MechWarrior: Shadow Company
Rated T for violence, cursing, and mild sexual references
This is the story of the most feared and honorable Mercenary Company in all existence. It started with one man, named Geoffrey Freedman…
Chapter ONE
"Hey Geoff!"
Tech Officer Geoffrey Freedman was asleep on a scaffold again while he was "off duty". That was just a fancy way of saying "get a shower and take a nap" when it came to this job. So when he heard his name being called he bolted upright and yelled "What is it this time!"
"We just got a call for an assist in salvage." His buddy called.
His buddy was another Tech Officer by the name of Samuel Williams. He was 5'9" with brown eyes matching his brown hair. He was large, but not fat. Many people joked that he looked like a midget Elemental.
At that Geoffrey got interested. "How many Mechs down?" he asked, as he ran down the stairs.
"At least ten, though I bet there won't be that many left for us."
"Probably right" Even as he said that, had started up his personal recovery vehicle, and begun to race out of the dropship, towards the battlefield, followed by leaping gnome battle armor that served as on mission security.
(Of course, the only reason they're out here is because I am.) He thought to himself. (I guess being the best our forces have does have its perks.) He smiled at the thought.
Tech Officer Freedman was the best there was, when it came to fixing Mechs and weapons. (I would have been a Mech pilot, if my species didn't have all this fur!) At that thought he sighed.
Geoffrey was a member of the vulpine-fox- race. He was 6'4" with eyes that looked like the color of pure gold. Red and white fur covered his body from head to toe-including a fox tail- as well as a yellowish blond where regular hair would be. He also had black tips on his ears.
He was pondering why they couldn't make a Mech specially designed for vulpines when he noticed he was getting a message. "…ou got that Foxtrot?" He silently cursed as he picked up the radio.
"Sorry Captain, I didn't get all that." Then he heard her groan.
"Foxtrot, how many times do I have to tell you 'stop dreaming about being a MechWarrior'?"
"I don't know, until I get to be one."
"Hahaha… Foxtrot, I'll say it one more time. We're gettin' reports of surviving infantry still out there… you hear it this time?"
"Yes, sir.-Naval tradition states you say sir to a navel officer despite their gender. - It's a good thing I brought my rifle and these tin heads."
"Aye, more like I assigned those 'tin heads' to be your guards. You know I can't afford to lose you."
"Glad to hear it Captain. Sorry Cap, I gatta go, just found a new toy out here."
"Alright get at it and have one of those crawlers bring it back."
"You got it Cap." With that, he switched to his "guardians" channel and said. "Alright boys, I'm stopping here so give me some cover."
"Sir, yes sir!"
He sighed, (God I hate formality) then grabbed his rifle and jumped the ten feet to the ground, using his vulpine abilities to keep from getting hurt. Then he walked over to the downed Mech and got a big surprise. Lying there, completely untouched was a Salvage Mech MOD.
"Holy Shit!"
A trooper landed next to him with his Heavy Pulse Rifle at the ready. "Are you alright sir?"
Geoff just blinked a couple of times to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Then deciding he wasn't, he answered. "Damn straight I'm all right. Hey, I got an order for ya. Find me a way into that Mech's cockpit."
"Uh… yes sir." The trooper jumped over the Mech, looking for the hatch. As he went about his search, Geoff called in the find.
"Captain Roberts here. What's up Foxtrot?"
"Well I have some good news for me and you Capn. And before you ask, I am standing in front of my brand new Salvage Mech MOD."
Captain Roberts sat there for a second before responding. "Did you just say a 'Salvage Mech MOD'?"
"Yes sir I did."
"What condition is it in?
"Hold a sec… okay I'm back. Looks like a sniper took the pilot in the head, so everything's good to go. Oh! Just let every one know my location so they don't come to kill me."
"Alright. Attention all personnel, Foxtrot has gained a fully functional Salvage Mech MOD. Sending location, so don't kill him when he brings it online." A chorus of Ayes followed, and then it started.
Geoffrey got in through the small opening known as the entrance. Then he unhooked the old pilot and tossed him out the hatch. He frowned when he realized that the neuro helmet was built for humans. He sat down and thought. Then he remembered that his helmet was designed for just this situation.
He took off his helmet and gently removed the old neuro helmet, replacing it with his own. He connected everything, put the helmet back on, and fired up the engine.
The effect was astounding. He had expected it to have a reactor, but it didn't, so with the start of the engine came a soft yelp. Fortunately Geoff didn't have his radio on so no one heard. After the initial pain, Geoff started to move the Mech into a standing position.
Meanwhile, outside the trooper Sarge checked in. "Captain, we have a small problem."
"What is it now, Sergeant?"
"Sir, the salvage Mech is an I.C.E."
"Well, that's not a problem, we just happen to have an extra light reactor; Geoff salvaged last op. Is that all Sergeant?"
"Sir, yes sir!"
After about two hours of work Geoffrey got a message from Captain Roberts. "Foxtrot, get back to the dropship, A.S.A.P.!"
He keyed the radio as he started towards the dropship. "What's the sit rep, Cap?"
"We got multiple dropships inbound."
"Affirmative… wait, I got something." Just then, he realized he still had his Mech's radio tuned to the enemy channel.
"What do you mean 'he is here'?"
"I do not know, sir. All we know is that one survivor said he saw a vulpine in a Tech Officer's uniform. He also said that he saw him get into, and power up a Salvage Mech MOD."
"WHAT? Quick, change the frequency!" After that all Geoff heard was static.
Geoff called in what he heard. "Well they're definitely Clan."
"Aye, but which one?"
"Who the hell cares!"
Geoff secured his new toy in a Mech bay as ordered by another Tech Officer. "Captain, I'm docked, now what?"
"Hold on, that's what."
(What!) Just then the alarms started blaring, and the gantry began rising up to seal the ship for space travel. A couple of seconds later, and Geoffrey felt the engines ignite underneath him.
The weird thing was, the Captain was burning hard, with the engines at full thrust, putting at least three gees on everyone on board. Normally the Captain wouldn't do this but they were running from multiple Clan dropships. As soon as they went into microgravity, Geoff got out of his Mech, and floated down, to see what the others had salvaged.
It was a pretty good haul. He had gotten two Mechs and a lot of weapons. Samuel had been able to get some new vehicles and some more weapons. Tech Officer Alexis VonHammer- yes I know, the last name sucks- was as good with vehicles as Geoff was with Mechs, and, as usual, she had salvaged nothing but vehicles.
Alexis was another vulpine and, aside from the usual 'Male-Female' differences, she looked exactly like Geoffrey. The only other difference was their height. She was 5'9". A little short for a vulpine, but it didn't mess with her job so no one commented. There were, however, rumors of the two foxes dating, but those were just rumors.
Samuel had gotten a kellswa and a gloryfire support tank, along with multiple missiles and Autocannons.
Alexis had gotten three SRM launchers, a pair of vedities, and another kellswa.
Geoff on the other hand, had salvaged an awesome and a griffin, along with enough weapons to arm them.
After he had counted and written down the new "toys", he gave his report to the head Tech Officer and went to take a nap. After he lay down he tallied the new force's strength. (Let's see, two and a half lances of Mechs, another three lances of vehicles, and five squads of battle armor.)
As he was about to fall asleep, his radio came on. "Geoffrey! Where the Hell are you!"
"Damn!" But then he answered. "I'm in my room, trying to get some sleep!"
"Well, get your furry tail up to the control room A.S.A.P.! The Captain wants to talk."
He sighed. (I guess I won't be getting any sleep now.) but out loud he said "Alright, alright. I'm on my way." He got out of bed and ran a clawed hand through his mussed up fur to get it in order. Then he walked out of his room, and went to the control room.
As soon as he walked in he saw something he had never seen before. The entire room was close to panic. People were running around, shouting orders at people through the mics.
Then the Captain came over and stood in front of him. "Soooo… the furball arrives."
"Urrrrg… will you stop calling me that?"
"No. Now, on to business. We are being chased by a bunch of light aerospace fighters. The dropship guns can't take them all down, and since you're the only person left on this ship with some fighter training, I want you to take our last fighter and take out what's left."
"And how many are left?"
"Only five, all Nightshades."
"And why aren't they dead yet."
"They're in the dropship's blind spot."
"Yes, Sir!" Geoff saluted and ran off down the hall towards the hanger that the fighters were stored in.
When he got there, the fighter techs were all double checking the fighter. (Another good thing about being vulpine is I don't have to wear those ridiculous pressure suits.) As he walked up to the fighter the techs saluted.
(Even though I technically don't out rank them they still honor me.)
With that thought, Geoffrey jumped into the cockpit and strapped on his helmet. This helmet was a less advanced version of a Mech neuro helmet. As soon as that was done, he started the reactor and shut the canopy, sealing it to fly in space.
After that the alarms started ringing and an automated voice came over the speakers. "Attention. Air lock pressurizing. Evacuate the airlock." No sooner had the last man got out of the air lock when the hanger doors opened.
Geoffrey launched as soon as the omni wing aerospace fighter had enough room.
As soon as he was out he turned on a dime and sped towards the dropship's blind spot.
This spot was basically where the engine exhaust disappeared. As soon as he had cleared the ship he fired off his PPC, barely missing one of the nightshades.
However, the shot startled the pilot so much that he jerked his fighter to the right and crashed into another, sending them both into a spin that would ultimately end in their doom.
The three remaining fighters formed up on their leader and turned to face the fox. Geoff managed to get his two ER large pulse lasers to each target a follower. He fired as soon as they were locked on, sending two lasers to impact and destroy the tail end of the targets, which was where the reactor apparently was, as the two fighters rear ends soon got very hot.
The leader was able to get a shot out with his SRM, sending two missiles racing at the fox. Geoff, on the other hand, just tracked his target, ignoring the oncoming missiles.
As his PPC recycled he acknowledged it by firing. The super charged particles sped out of the nose gun and impacted its target right in the cockpit, killing the pilot instantly.
Even though the launcher had been destroyed, the missiles kept their lock, and only at the last second did he pull up, breaking the missiles' lock and sending them into space.
With his mission complete, Geoffrey returned to the air lock. Once it was finished pressurizing, Geoffrey opened the canopy to the sound of clapping. Confused, he jumped down and was immediately surrounded by the jet techs.
All of them were clapping and smiling.
Then the head jet tech walked through the crowd and up to him. When he stopped, everyone stopped clapping as he spoke. "Well… I ain't seen flyin' like that before in my whole life. So tell me, why didn't you become a full-fledged fighter pilot?"
"Well, I like Mechs."
"A good reason. Stick with what you like." Just as he said that, the speakers came on.
"Tech Officer Freedman, report to the Bridge, Tech Officer Freedman, report to the Bridge."
"Well, looks like you gatta go."
"Looks like it. Though I'll see ya around." With that said he made his way through the circle of jet techs towards the door. As he went towards the Bridge, it seemed as though everyone on board had seen his little duel with the five Clanners.
(Though I can't blame them for watching the battle that might determine their lives.) He thought to himself in the elevator.
Soon the doors opened and he walked down the hall towards the Bridge. As soon as he walked in people again started clapping, including the Captain!
Now, he was embarrassed, and he had to consciously keep his tail from going straight down.
But then the Captain motioned for everyone to be quiet. They did and the Captain spoke. "Very well done Geoffrey! I've never seen someone take on five Clanners, win, and not even get a scratch on their fighter. Just for that, I'm going to promote you to backup pilot. Just in case we need that kind of help again."
At that, the fox assumed attention and nearly shouted, "Sir! Thank you, Sir!"
"As you were, and you don't need to be that formal."
Geoffrey went to parade rest before she continued. "Now then, that technically means you have two jobs, so I'll make sure you get paid for both."
That surprised Geoffrey so much he nearly left parade rest. But after a few seconds he responded.
"Thank you, sir."
"Good. Now, let's see about getting a ride to Terra for this 'Operation Last Stand'."
End Chapter One