BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Player Boards => Fan Fiction => Topic started by: marauder648 on 19 November 2019, 10:17:18
-
After almost exactly a year, Project Zhukov is finished.
This fan made XTRO is my attempt to give Clan Hell's Horses the tanks and other equipment that it well could have had as 'the tank Clan'. The cannonical vehicles of TRO 3060 were adequate generalist machines that you could see other Clans using if they had to or because there was nothing else available, and there was the Epona there as a hint of what could be but was seemingly never carried through.
That changes in this book.
And just a little thing of note, we're still waiting on one picture and some OOB images, but with any luck they will be done by this week or next and i'll update the file and let people know. But all the units are there as are all the stats and everything you'd need to use these units.
This was a huge collaborative effort, folks on the forum helped me a great deal with the layout, fluff ideas, variants, lore discussions and more and it would not have been possible without their help and the efforts of the artists.
So, ladies, gentlemen and all ships at sea. It is my honour, and pleasure to present to you.
Project Zhukov. - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1mk7lp3j7gtvOnZTQbWgUlLHVDAES5ybp
And please, any and all feedback are most welcome! Feel free to discuss it, voice thoughts and opinions, rotten fruit and veg can be found in the cart to your right if you want to be negative as all comments are most welcome!
-
:o impressed.
-
Ill post here like I did on the Facebook page, impressive work a seemless transfer of fan fiction into the canon universe. Still reading through the individual design fluff but very well done on all fronts.
-
Ill post here like I did on the Facebook page, impressive work a seemless transfer of fan fiction into the canon universe. Still reading through the individual design fluff but very well done on all fronts.
:o impressed.
Thank you :D I'm glad you're enjoying thus far :)
-
A lot of excellent writing, it is very complete, and the formatting is very clean. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great job all around.
ps. Should the last page be empty?
-
A lot of excellent writing, it is very complete, and the formatting is very clean. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great job all around.
ps. Should the last page be empty?
RE the last page there's some OOB images that are going to be added :) And they'll start there :)
-
Just started going thur it, but a question the Alecto Assault BA? Damm I love the look
-
Just started going thur it, but a question the Alecto Assault BA? Damm I love the look
Sure whats ya question :)
-
Great units, great art, and as a Hell's Horses fan I'm definitely seeing stuff I'd like to use for my own Horse forces.
-
Great units, great art, and as a Hell's Horses fan I'm definitely seeing stuff I'd like to use for my own Horse forces.
Thank ya :) Anything you like in particular? Any unit or fluff idea etc? Any feedback is good and the lack of comments thus far is a lil bit dishartening.
-
In particular? The various OmniTanks, especially the Yama and Kratos. I also really enjoyed the combat-engineer nature to a lot of the tanks, like the Hephaestus/Ogun or the bulldozers on the Tezcatlipoca and Ganesha. As far as the 'Mechs go, the Duskrunner really jumped out at me, and the Taranis is right up my alley as a Thunder Stallion replacement.
-
Oh, and of course all the new DropShip options are a godsend for anyone trying to build out the transport arm of a Horse cluster/galaxy. And I like that WarShip-wise you kinda gave them their own version of the Kyushu.
-
I will admit that the Halcyon is the Pillar of Autumn from Halo flopped on her side and given some grav-decks. The design was actually done by Dragon Cat for his ongoing timeline where the Halcyon see's service in the Horses there :D The Droppers seemed logical as to my mind, converting a dropship would take time and effort and would have to be tailored to do each role as and when needed. And you have to convert it twice from a Mech carrier into a combined arms transport and back again. So having ones that are built as combined arms carriers makes sense :)
-
One good think we can take away from the feedback side of things is that the book is rocking it and people love it! :thumbsup:
-
I will admit that the Halcyon is the Pillar of Autumn from Halo flopped on her side and given some grav-decks. The design was actually done by Dragon Cat for his ongoing timeline where the Halcyon see's service in the Horses there :D The Droppers seemed logical as to my mind, converting a dropship would take time and effort and would have to be tailored to do each role as and when needed. And you have to convert it twice from a Mech carrier into a combined arms transport and back again. So having ones that are built as combined arms carriers makes sense :)
Happy to see them like that looks great
One thing the description of the Halcyon says 8 Large pulse lasers but on the weapons I only see 2 forward 2 aft?
Great product Marauder really like it
-
Nice work once again, Marauder and your work so hard on and money you saved and spent to make this thing look like the Real Thing!
I have made entry in the Battletech Fanon Wiki (https://battletechfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Technical_Readout:_Project_Zhuhov), so it will always have a listing even if the forums goes poof!
If i had huff, its problem because your calling it XTRO. It's regular Clan TRO to me!
This body of work is not in the shared universe as your previous books right?
-
Nice work once again, Marauder and your work so hard on and money you saved and spent to make this thing look like the Real Thing!
I have made entry in the Battletech Fanon Wiki (https://battletechfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Technical_Readout:_Project_Zhuhov), so it will always have a listing even if the forums goes poof!
If i had huff, its problem because your calling it XTRO. It's regular Clan TRO to me!
This body of work is not in the shared universe as your previous books right?
Oooh thank you :D And re being part of a shared universe, it could be, I didn't really think about tying the Delranes TRO and this one together, but the two could mesh well together.
-
I didn't want to physically link them.
I wish your Introduction mentioned what year it is for the book itself was written. I assumed its 3060
-
I didn't want to physically link them.
I wish your Introduction mentioned what year it is for the book itself was written. I assumed its 3060
Hah yeah I didn't mention 3060 sounds about right or immediately post Tukayyid.
-
Sure whats ya question :)
so with 2 LMG why does it also have 2 AP mounts? and is the right armor a Claw?
-
so with 2 LMG why does it also have 2 AP mounts? and is the right armor a Claw?
There was a lil mixup on the sheet, but the weapons are meant to be as is shown on the art. Claw is left arm, ER Medium Right. 2 x LMG's and 2 x AP mounts,the AP's are there purely to soak up weight. And a kind of RL thing. Lets say the Alastor needed to clear a room or something. You could just stick an arm in and hose it down with SMG fire or something. Or beanbag rounds from automatic shotguns etc. The AP mounts give you a useful fallback when a pretty large machine gun would be raw overkill.
-
this is a superb production.
-
Oooh thank you :D And re being part of a shared universe, it could be, I didn't really think about tying the Delranes TRO and this one together, but the two could mesh well together.
I smell another project in the works.... >:D
-
Halfway thru: damn good!
-
I smell another project in the works.... >:D
Nah we know what's next don't we Mr Willis :D
-
I want to congratulate you marauder648 on the completion of another great BattleTech fanfic. I haven't gotten a chance to go over it with a fine tooth comb yet but it is a visually stunning piece which really makes your vision spring to life. Well done and I look forward to sitting back with your production to enjoy it again in detail which is high quality I suspect just like the rest of your BattleTech work. :thumbsup:
-
Thank you Takiro! I'm glad you're enjoying it thus far but please let me know what you think once you've had time to properly peruse it :)
-
>SQUEE!<
Finally! Thanks!
-
>SQUEE!<
Finally! Thanks!
Heh :D Glad ya all excited :) Have a read and any feedback is most welcome :D
-
The interior of the Blood Red Sandman was redolent with the scent of weapons propellants, the ozone tang of hard worked capacitors and human sweat as the Kratos assault tank came to a halt behind the hastily prepared firing position that a Hephaestus CEV had just backed out of.
“Beta Star, get to grid 34A, there are woods there, do not let them force their infantry through that sector.”
“Aff Star Colonel, will we get any support?” The voice of the Elemental was loud, strong, confident.
“I can give you three Nergal’s with fresh loads, but they are covering the sector, not just you.”
“Understood. They will not get past us.”
The Star Colonel closed the link, looking at the holo-map showing his forces and defensive positions as well as the lay of the terrain and natural obstacles. But he couldn’t help but glance at the camera on the rear of the tank. Kilometres away the distinctive shapes of Ordun class DropShips were quite visible, a score of the huge craft, each one with all their cargo bays open, high speed, high powered winches and cranes deployed as they hauled on tanks, Mechs aboard to be stowed as fast as possible.
‘Not quite the sight I was expecting. What any of us were expecting. Instead of victory, we stand on the edge of catastrophe…’ Liang thought to himself before the voice of his radio and defence systems operator snapped him back to reality.
“Sir, I want to check the port MG mount, it is showing a fault, the engineer’s said they had fixed it but…”
“Five minutes John, no less, and leave the hatch open, it will clear the air in here.”
That got a chuckle from Point Commander Lyle, the big tank’s gunner, a hardened veteran and the second in command of the tank.
“Empty the toilet while you are at it, its too fresh in here.”
There was a sigh over the intercom “Aff Point Commander…” the Radio Operator grumbled, drawing more chuckles from the crew. They’d served together for the two years of Operation REVIVAL and four years prior. They knew each other’s moods and capabilities and in battle operated as well oiled team.
Point Commander Lyle hauled himself out of his seat on the left of the tanks main gunnery position and up into the command space, greeting his Commander with a nod before looking at the maps that surrounded them. Lyle was an Elemental albeit a ‘small’ one at a ‘mere’ 6’6 that made him perfect for operating the Deimos battle armour. He’d been assigned to the tank of Star Colonel Liang, commander of the 23rd Mechanized Assault Cluster after being ‘temporarily’ put into the role of a gunner on a Nike IFV after his suit had been badly damaged. Recognising his capabilities, Lian had headhunted him and gotten the Elemental into his crew.
“Does not look good Boss, what we got?”
“Odds and sods..our survivors, as well as elements of the 42nd and some Crusaders from the 666th who are refusing to withdraw. Infantry support from the DropShips is heading up, mostly normal troops and heavy infantry support as well as some Elementals.”
“Any news on any orbital support?”
Liang frowned and shook his head. “Neg. The Khan and I had a…firm and direct discussion regarding that and he said he would not open that can of worms.”
Lyle grinned slightly “Hmph..it is your fault for being too much of a radical..I still remember the look Galaxy Commander Christin Cobb gave you when you suggested we deploy field artillery…”
The Star Colonel chuckled “Aff…but we could do with a battery or two of guns right now quiaff?”
“Aff…just do not send her a message saying that you was right and she was wrong eh?”
Before the Star Colonel could reply the radio crackled to life
“Alert! Hostile forces spotted, combined arms forces baring 331, speed estimated 50kph! ETA..One hour!”
On the map a series of bright red icons showed up as the data feed from the Asshur scout that had spotted the ComGuard forces was relayed to the tanks and Mech’s of the 23rd.
“Warrior Anya?”
“Star Colonel?”
“Make sure we have a full load, we are going to need it…”
Anya was the tanks ‘loader’, the person responsible for the primary weapon systems, their maintenance and operating. The former Technician had worked under the Star Colonel for years and he had sponsored her when she applied for the TankWarrior program. Her father had been an Elemental, her mother a Scientist and she seemed to have adopted the traits of both, being strong and clever and Liang knew that given time she would go far. ‘If we survive this that is and if we have time..’
ComStar however didn’t give them a hour.
The air seemed alive with ribbons of fire and the searing lines of laser light. The 95-ton Kratos rocked gently as another shell landed nearby, sending dirt rocks fountaining up into the air, raining down on the blood red and black painted tank.
“Target Mech 011!”
The turret slewed, jerking to a halt.
“ON!”
Liang didn’t even have to give the order; Lyle had already stomped down on the foot trigger for the main guns. He could have used the trigger on the joysticks he used to control the rotation and elevation but he preferred the old-style mechanical interface of the foot pedal.
There was a loud electric snarl as the gauss rifle discharged along with the dual large pulse lasers. The Mech, a green and brown camouflaged Cestus staggered as the blitzing blue bolts punched melon sized holes in its right side before the gauss slug connected and connected hard. Another tank joined in, an Alke unloading its ultra-autocannon into the Mech which then seemed to erupt as a round found its gauss rifle’s capacitors. Its torso gutted and engine crippled the Mech fell, its pilot ejecting clear as the 65-ton war machine fell on its face.
“Driver reverse reverse right! Get us behind that berm!”
“Aff!”
There was a rumble as the LRM-15 fired, the missiles arching up and over the tank at a target Lyle had spotted, the turret turning, both gunner and commander hunting for targets.
“Infantry!”
“On it!”
Warrior John, another TankWarrior was the youngest member of the crew, as DSO or Defence Systems Operator it was his job to operate any defensive weapons as well as act as the tanks radio man. And now the 20-year-old ex Labourer was using the tanks bow mounted machine guns to cut down the infantry that the driver had spotted.
There was a scream over the radio and then a loud explosion that even managed to get through the sound proofing of the huge tank and Star Colonel Liang looked at the holo-display for a moment and winced. A Yama tank, its sides torn by laser and shellfire had slewn to a halt, twin jets of flame roaring from its turret hatches as ugly grey smoke billowed out of its barrel as its ammunition detonated turning the interior of the tank into a vision of hell.
“Target! Green 33!”
“On!”
A ComGuard tank, a Vedette had its bow plating smashed open by pulse laser fire before a little twitch of the turret sent a gauss slug into its comrade, both small tanks shuddered to a halt, one ‘brewing up’ as its ammunition ignited the other billowing black smoke before its crew bailed out, the three crew got all of a few meters before machine gun fire cut them down.
There was barely time to think about what had happened, ComGuard troops were surging forwards, Hell’s Horses infantry were counter attacking, Elementals leaping into the fray, reports of losses, kills, ammunition status, damage reports filled the airwaves and displays. It would have been overwhelming, terrifying. But Star Colonel Richard Liang had spent his whole life preparing for a battle such as this. He was a Trueborn, this was what they were bred, born and trained to do. To fight harder than an enemy, to win.
But even he could see he was only holding on. The ComGuard forces were attacking in huge numbers, trying to punch through the rear-guard to get at the LZ and inflict carnage on the withdrawing Hell’s Horses troops. Barking out orders, directing movement and fire, he knew that every minute spent delaying the ComGuard forces was vital. Five minutes might mean another Star is loaded and able to fight another day, and so, every second was vital.
A Warhammer IIC stomped past, its left arm terminating at the elbow, trailing cables and bleeding fluids from the stump. The Mech was limping, its right knee a shattered ruin, its leg gouged and rent by energy and ballistic fire, coolant fluids and hydraulic lubricants running down the mech’s leg like blood from a wound but it was still fighting. Pulse lasers blitzing, its remaining particle cannon bellowing in defiance and fury. Until a PPC blast caught it in the head.
“Down to four gauss rounds, LRM ammo is gone!”
“Right tracks jamming, I think it is a rock caught in the running gear, trying to clear!”
“Armour is wearing thin.”
The Blood Red Sandman shuddered as another heavy hit slammed into its bow, the tanks heavy ferro-fibrous armour rejecting the round, sending the round and the battered armour spraying away into the chaotic maelstrom around them.
“Save the rifle for something big, use the pulser’s only!”
“Aff, TARGET!”
“Incoming artillery!!”
“BRACE BRACE BRA….”
Senior Acolyte Jones kept his rifle at his shoulder as he and his squad walked through the battlefield. The ground was cut and torn, in some places shell craters were lip to lip and in it all was the detritus of war. Burned out tanks, smashed hovercraft, the hulks of Mechs and all too human shapes. Some less than human.
They were not hunting for targets though; they were hunting for survivors. Their own, and the Clans. MedTech’s were now the busiest people on Tukayyid, fighting to save the lives of the wounded, the maimed and burned.
The squad was approaching a Bolo tank, its turret pitted and cratered, the hull cut with laser fire.
“Thermal sigs at the back Adept..”
The point man whispered into her throat mic, and sure enough, there was some thermal signs, body heat. Not burning metal.
“Break and flank, if they resist subdue, do not kill.”
A small chorus of ‘Rogers’ sounded over the squads battlenet before Senior Acolyte took a deep breath and advanced past the towering bulk of the tank and brought his rifle up.
“Freeze! Nobody move!”
Jones didn’t expect to see a Clanner smile at him despite the many rifles now pointed at his chest.
“My shoulder is broken..I am I no mood for an afternoon jog Soldier.”
The Clanner stood, he’d been tending to the rest of his crew, a big man was laid out, his head heavily bandaged, a fierce looking woman was in a defensive crouch, a deadly sharp looking knife in her hands, two more Clanners were there, one unconscious, the other trying to sit upright despite having his leg in a field splint.
“I am Star Colonel Richard Liang…if you wish to take me prisoner though, you will have to fight me for that right to claim me and my crew as your Bondsman…”
-
Still no clan fan here, but that's some nice writing, Marauder! :thumbsup:
-
Bump @ wrk...
TT
-
Just a wee update on this. The final version should be coming out hopefully by the end of this week. Just waiting on one picture now. There's been a few additions to it as well in terms of units so folks might like that as well :)
-
Final version? You mean there's another version of this coming out I thought you already did this?
-
Final version? You mean there's another version of this coming out I thought you already did this?
There's a final iteration coming soon(tm), this one fixes some errors in the original one and adds units and a bit more art and will link when its done :)
-
And here I've been ignoring typos - ah, well.
So, a couple questions - how close to canon did you stay? Tukayyid happened, how about TF: Serpent, VSD and the refusal Trials, and... ProtoMechs?
There should be a ProtoMech, Marauder. Perhaps a Svartalfa - the chemical lasers and LRM-15s are a nice tie-in.
-
And here I've been ignoring typos - ah, well.
So, a couple questions - how close to canon did you stay? Tukayyid happened, how about TF: Serpent, VSD and the refusal Trials, and... ProtoMechs?
There should be a ProtoMech, Marauder. Perhaps a Svartalfa - the chemical lasers and LRM-15s are a nice tie-in.
Funny you should mention that because I wrote this a few months back as something perhaps for a small TRO Suppliment that may or may not happen, or it was just to satisfy my muse.
The Clan Homeworlds. Deep Periphery - 3060
The bridge of the Invisible Truth was a scene of organised chaos as the Cameron class Battlecruiser went to battle stations. Orders were shouted out, commands relayed into microphones and across the ship, men and women ran to their action stations as weapons were armed and fighters hurriedly fuelled.
“Report.”
“Sir, we’re reading four DropShips heading towards us, two Overlord C’s, one Union C and a Behemoth transport. Squarking IDs as the CBS Slake, CBS Hunger, CBS Star of Serrah and CBS Universal Conveyor. Three Stars of fighters are flying cap.”
Precentor Alain Beresick nodded, glancing at the 3D holo-display. The four Clan Burrock DropShips were in a loose formation with their fighters covering their rear. Tactical was already plotting their course away from his ships, they were heading for the planet, utterly ignoring the Star League ships it seemed. Their JumpShip, a Liberty Class ship was trying to hotload her jump drive, on the Invisible Truth’s sensors, her reactor blazed like a star.
“Status change! We are detecting pre-emergence neutrino’s!” When a ship jumped from system to system, there was always a surge of neutrino’s before it arrived in system. But the neutrino count was high. Very high.
“How long until emergence?”
“Estimating 30 seconds Sir!”
The sensors were off by five seconds as five ships blinked into existence in a surge of radiation and Precentor Beresick’s eyes bulged as he saw the IFF’s flash up on the display.
“Holy Blake…”
“Stow that! I want ID’s now!”
“A-aye Sir! Reading CDS Terror of the Deep, CSV Anaconda, CCS Brimstone, CCS Nebulous and CSR Mountbatten.”
‘Two battleships and three escorts from three different Clans, what in Blakes name is going on here?’ Beresick wondered, the thought that the Clans had united to attack the Second Star League forces of Task Force Serpent being foremost in his mind. He had his battlecruiser, the DanteNarbone and a Combine Kirishima class cruiser the Takashi but that wasn’t enough to face down a Nightlord AND a Texas class, let alone their escorts.
“Energy spike! The Terror of the Deep is firing!”
“All hands brace for impact!”
But the Nightlord class battleship wasn’t shooting at them. Her lasers ripped into the Burrock’s JumpShip, cutting her in half with casual ease.
“Status change! Clan ships are launching fighters.”
“How many?”
“All of them Sir!”
“CAG?”
The CAG or ‘Commander Aerospace Group looked up from her station “Sir, we’re launching the ready birds, the rest will be away in two minutes. Other ships are launching fighters and our DropShips are away.”
The Clan ships were firing their engines, forming up into a broad echelon, DropShips and fighters hurtling ahead.
“Sir! We are being hailed!”
“Who by?”
“The Burrocks Sir.”
“Put it on speaker now!”
There was a hiss before a voice came through, a woman’s voice “.peat this is the CBS Universal Conveyor hailing the Star League ships, come in please!”
“Universal Conveyor I am Precentor Alain Beresick we can hear you. State your intention.”
On the sensor screen he could see the big transport DropShip was falling behind the others, unable to maintain the thrust of the Overlords or Union.
“We..we request sanctuary. We are carrying Lower Caste personnel, three thousand five hundred civilians and we request SafCon and offer ourselves to you in a Trial of Possession.”
“What’s going on explain now!”
“The other Cla….”
The transmission terminated in a howl of static as the Behemoth was jammed and a new voice cut across the frequency.
“Inner Sphere Forces. This is Star Admiral Victoria Crow of Clan Snow Raven and commander of the CSR Mountbatten. Our fight is not with you. Our fight is with the Dezgra Burrocks. Aid them and we will Annihilate you as well. If you send your fighters towards the Burrock ships, we will take that as a hostile act and we will destroy you. Your fight is with the Smoke Jaguars and I do not care what you do to them. But, aid the Burrocks and we will destroy you. Mountbatten, out.”
The comms went dead and Beresick’s mind spun. They’d heard the Clans were fighting, it was one of the big driver’s behind Operation Bulldog and Taskforce Serpent, to take advantage of the Clans and strike at the Smoke Jaguars whilst they were at their weakest. But now? He had no clue of what was going on. The sensors showed the fighters of both sides merging, little flashes on the holo-display indicating fighters destroyed, lives lost. The Universal Conveyor was still broadcasting, still trying to get support, aid, anything despite being jammed. She was still calling for help as a barrage of lasers from the Clan WarShips tore her apart.
“All ships..all fighters..maintain battle stations..and escort formation. Do not engage any Clan craft unless they fire upon you or are Smoke Jaguars.”Beresick could only look on, along with the bridge as the Burrock DropShips were destroyed, one after the other and as the Clan WarShips jumped away, the Precentor could only wonder what madness had possessed the Clans to so casually slaughter civilians.
-
Now you just need someone from the " Blood " do something....
Also, you do realize that the clan Gauss SMG does .45 in classic TW, not .35 as you have it.
TT
Edit: Then I realize it has a shorter range... classic goes range 1 ( or 3 hexes ) yours goes only range 0 ( or same hex ).
TT
-
Good news!
The final bit of art is now complete and has been added, and this update of the book is on the main link. It also includes more art, more units, more background.
So have a look and let me know what you think!
-
I've revised the article containing TRO: Project Zhukov (https://battletechfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Technical_Readout:_Project_Zhuhov), with the bonus section added and updated the links on the Battletech Fanon wiki.
-
Funny you should mention that because I wrote this a few months back as something perhaps for a small TRO Suppliment that may or may not happen, or it was just to satisfy my muse.
The Clan Homeworlds. Deep Periphery - 3060
The bridge of the Invisible Truth was a scene of organised chaos as the Cameron class Battlecruiser went to battle stations. Orders were shouted out, commands relayed into microphones and across the ship, men and women ran to their action stations as weapons were armed and fighters hurriedly fuelled.
“Report.”
“Sir, we’re reading four DropShips heading towards us, two Overlord C’s, one Union C and a Behemoth transport. Squarking IDs as the CBS Slake, CBS Hunger, CBS Star of Serrah and CBS Universal Conveyor. Three Stars of fighters are flying cap.”
Precentor Alain Beresick nodded, glancing at the 3D holo-display. The four Clan Burrock DropShips were in a loose formation with their fighters covering their rear. Tactical was already plotting their course away from his ships, they were heading for the planet, utterly ignoring the Star League ships it seemed. Their JumpShip, a Liberty Class ship was trying to hotload her jump drive, on the Invisible Truth’s sensors, her reactor blazed like a star.
“Status change! We are detecting pre-emergence neutrino’s!” When a ship jumped from system to system, there was always a surge of neutrino’s before it arrived in system. But the neutrino count was high. Very high.
“How long until emergence?”
“Estimating 30 seconds Sir!”
The sensors were off by five seconds as five ships blinked into existence in a surge of radiation and Precentor Beresick’s eyes bulged as he saw the IFF’s flash up on the display.
“Holy Blake…”
“Stow that! I want ID’s now!”
“A-aye Sir! Reading CDS Terror of the Deep, CSV Anaconda, CCS Brimstone, CCS Nebulous and CSR Mountbatten.”
‘Two battleships and three escorts from three different Clans, what in Blakes name is going on here?’ Beresick wondered, the thought that the Clans had united to attack the Second Star League forces of Task Force Serpent being foremost in his mind. He had his battlecruiser, the DanteNarbone and a Combine Kirishima class cruiser the Takashi but that wasn’t enough to face down a Nightlord AND a Texas class, let alone their escorts.
“Energy spike! The Terror of the Deep is firing!”
“All hands brace for impact!”
But the Nightlord class battleship wasn’t shooting at them. Her lasers ripped into the Burrock’s JumpShip, cutting her in half with casual ease.
“Status change! Clan ships are launching fighters.”
“How many?”
“All of them Sir!”
“CAG?”
The CAG or ‘Commander Aerospace Group looked up from her station “Sir, we’re launching the ready birds, the rest will be away in two minutes. Other ships are launching fighters and our DropShips are away.”
The Clan ships were firing their engines, forming up into a broad echelon, DropShips and fighters hurtling ahead.
“Sir! We are being hailed!”
“Who by?”
“The Burrocks Sir.”
“Put it on speaker now!”
There was a hiss before a voice came through, a woman’s voice “.peat this is the CBS Universal Conveyor hailing the Star League ships, come in please!”
“Universal Conveyor I am Precentor Alain Beresick we can hear you. State your intention.”
On the sensor screen he could see the big transport DropShip was falling behind the others, unable to maintain the thrust of the Overlords or Union.
“We..we request sanctuary. We are carrying Lower Caste personnel, three thousand five hundred civilians and we request SafCon and offer ourselves to you in a Trial of Possession.”
“What’s going on explain now!”
“The other Cla….”
The transmission terminated in a howl of static as the Behemoth was jammed and a new voice cut across the frequency.
“Inner Sphere Forces. This is Star Admiral Victoria Crow of Clan Snow Raven and commander of the CSR Mountbatten. Our fight is not with you. Our fight is with the Dezgra Burrocks. Aid them and we will Annihilate you as well. If you send your fighters towards the Burrock ships, we will take that as a hostile act and we will destroy you. Your fight is with the Smoke Jaguars and I do not care what you do to them. But, aid the Burrocks and we will destroy you. Mountbatten, out.”
The comms went dead and Beresick’s mind spun. They’d heard the Clans were fighting, it was one of the big driver’s behind Operation Bulldog and Taskforce Serpent, to take advantage of the Clans and strike at the Smoke Jaguars whilst they were at their weakest. But now? He had no clue of what was going on. The sensors showed the fighters of both sides merging, little flashes on the holo-display indicating fighters destroyed, lives lost. The Universal Conveyor was still broadcasting, still trying to get support, aid, anything despite being jammed. She was still calling for help as a barrage of lasers from the Clan WarShips tore her apart.
“All ships..all fighters..maintain battle stations..and escort formation. Do not engage any Clan craft unless they fire upon you or are Smoke Jaguars.”Beresick could only look on, along with the bridge as the Burrock DropShips were destroyed, one after the other and as the Clan WarShips jumped away, the Precentor could only wonder what madness had possessed the Clans to so casually slaughter civilians.
So, what happens if this Precentor says 'no, Genocide is Genocide, it's BAD, FIGHT ME AND THE ENTIRE INNER SPHERE.' Because I am LITERALLY SHAKING with rage as I type this, holy shit, my triggers are OBVIOUS, aren't they? But still, this is not the work of a grey on grey setting, mmmkay? Once you start slaughtering people wholesale, no matter what you call it, you're a bad guy and HOOO BOY you had better be prepared for the feces-storm you are about to eat.
Because if I was in control of a fighter or a dropship in this fleet? Damn your orders Precentor. Attack those warships. No matter the odds.
-
Serpent/Bulldog worked because the other Clans viewed it purely as a matter for the Smoke Jags to stand or fall and deal with on their own. Interfering with an Annihilation would get them all gunning for you and Serpent and Bulldog would die. The Clans and their utterly stupid honour system and the like held them back from helping the Jaguars. Which in turn helped lead onto the Great Refusal and the War of Reaving that happened after as the Clans, collectively went nuts in the Homeworlds. And if Bulldog and Serpent dies along with many famous people and equally famous regiments, destroying the main striking power of the 2nd SLDF, the Clans could come back, and then there's the Jihad to consider. And then god knows what happens. But i'm honestly glad it got that kind of visceral reaction from ya :D
-
Well I for one would stop and gather anything useful, as I "just" so happen to be in the neighborhood...
And if challenged, I can declare it's "space debris" in context, and I'm duty bound to aid any survivors... If any are found and to return them to "proper" authorities.
TT
-
Serpent/Bulldog worked because the other Clans viewed it purely as a matter for the Smoke Jags to stand or fall and deal with on their own. Interfering with an Annihilation would get them all gunning for you and Serpent and Bulldog would die. The Clans and their utterly stupid honour system and the like held them back from helping the Jaguars. Which in turn helped lead onto the Great Refusal and the War of Reaving that happened after as the Clans, collectively went nuts in the Homeworlds. And if Bulldog and Serpent dies along with many famous people and equally famous regiments, destroying the main striking power of the 2nd SLDF, the Clans could come back, and then there's the Jihad to consider. And then god knows what happens. But i'm honestly glad it got that kind of visceral reaction from ya :D
Clan Honor what an interesting and very multifaceted subject.
But yes watching the other clans team up to take down civilians of one of their own "Brothers" in that way, hard to hold back, but if you do your dammed by the firepower available hostile and well, no way to get friendly aid fast.
-
what do you folks think of the TRO by the way :)
-
Magnificent work, again, Marauder. Dang you. My kids have taken turns with the flu, puking all over themselves and their beds, and my wife can't handle it. So, the day after, I get to hold them up in the show and wash the chunks off so they don't get caught in the washer.
Honestly, I get more writing and volunteer work done at work than at home.
BUT! - Where's my Svartalfa?
-
Magnificent work, again, Marauder. Dang you. My kids have taken turns with the flu, puking all over themselves and their beds, and my wife can't handle it. So, the day after, I get to hold them up in the show and wash the chunks off so they don't get caught in the washer.
Honestly, I get more writing and volunteer work done at work than at home.
BUT! - Where's my Svartalfa?
LOL, makes me thankful that I just have cats--hairballs