Chapter 3, Continued -
“They're coming,” Miko's voice crackled loudly over the mic.
Casey's head shot up, as much as his neural helmet would allow. Surprised, he was quickly dragged away from the ugly surrounding offered by a planet with thin ozone. The brown, thick-skinned grasses that crumpled under his Griffin's wide, square feet were quickly forgotten. His gaze moved to the north, away from the Quartz, burried in a long trail of downed and broken trees. On the horizon, he saw more of the local trees, gnarled and twisted, with rigid, stiff leaves and wicked looking thorns. Above them, a plume of dust blending quickly into an almost white gray sky.
Having his doubts about the master plan from the start, Casey was still expecting the pirates to have some modicum of common sense. When he saw the dust to the north, he was certain that it was their DropShip powering up for a hasty blast-off. Now, with Miko's warning, there seemed to be some hope for the plan, after all.
But, if they were coming, Snarl and his gang had to at least suspect a trap.
"Just as expected," she continued in her light soprano, "They're coming in force. According to seismic data, I'm reading one assault, one certain medium class, and either two heavies or one heavy and a medium."
"Sounds like the intel was good,” Javier said. “But, expect some surprises. Okay. Let's go. We don't want them getting too close to the Quartz. Miko, we’ll meet you."
"Understood."
Al and Casey echoed her, but Javier was already moving. His flame stenciled red, yellow and orange Firestarter turned its painted gaze on the two new-hires, the black cockpit glass between the two fiery eyes giving the impression of a furled elemental brow. Then it kicked off at a track star's run, heading up a small swell and disappearing between some small copses.
Al, too had throttled his navy blue and grey Warhammer into a run. While the heavy ’Mech was really pumping its legs, it wasn't near enough to keep pace with the Firestarter. As soon as Casey throttled his Griffin forward, the Warhammer was being left behind. Cutting back a little, Casey didn't let Al slip too far back.
While they travelled away from the Quartz, over hills and through small woods, Casey kept trying to puzzle out the pirates's approach. But a quick glance at the countryside was answer enough. This place had nothing. These plants were undoubtedly far from edible. The atmosphere may be breathable, barely, but anyone standing outside long enough would be severely burned. The only thing going for it was the large ocean of water not too far to the north, and that probably had to be purified. In fact, one of many thefts off a long list of crimes was of water treatment equipment.
This place had nothing. No industry. No large population centers. No commerce. Snarl's encampment was given away from orbit only by the presence of their dropship. It was the only sign of human habitation.
So, when someone accidentally dropped out of the sky in a transport undoubtedly full of expensive materials that could be resold, it must have seemed like mana from heaven. Casey didn't know whether to be pleased at Damien's insight into the mind of their prey, or to be sickened by the state of humanity that it was necessary to hunt people down who were doing what they could just to survive. The fact that Snarl and his gang were forced into this position was a common theme in this universe. For an instant, Casey could feel for them.
Then he remembered some of the other crimes listed against the band. Sometimes desperation wasn't enough to justify every evil a person could commit. These people were criminals, and needed to answer for their crimes. Thankfully it paid more to bring them in alive.
They were getting closer. Each swaying step brought the mercs and the pirates ever closer. And each step tightened Casey's gut in anxiety. He couldn't help it. He knew what he was getting into. It didn't help knowing that they were outmassed significantly. It didn't help knowing that Damien's ’Mech would have turned the tide. The fact that each mercenary machine had some form of advanced tech didn't really add much comfort.
But, it wasn't just survival Casey was concerned about. Once the pirates learned of the trap, they would undoubtedly turn and run. Being as heavy as they were, the pirates could definitely withstand a lot of punishment. If they ran, it was almost certain more than one would get away. Those would probably be the two that mattered most, Snarl and Swoop.
Up ahead, clear on both the three hundred and sixty degree monitor, as well as through the giant bubble canopy that was the Griffin's head, Javier's flame colored Firestarter was at a standstill just behind a hill. In a few more seconds, Al's Warhammer and Casey's Griffin would also be close.
Miko’s tan Jenner came around the hill from her forward scouting position, skidding to a halt next to Javi’s ’Mech.
"They’re just on the other side of the far hill," Miko said
It was redundant, because Casey's sensors were already picking up four machines almost half a kilometer away and closing.
"Did they-?" Javier started to ask.
"No. They haven't seen me. But they undoubtedly know we're here."
"Did you-?"
"It is the group we’re looking for. Their machines are a direct match."
"Alright!” Javier sounded energized. “Al. Casey. You work on the Assault. Once the big guns are out of the way, we can handle Snarl and Swoop. Keep your distance from Snarl. You don’t want to get hit by that assault cannon. And, be careful of Swoop. She lives up to her name. Miko, you're with me."
Together the two light ’Mechs headed off to the right. Javier's Firestarter flew up into the air on twin jets of steam from the cylindrical tubes on its back, dropping out of the air to disappear into a small forest. The Jenner wheeled around quickly and started off around the woods, its extraordinarily long legs eating up the ground quickly.
Al and Casey had both just pulled to a halt. It was simple for Casey to press his throttle forward and steer his Griffin up the small rise in front of him. Al joined him on the left.
The battle was about to start, and already Casey was beginning to focus. Forgotten, the anxiety in his gut disappeared.
On the sensor read, two of the enemy were pressing forward while two more stayed behind the next hill over. His HUD painted the one in front of him while it climbed the opposite slope. Projections indicated it would be in view by the time he was on top of his own little hill.
Without hesitation, he quickly toggled a firing solution for both the ER PPC held in the Griffin's right hand, and the LRM tube mounted to the right of his cockpit.
"All right, Al. Don't get too far away from me. If Swoop's as dangerous as they say, we'll need to cover eachother's backs."
"You're worried about me out-pacing you?" Al quipped.
Casey couldn't help twisting to look sidelong out of his neurohelmet. He glimpsed the Warhammer jogging to keep pace while his Griffin strolled up the hill beside it. Point taken.
"In the heat of battle? Easily," Casey quipped back.
Flanked by ugly trees, Casey’s target, an Awesome appeared on the next hill over just as he and Al topped their rise. As an assault BattleMech, it was the biggest threat on the field. It had three of the hardest hitting beam weapons in the Inner Sphere or the surrounding periphery. And, it had the armor to allow for an extended fire fight at range.
It was backed up by a Crusader which appeared among the trees at the base of the Awesome's hill, to Casey's right. But, those were the only pirates in range or line of sight. Snarl’s and Swoop’s ’Mechs hung back on the other side, well out of view and range.
He didn't like it. Sending out only two while the others hung back? What were they planning?
“We’ll take care of the Crud,” Javier said. “You two tackle that Awesome.”
“Got it,” Casey said, echoed by Al’s, “Roger.”
All three of the Awesome’s PPC barrels glowed, ready to fire, the moment its blocky upper body came into view. In a pattern that would set the cycle for the rest of the battle, six Particle Projection Cannons flashed blue beams, perforating the sky between the Griffin, the Warhammer, and the Awesome. Then Casey’s ’Mech rocked when the missile launcher fired its payload of twenty missiles, ten and ten in quick succession.
Their smoke clouded his view for an instant, but not before seeing a key detail that made everything all so clear. The monitor in front of him tried to compensate for the sudden visual obstruction, providing a digital rendering of an amalgam of sensory data. Missile and particle beams got colored vector lines over a cartoonish rendering of the Awesome’s exposed upper body and the surrounding terrain. The Awesome’s hidden legs and lower half got a simple wire-frame outline.
But, Casey didn't need it to see clearly what his own eyes spotted, glaring in the bright white sun.
"Al. Play the range game," he said.
While kicking in his pedals, activating the Griffin's jets, the cockpit's internal fans activated, and coolant ran through the vest on which the giant, bulky neural helmet rested. Casey felt the cool against his torso, front and back, as well as along his scalp and neck where the lines laced through the helmet.
Pausing in his explanation, he glanced at the compressed panaramic monitor to see if Javier and Miko needed assistance with the sixty-five ton Crusader. His eyes quickly picked out a small detail that reassured him he would not be needed. It also confirmed what they had been told in the briefings.
While in flight, soaring over his friend as the heavy Warhammer jogged down slope, Casey toggled another PPC shot at the Awesome. The enemy was holding its place just the other side of the bald crown up above, making it an easy enough target.
All the while, he said, "Intel is sound. That Awesome's a dated 8Q. Look closely at the right arm's housing. We can outrange it."
Casey guided his ’Mech toward a copse of trees. The Griffin came smashing down through branches and leaves. Just as its feet touched the brush-covered ground, the right arm reached up, pointing the gun in its hand at the Awesome.
It fired. Almost simultaneously, the beam was joined by two more from the heavy cannons which made up the Warhammer's lower arms. The beams swayed with the ’Mech’s motion while it shouldered its way through the trees to Casey's right.
Even though it hadn't moved from its position, the Awesome ducked, taking the shots. Contrary to popular opinion, BattleMechs were mobile machines and capable of almost every motion that any out-of-shape person strapped in full plate armor could make. The quick move was unexpected, and the targeting systems in the Merc machines tried to compensate, to keep the beams focused on one spot of the enemy as long as possible.
But the dodge worked. All three beams played errantly over its upper body, thrown off by the sudden move. Without the smoke in the way, Casey could actually see one of the beams slice a little too close to the hill, evaporating grass and dirt in equal measure. A sure sign that the paint blackened on the Awesome's front by each shot would probably be nothing more serious.
Only one shot, Casey's, remained focused enough that the armor actually glowed and cracked and splintered just as the beam winked out. It was really difficult to make out with the naked eye at this distance, but the HUD immediately painted the damage on the target for him. If the sensors said so, then it was true.
The enemy bobbed, came up, and immediately returned fire with its three particle beams. They perforated the air to Casey's right, just a little before Al's twin beams winked out. Branches and leaves puffed into steaming vapor, splinters and smoldering ash at the merest touch as they tried for the only significant threat the Mercs had.
"Hold here! Hold here," Casey said.
Following his own advice, he triggered both his Long-Range Missiles and the particle cannon, and he had a quick few seconds to reflect while watching his enemy from the trees. While the fans in his cockpit came on and the coolant in the vest started to flow, Casey kept a close eye on his target.
The Awesome made no motion to come after them, and Casey became even more certain he understood the enemy's plan. In fact, seeing the other two markers behind the hill on the overhead map confirmed it.
"We keep here," he said. "I think they're waiting for us to close, banking on our trying to take advantage of the poor focusing range on those old Kreuses."
But, Casey and Al didn't have to play that game. The newer extended range model cannons would start to have a telling effect, able to bring their beams to bear at better ranges in sufficient force that the enemy's armor couldn't expect to shrug it off as easily.
"That hill's still proving a problem, though," Al said.
"It won't matter," Casey replied.
However, he didn't have time to continue the argument. A missile lock warning beeped in his right ear, catching his attention. Quickly, he pulled his gun arm back, almost like going into a guard stance in karate, with the gun still pointed at the Awesome, but from the hip. His view blocked by the huge tube launcher, the only sight he had of the incoming missiles was on the compressed panoramic monitor in front of him. They streaked in faster than a bat of an eye, and the Griffin rocked. The motion was partly defensive on his ’Mech’s part. The rest of it was from the fifteen explosions which tore new holes in the tree canopy. They sounded like distant fireworks through the sound-proofed armor.
A quick glance at the diagnostics monitor said that was about the only effect most of them had. Some had scored some damage. But most had come up a little short.
Distracted for a brief instant, he did a double-take when he went back to concentrate on the Awesome. His gaze drifted back to the monitor and the Crusader.
Javier had gotten the jump on the Crusader, flying his Firestarter over and behind it, landing deeper in the miniature forest. The IR signature for the enemy ’Mech, indicated in a small color band just beneath it on Casey's HUD, showed that the Crud was doing too much all at once. Trying to fight the darting and running light 'Mechs, the errant LRMs it had just flung at Casey to aid its heavier friend had overtaxed its cooling systems.
Then the Firestarter bathed the Crud in hell-fire.
From deep inside the shade offered by the trees, two bright, fiery explosions engulfed the Crusader while it was still wading forward. Those fireballs were quickly followed by two twin streams of superheated fusion plasma from the handless wrists of the Firestarter's arms.
It's IR signature went from a steady brightening orange to a bright whitish yellow.
The Crusader was completely soaked, burning. The trees it had been pushing through were also alight, and the flames were spreading. Fire dripped from the ’Mech and the trees to the ground, lighting the coarse grasses underfoot, casting dark shade into hues of bright yellow and orange. The Crusader, still marching forward, started to slow to a walk, then froze to a stop. An already bright IR signature dropped significantly. Either the pilot wasn't fast enough to hit the override, or he had been completely caught off guard. The end result was the same. His ’Mech’s engine had powered down.
“Hahahaaaah! Otra victima por el fuego consumida,” Javier shouted triumphantly.
“Holy crap! Did we do that?” Al blurted, excited.
Casey didn’t catch the context until his LRMs fired, the smoke blocking his view of the inferno. Quickly looking back up the hill, he was just in time to catch the Awesome’s head sinking from view behind the hill. Had it fallen down? Did it take that significant a hit from Al's and Casey's combined fire? Having missed the exchange, he couldn’t tell.
The superimposed display showed where the enemy should have been behind the hill, and its most likely position after going down. It also displayed far more damage, probably from a fall.
A small paranoid part of him brought up the notion the pirate was trying to draw them in with a ruse.
Only the Crusader was in view. However, another moment’s study showed its IR was slowly becoming brightly visible again. While the pirate ’Mech absorbed heat from the burning inferno gel and the fire raging around it, its heat sinks were overloading. It wasn’t cooling off. The old Succession Wars classic just didn’t have the dissipation capacity. Casey guessed that even if the pilot could get his ’Mech started, he wouldn’t be able to move it out of the fire.
The Crusader’s pilot must have come to the same conclusion. In the few seconds it took Casey to figure it out, the Crusader’s head burst open. Rocketing out of the fire, the pilot drifted from his chute to the ground many meters behind it, outside of the inferno.
The Crud was out of the fight.
Casey didn't hesitate. Kicking on his jets, he rocketed his Griffin out over the tops of the trees and down into the valley between the two hills.
"Now's our chance, Al. Let's close on him."
"What about a trap?"
"With the Crud out, we can take him. And your ’Mech does better in close," Casey said, ending with a woof when the Griffin landed hard.
Al had already started forward as soon as Casey did, and wasn't too far behind. So, the argument wasn't necessary. The trap was still a concern. The Awesome hadn't resumed its feet. However, the two medium ’Mechs behind the hill hadn't moved, either. They were still down at the bottom.
As he activated his jets again, the upward momentum masked the sinking feeling that was building in Casey’s gut. Were they thinking of running? Considering they lost one of their own inside half a minute, something which shouldn't have happened so early, it was easy to see they were now outmatched.
At the height of his jump, Casey could see the two pirate leaders. Snarls Hunchback and Swoop's Phoenix Hawk turned away, as if they were about to run. But, then he saw Javier running his ungainly Firestarter around the trees that covered the right side of the hill, right into range of their weapons.
"Whoah! Javier, you're too close. Watch out!" Casey called.
"Aren't you in position?" Javier sounded calm, if confused.
"The Awesome's not dead yet!"
True to his word, and just as part of Casey had suspected, the Awesome slowly pushed itself to its feet right under his crosshairs. Pulling the trigger for his PPC, he knew that as soon as he landed, he would be the target for all three of the other 'Mech's big guns. Goosing his jets, he changed course. He would come down just the other side of the slope, putting some of the bald hill between them. Casey would at least have his legs covered.
With the firing solution already set, he only had to watch the landing. Firing his jets one last time at the last minute, the Griffin's broad feet crushed grass while it crouched to absorb the rest of the landing. Unexpectedly, his ’Mech sidestepped once, defensively trying to throw off the enemy's fire.
Two beams lanced out from the barrels on either side of the Awesome's waist, dancing across the Griffin's armored chest. While the paint blackened and metal glowed, the armor diagram on the HUD indicated the damage was negligible.
While the Awesome's beams burned, the Griffin returned the favor, blackening the already blackened centerline under the enemy’s square chin. It was quickly joined by two more blue particle beams and five red laser beams of varying diameter.
Al's Warhammer wasn't too far behind Casey, loping steadily up the hill.
The armor projection across the Awesome's visible front went red in the center when more armor chunks flash-vaporized and melted, leaving giant, jagged, cracked pits. Its own defensive movement combined with the strong hits wasn’t enough to send the pirate toppling again, but this fight would be over soon at this range. Another hit from anything would start piercing the Awesome's ruined metal hide on the center torso.
A flash from the panoramic monitor caught Casey's eye and he glanced down, watching in sudden fascination the ruin Snarl's Hunchback was dishing out to Javier's poorly placed Firestarter. He was just observing the trail end of the attack when the giant blocky shoulder cannon paused in its flaming belch before spitting flame again.
The Firestarter had already staggered from the first hit, trying to recover from having its shoulder forcefully wrenched to the side after a hailstorm of shells, only visible through HUD tracers, had nibbled away at the arm. Covered in High Explosive smoke, Casey could only tell from damage diagram overlays how bad it was. The armor was swiss cheese at this point and the gray metal muscle and support frame was no better. The HUD painted it dark, destroyed.
But the second blast went lower, hammering away all up and down the leg. The assault put a shudder in the Firestarter's normal stride. Then, in two steps, the fiery light 'Mech was on the ground, at about the same time Casey’s HUD painted the leg black.
One step, and the Firestarter was clear of the smoke, its arm dropping limp to its side. The second step never came. Riding on its bad leg, the Firestarter was propelled forward by its own momentum. As it reached the end of its stride, the leg did not lift. Instead, the knee gave under the weight, as if the ’Mech were dropping into a crouch on one leg. Momentum carried it down and forward, the knee hitting the ground, bending the already mangled thigh. The upper body continued forward, plowing into the grass and dirt on its beat-up shoulder. Coming to a quick stop, the lifeless arm flopped to the ground beside it.
Casey winced, the called out. “Javi. You all right?"
He heard a muttered curse. “I'm fine! I'm fine. Can you keep these guys off me?"
“He won't have to,” Miko said. “They're running.”