Aftermath, Rest and Refit
Kirkenlaard, District of Marik
Free Worlds League
8th May 3118 Following an unsuccessful attempt to wrest control over Gallatin the mercenary units Kay’s Jokers and Jacob’s Juggernauts were licking their wounds. Colonel Tassa Kay convinces the remains of the Juggernauts to join her jokers filling out their third and fourth battalions bringing the Jokers up to a reinforced Combined-arms Regiment in strength.
Basecamp, Brotherhood of Randis
Molokai, District of Bowang
Free Worlds League
17th May 3118 Thirty years had passed since the Brotherhood of Randis had regained its independence from Clan Nova Cat. During that time the Brotherhood had accepted contracts throughout the periphery with the Taurian Concordat, Magistracy of Canopus, Cirincus Federation, Zeta Quadrant, and various independent worlds. From the twelve warriors who had left Hope (Randis) retreating from the Nova Cat advance only eight of the original members remained but Grand-Knight Amy Frews had accepted new Knight-errants from many of their contracts and the unit was now able to field three full binaries of BattleMechs, Armour and Infantry. Small contracts in the periphery were not enough to keep the unit going so they had finally accepted an Inner Sphere contract replacing Jacob’s Juggernauts on Molokai garrisoning the world for the District of Bowang.
The base they occupied could support an entire regiment instead of the short battalion that the Brotherhood currently fielded. They had powered up some of the facility leaving other parts inactive Grand-Knight Amy Frews walked over the exercise yard and entered the Mechbay standing in front of her Nova Cat OmniMech. She hated what the Mech stood for and what the Brotherhood had lost since being part of the Clan and their subsequent retreat across the periphery but she could not deny what it was capable of in the field of battle. The OmniMech like every other unit in the Brotherhood of Randis’ current TO&E was painted blue with silver highlights.
Her waist mounted comm unit beeped for attention and she reached down “Go ahead”
“Grand-Knight, we have a visitor at the gate the Loremaster of Clan Smoke Jaguar who occupy territory in the District of Bowang. He wishes to speak to you.”
“Damned Clanners” she said angrily looking at the Nova Cat OmniMech one more time “are you going to kill more of them today?” She asked the silent giant. She turned and left the Mechbay quickly heading back across the exercise yard to the main gates “Jimmy, Open up the gates!” She shouted as the approached the doors cranked and banged as the slowly swung open, she would have to get those looked at and repaired.
The gate opened revealing a tall well-muscled man wearing a black and red uniform with what looked like clawed fingers reaching over the left shoulder and extending towards the middle of the breast of the jacket. “Welcome to Molokai, I am Grand-Knight Amy Frews of the Brotherhood of Randis, we have taken garrison of this base for the District of Bowang.”
“Thank you, my name is Loremaster Algoth Beckett, I am of the same genetic stock as Lucas Beckett the former Grand-Knight of your order and I wish to speak to you.” He said Grand-Knight Lucas Beckett replaced Amy Frews grand-father as commander of the Brotherhood of Randis. Algoth Beckett was a large man with long hair which extended down over his shoulders his clothing appeared to made of various layers of leather while the forearms of were covered in brown fur. “I understand that your unit has many former members of Clan Nova Cat within it, quiaff?” He asked Algoth Beckett remained at the outside of the gate looking in.
“Yes, there are eight members of our unit active since our independence from Clan Nova Cat. A two of them can chart their service back to when they were members of your Clan.” She said while she hated that her Brotherhood had become part of the Nova Cats, she would not ignore their accomplishments.
“There are Jaguars here on this base?”
“Two” Amy Frews answered proudly “Cray and Ukra both served as members of your Smoke Jaguars before their fall, then as members of the Brotherhood of Randis, of Clan Nova Cat and now as members of the Brotherhood once more.”
“Impressive” Algoth admitted “which is why I am here Grand-Knight, I want to offer the former clansmen of your unit a chance at immortality. The combat experience of your unit is well known to my fellow Clansmen but we may not be known to you. For the last few years, we have slowly been rebuilding our strength within the Free Worlds League, we are not becoming the Smoke Jaguars we once were nor do we have the resources our people once have.”
“What is this about immortality?”
“We would like to offer your former Clansmen a chance of having their DNA added to our breeding program.” He offered
“Why?” she asked the warrior
“We are short on resources” he stated simply “including DNA. While we could take it from the warriors that have fought with us as we have rebuilt, having true Clan DNA in our program will give our next generations an edge.” He explained
“What will they be expected to do?”
“Simply provide us with a sample of DNA, and become part of something bigger.” The clansman offered.
“I will speak with the warriors.” Amy Frews offered “you will not enter this base Loremaster.”
“I understand, I will return to my transport and wait.” He said turning away heading over to a waiting Indra Infantry Transport.
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Almost an hour later a single LGB-10V Longbow BattleMech approached the Indra. “I am Cray Rabbit of Clan Smoke Jaguar.” The MechWarrior said he was ancient for a clan-born MechWarrior at least in his eighties, his head was completely bald his hair having long ago left him, he walked with the aid of a cane but inside a BattleMech he was as capable as any others. “The other MechWarriors have agreed to provide you with a giftake, but I challenge you to accept my Trial of Founding.” He said using the term which recently came into use on Tukayyid. The Smoke Jaguars were not part the Clan Council on Tukayyid but it was a challenge he hoped they could not turn down. “I was born to this Clan, I am Trueborn within the Smoke Jaguars and I have survived when hundreds of others have failed, I will be remembered.”
“If you think you are capable of the challenge, we will accept your Trial of Founding.” Algoth Beckett replied from onboard the Indra “I will have three of my MechWarriors approach, when you see them, you may begin when ready.”
Soon after three BattleMechs approached a Phoenix Hawk PXH-3M, a Ostol OTL-5M and a Prefect PRF-1C approached three House Marik designs each of which carried the Eagle Crest of House Marik and the stalking smoke jaguar of Clan Smoke Jaguar. Immediately Cray Rabbit opened fire with his twin twenty-tube long range missile launchers targeting the Phoenix Hawk the forty missiles flew between the two BattleMechs as a coat of metal and flame. The Phoenix Hawk lifted its right arm the anti-missile system which shot down several of the missiles but the rest slammed into BattleMech exploding all over the Mech’s right arm shattering it into two parts the hand and the weapons mounted there were torn to pieces. The rest of the missiles slammed into the rest of the arm and torso destroying the remains of the right arm staggering the forty-five-ton BattleMech backwards keeping the pilot on the backfoot. Cray Rabbit did not waste time instead he opened fire with the two small long range missile launchers as well adding in another ten missiles striking the Phoenix Hawk’s legs.
To the Phoenix Hawk pilots credit the pilot kept the BattleMech on its feet and ran it to the right of the Longbow firing the BattleMech’s extended-range large laser. The red coloured beam cut across the Longbow’s armoured chest as the Phoenix Hawk continued to run. Cray Rabbit tracked his enemy twisting the BattleMech’s torso and legs to walk and track the lighter Mech both torso lasers opened fire one burned down the right torso of the enemy Mech while the other completely missed its mark. The Phoenix Hawk jumped into the air avoiding another volley of forty long range missiles the BattleMech jumped towards the Longbow Cray opened fire with the smaller racks catching the jumping Mech mid-air causing minor damage. The Phoenix Hawk pilot spun on the spot and unleashed two medium pulse lasers into the back of the Longbow at the same time Cray triggered both rear mounted lasers on his Longbow at near point-blank range the lasers could not miss and both bore into the enemy Mech’s chest burning a large hole in its damaged chest. The Phoenix Hawk pilot jumped away but Cray was already turning targeting the retreating BattleMech he did not give the enemy pilot time to react engaging it with both large long range missile racks. A little over half of the missiles struck the back of the Phoenix Hawk mid-air the Mech lost control and lost power mid-way through the jump landing flat on its face out of the fight Cray had been successful.
But one victory was not enough he twisted the BattleMech’s torso and unleashed a volley of missiles at the Ostol, the sixty ton BattleMech’s anti-missile system swatted several of the missiles from the sky while the rest blanketed the accelerating BattleMech. The short distance between the two Mechs was covered quickly by the Ostol and a pulse laser barrage from the Mech savaged Cray’s Longbow’s torso the pulse blasts punching into the armour burning deeply. Cray’s Mech was built to support others from a distance and not for close range combat he triggered the smaller five tube but the Ostol was moving too fast instead Cray twisted the Longbow to track the Ostol hitting it with the paired medium lasers one of which burned into the lighter Mech while the other missed widely. Cray continued to track the enemy BattleMech and unleashed another volley from the two large missile racks but the pilot had anticipated it and had already changed his Mech’s movement planting the Mech’s foot and twisting towards the Longbow. The Ostol unleashed a volley of pulse laser blasts which tore into the Longbow’s torso the pilot’s weapons targeted on one particular spot caused heavy damage to the Mech destroying one of the smaller missile racks which caused a minor explosion on the Mech’s torso.
Cray’s Mech recoiled from the hit but he regained control quickly unleashing another volley of missiles but the Ostol’s anti-missile system cut down many of the missiles before they reached their target. The Ostol’s larger pulse lasers slammed into the Longbow in return fire the pulse lasers exploited the whole already made in the Longbow’s armour penetrating deeply into the hull of the assault BattleMech. Inside the torso there was a deep ammunition bay for the long-range missiles, the impact of the pulse laser blast caused the missiles to cook off causing an explosion which tore through the Longbow’s torso consuming it in fire. Out of the growing inferno Cray’s ejector seat flew high into the sky propelling him away from the doomed BattleMech.
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Several hours later Cray laid on a medical gurney inside the base. Loremaster Algoth Beckett was escorted into the room by one of the Brotherhood who remained at the door. Algoth Beckett towered over the gurney looking down at Cray. The ejection from the Longbow had not been good for Cray first the ammunition explosion from inside his BattleMech had sent a neural feedback shock into his brain and then his left side had been shattered by an impact and given his age his prognoses for recover was not good.
“You succeeded Cray Rabbit in gaining the Smoke Jaguars respect and regaining your honour.” Algoth said placing a MechWarrior pin in his right-hand which Cray gripped down on “at seventy-two years of age I believe you are perhaps the oldest MechWarrior our people have granted the title bloodnamed to since our foundation, though the records are a little spotty.” He said giving Cray a proud smile “your name will be remembered in our Clan, it is the name you have been known as for most of your life, Cray Rabbit and you will be remembered as the founder of that name.” Cray was unable to speak due to his injuries simply smiled, to most of the members of his unit giving up his life for an honour battle would sound like a waste but Cray had lived a long time and the honour of being remembered by the Smoke Jaguar Clan forever was something he could not give up. Several hours later Cray Rabbit, eighty-two-year-old founder of the Rabbit Bloodhouse passed away from his injuries but his name would be remembered by both the Brotherhood of Randis and by Clan Smoke Jaguar.
Special Forces insertion
Herndon, Clan Lynx Occupation Zone
22nd May 3118“Alright troops if any of you enjoy a show you might want to switch on your external feeds as we’re a few seconds from drop” the Hiryo Infantry Scout’s pilot said in the infantry bay there were four Kage battle armour suited troopers. Beside the black painted Hiryo in the bay was a second identical vehicle with the same cargo, the DropShip was buffeted by the wind as the doors opened in mid-air. “Here comes the fun bit!” The pilot announced as first one Hiryo and then the second were pushed out of the DropShip’s cargo bay.
Both forty-ton Wing-in-ground-effect (WiGE) vehicles hit the air and dropped like a stone. The Hiryo like all WiGE vehicles were designed to operate close to the ground using a cushion of air to stay aloft but despite having pair of high wings and an aerodynamic chassis they were not designed to operate at high altitude. The battle armoured troopers inside the DropShip were given a treat as the two Hiryo’s dived straight downwards “we need to get below radar fast hang on!” The two Hiryos continued to plummet towards the ground when they crossed five hundred metres a parachute deployed from the rear of the WiGEs slowing their fall then at three hundred metres the rear parachute fell away from the craft and two more deployed from the top of both vehicles. These parafoils brought the two vehicles level as they continued to fall their weight ensuring they continued to fall at pace. At a little over one hundred metres the two craft started their fusion engines and blew away from the parafoils disappearing into Herndon’s undergrowth in opposite directions their mission to disrupt Clan Lynx’s hold on the planet.
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On the other side of the Draconis Combine the six Ryuken Regiments deployed against Clan Snow Raven with two regiments each targeting Dnieper, Prinis Prime and Risin. With two elite/veteran units hitting each planet the ground forces are overwhelmed and in the Risin system the Snow Raven WarShip Pheonix, a Spartan-class Cruiser, was destroyed by Draconis Combine WarShips. In the Dnieper system the Draconis Combine vessel DCS Kashima, a Kirishima II-class Cruiser, was destroyed by the Snow Raven Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser Eden Rose. With no vehicle or BattleMech production facilities and minimal Snow Raven population in the three systems the Snow Ravens withdraw deeper into their territory.
Raid in force
Zeta Quadrant
Periphery
28th May 3118 After years of allowing the Zeta Quadrant worlds to exist on their border the Cirincus Federation launches an assault against the planets intent on bringing the Quadrant into the Federation forcefully. Deploying four regiments of troops to the four worlds Cirincus believes that it will be a walk over due to the Quadrant lacking significant defences. On all four worlds the Cirincus attack is stopped by multiple lances of Star League-era Royal BattleMechs which steamroll the attacking forces seizing the salvage and their DropShips. In all The Damned, Cirincus MechWorks, The Hateful Survivors, and the Keystone Gang are all wiped out to the man by the defenders of Zeta Quadrant.
