant armour where the hell did they get that?”  Concentrated fire, kill them with other munitions!”  Alex snapped he had no idea where the Society had developed fire resistant armour but it was a problem they didn’t need.  Suddenly Sylvester’s Cephalus charged past him the OmniMech fully on fire charged forwards straight into one of the limousines causing both to explode in a fireball Sylvester didn’t eject from the OmniMech.  Alex looked at his rear area and saw that Laurel was still standing but O’Brien’s Mech was down its back ripped open by weapons fire its cockpit face down into the ground. “Laurel take out the Gnomes keep your distance they seem to have inferno rounds!”  He warned her under the combined firepower of the three Osteon’s the second and third transport exploded into fireballs of their own but now the Society loyal Osteons were turning their weapons on Alex and the other two Osteons causing near instant heavy damage as they concentrated fire.  As weapons fire was exchanged between the assault OmniMechs suddenly the air around them turned into fire and the ground exploded around them.  “What the hell?”  Alex wondered even as he tried to counter the other Osteons he saw the entrance of the base along with MechWarrior Flynn’s Septicemia explode.

“Absolute Truth” Laurel struggled Alex looked at her OmniMech and saw it had taken a direct hit to the cockpit.  He thought about her words and realized what she had meant the WarShip Absolute Truth above them was targeting their position with its weapons array turning the entire area into a live fire zone following Scientist General Gibson’s death.

“We need to move!”  He said seeing Claire’s OmniMech fall to Society fire “Laurel, Grant, can you keep up Quiaff?”

“Aff, it looks worse than it is.”  She confirmed

“Neg, knee actuator is gone” Grant replied as more naval fire landed in the area “go I’ll keep them at bay.”  He called out continuing to fire at the Society ground forces in minutes Alex’s unit had been cut by two thirds with his own Mech and Laurel’s both damaged.  Even as the Absolute Truth continued to bombard the region the two OmniMech’s ran through the fire heading into the nearby Wastelands naval weapons fire continued to fall on the base and near their position.

“How can they be tracking us?”  Laurel wondered he could hear weakness in her voice he didn’t know how badly she was injured as they continued forwards.  If the WarShip above continued to bombard the area they would eventually be caught by a barrage and killed.  At the furthest reaches of his sensors Alex could see Society ProtoMech units loitering just outside the bombard zone.

“Incoming OmniMechs, Bravo Sierra, shut down your Nova CEWS.”  A voice suddenly said breaking into their communications using the code Alex knew.

“We are not sharing data” Alex said not understanding them they didn’t use the C3 element of the Nova CEWS but the combined ECM and improved sensors still made it a potent tool.

“Neg, the Society can track it” the voice said as more naval weapons hit the ground around them both he and Laurel shutdown their systems moving into the Wastelands.  Unfortunately even as Laurel shutdown the Nova CEWS her OmniMech staggered forward, tripped and then like someone who had consumed too much alcohol faltered and fell on its face.

I might be able to update a second time today depends if I'm able to finish it.

WARNING THERES A BIT OF BLOOD SPATTER IN THIS UPDATE

Clan assault, Broadcast Centre
Babylon City, Babylon
Pentagon Worlds, Deep Periphery
3rd April 3108

The ten Nighthawks were crammed into the cargo hold of the armour transport waiting for the command to move out the driver turned in his seat “lock your suits no need for you to get injured in this” he commanded.  Laurel didn’t need to check her suit even after taking enough stimulants to keep an Elemental standing the legs being locked were one of the few things keeping her standing.  She knew beyond the infantry transport BattleMechs from the Clan and from the Society battled to control this part of the city of Babylon out there Star Colonel Alex Lassenem was leading this assault personally giving them the gap they needed for the assault on the Broadcast centre Laurel remembered what the tech had said.


“The way the Society has set up communications on Babylon and beyond if we overrun their broadcast centre and get out program into their systems we will control their HPG.  Every system across the Homeworlds will hear our message” he had announced confidently.

“What if the Absolute Truth opens up on the city?  They will kill hundreds of thousands in minutes!”  Commander Beatrice had suggested

“A win either way for us then” Star Colonel Alex Lassenem had said coldly eyes from across the room had turned on him and Laurel had remembered seeing an edge to the man she had not seen before.  “If the Absolute Truth fires on the capital city and lays down a suppression bombardment we prove the Society care nothing for the people the news of Scientist General Gibson’s death will still get out but slower” he had suggested “if they fail to fire then we control their HPG even briefly and the word of Gibson’s death spreads quickly and the fires rebellion will flutter on a dozen worlds.”

“Is the price worth it” Laurel had wondered out loud.

“Victory is worth it” he had said shocking her “I do not want to witness first hand the Absolute Truth’s bombardment again but I do want to see the Society pay for all the deaths they have caused.  I want to hurt them; I want to hurt them again and again.”  She had remembered the look in his eyes, the anger, and the determination to get the job done whatever the cost she wasn’t afraid to admit it had actually scared her.


“We’re a go!”  The driver had shouted suddenly they felt the armoured transport shoot forward as the driver gunned the throttle and accelerated the vehicle forward.  From her position half way across the cargo bay Laurel could feel the vehicle continue to accelerate she knew the plan and wasn’t looking forwards to it.  The armoured transport continued forward its weapons blazing targeting enemy units as it charged across the battlefield passing enemy units and finally slamming through the blast resistant windows.  Deep inside the hull of the vehicles the troopers who had locked their suits remained ridged inside unfortunately one of the suits clamps failed and the trooper flew across the crago slamming into other troopers and finally into the cargo bay bulkhead his health monitor immediately showing he was dead.

“GO!  GO!  GO!”  Someone was shouting as the doors burst open the Nighthawks charged forwards out into the foyer of the broadcast centre.  The vehicle driver was dead but amazingly the gunner was still alive and the vehicles weapons continued to fire suppressing the defenders.  “We are going up first team go!”  Two Nighthawk troopers stepped out of the line and threw their explosive charges onto the roof a two second delay blew the open the roof panels.  Go!”  The troopers collectively lit their jump jets jumping up onto the next level.  “First team you hold this level next team charges point two.”  He called out as the first two troops aimed their weapons at entry points two more troopers selected another area of the roof and placed their chargers blowing more holes in the roof.  Laurel and the remaining six troopers jumped up again onto the next level.  As they jumped a series of weapon hits struck the building blowing open the side of the building.

“I hope that was accidental” Laurel said out loud hoping that it wasn’t an indication that the Society had turned their guns on the building or the Absolute Truth had begun a bombardment.

“We don’t stop Sicknote!”  The squad leader said “next team blow open the roof we’re going up!  First team if you can disengage join us up here!”  He commanded glancing behind them down the hole Laurel could see there was still heavy fighting on the level behind them as the next roof section was blown open further explosions hit the building from outside.  “Go!  Go! Go!”  The commander shouted just as a weapon’s barrage ripped through the helmet section of his suit spraying the area in blood as the man was killed instantly.  As the troopers jumped up onto the next level Laurel could sense hesitation in them as defenders on this level opened fire on them.

“You know your mission!”  She shouted at them pulling a grenade from her belt throwing it with all her remaining strength at the defenders several others did the same.  “We don’t stop!”

“FOR THE CAUSE!”  The remaining five troopers shouted in unison firing their weapons with Laurel and throwing more grenades.  Laurel leveled her Gauss SMG at the defenders and hammered a burst into the chest of one of the defenders killing him instantly.  Even as they fired another trooper blew a hole in the roof clearing the way for them to move up.

“We have this level get the job done!”  One of them said to Laurel as further explosions ripped through the broadcast centre.  Redundantly she nodded something the other trooper would never see instead of saying anything she and two others jumped up onto the next level finding that weapons fire from outside had already ripped the level open they immediately jumped up through the smashed floor onto the next level.

“Blow it” Laurel ordered the remaining two troopers set their charges as Laurel unloaded shot after shot at anyone who moved on the level an explosion ripped open the roof above them and she didn’t wait Laurel instantly jumped her suit up onto the next level.  She checked either side seeing the workers on this level running from the explosion and from the sight of her arrival.  She checked her sensors this was the level she needed to be on glancing at the Gauss SMG she saw she was down to fifteen shots moving through the level towards the broadcast room suddenly what sounded like a support machine gun ripped through the office around her destroying the furniture.  Using all her energy she dived to the side avoiding the fire rolling backwards turning towards the target she aimed her weapon and pulled the trigger a burst ripped into the room.  Twelve shots left.  She thought throwing caution to the wind she ran forwards as fast as she could charging into the room even as the defenders support machine gun spun up she could feel the bullets rip into her power armour suit pain riddling her body she tried to ignore the pain as she shot the remaining two defenders emptying her clip into them.

   Laurel paused for a moment looking around the room seeing the two dead troopers she looked at the SMG and saw the indicator showed empty she threw the weapon down and staggered past the bodies and the defenders turret pushing past did as the tech had said entering the evidence card into the computer system.  As expected the system instantly accepted the card and began to read it Laurel slid down the wall beside the transmission gear barely conscious as Sophie O’Brien entered the room her left arm still in the sling they had seen on the Tri-Vid she stopped seeing the dead defenders and Laurel’s suit against the wall she stalked over towards Laurel ripping the damaged Nighthawk helmet from the suit.

   â€œYou!”  She nearly screamed seeing Laurel’s barely conscious bloodied face “do you have any idea what you have done?”  She asked continuing to shout grabbing Laurel’s hair with her good arm.  Unfortunately for her she didn’t see Laurel’s other arm raise holding a slug-thrower pistol.

   â€œYeah, I've screwed you life *****” Laurel said pulling the trigger immediately a burst of three shots ripped through Sophie’s chest and head killing Sophie O'Brien covering the room in yet more blood.  Laurel reached for the suit’s helmet which Sophie had dropped when the bullets had hit her body.  “Alex it’s done” she struggled out not knowing if the communication system on the suit still worked or if Alex Lassenem was still alive it didn't matter even if he had fallen in combat their message was out their mission was  done and with that Laurel passed out for the last time.