Glad you all enjoyed it. Wrangler you suggested them so I'm going to use and abuse as are the Alpha Team :)
The credit for the Fire Mandrill story in this month belongs to James Tanaga who has done very well with it.
A little inspiration goes a long way
http://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/intelligence-reports/lcaf-intelligence-report-the-rim-collectionclan-fire-mandrill/Cassandra, Faraday-Tanaga Primary Enclave
All Dawn, Rim Collection
Periphery
2nd August 3092 Jerold Danforth face scrunched in concentration, his body soaked in sweat, as he continued his daily exercise regimen in the gym. Around him were members of all castes, though mostly from the Technician and Warrior castes. At the moment, Star Captain Natasha, freshly promoted after her successful Trial of Position, was spotting him.
As he soon came upon the end of his rep, the voice of the new star captain broke his concentration. “Kindraa Leader, will we be heading to war soon?” Her question caused him to pause, looking up at her, he merely looked at her upside-down face inquisitively, causing her to blush and continue. “There was talk among my sibko you will be leading us into war against the Spirits.”
So that is what this is about, he thought to himself as he continued on with his rep. Still it needed to be answered. “The Stone Spirits are raiding planets, stripping them of people and any technology they find. So far, they have avoided the Rim Collection and most of our prospective members. But with our…agreement…with the Collection, conflict with one another is unavoidable. Besides, they caused Cassandra’s death.” He shrugged the last as he put the weight bar back on the stand with Natasha’s help.
“Good,” was the younger woman’s response, one he fully approved of, for it showed the younger woman had a warrior’s spirit. Silently they switched out the weight and both switched places. Just as Natasha lay down and was about to begin her rep, the speaker of the room’s comm unit went on.
“Kindraa Leader Jerold Danforth. Emergency HPG contact from Gillfillan’s Gold demanding immediate response from you,” rang out a female voice through the speaker, eliciting a raised eyebrow from him as he looked down at the shocked look of the star captain.
What in Kerensky’s name, he thought, as he turned and walked to the comm unit on the wall. Pressing a button, the black screen flashed on, revealing the form of the female technician currently monitoring the kindraa’s HPG. Without waiting for a response, he spoke to her. “Send it through to this terminal.”
Suddenly the screen changed from the middle aged woman to Star Colonel Lysa Djerassi. “Star Colonel,” he croaked out, for no love was lost between the two. He could stand warriors of different philosophies, even the Rim Collection’s Freebirths. No. What he couldn’t stand for, though, was this woman’s stubborn refusal to commit seppuku, as Clan tradition demanded of her due to her being paralyzed and wheelchair bound, citing Cassandra’s orders. Still, so long as she stayed out of his way and continued to work for the kindraa, he could at least ignore her generally. “What demanded the emergency HPG connection, legless monkey?” Around him, the gym quieted down, looking on with interest.
Interesting, he thought, for he caught the female warden warrior visible keep from answering his insult. Something must have happened, he thought and was answered by her a few seconds ago once the woman quelled her anger. “Just watch this,” she snarled at him.
Her image was replaced with what appeared to be video taken from a security camera, showing a two-wheeled vehicle come alongside an outside cafeteria of some sort and what appeared to be several people sitting at tables, eating. The table nearest to the vehicle caught his attention, though, for it sat what appeared to be two men and a woman in Faraday-Tanaga fatigues and trench coats, another man wearing a Rim Lancers uniform and finally a civilian suited man. Suddenly, Jerold’s heart plummeted as he connected who these five were just as he watched the driver yell out “Free Collection” and open fire on the them just as Theodore Albiev jumped up and pushed the table to cover the other four. After a few seconds of firing at them, the gunmen turned and fired off-screen at someone who fired back before himself falling to the ground, dead. Lysa Djerassi blinked back onto the screen shortly after wards.
“When was this? And were the others killed, Star Colonel,” he asked her as he shook with anger, balling his fists.
“Neg, though Theodore Albiev and President Mayfield are unlikely to survive. Both are in surgery at the present moment at a local hospital, along with Able. Jacob Faraday, though wounded, is being treated here in our compound. This all happened three hours ago,” was the woman’s succinct reply.
For nearly a minute, he breathed in deeply, allowing himself time to gather his thoughts. “Send me updates as soon as you get them Djerassi.”
“Aff.”
As soon as he was disconnected with her, he contacted the female technician from earlier. “Alert all our units to be on their guard for possible attacks,” he ordered her. “Specifically guerrilla-style attacks from civilians. They may defend themselves, but are strictly ordered not to take any offensive actions at this time.”
“Aff, Kindraa Leader.”
Shutting down the screen, he noticed just how quiet the room had become. Turning around, he saw all the occupants looking at him. “None of you are to speak of what you just heard until we have been updated on the situation, quiaff!” He bellowed to the crowded room. Looking to Natasha, he continued. “Star Captain! On my six!” Without bothering to wait for her response, he led her out of the gymnasium, heading directly to the kindraa’s operations center.
When they entered the operations center, they caught the attention of Star Commander Shana, a woman of aerospace stock and the watch commander. “Kindraa Leader, a situation is developing at the planetary HPG center. A dozen combatants stormed into the compound and are holding the staff and visitors hostage.” That news caused Jerold to glare at the petite woman, who glared back. “We only just received the news ten minutes ago.”
“Very well,” he grated out. “Get me in contact with All Dawn’s governor.” Seeing the unsure look of the small woman, he prompted. “What?”
Straightening her back and standing tall, the small warrior answered him. “The governor has expressly said it is not a Clan matter and does not need our aid Kindraa Leader.”
“Get him on the comm now. And alert our forces here planet side for possible action.”
When it rains, it storms, Jerold Danforth thought to himself as he began taking control over the operations center.
SLDF Investigation Team
Bordon, Isle of Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
4th August 3092 As the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth and Isle of Skye contested the world of Brodon a single Vampire-class DropShip carrying the SLDF insignia and colours dived through the atmosphere landing near the planetary capital at the world's primary spaceport. Leaving the DropShip initially was a single officer dressed in SLDF dress code approaching the Lyran governor of the planet “My name is Colonel Hank Lynch, Star League Intelligence Corps” he said introducing himself.
“I had thought the SLDF were remaining out of the conflict for this world.”
“We have no interest in your border skirmish.” Lynch admitted “the SLDF was created to protect the Inner Sphere from threats within and beyond it. There is a threat on this very planet, a mercenary command, The Alpha Team.”
“They are with the raiders and beyond my control.”
“I am aware of that. I just want to know if you'll get in our way?” Lynch demanded when the governor did not immediately answer the man turned back towards his DropShip walking off. Ten minutes later the Vampire was back in the air heading towards the territory claimed by the raiding forces.
Hours later as darkness fell over Bordon the DropShip flew over a lance of four Mechs that had been holding back an Isle of Skye counter attack. The four Mechs had continuously thwarted Isle of Skye moves disrupting the Isle of Skye advance at every opportunity. From the air battle armoured wearing SLDF troopers dropped through the air engaging the Mechs. The four Mechs of the Alpha Team did something completely unexpected charging forwards into the the Isle of Skye lines confusing both the Lyran and SLDF forces. The four Mechs once within the Isle of Skye lines moved laterally spreading confusion before falling back into the night. In the cross-fire several of the SLDF battle armour troopers took hits from the Isle of Skye Mechs causing further trouble.
Before the SLDF could recover from the battle The Alpha Team had made it back to the Marik-Stewart lines and under the cover of the Thunder Road Mercenary Command. Not stopping to fight with the Thunder Road they allowed Colonel Wrangler's command to engage the Isle of Skye forces and delay Colonel Lynch's SLDF Battle Armour. Carrying on behind the battle The Alpha Team's Mechs ran straight on board the Thunder Road's Overlord-class DropShip forcing the crew to lift the ship off the ground. During battle it wasn't uncommon for DropShips to lift off to avoid unnecessary damage it also allowed them to return to a different landing zone should the ground forces need to retreat. In orbit however the DropShip did not stop instead carrying on taking the Alpha Team away from the planet six days later the DropShip docked with a JumpShip and offloaded the Alpha Team's Mechs allowing the DropShip to return to the planet and for the Alpha Team to escape.
Cassandra, Faraday-Tanaga Primary Enclave
All Dawn, Rim Collection
Periphery
8th August 3092 Kindraa Leader Jerold Danforth woke from his sleep, startled by the compound alarm going off. Quickly, he tugged on a pair of pants and boots before grabbing a shirt and made his way to the operations center. By the time he got there, a scant five minutes had passed. Unlike his predecessor, he ran there.
“Sitrep,” he called out as soon as he reached the room.
“Nine Lyran JumpShips just jumped into the system Kindraa Leader,” answered the burly Elemental watch commander on duty. Already, the center had people streaming in, mostly members of the lower castes and other warriors usually stationed in the center. Jerold listened while the star commander continued. “They are broadcasting their intent to free All Dawn from us clan oppressors,” the man grumbled out.
“Get me a comm link now,” he ordered.
“Aff Kindraa Leader,” the Elemental replied. While Jerold waited, he caught sight of Star Captains Natasha and Peter Tanaga coming into the room. Peter, as usual, was dressed in fatigues, while Natasha was dressed only in a tank top and shorts, though was sweating heavily. Likely was in the gym when the alarm sounded, he thought to himself. He made a note to himself to make sure later on. “Link completed,” he heard the star commander call out to him.
Heading to the comm station, he saw a man in Lyran fatigues on the screen. “I am Kindraa Leader Jerold Danforth, Why are you here,” he asked the man.
“This is Colonel Johann Klink of the Eighteenth Lyran Regulars. I have been ordered to assist the valiant civilians of All Dawn in removing your bloodthirsty clan from All Dawn. I urge you to surrender sir. Or be destroyed, for I command a regiment of BattleMechs, assisted by six conventional regiments.”
He had only one reply to that. “Neg.” Before the other man could begin to speak, he shut the link down. “I want planet wide comms now,” he told the technician manning the station. A moment passed before the tech nodded to him. “All units. The Lyrans are picking a fight. We will hold until relieved. Seyla.”
“Seyla,” answered every occupant in the room as he ended his small impromptu speech.
“Peter, all munchkins and sibbies ten and above are to be activated and get all marines off the JumpShips. Star Commander Michael, I want the entire police subcaste activated.” Without bothering to wait for their response, he turned back to the comm tech. “Send a recall order to the Third Rim Lancers immediately and relay all information about the Lyran JumpShips as well. Do the same with our units on Waypoint.” Once the man confirmed his orders, Jerold turned to Natasha. “Star Captain, grab any and all bondsmen and get them to the armory and issue them weapons and equipment.”
“All,” the young woman asked in shock.
“Aff,” was his response. “We are going to need all the help we can get. Natasha. See to it.” As the younger woman nodded and left, he looked around the room. Where once you bore the weight of command, now I must, he thought to himself, thinking of his predecessor. May I do just as well as you did. Though he never admitted it to anyone else, he did respect his now-dead rival.
McCarron's Armoured Cavalry Base camp
Brunswick, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
9th August 3092 After a longer than expected contract negotiation the McCarron's Armoured Cavalry agree contract teams with the Federated Suns. With their connections to Faith Steiner, wife of Marshal of Armies Reinhardt Steiner, the unit is able to get a non-combat assignment assisting Federated Suns survey teams scouting depopulated planets within the border of the Federated Suns searching for any former remnants of the Manei Domini and Word of Blake.
Cassandra, Faraday-Tanaga Primary Enclave
All Dawn, Rim Collection
Periphery
17th July 3092 Jerold Danforth scanned the battlefield. For four days and nights, ever since the Lyrans had landed, both the Faraday-Tanaga and the Lyrans prepared themselves for battle. Located on top of a chain of mountains in a small valley, Cassandra, the city they had built for themselves, lay. The only real way into the small valley and the heart of the Faraday-Tanaga was to its south. And his kindraa had a full year and a half to lay defenses. Yet, Jerold Danforth knew that would not be enough, for they were outnumbered one in five in Mechs and more in conventional vehicles and aerospace fighters. And roughly a fourth of the Lyrans Mechs were OmniMechs, compounding their situation. No. Their only chance of victory was to hold until relieved.
His forces planet side would need to hold for five days. That was how long until the First and Seventh Striker clusters would land planet side, for they had only just jumped into the system, along with the CFM Rook. The Third Rim Lancers, the CFM Warsaw and CFM Mandrill Provider would arrive a day later. At the moment, his aerospace and conventional aerial support were fighting the Lyrans and who knew who would win today in that arena, for the Lyrans had brought two Overlord A3’s and four Avengers.
From his vantage point at the top, what seemed to be a small explosion caught his attention. It has started, he thought, for that explosion was followed by more than a dozen others, as Lyran and Faraday-Tanaga artillery opened up on one another. He knew this would be a long battle.