I was your average 12 year old boy. Whatever you can call average, that is. In a galaxy torn apart by war, my dad served an elite militay force called the Eridani Light Horse. I wanted to be like him, but, of course, mom wouldn't let me. So, I resorted to playing Battlemech simulators. In tournaments, my squad always got to the final battle before being crushed by the all-time winning team of Madcats. My squad, the Zodiac squad, tried everything, like fighting Madcat-to-Madcat, or using a variety of mechs, or using light and scout 'mechs, just about anything. But I guess you can't win against a team who uses 10 Pulse Laser M's and stays in the water all the time. At least, that's what I thought until 1 fateful day when we were facing that very team in the final battle one day...
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My story begins when I'm in the final battle against squad MADCAT. No big surprise there. I'm always facing them. Anyway, my 3 Lancemate were crippiled. Jesse, in a Bushwacker, was in critical condition, Thomas, in an Annilator, was out cause his leg was blown off. Finally, Jason, in an Orion, had no arms, and his only weapon was a small pulse laser. Me, on the other hand, was piloting a Thor and in good condition since I healed before our MFB's were destroyed. "It's all up to you!" Jason said to me. "Yeah, go get them!" Jesse said.
BOOM! Success! One MFB blew up, and the shockwave put the other two in the danger zone. The Madcats saw me but couldn't do anything since they had to stay in water or risk overheat and I was out of laser range.That's when I remembered something.
BABOOM!!!!! I smiled at the destruction the Arrow IV had caused. The Madcats and MFB's were simply gone and in it's place a HUGE crater. But there was no time for victory celebrations, for I had the other two MADCAT squad members to kill. And I had the perfect strategy.
The trick was for them to over heat by luring them out of the water. I went up and down the Durgan River, eventually finding them. I contacted them. "Hey, Jerks!" I said. "You two are so chicken to come out of the water because you might overheat! That means I can pick you off with my LRM 20's! HAHA! Suckers!"
It worked! The two 'Mechs came after me like charging bulls. Apparently, they didn't like being called Jerks, chickens, or suckers. When they were two meteres ahead of me, I jump jetted up, up, and up. They fired at me, not realizing that they were overheating.
Suddenly, One 'Mech simply exploded from overheating. And since he was standing beside the other Madcat, they both exploded due to heat. "I don't believe it," I said. " I won. I WON!"
"Game over. New Champion: Team Zodiac." The Computer said. I got out of the simulator, and walked right into somebody. "I'm sor...." I stared at the insignia on her unimform. It was a horse with a black ring around it. I looked up at her face. She appeared to be a kind woman. "Hi," She said. "My name is Kelly Markinson, and I'm looking for talented young pilots to recruit into the Eridani Light Horse. And I am here to ask you if you would join us in the Eridani." I didn't have to think for a second. " Or course!" I said. "I've always wanted to work in the Eridani and learn how to become a real 'Mech pilot like my dad, Jake Stevenson." "Then pack your things" Kelly said. "And meet me outside your home... By the way, what's your name?" "My name is James Stevenson."
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And that is how my story began. I will tell the rest, over time. I must leave now. For I have to make a routine patrol of the base. thank you for your time.