Part 2
THS Midway, High Orbit
Atreus, Marik Commonwealth
Free Worlds League
21 June 6065
Admiral Mohammad Al-Bakar stood on the flag bridge of the Fleet Carrier THS Midway. The massive carrier brought with it four aerospace fighter wings, a squadron of DropShips and thirty-two small craft of various function from shuttles, assault landers and SWAC craft to assault ships and boarding craft. With the Admiral was the Duchess having transferred aboard to separate herself from Fleet Admiral Mancuso who would have led the fleet action against the word of Blake but was now interposing the balance of the fleet between Atreus and the now fleeing Word of Blake Navy.
“Admiral send to the fleet. Begin landing operations.” Sarah ordered looking into the holo tank.
“Yes Highness.” The gruff old admiral responded. Activating the fleet network, he spoke. “All commands this is Hegemon. Commence landing operations. I say again commence landing operations.”
Various replies and confirmations began to flood the network. With the arrival of the fourth fleet assets also came the fresh 2ND Cavalry Division. Like her 1ST Cavalry Division whom she was still technically a Brigade commander in, the 2ND was outfitted with the latest OmniMech’s to be manufactured by the Terran Hegemony-in-Exile. This included both Clan and Hegemony designed ‘Mechs. New to this force was the new Spartan battle armor. A proposed replacement for the Elemental already seeing limited service within the Hegemony.
With the Word of Blake fleet rushing for the jump points the command council voted to begin landing operations as reports of four Word of Blake Divisions on the surface were supported by the survivors of the 8TH Free Worlds Legionnaires. Initial landings were to be conducted by the 101ST Jump Infantry Division, 10TH Lyran Guards, Red Lancers, 1ST St. Ives Lancers and the 2ND Com Guard Division.
Sarah was worried about the Com Guards. She knew the word of Blake would be gunning for them. She hopped with saturating the planet with multiple landing zones it would force the Word of Blake into either trying to defend everything or to concentrate forces thus allowing for an encirclement. Already Victor had broadcasted a message asking for the surrender of all forces on planet. She was not convinced anyone would actually listen. She knew there was at least one Shadow Division down there and the only thing to do would be to kill them in detail. That is why her own 2ND Brigade, 1ST Cavalry Division was designated as a reserve force. The 2ND Cavalry Division dedicated a Brigade to supporting both the 101ST Jump Infantry and the Com Guard’s 3RD Army.
The gathered officers watched the drops being conducted. The orbital deployments of BattleMechs and Battle Armor from the five dedicated assault forces. The DropShips decending with the balance of the assault brigade’s conventional forces and with follow on second wave formations not slated to conduct an orbital drop. That was when it happened.
“Highness, they’ve been spotted!” One of her subordinate command post officers shouted from the station she was using to monitor the battle network.
“Where.” Sarah commanded.
“Thermopolae Ma’am.” She responded.
“Seriously?” Sarah said aghast.
“Yes Ma’am. Precentor Grandi reports that they are protecting the pass north towards the capital.” Lieutenant Jamie Hodgins reported.
“It was a trap, I wonder if the northern island area was even defended with heavy anti-air assets.” Sarah turned towards Admiral Al-Bakar. “Admiral send squadron of drones towards the capital. I want them to make a direct approach over the island. I want to see at what point the air defenses open up.”
“Yes Ma’am. I have all of the flights tasked with targets that we planned to hit anyways to make it seem like a real push.” Al-Bakar stated as he turned and began issuing orders. An aerospace group consisting of eighteen Mk. 39 Voidseeker drone fighters split between two flights of six fighters each of 004 Interceptor and one flight of 007 Striker variants.
Sarah watched the display as the fighter group dove for the planet. It took fifteen minutes for the drones to come into range of the surface. They continued in being intercepted by a Level II of Blakist fighters. One of the flights broke off and engaged them. The other two flights continued on to their targets only taking sporadic fire.
“That’s it. Send to the Blackjack brigade begin landing. We are going to hit them from the rear.” Sarah tapped in a command on her console. A new communication window opened. It was the face of Thomas Marik. “Captain-General, I respectfully request the assistance of the 2ND Guards Brigade. I’m going down to the surface and am going to relieve the Com Guards. This will allow your 2ND Guards to secure Atreus City.”
“With pleasure Duchess.” Thomas said. The death of Sherryl having gouged out his heart. “I have some information I would like you to take into account Sarah.” He said his expression softening.
“What might that be Thomas?” Sarah inquired.
“While Paul Marik will die for his part in the coup. His daughter. Corinne is the reason why I am here today. She is an unwilling participant in these events. I would wager that if her regiment were here she would joining our side as we landed.” Thomas saw the skepticism in her eyes. “I know that the actions of the fleet over Marik have clouded your opinion, but I need you to understand that Corinne is as good as anyone could be in these times. She is not responsible for the death of your father.”
“Ok I will issue orders to the task force that she is to be taken alive. We will sort this all out afterwards.” She paused. “Any word from the Knights?”
Thomas just shook his head. “I don’t believe they will come out of hiding just yet. I also don’t know how many of them are left. The Second were my trouble shooters and enjoy desegregated operations allowing them to go to ground and fight an insurgency much easier than the First.”
“I hope they lived to get into hiding Thomas. You will need good loyal troops when this fight is over. And I know they were all good people.” Sarah said consoling him.
“They are at that. Another thing SAFE has a special operations unit on Wendigo. Called the Dark Shadows. They are currently facing off against what they have described as the Fifty-Fourth Shadow Division. I have ordered the Santorini and her escorts in to orbit to support our special forces. If they are going to turn it would have happened by now.” Thomas revealed. “Marines will reinforce the garrison there until we can free up additional ground forces to face these demons.”
“Very well I will ask the Chancellor to deploy his Death Commandos and I will send the 101ST’s 2ND Brigade as they are uncommitted yet.” Sarah said looking over the battle rosters. “If you excuse me Thomas I have a shuttle to catch.” She saw the look in his eye. “I’m going to join my brigade on the ground.”
Before Thomas could say anything the line went dead.
LZ November-26
Atreus, Marik Commonwealth
Free Worlds League
The Pollux Air Defense vehicle rumbled to a stopped and deployed its stabilizers and began tracking the sky. All around various armored vehicles and battle armored infantry were in a hyper state of awareness. Buzzing around the sky like gnats a full wing of fifty-four Voidseeker drones were on guard as the lone Mk VII landing craft touched down and outstepped the Duchess of the Terran Hegemony-in-Exile clad in a full body cooling suit pistol strapped to her hip and carrying her ready bag. She was met at the bottom of the stairs by a squad of armored infantry and escorted to her waiting OmniMech.
“I see you couldn’t keep out of this one Highness.” Master Sergeant Josefosky said as Sarah approached.
“Alright Ski, is she ready?” Sarah replied.
“Yes Ma’am. Bravo configuration just like you wanted.” Josefosky reported.
“Thanks Ski. Let me get this beast moving so you all can get out of here.” Sarah said as she climbed the ladder up into the cockpit. She ran through the start up sequence and spotted her lance mates spread out with the rest of the Command Company securing the landing zone. “They are just taking my safety way to seriously.” She whispered to herself.
The massive ABM-O1 Abrams B thrummed to life and the Legion CEWS began connecting with the battle network and started populating both friendly and enemy positions as they were being reported to the network. She saw that one of her companies had already had to call in orbital fire support from the heavy cruiser Daring assigned to support the brigade in their effort to destroy the 49TH Shadow Division as it was finally identified. The Manei Domini – as captured Blakist Militiamen have identified – of this particular division enjoyed using inferno rounds in all of their missile and artillery weaponry. This forced the company team holding back a Level III assault as the rest of the battalion combat team deployed to call in orbital fire support.
Sarah marched her OmniMech up into formation with the rest of her lance For this attack she was deploying the full fighting arm of her command company. Three augmented lances with eight ABM-O1 Abrams’ and four BGL1-O Bengali’s supported by six squads of Elemental battle armored infantry. The Headquarters battalion was moving up behind with six Pollux ADA vehicles to provide both air defense and on call fire support protected by two platoons of regular infantry motorized in light tactical trucks and other vehicles.
It wasn’t long before Sarah joined the rest of her brigade. This time she was not going to be in direct combat if her troopers’ hand anything to say about it. The Thermopolae pass was not as narrow as its namesake on Terra. Here the enemy was a battalion abreast on both sides of the pass with individual machines moving forward to replace those that had fallen. The Shadow Division had an estimated four Level III’s of strength remaining in the pass. Four battalions.
Sarah saw the sheer wall of fire be unleashed. Autocannon tracers, lasers, missile exhaust, particle cannon and gauss rifle bleed all crisscrossed the battlefield showing that the coalition force was literally trying to storm the gates of hell and evict the devil himself. Swooping in out of the sky Hegemony and Com Guard aerospace fighters dropped ordnance into the interior of the pass bombing troops who had not yet joined the lines of battle to the north and south.
In the south the 11TH Com Guards were landing in order to support their sister division the 2ND. Sarah made a note in her battle management system queuing a message to be sent to her command post and relayed to Precentor Durbin. Requesting that the 3RD Army Commander deploy artillery as she was about to order her artillery battalion to begin a sustained bombardment of the gap’s interior. Keying up her net. “Darkhorse-6, this is Blakjack-6. Standby for fire mission. We are going to advance under a rolling barrage. Be ready.” Sarah ordered.
“Blackjack-6 roger. Darkhorse will be ready to advance.” Came the response of Colonel Charles Richmond. Successor to the command of her provisional OmniMech regiment.
Twelve Ballista II Howitzers set in two separate firing positions and a battery of Vali II Arrow IV vehicles loaded with submunitions began firing into the gap searching out Manei Domini troops which trapped themselves in the gap. The 2ND Com Guard Division to the south likewise began firing artillery into the gap.
Sarah was watching her battle network as UAVs and orbital reconnaissance assets continuously updated the ‘tally’ of enemy forces in the gap. She began to doubt the numbers. Then it hit her. “It’s a trap.” She called out over her lance net. Switching to TAC 3 the task force tactical all hands net. “FLASH, FLASH, FLASH. All Guide on’s, Blackjack-6. Objective Stone Wall is a trap. Fall back now. Disperse forces to no larger than battalion. Execute, execute, execute.” She switched back to the Brigade command net. “Blackjack, this is Six actual. Break into battalion teams and scatter. Expect mass casualty weapons and ambushes. No more than two battalion teams to support each other. Every scatter. All grounded DropShips lift for orbit. Aerospace assets begin hunting for radiological signatures and run your MAD scanners and sweep the surrounding coastal waterways.”
She watched as her brigade scattered. She also saw the Com Guards doing likewise. That was when the a lance of aerospace fighters called out a missile launch from the Atreides Ocean. The position was immediately tagged by both the pilot’s Legion CEWS and authorized for strike by the Daring. The heavy cruiser in orbit targeted the area with its broadside and dispersed its weapons in order to cover the largest area and quickly flashed millions of gallons of water into steam with the released of the broadside 55cm naval lasers. Quickly followed up with massive geysers erupted with the impacts of the class 30 naval autocannons. Several volleys from each weapon type were fired before the captain ceased firing in order to observe.
Three Alamo nuclear missiles were launched towards the island of Ionia two targeted on the Com Guard and one on the Hegemony forces as the Daring made its strike. An Alamo airburst over the 11TH Com Guard Division in the middle of disembarking its DropShips gutting the force. A Hegemony Rouge aerospace fighter collided with the missile on its way to cover the Duchess’ Command Company. The third missile came screaming in conducted warhead separation at thirty kilometers and deployed decoys. The brigade’s air defense systems went into overdrive trying to intercept the warhead most killing the decoys. In the end the missile detonated one hundred meters above Sergeant Jacobi Miller in his LGN1-O Legion OmniMech.
Sarah’s Abrams was running north as fast as the ‘Mech would take her over the broken terrain. The world around her flash she slammed her eyes shut and ten seconds later she was slammed to the ground by the overpressure wave as it overtook her Assault Mech. Her system was in reset as it recovered from the electro magnetic pulse from the warhead.
* * *
THS Daring
Orbit, Atreus
Marik Commonwealth
Free Worlds League
Captain Dana Adams watched the horror of what happened on the ground. The mushroom clouds rising up into space. She was sure they had gotten that submarine that launced those missiles. “Guns, new target. Sent to your station.” She ordered.
Lieutenant Harry Westgate received the new data. “Ma’am that’s close to our troops on the ground.”
“My authority. If we don’t hit that gap now those freak shows are going to unleash the circus on the survivors. Start at both ends of the gap and work towards the center. Don’t let them out.” Adams ordered the fires of hate burning in her very soul. “Kill them all Lieutenant.”
“Aye Ma’am. Helm flip ship and give me a two G burn. I need to work us into the right convergence zone. Port batteries prepare for volley firing.” Westgate ordered receiving confirmations from around the combat information center.
In space the ancient Luxor-class heavy cruiser tumbled end over and began to burn to shift its position. The ship could reach out and hit its target from there but the weapons officer needed to be as precise as possible there were friendlies on the ground. As the ship settled into the correct orbital trajectory the autocannons unleashed their thunder followed by the lasers. Striking at both ends of the Thermopolae gap and working towards the center.
Alarms began sounding. “RADAR emissions detected.” A voice from the sensor station called out. Seconds later followed by. “We’ve ben painted by LIDAR. Detection threshold.”
Another voice added in. “Launch blo… multiple launch blooms detected at 312 mark 153. Three hundred kilometers out and closing. We have incoming missiles.”
“Captain radiological alert. We have incoming nukes.” Another sensor station reported in.
“How many warheads incoming.” Captain Adams demanded to know.
“I could twenty Ma’am!” The young rating at the sensor station reported. “They fired from what we thought were just communications satellites.”
“Communications alert the fleet. Helm full military power use the planet and sling shot us away from those missiles. Guns, get to work and clear my sky. Flight ops get me fighters on those missiles. Order the group to scatter.” Captain Adams ordered. The bridge jumped into a flurry of activity. The fire support group in close orbit began to scatter.
Orbital Battlespace
Atreus, Marik Commonwealth
Free Worlds League
All over the northern hemisphere in orbit warships scattered. A warship was assigned to provide cover for each brigade operating on the surface whether it was for fire support or using the ships capable telescopes to hunt for the enemy as a sensor platform. Eight ships began maneuvering wildly. The first to be hit was the THS Daring, the heavy cruiser took four missiles and began to tumble into the planet below. The next get hit was the THS Hamlin. The Destroyer didn’t even have a chance it took a missile to its drive system and began to lose orbital altitude.
The THS Olympia took four missiles across her long spine and broke in two. The massive transport with survivors racing to lifeboats and escape pods lost the rear half of the ship to a core breach. Both the Nassau and St. George were lost when three missiles each impacted their hulls and the ships became drifting irradiated hulks in space having broken the planets gravitational pull only to have been slowed enough for the missiles to hit and destroy the ships. The SIS Warlock and FCS Donegal both managed to make it clear and intercept the missiles. Missiles left in powered off launchers leapt from their launch platforms and raced after the dispersed battlegroups. The combined fire from the Capellan – St. Ives group managed to destroy six such missiles with four making it through the outer defenses one slammed against the hull of the CCS Franco Martell failing to detonate. Another was intercepted by St. Ives fighters short of cruiser while two missiles destroyed the destroyer CCS Anhui. A missile impacted the SIS Justin Allard detonating and causing damage although the ship survived.
The finale casualty was the FCS Tiger that took the hit for the FCS Robert Davion in order to protect the Archon-Prince.
13km North
Thermopolae, Atreus
Marik Commonwealth
Free Worlds League
Sarah’s Abrams’ slowly regained function. She managed to get herself back to her feet. The picture was grim. Two mushroom clouds were still rising to the south massive debris clouds were in the air from what she could only assume was orbital weapons fire. Her Legion CEWS was connecting with every platform that it could reach out to. She was already noticing that around half of her brigade was not reporting in. She had one functioning field node that was taking reports from the infantry and digitizing it and pushing it back out over the Legion system. It looked like the survivors of the 49th Shadow Division were pushing out of the gap on the warpath.
She tried to speak but tasted copper in her mouth. She must have bit her tongue. “Guide on’s, guide on’s, guide on’s. SITREP follows.” She gave a second before continuing. “Nuclear weapons detonated over the battlefield north and south of the Thermopolae gap. All Blackjack elements are to rally at position NA 271 513. Enemy is pushing north out of the gap. We need to hold the line and push them back into the gap.”
She began to receive confirmations and the Legion CEWS began rebuilding the brigade hierarchy began to shuffle as the more senior systems reported in and reassigned command to those who were left. Sarah discovered she had around sixty-three OmniMechs left after the nuke hit. What was worse was the losses of Nighthawk equipped infantry. Her Elemental suits and armor failed a little bit better. She had about seven battalions of troops left give or take.
Reaching the rally point Sarah went to work reorganizing the brigade. And that’s when the circus showed up. The Word of Blake’s 49TH Shadow Division attacked her remaining troops with three Level III’s of troops. The battalions slammed into the Hegemony line lasers and missiles crisscrossing the battlefield. Sergeant Tanaka in her Bengali B reached out and blocked the swinging Blade from a Manei Domini Seraph OmniMech. She countered with her two heavy large lasers knocking the Seraph back before bringing her large vibroblade back into the fight and slaming down into the left torso of the Blakist.
The Blakist fired its ultra-class 10 autocannon into Tanaka forcing her back. It was quickly followed up with a flight of SRMs from its streak six-pack and a blast from its snub-nose particle cannon. Tanaka staggered, fired her extended range large lasers at point blank range and brought down her vibroblade again this time striking true crushing the particle cannon and cutting into the cockpit in one vicious swing after another. Tanaka pulled her blade away and brought it in for one last swing from the right and knocked the immobile machine over.
All around the battle was fierce. Sarah had singled out a ‘Mech the book was labeling as an Archangel. Sarah’s LRMs reached out to open up the engagement. Followed up by her extended range large laser. She advanced on the demon OmniMech firing her gauss rifle and another flight of her missiles. The Archangel fired its heavy particle cannons from each arm striking true on Sarah’s Abrams. Sarah fired her gauss rifle again as soon as it cycled backed up by her laser. She was now only a couple hundred meters out now and watched as nearly a platoon of mixed Elemental and Nighthawk infantry and a Von Luckner and a pair of Chevalier tanks joined their Duchess in her charge against what she thought initially was only a lone OmniMech which turned into a demi-company. Sarah halted her charged and let lose with her massive ultra class 20 autocannon laying in the triggers and watching the heavy rounds cutting deep into the Blakist OmniMech. The Chevalier’s joined in with their lasers and the Von Luckner fired its LB 10-X autocannons as fast as they would fire. A squad of Elementals added their SRMs to the conflagration and the Archangel shuddered and exploded taking out a squad of Blakist infantry as it advanced mixed in with Battle Armor.
The coalition faced nine different types of battle armor that day. The fighting was close this force was much larger than a normal Word of Blake Division. “X-Ray, Blackjack-6. Where the hell are they all coming from?” She called out.
It took about a minute before the next highest command post came up on the net. It was one of the infantry regiments command posts and Colonel Thompson. “Blackjack-6, this is Spartan X-Ray. Falconer reports we are facing two Shadow Divisions. They have the Fifty-fourth Shadow Division attacking into their lines now. Over.”
Sarah thought about that report. “Midway, Blackjack-6.” Her communications switching the network.
“Blackjack-6 this is Midway.” She heard the familiar voice of Al-Bakar.
“What is the Captain-General reporting from Wendigo?” She asked.
“Captain-General Marik went down to the surface with the 2ND Guards and is fighting in the capital now with the 8TH Legionnaires and a battalion of Manei Domini.” Al-Bakar reported. “The Santorini reports one full Level III of ‘Mechs and Battle Armor is on the surface and they are mopping up with orbital strikes and aerospace attacks with the Dark Shadow’s now.”
She thought about that as they loosed another flight of LRMs at a Blakist bulldog in the distance. “Roger Midway. Blackjack-6 out.” Sarah signed off. Switching back to brigade. “X-Ray, Blackjack-6. Get us some air support our artillery is gone. We are advancing. Six out…”
