Chapter 1: Cast in the Name of God, Ye Not Guilty
T erra, out home for centuries, gone in an instant. 5 years ago the Clans came together in a surprise move and bombarded the fairly unprotected planet with high-energy weapons and space to surface nuclear missiles. The move was more symbiotic than militarily important, with only about 2,000,000 people left on the planet, it was, over all, a relatively small attack. Of those on the planet 500,000 were able to escape, thanks to the sacrifice of the small Terran Defense Force.
In retaliation the Inner Sphere forces launched an immediate strike against the leaving Clan force, taking down half of the enemy before they could escape. Immediately propaganda went out against the Clans, calling for "Immediate Action" against the Clans. While civilians were rallying support funds, the military was rallying its Battlemech lances. They were going to bring the fight to the Clans, and they were going to get recompense for what we all lost.
Huntress would be their first stop. The Clans were using it as their major staging point, making it the most valuable target. Supplies, Battlemechs, Starcraft, and the like were all being shipped to Huntress, and the Inner Sphere would be sure that those items would be theirs.
A medium sized fleet was on its way to Huntress within two days of the destruction of Terra. Ten 1km long Gideon-class Destroyers, Seven 550m long Bartholomew-class frigates, and eight Heavy Drop ships. By the time they got there the Clanners were ready for them. A fleet of five 1.6km long Sabre-class Dreadnaughts, ten 900m long Titan-class Destroyers, and 8 340m long Lancer-class gunships.
Beam weaponry and missiles were flying throughout Huntress space. An Inner Sphere ship would go down, then a Clan ship would detonate in a ball of flames. On Inner Sphere Destroyer had managed not to get hit but take down two Clanner gunships. Things were heating up on the bridge.
"We've taken a hit to the fore-starboard anti-fighter weapons bank!" yelled a male officer from the front of the bridge. The bridge was a flurry of movement as the battle continued.
"That's alright, they aren't using to many aero-space fighters. Keep pushing forward, we have to open a hole for the Drop ships." said the captain of the ship.
"Sir, we have an enemy Dreadnaught closing in from our port side, we can't hold out against it if we can't get any support." said the male officer.
" Great, focus all weapons on it until we can get some help." said the captain.
The Destroyer let of a volatile bombardment of weapon fire. Its four starship lasers slicing through the outer layers of armor, while its six heavy gauss cannons sent super-sonic pieces of metal through the Dreadnaughts thick metal hide. But the Dreadnaught returned fire with its seven heavy plasma cannons which almost immediately ripped the Destroyer apart.
" Hull breaches across all decks, fires spreading!" yelled the young male officer.
"Lord help us." said the captain as the hyperspace sensors went off.
"Sir, two Liao carriers have jumped into huntress space. They are launching aero-space fighters, there distracting the Clanners for the moment, get those Drop ships down to the surface!" yelled the captain.
The eight Drop ships fired off their main boosters and rocketed toward Huntress. The Clanners were unable to respond quick enough to take them down. They ripped through the atmosphere and hit cold air, a little bit of steam rising off their surface.
The Drop ships hit launching altitude and opened their hangar doors. Laser fire shot off from Huntresses surface and took down on Drop ship. The others launched their Battlemechs. As they plummeted to the surface they were left with a parting message.
"Cast in the name of God, ye not guilty."
T erra, out home for centuries, gone in an instant. 5 years ago the Clans came together in a surprise move and bombarded the fairly unprotected planet with high-energy weapons and space to surface nuclear missiles. The move was more symbiotic than militarily important, with only about 2,000,000 people left on the planet, it was, over all, a relatively small attack. Of those on the planet 500,000 were able to escape, thanks to the sacrifice of the small Terran Defense Force.
In retaliation the Inner Sphere forces launched an immediate strike against the leaving Clan force, taking down half of the enemy before they could escape. Immediately propaganda went out against the Clans, calling for "Immediate Action" against the Clans. While civilians were rallying support funds, the military was rallying its Battlemech lances. They were going to bring the fight to the Clans, and they were going to get recompense for what we all lost.
Huntress would be their first stop. The Clans were using it as their major staging point, making it the most valuable target. Supplies, Battlemechs, Starcraft, and the like were all being shipped to Huntress, and the Inner Sphere would be sure that those items would be theirs.
A medium sized fleet was on its way to Huntress within two days of the destruction of Terra. Ten 1km long Gideon-class Destroyers, Seven 550m long Bartholomew-class frigates, and eight Heavy Drop ships. By the time they got there the Clanners were ready for them. A fleet of five 1.6km long Sabre-class Dreadnaughts, ten 900m long Titan-class Destroyers, and 8 340m long Lancer-class gunships.
Beam weaponry and missiles were flying throughout Huntress space. An Inner Sphere ship would go down, then a Clan ship would detonate in a ball of flames. On Inner Sphere Destroyer had managed not to get hit but take down two Clanner gunships. Things were heating up on the bridge.
"We've taken a hit to the fore-starboard anti-fighter weapons bank!" yelled a male officer from the front of the bridge. The bridge was a flurry of movement as the battle continued.
"That's alright, they aren't using to many aero-space fighters. Keep pushing forward, we have to open a hole for the Drop ships." said the captain of the ship.
"Sir, we have an enemy Dreadnaught closing in from our port side, we can't hold out against it if we can't get any support." said the male officer.
" Great, focus all weapons on it until we can get some help." said the captain.
The Destroyer let of a volatile bombardment of weapon fire. Its four starship lasers slicing through the outer layers of armor, while its six heavy gauss cannons sent super-sonic pieces of metal through the Dreadnaughts thick metal hide. But the Dreadnaught returned fire with its seven heavy plasma cannons which almost immediately ripped the Destroyer apart.
" Hull breaches across all decks, fires spreading!" yelled the young male officer.
"Lord help us." said the captain as the hyperspace sensors went off.
"Sir, two Liao carriers have jumped into huntress space. They are launching aero-space fighters, there distracting the Clanners for the moment, get those Drop ships down to the surface!" yelled the captain.
The eight Drop ships fired off their main boosters and rocketed toward Huntress. The Clanners were unable to respond quick enough to take them down. They ripped through the atmosphere and hit cold air, a little bit of steam rising off their surface.
The Drop ships hit launching altitude and opened their hangar doors. Laser fire shot off from Huntresses surface and took down on Drop ship. The others launched their Battlemechs. As they plummeted to the surface they were left with a parting message.
"Cast in the name of God, ye not guilty."