Outer Becon, Nadir Point
Alexander (Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser)
Outreach, Star League Protectorate
10th May 3078
The Wolf’s Dragoons flagship Alexander was quiet as the night watch continued as normal in the Outreach system, although the WarShip’s position was more symbolic of the Dragoon’s power than a necessary guardian the crew took their duty very seriously.
“There is goes again…” one of the sensor operators said quietly speaking to himself at his port bridge position.
“What is it, Leutenant?”
“An energy signature it appeared about six minutes ago, very low range.”
“Where?”
“Around sixty kilometres from the Nadir point actual.” He reported crisply “it could be background…” he said trailing off “Wow, massive radiation and energy spike, we have a ship jumping in.” He reported quickly, nothing was due in the system “energy signature suggests a WarShip around two hundred thousand tons. I‘d say it was a Fredasa if I didn‘t know better”
“Inform the Colonels on Outreach that we have incoming and have the Wolf Pack to be ready for incoming there also. Weapons warm up the forward cannons.”
The smaller ship emerged from its Jump nearly forty kilometres from the Alexander and the crew were shocked to see it. The ship was pained nearly flat black with red highlights and a spider’s emblem on its back.
“Send them a challenge.”
“This is Star Admiral Arnold McKenna of Clan Sea Fox; we need no assistance however I suggest you do not fire.”
“This is Fleet Colonel Issola Chandra, commander of the Wolf’s Dragoons WarShip Alexander. We offer no assistance, what right do you have us to tell you what to do or not…”
“Energy spike!” the sensor operator shouted interrupting her as a second WarShip entered the system this one far larger, far more deadly and far more recognisable as one of the most lethal WarShips in existence the Nightlord-class Battleship Terror of the Deep flagship of Clan Sea Fox.
“Battle stations; inform the planet we may need Star League intervention two Clan WarShips.”
“You will not” McKenna said Chandra cursed herself for not noticing the communications was still active. “We are here to see the Wolf’s Dragoons Colonels, we are willing to fight if need be however we did not come here to fight you.”
“What are your terms Star Commodore?” Issola asked even with the Wolf Pack the two Dragoon WarShips stood little chance against the two Sea Fox vessels.
“A single DropShip, Outpost-class, will proceed in system and land on Outreach, our party will meet with the Dragoon leadership to discuss a contract.”
“And if these terms are refused?”
“Then we will leave, Clan Sea Fox has no quarrel with the Wolf’s Dragoons today, perhaps in the future.”
After several tense moments a communication returned from Outreach a single Clan DropShip was permitted to make landings on the planet under escort. The Outpost-class DropShip detached from the Terror of the Deep and made its way in-system to the planet landing on it three days later.
Contracts Building
Harlech City, Outreach
Star League Protectorate
13th May 3078
The landing of a single DropShip, even a Clan one, at Harlech’s main spaceport had not aroused any suspicion neither had the five BattleMechs that exited the vessel and been escorted into the city to one of the many contract negotiation buildings scattered around and in the Mercenary city, for today the Dragoons had sealed this particular building for their own purposes.
As the five Dragoon Colonels, two Lt Colonels and Michi Nocketsuna, head of the WolfNet, sat waiting they were surprised then a variety of uniforms entered the room and sat opposite them. Along with the two Sea Fox Warriors there was a warrior each from Clan Jade Falcon, Clan Hell’s Horses and the Dragoon’s parent Clan Wolf, the last person to enter was also the most recognisable she was saKhan Marialle Radick second in command of Clan Wolf.
“Welcome to Outreach, saKhan” Colonel Kelly Yukinov, commander of Alpha Regiment, said standing from his seat saluting her.
“I can nearly smell Terra” she whispered her eyes alive with hatred and desire.
“How can we be of assistance to the Clans today?”
“Assistance that is what you Surat mercenaries do is it not, you sell your services to your employer.”
“To the right employer, not to all.”
“And are you, old man, the person I speak to hire the Dragoons?”
“We are” Michi Nocketsuna said also rising from his seat, Marialle recognised him as an honourable warrior of the Draconis Combine and noted even the mighty could fall from grace.
“Then we have the right people, Wolf; sort this out so we can leave.” The Hell’s Horses Star Colonel said glancing at Marialle, the way he addressed her was almost an insult completely ignoring her superior rank, and it was also obvious he detested the Dragoons and what they stood for but also that he had not respect for the Wolves.
“Why are you here?” Michi asked again.
“We have had a small niggling problem in the last several months from a unit that attacks from nowhere and then disappears.”
“The Opacus Venatori” Michi declared naming them in their Latin name “the Shadow Hunters, one of the Word of Blake’s last surviving remnants.”
“Most recently this Shadow Hunters attacked the Ghost Bear Capital of Alshain causing thousands of deaths and continued the war with the Draconis Combine. The Ghost Bears will not listen to us, they see the Combine as dezgra and a sneak attack is exactly what they expected. I very much doubt they will believe your reborn Star League either, the Bear has been roused often it is only calmed by blood.” Marialle said looking from Michi to Kelly.
“We are aware of their attacks, what of them they are not a Dragoons’ problem” John Cavell said, he commanded the Wolf Spider Battalion Natasha Kerensky’s unit.
“And yet you have done nothing, typical of a Wolf” the Jade Falcon officer said.
“Enough of this” the Sea Fox warrior declared “Dragoons, everyone in this room is aware of your capabilities and your contacts throughout the Inner Sphere. The contacts built during the time you were sent to the Inner Sphere by our Clans.” He reminded them “these Opacus Venatori, as you call them have caused damage across Clan space escalating in each attack and I will bet they have attacked Inner Sphere targets as well. They originated in the Inner Sphere are an Inner Sphere problem, the Inner Sphere will fix this or we will be forced to.”
“They are becoming bolder, despite the debacle facing the Bears on Alshain.” Michi said the Bears had gotten lucky but the Opacus had paid for it in blood. “I am surprised the Clans have allowed them to move so freely, and wonder why they have to be “forced” to act.” He pondered before the Clan warriors could answer John Cavell spoke.
“I’ll bid my Battalion against these Shadow Hunters; the Wolf Spider can track and destroy them.”
“I’m glad to see the Wolf still beats in your heart, Major.” Marialle said smiling “the Fredesa-class WarShip we have taken with us was specially constructed by the Sea Fox Clan for this use; this WarShip is your mercenary’s payment for services rendered.” She revealled “and if the Opacus Venatori is not destroyed by the Wolf’s Dragoons we will come looking for our payment back.”
“You gift us and then threaten Radick.” Kelly asked anger boiling in his veins he did not like an employer dictating a contract especially with a former employer like Clan Wolf.
“Only a fact, Colonel, unless you do not want the Fredesa? Clan Hell’s Horses could always use another WarShip.”
“We do not take Wolf caste-offs” the Hell’s Horses warrior said quietly.
“What is your play Wolf?” Radick asked staring Kelly right in the face, eye to eye with the saKhan Kelly did not flinch.
“We’ll take your WarShip, and the Opacus Venatori just found themselves an adversary. Major Cavell your Wolf Spider Battalion just found a new home, our new toy will be your transport against the Opacus Venatori.” He said glancing at John then back at Marialle “now Wolf” he said using the saKhan’s title for the Dragoons “get off our planet.”
“As you wish, we will be watching.” She said turning leaving followed by the Jade Falcon, Hell’s Horses and two Sea Fox warriors. Two days later the Terror of the Deep jumped clear of the system leaving the Fredesa in the hands of the Wolf’s Dragoons which they named Widow’s Lair in honour of Natasha Kerensky and of the Wolf Spider Battalion's mission.
Royal Palace
Augustine, Rousset-Marik Alliance
Former Free Worlds League
21st May 3078
Following years as adversaries the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth and the Rousset-Marik Alliance meet on Augustine to begin talking about a united Free Worlds League once more. It begins with simple trade between the two nations with both sides agreeing to make allowances for the other and agreeing to each try and bring the other former nations of the Free Worlds League to the table at following meetings.
Clan Counter Attack
Koinz, Blair Atholl
Lyran Commonwealth
28th May 3078
In an attack authorized by Khan Phelan Kell Clan Wolf (in-Exile)’s Second Wolf Legion Cluster of Alpha Galaxy and the Second Wolf Grenadiers Cluster of Beta Galaxy are allowed to declare trials against Clan Jade Falcon forces on Koinz and Blair Athol.
The Second Wolf Grenadiers have no problem on Koinz capturing the world in a quick near bloodless trial against Clan Jade Falcon forces however it is another story for the Second Wolf Legion Cluster. On Blair Athol the Wolf (in-Exile) troops found the Seventy-fifth Striker Cluster of the Jade Falcon’s Kappa Galaxy, a second-line unit of poor reputation. The seventy-fifth refused to give the Exile troops an honourable trial and refused to fight openly with the Wolf forces instead a cat-and-mouse battle erupted a mile east of the capital in a group of caverns and woodland, the fighting did not remain confined there however and spilled into the city causing horrendous collateral damage and casualties. With the Seventy-fifth refusing to give up the Wolf (in-Exile) troops were forced to destroy the entire Cluster with no Jade Falcon survivors.
Port Simon Fleet Yards
Galax System, Crucis March
Federated Suns
12th June 3078
After a long and uneventful journey from Terra the Fire Fang finally arrives in the Galax system of the Federated Suns. Although the vessel will need another year of refitting before it is fully operational there are celebrations within the Federated Suns as another of the original Davion Block I-class Destroyers arrive back within a Federated Suns shipyard. During the journey Major Heaps and his team has discovered the vessel’s original name, the FSS Swordsworn, the AFFS Admiralty allow this vessel name to stay in history and maintain the name Fire Fang honouring the vessel’s deeds as a Clan and ComStar vessel.
The FSS Intrepid also moves into the Galax shipyards for refit. Upgraded to what they are describing as a Block-II the vessel will soon become a fully outfitted construction/maintenance vessel following its duties during the Fire Fang’s refit. The Intrepid’s crew and the engineers that had been assigned to the vessel are given extended shore leave for their efforts in returning the Intrepid to the shipyards.
Disputed Space, Arc Royal Theatre
Lyran Commonwealth
19th June 3078
On the Lyran Clan border the Wolves in Exile and Jade Falcons clash again with heavy casualties on both sides. The Exiles are again the instigators in the fighting launching a strike at Goat’s Path and Antares both on the border with Lyran space both worlds fall to the Exiles in trials.
Two days later the Jade Falcons counter attack against further Lyran Commonwealth worlds taking Machida and Zhongshan. On Zhongshan the local militia and the Fighting Intellectuals Mercenary Company attempt to fight off the Clan assault, the First Falcon Lancers Cluster led by Loremaster Bryan Pryde destroys both units taking no prisoners. Jade Falcon WarShips are also spotted in the Chahar, Blue Hole, Pandora and Arcturus systems in a clear warning cease these attacks or they’d return.
By the end of the month Archon Peter Steiner-Davion sends a message to Khan Phelan Kell ordering his troops to stand down over their reprisal attacks against the Jade Falcons. Phelan Kell receives several messages from Duke Kelswa-Steiner on Skye supporting his troops reclaiming of Tamar Province worlds.
Fifth Star League Games
Solaris VII, Star League Protectorate
Lyran Commonwealth
30th June 3078
House Davion has further to celebrate following the victory of Leftenant Anna Holmes, from the First Kestrel Grenadiers Independent BattleMech Regiment of the AFFS wins the competition in her Stealth OmniMech beating crowd favourite Alexander from Solaris’ Own Zellbrigen stables, piloting his customized Wraith. Before she left Solaris VII she was able to secure a pair of Zellbrigen stables Partial Wings she’d seen on Alexander’s Wraith in a private ‘Trial of Possession’ on returning to the Federated Suns Anna found herself whisked off to New Avalon for medals and a promotion to Captain.
Second Round Hell’s Horses Assaults
Clan Occupation Zones
2nd July 3078
With their neighbours backs turned Clan Hell’s Horses launches an assault into all three of the other Clan’s Occupation Zones. Led by saKhan Tanya DeLaurel in her brand new Balius Quad-OmniMech Eta, Theta, Iota and Kappa Galaxies of the Clan lead the assault with the primary Galaxies holding onto what they have left in the Inner Sphere. Zeta Galaxy remains as the Clan’s only Homeworlds defence with minimal support.
With Clan Wolf preparing deeper assaults into the Lyran Commonwealth chasing Clan Ghost Bear’s own very successful assaults with dreams of Terra saKhan DeLaurel saw an opportunity. Leading first with Eta and Theta Galaxies they struck at Steelton, Persistence and Winfield all worlds the Wolves had taken from Clan Jade Falcon effectively destroying all inroads they had made on their Jade Falcon neighbours. Only on Persistence did the Wolves put up significant resistance with the 103rd Striker Cluster of Gamma Galaxy fighting off against Eta Galaxies Thirty-fifth BattleMech Cluster supported by Omega Keshik. The presence of their saKhan and several of the new Cygnus-class Assault Mechs won the day for the invading Hell’s Horses force however the Wolf defenders lost no honour and great respect from saKhan DeLaurel.
Carrying on with Theta Galaxy saKhan DeLaurel on the 5th and 8th in lightning assaults the Hell’s Horses won two Jade Falcon worlds Maxie’s World and Romulus again with little resistance. For the warriors of Theta Galaxy it was nice to be involved in the combat and gain some Inner Sphere experience for the saKhan, she wanted more leaving Theta and Eta in position to secure worlds while she moved on with Omega Galaxy rendezvousing with Iota Galaxy in an unnamed system, the Hell’s Horses had chosen to avoid the pirate hole of Star’s End until they had significant WarShip support which they’d use to sterilise the entire world if necessary.
With Iota Galaxy’s Sixty-first and Sixty-ninth BattleMech Clusters saKhan DeLaurel landed troops on Icar on the 10th July and on New Caledonia on the 13th of July. Both battles lasted around two hours in traditional Clan trials before the saKhan left the clusters and moved on with the rest of Iota Galaxy and Omega Keshik. Following the arrival of reinforcements from the rest of Iota Galaxy on the 15th the saKhan pushed on once more, taking the Sixty-seventh BattleMech cluster and Omega Keshik and joining up with Kappa Galaxy and the WarShips Selipnir, a Cameron-class Battle-cruiser, and the Mount Olympus, a Volga-class Transport. There Omega Keshik was completely refit for the saKhan’s last assault against the Wolves.
Deep within Wolf space travelling through unoccupied systems they arrived in the New Oslo system on the 22nd in space the Selipnir engaged the Wolf’s Moore’s Honour. The former Ice Hellion Essex-class Destroyer stood little chance of stopping the Battle-cruiser and stood down allowing the Hell’s Horses to engage. On the ground the whole of the Wolves own Omega Galaxy with five full Clusters waiting for the invading Hell’s Horses troops, the Wolf ground commander Stevic Hawker informed the Hell’s Horses command that his entire Galaxy was his first and last bid before cutting off communications.
Grounding on the 24th of July saKhan DeLaurel found her forces under attack from the moment they stepped from the DropShips the Wolves assaulting even the grounded DropShips unwilling to allow them to land. Providing the Wolf ground troops with long range support were at least three Trinaries of brand-new Sun Cobra medium BattleMechs produced at the New Oslo plant and piloted by raw unblooded warriors. Despite the hail of Gauss Rifle slugs saKhan DeLaurel ordered her troops forward making headway pushing through the Wolves disabling a star’s worth of the Sun Cobras however the accurate and constant Gauss Rifle fire was telling on the Hell’s Horses troops, two shots went into the saKhan’s Balius, the QuadMech took the well but the second hit struck and destroyed the Gyro leaving the Mech to sink to the ground uncontrollably. Although Tanya DeLaurel was able to avoid capture by a star of Clan Wolf Headhunter Elementals she knew that their fight on New Oslo and for this campaign was over, the Hell’s Horses retreated from the planet shortly afterwards.
Administration Building
San Nicholas, Duchy of Tamarind-Abby
Former Free Worlds League
13th July 3078
“Turn those damned militia troops over to my command and we’ll protect your little capital and keep your hands clean of the dirt of combat.”
“Colonel, you know as well as I do that your Battalion are only on this world because of your units poor combat performance and low price how do you expect to hold back a Marian Hegemony assault? One that has already landed troops on five other worlds and does not look like it is ready to give in anytime soon.”
“We may be here because our luck has been down, but may I remind you my people are the only thing between a bunch of former pirates on an ancient Roman cruise across the stars and the Marians still consider pillaging and raping targets as a valid option in war. If we resist, make them think twice, your leadership may survive this.”
“Your people will be killed.”
“I know” Colonel Maxwell Green admitted “everyone of them knows it too. But we’d rather go down swinging than surrender without a shot. My people will be facing off against the Marians. I’ll leave it to you if your armour joins us on the line and give your civilians half a chance of survival.” He said turning marching out of the building without saying another world, the governor had been right, the green machine only took this job because it was an easy garrison contract and they’d only been hired because Green Machine’s previous records didn’t allow them to call for much in the way of cash but still they were here and they’d do their job.
Leaving the building Green walked the short distance to his ancient Crusader BattleMech, the Mech had been long handed down in the Green family and despite Maxwell Green having no-one to hand it to he knew its legacy would outlive him even if he died today. Five minutes later she was inside the cockpit and brining the old Mech on-line. “Captain Slyghe, what is our status?”
“Thirty BattleMechs all ready for combat”
“Only thirty?” He asked his unit fielded thirty-three Machines on their TO&E including his own.
“MechWarrior Grant is in the local lock-up the Governor had cut orders he was not to be released under any circumstances and MechWarrior Faulkner’s Stinger is not combat ready after the last training exercise.”
“Tell her to take Grant’s Catapult.” He didn’t like taking one MechWarrior’s Mech for another but they needed every machine.
“Grant has locked his Mech down with three security protocols we can’t break them and he won’t give up the code.”
“Damnit, can’t this lot see we’re in a life and death situation here the Marians have steamrolled the defences the outlying Duchy worlds we’re their first major Mech test.”
“What about the militia?”
“The governor hasn’t decided.”
“That’s great, he’s sentenced us to death.” Captain Phyllis Margrove said butting in, by her slurred speech and her Marauder’s movements were restricted.
“Listen up the lot of you, if we surrender we’re as good as dead the Marians will happily take our Mechs and be done with it so I’ll leave it to you to decide fight and have a chance or be dispossessed.” No one replied they all knew his words were the truth “I’ll take the stinging silence as you want to fight? Good, stick together watch each other’s backs and let’s go kick some periphery arse.”
“Incoming DropShips, I count six Union-class” MechWarrior Rebecca Lopez shouted out, that put the enemy at upto of six companies in strength.
“Advance units have hot-dropped, we have a company incoming.”
“Hold together people, fire at will, combine on targets as long as we have numerical superiority. And may god have mercy on our souls.” Green said targeting an incoming Wasp light Mech, “eat it” Green said triggering his long range missiles causing light damage to the twenty ton Mech’s leg and torso. Across the line Green Machine Mechs were firing their weapons however as Colonel Green followed up on the Wasp with a second volley of missiles on the Wasp he saw a Mercury from Charlie Company fall under three PPC blasts from a Marian Awesome. Turning on the incoming assault Mech Green began to run at the Mech brining his old Mech up past sixty kilometres an hour for the first time in many years - Green past his eighty-second birthday two weeks before smiled as he closed on the Mech finally he was back in real combat. Firing short range missiles and lasers as he closed Green felt the heat raising but ignored it closing to point blank with the Awesome getting inside its minimum range bracket he planted two punches into the side of the Awesome smiling as he saw his Mech’s right first crush one of the PPCs on the Awesome. The massive eighty ton Mech turned still standing following this savage physical attack and fired its two PPCs at point blank range the blasts tore into Green’s Crusader, the sixty-five ton Mech shook under the attack but Green didn’t care punching again this time adding his leg SRM launchers into it as well he was intent on destroying the biggest Mech he’d seen so far, giving his unit a chance of life.
Up above someone must have been smiling on Colonel Maxwell Green maybe it was his long dead wife Elizabeth or maybe the Almighty himself as Maxwell Green continued his dance with the Awesome for a good minute finally downing the massive assault Mech with a punch that went straight through the Awesome’s cockpit. Battling to avoid heat shut down he walked his Mech back towards his battered command “Captain Slyghe, status”
“We’re down… sir watch out!” She suddenly screamed Maxwell Green turned to see a smaller fast moving Mech charging towards him firing his lasers he tried to slow it however the Mech swung its massive blade at Green’s Mech hitting the left shoulder severing the limb where it was, as the blade drew back it stuck the cockpit shorting out half of Green’s life support. Charging forward Green literally steamrolled the Ghurkha BattleMech crushing the thirty-five ton Mech under his Crusader’s feet before the Crusader itself fell to the ground. “Colonel please respond, Colonel Green do you hear me.”
“Yes, Rhe, I hear you” he said to his XO his Crusader wouldn’t be fighting much longer but at least it was warm. That stopped Green his Mech hadn’t fired weapons for a good minute it shouldn’t be warm… he glanced down and noticed his coolant vest was punctured in the gut by a large support from the frame of the cockpit now he felt the pain too. Trying to ignore it he brought his Mech to standing point “Rhe, how are we doing?”
“Down three Mechs including Captain Margrove she took two Marians with her if that counts.”
“What about… the militia?” he wheezed fighting the pain
“Nothing yet, sir, please report status”
“Fine so be it…” he said struggling to speak. “…we’ll fall back to the treeline… there we’ll have a little… a little cover.”
“Sir, are you alright?”
“Sure just a bit winded. Move out people we have a battle to win.” He said his Crusader struggling to keep up he noticed Rheannon Slyghe’s Bushwhacker staying close to him. “I’ll manage Captain, no need to worry.”
“Not worried just putting up a united face of our enemies.” Moments later she turned they were still three hundred metres from the trees and the Marians were catching them. “Three full companies, I see two of armour behind that. We’re in trouble boss.”
“I’ll take care of them, take the unit to the rear in the trees, engage from cover, set fires if you can it’ll hold up there armour.” He suggested
“You’ll never get within range.”
“I’ll slow them” he said putting the pain to the back of his mind he charged forward in his one armed battered Crusader Slyghe’s Bushwhacker standing with the rest of the unit watching as he closed on the Periphery troops.
“Colonel, change direction minus forty degrees east current direction.” Came another voice over the Green Machine band, out of reflex Colonel Green did so. There moving directly for the periphery troops was MechWarrior Grant’s Catapult surrounded by militia armour nearly a full Battalion in the air several combat VTOLs provided further support, Green recognized the voice as Grant himself.
“I though you were in the local lock-up?”
“The Governor just didn’t want me leaving without a proper military escort sir.”
“Very good, link up with Slyghe and the rest of our people I’ll take the militia in.”
“Negative Colonel, we’re right behind you” Slyghe said her Bushwhacker already running alongside him “the Green Machine fights as one, and if need be we go down as one.” Despite the pain from his stomach wound Colonel Green smiled his unit was finally coming together and in their greatest time of need.
Less than ten minutes later the Marians had been pushed back and broken, two of their Union-class DropShips had been destroyed the other four captured by the militia and the remaining Green Machine machines. However Colonel Maxwell Green was not with his victorious troops instead he was in a militia hospital about to be rushed into emergency surgery beside him was Rheannon Slyghe his XO and truth be told the real reason they’d won today, Green had known she was great when he hired her on Outreach aged just nineteen. “Rhe, listen to me very carefully”
“I’ll listen to you when you come out of surgery.”
“No damn it, listen now!” Green demanded “I’m not coming out of this one, but we did it Green Machine is back on the right track and I got one last win.”
“You’ll have plenty more” Rheannon said quietly
“No, Elizabeth is calling me” Maxwell Green said quietly “my will is in the safe in my desk code 16-06-67 your orders are there, Major” he said before coughing up blood and going into cardiac arrest.
“Get him into surgery now!!” The doctors screamed but it was too late, an hour later after fruitless attempts at brining him back from the brink Colonel Maxwell Green was proclaimed dead.
In the following days the Governor would call Maxwell Green and the Green Machine heroes of San Nicholas but it did not hide the fact he was dead. Rheannon Slyghe in the presence of two other members of the Green Machine opened the safe - Green’s combination Rheannon’s enlistment date - the orders inside confirmed Rheannon’s promotion to Major and full command/ownership of the Green Machine Mercenary Command.
Wolf Spider Ground base
Downtown, Galatea City
Galatea, Lyran Commonwealth
23rd July 3078
Not wanting to restrict themselves to purely Wolf’s Dragoons sources the Wolf Spider Battalion had moved to Galatea to search for sources and information regarding the Opacus Venatori. Because they wanted the Widow’s Lair a secret as long as possibly they’d initially travelled to the planet via commercial JumpShip whilst the WarShip had jumped in at a pirate point about a day from Galatea. There were no Lyran WarShips stationed in the system and the Widow’s Lair was off any usual trade routes so no-one noticed the presence of the lonely WarShip.
“Newest burst from the Widow’s Lair, nothing new from Outreach no new attacks in the Inner Sphere or on the Clan Occupation Zones, unfortunately nothing new we can use.” Captain Ian Macintosh commander of the Spider Trinary said.
“Things are quiet here on Galatea as well” Stacy Church said “I have the Black Widows Trinary scouring downtown for leads, nothing yet.”
“Has anyone else picked up anything?” John Cavell commander of the Wolf Spider Battalion said quietly seeing blank faces.
“Because there is nothing to know, Major” came a sneering voice over loud speakers. “You Dragoons have always looked at the wrong place and caused more trouble than you were worth. Time for that to end!” John Cavell looked up at the warehouse windows and saw a moving shadow.
“Everybody Down Now!” But his shouted warning came too late as a huge BattleMech slammed through the wall sending bricks and mortar flying everywhere Captain Dirk Samuels, commander of the Tarantula Trinary, was crushed under flying debris.
“Time for your little hunt to come to a disastrous end.” The voice said again the Red-and-White Mech firing PPCs at the warriors and the stored Wolf Spider Mechs, Captain Church’s Timber Wolf took a hit to the chest, the Timber Wolf falling over crushing two more warriors of the Battalion.
“Everybody scatter, Spider One to all Spiders we need back up! All units clear out to the DropShip!”
“Cavell the Widows are still out there, there Mechs are sitting targets!” Stacy Church screamed her own Mech was already being crushed into the ground by the enemy Mech.
“Forget it Stacy, let’s get as many of our people clear of this turkey shoot before we lose the entire Battalion.” Over the next ten minutes the attacking Mech destroyed eight more of the Wolf Spider’s BattleMechs before retreating. John Cavell and the rest of the Wolf Spiders retreated to the DropShip, in all they had lost nine MechWarriors mostly from Tarantula Trinary, the surviving warriors were reassigned to the Black Widow and Spider Trinary however the Wolf Spider Battalion had lost a third of their number and been given a major defeat.