Guest chapter by Zogster
In Limbo
Limbo Badlands
Pandora
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
25 December 3151
It was a hot day in the middle of nowhere, which suited Wynter DeVires just fine. The reorganised Tamar Jaegers had arrived on Pandora to liberate the former Lyran world from its Jade Falcon rulers. In the wake of the Falcons’ evacuation of their former occupation zone, the newly formed Tamar Pact had moved to drive out the remaining garrisons from a number of nearby worlds, bringing them into the fold. As a major factory world, Pandora was an important step.
They had issued a formal challenge to the planet’s occupiers, which they believed to be a disorganised solahma force. The challenge set the site of their battle out in the middle of nowhere, away from settlements and important infrastructure. This suited Wynter perfectly; the further they were from harming civilians, the better.
Her company of BattleMechs from the Third Tamar Jaegers deployed at the edge of the badlands, where grassy plains gave way to broken ground and rocky passages. On her order they advanced, heading to flush out the Jade Falcon forces and hopefully end things swiftly. They had been set upon immediately. The rocky passes disgorged a swarm of light tanks and hovercraft that came barrelling at her company. A smattering of smaller vehicles held back, peppering them with long-range autocannon fire.
“Form up and spread fire. Break their charge!” Wynter ordered. Her lance clustered by her side, and as one they opened fire on the charging vehicles. She focused on an incoming hovercraft, fouling its lift skirts with her particle cannons. The vehicle ploughed into a rocky outcropping and came to a halt, but kept firing its autocannon at her. She switched her focus to a light tank that was bearing down on her. It was slowed by the broken terrain, making it an easy target. Her autocannon and missiles ripped into the tank’s hull. Even so it pressed on, peppering her 'Mech with its own light autocannons and rapid-fire Gauss weapons.
That’s a Sokar, she thought to herself, recognising the light tank as it continued its charge. The vehicle was designed for softer targets, not the wall of BattleMechs it was coming up against. She strode her Defiance forward to meet it. The tank opened up with its primary weapon, a pair of heavy flamers that licked across her 'Mech’s torso. Wynter smiled to herself as the heat rose in her cockpit. She could feel a surge of power running through the Defiance as its triple-strength myomers kicked into gear. Her 'Mech took a mighty step forward and brought its broad foot down on the Sokar’s front, crushing it utterly and impacting it into the ground.
She paused a moment to take stock of the situation. The Scourge and Götterdämmerung at her flanks were making quick work of the fire-support vehicles, while the four-legged Ursa that completed her lance was in amongst the vehicles, spraying fire left and right. She turned her attention back to the crashed hovercraft and detonated it with a pair of precise particle cannon shots.
“Not the best we’ve fought,” came the Götterdämmerung’s gravelly-voiced pilot.
“They’re desperate,” Wynter replied. She looked over at the array of destroyed vehicles before her. “That makes them dangerous. Be on your guard.”
“Copy that,” came the reply.
To a man, her unit turned back to face the rocky passes ahead of them. “The bulk of their forces should be through there. We press on,” Wynter said. Without waiting for a reply, she accelerated her Defiance forward. Her unit fell in step around her.
A quick report of heightened winds was all the warning she had before the dust storms blew in. They scoured across the dusty badlands, picking up monstrous clouds of dirt and sand. Soon enough they had blown right into the Tamar Jaegers, obscuring the battlefield and fouling sensors and radar alike.
Wynter didn’t like it. She wasn’t fond of surprises, especially on the battlefield, and felt she’d had enough of them for one day. “Keep close, and watch out for ambushes.”
“They’re probably as blind as we are,” the Ursa’s pilot replied.
“Don’t count on it,” came Wynter’s warning.
The minutes dragged on as they picked their way through the broken terrain. Between the unsure footing and the limited visibility, their advance was painfully slow. Wynter remained on edge, trying to pick out any sign of movement from the blowing dust around her, or any sound other than the wind’s incessant howl.
“Contacts!” came the call over the radio mere moments before they were beset with laser fire. Searing bright beams shot out from the darkness, scattering amongst her forces. Few seemed to find their marks, and even fewer inflicted serious damage. Nonetheless, the fire continued to cut through the murk.
They’re firing blind. “Spread out and keep moving. Don’t give them consistent targets.” Wynter watched her board as her troops followed her orders, splitting themselves up to avoid drawing fire. Another spread of laser fire struck out blindly in amongst them. Her lance returned fire as one. Missiles, particle cannons, Gauss and autocannon fire concentrated on the point of origin. They were met with a satisfying series of secondary detonations.
Then the main force came crashing down upon them. A mismatched spread of BattleMechs charged out of the blowing dust, colliding with her forces. They sported a wide variety of designs, both Clan 'Mechs and refitted Inner Sphere models. Already spread out, her men picked their targets and fired.
A pair of deafening reports broke out at her side. Wynter found her 'Mech rocked by a spread of shot from two massive autocannons. The bent form of a Hunchback IIC came at her, firing clusters of shot again and again from its shoulders. She returned fire with her own autocannon and particle cannons, scouring armour off the smaller 'Mech. Seemingly undeterred by her return fire, the Hunchback charged forwards, blazing away relentlessly.
Up close she could make out its shiny, factory fresh finish. It was barely marked, beyond a Jade Falcon symbol emblazoned on its chest. They’re using 'Mechs straight off the assembly line, Wynter thought. How desperate are they? She refocused and fired, her cannons striking low and cutting into the 'Mech’s legs. Shocked by the sudden barrage of fire, the Hunchback tumbled forwards and crashed flat on its face. It would almost be comical if it wasn’t trying to kill me.
Fire from above drew her attention. Within the swirling vortex of dust, she could make out a flight of Skadi attack VTOLs joining the battle. The aircraft struggled to maintain position while firing down on the Jaegers with their powerful autocannons. Checking briefly to see that the Hunchback remained still, Wynter backed her Defiance into cover behind a rocky outcropping. Rather than pursue, the Skadi switched targets, angling towards her lancemate’s Ursa. Occupied by an enemy Crossbow, the Ursa was blindsided by the VTOL’s fire, with explosive shells raking across its forelegs.
“Take out their air support,” Wynter commanded. She stepped around the other side of the outcropping and fired up, her autocannon’s pellets raking across the Skadi’s body. A moment later a volley of missiles from the Götterdämmerung struck it as well. Explosions tore across its body, one ripping a section out of its lift fans. The Skadi spiraled out of control, dropping from the sky. At the last moment it seemed to right itself, surging forwards and plunging into the Götterdämmerung’s chest. A massive explosion lit up the dusty sky, enveloping the stocky BattleMech.
“I’m… fine…” grunted the Götterdämmerung’s pilot. It emerged from the blaze, its chest blackened and pitted but still seemingly intact. Wynter turned her attention to her lancemate’s Ursa. The quad 'Mech was struggling, as an intense laser beam from the Crossbow’s barrel arm struck its damaged leg. The leg buckled, sending the Ursa lurching forwards; still upright but crippled. Even as the Crossbow strode forwards, Wynter did likewise, opening up with all her weapons at once and letting the heat flow over her. Lasers, missiles, autocannon and particle fire all cut into the Crossbow. The Ursa raised its body and fired as well, raking the Clan 'Mech with pulse laser fire. Another brilliant explosion lit up the dust clouds as the Crossbow’s heavy laser detonated from within, tearing its barrel-like arm apart.
Before she could press further, a proximity alarm sounded, warning her of as sudden attack from behind. She swiftly turned, her 'Mech’s myomers surging with power, to find the battered form of the Hunchback IIC bearing down on her from above. It fired its autocannons, scouring armour across her 'Mech’s body and sending up warning lights across the board. Rather than retreat, she stepped into its leap, swinging her 'Mech’s bulky right arm up and catching in in the abdomen with an enhanced punch. It hung for a moment, suspended on the end of her arm before she triggered her PPC at point-blank range. Crackling blue lightning cut through the Hunchback’s sensitive internals and shot out the other side. The 'Mech dropped lifeless to the ground once more.
She turned her attention back to the crippled Ursa. Even as it poured fire on the rapidly disintegrating Crossbow, a Point of battle armour closed in on it. Wynter quickly checked her unit’s positions and ordered the Scourge to back him up. Her lancemate complied, closing on the skirmish and tearing into the battle armour with accurate laser fire. Even with the loss of their fellows, two of the remaining point savaged the Ursa’s ankle. The quad ‘Mech lurched forwards once more, its maimed legs collapsing under its weight and sending it crashing to the ground. Wynter and the Götterdämmerung quickly joined the fray, pouring fire onto the Crossbow. Even as it was torn apart, it advanced on the downed Ursa, but its frame gave way and it collapsed before it could capitalise on the ‘Mech’s state. The Scourge, meanwhile, finished off the battle armour Point as they made a beeline for its own legs.
“Those were Constables,” he said, as they paused a moment to take stock of the battlefield.
Wynter nodded her understanding. The Constable battle armour was used by Clan Watch and paramilitary police forces, not on a battlefield. Unless they were this desperate.
“Status,” she barked out, and got a quick round of replied. All were battered, but still functional save for the Ursa. The relentless enemy had taken their toll. At the same time, the chaotic battlefield and driving dust storm had separated out the Tamar Jaegers, leaving nobody in sight beyond the four of them. And for now, the battlefield was quiet. Reports were coming in from other sectors that the enemy was holding fast. Her unit was to regroup and flank the core of their forces. Wynter acknowledged.
It shouldn’t have been this hard, she thought to herself. “They just would not give in,” she mused, as much to herself as anyone else.
“Why would they?” came the reply from the Götterdämmerung’s pilot. “We pushed them into a corner. Where would they go?”
“Fair,” Wynter replied. “Alright, let’s regroup with-“
Her order was cut off by a stream of hypervelocity metal shreds emerging from the billowing darkness. They tore across her Defiance’s side and arm, shredding the damaged limb and ripping it from the torso. Wynter recoiled and surged back, trying to find cover. At the same time her lance spread out, taking positions of their own to bear down on the origin point of their attacker.
Within moments their target appeared. A lone BattleMaster lurched out of the dust, its factory sheen scarred and marked with innumerable weapon impacts. Its right arm was raised as it swept a hyper-assault Gauss rifle across the battlefield, looking for targets. Wynter sent out a call on open channels, saying “You’re outnumbered. Surrender.” The only response was a hail of metal slugs tearing into her cover.
“He wants to die by the sword,” the Scourge pilot said.
“Let him,” came Wynter’s response.
As one, the unit stepped out of cover. The BattleMaster concentrated on Wynter, opening fire with a barrage of lasers. Armour melted off her ‘Mech’s body, sending up more warnings across her board. The return was devastating. Laser fire from the three standing 'Mechs cut into the BattleMaster, searing armour off it. The Scourge’s Gauss rifle punched a hole in its side, while Wynter and the Götterdämmerung rained particle fire across its left arm and leg. Rocked by impacts, it tried to bring its guns to bear on Wynter once more, only to have the Götterdämmerung interpose itself between them and take the brunt of its withering fire.
Wynter stepped from behind her impromptu cover and opened fire, impacting hard on its right torso. The 'Mech’s side collapsed, leaving the arm to drop unceremoniously off its frame. Still it pressed on, firing its few remaining lasers at Wynter. She took the hits, the armour wearing dangerously thin over her 'Mech’s reactor. But before it could capitalise, the BattleMaster was shaken by another devastating volley of fire. Missiles rained across its left side, before a final Gauss slug shattered its structure. The 'Mech’s remaining arm flew off, sliced from it at the shoulder. The towering assault 'Mech finally shut down, collapsing to its knees.
“Is it over?” the Ursa’s pilot asked.
“For now,” Wynter replied, surveying the carnage. Distant sounds of battle echoed throughout the chaotic field, but they were clear for the moment. Her lance picked their way through the badlands, angling to regroup with the rest of her unit. Shattered BattleMechs lay around them, both the unpainted remnants of the solahma forces and the recently rebranded Tamar Jaegers. She could see more of her command, and they were to a man battered and damaged.
“It was always going to end like this,” she mused, looking at the carnage. “They wouldn’t let it happen any other way.”
