*The fun starts here! The first Mech battle is in this chapter. Maybe my
first review will be too. Here we go, please R/R. *
After quickly grabbing his jumpsuits, boots, dog tags, and his few personal possessions, Matthew headed to the Mech bay to have his Loki loaded into the Jump ship. He was going to pilot a real Mech for the first time, It had no weapons yet but they would be installed on the Jump ship.
Matthew had been running simulations day and night only pausing to eat or sleep so he felt relatively prepared for this small task. As he pulled out of the Loki's stall, he noticed that it had responded wonderfully considering the three explosions the chassis had been through, the Atlas's, the Summoner's and it's own. Matthew brought the Loki out of the Mech Bay and quickly found the radio.
"Control, Requesting permission to approach Jump ship Genesis." He asked in an official tone. There came a voice from the launch tower, "Please identify." "Lt. Matthew Bradley requesting permission to board Jump ship Genesis." There was a small pause before the Comm. came back to life, "Rodger Lieutenant, exit Mech Bay 4 bearing one-zero-seven." "Copy that control."
The Loki was brought to a slow jog and as gently as a Battlemech could, tipped around Swift winds and artillery loaders. He had adjusted his course and leaned back in his seat and took in the controls of his odd mech. "I have a feeling that I'm gonna need each and every switch and knob in here someday." He thought to himself. He ran through the controls and familiarizing himself with them. His eye kept finding it's way to the eject and self destruct switches "I hope I'll never have to use these." He pondered grimly.
As he neared the Jump ship's hatch, he saw the Timber Wolf already loaded, Dave was waving from the cockpit of it. Matthew brought the Loki to a slow crawl as he backed it into a stall so it could be locked down for transport during jumps. By the time the 75-ton behemoth was in its stall Dave was on the walkway that was rising to cockpit level to meet him.
The pair had found their way to their quarters after 20 minutes of walking. It was a small rectangular dwelling with only 4 beds on the far end of the room, a small table that had a central position, and a console next to the door that was built into the wall. Dave threw his things on the farthest bed and went strait to the console. Matthew set his belongings on another bed and noticed that there was a small stack of Data pads in the table.
"Where is that crew lounge?" Dave asked rhetorically as he typed rapidly. Matthew found a pad that had a list of objectives and he skimmed through them, Meet the two remaining members of your lance. Secure your LZ and protect the Techs as they construct a feildbase. Secure any abandoned falcon installations.
Matthew was interrupted by a voice over the loud speaker. "Attention this Is Jump ship Commander Davis, we will be lifting momentarily, stand by." There was a soft hum that gradually got louder; Matthew took this as a signal to lie down on one of the beds. Dave saw him and was confused. "What's going UHH!" Dave strained as he tried to combat the intense gravity. Struggling to the nearest bunk with his teeth gritted Dave tried to stay standing, but this was very trying for the former Elemental. The moment he lay down the tremendous force of the engines ceases and artificial gravity took its place.
Dave was slightly angry of his timing; he lay there resting for a few moments before he notice the console displaying the message "Artificial Gravity Activated." Matthew rose unscathed from his bunk and resumed skimming the data pads.
"What kind of gravity setting is this? It feels weird." Dave asked puzzled. "Drop ships and Jump ships always have their gravity adjusted to the same as the destination." Matthew explained with out looking up. "Why is that?" Dave asked wobbling towards the console. "Think about it. If you have to make a hot landing, unfamiliar gravity can be a damming factor. You can't coordinate your self, much less your mech if you aren't accustomed to it." Matthew enlightened. "That's why I could never be a tech. I never though of that." Dave complemented.
Matthew found the roster pad and began to read through it. The roster had Tech's infantry, support, and the two remaining members of his lance, the Celadon lance. There were detailed descriptions, information and each person's military history as well as a picture of them. "Daniel "Fang" Jameson," Matthew read aloud "Became a veteran after defeating two Clan Wolf heavy Mechs after his lance was struck down by multiple LRM launchers. While specializing in ranged combat, he is also proficient in sniping, medium range or support fire." The picture was of a large man with black hair that was grinning.
"I found the crew lounge!" Dave exclaimed. "Are you listening to me?" Matthew demanded. "Yes" Dave said defensively, "You said some thing about wanting to go to the crew lounge."
Matthew cleared his throat loudly and continued, "Jessica "Inferno" Mullins" is a veteran that shows enormous potential. She favors the "Blitz Kreig" fighting style, employing weapons of all ranges she rushes in using every weapon as it comes into range until she is nearly point-blank, excelling in melee combat."
When Matthew looked up Dave was looking over his shoulder at her picture. She was blonde with lavender colored eyes that were so piercing that Matthew was stunned for a moment. "Man, What a fox!" Dave exclaimed, "Can we go to the crew lounge now?" He pleaded. "You're hopeless." Matthew sighed as he set the data pads down.
Dave navigated the halls of the Genesis until they had found the crew lounge. It was a dimly lit place with a large circular bar in the middle and many small tables scattered throughout the room. The far wall was a large window that was black, save for the accent of distant stars. On the left of the bar there were 2 pool tables, ancient game but still often played, and on the left there were four simulator pods lined up against the wall, each had its own view screen on it's side in addition to the main monitor in the middle of them all. There were roughly three dozen people in the room, half of which were crowded around, mesmerized at the main view screen.
An Atlas with one arm was trudging across artic tundra as fast as its thick legs would carry it. The HUD on the bottom of the screen showed both Mech's status. The Atlas had both torsos blinking red. Its foe was probably shut down somewhere off-screen; it was suffering from badly battered legs and a weak center torso.
Suddenly an electric blue bolt blazed across the screen, depriving the Atlas of its gun rack and right torso. Camouflaged on a nearby hill stood a Nova Cat, Guns still crackling from the after shock of the PPC. It had turned to run again now that the he was sure the Atlas had no LRMs and it had a speed and range advantage with it's PPCs. The Atlas began to unload all it could muster to prevent the Nova Cat's escape. Its powerful stride became a slow pathetic limp courtesy of an ER Large laser.
The Atlas had resorted to passive radar and then lumbered its way onto a ledge that awarded it a superb spot to pick off the Nova Cat. Slipping from behind a rock the Atlas began to pump its barely in range LXB into its target, slowly eroding it's armor. The Nova cat spun around frantically searching for it's attacker but the direction LXB pellets was unknown due to the snow falling. He began firing blindly into the snow, one lucky shot had struck the Atlas's cockpit and it now took on a crimson hue on the display.
After a few more moments of cursing from with in a pod the Nova Cat's pilot ejected and a cheer went up. The monitor on the side of one of the pods showed 8-0. A man got out of a different pod and went strait to the bar. "Who's next?" came an arrogant female voice from the winning pod. Matthew stepped forward cutting in front of some one who angrily protested "HEY!"
Matthew quickly sealed the door and focused his attention on the HUD. A timer above the HUD read "3:00." That was all he had to choose or alter a Mech, He selected Madcat Mark II and began to strip it of all its weapons. The switched the engine so that it now had a top speed of 74 KPH, and he used that weight he had saved to install three counter measures, B.A.P., LAMS, and Jump Jets. Matthew looked up at the timer. 45 seconds, the weapon choices would have to be quick. Two Clan gauss rifles, two LRM 20's and four medium pulse lasers. With the remaining time he had supplemented the remaining tonnage with Reactive armor, and then entered his handle as "Desperado."
"I hope you're ready for humiliation." The voice taunted. "You stole my line." Matthew replied coldly. He was calculating and fierce in battle. He fought with as much efficiency as a machine. He was positive that he could shut her up easily. He grasped to controls and set back in his seat. Ready for what would come next.
After quickly grabbing his jumpsuits, boots, dog tags, and his few personal possessions, Matthew headed to the Mech bay to have his Loki loaded into the Jump ship. He was going to pilot a real Mech for the first time, It had no weapons yet but they would be installed on the Jump ship.
Matthew had been running simulations day and night only pausing to eat or sleep so he felt relatively prepared for this small task. As he pulled out of the Loki's stall, he noticed that it had responded wonderfully considering the three explosions the chassis had been through, the Atlas's, the Summoner's and it's own. Matthew brought the Loki out of the Mech Bay and quickly found the radio.
"Control, Requesting permission to approach Jump ship Genesis." He asked in an official tone. There came a voice from the launch tower, "Please identify." "Lt. Matthew Bradley requesting permission to board Jump ship Genesis." There was a small pause before the Comm. came back to life, "Rodger Lieutenant, exit Mech Bay 4 bearing one-zero-seven." "Copy that control."
The Loki was brought to a slow jog and as gently as a Battlemech could, tipped around Swift winds and artillery loaders. He had adjusted his course and leaned back in his seat and took in the controls of his odd mech. "I have a feeling that I'm gonna need each and every switch and knob in here someday." He thought to himself. He ran through the controls and familiarizing himself with them. His eye kept finding it's way to the eject and self destruct switches "I hope I'll never have to use these." He pondered grimly.
As he neared the Jump ship's hatch, he saw the Timber Wolf already loaded, Dave was waving from the cockpit of it. Matthew brought the Loki to a slow crawl as he backed it into a stall so it could be locked down for transport during jumps. By the time the 75-ton behemoth was in its stall Dave was on the walkway that was rising to cockpit level to meet him.
The pair had found their way to their quarters after 20 minutes of walking. It was a small rectangular dwelling with only 4 beds on the far end of the room, a small table that had a central position, and a console next to the door that was built into the wall. Dave threw his things on the farthest bed and went strait to the console. Matthew set his belongings on another bed and noticed that there was a small stack of Data pads in the table.
"Where is that crew lounge?" Dave asked rhetorically as he typed rapidly. Matthew found a pad that had a list of objectives and he skimmed through them, Meet the two remaining members of your lance. Secure your LZ and protect the Techs as they construct a feildbase. Secure any abandoned falcon installations.
Matthew was interrupted by a voice over the loud speaker. "Attention this Is Jump ship Commander Davis, we will be lifting momentarily, stand by." There was a soft hum that gradually got louder; Matthew took this as a signal to lie down on one of the beds. Dave saw him and was confused. "What's going UHH!" Dave strained as he tried to combat the intense gravity. Struggling to the nearest bunk with his teeth gritted Dave tried to stay standing, but this was very trying for the former Elemental. The moment he lay down the tremendous force of the engines ceases and artificial gravity took its place.
Dave was slightly angry of his timing; he lay there resting for a few moments before he notice the console displaying the message "Artificial Gravity Activated." Matthew rose unscathed from his bunk and resumed skimming the data pads.
"What kind of gravity setting is this? It feels weird." Dave asked puzzled. "Drop ships and Jump ships always have their gravity adjusted to the same as the destination." Matthew explained with out looking up. "Why is that?" Dave asked wobbling towards the console. "Think about it. If you have to make a hot landing, unfamiliar gravity can be a damming factor. You can't coordinate your self, much less your mech if you aren't accustomed to it." Matthew enlightened. "That's why I could never be a tech. I never though of that." Dave complemented.
Matthew found the roster pad and began to read through it. The roster had Tech's infantry, support, and the two remaining members of his lance, the Celadon lance. There were detailed descriptions, information and each person's military history as well as a picture of them. "Daniel "Fang" Jameson," Matthew read aloud "Became a veteran after defeating two Clan Wolf heavy Mechs after his lance was struck down by multiple LRM launchers. While specializing in ranged combat, he is also proficient in sniping, medium range or support fire." The picture was of a large man with black hair that was grinning.
"I found the crew lounge!" Dave exclaimed. "Are you listening to me?" Matthew demanded. "Yes" Dave said defensively, "You said some thing about wanting to go to the crew lounge."
Matthew cleared his throat loudly and continued, "Jessica "Inferno" Mullins" is a veteran that shows enormous potential. She favors the "Blitz Kreig" fighting style, employing weapons of all ranges she rushes in using every weapon as it comes into range until she is nearly point-blank, excelling in melee combat."
When Matthew looked up Dave was looking over his shoulder at her picture. She was blonde with lavender colored eyes that were so piercing that Matthew was stunned for a moment. "Man, What a fox!" Dave exclaimed, "Can we go to the crew lounge now?" He pleaded. "You're hopeless." Matthew sighed as he set the data pads down.
Dave navigated the halls of the Genesis until they had found the crew lounge. It was a dimly lit place with a large circular bar in the middle and many small tables scattered throughout the room. The far wall was a large window that was black, save for the accent of distant stars. On the left of the bar there were 2 pool tables, ancient game but still often played, and on the left there were four simulator pods lined up against the wall, each had its own view screen on it's side in addition to the main monitor in the middle of them all. There were roughly three dozen people in the room, half of which were crowded around, mesmerized at the main view screen.
An Atlas with one arm was trudging across artic tundra as fast as its thick legs would carry it. The HUD on the bottom of the screen showed both Mech's status. The Atlas had both torsos blinking red. Its foe was probably shut down somewhere off-screen; it was suffering from badly battered legs and a weak center torso.
Suddenly an electric blue bolt blazed across the screen, depriving the Atlas of its gun rack and right torso. Camouflaged on a nearby hill stood a Nova Cat, Guns still crackling from the after shock of the PPC. It had turned to run again now that the he was sure the Atlas had no LRMs and it had a speed and range advantage with it's PPCs. The Atlas began to unload all it could muster to prevent the Nova Cat's escape. Its powerful stride became a slow pathetic limp courtesy of an ER Large laser.
The Atlas had resorted to passive radar and then lumbered its way onto a ledge that awarded it a superb spot to pick off the Nova Cat. Slipping from behind a rock the Atlas began to pump its barely in range LXB into its target, slowly eroding it's armor. The Nova cat spun around frantically searching for it's attacker but the direction LXB pellets was unknown due to the snow falling. He began firing blindly into the snow, one lucky shot had struck the Atlas's cockpit and it now took on a crimson hue on the display.
After a few more moments of cursing from with in a pod the Nova Cat's pilot ejected and a cheer went up. The monitor on the side of one of the pods showed 8-0. A man got out of a different pod and went strait to the bar. "Who's next?" came an arrogant female voice from the winning pod. Matthew stepped forward cutting in front of some one who angrily protested "HEY!"
Matthew quickly sealed the door and focused his attention on the HUD. A timer above the HUD read "3:00." That was all he had to choose or alter a Mech, He selected Madcat Mark II and began to strip it of all its weapons. The switched the engine so that it now had a top speed of 74 KPH, and he used that weight he had saved to install three counter measures, B.A.P., LAMS, and Jump Jets. Matthew looked up at the timer. 45 seconds, the weapon choices would have to be quick. Two Clan gauss rifles, two LRM 20's and four medium pulse lasers. With the remaining time he had supplemented the remaining tonnage with Reactive armor, and then entered his handle as "Desperado."
"I hope you're ready for humiliation." The voice taunted. "You stole my line." Matthew replied coldly. He was calculating and fierce in battle. He fought with as much efficiency as a machine. He was positive that he could shut her up easily. He grasped to controls and set back in his seat. Ready for what would come next.