Black Knight Legion Headquarters
Corvatti Mining Colony HB-3
18th September 3063
The Colonel's meeting with Major Dupree was anti-climatic compared to her entrance a few days back. She brought her Mad Cat MKII into the Legion headquarters along with her command lance; all assault Mechs. Eric and his lancemates watched from a distance as an Atlas, Sunder and a Zeus marched in just behind their lance leader. Their assigned Black Legion escorts, a Centurion and two Trebuchets, appeared tiny by the size of the other Mechs. The walls seemed to shudder with each footfall, even though they were standing near their barracks, almost a hundred metres away from the Mechs. Eric couldn't help but feel awed by the display of might, though for some reason he detested the arrogant swagger of those Mechs.
"Waltzing in like a bunch of overgrown hippopotamuses," commented Radcliffe dryly. Apparently, he too disliked the unnecessary show of might. On his right, Robert continued to gape at the Mechs silently.
Isabel was less bothered by the scene. She turned away and shrugged.
"Big deal. After all the action two days back, we might be piloting those kind of Mechs soon. Right, Eric?"
Eric looked away and shook his head at Isabel. "Sorry to burst your bubble, baby, but I doubt it. Colonel Lawhorn doesn't just toss you pay hikes and lance upgrades for each good mission you do, like some Santa Claus. But we'll probably get better jobs than just chasing down half-baked pirates."
Radcliffe chuckled. "Yeah, that'll be a change."
Isabel frowned at Eric's use of the word "baby" but didn't make any further comment. She stuck her hands into her pockets and walked off to her barracks. Eric turned to look at his remaining lancemates and grinned.
"Well, show time's over. Who's up for a game of poker at the mess?"
Black Knight Legion Headquarters
Corvatti Mining Colony HB-3
20th September 3063
The Colonel had briefed the Legionnaires about the contract the Lyrans had offered the day before. It was a risky proposition, but one that could really boost the Legion's coffers if successfully carried out.
Just a few years back, Steiner forces attacked and 'pacified' the world of Kentares IV, which was then ruled by Duke Eric Dresari, one of the more vocal supporters of Victor Davion who opposed Katrina Steiner's usurpation of the Federated Suns throne. The Kentares defenders were surprised to find themselves under attack by the supposedly allied Fifth Donegals, and were swiftly and brutally slaughtered. The Kentares palace was swiftly overrun in the initial attacks. Duke Eric and almost his whole family were executed and a Steiner pawn, William Dresari, was elected to be the new Duke. However, forces loyal to the late Duke Eric banded together under the leadership of two surviving Dresaris and managed to defeat the Steiner forces on Kentares IV after months of gruelling combat. Recently it was rumoured that the planet had broken out in civil war again, but there had been conflicting reports from the planet, Davion and Steiner authorities.
Regardless, Archon Katrina Steiner was not pleased with the outcome of the battle on Kentares IV and wished to re-occupy the planet with loyalist troops. She was running low on front-line troops to send to Kentares IV; hence she decided to take up the option of hiring mercenaries to 'pacify' the planet once more. Quite a number of top-notch mercenary units have already very explicitly stated their abhorrence to either take part in the Fed Comm civil war or fight under the Steiner banner, hence forcing Katrina to rely on other alternative mercs. The Black Legion mercenaries were not affiliated to either side, but Colonel Lawhorn knew it was too good a chance to pass up. Siding with Steiner could be dangerous, considering the fact that the Lyran Commonwealth had attacked the Grey Death Legion on Glengarry previously. But that was quite some time ago, and the Colonel knew he couldn't just pass up such a lucrative contract for minor doubts like that. He had accepted the contract and would be giving out unit assignments soon, he told them.
Eric sat lazily on a couch, watching a holo-vid of the latest in news about the Fed Comm civil war when Radcliffe walked in, Olsen in tow. The two seemed to have bonded well since their last mission. Probably something about brotherhood under fire, Eric mused.
Radcliffe opened his mouth to speak first.
"Eric, sir, we just heard from Mandrill that you're wanted at the Colonel's office. On the double."
"Probably got a big pay bonus for our last mission, eh, sir?"
Eric groaned as he slowly got up from his couch. He stretched his stiff muscles and yawned.
"No, Robert, I don't think so. But we'll see. With some extra cash to spend, I might give you guys a chance to beat me in poker after all."
Radcliffe grinned. "Shucks, sir, didn't know you were so philanthropically inclined."
The Colonel was waiting outside his office, leaning against the wall and smoking a cigarette. His secretary was not around, Eric noticed. Queer. When the Colonel noticed him, he smiled and beckoned Eric to enter his office. Eric followed him into the room, and took a seat at the Colonel's request. He even offered Eric coffee.
"No, but thanks anyway sir. Trying to cut down on caffeine," Eric lied. Truth was, he was feeling a little nervous about the situation now, and caffeine would just send his nerves into overdrive. "Could you cut to the chase and tell me what's going on around here, Colonel?"
Colonel Lawhorn smiled lightly and sat on his desk, staring down at Eric. He drew a long suck on his cigarette before continuing.
"Okay Eric, here's the op. Before the Legion can make planet fall on Kentares, we need to neutralize a section of their orbital defense grid: specifically a pair of mobile orbital defense lasers, called MODLs for short. Steiner has paid off the Corvatti mining corporation to smuggle a medium lance of Legion Mechs into a remote spaceport on Kentares."
Eric didn't miss a beat. "Lemme guess, that medium lance is Striker Lance?"
The Colonel laughed. "Good guess! You'll be hidden alongside heavy mining equipment to avoid casual detection. I'm sending Mandrill along as your tac officer. Your tech support will be light, but with some healthy scavenging you should be able to survive the two weeks until the Legion is ready for planet fall."
Eric grinned. "Looks like we get to be the pirates for once."
The Colonel chuckled again. "Roger. Mandrill also has leads on the Kentares black market. You'll be able to trade for weapons and chassis until the Legion makes planet fall."
Eric realised the enormity of the task he had just been handed. But he didn't have to ponder whether to turn down the assignment or not. His mind was instantly made up. No more fighting lousy pirates! His voice dripped with confidence as he bolted up from his seat and saluted the Colonel.
"Aye sir! Striker Lance will deliver!"
Colonel Lawhorn got up and returned Eric's salute casually. "See you on Kentares. We're all counting on you," the Colonel paused, before adding with a wide grin, "…. Captain McLair."
Eric left the Colonel's office with mixed feelings. He'd been given a very high honour: setting up the beachhead for the Legion on Kentares IV. And even a promotion to boot! But the Colonel didn't stop there. He had stated quite explicitly, after announcing Eric's promotion, that there were problems and doubts about the operation.
"I don't trust the Lyrans, Eric. Don't tell this to anyone, especially your lance, but you better be careful. The Lyrans are paying us much more than a regular contract and that's fishy. They might default on payment; frame us for some diabolical action, put our name in their mercenary black lists, anything to make sure they needn't pay up."
Eric wasn't sure if the Lyrans would try such a sneaky trick on them, but he would watch his back all right.
For now though, who cares about backstabbers?
The night was filled with fun and laughter as Eric celebrated his promotion with all his mates. Even Isabel had lost her sour mood and joined in their card game. Eric did lose quite a bit of cash that night, though part of it was because he wasn't concentrating on the game completely. He was too pre-occupied with the Colonel's earlier warning.
Black Knight Legion Headquarters
Corvatti Mining Colony HB-3
21st September 3063
Striker Lance was already grouped at the mission briefing room when Mandrill walked in on them. It would be their last formal briefing; for they would take off on the Corvatti dropship an hour later. She could see the eagerness bubbling out of each of the lance members. They had barely slept through the night, but apparently that didn't stop their eagerness. Although she was also going with them, she wasn't feeling as enthusiastic. She had already done this before, and anyway she doubted that she would really see much action. Not unless they got captured. Mandrill shook away the foreboding thought and cleared her throat before starting to brief the assembled lance. She started off with congratulating Eric.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Captain."
Eric just returned a jovial nod. No wise cracks. Mandrill continued.
"In our next mission, firepower will be of the utmost importance. We have limited intel on what we will be facing in the spaceport and our support vehicles will be extremely vulnerable until we get to a defensible HQ. After the mission, I'll make contact with the black market. I'll report any findings in the Mech Lab market roster. Check there to see what's available."
She looked around at the Mechwarriors. "Any questions?"
"Do we get a chance to buy souvenirs from the Kentares spaceport? I'd love to get some better tasting beer from there too."
Mandrill grinned. "No, Radcliffe. Not unless you want shrapnel for souvenirs and iced heat sink fluid for beer."
Radcliffe grinned back and kept quiet after that. Eric remained quiet, for some reason not making any wise cracks as he always did. Probably a slight case of nerves, Mandrill mused.
"No more questions? All right then. Time to go! Be at the docking bay at 0700 hours sharp. Don't be late – no more shuttles to Kentares IV after that."
Eric chuckled a little at Mandrill's last jibe but the laughter didn't reach his belly as it would've. The Colonel's warning still rang in his head, even after a night of partying. He thought of the consequences if the Lyrans really betrayed them. The Colonel wouldn't be able to extract them, not without landing a sizable force and incurring heavy casualties. Once down on the planet, Striker Lance would be on their own.
Was Striker Lance going to be left to rot on Kentares IV?
Mercenary Jump Ship Adam Smith
Zenith Jump Point
Corvatti Mining Colony HB-3
23rd September 3063
"Thirty seconds to countdown. All personnel prepare for jump."
Eric sat still in his jump seat. This was probably his tenth or maybe fifteenth time he was jumping into hyperspace, but there was still the unease he always felt before jumping into hostile territory. At the least he didn't feel uneasy about the operation anymore. Throughout the trip to the Jump Ship, Eric had time to mull over the possibilities of the Lyrans betraying his lance. He finally came to a solid conclusion: the Lyrans would only betray them after the entire operation was over. There would be no point in destroying a small lance of 4 or 5 Mechs on Kentares IV, for the remaining members of the Legion would seek retribution and prove to be quite a formidable force. Therefore the best time to betray the Legion would be after the Davionists on Kentares IV had been brought down. Eric felt better after coming to that conclusion.
"Ten ….."
He looked over at Mandrill, sitting in the row in front of him. He couldn't help but stare at her flowing black hair and smooth, fair skin.
"Nine ….."
Why was he staring at her for?
"Eight ….."
Eric looked away and double-checked his buckles. Just to keep himself busy.
"Seven ….."
Sitting next to Eric, Radcliffe grinned privately as he saw his lance leader blush a little and look away from Mandrill. Now that was interesting. Eric having a crush on her?
"Six …."
Eric should be beyond the age of crushes. But Mandrill is quite attractive after all. And Eric has been single for as long as Radcliffe as known him.
"Five ….."
This might be worth watching. Maybe something would develop out of it. Radcliffe felt like laughing but kept it to himself.
"Four ….."
Isabel sat behind Radcliffe, almost nodding off. She quickly blinked her eyes open. Last night's merrymaking was almost a bit too much on her. This will be interesting, sleeping through a hyperspace jump. Wonder what will happen.
"Three ….."
No way. I'm not going to be caught sleeping after the jump. She felt her eyelids close again and struggled to open them.
"Two ….."
Robert was too busy tightening his straps to think of anything else.
"One ….."
Mandrill uttered a silent prayer.
"God take care of us all."
And they jumped.
A/N : An extra long prologue hopefully to tantalise taste buds for the first mission on Kentares IV. I won't have much time to continue the story cos exams are here again, damn it. Still, I'm tempted to try and finish off a few missions before disappearing again.
I wonder if I got any details wrong though, so please do correct me if I'm wrong. Things like whether it is logical to travel to the nadir jump point in about 3 days, details on the Vengeance storyline, the attack on the Grey Death Legion, for starters. I've sourced info from MW4 Mercenaries for the last bit. And many thanks to the reviewers. Though I'm a bit saddened at the lack of reviewers, I'm happy to see most reviews are positive. To fire9tasadaris, thank you for your comments, but I was trying to raise the importance of heat in this story. It doesn't really make sense to fire lasers without even feeling a spike in the heat, which should be enough to knock you out if you weren't wearing a cooling vest! However, agreed, I'll cut down on the heat factor a little though. Otherwise I'd have trouble getting my hero units to survive any battle without sweating buckets J
