Well, as BC had no interest in the story . . . for the SharkFox fans!
16 March 3052
Nyserta, Ghost Bear Occupation Zone
Periphery
The stars twinkled from one of the Potemkin's dorsal observation stations, one of the manual control centers for docking dropships. While DropShip operations were curtailed it was a good space to find privacy and had a decent view. The stars were twinkling in a different manner for Ishmael than for a mudsucker, on a planet it was the atmosphere that caused them to twinkle. From the observation station, it was other ships and fighters momentarily blocking the light of the stars as they moved around the jump point.
His contemplation was ended when his duty issue jumpsuit hit him in the face. "Get dressed before someone finds you staring out into space."
The Star Captain twisted about in Poseidon's zero gravity to face his companion. She was already mostly back in her jumpsuit and fitting her spacer shoes over her feet, "Barbara you have no poetry in your soul."
The MechWarrior began to slither back into his jumpsuit, covering up the tattoos typical of his caste and rank. On his left peck was the open shark jaw reminiscent of the Gamma Galaxy insignia, put there after he won his initial Trial of Position which marked his formal adoption into the Shark's warrior caste. It was not marred by scars like a few of his other tattoos. Damage to the jaws was considered unlucky among his fellow freebirths. Barbara was indifferent at best about the tattoos, at worst she found them part of the stravag freebirth warrior culture. She finished cleaning up herself and some of the area, quietly ducking out of the compartment without a word to return to her business.
As a Omega Galaxy Star Captain, Ishmael had little to do at this Exodus Road waypoint where the bulk of the Diamond Sharks outside the home worlds waited. Khan Ian Hawker was off with the Jade Falcons, his keshik attempting to participate in Operation Revival if the rumors were correct. Along with Omega escorting the merchant caste, Alpha and Gamma were escorting the saKhan who was monitoring Operation Revival. All were at the jump point waiting for the 369th Striker Cluster to finish its Trial against the Ghost Bears for a staging world. The opportunity which had recently been made by the ilKhan to allow the Diamond Sharks access to the Inner Sphere after a petition from saKhan Sennet.
When the 369th Striker Cluster eventually took the world, rumors were already circulating that Khan Hawker had decreed Omega would garrison the Periphery world. For Ishmael it was merely one more reversal in the last five years since Ian Hawker had become Khan. Having once been a part of Gamma Galaxy, and in fact with a chance to become a Star Colonel in the frontline galaxy. A massive achievement for a freebirth warrior. Before it could happen, Hawker transferred all of the freebirths out of the frontline Galaxies and most of the Spinas which placed them in garrison Clusters. Which prevented freebirth warriors from participating in most Trials and winning advancement.
24 March 3052
Nyserta Training Grounds
Nyserta, Clan Diamond Shark OZ
Periphery
The Marauder IIC delicately sidestepped the sinkhole as Ishmael drove it forward. The movement would normally be considered odd for such a massive 'Mech, but Ishmael had been piloting the same 'Mech for ten years which gave him a bit of skill. The oddly shaped trees of the Periphery world were clustered on the edge of a creek which hid the occasional pit fall on its edge. Somewhere out here were members of Gamma Galaxy, his former trothkin, hunting his Star as it swept the Morvis Highline on a patrol. Khan Sennet and Galaxy Commander Vewas had suspended normal training protocols, instead choosing to use paint rounds and stepped down lasers with the Sharks being at the far end of their supply lines while still keeping the troops sharp. No matter that full power war shots were not being used, it was still deadly serious for Omega Galaxy.
"Lead, Four, I am getting magnetic readings from beyond the cliff, it seems to be running roughly parallel to us, over."
Ishmael looked at the topographical display on a secondary screen. A choke point between the minor cliffs of only sixty to ninety meters drop and heavy woods was roughly seven hundred meters ahead. It would be a good place for the Gamma warriors to initiate combat and the scout running with them would warn of their approach. The scout being detected let him prepare a bit of a surprise of his own.
"Lead to Star, Three and Five are to jump over the cliff to engage any Gamma elements on that slope. The rest of us will engage any thing up here before moving down to assist, quiaff?"
The rest of the Star responded in the affirmative while the forest pressed in on the right, the cliffs on the left and all the mechs moved along over forty klicks an hour. Ishmael's rounded Marauder IIC was in the lead with his three 'Mech-killing extended range PPCs backed by a batter of small and medium lasers. While not as flexible as a frontline OmniMech like the designs his Star hunted, it could easily handle what it would face. As his assault BattleMech cleared the remaining scrub trees, the likely battle zone was confirmed by the presence of a Kingfisher which his computer quickly identified as the B configuration. He stomped down on the pedals, which brought his ride to a jerking halt. As his ERPPCs lined up on the heavier assault mech, he caught long range missiles lofting over the cliff to bury Four's Black Knight in a cloud of dust. At just under seven hundred meters, two of Ishmael's particle cannon slammed into the Kingfisher. Only one of those 'Mechs was on planet, Star Commander Gaston of the 222nd Assault Cluster. A die hard Crusader following in Hawker's footsteps. He slammed the throttles in reverse though the heat affected 'Mech could only go three quarter's of its normal speed until more of the heat bled off. Gaston's OmniMech was a mid to close range brawler, let the vatborn work his way through the PPC blasts he could put down field.
7 April 3052
Nyserta Training Grounds
Nyserta, Clan Diamond Shark OZ
Periphery
The training grounds facilities were still expanding from what the Ghost Bears had built on world, as was to be expected with the garrison going from a single Bear Cluster to the five Clusters of Omega Galaxy. Also on planet were six Clusters from Alpha and Gamma Galaxies- which had been given the best facilities on the planet while Omega made due with the older planetary militia 'Mech hanger, temporary facilities and field shelters. Even the base's warrior club was given over to the trueborn units, with the freebirths of Omega making due with a rigged up backroom in their main mech hanger. The old beat up furnishings were out of place with the Clan repeaters and displays that were installed so warriors could watch any augmented Trials that were occurring.
The backroom was packed this afternoon as every warrior in Omega not in the field tried to watch what was happening. Even with all of the warriors present, the club hosted a reverent silence as the battle was played out to its finishing moments. Star Colonel Adrine was seated with Ishmael and his fellow Star Captains of the 3rd Shark Regulars to watch the Trial. Adrine was a short lightly built woman, rumored to be of aeropilot blood because of her height.
The Trial was nearly over with, Galaxy Commander Bikendi Vewas isorla Stooping Hawk C was trimming Star Colonel Jeremy Hawker's Hellbringer B as the last duel remaining in defense of Khan Ian Hawker's Tukayyid bid.
"Galaxy Commander Vewas fought for us . . . not something I would have expected," said Star Captain Fillion barely more than a whisper.
Star Captain Gwenyth laughed as the noise in the club rose dramatically with Hawker's engine shutting down from damage. It was deeper than a normal female laugh due to Gwenyth's inherited size of being half Elemental. She commanded from a Phoenix Hawk IIC, a BattleMech with a large enough cockpit to squeeze her frame in. "Vewas and Khan Hawker have some sort of disagreement or rivalry. Why do you think we ended up in Omega? Hawker assigned him here when he became Khan, then lowered the Galaxy's status to garrison for the merchants, and dumped as many of the freebirths possible here. You would fight back too, quiaff?"
The freebirth Elemental considered what she said. "Aff, I would fight. We all would, it is why we are warriors. No matter what some think."
Gwenyth gestured at the repeater showing Vewas beat up Stooping Hawk leaving the field with the other survivors of his command trinary. "The Galaxy Commander has now hurt Khan Hawker by forcing him to include a Omega Cluster in the proxy fight for Terra. He will have freebirth and Warden trueborn officers he intentionally cast aside fighting these ComGuards with his precious Crusader trueborn of Alpha and Gamma Galaxies."
"Wonder which Cluster the Galaxy Commander will choose?"
From what Ishmael could hear, many other similar conversations were going on in the freebirth hang out.
A staff meeting for Omega was called the next morning by Galaxy Commander Vewas. Speculation on which Cluster would be participate in the Trial was not limited to the regular warriors, it had been discussed late into the night among the commanders. The meeting was being held in a cleared gym, which could hold the Galaxy's collected officers. The meeting could have been held in the base's headquarters, however Khan Hawker had staff from the Diamond Skate planning the Diamond Shark's bid for the proxy Trial using the space. Besides, the Omega warriors were likely not welcome around the truebirths after the just finished Trial of Refusal. While the warriors were meeting, the techs and laborers were getting Alpha, Gamma, and two Clusters of Omega prepared to leave the planet for their jumpships and escorts.
Vewas made his way to the center of the gym after the commanders had assembled, standing in their midst. The blocky MechWarrior slowly turned a circle to look at the assembled officers of his galaxy. "Warriors, we have won the right to have a Cluster participate in the Trial for Tukayyid. The Khans bid among themselves yet Ian Hawker did not consult with anyone when he participated. We will not be first but we will not be last on the planet. Unlike regular Trials where commanders bid against each other for the right to participate, Khan Hawker picked five Clusters. I refused his right to decide all five, fighting for the right to name a single Cluster from Omega to participate as we are one of the three Diamond Shark Galaxies in the Inner Sphere and the only one not participating.
"You all have worthy codexes, yet I have won the right to name who among you will participate. I have chosen the Third Shark Regulars to represent Omega Galaxy against these ComGuard."
Silence greeted the announcement as the news set in, and looks shifted to the commanders who would participate.
"Yet with that news, Khan Hawker continues to slight you worthy warriors. The Third Shark Regulars will load aboard cargo DropShips since there are not enough transport DropShips here at Nyserta or among the Diamond Shark fleet in the Inner Sphere. My cluster will escort the merchants aboard the Poseidon where we will also be loaded on cargo ships. Khan Hawker will pay for the insult trothkin, when you prove yourselves worthy in battle, quiaff?"
"AFF!" roared the commanders who encircled him.
"Now, we have much to do before lift off. Third Shark Regulars, prepare for embarkation!"
1 May 3052
Orbit
Tukayyid, Free Rasalhague Republic
The Third Shark Regulars were divided up between two merchant Jumbo DropShips and a Mammoth DropShip, tasked as escorts for the supplies and techs Khan Hawker allowed after saKhan Sennet had insisted they needed some support on the ground. Each DropShip carried a 'Mech Trinary and Svantovit IFV transported Elemental Star. The aerospace fighters were loaded on a separate but dedicated fighter carrier. The Diamond Shark bid would land on the planet in a combined twenty DropShips led by the aerofighters, then the combat transports and finally the merchant cargo carriers bringing in Omega.
Star Captain Ishmael stood on the bridge along with the three Star Commanders assigned to the cargo DropShip. Around the planet was a veritable swarm of DropShips from the seven Clans that would be challenging the ComGuards in the proxy Trial of Possession for the humanity's home, Terra. The four warriors were joined by the DropShip captain, a reserve aerospace warrior who had left the active Touman over ten years before. The Diamond Shark DropShip fleet was in a higher orbit, Khan Hawker had bid down the total forces but had only managed to end up sixth for landing. A very poor display of his ability to bid against the other Khans. The Smoke Jaguars had managed to win the right to land first, but Ishmael had seen what they claimed to be able to take their targets. The Jaguars had always been arrogant and this looked like another instance.
"There they go," said the reserve DropShip captain, pointing to a cluster of 'eggs' which would be the Jaguar DropShips.
Ishmael remembered the pre-battle conference from two days ago when they made orbit. Khan Hawker had required each anyone Star Captain or higher who would be landing to link into the conference. He used the conference to announce which target the pair of Alpha Galaxy Clusters would move upon and that Omega was assigned to protect the supplies- something he said they should know how to perform. Before the landings had even started, Hawker had bid away a fifth of his force to become a reserve protecting the DropShips and the stockpiles they held.
12 May 3052
Orbit
Tukayyid, Free Rasalhague Republic
The shocks and shaking of the DropShip could be felt through the frame of his Marauder IIC as the three dropships of the Omega Cluster followed the eight frontline Clusters' transports into the planet's atmosphere. The assault 'Mech was shaking even more than it would in a transport as it was merely chained down to the deck along with the rest of the 'Mechs of his Trinary. It would take precious minutes for the DropShip's crew to release the many tie-downs that held each mech so they could walk off the cargo ship. The twenty five Elementals were in a better position, each one would immediately be able to exit the ship by a cargo door or airlock without any delays. Since none of the 'Mechs were in BattleMech cradles, every shock was felt in the black cargo holds and no outside camera feeds or communication were possible. Each 'Mech was on hot standby until the release. It intensified the feelings of vulnerability every warrior felt when they were being transported to a battle with no control. Star Captain Ishmael was a bit better off, Captain Roland had ordered his ship's crew to run a communications cable to the Marauder IIC for the drop. His main display repeated the sensor information from the bridge and allowed him to listen into the bridge communications. In the right corner a timer ticked down the projected remaining time to landing.
The crew worked feverishly on the chains and securing braces, trying to release the heaviest machines first. Ishmael's computer was cycling through all the start up sequence as the fusion engine came to full power and weapons were brought online. Occasionally a weapon's discharge could be heard through the ship's hull, but it all sounded like long range weapons.
Ishmael's Marauder IIC was the first mech freed, and the first mech powered up. As it rose from a crouch, the crewman at the cargo doors opened them with the ramp extending. Elementals were dropping down the sides of the DropShip as the assault mech's feet range against the ramp. Alpha and Gamma mechs were forming up into the each individual Cluster to push towards the two cities which left Omega setting up a perimeter since the landing seemed uncontested. Ishmael needed to check in with Star Colonel Adrine.
13 May 3052
Kozice Valley
Tukayyid, Free Rasalhague Republic
The ComGuard divisions opposing the Diamond Sharks had decided not to press the Third Shark Regulars when by the next day they discovered the Cluster was tied down to the DropShips. The fact the white 'Mechs had found their way around the edges of the frontline Clusters advance was something most of the Third's command staff found troubling. This afternoon found a Trinary of BattleMechs and Star of Elementals on the perimeter while the rest of the Cluster stood down. The other four Star Captains met with Star Colonel Adrine in one of the now empty Gamma Galaxy Overlord Cs to make use of its command facilities and data links. The five commanders watched the plot displaying the struggles of the 222nd Assault Cluster, Nineteenth Heavy Cluster, Thirty-Ninth and 369th Striker Clusters. It was not going well with the frontline forces, the 222nd Assault Cluster was tearing into the ComGuard but grinding themselves down. Star Colonel Seth Davis had even broke his bid for reopening the supply lines through a valley pass against a raiding division. Telemetry showed that more and more white 'Mechs and armor were swarming the four Clusters as they took losses and their advanced slowed.
Adrine leaned against the console that controlled the display. The room's PA system was set to the Trial's command channel. Khan Hawker began to issue new orders.
"Remaining Gamma Galaxy units are to punch through this Eighty-Fifth Division which blocks our path back to the dropships. The Thirty-Ninth and Nineteenth will form a line and advance in Gamma's wake, we will smash these barbarians, rearm, and then finish our push on the objectives. All units below a quarter ammo to avoid long range shots, only fire when they are close. We will go in one hour, orders should be passed by that time and the ranks dressed, quiaff?"
Ishmael watched Adrine look at the plot then up where the speaker was positioned. "The fool will leave us on the sidelines even as he bleeds the frontline forces to death." She turned to her four subordinates, each as different from the other as possible unlike the trueborns who appeared to be built to the same design. "Ishmael, Gwenyth, Fillion, and Londo, I want your forces prepared in that hour. When Khan Hawker launches his assault we will need to be ready to push forward on our own. Even though he does not know it, the Khan will need us before this is over."
"Aff Star Colonel," was all Ishmael said as he headed out.
Star Captain Ishmael led his Trinary of Stars in a diamond formation on the right front. Gwenyth led her Trinary on the left with Adrine's command Star in the middle, the final 'Mech Trinary was following behind in the middle where its speed could exploit any opening. Following the mechs was the Elemental Trinary in their Svantovits spread out in a half circle. The DropShips were quickly disappearing behind the rolling hills as the freebirth Cluster dropped into the valley for a rare opportunity to rescue some trueborns. Hawker's dramatic charge into the blocking ComGuards had been glorious, but it failed as the leading elements bogged down from previous damage and low ammunition.
Ishmael's Marauder IIC stomped forward at full speed, in the hills ahead his sensors were picking out targets leaving cover. The first mech Ishmael locked onto was a Champion, a old Star League cavalry design which looked to retain that level of weaponry rather than lower tech substitutes the Watch reported elsewhere during the invasion.
"The Champion is mine," he called out on the Trinary net while swinging his arms and the extended range PPCs they carried right to line up the charging heavy. Other MechWarriors were calling out their targets as the white 'Mechs appeared from the hills and forests. When he entered the maximum range, Ishmael pulled his main trigger to send the charged particles down range. Both shots hit, the first burning into the center of the torso below the forward thrust cockpit which was designed similar to his Marauder and the Timberwolf. Over three fifths of the armor on the location was scoured away, some splashing over the cockpit ferro-glass with the bled off energy, more molten armor falling to gravity and starting small fires where it landed. The other shot hit the right leg, taking off its last armor which must have already been damaged since internal structures and loose torn myomer muscle became visible on magnification. The Champion's pilot showed some skill handling his heavy mech, as it kept moving forward even when it had to hop a step due to being hit so hard and losing a few tons of armor. As a pilot of a shorter ranged mech, he had to keep coming forward to get in his blows.
Ishmael slowed his own advance towards the white tide to keep the range advantage as long as he possibly could. From a behind a outcropping on his left a squat bodied Crab stood from its concealment, the assault mech already in long range of its large lasers. One completely missed to turn soil into a glassy patch while the other melted a scar in the battleship gray armor below the Marauder IIC's left knee.
Behind the visor of his neurohelmet, Ishmael smiled at the challenge of two BattleMechs at once. Slamming the throttle for his 'Mech into reverse, he felt the harness straps digging in as the eighty five tons leaned slightly forward from the momentum of the run while his sense of balance kept the assault 'Mech upright through the neurohelmet. The gyro linked to his brain strained as the Marauder's arms ponderously swung back to the left off the charging Champion to the closer and currently more threatening Crab. The cockpit charged with static from the shoulder mounted cannon as the Star Captain fired all three of the extended range PPCs at the medium 'Mech. The heat spike of the engine and weapons instantly turned the cockpit into an oven and set the coolant in the MechWarrior vest crawling across Ishmael's bare chest. It was a sensation he was used to and his intense concentration on the battle blocked out.
While the Crab may have been barely in long range for his large lasers, for Ishmael's extended range PPCs the target was at mid range. All three savaged the right side of the ComGuard medium, hitting the right leg, right torso and burning off the right arm which must have already been damaged. A burst of green fluid which seeped down the torn side of the mech like blood was proof of a destroyed heat sink from the gash. The now blackened BattleMech spun to its right, crashing into the outcropping before it sank to the ground sprawled out. A series of flat bangs peppered the right side of his war machine, the Champion was announcing it was in range with the LBX autocannon. Nothing else followed, which meant it was still out of the range of the rest of the shorter ranged weapons.
Still back pedaling while most of the rest of the Trinary was moving forward, Ishmael swung his arms back to the Champion on the right. Selecting a third trigger setting to shed some heat but still put out damage, the arm extended range PPCs and the medium pulse lasers slung underneath connected the BattleMechs for a moment. The Champion's right torso was caved in by a particle cannon blast, the damage causing the autocannon's feed mechanism to warp. The center torso's armor was melted by the pulse lasers before they penetrated. Chunks of gyro flew out from the laser openings. The final straw for the ComGuard heavy was the extended range PPC hitting the right leg 's ferro-titanium snapping at the thigh. Missing its right leg below the thigh the heavy BattleMech failed to step forward, instead crashing onto its forward thrust nose in a tooth rattling crash.
Marauder IIC was kicked back up to full speed, he needed to catch up with the rest of his Trinary. Looking at the armor damage, he was still in the green which was good since this would be a marathon instead of a sprint.
Ishmael saw Star Colonel Adrine's last battle. Her Mad Dog Prime had taken minor damage as she led the push to break out the trueborns. It seemed she had spotted Khan Ian Hawker still leading from the middle of the Alpha Galaxy line, on point. Hawker's Dire Wolf was damaged with a slight dragging to his left leg. Adrine was walking forward when she sped her 'Mech into a run at the Khan. It was only moments later Ishmael saw six white BattleMechs emerge from a draw to rush at the damaged Dire Wolf as if they knew the 100 ton assault was leading the Diamond Sharks. The last remaining command star 'Mech, a Thresher triggered a burst of speed from its MASC system to cut over another hill. The Myomer Accelerator Signal Circuitry sped the heavy forward, leaving Adrine to fight six ComGuard BattleMechs out of range of her Cluster.
When Ishmael had crested another ridge, it looked as if she had destroyed a medium Wyvern by setting off its ammo and a motionless Trebuchet was clearly missing a leg. Her Mad Dog ducked under a Stalker's rain of long range missiles while she responded with her own that pelted its right side. Large pulse lasers fired at a Bombardier whose white paint appeared to have black scratches. The heavy fire support BattleMech had been backing up to keep its only weapons at a better range. Those lasers must have found a weakness in the right torso since the CASE panels were blown out the back with exploding and burning missiles. The last two mechs, a Griffin and Kintaro both could have been tasked as body guards for the fire support BattleMechs, though they were failing against Adrine's inspired fighting. As he dropped down from view, one of the spread of short ranged missiles the Kintaro fired must have set off the Mad Dog's left missile rack.
The Marauder IIC passed the slowing Dire Wolf, the remains of Star Colonel Adrine's Mad Dog was piled up against the Stalker's legs. The hunched over body of the Griffin was on fire and the Kintaro was only legs remaining upright with a spread of debris. None of the seven mechs were moving while the Khan's Dire Wolf had only taken a bit more armor damage. The direction the Thrasher had taken was filled with columns of smoke, but a Demolisher Heavy Tank and a Fury were both climbing hill for shooting positions. The Demolisher's white paint was blacked on the front glacis, a few flames from inferno rounds still lingering in pits in the armor. Hawker's Dire Wolf fired off Class-5 LBX autocannons from each arms, causing the cluster munitions to send up explosive puffs across each tank glacis while long range missiles dropped on the Fury's turret.
Other Alpha Galaxy machines appeared behind the Khan's, Third Shark Regulars had broken through to relieve the trueborns.
The swarms of white BattleMechs had pulled back, seeming to let the Diamond Shark survivors retreat to their DropShips which were just coming in range. Aside from the Third Shark Regulars, roughly at half strength, the survivors of the frontline units were down to about a Cluster and a half. Ishmael found himself now the commander of the Third; Gwenyth's Phoenix Hawk IIC blew apart when its ammo was hit, no one had seen Fillion's Elemental BA point since the link up, and Londo was crushed in his cockpit before getting too far from the dropships.
With the DropShips now distantly visible the ComGuards seemed to have gathered their courage. Their foes had broken out of the trap, but were weary and the surviving machines beaten upon. One last surge would wipe them out to grant total victory. The white BattleMechs came on as a overwhelming wave. Ishmael looked up from his halted 'Mech at the towering egg shapes, then to his sensors which showed the blizzard of red icons moving upon the remaining blue friendlies. His Marauder IIC pivoted away from the safety of the DropShips into the face of the oncoming white 'Mechs. The mission they had chosen, rescue of the elite trueborn Clusters was not finished yet and he would honor Star Colonel Adrine's sacrifice no matter how unworthy the warrior who was Khan. His armor was damaged, a small laser was out, and the sensors to the right were occasionally more fuzzy but he was in better shape than the trueborns.
Ishmael was not alone, the other surviving freebirths spread out to his left and right began to walk towards the enemy though none had said a thing.
"Star Captain Ishmael, this is your Khan. Report! What are you doing? Who has ordered this deployment!" asked the blind man who tried to lead. Ishmael did not answer, instead concentrating on what he saw coming. They were so many even after all the ones he had destroyed the last day. His Marauder was approaching saKhan Sennet's Warhawk as he approached the edge of the fleeing Diamond Sharks.
A light blinked on with a burst of static in his headphones. "Ishmael?"
"Good bye Barbara, we serve the Clan." The channel closed, there was nothing more to say. The Warhawk turned to flee for the DropShips.
"Warriors of Omega Galaxy, I, Khan Barbara Sennet salute you! Your names shall live on forever in The Rememberance. As you fight, know that your sacrifice is not in vain!"
Ishmael picked out what his computer was calling a command variant Battlemaster which had a few puckers in the armor from long range missile hits. He noticed to his left Star Commander Rene in his Warhammer IIC had scored a hit on a hulking Pillager which must have come from the ComGuard's Star League stockpiles. Ishmael opened fire with all three extended range PPCs to be rewarded with the Battlemaster falling into some trees and the heat in his cockpit. While not showing any critical damage, it failed to get up so he shifted to a new target. After all there were so many to choose from on this afternoon.
