Camera opens with a hiss of static before forming into an image of a teenaged girl sitting cross legged on a pillow. She's obviously tall and willowy, with dark blonde hair pulled up into a pony tail. An errant couple stands show it's also streaked with blue. She's very attractive, with huge blue eyes and creamy skin.
She's probably about 16 but has inadvertently managed to make herself look younger by pulling a bulky flak vest over her jersey. The body armour fits her like an elephant skin on a cat and makes her look ridiculous.
Behind her, it's obviously a bomb shelter: all concrete walls and floors and dim lights. Small huddles of people and children speaking softly or moving about around several electric heaters.
"So, this is Greta Kramer... and I'm so bored. Dad's off fighting the Robes, mum's upstairs with the infantry. And me... I get stuck here with all the lames and losers.
When they told me we were going to Skye I thought like FINALLY a planet you can buy a decent dress at or get a decent blow dry... but NO. We get sent to Hicksville, SwampLand and I get forced down a bomb shelter.
"Dad said he's supposed to be a "mobile defence" outside some factory. Not the factory we are stuck under though. It's literally bombed to nothing, some other one still making vehicles."
The camera shifts, showing several people huddled around lamps, reading to children or just looking stunned. Outside there's a rumble like thunder... but not.
The camera switches around to show an older woman kneeling down over a backpack radio. There's a combat shotgun leaning over her shoulder. The radioman is similar: he wears what look like tech coveralls, with a flak jacket over the top and a snub nosed SMG sitting nearby.
The woman speaks into the radio's handset.
"Roger that, Echo. Bishops falling back. Still no activity here."
She notices the camera trained on her and hands the handset to the man as she moves towards the camera.
There a hiss of static as a hand obscures the lens.
While the native Skye troops and Stone's men get the majority of the credit when history speaks of the second Word of Blake assault on Skye, the contribution of Mercenary and Clan forces cannot be denied.
Take for instance, the spirited defence around the Cyclops plant - carried out by Mercenary elements and the Clan Wolf's 11th Wolf Guards.
After their assault forces broke atmosphere, the Word of Blake initiated a massive orbital bombardment to cover its landing.
Delta Galaxy of the Wolf Clan were responsible for much of the Bugbottom District, supported by the 2nd Skye Guards, local reservists and mercenaries.
While a formidable force, the initial bombardment shattered many formations - including Delta's 11th Guard Cluster and much of the local forces.
Tasked with holding the Falkirk Moors, which was an effective overland route to the Cyclops plant, a Mercenary unit named Cavalli's Cavaliere mounted a mobile campaign against Word forces. Acting independently, Colonel Felix Cavalli counter attacked the Word's forces and fell back into broken terrain.
His Cavaliere were one of the few units to ride out the initial bombardment and played. A game of cat and mouse with elements of the 18th Division for much of,the first night, before being joined by scattered elements of the 11th Guards.
Initially, the mercenaries had been tasked with 'breaking the teeth' of the Blakist advance by holding prepeared positions, with artillery and air support, but due to the heavy orbital assault and a lack Of time, the mercenaries were forced to adapt - relatively independent of allied forces.
When the 18th Division funnelled in extra forces, the Cavalliere fell back. Now supported by Delta Galaxy forces, the two units displayed a spirited defence for several days.
Finally, allocated artillery and air support (the mercenaries' aerospace fighters had been assigned elsewhere by Skye high command), the battle fell into an effective stalemate with both sides launching small sized counter attacks and spoiling assaults.
- A Merc's Life: Skye Free Press, 3089
July 7, 3074
Reserves have finally come up. Mostly the 3rd Skye Guards, who are a mix of reservists frocked back into the regular army and beardless children. Either way, a company of leg infantry has been dropped on either side of us and some mixed hovertanks are bending us in support
The Wolves failed to show - we were told that what was left of Delta Galaxy would relieve us soon. Either they got lost or are more damaged than high command is saying
Three days of constant combat has worn us down, but we are holding strong. I pulled Fire Lance off the line because we were out of LRMs (no one is rolling with full magazines now, no resupply) and Battle is down two Mechs.
Casualties among our armoured forces are high, but the machines themselves were all repairable. I feel like a total bastard writing that.
We are facing our old friends from Donegal - the 18th Division. I reckon they have been reinforced with a lot of green troopers, because, while they outnumber us - they're not that good.
My lance personally saw off three times our number last night - we hit them, fell back, hit them... and then they just broke.
Those Wolves better get here soon though - we are strung out and under supplied, holding two ruined villages (both copped a recent WoB shelling) and a long stretch of forest. But if we have to keep falling back we will back at the Cyclops Incorporated plant before long
Felix Cavalli
