AUTHOR'S NOTES: Shorter chapter this time. I'll post a new one very soon, as the story is actually finished now. This just seemed to have a good breaking point here.
REVIEWER'S CORNER:
Mosin: Well, I've had about a month-long window to finish the story before school starts up again, so this was my big chance. Didn't want you to have to wait until May to finish reading it. Anyway, glad you like it so far. The characters I've mentioned for the most part have shown up in the Snowbird stories here and there, at least with the Sentinels. I didn't feel it would be fair to the Jade Falcons by not talking about them. After all, generally speaking, in combat both sides have guts.
Reader: I think you bring up some good points (including Sheila committing essentially murder, which she has to live with, but it proves that even good characters occasionally do evil things—I didn't want her to be some perfect Mary Sue). I kinda like it that you liked Cavell Malthus and Kazumi more than the main characters. Cavell Malthus is interesting to write, kind of like writing World War II from Manstein or even Sepp Dietrich's point of view. Cavell really had no problem with Athena Henderson burning down and killing the inhabitants of Port Royal in Snowbird Chained; what angered him was that she didn't realize it would only stiffen Inner Sphere resistance. The actual casualties meant nothing. Kazumi is a "good" Clansman, and that's how I write him, but it should be remembered that, while killing civilians and prisoners he finds abhorrent, he still believes very firmly in the Clan cause. Most importantly, though, he cares about his people.
Panzerfaust: I'd like to read your story when you're done…now that I've finished mine, I should have some more time. (I'm so far behind on Kat's and Rogue's stories that I don't know where to begin.) Anyhow, I'm hoping that the Clans don't come off as morons. They shouldn't be. (Yesukai Shambag is an exception, but she and Chi-Li are pulled directly from the Jade Falcon Sourcebook, and it is mentioned that Shambag is incompetent and Chi-Li doesn't take prisoners because of what happened on Twycross.) As for Chi-Li not having anything behind him—actually, that's Cavell Malthus' job to worry about that, and Cavell didn't think the Sentinels had anything left to drop behind him. Therefore, there was no reason to watch the rear and he himself didn't have the units to spare. Call it hubris, which the Clans have bucketloads of…
Jayson: Well, I can't have the Jade Falcons win the war. One, it's not Battletech canon, and two, I don't want to write any more prison stories, or funerals. As for the 133rd Falcon Fusiliers—yeah, they're just a hard-luck unit.
Texray: Don't wet yourself, dude! Hopefully only the funny parts should make you do that!
MUSIC CORNER: I've been waiting about five years to use this song: "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way" by Spectre General from the old Transformers the Movie soundtrack. "Titan Spirit" from the Remember the Titans soundtrack is also good.
Grunwald Plain
Sudeten, Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
17 January 3052
The Snowbirds had been sighted, but only in glances: the only thing behind the Clans were techs, wounded Elementals, and crippled 'Mechs that had been pulled out of the main line. All they had seen coming out of the forest were two Ryoken and two huge 100-tonners that didn't match anything they had seen before, and so it was assumed they were part of the 94th Striker Cluster. The assumption was a sound one: there had been nothing spotted behind them, the Sentinels were all to the front, and the only other Inner Sphere unit onplanet was the Gray Death Legion, and it was far away to the east. The techs shrugged and figured that someone in high command knew what was going on, and went back to work. It wasn't until Inner Sphere designs surged out of the treeline that they realized something was wrong, and by then it was too late. Sheila spotted the battered 'Mechs surrounded by techs, saw that they were powered down, and told the Snowbirds to ignore them.
The Naga Grand Battery was next, and they were caught in the midst of reloading. The Nagas did have light secondary weapons, and so the Snowbirds fell on them first. Artillery 'Mechs simply weren't built for pitched battle, and the Grand Battery was overrun in less than two minutes. Sheila, seeing the entire Clan host directly in front of her, knew the only way the Snowbirds would win this battle was to hit the Jade Falcons as hard and quickly as they could, before they recovered from the shock of having a battalion suddenly appear behind them. "Snowbirds!" she broadcast, already running her Shruiken to full speed, "Don't stop! Attack!" She began firing, more for moral effect than anything else; she was out of range. The Snowbirds poured over the ridge where the Nagas had been, as a wild and screaming horde.
Mira Canis-Vlata could see that the Jade Falcons were confused. Whoever had broadcast on the Clan open channel hadn't bothered to identify himself, and as a result, every Clan Star was looking over their collective shoulders, wondering where the threat was. She could see hesitation spread throughout the Jade Falcons, and knew the Sentinels had somehow regained the initiative—but only for a moment.
A moment was all she needed.
"Sentinels! Sentinels!" she shouted. "Charge! Charge!"
The Sentinels hesitated as well—they were gathering for a last stand one moment, then ordered to charge—but feeling giddy with resignation in any case and with nothing to lose, the battered regiment roared forward, charging downhill at the Clanfolk. The light 'Mechs reached the Jade Falcon line first, and most were cut down, but being charged from both directions caused hesitation to change to fear. The Snowbirds crashed into the 124th Striker's rear, the rest of the Sentinels from the front, and the result was a massive melee that caused fear to become panic.
Abraham Chi-Li slammed a hand down on the arm of his ejection seat in frustration. Everything was suddenly going completely wrong. He shouted orders into the radio, but it seemed like no one was listening. When the two Snowbird Ryokens began opening fire, it caused further confusion, and Falcon warriors either hesitated for a fatal moment, trying to see if the person who was shooting wore Jade Falcon sigils or Sentinel ones, or opened fire without hesitation, occasionally firing at each other.
"Freebirth!" he cursed. "Form on me, Demons! Form on me!" He began waving the Mad Cat's arms, trying to salvage the situation. A few of his warriors began obeying him, but the movement also attracted Max's eyes. He stopped his Battlemaster halfway down the hill, aimed the PPC carefully, and put a shot into the Clan 'Mech's leg. Chi-Li, caught by surprise, went down. He struggled upwards, only to take another hit from a Phoenix Hawk that landed next to him. Chi-Li shrugged off the medium lasers, turned, and fired both PPCs. The blue beams struck first in the upper chest then sliced off the head. No sooner had he finished the Phoenix Hawk off than a Wolverine attacked him next. He dodged missile and PPC fire, then blasted the Wolverine to the ground, though he hadn't destroyed it. The Mad Cat rocked as it took heavy hits from yet another quarter, then it too fell when something struck the 'Mech from behind. Chi-Li twisted over to see a Zeus standing over him, raising the LRM hand that ended in a mace to strike again. He blew off the arm, but now there was a Battlemaster, and Chi-Li realized he had been surrounded. With most of his armor gone and a hip actuator out, there was no question of being able to break out.
"Clan warrior," his radio crackled. "There's no way out of here. Surrender now."
Chi-Li hung his head and began to laugh softly. So close. They had been so close. He saw the Snowbirds crest emblazoned on the Battlemaster's chest. "Sentinel warrior. I am Star Colonel Abraham Chi-Li. What is your name?"
"Lance Commander Max Canis-Vlata."
"I will not surrender, Lance Commander. The Demons die but do not surrender."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Chi-Li got his Mad Cat back to his feet, but as soon as he did, Max ordered his ersatz lance to open fire. Chi-Li died shooting.
Cavell Malthus heard the shout but ignored it. His duel with Calla Bighorn-Vlata was nearly at its end. His right arm was gone and most of his torso armor with it, but Calla's Battlemaster didn't look much better. Its right arm dangled uselessly by its myomers, and Calla was down to just his four medium lasers—and the hatchet. Cavell had barely avoided a blow that would have decapitated him.
Suddenly a laser blast came from Cavell's left, tearing a rent in his leg. He turned to face the new threat and spotted a Wyvern, which had lost an arm as well and a great deal of armor, but the silver dragon of the Sentinels' Headquarters Unit still shone. Cavell licked dry lips. Calla was no Clansman: if the Wyvern wanted to join in, he was as good as dead.
"Need some help, Commander?" James Habersohn asked.
"Sure, hop in," Calla puffed out. His younger self might have waved Habersohn off for the pride of taking down Cavell Malthus himself, but Calla was exhausted, his 'Mech badly damaged. It had easily been the toughest fight of his thirty year career.
Cavell took a few paces back to open the range, unsure of whether to try and destroy the Wyvern and then finish off Calla, or try and get Calla first. The Wyvern was much lighter, but it still looked to have most of its weapons, and its jumpjets ensured that the warrior would get behind him if he continued to face off with Calla.
Abruptly, the decision was made for him. A silver Gauss bullet streaked from nowhere, hitting the Wyvern at the base of the 'Mech's humanlike head. The ball punched through the cockpit and buried itself in the Battlemaster's breast, spent. Blood and gore sprayed across the windscreen, and Calla, stunned at the sudden death of Habersohn, froze for a precious second. Cavell brought up his remaining PPCs and fired directly into the Battlemaster's chest. The armor there was already mostly gone, and the bolts pierced first the engine shielding and then the engine itself. The resulting fireball blew the Battlemaster in half, sending its upper torso and cockpit flying into a copse of woods, while the legs remained upright, as if unsure whether or not to fall as well, before finally toppling over.
Cavell had always thought of this moment, and figured he would shout a keening Jade Falcon cry of triumph. Instead, spent, he merely sighed. "Goodbye, Calla Bighorn-Vlata," he said with genuine sadness. He supposed that Calla might have survived the destruction of his 'Mech, but now he could see the panic in his Galaxy. He had to rally it. He headed into the battle, only to be hit by yet another PPC shot that fused the Masakari's left leg. He swung his torso left, and spotted his new assailiant: the profile was unmistakable. Stepping over a fallen Fenris, Habersohn's killer, was a blue and black Shruiken. "Calla's daughter," Cavell mused.
Both 'Mechs stood still a moment, then both Cavell and Sheila brought up their PPC arms at the same time. Cavell was a tad faster, and he already knew where he wanted his shots: the Shruiken had taken a nasty hit to the right leg, and that was where he hit with both shots. The leg was sheared off above its knee, and the Shruiken's shots went wide. It toppled over, landing and trapping the right arm beneath its weight. Cavell didn't give Sheila a chance to stand, but drew back the Masakari's good leg and delivered a stunning kick to the torso. He had been aiming for the head, but Sheila had just managed to bring up the left arm just in time. The blow still caused the Shruiken to rock back hard. One of the seat straps snapped and sent Sheila into the armored side of her cockpit. The neurohelmet saved her skull from being fractured, but it still dazed her.
She saw the Masakari step forward, the right arm PPCs swiveling into place and aimed directly at her head. She grabbed at the left arm control stick: she had one salvo of inferno stars left.
There was an explosion, and the Masakari shuddered. Then, slowly, it toppled forward, and Sheila saw the burning, jagged hole in the side of the cockpit.
Sheila finally got herself situated back in her seat, and spoke into her radio. "Whoever that was that just killed the Masakari standing over me, thank you so very much."
"You are welcome," said Senefa Malthus' voice.
Sheila squinted. Across the river, just below the ridge, was a battered Loki.
Someone had once said that battles were decided by no more than the width of a sword blade. This was one of them, Star Colonel Kazumi sighed. Less than ten minutes ago, the Sentinels had been gathering for a last stand. Now it was the Jade Falcons who were gathering for one, in the thick woods south of Eger.
The faithful Lina had dragged Kazumi five kilometers to the forest, harried by ComStar 'Mechs the entire way. Only half the 133rd Falcon Fusiliers had made it. With Cavell Malthus and Yesukai Shambag missing, presumed dead, and Abraham Chi-Li definitely slain, that made Kazumi the senior surviving officer. He was too tired to laugh at the irony: he, the old warrior that everyone judged to be washed-up, fit for nothing but training duties, now commanded the better part of a Galaxy. Many Jade Falcon warriors lay dead on the Grunwald Plain, but he still had a little more than a Cluster left. He stole a glance at the sky. It was beginning to darken. If the Falcons could hold until darkness, he had a chance to withdraw to the south.
"They are not firing, ovkhan," Lina reported. "They must be preparing a rush, quiaff?" The Sentinels had been seen getting their 'Mechs together, just out of effective range, in a crescent that would close around the Falcons like a bear hug.
"Aff, more than likely." Kazumi just wanted to sleep. He was always amazed how sitting and piloting a 70-ton BattleMech could be so exhausting, but it was. He almost advised Lina to surrender if she wished, but knew she would refuse. So would the other Falcons around him. The remnants of the 124th Striker and 4th Talon might die here, but they would wreck the Sentinels and anyone else in the process.
"Alpha Beak Two to Fusilier Actual." Kazumi didn't recognize the voice. "Can you hear me, sir?"
"Aff. What do you have?"
"A Sentinel 'Mech has come up with a white flag, ovkhan. They wish to discuss a truce."
"Never!" Lina cut in. "Tell them to go to hell—"
"Clear the channel, Star Captain." Kazumi thought a moment, then gave his reply. "Very well, Beak Two. Inform them I will arrive shortly. Star Captain Lovonski, you are in command if I do not return in ten minutes." Abraka Lovonski was the senior survivor of the 124th Striker. "Lina, come with me."
He unstrapped and opened the hatch. Fresh, if smoky and bitter-tasting air, flowed into the cockpit. Kazumi took a breath, smiled despite himself, and climbed down off his crippled Thor. Lina met him on the muddy ground. "Ovkhan, we cannot surrender!" she exclaimed.
"I have no intention of doing so," Kazumi assured her. "We need time, Lina. I have already contacted Kristen Redmond, and she is breaking contact with the Gray Death Legion and is on her way." He didn't feel like telling Lina that Redmond's Cluster had also been battered in five days of running battles with the Legion. Still, the 94th Striker was in better condition than everyone else. "Oh, and Lina…" he said on sudden impulse, "when we are alone, you may call me Kazumi."
"Yes, sir."
Kazumi shook his head and led her through the forest. Every one of the Jade Falcons' surviving 'Mechs had been hit; some, like Kazumi's, had been dragged out of the battle. A skirmish line of Elementals watched them as they walked through. They too had been hit hard, and were angry—not just at losing the battle, but at being misused against Eger. Seward Buhallin and fifteen of his troops had stripped off their armor and slipped into Eger through an unguarded drainage tunnel, but had not been heard from since.
He saw the Wasp and walked in that direction, stopping about halfway as three officers walked towards him. All three were wearing MechWarrior garb, and all three were wearing bandages of one type or another. They were as filthy and tired as Kazumi knew he himself must look. Two of the three Inner Sphere warriors were women; the third had a cowl on his uniform, and Kazumi knew this must be the ComStar commander. "I am Star Colonel Kazumi, 133rd Falcon Fusiliers," he said as they stopped two paces in front of him. "This is my aide, Star Captain Lina. Do you wish to discuss batchall for the coming battle?" He abruptly recognized Sheila Arla-Vlata as one of the women.
It was the older one who spoke. "I'm Mira Canis-Vlata, acting commander, Sentinels Regiment. This is Sheila Arla-Vlata, commanding Snowbirds, and Demi-Precentor Edward Wiessler, ComGuards. We're here to grant you…" her voice trailed off, and she looked to Sheila. "What's the word again?"
"Hegira," Sheila said. At Mira's nod, she continued. "Star Colonel, we're both in horrible shape. Neither of us can win this battle, but we can both lose."
"I agree," Kazumi replied. "What are your terms? You must realize that my orders are to take Sudeten. I am not authorized to leave the planet."
"We know," Mira spoke. "We offer a week's time. Enough time to police up our wounded and dead, salvage what we can, and evacuate what citizens of Sudeten that want to leave."
Kazumi considered. It was more than he had a right to expect. "You would give up Sudeten?"
"Our orders were never to hold it," Mira answered.
"Then why fight so hard?"
"Because, one day soon, our orders will be to hold." Mira motioned at the battlefield. "We've killed plenty of your warriors here today. You've killed plenty of ours. But this is our home, Clansman. We will replace our losses. And when that day comes, there will be more of us than you can possibly kill. Time is on our side, Clansman. Not yours." Kazumi could see the raw hatred in her eyes, and knew at that moment, for certain, that the Clans would never conquer the Inner Sphere.
"Today is not that day," Kazumi finally said. "I accept your terms, with one caveat: two weeks. I believe both of us will need two weeks. Is that satisfactory?"
Sheila looked to Mira, who nodded. "Bargained well and done, Star Colonel."
"Aff. I am glad that is over." Kazumi blew out a breath, then put out a hand. "Precentor, may I shake your hand? You are the finest opponent I have ever fought against—and I have fought against this one, here." He pointed at Sheila.
Wiessler hesitated, then took the hand. "I have prisoners, Star Colonel. Some of your people. I'll return them as soon as possible."
"Of course." Kazumi checked his watch. "I will return and let my people know what has happened. We will retreat to the southern ridgeline, then send out small parties to police our dead and wounded."
"Sounds reasonable," Sheila replied. "One more thing, Star Colonel…I want to inform you that ilKhan Cavell Malthus was killed about twenty minutes ago. I'm afraid there's not much left to bury."
Kazumi nodded sadly. "I see. He fell in battle?"
"Yes."
"I see," he repeated. "Well, he would have liked it that way, quiaff? He was no longer an ilKhan, merely a Galaxy Commander. Probably best this way." Kazumi sighed. "By the way, Commander Arla-Vlata, is Senefa Malthus still alive? I would like to say hello to her, perhaps."
"She is. I think that's enough for today, Star Colonel." She could see that Mira would very much like to kill Kazumi, truce or no truce. "See you around."
"Aff. Good luck to you." He raised a hand, then he and Lina walked back towards the forest.
Sheila watched them go a minute, then followed Mira and Wiessler. "Regretting this, Mira?" Sheila asked quietly.
Mira paused, then shook her head. "No. It had to be done. I just wish we could…finish it. Today. I want blood."
"I think you got it," Wiessler replied, detouring around the crushed remains of an Elemental.
Mira ignored him and turned to Sheila. "It's good to see you. We'll talk later." She couldn't let go, not yet. She would have to tell her son that his father was dead, and Mira knew that if she did that, she wouldn't be able to stop crying. "Go see if you can find your mother and your father. I'll organize the Sentinels."
"I should see to my company…what's left of it," Wiessler said. "I imagine the ComGuards will probably cashier me, if the Primus doesn't have me shot." His mouth quirked into a smile. "If the Sentinels are hiring, I might need a job."
"It's yours if you want it." Sheila smiled back. "Actually, I think the Precentor Martial's going to pin a medal on you."
"Ha. I'd laugh if it didn't hurt so much." Wiessler looked around. "Commander…how many engagements have you fought?"
Sheila thought a moment. There had been so many. "I don't know…ten? Fifteen? Hard to say."
"Was it always like this?"
"Like what?"
"I feel terrible. Like I'm going to be sick. During the battle, there was no time, but now…" He stared around the battlefield. "I…don't know if what I did was right at all."
"This was your first battle?" Sheila asked, astounded. The ComGuards had fought unbeliveably hard. Already, she had heard that Wiessler had continued to battle from the wreck of his Hussar, even with both legs and arms gone.
"I couldn't stand this butcher's yard more than once." He kicked a rock down the slope. "I imagine I'm going to have to, though."
Sheila put a hand on his shoulder. "Precentor…you did well today. Very well."
"Yes, I suppose we did." He took a deep breath. "Well…like I said, I should look to my company." Wiessler began to walk away.
"Precentor?" He turned at her voice. "Peace of Blake go with you, Precentor." He smiled at that.