2
Vega Zephyr Base, New Bergen
Rasalhague Province, Free Rasalhague Republic
2 May 3050
Tora stood next to the 'Mechbay door with her brother. The sun was warm and shone off Tora's dark red hair making it gleam with copper highlights. She looked out over the small rolling hills with storm gray eyes as a breeze picked up. Zachary crossed his arms over his chest and Tora mimicked the movement. They both wore only their cooling vests, 'Mech boots and standard issue shorts. Nothing more could be worn in a 'Mech's cockpit and still have the pilot remain alive.
"Are they sure it was the Clans that jumped in system?" Tora asked. Her brother nodded solemnly as he kept his eyes on the cloudless sky. At first Tora had been excited about the prospect of a real battle. She wanted to prove to herself and everyone else that she could do the job correctly. Now with a battle pending, she was nervous and feeling unsure of her abilities. "Right now I would give anything to be back on Pandora doing training operations."
"Don't start doubting yourself now, Little Sister." Zachary told her. "Remember if you weren't capable, you would never have made into the Third Donegal Guards."
"I know, but I just have this feeling that this not going to go the way we planned."
"Don't go saying that around Thor and Thomas. Those two are pessimistic enough for the whole of the Inner Sphere."
Tora smiled to herself as she thought of the twins that finished off Zach's command lance. They both had a great sense of humor, but her brother was right, they could blow the smallest thing way out of proportion.
"So we're remaining in the low hills during the attack?" Tora inquired.
"Yes. The reports say that they have extended range weapons and prefer long-range battle, which does not bode well for us. However, if we play our cards right we should be able to keep it close quarters in the hills. Sniping is probably going to be our best course of action." Zachary explained.
"I understand." Tora said as a gust of wind blew right through everything she was wearing. Tora shivered and rubbed her arms. "I think it's time to get into our 'Mechs, I'm freezing."
Zach gave a small snort of laughter. "Be thankful for the cold now, because any battle ahead of us is going to be hotter than Hell."
Tora smiled, turned to face her brother, and saluted. "See you out in the field, Hauptman." Zachary nodded and they both headed for their 'Mechs; Tora to her Marauder Tygress and Zach to his Archer.
Tora climbed up the latter on Tygress's inner left leg and maneuvered up to the cockpit. She secured the hatch and waited for the cabin to pressurize, then reached above the threshold and flipped the large switch. The fusion engine rumbled to life deep in the 'Mech's belly. Tora noticed her hand was shaking as she locked the switch in place.
"Get a hold of yourself, Tora." She said aloud as she grabbed her shaking hand. "This is not the time to start fearing the enemy. People are counting on you." Tora took a deep breath, shook out her hands, and made her way to the command couch. She settled herself, then opened the compartment next to her right side, and withdrew four medical sensor patches. She peeled off the backing and stuck one to each of her thighs and upper arms. Tora attached the sensor cables to the patches and threaded them through the loops on her cooling vest until they hung loosely at her throat. Tora opened the pouch on the right hip of her vest and plugged it into the command couch. When she was satisfied that the coolant was circulating through the chemical lines correctly, she reached for the restraining belts. After latching them across her shoulders and over her waist and making sure they were secure, Tora reached for her neurohelmet on the shelf above her head. She let the helmet rest on the padded shoulders of her cooling vest as she adjusted it on her head until the neurosensors pressed against the correct places on her skull. Tora used Velcro straps to fasten her helmet to her vest and then tightened the chin strap. Finally, she plugged the medical sensor cables into the sockets at the helmet's throat.
Tora let out a sigh as she reached for the button on the right side of the command consol. The computer's synthesized voice crackled through the speakers of her neurohelmet. "I am the Tygress. Who dares to assume themselves worthy of that title?"
"I Tora Akira Archer."
"Voiceprint pattern match obtained. Working…"
Tora tried to relax as she waited for the computer to initiate the second part of the security sequence. Each 'Mech was specified exclusively for its pilot. The computer would use a voiceprint first and because that could be duplicated, it would then ask for a password. Each password was unique to each pilot; it was usually something personal or something to remember right before going into battle; making it impossible to guess, thus keeping one's war machine protected.
"What is the law of life.?" The computer voice asked.
"We live and die by the decisions we make." Tora replied coolly.
"Authorization confirmed. Remember, Tora Akira Archer, you are your mother's daughter and you make her proud."
Her weapons came online next and she checked their status. With everything at one hundred percent she followed her brother out of the 'Mechbay. Tora set her Marauder at its cruising speed following the Archer as Thomas's Locust and Thor's Phoenix Hawk matched her speed.
The hills were low with gentle slopes allowing for a steady pace. She looked at her radar then turned her 'Mech's torso to survey the surroundings. There were no forests, or any other kind of cover to be seen, only the hills and grasslands, though in the distance she could see mountains. Tora made a mental note of where the grasslands were so during the battle she would avoid moving in that direction.
She opened a communications channel to her brother. "What exactly are we doing out here?"
"One, to wait for the enemy and two, to learn the lay of the land." He replied. "We need every advantage over the Clans that we can get."
"Are we scouting or sticking together?" Thomas broke in on the com line.
"Scouting." Zachary said. "Go explore, have fun, but be back at base by eighteen hundred hours."
Three acknowledgements came over the speakers at once. Tora smiled, centered her legs to her torso and headed off away from the group.
Tora leaned back in her chair as Zachary looked over the maps of the hills they would be protecting. Thor and Thomas had already given him the little information about the terrain that they had gathered and were off to bed. As Zach's second in command she had to remain with him to help with the plan.
"So, what did you find out?" He asked her. Tora leaned forward and looked at the map orienting herself to it.
"Between here and here," Tora spoke as she pointed to two prominent hills on the map. "Rain water has collected and turned that low land into a marsh. If it rains anymore, that area is going to be a dangerous trap for any BattleMech. Tygress almost was stuck but I managed to pull her out without leaving too many footprints.
"There's always the possibility of using it as a trap. Then, in this area," Tora continued and motioned to the map. "The hills part in just the right way, that if a Clan 'Mech was standing at one end, I would not want to be at the other. That "alley" would definitely be a place to avoid."
Zachary nodded as she spoke and made notes of these things on his data pad. He took a deep breath then looked at his sister. "My plan is not to split up, but if we must take Thomas and head for the marshy area. Use him as bate to trap a Clanner in the mud and disable the 'Mech. We need to learn as much as we can about their technology."
"And while Thom and I are running around playing pigs in the mud, what will you be doing?"
"Thor and I will head for this area," Zach explained and indicated the place with his index finger. "He found some hidden caves. I hope that we can use them to mislead our enemy. When the attack is over, everyone is to meet back at base.
"Now, go get some rest, Little Sister, tomorrow is going to be a long day."