3
Tal Mara Plains, New Bergen
Rasalhague Province, Free Rasalhague Republic
3 May 3050The sun was bright on the plains, reflecting off the four BattleMechs that patrolled the area. There were a few dark clouds on the horizon but they did not appear to be a threat. The air was hot and stale and more so in the cockpit of a 'Mech. Sweat rolled down Tora's face but there was nothing she could do about it with her neurohelmet on.
"Tygress to Archer, all is clear on my side, over." Tora said into her headset.
"Roger that Tygress, out." Zachary's voice replied through the speakers.
Tora, then, set her attention back on scanning the terrain, looking for signs of the enemy. She switched between vislight and magscan, hoping to get a position on the enemy before they found Archer's Lance. Tora glance up at her sensors to check the location of her lancemates. They were spread out in a line, for the most effective scouting. Zachary was on one end, with Thor and Thomas, Thomas being closer to her, in the middle, and her on the opposite end. Tora continued her search as she guided Tygress up the next slope. Before she reached the top of the hill a dark cloud passed over the sun making it darker for a moment.
Tora stopped Tygress at the crest of the hill and looked down into the valley below. Five grand war machines moved toward her at a walk. With the flat gray color scheme, there was no mistaking them for the Clans.
"Computer identify." Tora ordered. The computer ran through its database and tagged each enemy 'Mech with a name. "Archer this is Tygress. I've found them. Repeat; I have located the enemy. Immediate assistance required."
"Get out of there, Tora." Zachary commanded.
"Yes, sir." Tora replied all to happy to oblige. She began carefully backing Tygress down the slope, when the enemy Loki fired a ruby red beam in her direction. "Kuso!" Tora exclaimed as Tygress' foot slipped on the grassy hill. She fought for the balance of her 'Mech, but gravity won out. Tora's Marauder fell back and slid down the hill. Tora was thrown against her restraints forcefully as the seventy-five ton 'Mech landed at the base of the hill.
"Tora, what happened?" This from Thomas, whom she knew was rapidly approaching in his Locust.
"Hauptman, we cannot take them head on. We need to split up." Tora stated into the microphone. "We are out numbered and out massed."
Zachary's voice was the next over the communications channel. "Split up!" He ordered. "Tora and Thom, head for the marsh. Thor and I will go for the caves." His orders were met with acknowledgement from his three comrades.
Tora rolled Tygress on to her side and got one of the long arms under her. Slowly she eased her 'Mech back to her feet, just as Thomas was striding by at maximum speed. "I'll distract them while you get moving." Thomas told her as he sped up the hill she had just slid down.
"Thomas, no!" Tora cried as he disappeared over the top of the hill. She received no response but her sensors still showed him. Tora quickly checked all her weapons and prepared for the battle for her life. She saw that three of the enemy 'Mechs, the Loki, Fenris, and Koshi, were in pursuit of her brother and Thor, leaving the Mad Cat and Vulture for Thom and herself.
Tora crested the hill for the second time only to see Thomas narrowly doge a barrage of LRMs. "Thomas, back off!" Tora yelled into her headset.
"But—" He tried to respond, taking his attention off the enemy.
"That's an order soldier!" She cut in, and watched as the fleet-footed Locust ran diagonally down the hill. Tora moved to follow him, not seeing the large pulse laser until it struck Tygress' right knee joint. The heat from the laser melted the outer layer of armor plating but left the inner workings untouched. She responded with a blast from each of her PPCs. The first one was off to the left, but the second hit the Vulture in the right arm. Tora let a small smile of satisfaction cross her face as she moved out of visual of the Clan 'Mechs. A quick glance at her radar showed that their plan was working fairly well.
After setting her Marauder at maximum speed to chase Thomas' Locust, Tora took a deep breath to calm her nerves. It was then that she felt the half-second hesitation of Tigress' right stride and hoped that it was not going to end up being a point of weakness.
It was not long before she caught up to Thomas, who was going at half speed. Her sensors showed that the Mad Cat and Vulture still pursued them and were gaining ground quickly. Tora saw Thomas disappear from view circling around behind her looking for any ground troops. An alarm went off in the cockpit as static came over the headset, then there was silence. Tora looked up at her radar fearfully and saw that Zachary's Archer no longer registered.
"Zach!" Tora cried.
"I'm all right, Little Siste—" His voice was cut off by the sound of an explosion.
"Zach!" Tora cried again, desperate to get an answer. "Zach! Zachary!"
Thomas reappeared in front of her and she no longer had time to contemplate her brother's fate as the Vulture came into view. Luckily for Tora, the Vulture's attention was on the Locust and not her. There was a brief pause as everyone realized where everyone else was. The Vulture was behind the Locust and directly in front of Tora, who discovered that the Mad Cat was coming up behind her at max speed. Tora stomped down on the jump jet peddles sending Tygress into the air just as the Vulture fired its large and medium pulse lasers. The ruby beams hit the Locust squarely in the legs and everyone watched as the 20-ton 'Mech faltered on its spindly limbs. The Vulture's pilot finally realized that an airborne Marauder was headed right for it and let off a barrage of LRMs.
Tora was thrown around in the pilot's chair as the missiles hit her torso. Her 'Mech landed hard, a moment later, and she heard a sharp grinding sound from the right leg. Tygress' leg buckled sending the 75-ton 'Mech to the ground for the second time that day. The fates must have been with her because before she managed to lift the Marauder's torso, Tora saw a PPC and laser beam fly over her head. She got both of her feet under her and turned her torso to fire a grouping of streak SRMs at the Mad Cat. They hit on the left torso, ripping off several panels of armor. Tora left her torso facing the enemy 'Mech as she moved to aid Thomas.
The other pilot was having some difficulties with the Vulture, but was still alive and running. After dropping down behind a hill away from the Mad Cat, Tora paused for a moment to regroup her thoughts and make a hasty plan.
"Tora!" Thomas shouted over the com line, static breaking up the signal as the smaller BattleMech moved away from her. "I can't hold—" His voice died in the static. Tora held her breath and waited for the signal to clear up. "…Repeat—ejecting!"
Tygress trembled from the shock wave from a fusion engine explosion as Tora saw a great fireball leap into the air. "Thomas!" Tora yelled but received no answer. She pushed her limping 'Mech as fast as she could up the hill that hid the Locust from her view. Her breath caught in her throat as she surveyed the pile of rubbish that used to be a 'Mech. Tora reacted quickly seeing the Vulture standing near by, its right arm hanging uselessly at its side. Letting out a cry of despair, Tora slammed her hand down on the alpha strike button. Her 'Mech rocked back on its heels as every weapon on board fired instantaneously and a burning wave of heat washed through the cockpit. Heat alarms sounded filling the small space with a deafening bedlam. Tora flushed coolant through Tygress' system quieting some of the alarms.
A breeze helped clear the smoke from Tora's view showing the Vulture laying face down in the dirt. She had no more than a second to enjoy her small victory, before the Mad Cat continued its onslaught. Tygress shuddered and stumbled forward after a large projectile hit her in the back. Tora grabbed onto the controls and forcefully spun her Marauder around to face her enemy.
The Mad Cat stood squarely on the next hilltop, all of its guns trained on her. Tora swallowed hard in the moment before the final attack. A large metal ball slammed into her left torso, crushing it and smashing the inner workings leaving her left arm useless. The next to hit, was a PPC blast that finished off her right leg. Tora fought with Tygress to keep her upright as a grouping of SRMs exploded in her center torso, blinding her with their flash.
Tygress fell backward. Tora let out a soundless scream as all the air was forced from her lungs and the cockpit window shattered in her face. She felt the shards cut into her exposed skin and crack the faceplate of her neurohelmet. Tora inhaled feeling as if needles punctured her lungs and wondered what it was like to die.