For those who have read my timeline most of this is taken from there but I added a little introduction to the part.
“Mistakes were made in the Pirate’s Cluster, by us, by them, by me.â€
Taken from the Personal Notes of Leftenant Christopher Grant, Rabid Fox
Rabid Fox Command, Robinson
Draconis March, Federated Suns
Date: CLASSIFIED
Combat Drop
Pirate’s Haven, Pirate Cluster
Periphery
14th December 3101 The Buccaneer-class DropShip flew quickly through the atmosphere dropping supply packages as it came into land using a civilian ship to approach the surface was that they could slip in undetected. There lack of BattleMech support on this mission was a concern for many of the troopers but the Mechs would not be able to get close enough to Gordon or to the factory to confirm their elimination without massive collateral damage. Behind them the twenty-four Infiltrator III Heavy Battle Armoured troopers of the Rabid Fox inside the DropShip Christopher Grant stepped his suit to the door before launching into the air for several moments his suit fell like a stone before the suit’s para-foil deployed rapidly slowing the descent.
Drifting slowly down through the night’s sky Christopher could already see they were in trouble. Not a single Rabid Fox had set foot on the planet’s surface yet he could see BattleMechs leaving the walled fortress claimed by Nathaniel Gordon someone had tipped them off. Already at the far off distance he could see long range missile fire streaking into the air from the defenders. “Hell†Christopher exclaimed seeing the pirates “Delta switch to Alternate Four, Alternate Four†he ordered seeing the first troopers land.
“Confirmed†McKenna Wilde replied first “what a messâ€
“We’re screwed boss†George Hewlett complained moments later
“Agreed, sir, the rest are going to primary points†Sylvester Keeler said as the first troopers began to come in to landings firing their magshot gauss rifles at the enemy “this was supposed to be a surprise strike, they were not supposed to know we were coming.â€
“In short we’re screwed†George commented again
“Quiet†Christopher snapped “someone tipped off the pirates we all said we needed BattleMech support for this operation and this just goes to prove that the boots on the ground were right.†He said “make sure you’re heading for Alternate Four†he reminded his troopers each of them clicked once on the comm. system answering his question.
The troopers slowly came in for a landing far from their original landing point “the other teams know the drill they will fall back to alternates†McKenna pointed out.
“Against that firepower good luck to them†George said they could all hear the anger in his voice that each of them shared.
“We need to move out†Christopher said glancing at his sensors setting a waypoint towards the other squads they needed to see how the others were doing. A Stinger BattleMechs suddenly appeared crossing the sand “squad!†He called out all four troopers turned their gauss rifles at the Mech firing a salvo into the twenty ton Mech followed by a second salvo the several of the shots hit the Stinger’s head section stripping it of armour but the warrior still had time to get off a salvo of rockets which exploded all around them in the sand. “Hit him again before he does lasting damage kill him!†Christopher ordered stepping his suit forward firing shot after shot into the incoming Stinger striking it on several locations staggering the Mech back laser and machine gun fire peppered the area but the warrior was fighting a losing battle and almost as quickly as the fight had started it was over and the pirate was dead.
“One less to worry about†McKenna commented
“Plenty more left let’s move forward we need to get to the alternate and see if anyone else made it.†Christopher said leading the squad forwards past the broken remains of the Stinger. They moved forward restricting their travel to only when it was dark and they avoided using their jump packs meaning that a trip that should have taken a few hours took nearly a full twelve hours. By the time they had arrived near where the other troopers had landed they found that the rest of the Rabid Fox squads had been overwhelmed, killed or captured, they'd taken down at least a company's worth of pirate Mechs and vehicles but already the pirate kings were claiming victory over the Federated Suns.
Road of Shame
Pirate’s Haven, Pirate Cluster
Periphery
17th December 3100 “They tried to invade our world!†King Nathaniel Gordon said angrily it had hardly been an invasion twenty-four Battle Armour equipped troopers of the Federated Suns Rabid Fox Command. Somehow the Federated Suns had located their haven in the cluster but the pirates had been ready. Prepared for any type invasion on their soil as soon as the Rabid Foxes were discovered every pirate under Nathaniel Gordon’s command had moved. Hopelessly outgunned at least twenty of the troopers had been killed or disabled and now the survivors were at the mercy of the pirates of the Cluster “we were ready for them!†Gordon screamed as the gates opened the nine surviving men and women were herded by the pirates down a narrow path each had their hands bound and they were tied to the trooper in front of them all around the path were the baying crowd of the Pirate’s cluster. This world had originally been designed as a hidden base for the pirates but over the years it had grown to form a small community who lived and died under pirate rule. Now the people had their entertainment as the surviving Rabid Fox troopers were pushed down the street they were pelted by thrown food, thrown human waste and stones. Several of the troopers were knocked to the ground hauling their companions down into the muck with them as they went but each time they stubbornly got back up continuing their march. Nathaniel’s advisers had said he should keep a couple alive to interrogate but this was not the moment for such matters instead the troopers were led to a row of hanging ropes. As they approached the troopers realized what was happening to them this was not a walk of humiliation but their execution several attempted to break their bonds and escape but each time they did a pirate stepped in and smashed them with the butt of their rifle knocking the trooper to the ground. “Our Succession Lords need to understand that if they come to our world they pay the price.†Gordon said as the nooses were wrapped around the necks of the captives. “You should have never come to my world†Gordon said raising his arm once the last rope had been tied. As one the nine captives were raised by their necks on the ropes and began to choke to death.
A kilometre away the four remaining Rabid Fox troopers watched through their Magshot Gauss Rifle scopes. The remaining squad leader watched as his comrades were lifted to their deaths “triple salvo and then we break to Alternate Post Zulu†he ordered there were three winks of status lights as the other troopers acknowledged his command. “Fire†he finally said immediately the troopers fired three rapid salvos from their weapons each salvo was aimed intentionally the first was aimed at the first four troopers, the second at the third line of four while the fourth hit the last trooper, two of Nathaniel Gordon’s advisers and Gordon himself. The Rabid Fox team had no chance of releasing their captives but nor would they leave them to die by hanging instead a quick death as the gauss shots tore through them. The last salvo targeted on Gordon killed both of his advisers instantly but at the last moment the King moved slightly knocking the shot off instead of impacting with the man’s head the shot tore through his left elbow severing the arm completely as the kinetic force tore through his body.
Not waiting to see the results of their fire the remaining squad broke position immediately disappearing into the wastes of this planet. They still had a mission to complete and they would do everything in their power to ensure it was completed by the time allotted to them. In the pirate camp chaos ensued as the pirates scrambled to find the attackers, to check on their captives and to tend to their now wounded King.
Alternate Post Zulu
Pirate’s Haven, Pirate’s Cluster
Periphery
19th December 3100 After two days of hard travel the four remaining Rabid Fox troopers finally arrived at Alternate Point Zulu. Approaching pair of connected shipping containers the squad leader Leftenant Christopher Grant pushed a small veil into the control panel the door slid open allowing the four Infiltrator III suits to enter. As the entered lighting inside automatically activated Christopher Grant moved forward half way along the container docking his suit with one of the power points the other three suits docked with the remaining power points as they did the container doors closed behind them sealing the container fans inside quickly scrubbed the atmosphere clearing the way for the four troopers to breath unassisted.
“Well this is a FUBAR situation†Trooper McKenna Wilde said stepping out of her suit “El-Tee what the hell are we supposed to do now?†She asked crossing the container stretching out on one of the bunks.
“We can still complete the mission.†Christopher said moving across to the bank of computer screens entering a code.
“We can still complete the mission? Who the hell are you trying to kid?†Trooper George Hewlett said stepping over to his bunk “we came here with twenty-four men and women two elite teams of Rabid Fox troopers and we just killed our last allies on this rock.†He said angrily
“Our mission was to flatten that Brigand factory†Christopher Grant said “we can still do that†he said looking at the other three “we survived the pirate ambush because we are the best the fact we were able to engage Gordon and evade without return and we are now in a facility that the pirates won’t be able to find unless they walk into it.†He said the containers were lined with stealth materials and had a low power outage making them nearly completely undetectable. There was enough food to last a squad for months and plenty of ammunition for their suits and for small arms.
“We’re completely outnumbered and the CO is dead we’re screwed.†George replied
“Not quite†Christopher said triumphantly as the computers booted up “gather around†he said calling the other three closer “anyone that made it to one of these facilities is given access to Plan Epsilon.â€
“Plan Epsilon?†McKenna asked
“Yes†Christopher said “the plan is to strike at the factory then we break off and rendezvous at Post Omega.†He said highlighting a position on the map “from there we can hold out until our pick up arrives.â€
“If it arrives†George said “getting into the Cluster has never been easy.†He said shrugging.
“Have some confidence they will come†Christopher said “we’ve done the impossible here people surviving that ambush and making it here. We’ve got a little bit further to go then we’re heading home†he said confidently “now get some sleep.†He finally ordered dismissing his three squadmates this was not home but it was somewhere safe and safe is what they needed right now.
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Topic: An Origins story (Alternate Timeline with Thanks) (Read 10796 times)