Chapter Forty Two: Mud, rain and fire
Southern Antrim Hills, Kentares IV, Kentares PDZ, Draconis March, Federated Commonwealth.
February 11, 3065
The tanks of the Fifty First Light Armored Company and the men and women that manned them made their way to the south east. They made their way towards the militia infantry company and its transports that they were supposed to protect.
The rain patted the Condor Heavy Hover Tank as it moved at a fraction of its top speed. The rain had picked up in the last fifteen minutes and the ground was muddy in the areas where it was not held in place with vegetation. The Striker Light Tanks, Myrmidon and Rommel were slowed down and had to be careful to not get stuck.
Halley had to resist the urge to tell her driver Corporal Roux to advance at flank speed which was just over a hundred and twenty kilometers per hour, but she had to be patient so that her company could advance as a unit.
She was headed towards the rendezvous point. However the opposition was not known. From what she had been told expected resistance was a lance of heavy APCs and their infantry contingent and two lances of medium to heavy mechs.
From the radio reports the Goblin ISVs that were carrying the infantry had been attacked by a medium and light mech scout lance which had then broken contact with them. Also the Golbins has moved into a patch of forest with a north to south ridge in its western side.
Checking a map on one of her displays, Halley noticed the Goblins nearly a kilometer due south of her position. “Axe Six to all Axes, I have contact with four Heavy Hover APCs three hundred and sixty meters south of my position.†“Axe One copies,†replies Halley while wondering what to do. The las thing she wanted to do was have her lighter tanks charge right into a hevy mech, but she was out to keep a friendly infantry company from being shredded.
“Orange One to Axe One, Oranges are on the north to south ridge and heading north. I have contact with a Shugenja, Grand Dragon and Kintaro three hundred meters north east of my position. Also I am seeing a company of Regulars infantry to my north west.â€
“Axe One copies, I have contact with an Assassin, Hitman, Cicada and Locust between three hundred and three hundred and sixty meters south of my position. It looks like they have set an ambush for you. I am sending units to attack their rear.â€
Halley moved her hovertank lance over a pond. A Hitman and Assassin moved onto a low hill a hundred and fifty meters south of the hovertank lance. “Axe One to Axes Two through Four we are going after that scout lance. Five through Eight head south and try not to get stuck in the mud. All Axes fire at will with energy weapons. Save your ammunition based weapons for the shots that you have the best chance of hitting.â€
Halley did not like having to give that order, but the Eighty Fifth was running low on ammunition.
Both sides traded misses.
Halley noticed one of her Striker Light Tanks get stuck. Crap, she thought. First Lance moved off the pond and over the muddy earth. The Hitman, Assassin, Locust and Cicada moved into the woods on a small hill. It was a bad move as they were now enveloped by First, Second and Third Lance. It was not a move Halley had intended.
The Condor rumbled as Sergeant McKinney discharged the autocannon. Missiles, lasers and autocannon fire crossed each other. The Hitman exploded and the Assassin took a beating.
“Axe Three to all units, scratch one Hitman.†Halley smiled. It was always good to hear of a victory, even a small one. “Good job!â€
“Axe Five to all units, my tank is immobile.†“Axe Eight to all units, my engine is damaged. Top speed reduced to thirty KPH.â€
Halley fought back feelings of helplessness and fear for her people. She forced herself not to give in to those feelings and keep a level head. She saw through the rain the Locust, Assassin and Cicada head to the south for another hill just a few tens of meters away. “Axe One to Two through Four, keep on them.†First Lance headed south after them. The other tanks of the Fifty First inched their way south.
The Goblins had moved to the northern end of the ridge and deployed their infantry. The Shugenja, Kintaro and Grand Dragon closed on them.
“Orange One to all Oranges, get into a Diamond formation and deploy your infantry. Next target the Shugenja first. After it is destroyed or backs off target the Kintaro and then the Grand Dragon. Grays One through Four deploy into a defensive formation once your Goblin moves into position.â€
Missiles streamed from the tanks of the Fifty First after the fleeing mechs. Both Pegasii stripped armor from the Assassin and Cicada. More missiles from the Striker Light Tanks damaged the Cicada’s engine and gyro. The Cicada went down in the mud.
The Cicada struggled to get up, but it slipped in the mud and it tore its left leg off as it fell. The pilot realized his predicament and ejected.
The Regulars Heavy Hover APCs moved to the south east after the Assassin and Locust.
“Axe One to Two through Four, head south east after those mechs.†First lance did so and had the added benefit of staying out of the Assassin’s firing arc.
The Goblins and their infantry attacked the Regulars mechs with as much ferocity as they could muster, but none of them backed off or went down.
Both the Rommel and Myrmidon targeted the Heavy Hover APC that had managed to get itself stuck in a wooded area.
Halley snapped orders at her crew as the hover tanks flew after the mechs.
Second and Third Lance concentrated fire on the stuck Heavy Hover APC, destroying it. “Axe Five to all units, scratch one Heavy APC.â€
Halley’s radar showed three new contacts three hundred and fifty meters to the east. Three mechs were there a Maelstrom, Dragon and Griffin. “Axe One to Two through Four, head to the west. We have two heavies and a medium on our east flank.â€
First lance cut off its pursuit of the Locust and Assassin and headed west.
The Goblins and their supporting infantry brought the Shugenja down with hits to the cockpit. “Orange One to all Oranges the Shugenja is down, target the Kintaro. Take that bastard down. Grays stay on the Shugenja.†“Orange Three to One, I do not have a shot at the Kintaro. I am going to target the Shugenja again.†“Four is doing the same the woods are blocking my LOS.â€
Halley checked her display. The Kintaro, Shugenja and Grand Dragon were about three hundred meters to the south west of her lance’s position. Just over two hundred meters west was the hill occupied by the Regulars infantry.
There were three fresh Regulars mechs advancing westward towards her and her unit. One of her tanks was mirred down and five more had a significant speed handicap. Those three mechs could cause a lot of damage to her forces if they got within weapons range.
Also she had to get that infantry company out of harms way. Unfortunately that meant having to go past the enemy infantry company on the hill to the west. “Axe One to Five through ten, attack the infantry company that is on the hill south of you.†“Five copies.†“Nine copies.â€
“Axe One to Orange One, pick up your infantry and head to the hill to the northeast of your position. I am moving my lance into position to attack the Regulars lance north of you from behind.†“Orange One copies, Grays fire one more volley and then mount up.†“Gray Two wilco.†“Gray One acknowledges.†“Gray Four copies.†“Gray Three wilco.â€
The hover tanks of First Lance went up the hill and around the side of a group of trees before cutting south and coming up behind the Regulars lance.
“Roux, target the Shugenja,†Halley said to her gunner.†Both Pegasii and the Drillson were directly behind the Grand Dragon and Halley’s Condor was slightly behind.
Both the Pegasii and the Drillson pummeled the Grand Dragon with missile and laser fire and it went down. The Regulars infantry sent laser-fire and missiles in impotent response.
One of the Goblins took a pounding from the Kintaro. The Goblin caught fire and smoldered. “Orange Three to all units, Orange Two is down.â€
Realizing that its two friends were down, the Kintaro fell back to the safety of the Regulars infantry.
“Axe One to Two through Four, let’s move north a bit and try to get near Five’s location. Orange One follow me.†“Orange One copies.†Halley’s driver Private Leon spun the Condor around and raced north. The other tanks of First Lance followed.
The militia infantry piled into their Goblins with the exception of the laser platoon that had their Goblin destroyed. They followed on foot. As a group they headed north east. As they did so they fired at the downed Shugenja. The downed mech’s engine was destroyed taking it out of the fight.
“Axe One to Two target the Regulars infantry if you can. Three and Four use your pulse laser only. I want you two to save your missiles for the mechs.†The Drillson was in the valley and did not have a shot. Corporal Roux fired the autocannon and paired medium lasers at some infantry.
The infantry and Kintaro returned fire. Staff Sergeant Davis’s Pegasus took a couple missiles which damaged the engine. The Striker’s Rommel and Myrmidon also fired at the infantry.
“Axe Three to all units. My engine is damaged, top speed reduced to sixty KPH.†Damnit, though Halley as a PPC bolt and laser shot exploded mud infront of the Condor. “One acknowledges. Stay with me as best you can.â€
The Grand Dragon regained its feet and walked over to a Goblin that was about to start up the hill. The Grand Dragon lashed out with a kick that should have easily connected, but failed to.
“Axe Eight to all unit, I am stuck.â€
The Dragon, Maelstrom and Griffin had advanced within weapons range and had joined the fight. The Assassin and Locust appeared in the woods three hundred and sixty meters east of Halley’s position.
The Striker Light tanks fired missiles at the Regulars infantry.
The Regular’s Maelstrom, Dragon and Griffin lashed out at the gimped Pegasus. The Griffin’s extended ranged PPC zipped through the rain and destroyed Sergeant Davis’s Pegasus. Its icon winked out on Halley’s display.
Master Sergeant Yamashita spoke over the radio. “Axe Six to One.†“One copies.†“One, Second Lance is bogging down. I request permission to withdraw as our wheeled tanks will not be able to escape from the Regulars ‘mechs if we do not withdraw now.â€
Halley’s first reponse was to call the old tanker a coward, but she knew better than to doubt the old man’s wisdom. Second Lance’s Strikers would be in a world of hurt if one of the heavy mechs managed to close on them.
“Axe One to Six, take Seven and do your best to escape. I expect to find you back at base when I return.†“Six copies, Seven follow me.â€
The Maelstrom, Dragon and Griffin were just under four hundred meters to the south east and moving into what Halley wanted to be the escape route for the Goblins. Her options seemed to be turn south and get shot at by the Regulars infantry, turn east and get shot at by their mechs or head north and escape.
“Axe One through Four, head north and then east up the hill and then around the northern side of the woods.†The route took First Lance out of the line of fire of the advancing Regulars mechs, but opened the Goblins to attack.
“Axe Eight to all units, we have managed to free ourselves. I am withdrawing.â€
The remaining Striker Light Tank, Myrmidon and Rommel exchanged fires with the infantry, Kintaro and Grand Dragon.
The Heavy Hover APCs tried to sneak past the Goblins, but one was destroyed.
The Maelstrom, Dragon and Griffin advanced north towards the Strikers Myrmidon and Rommel.
The three Goblins were now cut off. “Orange One to all units, I am stuck.†“Orange Three to all units, same here.â€
“Axe One to Oranges, advance north east into those woods at the top of the hill you are on. Axes Five, Nine and Ten, hold your positions, there are three Regulars mechs heading your way.†“Five to One are you crazy! My tank is currently a mobility kill.†“Five, I just need you to hang in there and not die. Two through Four follow me to the south west around the woods.†Halley was again planning to attack the backsides of advancing mechs.
The Condor slalomed for a few moments as it sped south, but Private Leon managed to not loose control. The three hover tanks zoomed around the forest at over a hundred and twenty kilometers an hour their fans spraying mud in their wake. They ended up on the right flank of the advancing lance.
“Axe One to Two through Four, fire!â€
The Kintaro noticed the infantry that was slogging through the mud trying to get to the safety of the woods on the top of the hill. It fired both SRM-6s, its medium laser, its LRM-5 and its large laser. The platoon’s luck held as only two soldiers were slain by the medium laser. The missiles missed high.
The Maelstrom, Dragon and Griffin traded shots with the hover tanks, but nothing went down.
The Grand Dragon had advanced north to put pressure on the Rommel and Myrmidon and the Maelstrom and Griffin moved up behind it. The Dragon turned to provide them rear security.
“Axe One to Two and Four, get in behind them. Attack and then retreat.†Leon slid the codor into a ravine and followed it nearly into the side of the Dragon. The Assassin and Locust moved into Halley’s six o’clock, but Sergeant Timothy Smith noticed it and moved his Pegasus in behind them.
The Dragon’s medium laser disabled the engine of Halley’s Condor. Leon screamed; “The engine is out!â€
The Pegasus hammered the Assassin with a third of a dozen SRMs. The Myrmidon’s PPC destroyed the remaining armor on the Grand Dragon’s right torso damaging the engine. One of the Condor’s medium lasers melted armor from the Dragon the other weapons missed.
“Orange One to Two and Four, head north.†“Gray Two to Orange One, we cannot keep up with you.†“Lieutenant, you and your men are on your own.†“Gray One to Two, head back into the woods south of you and try to get out.†“Captain Russel, that is suicide.†“Lieutenant Haas, deal with it.â€
Captain Russel’s statement was accentuated by the Kintaro slamming missiles into Gray Two’s position.
The Maelstrom headed north. The Dragon walked right up to the Condor. “Fire everything we have at the Dragon,†said Halley. She opened the top hatch and started out, but still had her restraining harness on. She tried to get it off.
“Axe Two to Four head north with me.†Both the Pegasus and Drillson moved north.
The Myrmidon’s commander Master Sergeant Lauder spoke. “Nine to Ten, lets head west.†Both the Rommel and Myrmidon pulled north west out of the woods. The Maelstrom was closing.
The Dragon and Condor traded hits, but the Dragon was not going down soon and getting very close. One of the Goblins took a pounding from both the Regulars infantry and the Kintaro.
The Dragon’s left foot slammed into the Condor’s front. Halley and her crew screamed. There was not much they could do, but fire their weapons again and hope they would get the Dragon to back off, which was something Halley doubted very much would happen.
The Kintaro moved next to the Condor as well. The Goblins were trying to get over the hill despite being slowed down by the mud. One Goblin moved down the hill and was just twenty meters away from the Condor. Another Goblin was stuck at the top of the hill. The last Goblin was at the top right of the hill. “Orange One to Three and Four, attack the Kintaro and Dragon.â€
The Maelstrom and Griffin advanced north along the ridge.
“Axe Two to Four, we are going to turn around and go up the north east end of the ridge the Maelstrom is on and try to attack its backside.†“Copy Two.â€
The Drillson and Pegasus turned around and headed up the hill. The Maelstrom attacked Sergeant Pena’s Rommel and the Griffin attack Master Sergeant Lauder’s Myrmidon. The Goblins attacked the Kintaro and Dragon.
The Kintaro swung its torso to the right and fired at the Goblin nearest the Condor.
“Axe Nine to Ten, attack the Maelstrom.â€
The Dragon fired all its forward weapons at the Condor. “Orange One to all units, Axe One is down.â€
The Kintaro took a pounding, most of its remaining armor was blasted off. The Myrmidon, Drillson, Pegasus, Striker Light Tank and Rommel attacked the Maelstrom, but it refused to die.
The Maelstrom paused for a moment before galloping down the hill after the Rommel and Myrmidon.
“Axe Two to Four, we are going after the Maelstrom. Nine and Ten hold your positions.†“Nine wilco.†“Four roger.†“Ten roger.â€
The Maelstrom closed on the Myrmidon and Rommel and the Pegasus and Drillson stayed on its six o’clock.
The first and fourth Goblins moved east down the hill and the Dragon and Kintaro gave chase. The Kintaro’s leg had been damaged and it fell over.
The stuck Goblin was hammered by missile and laser fire from the Regulars infantry and Grand Dragon.
The Maestrom took more of a pounding, but the Rommel’s autocannon twenty missed.
The Assassin and Locust attacked the stranded militia infantry to the south.
“Axe Two to all Axes, attack the Maelstrom. Keep on that bastard.†The tanks moved after the Maelstrom which had realized its error and headed south up the ridge.
One of the Goblins attacked the Dragon which had moved north to block the Goblin’s path. Another Goblin attacked the Kintaro. The stuck Goblin traded shots with the Grand Dragon.
The stuck Goblin was destroyed, its crew and the infantry it carried evacuated the burning tank.
Despite concentrated fire from the Striker’s tanks the Maestrom refused to go down.
“Axe Two to all axes, retreat. I repeat retreat. Let’s pick up Axe Five and then get out of here.â€
The Maelstrom refused to let the tanks go and chased after them. The Rommel’s autocannon twenty thundered. The rounds struck the left arm of the machine and stripped the armor. The Maelstrom kept its feet.
One of the Goblins damaged the gyro of the Dragon which made it crash to the ground.
The Maelstrom kicked the Rommel shattering armor, but failing to cripple it. Next the Maelstrom went north after the stuck Striker. The Maelstrom burned armor off the stuck tank, but it did not die.
“Axe Four to all Axes, I am out of missiles.†“Axe Nine to all Axes, same here.â€
The Dragon failed to get up, but on its second attempt it succeeded. The Dragon cut off a Goblin’s path trapping it between the Dragon and Kintaro which combined their fires and destroyed the tank’s tracks. The infantry then dismounted and formed a perimeter around the crippled tank. “Orange One to all units, my tracks are gone. My weapons systems are out of ammunition or destroyed. I am abandoning the vehicle. Gray One is forming a perimeter around my position.â€
“Orange Four to One, I am targeting the Kintaro.†The Kintaro took missile, laser and machine gun fire from the Goblin which sent the Kintaro crashing down.
Despite concentrated fires from Rommel, Pegasus, Myrmidon, Drillson and Striker the Maelstrom did not fall.
“Axe Two to Four, Nine and Ten. Stay on the Maelstrom. Five, hang in there.†The Drillson, Pegasus and Myrmidon rushed after the Maelstrom, but Master Sergeant Smith knew it was too late when the Maestrom opened fire the Striker exploded.
Both stranded milita infantry platoons were being slowly eroded away by weapons fire.
The Maelstrom headed south, but the Drillson and Pegasus stayed on its tail.
After twisting its torso the Maelstrom fired everything at the Pegasus which turned the Pegasus into a smoking memory. “Axe One to all units, four is down.â€
The surviving tanks from the Eighty Fifth blasted armor from the Maelstrom which lost its balance and fell. The fall smashed its engine taking it out of the fight. “Axe Two to all units, scratch one Maelstrom.â€
The Kintaro faced the Goblin on the hill. The Kintaro’s laser burned armor from the front of the Goblin, but the Goblin’s large pulse laser and machine gun destroyed the Kintaro’s center torso.
Checking his displays Master Sergeant Smith knew that to fight on was to lose more people. He wanted to keep fighting, but it was now time for pragmatism. “Axe Two to all surving Axes, retreat. I repeat, retreat.†“Gray One, to Axes. Get out of here before they kill us all.â€
The surviving tanks of the Fifty First Light Armor fled and in doing so left what was left of the militia infantry company at the mercy of the Third Benjamin Regulars.
The two heavy hover APCs picked up a platoon of infantry each and headed towards the surviving Goblin and its infantry.
The surviving Goblin and its infantry managed to get off a few more shots at the Grand Dragon which destroyed its engine. The Grand Dragon’s friends quickly avenged it. The infantry were quickly wiped out.
The stuck and crippled Goblin remained on the side of the hill. Its brave crew firing its large pulse laser at whatever it had the best chance of hitting. Also a single rifle platoon that was stuck in the open hopelessly battled the Dragon.
The Locust, Assassin and heavy hover APC moved in behind the stranded rifle platoon which died moments after.