Aries' Reach
Periphery
August 25, 3064
Colonel Shaston walked through the corridors of Alpha Research Base, apparently named that by Clan Smoke Jaguar, and thought of what his mercenary company had just discovered. The Clan base was a hotbed for weapons research and experimentation. The Osirisesthat Skeleton Lance had fought had been outfitted with new prototypes for miniature Particle Projection Cannons and Gauss Rifles. The list of new technology was along one because, apparently, this base was created by ALL the Clans but utilized by none. They all sent technology here to be experimented with but none used it because they didn't trust each other enough to do so.
James looked at the list in his hand and glanced at the new tech. Ultra Lasers, Small, Medium and Heavy. Gauss Cannons, a Gauss Rifle version of a machine gun. Pulse Particle Projection Cannons, a smaller, more compact version of the PPC that also recharged faster and gave off less heat at a cost of less damage. He also found the one thing that his mercenaries had yet to decipher, the X-1. According to the summary it was a weapon that was so powerful that it could destroy whole Heavy and Assault lances in one go. James wanted that weapon but they had been unable to crack the encryption surrounding it. All of the other weapons were being replicated in the meantime, and all the research and design schematics were being archived onboard the Lexington.
James looked around him and smiled. Why they were still using the Lexingtonwas a mystery because here they had a fully operational, if grounded, WarShip with attached DropShips. The Light lance that had attacked Skeleton Lance had been deployed from one of the three attached DropShips. The Shadow Warriors were still working out a way to lift the ships off the ground and back into space, perhaps to meet up with their JumpShip, Pride of Avalon, a vessel on loan from House Davion following the destruction of their former JumpShip in a misjump in-system. They had lost nearly everything in that misjump, orchestrated by House Kurita as they had later learned. They had lost their other two DropShips, all their Light and Medium Mechs and all of their Aerospace assets.
House Davion had come to their rescue at about the same time that Aries' Reach was discovered by the Explorer Corps. Comstar had notified the Great Houses of the planet and what it may contain and House Davion had gotten there the fastest. The Shadow Warriors had been stationed on a planet near the Draconis Combine border when House Davion had called upon their services and expertise.
Now the Shadow Warriors were in control of a research base that contained a large amount of information and new weapons systems. The fortunes of his mercenary company were improving.
He soon reached the bridge of the WarShip, which they had now taken to calling the Dark Warrior, and went straight to the holo-tank. The tank was displaying a hologram of the system and contained many small symbols that were rapidly accelerating towards Aries' Reach. James turned to his second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander Christopher Prent. James turned to Chris and spoke.
"Are they still incoming?"
Chris nodded his head sadly, "Yes they are sir. As near as we can tell we have Kuritan units on high burn on their way here. Following them are Lyrans, with a small smattering of Clan Wolf-in-Exile if I am correct, the forces of House Marik, the forces of House Liao, Clan Ghost Bear and House Davion."
"House Davion?"
"Yes sir. House Davion sent in a communication while you were occupied. They are sending the Wolf's Dragoons, Eridani Light Horses and the Tenth Davion Heavy Guards here. Unfortunately they will reach us after everyone else does."
"So we have a slug match coming up do we?"
"Yes sir we do-"
Suddenly one of the techs ran up to James.
"Sir! We cracked the encryption! We know what the X-1 is!"
"Well, spit it out son."
"Yes sir! After the Clan Invasion of 3050 and the Truce of Tukkayid the research base started working on new Mech designs. Well sure enough they made one. In fact, it is the most advanced design I have ever seen. There is enough armor on that thing to withstand a lot of punishment from ANY Mech in existence! But it gets even better! These new weapons we have found were all made for this Mech! We've decided to name it the Titan sir, because it is the most powerful Mech in existence!"
"More powerful than an Atlas or a Daishi?"
"Sir! The Titan weighs two hundred tons! The armor is so thick it could take a Gauss Cannon round and still be standing! It is the most powerful Mech in existence!"
The Colonel, as well as everyone else in the bridge, stood still in shock. A two hundred ton Mech was a weapon that could turn the tables of war. A Mech such as that could destroy whole armies! It would be invincible! No military force could destroy it!
Colonel Shaston walked out of the bridge and made his way down to one of the DropShips. The one that had been sealed and encrypted. He walked to the door and it opened to allow him in and the moment he walked in lights flickered on all over the bay. And in the center of the bay, surrounded by a gantry that was covering it, was a Mech unlike any he had ever seen. It looked like a Daishi except that it was too big. On its shoulders were two Mad Cat/Catapult style LRM launchers. Its arms ended in Daishi style guns but they were much bigger and the legs looked liked they belonged on an Atlas, if they were smaller.
As James walked towards it he heard machinery starting up all over the bay. He saw an elevator activate to carry him to the top. He got in and prayed that this Mech could help his mercenaries to survive the coming battle. As he powered up the Mech he noticed something, the weapons list. He strolled down it and gasped.
· Four Ultra Heavy Lasers
· Two Pulse Particle Projection Cannons
· Three Gauss Cannons
· Two Long Range Missile Packs
· Eight Machine Guns
· Two Gauss Rifles
· Seven Small Pulse Lasers
· Two Short Range Missile Packs
· Three Autocannons
It was an assortment of weaponry that could only be described as holy. The guns on this Mech could demolish anything in their path. As James fully powered his Mech up he heard a voice speaking to him.
"Welcome to the X-1 Super Mech prototype. This Mech was built for the express purpose of the destruction of the Inner Sphere. However, the rules of engagement have changed slightly and this Mech may not be fit to change the balance of power in the Inner Sphere. Your entrance into this base has certainly changed that Colonel Shaston."
With that James looked across the bay and saw a beautiful woman sitting in the control room and talking to him on the intercom.
"May I ask whom I am talking to?"
"You may Colonel. I am Star Colonel Kathryn Matheson of the Alpha Research Base."
"Any relation to the Star Corporal Matheson that surrendered the base to us?"
"That was me Colonel. Your man in the Mad Cat misheard my rank. Besides you of all people should know about the ranks of the Clans. There is no Star Corporal."
"Why did you attack with Light Mechs? Why not use this?"
He heard her sigh. "The reason Colonel is that nobody could get in the bay. One of my research techs got drunk and locked the bays with a randomizing code that kept changing. Then the moron, who was the only one who knew the primer for the code, walked outside at night. In the day Colonel Aries' Reach is quite Earth-like. At night however, it is minus ten degrees Celsius. Needless to say he walked outside in his underwear and froze to death quickly. When you attacked I rallied all the forces I had. Unfortunately all I had were obsolete tanks, two stravag Osiris Mechs and a star of Ullers. The Ullerswere in the process of being stripped down to be test beds when you came so they had near no weapons. If you had come a few days later we would not be having this conversation."
"But we are. Look, Star Colonel, would you object to us joining forces? My mercenaries are severely depleted in terms of manpower and resources and your forces would complement ours quite well. What do you say?"
Star Colonel Matheson looked down at the display in front of her and then back up at him.
"I say you get that Mech combat ready Colonel. The Draconis Combine just landed eight Overlords two hundred kilometers south of us. They seem to be filled with assault Mechs."
[Author's Note: I hope that explains the Inner Sphere tech used by the Clan. Look, all the weapons I have created are allowed to be in existence! The SuperMech is as well! It is a Clan-funded research base! I hope this chapter cleared up some problems.]