MechWarrior: Let the Games Begin
Chapter 1
January 10, 3064
Amity
"Frankie! My Brother! I can't believe it's you!" A dark haired man exclaimed overjoyed, setting his duffel bag down. In his mid twenties, he had a sturdy build and bronze complexion owing to his years of working outdoors. His casual outfit suggested the same.
Frankie grumbled, standing in the doorway of his flat, but managed a fake smile. "Fred, it's you. What are you doing here?" He shot back. He was younger, but far more mature looking, and a little paler. Never the less, a strong family resemblance was present between the two men.
"Why, looking for you," Fred chuckled. "You don't know how many doors I knocked on 'til I found this one. I don't even know how many doors I knocked on. But we agreed that we're brothers, and that-"
"That if we ever needed to help each other, we would," Frankie finished. "But I thought you were doing well selling cars, living on your own, settling down after your last job."
"Yeah, that was good and well, until someone burned the building down the pancake house next door."
Frankie just stared at him.
"It wasn't me! I know how to make pancakes."
"Right, that's why mom kept kicking you out of the kitchen," Frankie replied unconvinced.
"Hey, I thought high speed on the mixer meant it would finish faster." He pouted.
"Well, look-" Frankie was cut off.
"Honey, who is at the door?" a woman called out. Frankie's wife, Dianne walked up behind him, her red hair almost glowing like a fiery halo. Coming from a smaller world that most in the Inner Sphere, she was tall and thin, and in heels could look over her husband. "Oh, hello Fred, one moment please." She slammed the door on Fred, and a brief, muttered argument ensued behind it before it opened again. "Well, Frankie told me of your troubles, but you see, we're going on vacation, leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? I see, well, you're going to need someone to house-sit, right? So, now that that's settled, where are you going?"
"Solaris," Frankie piped in. "I heard that—" He was cut off again, this time by Fred.
"Solaris?" Fred was surprised. Solaris VII, also known as the Game World, was a planet dedicated to gambling and BattleMech duels. It had grown from an industrial world where companies tested out their BattleMechs, to one of high life and entertainment with resorts, museums, and concert halls along with the phenomenon of Solaris Games.
"Yes, Fred, Solaris. I heard that they have a nice resort, and in case you forgot, our anniversary is coming up." He gave a light, but kind kiss on Dianne's cheek.
Fred didn't pay attention to his brother. He had other things on his mind. "They have a lot of BattleMechs on Solaris… I need a BattleMech. Forget the house-sitting, I'm going with you."
Dianne shouted, "What?! No. There's no room for you with us."
"Besides," Frankie continued, "why do you want to go there for a 'Mech? More importantly, why do you want a 'Mech?"
"Because I belong in one. I mean, why are you an accountant?"
"Because it's what I studied, and it's a stable, safe income." Unlike Fred, Frankie had no interest in BattleMechs. He was more interested in a simple life with few conflicts. To him, Fred was nothing but conflict. "And like Dianne said, you're not coming."
"Look, I don't want to go and screw up your anniversary. We'll just travel together, and once there, I'll be out of your hair and looking for work and a 'Mech."
"Fred, dear," Dianne started. "It's not that we don't understand or don't want to help you, it's just that this is our time." She hugged Frankie and kissed his cheek. "And so you simply can't go."
After realizing Fred wouldn't give, Frankie thought up a new plan. "Well… One moment, please," Frankie closed the door on Fred again, and more muffled arguing ensued, until the door opened up again. "You can come, but once we get there, you're on your own. Out of our hair. Looking for work. Okay?"
"Sure thing, brother. Once I get back into a BattleMech, I shouldn't need any more help."
January 21, 3064
Solaris VII
The trip to Solaris was uneventful. Frankie and Dianne left Fred on his own the second they stepped onto the DropShip. Their arrival was much the same, until it came to the games. Fred was a MechWarrior, a natural, but with a lot of quirks that shortened his career with the Alliance Military Corps. As the only one with experience around the 10-meter tall machines of war, his betting advice particularly interested Dianne.
The BattleMech games here, however, were nothing like the Alliance Military Corps, and nothing like standard combat. Here, things went by the rule of cool and ratings. It was not a thinking man's game, but more like the gladiatorial combat seen on ancient Terra, full of superstars and super upsets.
Despite this, the planet had what he did not: 'Mechs and money. Once he obtained both, he could figure out what to do with his future. At the moment, though, it was just a waiting game.
Fred gave a sigh as he watched the two light 'Mechs enter the arena. He figured that would be the closest he'd get to one for some time. He, his brother, and sister-in-law, sat amongst the cheering crowds in the Coliseum arena. The arena made the duels even more gladiatorial than any other on Solaris, with its Doric columns and archways arranged about the field. Although they were decorative, they could also be used for slight cover.
The first 'Mech to enter was a boxy chicken-walker type, known as a Flea,painted silver with two long black stripes down its back. The average person would think nothing of this 'Mech because of its simple design and light weight, but in the right hands it could be a nimble and deadly fighter. Armed with forward and rearward firing medium and small lasers, and a flamer, it wasn't a bad 'Mech in the least bit.
The second 'Mech was the heavier Wolfhound. The all-black 'Mech was humanoid in design except for its dog-like head. The cockpit glass that doubled as the 'Mech's eyes, had a blood red tint. As it walked onto the field, it waved its sole hand to the crowd in parade fashion. In place of a right hand, it was armed with an extended range large laser. Backing the large laser up was a trio of medium lasers in its chest, and a another one in its back.
With the sound of the starting horn, the battle commenced. The Flea was first off the mark as it darted behind the arches for cover. The Wolfhound's ER large laser scared the arches, but missed the boxy 'Mech. Unlike the Flea, the Wolfhound stepped slow and cautiously into the battle. The pilot didn't want to spoil his aim. The Flea did, and continued its fast weaving through the arches, closing the distance between the two 'Mechs.
Once it lined up an angle on the Wolfhound, the Flea engaged its MASC and excited the 'Mech's artificial muscles. It charged at its foe firing both its medium lasers. The ruby bolts seared and melted the Wolfhound's metal flesh from its shoulder. The Wolfhound pilot fired its trio of medium lasers in retaliation, staggering them to keep from overheating his 'Mech. The lasers just glanced over the top of the boxy 'Mech, singing the armor, but not much else.
As the Flea passed the humanoid 'Mech, it scored two more hits with its rearward small lasers. The Wolfhound only managed a token reply with its own rear laser, doing nothing more than digging a hole into the dirt.
The Wolfhound turned and gave chase after the Flea. The Flea had to shut off the MASC system that gave it its speed advantage earlier to prevent damage, and had to allow the Wolfhound catch up. Another glancing blow from the Wolfhound convinced the Flea pilot to make a turn through the closest archway.
The Wolfhound stayed close behind the Flea, which gave only sporadic shots with its rear lasers, more to scare the pilot than to defeat him. The high speed chase through the archways and around columns made it difficult for either pilot to hit the other.
Initially Fred thought the pilot of the Flea to be an amateur, but he could see what the pilot was trying to do. Fred could tell that the Wolfhound pilot was getting annoyed, and began firing his shots closer together, giving less time to cool down.
The Flea engaged its MASC again to put some distance between the two 'Mechs. Tired of these games, the Wolfhound fired its large laser, sending an emerald bolt into the Flea's right leg, melting away armor and digging into its structure. The Flea wobbled. It was now or never for it. Pivoting on its good leg, it faced the charging Wolfhound and fired its flamer, setting the taller 'Mech ablaze as the two collided. The Flea fell onto its back and caught fire from the gas spewing out of its flamer. The fiery Wolfhound toppled over and landed on its face behind the Flea.
The crowds cheered loudly for the match to continue. Struggling to get up, the Flea responded to the cheering first. It swung its arms back and fired its medium lasers into the Wolfhound, melting through the back armor and giving access for the flames. The Wolfhound then rolled onto its back, smothering some of the flames, and returned with one of its medium lasers. However, it was simply too hot for a full barrage. Standing up, it displayed the dirt and scars from its tumble to the audience, and then approached the struggling Flea. Still on fire, the Wolfhound couldn't fire anymore of its lasers, and instead made advantage of a weapon that the Flea did not have. Quickly it swung its one fist into the boxy 'Mech, and a again, denting and smashing the armor before giving it a swift kick. The Flea stopped struggling and a siren sounded, signaling the end of the match.
Fred relaxed and did some mental math on the wager he had placed earlier. That was his shaky plan to win enough money to purchase a 'Mech, and get started on a new life. After watching this match, he decided that whatever 'Mech he got had better be a safe one that wouldn't shake him around too much in the cockpit.
Fred set aside his concerns and cheered with the rest of the crowd. The fight had netted him more money for his cause, and more money for Dianne, who gave Fred a phony smile.
"That was a terrific match," she lied, "wasn't it, Frankie?" She wasn't interested in the destruction on the field or the pilots being tossed around the cockpits of the 'Mechs, just the money Fred's tip had won her.
Frankie was only slightly more interested in the fighting going on. He didn't care much about the 'Mechs, and could never be able to name them, but he was entertained by their actions none the less.
"Oh yes, definitely," Frankie replied, waiting on his wife. "That ice-box shaped 'Mech could really run. It really surprised me."
"Oh, that was its MASC," Fred explained.
Frankie and Dianne gave him a blank look. Fred had to remind himself that they knew nothing of BattleMechs except that the machines were big and destructive.
"Myomer Accelerator Signal Circuit. Ya know how the Myomers on a 'Mech are like muscles? MASC makes the muscles work faster."
Frankie smiled and nodded. "Oh. That makes sense. Well, anyway, let's get out of here."
Fred lead the way out of the arena, managing to worm through the large crowds that poured out into the streets. He was half hoping to lose his brother and sister-in-law, but they had kept up with him.
"Dianne and I are going to cash our wager tickets and head to the Concert Hall," Frankie told him, hailing a cab. "We'll be seeing you later." The cab pulled up and Dianne climbed in quickly, but Fred pulled Frankie aside for a moment.
"Look, Frankie, I know this is your vacation, but I might need to borrow some extra cash…"
Frankie frowned. "You still haven't paid me back from last time."
"I know, but if I can get a 'Mech, I can enter the matches and win the money for you," Fred sighed. "This has become more challenging than I thought."
"It sure has," he sighed. "I guess, if you need something extra, I'll lend it to you. But that's no guarantee, okay?"
Fred smiled and pat his brother on the back. "Thanks bro, you're a real life saver."
"Sure, yeah. Now, if you don't mind," he nodded his head towards the waiting cab.
"Right, have a good time." Just as Fred wave goodbye, the cab was off.
With that, he turned and started down the street. Before he could get lost in thought over his situation, he noticed the weather was taking a turn for the worse and decided a good shelter would soon be necessary.