Well, I hope the previous chapter was enjoyable.
This chapter is going to be the last one, I've finally arrived.
Thanks to many people for helping me write this story either directly or indirectly, as well as the ones that I have been influenced by.
Thanks to doctor anthony for proof reading and helping to write some scenes.
OH, and some have wondered why the Wolverines speak using words like "Query" or "affirmative/negative" and similar military jargon is that the original clans (where Clan Wolverine was part of) was mostly one big military force as they used such words, though the other clans have developed their language and as such for example "Query negative" have developed into "Queneg" and "Query affirmative" have become "Quiaff", you can check out Clan glossary terms on the Sarna site.
Clan Wolverine on the other hand have after all been separated from the other clans for near 300 years and as such have not followed the same development.
I attribute this revelation to Hotpoint as he used something similar.
Well, that's enough of that as the story ain't finished just yet.
Here's chapter 21.
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…..Terra Nova, outer system…
The surviving fleet jumped into the system, three warships that looked worse for wear after the pounding they had been given by Clan Wolverine and its allies, and a small number of jumpships flashed into existence.
There were additional lightning shows around the warships as their jump drives were unstable thanks to not having been properly recharged and the ships had taken more damage as a result.
An hour later they managed to open communications with the planet and reported on what had happened, and if his aides were later to be believed then Henry Radcliff's initial reaction may actually have caused a small quake…
Nicholas Smythe chuckled triumphantly as he ordered the commander of the jumpship he was on to partially deliver the one good news – Maddy Shannon was in his custody, right now she was sedated in a cabin where he had secured her.
"Yes, she is indeed a beauty of angelic quality, as if God himself decided to design her personally." He thought.
Yes Madelyn Shannon would be the perfect concubine for him once she had been properly conditioned and trained that is…
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Three days later on the other side of the system, a small fleet of warships flashed into existence,
Leading the fleet was the Clan Wolverine Texas class battleship CWS Wolverine's Claw flanked by the newly renamed Clan Dragon Black Lion class battlecruiser Calon Y Ddraig,
Another three warships jumped in mere minutes later, the Einherjar Whirlwind class Destroyer Elver also flashed into existence accompanied by the still somewhat battered Congress class frigate CWS Minnesota along with the still battered but functional Whirlwind class destroyer CWS Sara.
The Wolverine's Claw contacted the other ships.
"Alright, now hear this everyone, our first order of business is to lift the siege of Minnesota and then after picking up some additional troops – we head straight for Terra Nova!" Taylor said firmly,
A couple of months earlier the Com Guard had finally breached the orbital defences and had been invading the planet itself, though thanks to tenacious defence the Clan Wolverine warriors had made the invader pay for every inch of ground, but had eventually been forced back into the Castle Brian, thanks to manpower difference – Clan Wolverine warrior caste maintained a martial prowess far superior to even the Com Guard and especially to the bandits they employed…but a at least a ten to one odds and the strength of the Wolverines were slowly but steadily whittled away…
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Maddy had woken up and found herself in unfamiliar surroundings, she remembered seeing some soldiers in torn Kurita looking uniforms, before she had managed to shout for help they had used some gas on her and then…
She didn't remember anything else.
She got up from the bed she had been laying on and walked over to the door and not surprised she found it was locked,
The room was not small in fact it was rather luxurious – not that Maddy really knew what that really was since luxury to her was to be with her family, suddenly she had to fight back tears of both horror and sadness, wondering where her family were.
Were they even alive?
She instead walked over to the window and looked out and gasped, she had visited the city at least once and she recognized the government building or McEvedy Hall – she was back on Terra Nova.
Then the door opened and Maddy swirled around and her eyes locked with those of a man with a scarred face that may have been handsome at some point but now it made her gasp involuntarily.
The man stood there gazing at her with a strange expression, and for a moment Maddy actually contemplated trying to run past him and escape but realised that she wouldn't get far and stayed.
"Who are you, where's my family, why am I here?" Maddy blurted anxiously.
The man laughed heartily as he continued gazing at her in a creepy way.
"My precious, so many questions, my name is Nicholas Quinten Smythe. But you may call me Nick if you wish." He said smiling and closed the door behind him and walked to her and briefly touched her cheek,
Maddy shook her head to get his hand off and felt revulsion at the way he touched her as she recoiled,
Smythe continued looking at her and pulled something from his pocket,
"You dropped this when I liberated you." He said and held up the golden necklace with Ben's medal.
"Give that back, it belongs to my uncle Ben!" Maddy almost shouted now in anger.
For a brief moment Smythe's features darkened but Maddy stood her ground,
Nicholas simply handed over the necklace after a few moments and his features came back to their lighter façade again.
Maddy took the necklace and hung it around her neck,
"The Cameron Star. Your uncle never deserved that medal." Nicholas said almost tauntingly,
"You're lying, Uncle Ben is a hero, I may not have known your face but I do know your name Nicholas!" Maddy spat at him,
Nicholas laughed again.
"You have got some fire in you girl… I like that, it makes for a good relationship." He noted, while smiling as he admired her angelic features, she looked beautiful when she was angry.
"Relationship?" Maddy retorted completely gobsmacked but instead of answering Smythe pointed at her,
"You need a shower and a change of clothes, this apartment have been made ready with all the amenities a lady needs." He said and swept his hand around the apartment, then he turned and left.
Maddy stood there for minutes and contemplated what to do, at first despair started setting in but she scolded herself and started plotting how to get out of this bizarre situation.
She walked up to the closet and opened it and her eyes widened,
On the wracks in cases were a number of what she suspected had to be very expensive dresses – and on a couple she noted…
"What the heck?" She thought,
"Am I to be some cleaning lady too?" She then thought and then remembered Kara had talked about dressing up for Josh and everything started falling into place.
"Seriously?" She thought as she wondered what kind of creep this Radcliff must be when employing such a…man?
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….Minnesota, Fourth planet in the system….
When the crew on-board the two ComStar corvettes that had been tasked with preventing any of the renegade forces from escaping saw the approaching major warships coming at them at full burn they realised they were grossly outgunned.
"Prepare for full burn and turn the ship around. Notify the other ship as well." The captain ordered,
"But, Ma'am, what of the forces on the planet surface, they'll be left behind?" The second noted, the captain turned towards her second,
"Just mercenaries. We can hire more, now execute my orders." She stated.
On the Clan Wolverine destroyer CSW Sara Star Captain Ellen Qiuqi swore loudly,
"Spineless cowards, fleeing rather than at least fire at us!" She growled as the two corvettes quickly accelerated away towards Terra Nova.
She was about to order a pursuit when she was contacted by Khan Taylor on the Wolverine's Claw,
"Star Captain Qiuqi, I charge you with helping to secure Minnesota, Guzman didn't say it outright but the garrison here was almost on its last leg." Taylor said,
"What about those cowardly ComStar people then Khan Taylor, We cannot just let them get away, query negative?" Qiuqi protested,
"The Sara and one jumpship will remain here to help Guzman secure the planet while the bulk of our forces go directly for Terra Nova and try avoiding collateral damage if you feel like bombarding the enemy forces." Taylor ordered,
"Besides, The Sara won't survive another battle unless fully repaired." He added knowing that the destroyer was still in bad shape, not too damaged to defend Minnesota but would definitely not survive a battle like the one they were heading into, they had lost enough ships.
"Affirmative Khan Taylor, Give them hell!" Star Captain Ellen Qiuqi answered.
"You too Star Captain." Taylor retorted firmly, at long last they were going back and nothing was going to stand in their way, he had an entire galaxy worth of Wolverine warriors just itching for battle and cause retribution upon the invaders, then the largely fresh forces of the new Clan Dragon as well as the Einherjar and the small contingent of Sixers that together made up what could be about one and a half galaxy of mixed troops.
Taylor did have some compunctions about having the Sixers being on their side after all the troubles they had caused for Taylor in the past, but this man, this Operative or Victor Daniels (Taylor wondered if that was even his real name) had vouched for them, though not too strangely since the Einherjar apparently held their families as collateral.
"In other words, hostages!" He thought grimly, he was impressed by the Einherjar's battle prowess but did not like those mercenaries taking hostages no matter what.
But they were allies now even if he did not approve of their actions.
"Helm, take us out of the planets gravity well and then engage at full burn, tell the other ships to follow us. To Terra Nova!" Taylor bellowed the last part and his war cry was accompanied by everyone else on the bridge.
To Terra Nova!
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At McEvedy Hall Henry was listening to the reports of the Wolverines and the rest of the renegades were incoming and would soon be on their doorstep,
"Precentor, we cannot hold against that might, even if we call in our remaining ships from the outer system by the time they get here it will already be over." The Com Guard Precentor noted and twitched a little when Henry turned his gaze on him.
"The best we can do is a holding action while we prepare to evacuate, we should save our ships and soldiers for another time." The Com Guard Precentor explained,
"Really?" Henry queried with a calm that made the rest of those in the large chamber nervous.
Smythe was the only one that seemed unfazed and even smirked a little, as he came walking inside and approached Henry held Maddy's arm in a stern grip.
"Precentor, I agree with your assessment of our situation, but I need your firearm please." Henry agreed then requested in a rather nice tone Maddy considered, she had only heard of him, never met him in person.
The precentor handed over his weapon to Radcliff who simply raised it and shot the man straight in the head.
Maddy yelped in horror at what Henry just did, and as the precentor fell to the floor with an indifferent thud.
"But… But, you agreed with him?" She stuttered in fear even though she tried to not show it but was failing as Henry calmly walked over to them and gave Smythe the gun,
"Yes, Miss Shannon. I agreed… But that doesn't mean I like being told bad news like that." He said and then caressed her cheek that made her recoil,
Henry chuckled at her revulsion,
"You however should not worry your pretty head about such things, your chief concern should be how best to obey Nicholas as his wife." He said and Maddy started getting a little angry.
"As his concubine you mean!?" She hissed and actually managed to tear herself free from Smythe's iron grip despite the pain it caused her.
Henry laughed,
"You should rejoice, it will at least be better than what I have in store for your family." He then said menacingly.
Maddy met his glare even though she was afraid.
Henry then turned to Smythe.
"Well, make preparations for evacuation, and burn Hope's landing to the ground!" He ordered,
Lucas now stepped forward,
"I can do that, those rebels have caused me a lot of grief and I'm gonna teach them the price for opposing their betters!" He growled and stormed off, all his plans to liberate the people from the tyranny of the clan and they kept rebelling?
Well, at least those refugees would return to a ruin…
Lucas contemplated as he contacted his loyal followers to prepare for battle and also ordering his own jumpships to prepare for evacuation.
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Deep in the jungle in the Castle Brian SaKhan Alicia Washington of Clan Wolverine received a message.
"Washington here." She answered and the main screen came online though with severe interferences making the view crackle and fritz all the time.
"Wash, good to see you!" Came Taylor's voice though she could barely see his face,
"Likewise sir." Wash answered and around the entire command centre there were wild whooping from both the members of Clan Wolverine and Pilgrim regulars and refugees alike.
"We are about to release our dropships, we need you to send out whatever forces you have left to prevent the ComStar from starting any scorched earth policy!"
"I will lead the Wolverines from the other side of the city along with the Einherjar, Clan Dragon is going to come down on your side. I need you to draw the enemy out of the city to give us a chance at saving what we can!" Taylor requested,
At the name Clan Dragon the command centre first went a bit silent and then…
"Clan Dragon?" Jim blurted in surprise.
"Oh and unless he declines the position – James Dafydd Shannon will now be addressed as Khan of Clan Dragon!" Taylor then dropped the proverbial bomb, he even pronounced the man's middle name correctly ceremoniously.
Alicia turned around and looked at Jim who had a stunned expression in his face.
"Well, do you accept Shannon, your clan is up there waiting, query affirmative?" She asked him,
Jim started realising as he remembered what Maddy and others had been working on, they had planned on proclaiming their own official society.
He snapped to.
"Alright, tell the… err Clan Dragon to meet up with me at Hope's landing!" He quickly said as he was still very unsure of this kind of leadership as he had not planned on becoming that kind of leader but there it was…
"This is SaKhan Washington, I want all available warriors to assemble in the main halls for orders. We are taking back our home today or we die trying!" Alicia called into the base's main speaker system.
The Castle Brian became a like a hive of activity and except those that were needed to defend the massive base and the large numbers of wounded and non-combatants, seven Infantry trinaries and two trinaries of battlemechs were detailed to accompany Washington and Shannon as they marched out.
Elisabeth standing waving them off with Zoe holding her hand hoping this would finally end the war but couldn't help worrying – they had said nothing about Maddy and that made her worry even more.
Elisabeth had also helped a little with the planning but it was Maddy that had come up with the idea of proclaiming their own clan to be able to deal with the Wolverines as equals instead of as a charity case.
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In the city in Boylan's bar the command staff of the Charging Rhinos Captain Willard Van Dieter sat and listened as the alarms went off across the city,
They had spent the last few days debating on what to do, as many of them felt serious unease at helping ComStar further slavery.
Willard pulled up the small holo picture he had of one of the slave women which was that had definitely swayed him.
His second came running into the bar and to him,
"Sir, we've been given orders to start rounding up the prisoners and the slaves…" the young woman huffed and with a worried look on her face.
"I guess this is it." Van Dieter sighed and rose,
"Alright, everyone back to the unit, and do not do anything unless the order comes straight from me!" He ordered, his junior officers looked apprehensive, he expected most of the company was in agreement about this entire fucked up campaign.
Before leaving Willard gave Boylan a look and then turned and walked out of the bar.
As the members of the mercenary company walked out of the bar, Tom knew these men and women had already seen the writing on the wall,
"Looks like a slave woman have managed to move the heart of the mighty rhino." He thought and smiled as he after made sure he was alone picked up his communicator and contacted those that had been active in the resistance for months.
"This is Crystal palace, the chandelier is up!" He said and deactivated it and went into the back and opened a secret door that only he knew about and grabbed a few grenades a rocket rifle and started fixing up extra ammunition.
Elsewhere in the city Scientist-General Malcolm Wallace got the message and closed down his lab and headed for Boylan's bar after having made sure to leave a few surprises in the defence system for the city. He met up with Casey Durwin just outside his office the scientist nodded to his friend in the wheelchair that he knew could be easily converted into a chair for him to operate a tank or even a battlemech.
In a large warehouse in the city a group of speed freaks and gamblers calling themselves the Daredevils made ready their fastest sky-bikes for action, everyone loaded with weapons.
Across the entire city and outlying areas small groups were readying themselves to take back their freedom.
The shitstorm was coming and they all knew what they had to do…
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Henry Radcliff laughed condescendingly as he were told that the renegades had moved out of the jungle and were headed towards the city.
"Well, they think to scare us with their act of bravado do they?" He bellowed,
"Send out the remaining mercenaries to fight them, all Com Guard units not directly tied into the defence continue with the evacuation!" He ordered.
In her luxurious gilded cage Maddy hit the floor after having been struck by Smythe – he had tried kissing her and she had bit him in the lip.
Smythe came near her and grabbed her arms and hoisted her up to face him, even though it was painful she continued glaring at him defiantly.
He were about to raise his hand at her again he tried to avoid causing any bruises but there were bruises on her arms and now one in her face and still the girl refused – he stopped himself and then got a com from Radcliff.
"Yes sir, what is it?" He answered and then nodded,
"After I have killed your uncle and boyfriend, I shall return to take you off this pitiful excuse of a planet, and then you WILL obey me!" He said caressing her bruised cheek gently but she shook away,
"My uncle is going to kick your ass!" She hissed at him which made him chuckle as he considered her even more attractive in her new expensive dress.
Maddy wished she could get away from the room and as Smythe left she took up a vase and threw it at the door and it shattered into pieces.
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On the Gauntlet Ben had now assembled the first strike team or Lance that was now a part of the Gwarchodlu Ddraig – or Dragon Guards that he had organised personally as the command guarde of the new clan, so far they had decided in order to avoid unnecessary confusion to keep their ranks given to them,
Still the borrowed warriors of the Excalibur star had elected to remain and they had with Taylor's approval at least temporarily sworn allegiance to Clan Dragon.
As the dropship descended through the atmosphere above Terra Nova to their assigned target Ben opened up a channel from his mech directly to the others in his lance and those on board other dropships that would as soon as the dropships had landed would assemble and start to drive the invaders off the planet,
"Everyone listen up, the planet down there is home to some of you, what is more important than to fight for kith and kin? Nothing! We fight to free all those kept in shackles down there, we fight those that would enslave others." He started as every warrior listened in.
"To fight to free those in bondage is honourable. There is glory down there to fight for those than cannot fight themselves is not just honourable… it is glorious. I say to you all, the glory is there… Take it, IT IS YOURS!" He ended with a war like cry and was accompanied soon by everyone that heard him,
Clan Dragon had arrived and would stomp ComStar and their bandit allies off the planet and would not stop until victory was theirs…
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…
As Jim and his remaining warriors including Josh that had gotten his LAM repaired despite Elisabeth's hesitation about her eighteen year old son participating in the battle was also now marching in the formation along with Wash that led her warriors some distance away in order to link up with the resistance forces in the city while Jim was going to link up with his clan at Hope's Landing.
"This is James Shannon of the former Pilgrim Regulars, I give you a chance to surrender peacefully!" He said unsurely – Ben was the dramatic in the family after all.
He didn't have to wait long until his Atlas's scan picked up a large number of hostile vehicles and battlemechs coming their way from the direction of the settlement.
"Sir, look!" Came McCready's voice and Jim looked and his heart skipped a few beats as he watched the thick smoke that came from Hope's Landing.
"Gods almighty! They've torched the place!?" Came another com,
"Those cowards, they knew they couldn't hold the place so they're burning it down!" Came Josh's angry voice,
"Cut the chatter, our goal is to draw them away from the city and away from the landing zones so that our dropships can land without getting shot up!" Jim admonished and ordered.
He soon received a communication,
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Jimmie Shannon!?" Came the slightly Slavic accent Jim knew all too well, he had busted the man countless times for dealing drugs and for protection racket under Radcliff but were never able to make the charges stick, he had worked as Radcliff's main thug.
"Sanko! I should've known Radcliff would bring his favourite thug along!?" Jim growled as by now his computer identified Sanko's battlemech an Exterminator heavy battlemech, this time however Jim studied the specs that showed,
Jim increased speed as he realised that his missile systems whether long or short range would most likely not work thanks to the supposed anti-missile system on the Exterminator,
Sanko on the other hand had no such compunctions and fired off his weapons as did the mechwarriors with him.
The command module or head of Jim's Atlas shook as it took hits from mainly missiles,
"Everyone, pick a target but leave Sanko to me!" Jim ordered,
"Josh, you lay back until I call for you, okay?" He then told Josh,
"But Dad?" Came the protest immediately,
"No buts, do as I say, you will get your chance Josh!" Jim said sternly and Josh obeyed though reluctantly.
As Jim led his warriors on a fake retreat firing as they backed away slowly and as he suspected Sanko and his force took the bait as they followed to better utilise their weapons.
"What's the matter Shannon, we too tough for ya?" Sanko taunted,
Sanko on his part was full of glee as he was also quite high on spazz greatly increasing his response times but decreasing his fine motor control and focus.
Plus he had mixed it with Rage,
Jim smiled as he checked his computer over the battlefield as he now could see the dropships come down from the sky.
"That's it guys, they've taken the bait, retreat no further!" He ordered as he recognized the Gauntlet…
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The dropships landed with a mighty thud on the ground not far from Hope's Landing.
Ben led his first lance out of the dropship and saw the destruction…
The settlement was in flames.
He felt utter rage at the sight and decided to issue his battle challenge.
He opened an open com channel so that all would hear,
"Now hear this ComStar and bandits. You have provoked the fury of the Dragon, no longer will our peoples be subject to tyrants and cowards. What forces dare oppose us?" He bellowed, not far away he could see the other dropships land and disgorge their cargo of infantry, battlemechs and what few tanks and other vehicles they had taken as Isorla.
Ben was contacted by Jim,
"Ben, nice of you to drop by!" Jim said jokingly,
"Great to see you Jim. You need any help big brother?" Ben said happily,
"You could even out the odds a little." Jim requested,
"No problem." Ben answered and opened up a com to his command unit,
"Alright, Excalibur, concentrate on the right flank first, Heka secure the settlement and make sure there are no surprises." He ordered as he targeted at long range with his LRMs at one of the mechs trying to outflank Jim's unit,
The hostile battlemech got its right arm blown off and soon what had at first for the Roma One bandits looked like an easy fight turned into them being trapped between two forces,
Sanko simply lost his temper as he got royally pissed.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU IDIOTS DOING? HELP ME FINISH OFF THIS COPPER!" He bellowed apparently unaware that his own forces now had to defend themselves from attack from behind.
"Don't you worry about them Sanko, worry about me!" Came Jim's challenge.
Sanko took another big whiff of his favourite drug mix,
"You got it copper!" He raged laughing maniacally and put his mech into high gear and charged at Jim's Atlas, firing all weapons, but for some reason Sanko was unaware that an Atlas heavy assault battlemech was like a walking fortress with thick armour and usually riddled with weapons,
Jim at first reflexively covered his face and then chuckled at the silliness of it and noticed that his battlemech was pretty much unharmed apart from some singed armour plates.
"Hey Sanko before whatever crap you're taking fries your brain, you wanna know why I named this mech Broadside?" He asked while manoeuvring his battlemech,
Sanko simply growled,
"Well, here's why!" Jim declared and fired off every weapon he had which made the mighty battlemech shake,
For Demetri Sanko time seemed to slow down to a crawl as he saw the other mech fire off.
"Aw c'mon?!" Was all he had time to say before his mech and with him in it was destroyed by the broadside.
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Mark saw how these Inner Sphere warriors gaining ground and was impressed despite their rather unimpressive organization, most had come with them on the reputation of James Shannon – Khan James Shannon, the former slaves had almost unanimously voted to make Jim Shannon into the first Khan of Clan Dragon.
One thing that had made Mark proud was how well Maddy understood the workings of Clan Wolverine, he had been allowed to look into her plex and according to what she had explained was that in the future first a council would be chosen out of the civilian castes who would then appoint a Khan and SaKhan out of the Warrior Caste.
A weapon blast brought him back to the present as one of the tanks they had brought was hit by heavy weapons fire and taken out of action.
He scanned the ridge towards the city and noticed a number of Long Tom artillery, there were mechs as well as infantry and tanks guarding them.
"Star Captain Shannon, we have artillery units between us and the city, if they are not taken care of they will be able to do to the city what they did to the settlement." He contacted Ben.
Ben who had just happily hacked yet another battlemech to pieces checked the scan of the battlefield and saw with satisfaction that the Roma One bandits were either in full flight or being cornered and destroyed.
He opened a Com to Jim, as artillery shells started impacting the ground around them,
"Khan, the bandits here are done, but there seems to be a small force trying to bar our way into the city. Can you wrap up things here? We'll return as soon as we take care of the blockading force." He said,
Jim scanned the ridge as McCready's mech had just gone down when it were too near an artillery blast, he had seen the command module launch towards the sky,
"No problem, just leave some of the forces here to help deal with the fire." He answered,
"We brought some workmechs from Stormwind for just that, they're on the Gauntlet." Ben reported,
"Alright then, you take whatever forces you need and Josh, just make sure to bring both my kids back safely. We'll follow as soon as I can organise things here." Jim demanded,
"Yes Khan Shannon." Ben responded,
Jim grimaced,
"Please enough of that!" He complained,
"Enough of what sir?" Ben queried as he was heading toward the city,
"And enough of the sir crap!" Jim now lamented in a half mock growling tone,
"I'm sorry but I don't understand what you mean Sir?" Ben asked and put some emphasise on the word sir jokingly,
"THAT!" Came the reply, Ben chuckled as he contacted Reynolds and Watts,
"Alright, Paladin, you bring up your unit in a loose formation with me, and Pummel, you commandeer whatever vehicles you can and follow us, we're gonna open up passage to the city." He ordered,
"Yes Star Captain Grey Dragon." Came the reply from the two star commanders,
"Takeda, you take your unit around the enemy like so and attack their LRM trucks from the rear." He ordered Daisuke,
"Hai, Grey Dragon Sama!" Came Daisuke's enthusiastic reply.
The young man had almost interrogated Ben before about how he truly felt about Akiko, like would he stand by her no matter what as well as honour her. It was as if he knew something Ben did not.
"And Josh, you march on together with us, but at my signal I want you to convert and harass those artillery units from above, but watch out for those LRM trucks." He then ordered his nephew,
"Yes sir roger dodger!" Came Josh's excited reply, he had actually been reluctant to leave the base as the month before Kara had been injured during a raid as her aerospace fighter was shot down, but he knew she was safe in the Castle Brian's infirmary guarded by the troops SaKhan Washington had left there, and the prospect at the fight had brought his adrenaline up.
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At the city's outer industrial area the Charging Rhinos were guarding the main slave camp when Willard saw a group of Com Guard mechs approaching.
"Captain Willard, the renegades are about to enter the city. Orders are to conduct a scorched earth policy, we are to destroy anything and I do mean anything." The Com Guard Adept ordered,
"Wait a minute, scorched earth policy is bad enough but what of the people here?" Willard asked almost sensing the answer.
"Precentor Radcliff has ordered you to put down all of the rebels you find starting with the ones in the camp." The adept explained.
"You mean you want us to murder all the innocent people including those you made into slaves?" Willard asked and then added as the Com Guard unit was now within range.
"I'm a soldier, not a murderer!" He added forcefully,
"You will follow the orders given to you mercenary!" The adept demanded,
"Not – a – chance!" Willard replied and swung the main weapon on his Cyclops around…
He then targeted the lead mech at nearly point-blank range and opened fire with his heavy autocanon, the Com Guard battlemech was blown into pieces and at this signal the Charging Rhinos opened fire on their former employers.
They had spent the last month debating as to not only the legality of serving under those that utilised slavery but the latest weeks development had finally won over the entire unit to the cause of freedom and of honour.
The Com Guard unit though surprised fired back and a small battle started – a smaller sized version of the major battle now raging all around the city and in orbit…
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…
At the ridge just outside the city Ben led his lance against the withering defences of the city.
He checked on where Josh was and saw the young warrior having trouble with anti-air defences defending the Com Guard artillery unit.
"Skyfire, use the abilities of your LAM!" He ordered his nephew, and Josh realised that he was flying a Land-Air-Mech and dove for the ground and smoothly levelled out before he converted into hybrid mode which was a mode between the air and land modes.
Josh fired on the now surprised anti-air units that were destroyed with ease and then nimbly jumped to the next and fired his lasers at the artillery crews that started evacuating in panic as the actual ground units including the anti-air that were supposed to protect them were either destroyed or engaged by the main forces.
Some infantry fired at him and for a moment Josh got rattled as it was one thing to shoot down another mech or aerospace fighter but shooting at actual people, he realised how stupid that was since all those mechs and tanks and aerospace fighters had people in them controlling them.
"I am Joshua Shannon, warrior of Clan Dragon, who dares oppose me?" He yelled into his com and charged on and then getting peppered by heavy infantry fire, his computer notified him of a damaged actuator in his right leg.
"SHIT!" He exclaimed when a shadow flew over him and then landed, he recognized it was Kono's modified Urbanmech,
Kono fired his LB-X Autocanon/20 – practically shredding the infantry unit and the crew of the artillery unit.
Josh let out a whoop and a battle cry.
"Uncle Kono, nice to see ya!" He yelled happily,
"Stop screwing around boy and help me with the last artillery position." Kono admonished though smiling himself as he was glad seeing his family again and was almost as excited for the battle as Josh.
"By the way, nice job kid." He added.
"That's the last of them, now back to the main force!" Came Ben's command as Kono and Josh finished the last two Long Tom units and then.
As Takeda's unit came charging into the rear flank of the enemy what bandits that had been supporting the Com Guard were now in full flight.
But then…
…
…
…
"Ben we're in a pickle here, we need help!" Jim contacted his brother as his mech took hits from the other side of the now burning settlement that had been Hope's landing.
"We're on our way." Came Ben's reply,
Ben contacted his units,
"Takeda, Pummel, you two stay here and make sure no one get past, rig up what's left of those Long Toms so we have some artillery support. Paladin you and Excalibur form up on me, Skyfire you stay here and provide some air cover." He ordered,
The small force of battlemechs moved back towards the burning settlement and now Ben could see a group of mechs on the western side of the settlement as well as inside it.
"Jim, we're coming in from the northwest." Ben reported,
"Nice timing little brother!" Came Jim's relieved voice,
"Where the heck did these guys come from anyway?" Kono asked as he manoeuvred his Urbanmech into the outskirts of the settlement,
"They must have set up that artillery spot to lure us away so that they could sneak in and blindside us." Ben growled through gritted teeth,
He could clearly see a number of mechs with similar markings as the Sixers but
"Alright warriors clear out the hostiles on this side of the settlement, and check your fire to avoid friendly fire situation." He ordered,
Then he immediately targeted a hostile battlemech and fired his lasers, but this one was apparently a hunter killer kind of mech despite its light weight it danced away making Ben's aim all that much harder,
"Slippery bastard aren't ya?!" Ben muttered while smiling as he moved closer for a direct hit chance.
The hostile battlemech was too nimble for Ben to get a hit with his Axman's axe but he was by then close enough to employ his autocanon that bit deep into the smaller mech…
Not far away Lucas in his Pulverizer saw the whole thing and he knew they would eventually be wiped out, he was then contacted by Smythe from his Rampage,
"My Lord, I may have a solution to our conundrum." Nicholas started…
…
…
…
Henry had just gotten the news of the latest betrayal directly from the betraying party themselves.
"You shabby mutt, you dare violate a contract with ME?!" Henry bellowed angrily into the screen that showed the grizzled face of Captain Magnus Vargstierna,
"Well, actually I did not violate any contract since I was already under a contract against you he, he, he." Magnus stated smiling that wolfish smile of his that showed those canine fangs he had had installed years ago.
"You will never be able to go back, you will be doomed to exile out here!" Henry growled
"What can I say, other than that I may give you a refund. OH and Carleone sends his regards." Magnus retorted laughing at the other man's loss of composure and cut the com leaving Radcliff to his no doubt epic rage fit.
"Einherjar onward to victory!" Magnus then ordered as his unit was advancing on the outskirts of Terra Nova City.
He had been given a cybernetic prosthesis by their new Wolverine allies that was still a bit fidgety.
He targeted a hostile Pillager heavy battlemech and employed his jump jets and brought him right in front of it firing his autocanon and swung his Hatchetman's axe into the command module of the other mech killing its pilot, he then marched on as the stricken mech walked on like a headless chicken until it walked straight into a building and fell as the already damaged building partially collapsed.
A swarm of Locust battlemechs engaged him supported by a Cataphract battlemech.
He quickly dispatched two Locusts with his medium lasers in short order and went on despite now heavy fire from the remaining bandit mechs, and now his prosthetic arm was fidgeting again…
"Damnit!" He swore loudly as he could not fully control his mech effectively without the left arm.
Then another Hatchetman came in using its jump jets and instead of an axe this one were carrying a hammer outfitted with internal sonic pile driver device usually used in mining equipment when mining hazardous materials,
It struck the Cataphract at the shoulder with the archetypal thundering sound causing its internal structure to shatter in the arm and torso, the pilot ejected momentarily as her mech went down.
"Thunder, good seeing you out here!" Magnus yelled through his own berserker happy time,
His younger half-brother showed up on his view screen smiling, one of the reasons for his callsign was the hammer his battlemech were equipped with.
"I couldn't allow you to have all the fun now Werewolf?!" Magnus Wolfe pointed out smiling while destroying a Locust with his lasers and autocanon.
"I was going to report that there seems to be some battle being fought in the nearby industrial district not far from here, the Hildr's scanner picked it up close to one of the slave camps we were told about as she were coming in for landing." He reported,
"Good, tell that Sixer woman to take our position here. As soon as we mop up these wimps, we are going in to hunt some slavers!" Vargstierna ordered cheerfully,
Commander Mira Haven of the Sixers received the com from Wolfe in personal as he was the only one it seemed of these Einherjar to even talk to her and her warriors.
The orders were to continue towards the starport while Taylor and his forces secured the centre of the city.
The Wolverines had been less than courteous towards them but had accepted this most likely only temporary alliance and the clan would no doubt address that status after the battle was over…
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…
As Ben was entering the burning settlement he received an open communication,
"I am Lucas, son of Ayani, Lord of Terra Nova and I challenge Benjamin Llywellyn Shannon on a trial of refusal, if I win you and your ragtag band will withdraw!" Came Lucas's challenge,
Ben checked his radar and could only see a Pulverizer Assault battlemech in the central square of Hope's landing as the fire raging in the buildings around it made his scan blurry.
He could still not pick up any signs from Jim's unit and considering this Lord Lucas was obviously the one ordering this dishonourable scorched earth tactics and Ben wanted to take him down personally.
"In the name of Clan Dragon I accept your challenge!" Ben replied,
Then his screen crackled and fritzed and Jim's face could be seen,
"Ben, you sure about this?" He asked worried about Ben as the enemy had recently driven him and his warriors out of the settlement and if things went badly Ben and whatever troops were with him might be cut off.
"Don't worry Jim, I haven't lost a duel yet." Ben replied reassuringly – his face a mask of grim determination,
"Alright everyone stay at the outskirts here." He then ordered his unit,
Ben manoeuvred his Axman inside to meet his foe barely avoiding Lucas's feeble opening salvo,
But then everything went wrong…
Kono had been scouting around the outskirts near the partially destroyed western wall not far from the west gate when he did pick up a second mech signature that was identified as a Rampage Assault battlemech as it powered up and started firing at Ben's Axman.
"BEN WATCH OUT IT'S A TRAP!" He shouted and employed his own modified jump jets on his Urbanmech and started firing with everything in his arsenal at the much larger and heavier armed battlemech.
"Why you pathetic little…" Smythe hissed and switched targets from Ben to Kono and fired,
"Not good!" Kono muttered under his breath,
Kono's mech was seriously hit with the first salvo as he had no chance to avoid it.
"Warning, severe damage to chassis, weapons systems offline." Came the computer voice as it started noting the systems going down,
"OH Ya think?" Kono mumbled and noticed that he could barely control his mech anymore,
"Warning, neurohelmet receiver damaged." The computer voice continued as Kono started swearing at this situation,
Then the Rampage blasted his mech with its flamer repeatedly,
"Warning heatsinks maximal point reached, core shut down imminent." The computer blared,
"OH SHIT!" Kono swore and as there was nothing else to do he hit the ejection button and moments later his command pod ejected from the burning Urbanmech as the Rampage continued blasting at it with its weapons destroying it as Kono watched,
As the parachute deployed carrying Kono to moderate safety he could see that Ben's Axman had indeed been hit as it was limping heavily dragging its right leg behind it.
"That could have gone better…" Kono muttered as his pod hovered to the ground…
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…
Mark heard Kono's warning and just after his scan showed the other mech powering up,
"Those dishonourable cowards have violated the rules of engagement, take them out." He ordered and used his own jump jets in order to give what aid he could,
But before he had a chance of helping neither Kono nor Ben he noticed Kono's Urbanmech disappearing from the scan as it was destroyed but he huffed out a sigh of relief as he picked up the signature of an ejection pod.
"Star Captain, are you alright query?" He asked as he manoeuvred his Wolverine IIM towards the central plaza of Hope's landing,
"I'll be fine, just help Ben!" Kono grumbled between curses.
Mark employed his jump jets again and landed not far from the Rampage,
"Say your prayers coward!" He growled into his screen as he could see the laughing face of Nicholas Smythe,
"So you are the one that has captured fair Madelyn's heart?" Smythe started,
"Well, I shall deliver it and your head as a wedding gift to her after I have taken her off this pitiful excuse of a planet!" He finished tauntingly,
Smythe fired his weapons but realised that this young pup was anything but inexperienced as the strange looking mech swiftly closed the distance between them firing as it went,
Smythe only realised too late why the other mechwarrior had come in for a melee when the claws on the latter's hands bit into his mechs armour – puncturing it.
Mark then used his claws and started as if trying to lift the other mech while his mech held the other mech's right arm with its own left arm and then using the right arm and claws to cut upwards basically gutting the Rampage open ripping myomer as well as other critical systems apart.
"What in the blazes?!" Smythe yelled in utter surprise, he knew about the Steiner/Davion and Kurita melee mechs but this was new even to him as his computer blared out its warning messages.
"Warning critical damage to chassis, torso myomer bundles damaged, torso weapon systems inoperable!" The computer blared and then with a firm grip of the Rampage's innards Mark used his mechs left hand to rip off the Rampage's right arm while Smythe feebly tried to use his mech's remaining arm to hit the other mech as he could no longer use any of his remaining weapons.
In desperation he fired off his anti-missile system but to obviously no avail and then hit the ejection button and momentarily his command module blasted off as his mech was literally being ripped to pieces by this young upstart.
"Pick me up you fools!" He screeched to his remaining mechwarriors as the module came hovering down.
After having destroyed his rival's mech, Mark scanned the central plaza and could see Ben was having trouble with the Pulverizer and started manoeuvring towards it to help his CO.
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…
Ben was having troubles after having been ambushed by Smythe and only the timely intervention of Kono and Reynolds had been the only thing that had saved him…temporarily at least,
His mech was limping slowly and thereby depriving him of his main advantage against the warrior piloting the Pulverizer,
His left arm was then blown off and he instead fired off his remaining SRM at the hostile mech concentrating on the arm and smirked as it was also severely damaged as it simply hung at the side of the enemy, but that didn't deter this Lord Lucas.
Now at melee range Ben's mech raised its axe…
Lucas swore at the sheer tenacity of this upstart mechwarrior and fired off everything that was still functioning and now he could see the enemy raising that axe,
He targeted the remaining arm and just as the axe was about to come down on him it was blown clear off together with the hand and arm that held it,
"Warning, hatchet weapon offline SRM depleted, mech structure heavily damaged, ejection advised." The computer blared,
"That's gonna be a problem." Ben muttered as this was a prototype battlemech and had never been fitted with an ejection system for some reason, this had never been a problem for Ben before…
Ben then remembered the stunt he pulled during the War of 3039 and manoeuvred his mech into a slightly hunched position and just as the Axman were about to topple he activated his jump jets and flew straight into the Pulverizer – both mechs were slightly lifted off the ground with a sound of grinding metal as Ben's Axman crashed into Lucas's Pulverizer as they both crashed into the burning command centre and the flames engulfed both mechs as the building collapsed sending burning debris flying in all directions.
…
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…
Mark came just in time to see both mechs go down and quickly exited his mech and ran towards the scene.
Inside the broken command module of his stricken mech Ben tried to unbuckle his safety harness but it just wouldn't budge and then he noticed that the other mech was now burning and the flames started climbing their way through the shattered viewport of his Axman.
"Oh gods, not like this!" Ben complained almost whimpering as he remembered how his parents had died, burnt alive in the house by bandits using flamers.
Ben started tugging frantically at the buckle of the harness and then the hatch was pried open, Ben looked up and could see Mark climbing into the module,
"Paladin, I think the other mech's gonna blow, get out of here, save yourself!" He shouted but Mark ignored him,
Then Ben saw the flames was getting higher and with his left hand still trying to unbuckle himself from his doomed mech in sheer desperation he put up his right arm to shield himself from the flames,
"NOOOOOO!" Mark saw the flames as they started consuming his CO and then he found what he was looking for – a fire extinguisher, broke off the top and threw it down to the viewport, it then exploded and temporarily dozed the fire.
He then pulled up his knife and cut Ben loose,
He quickly grabbed the limp body of his CO and with Ben over his shoulder he climbed out of the doomed mech and jumped down and ran as fast as he could away from the blazing inferno as two mechs were consumed when one of them exploded as its ammunition blew up causing a grand fire display.
Mark shielded Ben's body with his own.
…
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…
Jim had been listening to the coms as the battle had progressed and couldn't wait any longer,
"Alright let's move in, workmechs start putting out the fires!" He ordered,
It didn't take long until he happened upon the previous battle scene with Mark putting Ben into as comfortable position as was possible.
Jim gasped when he saw his brother's face.
Ben moaned painfully.
"Elisabeth, we need you at the settlement right now!" Jim shouted into his com and then exited his mech and ran towards the two warriors.
"BEN!" He shouted,
"Ben!" He shouted again as he gently held his little brother in his arms,
He then turned with tearful eyes full of anger and looked at Mark,
"Where is that bastard Smythe?" He growled, he didn't mean to growl at the young man,
"He got away as I tried to get Star Captain Shannon out Khan Shannon." Mark huffed tiredly,
Then they noticed how Kono came limping into the square, there were still fires raging but the men and women in the workmechs were finally getting the upper hand on the fire…mostly because there were now little left for the fire on which to burn…
"Kono, you're alive!?" Jim exclaimed in relief and then turned his attention back to Mark.
"Reynolds, you take your unit and order the others to continue towards the city, if that bastard made it he might try and take Maddy off planet and then we'll never see her again." He ordered, he knew it may have sounded selfish but he couldn't lose his baby girl to live a life as a slave.
Mark nodded sternly and took off and climbed back into his mech, and then marched off to the final goal, to liberate Terra Nova once and for all, though Mark had only one goal in sight right now – one goal that to him were most important – to save Maddy Shannon…
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Maddy had been watching happily as she could see the fighting in the distance, though that was before she had seen the thick billowing smoke coming from about where Hope's landing were from her new home…
Not that she were happy that people were getting killed, but happy that Terra Nova were about to be liberated, she was worried though about her family.
It was obvious though that ComStar and its bandit mercenaries were losing by the activity outside as by now she could also see the citizens of Terra Nova not just members of Clan Wolverine but non-clan members were rising up against their occupiers.
Suddenly she could hear the alarms and she looked out again and could clearly see vehicles and mechs entering from her penthouse suite.
"If there was only something I could do to help!" She thought, trying the door was pointless she'd done that already.
One thing though was her wardrobe, Smythe and his sicko boss had apparently only left fine clothes as to doll her up.
She hated being this helpless.
There were some noise from the outside sounds of combat.
She positioned herself behind the door and as it opened, she was about to hit however it was with the remaining vase and only stopped when she recognized the one walking into her apartment…
"MARK!" She shouted in relieved happiness and flung her arms around his neck,
Mark returned the embrace and she could hear it in his voice that he was as relived as she as both could feel the moist in their eyes.
"Maddy!" He exclaimed and his voice shuddered,
"Oh Maddy, I was worried he might have already taken you off the planet." He said shakenly as he held her and then kissed her,
"Is it over, is it finally over?" Maddy asked her own voice shuddering.
"Yes it is over, we have won!" Mark answered and they embraced again.
Then he looked at her in wonderment,
"Well, at least they gave you…err…nice clothes." He stuttered while blushing and Maddy blushed as well,
"You look…beautiful and elegant Maddy." He then blurted,
"Yeah, though they didn't leave me any practical clothes." Maddy retorted awkwardly,
Then she noticed some burn marks on his cooling suit as well as his arms,
"Mark, you're hurt!" She said concernedly,
"I'm fine, but your uncle has been injured." He answered and Maddy gasped fretfully.
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…
At the starport Tashaya was waiting for her father.
Then she could see the helicopter come hovering at high speed towards the waiting dropship
As it landed its occupants exited and quickly entered the dropship, most of the bandits would simply be left to whatever fate the victors of this days battle felt like.
Henry strode into the dropship casually together with a less than happy Commander Nicholas Smythe, he was angry that his intended plaything had not been picked up.
"Cutting it a bit close are we Father?" Tashaya asked her father in a chiding tone as by now they could hear the sounds of battle getting dangerously near as their bandit forces were losing ground everywhere.
"Nonsense, there is plenty of time, did you find everything you wanted by the way Tashaya?" He then asked as the hangar door closed on the mighty dropship and they walked to their quarters where they would spend most of the journey for even at full burn it would take them at least a couple of days to reach the outer system where the warships and jumpships waited,
"Not all but I think I have what we need. And before I deleted the memory on the HPG we received a message from Roma Nova." She said,
Henry looked at his daughter with a raised eyebrow,
"And?" He asked simply.
Tashaya simply smiled…
So this was supposed to be the officially last chapter, there will be one final chapter as this chapter has already far exceeded the boundaries to me at least.
But still please review and tell me what you all thought.